Final video

Final video

Final video feedback

The first screening was shown to an audience of roughly 25 people. The feedback was varied, however, aspects such as the lighting and split screen were continuously praised. The lighting was described as;
* mysterious, dramatic and professional.

* The split screen was effective, however, the use of white and black lines became a little confusing and would of bee improved if we had continued one colored line throughout the video.

* The images inside the split screen worked well together, especially combining facial shots with random images around the shot such as cars or traffic lights.

* We received positive comments on the quality of the lip syncing and the pace of the instrument playing. "It really looked like the musicians were playing the song and felt comfortable performing it".

* The narrative was good and held the attention of the audience long enough so that the narrative can be explained by the end two shots.

* Shots such as the panning shot of the girl towards the middle of the narrative were highly commented on.

* We were affraid that the constant use of hand held camera work would look unprofessional, but the genre and urgent, confused style of the video was said to fit the hand held effect.

Second screen grab - editing.

This screen shot is an example of how we used Photoshop to create the white lines that separated our images. We simply arranged the image on the screen and then overlapped the PNG image to correspond with the size of the clips. This screen grab also displays how we are going to edit some of the clips further on in the narrative. We plan to desaturate on of the images on the screen whilst leaving the others in full colour. We felt this emphesised the differenciation between the settings and the time it is taking place. We also felt the different colour tones woud make the screen more visually appealing.

Screen grab - Creating our split screen

Throughout the editing we took several screen grabs to represent different stages of the editing process. Thus screen shot shows how we created our split screens. First we over-lapped the images we wanted to appear on the split screen, layering them in clips in order of viewing. We then clicked on the images individually and rearranged them around the space to form separate boxes. To create the white lines we used two different techniques depending on the flexibility of the clips. The first method involved applying a white slug underneath the footage to allow the black gas to be white. If we could not form even gaps between the clips we had to import white lines into Final cut using Photoshop. We found that both methods were effective, although we found applying the slug a quicker method. Despite this we were able to achieve very accurate lines using photoshop as appose to using the slug which was very difficult to line up sucessfully.

risk assesment

This is a risk assessment for filming. the area that we are filming is potentially hazardous, so it was an requirement to have one. This will be given to all crew members so that they are aware of how to keep themselves and the equipment safe.

weather

This is a weather report for this week. We thought this would help us plan which day we are going to film as it is outside.

focus group feedback for roughcut

we asked different groups of people to give us fedback on our rough cut, we did this via questions and answers.

Does it follow indie genre conventions?

• yes it does, it looks very similar to other indie videos, like the plain white ts.

Do you think the split screen is effective?

• Yes, it breaks the footage into different segments. You can see close ups, mid shots and long shots all at the same time which works really well and strongly engages the audience.

• It is really well done and makes it look more professional. it is good that you make the audience active so each time they watch it they see a different narrative.

• The split screen made it look like it was shot in wide screen which looked really effective and made it look almost like a film.

Is the narrative engaging?

• Yes, its looks almost like a film.
  
• It was slightly muddled as though she was in many different places t the same time. This is not negative as it keeps the audience wondering. The hand held camera filming from behind gives the impression that she is being followed.
  
• Guitars added another dimension to the video. It allowed the audience to see the effect the performance will add to the video when you have shot this.
• The mise-en-scene in terms of lighting, character, and location is really really good and it would be good to see more of this.
  

rough cut

This is our rough cut. As we have not yet filmed the performance footage we have split the track into narrative and performance sections. Due to this the footage has large gaps in between where the performance footage will be placed. The footage starts at the first verse at 0.47 seconds into the track and continues on the other verses. The others begin at 1.17 and 1.58.

Hitoiro - analysis

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This is the music video for Hitoiro, by Japanese artist Mika Nakashima. It was used to accompany the film Nana 2 which also starred Mika Nakashima, and as such it uses a variety of clips from the film. However, there are a number of elements from this video which link it to the ideas we have for our own video. The most prominant of these elements is the varied use of split screen, especially in the way it's been used, as in the different sizes and spaces of each screen. There are a number of places in the video which have had the majority of the screen filled by one shot and then a tiny bar at the bottom with a close-up. An example of this would be at 1.53-1.55.

Another element of the use of split screen in this video which is, again, similar to our ideas would be the use of close-up shots, notice at 2.22-2.25 at the close up of her eye. We really like the idea of using simple shots, like the close-up of eyes or mouths next to a long shot and the character walking and we plan to incorporate it into our video.

This video also incorporates the usage of both coloured and black and white clips which was a big part of our split screen idea. The difference between the use of it in this video and the use in our video would be the fact that we want to use it for the different screens of the split screen, whereas this video uses it for an entirely different, full screen clip.

This video's usage of simple shots, split screen and the variations of coloured and black and white clips have given us some inspiration for our own video.

Song title: 一色 (Hitoiro; One Colour)

Artist: 中島美嘉 (Mika Nakashima)

Emailing the band

From: Alice Tasker (alicetasker@hotmail.com)
Sent: 06 October 2008 14:15:10
To: thestills@thestills.net

Hello
My name is Ally Tasker, I am a student of A level Media at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. I am currently creating a music video for one of my projects, where i am working in a group of three to try and create a professional music video. As a group we have decided to use your song 'still in love song'. We were wondering if when we have finished, you would like copy of our video? Thankyou for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.
Ally

This is a copy of an email i sent to the stills. We thought that this was important beacause we were using their song.

Target Audience Questionaire

To gain a greater understanding of what would appeal to our target audience group we devised a questionnaire, specifically based on 'Indie' music videos. We will use the information to mold our original idea into a stronger idea that will appeal to our age group. Our target age group is 15+.

1) With referring to 'Indie' music videos do you prefer their to be a running narrative through out the video or feel it should be all performance based?

- I think it depends on the track, but most of the time i much prefer there to be a narrative that fits the lyrics so that you can sing along with the pictures in front of you.

- Most 'Indie' tracks tell a story through the lyrics so a narrative is defiantly appropriate. I do like to see the band though as they play their instruments but probably mainly when the chorus kicks in because that's when the band gets lively.

- I like a bit of both. If the track is really lively then performance works really well but if it is slower narrative is more engaging.

2) Can you name some of your favourite settings that you have seen indie music videos being shot?

- I watched a video once when the band played in the middle of an underground tube train! That was really cool and was very out of the ordinary.

- I like the video 'My sacrifice' by Creed! The band are playing in a river as town becomes flooded. The water shoots off as they play and it looks really effective. I like the narrative as well as it is really strange and unbelievable but really well shot.

3) Do you think the idea of shooting at night is effective? If so, why?

- I quite like the idea of it being shot at night. It seems a little bit more rebelious and cool than shooting in the day.

- Yeah, i think that could work really well. It always looks really cool when everywhere is deserted at night time..so i guess you could use that to your advantage.

- I think it only looks good if there is really good lighting. If it is too dark it could be a bit boring. I really like colour and lively scenes!!

4) For the older viewers, what do you not like seeing in 'Indie' music videos?

- I have to admit i hate it when its really 'teeny'. I dont like it when its like over the top and all about drugs and raves. I like it when it's more artistic.

Can you think of any music videos that are like that off the top of your head?

-Hmm, probably Avril Levegne- Skater boi!

Call sheet

Our call sheet will be used to refer back to on the day of and during the filming to ensure each member of the group knows where to be and when.

es

The call sheet also provides information such as production contact numbers, the bands contact numbers and emergency numbers such as the nearest hospital. The time and dates of the shoots are clearly provided in a table which also includes brief information about what will be filmed in that shoot. The equipment we need for each shoot is clearly noted as to avoid forgetting equipment on the day.



We have also provided each team member with maps with directions incase finding certain destinations becomes difficult.
For security reasons we have blocked out the contact numbers and addresses for the version seen here on the blog. A full version will be handed to each group member on the day before filming.

pictures of band

This is a picture of the lead singer we are using in our band. We thought it would be helpful for people viewing our blog if they could put a face to the roles.

















This is the lead guitarist that we are using in the band.

Screen grab of test footage

Here is a screen grab of the method we used to create the split screen.

As demonstrated above we had to layer each image into serperate audio lines and arrange them over top of each other to play at the same time. We then cut some images in half and layered another image beside this so that the image in the box would change fluidly whilst the others remained the same. We desaturated the long shot image and left the close up shots in full colour to breifly show the contrast between the images as in the real video the different coloured shots will represent different time periods of the narraitve. After placing the images on the timeline we arranged them on the preview box to create even spaces between the images where the screen would be split. We did not have anough time to apply a slug behind the footage which would create the white line we wanted. The black line, however, was suitable for our test footage. We experimented with lighting by and shadows by using hand held lights. We then took a section of the track and lined it up with the images on the screen. We then faded the end using the pencil tool to create a smooth fading finish.

Analysis of student work

This is An example of last year's student work that particularly interested us. The large open space and surrounding flood lights makes it look well planned and effective. The bright lights give the impression of studio lights, almost like a professional film set. The water covering the floor adds to the urban surroundings and makes the video look spontaneous. The water reflecting the light from the car park looks artistic

ideas

As the weeks have gone by we have thought of more ideas that we are going to incorporate in our music video. out initial ideas have stayed the same but a few have been altered and changed.

Firstly the performance side of things have stayed the same. we are shooting the band performance at night at Newnham park, where there is an outdoor pool area with floodlights. We believe this will look very effective because it will be pitch black and the location will be hidden. The floodlights (and other spotlights, that we will provide) will pick parts of the instruments and the band up, creating silhouettes. This will add professionalism to our video. Also we thought that that the outdoor pool area will help with our genre conventions as locations such as this are often seen in 'indie' music videos.

Secondly the narrative parts within our music video has changed. Our intial idea was having the couple together in a white room acting like lovers, something goes wrong and leads to an argument and the girl leaving. Our ideas have now developed to the girl by her self walking down a street in a town center. This will also be shot at night. In some narrative parts there will be close ups of the girl, for example her lips and eyes. These parts will be shot in the dark room at school with spotlights. In some narrative parts the girl will be crying.

Thirdly for some of the viewing of the music video is going to be split screen. Just like in our test edit. The screens will change between narrative and performance and some of both. The screen style will also change to add diversity. Around each screen there will be a white border. This idea first came about whilst watching the plain white T's music video 'hey there deliah' (shown below).

Finally there will be a contrast between the narrative and the performance because the performance will be in black and white and the narrative will be in colour. we beleive that this is a convention used in many videos with the same genre as ours. the performance parts will also have close ups on the instrument and on the singer and other band members these parts may be put into slow motion when we edit because we belive that this will match the pace of our song.

Goodwin’s music video analysis

This is the criteria we are looking at whilst analysing other music videos.
Goodwin’s music video analysis:

Andrew Goodwin writing in ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’ (Routledge 1992)

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics(e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).

prop list

This is a list of props and we will need whilst filming:

Props for performance

• 2 x Guitar
• Drum kit, or a single drum
• Performers (3 or 4)
• Microphone
• Car (for headlights use mainly)
• Floodlights
• Torches
  
• Back up lights provided by the media department.

Props for narrative

• Makeup
• Mobile phone

planning blog peer assessment

In today's lesson we went around the class and analysed each others blogs, and stated what we needed to improve, what was good and what needed adding. this is what people had to say about ours:

1. list below the content of each of the posts(e.g analysis of real music video). are there any types of post that you think are missing from the blog?

• Really good analysis of music videos and photos, but not list of props or people or locations.
• Detailed rough cut and call sheet.
  
• Not enough practical information-like location.
• No risk assessment.
• inspirational images are very effective, they make it clear of your idea.
• strong anamatic.
• all posts are very detailed.

2. Is there evidence in the blog that the group has:
A. Completed background research?
B. Organised personnel, locations and equipment for shooting?
C. Developed ideas since the initial concept?

• Yes video analysis are really good.
• Clear ideas that they have got from other videos.
• Good test footage-shows the developed ideas.

Overall assessment.= level 3

All this feedback is very useful and we aim to improve the quality of our blog by correcting the faults listed above.

Inspirational images

This image simply demonstrates the effect of the

spotlights that will be present behind the band as

they perform. The darkness will be create by

performing at night, and as little of the background

objects will be shown, much like this image.



Again, this shot conveys the idea of the spot light effect

illuminating the outline of the performer and creating a

soft halo effect. The surrounding light picks up a dim

sepia colour which we hope to achieve by desturating the

footage or applying a sepia tone. This effect will be used

for the band performance only, unless experimented and

approved during filming the ramaining narraitve shots.

This image represents the style of footage we want to

shoot when filming the lead singer walking/running

through the park. The use of shadow fits in well with the

style of lighting portrayed throughout the video and

looks overall quite artistic and breakes up the footage from

seeing the figure the whole time.

The last image is a rough shot of how the pool will appear.

The lighting is accurate to the set up at out chosen location.

We aim to recreate the image of the liht reflecting on the

water.

Animatic

Summary of Animatic -

Our animatic is reasonably short as the cutting speed of our video will be fasted paced to match the speed of the music. The close up head shots show how we intend to position the spot light directly, or to the side of the musicians head to create a silouette and project light rays which will beam from behind the body. We hope the camera will create a lens flair effect, especially when we direct the camera towards the flood lights.

The split screen is intended to separate the performance from the narrative, showing a connection between the two people although in separate parts of a city. The three way split screen allows us to promote our editing skills incorporating more than two images together, running along side each other, and changing within the frames to match the music. Hopefully, the smoothness of the transactions between the images will enhance the professionalised style we are hoping to achieve. The three way split screen also allows the viewer to devise their own story line, which we feel will hopefully involve the viewer more than when watching a static video as they have the chose to watch the video from their perspective. We hope this will make the video unique every time it is viewed.

We hope our animatic shows the diverse range of camera angels we are going to achieve, for example the close up on the instruments, and the long shots of location and band. We thought the landscaped split screen divided through the middle will consist of two panoramic shots of contrasting settings. As the two lovers run to meet they will run in opposite directions and disappear at the same spot in the centre of the screen.

Feedback from members of the class

The split screen effect was very popular with the viewers. The idea of linking the performance with the narrative on the same shot was evident and understood. The dark shading provided a visual representation of the night time shoot and the atmosphere we are wishing to create. Feedback confirmed that the idea of illuminating the setting was well planned and would successfully aid our video in our attempts to make it look as professional as possible.
The white framing used int eh split screen was commented upon and approved by the audience. They agreed that the extra effort to create the white spaces would again bring an eliminate of professionalism. The lighting, although created very cheaply and without the aid of professional lighting was commented upon and praised.

Test footage and sample of editing

Here is a short a sample edit of the split screen effect we will be using consistently throughout the video

Finger Eleven - "I'll Keep Your Memory Vague"

plain white t's

The video incorporates a combination of narrative and performance,much like the previous video ' The Script'. The narrative and performance are not only separated by the division of a split screen but the shots of the girl are viewed in colour and the singer and accompanying musicians are viewed in black and white. As she is in new york and he is 'a thousand miles away' in another state the change of colour emphasises the contrast between their settings. The split screen is often divided into three parts allowing the viewer to see close ups, mid shots and long shots of both the narrative and the performance. This provides the viewer the ability to chose which of the three segments to watch, allowing each viewer to devise their on story based on which footage their eye is drawn to. The audience is active, and not passive as the viewer is witnessing the video from first person perspective in a voyeuristic manner. We particularly liked the close up shots as it erased any of the distracting background allowing the setting to be anonymous. This will be effective in our video as we are woeking on an amature level and will not be aided by a set or composed setting.

Music Video Analysis- The Script- Together we cry.

The video supports the traditional layout of many 'Indie' style videos incorporating band performance with a threaded narative. Matching the pace of the song the images interchange between the performance and narrative to create an easy viewing, flowing peice of filming. Like most 'popular music', the lyrics and style are not likely to be extremely contriversal, and the pace is commonly fairly malodic and catchy, so the song is not intended to have an incrediably experimental style video. The editting keeps the pace of the song, cutting on the beat mostly throughout the video, and simply slowing down as the pace decreases towards the end. Most of the narrating footage is based in an urban town, a scene which again works well with the indie style, and is a scene that is related with teenage culture (the performers estimated target age group). Filmed in a muted sepia colour the streets and performance area appear more desterted and aged, almost like the style of an early war film. Interestingly, as more music videos are using techniques used in films, this video is presented with the tradition black slits either side of the footage. As the lead singer strolls through the series of urban streets he exchanges glances with a selection of different strangers which expressive the feeling of unity evoked by the lyrics "Together we cry". The connection with the lyrics is not always needed but here it works very effectively, especially as the lyrics are devised like a story. The mise en scene is very urban and rugged. The people on the street are typical charatcers you would find in any urban town e.g a man living on the streets or a woman with her child. The whole mise en scene reinforces the idea that we are all the same, no matter what our position in life. The street is litered with graffitti and boarded buildings to give the sense of struggle. The subtle contrast between the outside narrative and inside performance is effective as it provides a change of scenery and keeps the audiences attention active. Filming close ups of the performers hands and lips during the performance works extremely well with the style of the song, as it is mainly performance based. It purly brakes up the footage into more interesting images and creates an intimacy between the viewer and the musician.

music video website

This is a link to a website that has an article about music videos and the top 100 videos ever.
we thought it might be useful to look at and keep on hand to refer to it every so often.

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/stylus-magazines-top-100-music-videos-of-all-time4.htm

lyrics for our song

THE STILLS - Still In Love Song

Album: Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003)


We were lovers, we were kissers
We were holders of hands; we were make-believers just losing time
You said you'd rather live in T.V. land and then say that you can but you don't
That's heartless and I will not cry

But I'm still in love
And I'm still in love... [3x]

You're dreams of acting on screen. What do they mean?
You'll be dancing senseless in your bedroom and
You find yourself out of a job and before too long
You'll be selling lemonade to the overpaid

And I'm still in love... [5x]

I remember it was summer; I was out of my head but you would
You're selfish and a waste of space

But I'm still in love
And I'm still in love... [6x]

Pitch

Track title: Still in love song.
Artist: The stills
Genre: Indie/Rock
Target audience: 15+

Location for performance: park (outside swimming pool with floodlights)

• Shot at night with floodlights and headlights of car. Aided by outside spotlight.
  
• Band performing in and around swimming pool.

Narrative location: White room, hotel maybe? White sheets and walls, naturally lit and open. Couple relaxing (pillow fight. etc) Mood changes as they have an argument. Girl leaves in slow motion clips. may reverse the order to end "lovey dovey" and begin with argument. Girl walks through streets and back alleys to end up at swimming pool. Boy meets her.

Mise en scene: Feathers, floodlights, band equipment (e.g drum, guitar, bass guitar) Car,

roles

Antonia- Researcher, as well as location finder.
Ally- Editor
Claire- Cinematographer
we will all direct as well as contribute to all areas of the construction of our music video.

Deadlines

Pitch - 10th September
Animatic - 19th September
Rough cut - 10th October
Final video - 7th November
Picturehouse Screening - 12th November
Writing Draft - 1st December
Writing Complete - T.B.A

music video elements

These are the elements we need to consider when making our music video:

• Music
• Singing-lip synching
  
• Dance routines-choreography
• Band- members or just backing instruments
  
• Narrative and story line
• Effects
• Film and song (simultaneous release- synergistic release)
• Changes in location
• Encouraging 'looking'
• Instruments
• Entertainment
• realistic
• Advertise music or band -promotion to band, singer etc

Welcome to GROUP 09-studying music video-history of music videos

History of music videos!

• Started in the 1920's-30's.
• 1960's promo-'hard day's night' and other rock films-focused on band.
• 1970 promo- top of the pops started to use them as a substitute when performing bands were on tour.
• 1975-start of the experimental/breakthrough era-Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody-(CLASSIC).
• Early 80's- Beginning of MTV-artists began to take promotion of the band and the release of the song seriously, so all songs all had a video.
• Multichannel music TV- growth of different genre of channels and real divide of music.
• Mid 80's-Black music broke out into the market.
• 90's-other channels broke out channels from spin-offs e.g. kiss, smash hits, Q etc.
• Nowadays - every song produced (singles) all have videos, and they are getting more conventional and experimental.

Music videos in order of release and conventions used!

1. 1935-colour box