LANGUAGE NOTES

I have decided to revisit Andrew Goodwin's theories about music video to see what i have included.

Goodwin's theories (presented in Dancing in the Distraction Factory, 1992):

• Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (eg stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band)
• There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting.)
• There is a relationship between music and visuals
• 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.
• There is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screen, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyueristic treatment of the female body.
• There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)

Music videos are commonly separated into three catagories:

• Narrative-based
• Performance-based
• Concept-based

If i compare these codes and conventions to my own music video i can confirm that i have used:

My video conveys the characteristics of an Indie/Folk video; imagery, performance from the artist, some sort of narrative
There is a link between my lyrics and visuals: I use contradicting as well as illustrating images such as having someone on their own when the lyrics read "to be alone", and showing light when the lyrics read "In the darkness".
I have also used many close-ups of my artist, we see him in a more intimate setting where he is shown to be quite vulnerable in some aspects as well as protective. This would give the fans a more personal insight into the artists life and see him in a different light to usual.
I do not include a frequent reference to the notion of looking because most of my video is mostly extra-diagetic gaze and spectator-gaze based.

My video is narrative based, it also has elements of performance in it so that the artist is promoted in both ways. The narrative will give the audience a new outlook on my artist as a normal person whereas the performance element will allow the audience to see my artist perform in an intimate way that concerts cannot expose.

REPRESENTATION

It can be argued that all mediums are representations of someone or something: the way something is represented depends on how the ideas and characters come accross to the audience.
Media and Film studies handbook (Hodder Arnold, 2007) states: "Most media products reproduce dominant ideoligies in the way that they represent the world, which has led to many minorities complaining that that are misrepresented in the media." I believe that my music video is contrasting to this statement as i aim to represent parts of society which are not often shown in mediums such as music videos.

My music video includes representations of both male and females. Where some of these would be quite stereotypical roles, they are also quite unique in terms of characters which are usually portrayed in music videos.
The man which is represented in my video as the artist is a modern stereotype, he displays anger and is dressed in a fashion suitable to the musical genre. He plays quite a protective role over the younger girl in my video as he is later shown to be her brother. This is quite unusual for music videos as they often feature love stories rather than family related issues.

The girl in my video portrays the stereotypical 'damsel in distress' as she runs away from her home. However, she is also quite unique as she does not appeal to Laura Mulvey's 'male gaze' theory. This is because i have chosen a young girl to star in my video and it would therefore be inappropriate to the storyline for her to be used for voyeuristic purposes.

I am ultimately representing real life situations in the 21st century, but because it is through music video i am able to use more intimate imagery (with close ups as the spectators gaze) as well as the extra-diagetic gaze, where my characters will connect with the audience. I also aim to include some intra-diagetic gaze where the artist (brother) will be connecting with the young girl.

FEEDBACK UPDATE:

I have asked some class-members and friends about my first draft of my music video, i have also taken in to account the comments on my blog post... they have suggested:

• Make the narrative clearer
• More performance elements
• Possibly include the artist as a character 

I will revise my current draft and see what i can do to make these improvements! Thank you all!

FIRST DRAFT

Here is a first draft of my music video. I have experimented with transitions such as cross dissolve and jump cuts depending on the mood of the music! So far i have included a number of close up shots of my artist however i still need to use more performance which i will be filming soon!

Please feel free to comment any improvements :)

MY TOP 5 VIDEOS

I have recently been looking at NME's top 100 music videos to gain ideas for my own, and this has inspired me to share my top 5 favourite music videos...enjoy!

ED SHEERAN - GIVE ME LOVE

I like this video because the narrative is different to a lot of videos, it is quite dark and the video includes taboo images as well as traditional, romantic ones!

JESSIE J - PRICE TAG

This is one of my favourite videos because, although mainly performance based, the message is strongly portrayed through the lyrics and emphasised by the imagery! Jessie J has a versatile videography, Do it like a Dude is entirely different to Price Tag however Jessie sticks to codes and conventions of her genre, making her videos appeal to its target audience.

MUMFORD AND SONS - THE CAVE

This video is something unexpected for the song which is why i like it. There is an element of randomness with the men at the beginning, keeping the video light-hearted and easy to watch - this goes with the mood of the song!

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - CRY ME A RIVER

Justin Timberlake is close to a legend when it comes to Pop videos. I like this one because it appeals to every audience - we have the good-looking male (JT) and intimate look at the artist for the female fans, the attractive woman appealing to the 'Male Gaze' and the performance and narrative element to entertain!

KE$HA - DIE YOUNG

Ke$ha is one artist who is often exposing outrageous videos - and this is one of them! Maybe not as random as some of her others but that is why i like it, it has more of a narrative yet still promotes Ke$has 'live hard, die young' motto of partying and having fun! 

NME's top 100:
http://www.nme.com/list/100-greatest-music-videos/217342/page/1

PERMISSIONS - TAKE 2

Since i have not recieved a reply from Universal Music regarding permissions to use Ben Howard's song for my music video, i have decided to try again:

NARRATIVE

 

 

Many artists choose to include an element of narrative in their music videos because it shows their fans a different and more personal side to them.

"The video allows the audience more varied access to the performer than a stage performance can. teaching music video." - Pete Fraser

Narrative based music videos often have the repeatabiltiy factor, whereby the storyline is inticing to the viewer so that the audience wants to watch it over and over, like a mini film. It is generally made up of montage editing, so the story is non-linear and allows the audience to 'de-code' their own message/interpretation from the action. This is combined with some sort of performance element, which is common in most music videos so that the audience can get to know the artist as a performer and a normal person.  

 

 

Some narrative based videos are:

 

 Britney Spears - Everytime

Britneys video portrays real life issues to do with being in the public eye and the pressures of media/paparazzi. Our insight into what Britney life actually exposes a lot of what she may be going through at the time, because her break-down was very public and the connection with this video shows us how her behaviour could have reached a breaking-point long before.

 

 

P!NK - Please don't leave me

P!NK is known for including taboo narrative's in her music videos, this one in particular displays an abusive domestic relationship that goes round in circles. We also see performance from the artist as we do with many of P!NK's videos, she likes to give diverse insight into her life/imagination through her different videos yet keeps the performance element to remind us that she is an artist and that the stories represented are fictional.

RECCE INFO

Locations 

 

I have used my local beach to film some shots of my video at sunset, this is the beach in the daytime and at sunset:

 

 

 

 

These are the woods that i used for one element of my music video, the woods give a nice lighting effect which is natural and created an instant mood to my piece.

 

 

 

I also used my friends house which is being sold and so everything is in boxes and looks abandoned.

 

 

Geography

So where are these places?

 

I will be shooting in the countryside of Leicester as this is where my brother lives and some last minute shots are needed!

The majority of my video will be shot in Leigh-On-Sea in Essex where the beach, house and woods are located. This is the first location i thought of when i decided to include a beach as i used to live here so it is easily accessible.

 

 

 

ACTION PLAN

As i reach the end of my production stage, i have created an action plan for what still needs to be completed:

11th - 15th February

• Beat Sheet
• Recce Information
• Notes on narrative

18th - 22nd Feb (Half Term)

• Treatment Sheet
• Final video and photo shoot
• Continue editing (final cut)

25th - 1st March

• Notes on representation
• Textual analyses and research of digipak
• Flat plan for digipak
• Notes on media language

4th - 8th March

• Draft digipak
• Research and analysis of adverts
• Flat plan for advert
• FINISH MUSIC VIDEO

11th - 15th March

• Continue working on drafts of digipak and advert
• Questionnaire on audience feedback
• Start evalutations

18th - 22nd March

• Catch up on any unfinished work
• Evaluations