Evaluation of music video planning

In conclusion, I feel as though I contributed well to the planning stage of our music video, although Katy wrote a lot of the blog posts and the other members of the group should have helped more. We are all imaginative people and I think the idea we created for our coursework will look really good and professional, as we have excellent equipment. If this was going to happen again, I would make sure that the blog posts would be distributed evenly to every member, otherwise it is not fair. There are some blog posts I have edited in my own words as I wanted to develop them more by adding extra detail. 

UPDATED Audience profiling (AW)

Audience profiling from Alice Western

UPDATED Inter-textual references (AW)

Intertexual references from Alice Western

UPDATED Narrative Structures of music videos (AW)

A narrative structure consists of two different things - the content of the story (Narrative), and the form used to tell the story. Typically, the narrative is effected by a style of narrative that causes a dilemma/turning point. There are many types of narrative structures that are used within music videos, and the each of them are explained and analysed in the PowerPoint below.

Narrative structures from Alice Western

Which narrative structures/techniques am I using for the plot of my music video?

My music video will possess a non-linear narrative, as it will begin with a flashback of an unknown person (Katy) putting the soluble in the drink and Cody drinking the liquid. It will move forward to the present day but will later move back to the scene based in the past where Katy's identity is revealed behind performing this action, and the mask. These scenes will be the 'dream sequences' prior to the present narrative.
Additionally, my music video symbolises the rollercoaster of love, and will display Cody and Katy as binary opposites until the end of the video, because the characters feel differently about each other. (Please look at my evaluation questions where the plot of my video is explained more in depth).
A single strand narrative will flow throughout my music video. The camera angles and the effects will give an insight to the audience how Cody's character is viewing and undertaking his surroundings, as there will be shots that capture him looking confused and the ghost effect will be projected on Katy's character throughout. This will make Cody's character the focus and Katy's Character portray the enigma (until she is found), but because she will be the subject of 'the chase' also, her role within the plot is significant.

Climax/Cresendo: A build up of tension to a breaking point

Enigma: A mystery

Circular Narrative: Covers full circle back to beginning

Multi stranded Narrative: Multiple stories within a video

Convergent narrative: 2 narratives within

Interweaving Narrative: 2 stories muddled together

Impressionist Narrative: Rough idea as what the lyrics are about

Flashback/anecdotal: Referring back to the past

Flash forward: Hypothetical future

Real-time: Present day

Reversal: A change to an opposite direction

Dream sequences: Setting apart to a brief interlude from the main story
Repetition: Repeated motifs

Ellipsis: The exclusion of an obvious part of the narrative or hidden for a narrative purpose
Use of captions/subtitles/text: Helps viewers who are deaf to follow the dialogue, as well as giving information about the narrative
Script: Written form of speech that the characters/narrator say - often found in an intro of a music video
Use of Images/photos to tell the story: Helps the nostalgic tone, as photos have connotations of memories
Pre-echo of events that have not yet taken place: Events that are yet to happen

Storyboard (KA)

SHOT TYPE
 1. Shot from behind Katy's shoulder- wide angle, can see cody in bed and glass on table next to bed.
2. Close up shot of glass and 'tab' being put into glass, also includes shot from above glass.
3. Close up shot of cody's hand taking glass. 4. Shows cody drinking from glass, putting it back and then looking at his hands. this is a mid shot.
5. Close up of window frame.
CAMERA MOVEMENT 1. Possible zoom in on glass/katy- cut or pan to Cody.
2. Static shot.
3. Static shot.
4. Pan out to show cody as well as the glass. close up to more of a mid shot.
5. Shot zooms to become a close up.

DIALOGUE
1-5:  No dialogue.

NON- DIEGETIC SOUND
1-5: The only sound present is the soundtrack.

LIGHTING
1-5: Natural lighting.

SHOT TYPE
1. Mid shot - shows cody's upper body after panning out from square light (close up.)
 2. Mid shot of both characters.
3. Long shot - shows both characters in full and their surroundings.
4. Mid shot.
5. Zoom in - becomes a close up.

CAMERA MOVEMENT 1. Starts with pan out. then becomes mid shot (static.) 2. Static. 3. Static with several cuts. 4. Static mid shot. 5. Zoom.

DIALOGUE 1-5: No dialogue - cody says 'What the F***' under his breath.

NON- DIEGETIC SOUND 1-5: The only sound present is the sound track.
LIGHTING- 1-5: The lighting present is mainly natural.

SHOT TYPE                                                           1. Close up to mid shot.                                2. Long shot - shows mostly background                                                  3. More of a mid shot.                                  4. Same as shot 2.                                       5. Mid shot                                                    6. Mid shot to close up (zoom.)                       CAMERA MOVEMENT                               1. Zoom.                                                        2. Static.                                                       3. Static                                                         4. Static.

5. Static.

6. Zoom

DIALOGUE

1-5: no dialogue present.

NON- DIEGETIC SOUND

1-5: The only sound present is the sound track.

LIGHTING

1-5: The lighting present is mainly natural

 

 

SHOT TYPE                                                1. Fairly long shot, changing angles with cuts.                                                              2. Same as 1.                                                3. Long shot of door frame.                           4. Same as shot 2/3.                                     5. Mid shot of door/cody.
CAMERA MOVEMENT                                 1. tracking shot.                                             2. 5 static shots.
DIALOGUE 1-5: No dialogue present.
NON- DIEGETIC SOUND                             1-5: The only sound present is the sound track.
LIGHTING

1-5: The lighting present is mainly natural

SHOT TYPE
1-4.  Mid shots. Taken at same angle etc.
 5. Long shot.
CAMERA MOVEMENT
 1-4. Stationary shots.
5. Tracking long/wide shot.
DIALOGUE
1-5: No dialogue present.
NON- DIEGETIC SOUND
1-5: The only sound present is the sound track.

LIGHTING
1-5: The lighting present is mainly natural

SHOT TYPE
1. Long shot
2 Mid shot- can see Cody's top half of body. 3. Long shot
4. Mid shot
5. Close up of mask.
CAMERA MOVEMENT 
1-5: Camera is stationery.
DIALOGUE
1-5: No dialogue present.
NON- DIEGETIC SOUND
1-5: The only sound present is the sound track.

LIGHTING
1-5: The lighting present is mainly natural (SHOT 6 IS A 'FLASHBACK WHICH USES VARIOUS SHOTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE VIDEO.)

Music video rough cut (+ feedback)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDt1c6HCcuY

The responses I got back from my friends were all positive. They said they thought it looked really cool and polished/professional, despite telling them beforehand I need to add effects. I asked them fI there was any room for improvement but their critics were only minor. For example, Katy said that I should try to cut the shots to the beat more. Whilst I was editing my music video, I thought I was achieveing this, but after it exported the shots appeared to be a few miliseconds before/after a beat. Sam said that because my music video is filmatic, it may be effective to include credits in the introduction/beginning scene e.g actors names. (watch filmatic music videos). My teacher also told me to do this, and mentioned how I should include jump cuts in the market sequence so they run consistenly throughout the video. He noted how the pace at the end (when the actors are looking at each other) is too slow, but I did this purposely because I feel like its a symbolic moment in the video. Additionally, the beat of the song slows down signifantly towards the end, so the length of these final shots match this.

UPDATED Annotated lyrics (AW)

It was very difficult to pick out the lyrics as our group were unable to find them online. This meant that we had to listen carefully to the song whilst watching the music video to see wether the animations demonstrated the lyrics.

(Verse 1)
I've been getting high
Red monkey man you read between the lines
On Monday night

(Chorus)
Riding on a tidal wave
floating in from out of space
someone take me back to summer's place

(Verse 2)
I've been seeing signs
that four wheel drive it travelled in the signs
You'll be alright

(Chorus)
Riding on a tidal wave
floating in from out of space
someone take me back to earth to leery and high school ball
Celebrating on my own

(Verse 3)
Now I am finally laying, oh
free at the world
man will swallow me whole
swallow me whole

Now I'm finally making sense
clearing all the ripples in my hair
ripples in my hair

(Chorus)
Riding on a tidal wave
floating in from outer space
someone take me back to earth to leery and high school ball
celebrating on my own

Oh, celebrating on my own
__________________________________________________ 

Verse 1: 

'I've been getting high' means more than the outcome of a drug. It could connote the powerful/'high' feeling of love/lust/life? I searched 'red monkey man' into a search engine to see wether this phrase has any significance/inter-textual references. As according to wikipedia, 'the monkey man' is a monster which was reported roaming in New Delhi mid 2001. Perhaps it is a reference to the devil? 'read between the lines' means to analyse into something further, perhaps that is what the red monkey man is doing? Interrupting the singer's 'high'/happiness? 

Chorus: 

A tidal wave is an exceptionally large ocean wave. The lyric 'riding on a tidal wave' implies that the narrator is on a new level of something positive, and has gained control over the wave that can cause damaging effects. However, there's a time when tidal waves crash down and relax, suggesting this type of high is not permanent - the same explanation goes to 'floating in from outer space' because there will be a time when the narrator lands. 

By researching the lyric, I discovered that 'summers place' is a romantic film about teenage lovers from different social classes who get back together 20 years after. This lyric incorporated in the song may imply that the narrator wants to go back to this 'high' that appears to be a consistent theme throughout - they want to go back to being in love, and they want it to last. 

Verse 2 

'I've been seeing signs - reflects the dilemmas and scenarios the narrator has stumbled across in their life. Or possibly, they could have been signs that would have impacted on them positively if they followed them? The next lyric 'the four wheel drive it travelled in the signs' reflects this. 'You'll be alright' - perhaps this is what the narrator was telling themselves whilst they drove into the signs? It appears that the narrator has regret for accomplishing this. 

Chorus 

'Leery' - meaning to be cautious due to realistic suspicions. However, this goes against 'high school ball' because the narrator is speaking as if  they are remising the past when they were younger and happier, but is not realistic they would come back to reliving this time.

'Celebrating on my own' suggests that the narrator does not want anyone else with them, enjoys their own company. This could either reflect their lonely experience in high school, or a retaliation to the people who have hurt them & no longer need? 

Verse 3 

The world 'finally' puts emphasis on how the narrator feels relieved to be content with life - 'finally laying free at the world', suggesting the problems they faced before are no longer present. However, 'man will swallow me whole' means that society and its dominant social norms will stop the narrator doing what they wish to do, or perhaps 'man' means something else that is just as powerful as humans are - the reoccurring theme of love? 

'Ripples in my hair' Small waves that could represent small issues/struggles. 'Hair' is close to the head & brain, so the narrator may be trying to empty the negative thoughts from their mind. 

UPDATED Potential track ideas (AW)

When it came to choosing a song for our music video, our group had a solid idea as to what genre we wanted our song to belong to. We concluded that we wanted to use the indie genre, but depending on the songs we found we had to take sub-genres such as indie rock and indie pop into consideration.  After listening to the songs, as a group we wrote down notes about the lyrics, the beat, the recording quality, and the intensity/pattern of the song.

The following 4 songs we chose are:

 •Shiners - 19 Again

 •Tempesst - Tidal Wave

 •Family Friends - Sometimes

 •Corey Bowen - If birds wish to fly

Shiners - 19 Again

Strengths

 •The title of the song is clear in the chorus - “You make me feel 19 again", meaning that it is catchy to sing along to. The band's target audience may also be within this age range so they can relate to the feeling and age of being 19.

•There is a slight change in intensity and the recording quality of the song sounds professional, not crackly/distorted.

 Weaknesses

 •The verses and the choruses are similar, meaning that it would be difficult to divide the narrative/scenes into sections.

•The beat is good but it is not very unique, the overall song sounds like typical indie rock music. It contains the same instruments throughout. This suggests that it would be hard to identify the areas to cut on.

•Although '19 Again' is a good example of an indie rock song, it does not connote to other genres/sub-genres, meaning that their target audience would be small and selective, which would make it difficult to connect the product to the consumer.

Tempesst - Tidal Wave

Strengths

 •The sound and the genre of the song is something different, which instantly places it into the indie genre as originality is a common convention. The vocals are sung slowly to match with the pace of the guitar, creating a relaxing and psychedelic sensation.

•The lyrics are creative which means they are open to interpretations and interesting to analyse - the message of the song is not obvious and embedded within the metaphors e.g. 'riding on a tidal wave, floating in from outer space'.

•The chapters of the song are easy to notice. The intensity of the verses are at a slow pace until the guitar riffs begin and they pick up the potency - introducing a new section or scene in a music video.

•It is not too challenging to find beats to cut clips on, as there is a small pause after each line of the lyrics.

Weaknesses

 •Recording quality is good but it lacks depth - all the instruments and vocals seem to be the same volume. The audio appears to be more quiet than the over songs, even at a loud volume.

Family Friends - Sometimes

Strengths

 •The beat begins of slowly and as the song progresses it gets livelier from there, meaning that the music video to thing song can be full of emotion and expressionism, making it effective for cutting.

• The style of the song changes throughout, meaning that it would be useful for adding in a variation of scenes and narrative structures.

• The recording quality of the song is amazing and professional - each instrument and the vocals have clarity

• It contains a hybrid of musical genres, enabling us to create and develop a wide variety of ideas/themes

Weaknesses

• The lyrics are not very creative, intriguing and memorable, which would make it hard to deeply interpret them, their repetitiveness would make it challenging to link them to the visuals.

• No precise/noticeable chorus

 • Overall, the song would be hard to make a music video for - there is not music to focus on and pick out from the song.

Corey Bowen - If birds wish to fly

 Strengths

 •The lyrics are clear and distinct, making it easier for the audience to notice the links between the visuals and the lyrics, helping them to follow the narrative.

•Recognisable lyrics e.g. "If the birds wish to fly, you should let them fly"

 •The song possesses changes in the dynamic, which would make it easier to include elements in the music video with different mise-en-scenes - conforms to its genre.

 •The recording quality is good and professional.

Weaknesses

 • The variation within the lyrics is limited - the song could include more to build upon the visuals in the video.

Final song choice: Tempesst 'Tidal Wave' (AW)

Originally, our group was planning on using Corey Bowen's 'If birds wish to fly' for our productions because we liked how the song was in chapters. Sadly, Corey Bowen unexpectedly deleted all copies of his song we chose and shut down all of his social media pages. This meant that we had to change the song because we cannot download it or contact the artist the same way as we did before. 

 

To replace our first choice, we chose Tidal Wave by Tempesst. We chose this song because it gave us a blank canvas to work with, as its music video is animated. It belongs to a similar genre to our other song and its beat unique, conforming to our genre. I feel as though thinking of a good idea and gathering high quality footage alongside this song would result in the overall product being fantastic. The song also provides clear chapters which will help us in the filming and editing process as our group will be able the divide each scene to a particular verse/chorus. As well as this, the song contains psychedelic elemets, which will suit the ideas we have for our music video becuase its the theme we wish to work with. The song title/lyric 'Tidal wave' can be presented within a variety of themes and representations, as it can have more than one meaning than an actual tidal wave. The only issue I have found with the song is that it is rather slow paced, which means it would be difficult to include fast and quick shots alongside it.

UPDATED Music video Pitch + representations

Pitch

Genre: Indie/alternative/rock. I feel as though the pitch for my music video will conform many conventions attached to this genre because it is cinematic and challenges popular music videos within the music industry. It is becoming more common for other music videos with the same genre to tell a story/include a narrative, as this can help to explain the lyrics to the viewer. Unlike a lot of indie music videos, mine will not include the band performing or lip syncing because we want ours to be enjoyed and appreciated like a film. 

Basic premise: 

• Someone anonymous puts a stimulant in a drink next to a sleeping male character. After he wakes up and drinks the liquid he begins hallucinating and his vision goes wavy and more vibrant - this will be created through effects. 
• A girl walks past him and he follows her, in an attempt of discovering who is behind the mask. The boy will not know that this 'someone' is the girl he loves, until the figure takes off the mask and reveals her identity. 
• The audience will find out half way through the music video that it was actually the girl herself who put the stimulant in his drink.
• Throughout the video, she will disappear and keep reappearing, making the male character confused. 
• The girl eventually takes off her mask and they meet face to face.

I am pleased with this outcome of ideas my group and I thought of, as I feel as though it is something original - especially for a music video. Although the representations are hard to follow, the outline of the narrative is not, so the props and characters can be interpreted in any way depending on how a viewer sees it. 

Representations

Love is the most importance theme in my music video, and it is represented through the stimulant. Therefore, the video is not about drug indulgence or drug abuse, but it will aim to demonstrate the complexity of love in a creative way.

• The stimulant: Love. As the male character begins to hallucinate in the bed, the 'sparks' of first attraction are produced. Love is produced by the combination of three neurochemicals - phenylethylamine, norepinephrine and dopamine. Therefore, the effects expose the bonding of these neurochemicals and the formation of love in a visual way.
• The male character: The target of love - has caught feelings and can't escape it easily because humans cannot control who they fancy. 
• The mask: A false identity. The phrase 'putting on a mask' to hide your inner emotions is a popular one, so by interpreting this in my music video, the mask has one solid emotion that cannot be changed, so the girl wears to to pretend nothing is affecting her.
• The girl character: Wanting to feel love (hence putting the stimulant in the drink), but not necessarily wanting to give it back - until the ending where she takes off her mask. She does this because the stimulant had proved to her it (love) happens.

Tidal Wave Initial Ideas (KA)

Planning Costumes (KA)

Choosing locations (CD)

Tempesst Artist Permission (KA)

We decided to use Facebook as a means of contacting Tempesst as we assumed they are a fairly 'current' and modern band, so we used to simplest means of contact. 

We are currently still waiting to hear back from the band.

Selecting Actors (KA)

(I altered the POV of this blog post from Katy to mine)

Actors

When it came to choosing who we wanted to act in our video, we decided to keep the actors in our group. We thought this would be easier as we knew, as a group, what we wanted to achieve. Therefore, instead of having to relay our ideas to other people who may not understand the kind of things we wanted do with our video, we decided to use Cody and Katy for the main actors for our video.

In a similar sense, we decided not to ask people to be extras for our video as all the locations we are using are city centre locations that are always highly populated with people. We thought this works well with the distorting concept of our video.

We chose to cast people of our age in the video is essentially about two teenagers, ones who is fixated on the thought of being in love with a certain girl, who may be a figure of his imagination. 

Male Character

Our male character is a seemingly secretive and closed off person. Cody can easily achieve this, with his costume; it’s extremely easy to create the representations we wanted.

Cody isn’t a drama student,and neither is Katy. This could cause issues, but we realised the roles are simple enough to easily create the images we wanted to, regardless of whether the actors are drama students.

Female Character

Katy is taking the role of the female character. This is a fairly simple role, and because she is not a drama student, it is easy for her to carry out.

Our female character is a very illusive and, in a sense, mysterious character in that we, as the audience don't know if she actually exists.  
However, Katy is 17 and Cody is 18 - we felt this would fit perfectly with what we were trying to achieve with our portrayal of our characters. Like many teenagers, we are showing them to be extremely closed off and secretive people who are extremely susceptible to ‘love’ even when it doesn’t really exist.