We held our focus group in a classroom at Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School where we had use of a computer, an interactive whiteboard and were unlikely to be disturbed. To begin we played our chosen track to the six teenagers who made up our focus group and then discussed their initial impressions. To make sure we did not influence their ideas we told the focus group nothing of our own opinions and ideas. All the teenagers were familiar with and enjoyed the genre of music we have chosen so represent our target audience.
Once we had collected information about their own impressions and ideas for the video (including questions which asked what they would expect to see in a video of this genre such as a performance as well as specific example for example certain camera shots and mise-en-scene) we explained our own ideas for the music video and showed them our moodboard. Many of the ideas the focus group had come up with were very similar to our own ideas which was a relief! After showing them our moodboard and presenting our ideas the focus group gave their opinions and expanded on our ideas.
Here are the results of our Focus Group:
1. Where do you think a conventional pop/punk video would be set?
"On the streets", "in a studio", "a large open space"
2. What aspects of a conventional music video, for example live performance, would you expect from a video of the pop/punk genre?
"shots of instruments and the band", "something happening, like characters and stuff." (or in media-language: narrative)
3. Are there any camera techniques you would expect to see?
"Close-ups of the singer", "close-ups of the instruments", "shots of the band playing" "movement between different scenes really fast and weird angles."
4. What do you expect the cast to be wearing?
"Black, white and pink clothing because of their name", "skinny jeans", "they would have long hair... with a fringe!", "dark hair". "The artist would be good-looking". "The girls featured in the video would each look different, they would have to be pretty as its a music video", "wearing like, rock/pop style clothes. preppy clothes or emoish, but not too much emo".
5. What examples of lighting would you expect from a pop/punk video?
"Lots of flashing lights", "lights shining into the camera", "normal lighting but quite stark, not very warm"
6. Would you expect a pop/rock video to have special effects or be more natural? elaborate...
"probably special effects. or at least cool camera stuff.", "pop/rock bands like to show off so probably yeah. maybe slow motion or fast motion?", "maybe distorted colours"
7. How would you expect a pop/punk band to be represented?
"rebellious", "cheeky", "fun", "comic", "don't-care attitude", "image concious"
8. How fast-paced would you expect this video to be?
"really fast. the song is fast so the video should be too.", "there should be lots of movement"
9. Would you expect the song to change in any way? for example a moment of silence in the middle to allow for narrative? (e.g. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vLSUdF2d_uI)
"no, the song doesn't sound like it should stop in the middle or anything, i think that would slow the pace.", "maybe a little bit of video before and after the song starts? like, a bit of narrative?"
10. Would you expect a video which followed the lyrical content of the song? Or would you expect a more unconnected series of scenes and situations?
"i don't think it should tell the story of the lyrics in the song. that might be complicated and weird.", "maybe connect them more through the music than the lyrics."
Here are the ideas which our Focus Group came up with, when they listened to the track:
- The video could be over a period of time, for example, the track starts when it is the evening, gets darker as the video progresses and then eventually gets lighter as it turns to morning
- The music video should have aspects of comedy included in the song, for example, the artist could fall ver as he is running down the street, but then roll over as he gets up, as to not break the pace. Also, the artist could make funny shapes as he jumps on a trampoline.
- The artist should be running through most of the video.
- The artist can be running away from something but the audience don't find out what it is until the end.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Jess and Sarah: Music Industry Institutional Research
Although it encompasses the activity of many music-related businesses and organizations, it is currently dominated by the "big four" record groups, also known as "the major labels"/"the majors" — Sony Music Entertainment,[1] EMI, Universal and Warner — each of which consists of many smaller companies and labels serving different regions and markets.
it refers only to the businesses and organizations that record, produce, publish, distribute, and market recorded music (e.g., music publishers, recording industry, record production companies). until the 1700s, the process of composition and printing of music was mostly supported by patronage from the aristocracy and church. In the mid-to-late 1700s, performers and composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began to seek commercial opportunities to market their music and performances to the general public. After Mozart's death, his wife (Constanze Weber) continued the process of commercialization of his music through an unprecedented series of memorial concerts, selling his manuscripts, and collaborating with her second husband, Georg Nissen, on a biography of Mozart. In the 1800s, the music industry was dominated by sheet music publishers. In the United States, the music industry arose in tandem with the rise of blackface minstrelsy. The group of music publishers and songwriters which dominated popular music in the United States was known as Tin Pan Alley.
it refers only to the businesses and organizations that record, produce, publish, distribute, and market recorded music (e.g., music publishers, recording industry, record production companies). until the 1700s, the process of composition and printing of music was mostly supported by patronage from the aristocracy and church. In the mid-to-late 1700s, performers and composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began to seek commercial opportunities to market their music and performances to the general public. After Mozart's death, his wife (Constanze Weber) continued the process of commercialization of his music through an unprecedented series of memorial concerts, selling his manuscripts, and collaborating with her second husband, Georg Nissen, on a biography of Mozart. In the 1800s, the music industry was dominated by sheet music publishers. In the United States, the music industry arose in tandem with the rise of blackface minstrelsy. The group of music publishers and songwriters which dominated popular music in the United States was known as Tin Pan Alley.
In the early 20th century, the phonograph industry grew greatly in importance, and the record industry eventually replaced the sheet music publishers as the industry's largest force. A multitude of record labels came and went, but a handful of label corporations prospered for decades. By the end of the 1980s, the "Big 6" — EMI, Sony, BMG, PolyGram, WEA and MCA — dominated the industry. In mid-1998, PolyGram merged into Universal Music Group (formerly MCA), dropping the leaders down to a "Big 5". They became the "Big 4" in 2004 when Sony combined with BMG.
The advent of file sharing technologies has changed the balance between record companies, song writers, and performing artists. Bands such as Metallica have fought back against peer-to-peer programs such as the infamous Napster, and the arguments for and against technology to circumvent them - digital rights management systems - remain controversial. With the advent of Apple Inc.'s iTunes online music store in 2003, legal music downloads became widely available.
By June 2008, digital music sales generated around $2 billion in revenue, with tracks available through 500 online services located in 40 countries, representing around 10 percent of the total global music market. Revenue from retail CD sales, however, continued to fall. IBISWorld reported in June 2008 that "the industry's financial future looks bleak," but noted that, although revenues have decreased, artists have suffered less than record companies, since they can "make most of their money on merchandise sales and touring."
The music industry is made up of various players, including individuals, companies, unions, not-for-profit associations, and rights collectives, and other bodies. Professional musicians, musical ensembles, singers, conductors, and arrangers, and sound engineers create sound or video recordings of music or do live performances onstage. Professional musicians negotiate their wages, contractual conditions, and other conditions of work through Musicians' Unions or other guilds. Composers and songwriters write the music and lyrics to songs, which are sold in print form, as sheet music by music publishers. Composers and performers get part of their income from writers' copyright collectives and performance rights organization such as the ASCAP and BMI (or MCPS and PRS respectively for the UK); these societies and collectives ensure that composers and performers are compensated when their works are used on the radio or TV or in films. When musicians and singers make a CD or DVD, the creative process is coordinated by a record producer, whose role in the recording may range from suggesting songs and backing musicians to having a direct hands-on role in the studio, coaching singers, giving advice to session musicians on playing styles, and working with the senior sound engineer to shape the recorded sound through effects and mixing.
Most professional musicians, bands, and singers are signed with record labels, which are companies which finance the recording process in return for part or full share of the rights in the recording. A record company is an entity that manages sound recording-related brands and trademarks which consist of their owned labels; their owned and licensed master recordings; and various related ancillary businesses such as home video and DVDs. Labels may comprise a record group which is, in turn, controlled by a music group. As such, a larger umbrella label may have a number of sub-labels releasing music. Music publishers exist separately (even if sharing the same ultimate holding company or brand name), and they represent the rights in the compositions - i.e. the music as written rather than as recorded.
Record companies and record labels that are not under the control of the Big Four music groups and music publishers that are not one of the Big Four are generally considered to be independent, even if they are part of large corporations with complex structures. Some prefer to use the term indie label to refer to only those independent labels that adhere to criteria of corporate structure and size, and some consider an indie label to be almost any label that releases non-mainstream music, regardless of its corporate structure. According to US Market Research Firm NPD Group, iTunes recently surpassed Wal-Mart as America's largest music distributor. A record distributor is a company (often a record label)[citation needed] that works with record labels to promote and distribute their records, either in their home market or overseas.
Once the CD is recorded record distributor companies organize the shipping of the CDs to music stores and department stores. Record labels have use an "A&R" (Artists and Repertoire) manager to help develop the performing style of bands and singers signed the label. A&R managers may organize shared tours with similar bands or find playing opportunities for the label's groups which will broaden their musical experience. For example, an emerging singer-songwriter with little live playing experience may be sent on a major tour with an electric folk rock act from the same label, so that this person will gain more confidence.
When CDs sell in stores, or online, part of the money is returned to the performers in the form of royalties. While most recordings only earn royalties for a short period after they are released, a small number of recordings have become "classics", with longstanding popularity, such as albums by the Beatles or the Rolling Stones; these albums have continued to earn royalties for the surviving band members decades after their original release date.
Successful artists will hire a number of professionals to assist them with their career. The band manager oversees all aspects of an artist's career in exchange for a percentage of the artist's income. An entertainment lawyer assists them with the details of their contracts with record companies and other deals. A business manager handles financial transactions, taxes and bookkeeping. A booking agency represents the artist to promoters, makes deals and books performances. A travel agent makes travel arrangements. A road crew is a semi-permanent touring organization that travels with the artist. This is headed by a tour manager and includes experts in lighting, sound and musical instruments.
(From Wikipedia)
Monday, 24 November 2008
Jess: Videos which challenge/support gender and race stereotypes
Video supporting gender stereotypes: The Pussycat Dolls - Buttons
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Lad9PVjKwOE
I think that this video supports the gender stereotypes of woman as The Pussycat dolls are not wearing many clothes so that the male (and female as they may want to be like them) can have visceral pleasure; the male gaze. During this video there are lots of images of the women’s bodies and they dance suggestively to the camera most of the time… and to Snoop Dogg. The fact that they are singing “Loosen up my buttons” suggests to the audience that they are there to serve Snoop Dogg and men, in an inferior role. The men in the video are looking at the women's bodies for visceral pleasure which invites the audience to look too. In nearly everyshot as least one of the Pussycat dolls are being focused on.
Video supporting ethnicity stereotypes: Coolio- Gangster's Paradise
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N6voHeEa3ig
I think that this video supports ethnicity stereotypes as the video begins with Coolio smoking. Many young black men are stereotyped as being troublemakers, often involved in gang crime. In the video, there are some young black men fighting which supports this view. Coolio is dressed in a steriotypical gangster way which connotes he is trouble.
Video challenging gender stereotypes: Kate Nash -Foundations
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=orACIBjHuI4
I chose this video to show Kate Nash challenging the gender stereotypes of women, nowadays. Even though she is singing about how she is gripping on to her and her boyfriend’s relationship, she seems quite equal to him as she can stand her ground and stand up for herself. She is not represented as an object for the male viewers, there are no shots of her bare body, she is represented as strong minded and feisty. In the video, Kate stands her ground against her boyfriend, she uses her voice to suggest she is not the steriotypical sexy singer but quite common and mouthy.
Video challenging ethnicity stereotypes: Sugababes-Ugly (People are all the same)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4VOFeSc-4
I think that this video challenges the ethnicity stereotype of white people being “better” than black people as the message of the song is that people are all the same; as everyone is equal.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Lad9PVjKwOE
I think that this video supports the gender stereotypes of woman as The Pussycat dolls are not wearing many clothes so that the male (and female as they may want to be like them) can have visceral pleasure; the male gaze. During this video there are lots of images of the women’s bodies and they dance suggestively to the camera most of the time… and to Snoop Dogg. The fact that they are singing “Loosen up my buttons” suggests to the audience that they are there to serve Snoop Dogg and men, in an inferior role. The men in the video are looking at the women's bodies for visceral pleasure which invites the audience to look too. In nearly everyshot as least one of the Pussycat dolls are being focused on.
Video supporting ethnicity stereotypes: Coolio- Gangster's Paradise
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N6voHeEa3ig
I think that this video supports ethnicity stereotypes as the video begins with Coolio smoking. Many young black men are stereotyped as being troublemakers, often involved in gang crime. In the video, there are some young black men fighting which supports this view. Coolio is dressed in a steriotypical gangster way which connotes he is trouble.
Video challenging gender stereotypes: Kate Nash -Foundations
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=orACIBjHuI4
I chose this video to show Kate Nash challenging the gender stereotypes of women, nowadays. Even though she is singing about how she is gripping on to her and her boyfriend’s relationship, she seems quite equal to him as she can stand her ground and stand up for herself. She is not represented as an object for the male viewers, there are no shots of her bare body, she is represented as strong minded and feisty. In the video, Kate stands her ground against her boyfriend, she uses her voice to suggest she is not the steriotypical sexy singer but quite common and mouthy.
Video challenging ethnicity stereotypes: Sugababes-Ugly (People are all the same)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4VOFeSc-4
I think that this video challenges the ethnicity stereotype of white people being “better” than black people as the message of the song is that people are all the same; as everyone is equal.
Jess: Auteur's Music Videos
Context Auteur:
Chris Cunningham
Chris Cunningham was born in Reading (Berkshire) in 1970, and grew up in Suffolk.
Chris Cunningham is a well known director who works in music videos, commercial, and video art. In the early 90’s, Cunningham first made a name for himself in the art departments of major motion pictures by designing robots and creatures for Clive Barker and David Fincher. In 1995, Cunningham’s work on “Judge Dredd” boosted him into work with the late Stanley Kubrick on his then-unfinished project A.I.Cunningham directed his first music video whilst working with Kubrick: “Autechre's Second Bad Vilbel”. A series of videos with various alternative English rock bands pursued where Cunningham learned the ropes of filmmaking.In 1997, Cunningham directed “Come to Daddy”, a video which landed him on the radar of every artist on the planet. Cunningham directed six videos and seven commercials, over the next two years.In 2000’ Cunningham directed two short films for the Anthony D'Offay Gallery which were called: “Flex and Monkey Drummer”. These works showed a very modern and hyper-realistic take on the world. “Rubber Johnny” by Cunningham was released in 2005, it was a six-minute short that showed a vision Chris had. Since his first production for “Autechre”, Cunningham has had close ties to Warp Records. Cunningham’s most famous music video is Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy". His video for Bjork's "All is Full of Love" won multiple awards, including an MTV music video award for Breakthrough Video and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video. His video for Aphex's Twin's "Windowlicker" was nominated for the "Best Video" award at the Brit Awards 2000.
Deconstructing Two of Chris Cunningham’s Music Videos:
Placebo- 36 Degrees
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RuPesIYaVN0
Mise-En-Scene
Cunningham has decided to open the video with a dark shot of the main singer’s face surrounded by dark water, creating a sense of mystery. The main singer’s face is covered in white make-up, and he is wearing black eyeliner. There are shots of the band playing underwater as if performing on stage. Costume: band wearing mainly black or white clothing, which is alternative to classic fashion. Lead singer sports long black hair. Lights on band under the water, giving the set a sense of being at a concert, yet underwater. Bubbles. Swamp-like place, full of mud- gives sense of isolation. Lead singer’s bare back and bare chest allowing the audience to look at his body. There are lots of shots of the bands instruments: guitars, keyboards etc...
Camera Techniques
The music video opens with a mid-shot of the main singer’s head which is sticking out of the dark water; creating an enigma. The camera then zooms into a close-up of the main singer’s face singing, his face blurring. This close-up suggests to the audience that this artist is the person who is being advertised through the music video. Mid-shots of band playing, which then turns to close-ups as camera zooms in to instruments. Close-up of a black and white shoe creating an enigma as the audience may wonder what the shoes has to do with anything. Lots of close-ups of the main singer singing, his face blurred giving him a sense of having a lack of identity. High-angle shot on main singer making him seem somewhat vulnerable in the water. Low-angle shot as he swims higher up to surface making him seem important- which is effective as he is the main artist. Birds Eye View shot of lead singer lying on seabed, making the audience into voyeurs. Close up on the lead singer’s mouth as he sings emphasizing the words: “To Stay Alive” and “36 Degrees” which is the title of the song.
Editing
Quick editing in time to the music. Guitar floats up to the surface of the water on the final strum of the guitar, leaving the music video to end with the guitar floating on the water, which then fades out to a black background. This fits in well to the rest of the video as it is a black and white music video.
Sound
The camera moves to the beat of the music. Music changes as man dives into water. Music video ends with a strum of the guitar which slowly softens, eventually fading out.Special EffectsMain singing suddenly disappears into water and sings whilst in water. Band seem to be performing under the water as if they were on land, able to breathe. Main singer’s face becomes fuzzy whenever the camera zooms into a close-up of the lead singer’s face.
Goodwin
Genre characteristics
Alternative rock. Long hair and abstract fashion sense (motif).The notion of looking is used as the main artist is seen looking at his reflection in a large mirror underwater.
Relationship between visuals and lyrics
Close-ups of him singing close-ups of the band playing their instruments. Refers to the lead singer feeling as if he is going to suffocate and needing to breathe, which is ironic as he is breathing underwater.
Relationship between music and visuals
He moves often in time to the music and the camera cuts in time with the beat. Object falls into water, hitting the surface as the music changes. Foot kicking the water making it splash in time to the music. Lead singer repeated pushes back his hair in time to the music.
The Horrors- Sheena is a Parasite
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gZMrwZItOGE
Mise-En-Scene
The video opens with a woman standing in the dark wearing a strappy white dress. Suddenly there is a man pointing to the audience, making him seem quite threatening, singing. Blue lighting surrounds the girl as she puts her hand out towards the camera as if to say “stay away”, making her seem dangerous. The set is dark and eerie creating an enigma is the audience may wonder why the atmosphere is so gloomy. The band are wearing dark clothes apart from the girl who is in white. The band are wearing eyeliner and have messy hair, which is conventional of the rock genre.
Camera Techniques
The video starts with a mid-shot of a woman standing in the darkness. Suddenly a man singing moves into the shot, making the shot become a close up of his face singing. There are lots of close ups of the lead singer singing, this establishes him as the artist. There are lots of mid-shots of the woman dancing, allowing the audience to look at her body; this is an example of the male gaze. She is not wearing very revealing clothing, however, her shoulders are basically bare and she is only wearing a dress. There are several mid-shots of the band playing which shows the audience who they are listening to.
Editing
The music video begins with a woman standing in the darkness, the lighting flashes in time to the music. The camera zooms in and out of the man’s face singing in time to the music. Smoke at the end of the music video which disappears and then there is a flashing blue light which eventually fades out into darkness.
Sound
The music speeds up as the lighting flashes quickly on the girl looking up. The editing changes in time to the music.
Special Effects
The woman starts by shaking her head; the movement has been sped up, in time to the music, giving her an immortal quality. There is a drummer playing on the drums, his drumsticks moving impossibly fast as the shot has been sped up. The woman is seen shaking her head which keeps morphing into a parasites head when the lead singer makes reference to the fact “Sheena is a parasite”.
Goodwin
Genre characteristics
Rock genre. Messy hair, abstract fashion sense- black and white clothing. The band are all wearing eyeliner which is typical of rock genre artists.
Relationship between Visuals and Lyrics
Every time the lead singer sings the words: “Sheena is a parasite”, the title of the song, the woman changes her posture and hunches over as if she has become an insect.
Relationship between Music and Visuals
The band are all moving to the music in this video, even though most of the time their actions have been sped up. The guitarist nodds in time to the beat whilst playing. The woman moves in time to the music, shaking her head and dancing.
Chris Cunningham
Chris Cunningham was born in Reading (Berkshire) in 1970, and grew up in Suffolk.
Chris Cunningham is a well known director who works in music videos, commercial, and video art. In the early 90’s, Cunningham first made a name for himself in the art departments of major motion pictures by designing robots and creatures for Clive Barker and David Fincher. In 1995, Cunningham’s work on “Judge Dredd” boosted him into work with the late Stanley Kubrick on his then-unfinished project A.I.Cunningham directed his first music video whilst working with Kubrick: “Autechre's Second Bad Vilbel”. A series of videos with various alternative English rock bands pursued where Cunningham learned the ropes of filmmaking.In 1997, Cunningham directed “Come to Daddy”, a video which landed him on the radar of every artist on the planet. Cunningham directed six videos and seven commercials, over the next two years.In 2000’ Cunningham directed two short films for the Anthony D'Offay Gallery which were called: “Flex and Monkey Drummer”. These works showed a very modern and hyper-realistic take on the world. “Rubber Johnny” by Cunningham was released in 2005, it was a six-minute short that showed a vision Chris had. Since his first production for “Autechre”, Cunningham has had close ties to Warp Records. Cunningham’s most famous music video is Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy". His video for Bjork's "All is Full of Love" won multiple awards, including an MTV music video award for Breakthrough Video and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video. His video for Aphex's Twin's "Windowlicker" was nominated for the "Best Video" award at the Brit Awards 2000.
Deconstructing Two of Chris Cunningham’s Music Videos:
Placebo- 36 Degrees
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RuPesIYaVN0
Mise-En-Scene
Cunningham has decided to open the video with a dark shot of the main singer’s face surrounded by dark water, creating a sense of mystery. The main singer’s face is covered in white make-up, and he is wearing black eyeliner. There are shots of the band playing underwater as if performing on stage. Costume: band wearing mainly black or white clothing, which is alternative to classic fashion. Lead singer sports long black hair. Lights on band under the water, giving the set a sense of being at a concert, yet underwater. Bubbles. Swamp-like place, full of mud- gives sense of isolation. Lead singer’s bare back and bare chest allowing the audience to look at his body. There are lots of shots of the bands instruments: guitars, keyboards etc...
Camera Techniques
The music video opens with a mid-shot of the main singer’s head which is sticking out of the dark water; creating an enigma. The camera then zooms into a close-up of the main singer’s face singing, his face blurring. This close-up suggests to the audience that this artist is the person who is being advertised through the music video. Mid-shots of band playing, which then turns to close-ups as camera zooms in to instruments. Close-up of a black and white shoe creating an enigma as the audience may wonder what the shoes has to do with anything. Lots of close-ups of the main singer singing, his face blurred giving him a sense of having a lack of identity. High-angle shot on main singer making him seem somewhat vulnerable in the water. Low-angle shot as he swims higher up to surface making him seem important- which is effective as he is the main artist. Birds Eye View shot of lead singer lying on seabed, making the audience into voyeurs. Close up on the lead singer’s mouth as he sings emphasizing the words: “To Stay Alive” and “36 Degrees” which is the title of the song.
Editing
Quick editing in time to the music. Guitar floats up to the surface of the water on the final strum of the guitar, leaving the music video to end with the guitar floating on the water, which then fades out to a black background. This fits in well to the rest of the video as it is a black and white music video.
Sound
The camera moves to the beat of the music. Music changes as man dives into water. Music video ends with a strum of the guitar which slowly softens, eventually fading out.Special EffectsMain singing suddenly disappears into water and sings whilst in water. Band seem to be performing under the water as if they were on land, able to breathe. Main singer’s face becomes fuzzy whenever the camera zooms into a close-up of the lead singer’s face.
Goodwin
Genre characteristics
Alternative rock. Long hair and abstract fashion sense (motif).The notion of looking is used as the main artist is seen looking at his reflection in a large mirror underwater.
Relationship between visuals and lyrics
Close-ups of him singing close-ups of the band playing their instruments. Refers to the lead singer feeling as if he is going to suffocate and needing to breathe, which is ironic as he is breathing underwater.
Relationship between music and visuals
He moves often in time to the music and the camera cuts in time with the beat. Object falls into water, hitting the surface as the music changes. Foot kicking the water making it splash in time to the music. Lead singer repeated pushes back his hair in time to the music.
The Horrors- Sheena is a Parasite
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gZMrwZItOGE
Mise-En-Scene
The video opens with a woman standing in the dark wearing a strappy white dress. Suddenly there is a man pointing to the audience, making him seem quite threatening, singing. Blue lighting surrounds the girl as she puts her hand out towards the camera as if to say “stay away”, making her seem dangerous. The set is dark and eerie creating an enigma is the audience may wonder why the atmosphere is so gloomy. The band are wearing dark clothes apart from the girl who is in white. The band are wearing eyeliner and have messy hair, which is conventional of the rock genre.
Camera Techniques
The video starts with a mid-shot of a woman standing in the darkness. Suddenly a man singing moves into the shot, making the shot become a close up of his face singing. There are lots of close ups of the lead singer singing, this establishes him as the artist. There are lots of mid-shots of the woman dancing, allowing the audience to look at her body; this is an example of the male gaze. She is not wearing very revealing clothing, however, her shoulders are basically bare and she is only wearing a dress. There are several mid-shots of the band playing which shows the audience who they are listening to.
Editing
The music video begins with a woman standing in the darkness, the lighting flashes in time to the music. The camera zooms in and out of the man’s face singing in time to the music. Smoke at the end of the music video which disappears and then there is a flashing blue light which eventually fades out into darkness.
Sound
The music speeds up as the lighting flashes quickly on the girl looking up. The editing changes in time to the music.
Special Effects
The woman starts by shaking her head; the movement has been sped up, in time to the music, giving her an immortal quality. There is a drummer playing on the drums, his drumsticks moving impossibly fast as the shot has been sped up. The woman is seen shaking her head which keeps morphing into a parasites head when the lead singer makes reference to the fact “Sheena is a parasite”.
Goodwin
Genre characteristics
Rock genre. Messy hair, abstract fashion sense- black and white clothing. The band are all wearing eyeliner which is typical of rock genre artists.
Relationship between Visuals and Lyrics
Every time the lead singer sings the words: “Sheena is a parasite”, the title of the song, the woman changes her posture and hunches over as if she has become an insect.
Relationship between Music and Visuals
The band are all moving to the music in this video, even though most of the time their actions have been sped up. The guitarist nodds in time to the beat whilst playing. The woman moves in time to the music, shaking her head and dancing.
Jess and Sarah: Lyrics and Analysis
These are the lyrics to The Pink Spiders "Easy Way Out" and we have analysed them so we have a better idea as to what the song is about and how we can incorporate this meaning and the songs atmosphere into our video.
I'm just another substance abuser,
but baby I'm the future
And I know there's no easy way out
I've got nothing but problems and habits
Shifting throught the static
But baby there's no easy way out
This verse is pretty self-explanatory: the person singing is addicted to drugs and alcohol etc. and is trying to explain that there isn't an easy way to stop his habits but then again doesn't really see why he should give up as he sees himself as the new normality.
So are you cunning now?
Hey it's obscene and it's green and it's automatic
I know how to make it seem like it's your fault
I believe it when you say that you need it for the sway
When I'm screaming through the troubles that the drugs don't solve
This verse seems to be him explaining what his addictions do to him; how they make him act. He also says that she complains when he struggles with other problems so the drugs/alcohol take away the worst of it and she should be happy.
Broads in the bar in the car sipping vodka tonics
Another couple drinks and then they look just fine
It's easy as they say but believe me see I hate it
When the hardest part is acting like I just don't try
Throughout the song hes saying that hes a drug abuser but that its not all bad (the reference to the girls in the bar/car seems to suggest that his addictions make it all a lot more beautiful...)and sounds as though he is trying to convince someone that its not a problem. The last line suggests that he has tried to get away from it all before but failed and is fed up with people thinking that because he is still addicted it means he didn't try very hard.
END OF SONG.
The strongest message of the song is that the main singer has tried to get away but couldn't and now doesn't really mind that its still going on. To incorporate this idea we will have the main singer dressed in a black and pink striped top (a take on the traditional black and white striped prisoners outfit whilst including the pink motif of The Pink Spiders.) running from police (who in this case represent both the illegality of substance abuse and also the addictive substances themselves which have a hold on him). Throughout the video the lead singer will come across girls looking fed up and with an "i've heard it all before" expression on their faces whom he will try to persuade to agree with his view of his addictions before running off again to escape the police who are steadily catching up.
I'm just another substance abuser,
but baby I'm the future
And I know there's no easy way out
I've got nothing but problems and habits
Shifting throught the static
But baby there's no easy way out
This verse is pretty self-explanatory: the person singing is addicted to drugs and alcohol etc. and is trying to explain that there isn't an easy way to stop his habits but then again doesn't really see why he should give up as he sees himself as the new normality.
So are you cunning now?
Hey it's obscene and it's green and it's automatic
I know how to make it seem like it's your fault
I believe it when you say that you need it for the sway
When I'm screaming through the troubles that the drugs don't solve
This verse seems to be him explaining what his addictions do to him; how they make him act. He also says that she complains when he struggles with other problems so the drugs/alcohol take away the worst of it and she should be happy.
Broads in the bar in the car sipping vodka tonics
Another couple drinks and then they look just fine
It's easy as they say but believe me see I hate it
When the hardest part is acting like I just don't try
Throughout the song hes saying that hes a drug abuser but that its not all bad (the reference to the girls in the bar/car seems to suggest that his addictions make it all a lot more beautiful...)and sounds as though he is trying to convince someone that its not a problem. The last line suggests that he has tried to get away from it all before but failed and is fed up with people thinking that because he is still addicted it means he didn't try very hard.
END OF SONG.
The strongest message of the song is that the main singer has tried to get away but couldn't and now doesn't really mind that its still going on. To incorporate this idea we will have the main singer dressed in a black and pink striped top (a take on the traditional black and white striped prisoners outfit whilst including the pink motif of The Pink Spiders.) running from police (who in this case represent both the illegality of substance abuse and also the addictive substances themselves which have a hold on him). Throughout the video the lead singer will come across girls looking fed up and with an "i've heard it all before" expression on their faces whom he will try to persuade to agree with his view of his addictions before running off again to escape the police who are steadily catching up.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Jess and Sarah: Moodboard
On Paper.
In our moodboard, we have included our band's name: Eight Leg Fred (written with pink and black letters to suggest we are using a song from The Pink Spiders who use black and pink). We have identified the genre of our music video as punk/rock/pop. We have lots of images on our moodboard. There is a picture of a policeman and a robber to show that in our music video, the main singer will be running away from the law as the song is about how he can't get out of his drug-fuelled life. There is also a picture of a girl as in our music video the lead singer is explaining to the girl he can't get out of using drugs, there is no easy way out (which is the title of the song). We have put lots of our ideas onto our moodboard and ideas which we got as a result of our focus group. We explain on our moodboard about possible locations we will film in (e.g. alley, town) and about the costumes, for example, skinny jeans and pink and black striped t-shirts, a policeman uniform,...). We will have lots of shots of the band playing, we will have some flashing lighting when the band is performing.
In our moodboard, we have included our band's name: Eight Leg Fred (written with pink and black letters to suggest we are using a song from The Pink Spiders who use black and pink). We have identified the genre of our music video as punk/rock/pop. We have lots of images on our moodboard. There is a picture of a policeman and a robber to show that in our music video, the main singer will be running away from the law as the song is about how he can't get out of his drug-fuelled life. There is also a picture of a girl as in our music video the lead singer is explaining to the girl he can't get out of using drugs, there is no easy way out (which is the title of the song). We have put lots of our ideas onto our moodboard and ideas which we got as a result of our focus group. We explain on our moodboard about possible locations we will film in (e.g. alley, town) and about the costumes, for example, skinny jeans and pink and black striped t-shirts, a policeman uniform,...). We will have lots of shots of the band playing, we will have some flashing lighting when the band is performing.
Sarah: Technical Analysis
The track i have chosen for my technical analysis is "Oh Yeah" by The Subways. I chose this song because it is of the same genre as our chosen Pink Spiders song and therefore will have similar conventions for its music video. This video is performance based.
Key:
(1)= How long (seconds) the shot lasted
- = New shot
LS = Long Shot
CU = Close Up
ECU= Extreme Close Up
HA = High Angle
LA = Low Angle
MS = Mid Shot
-LS of drummer (4)
-CU of him putting water glass on amp (1)
-HA of drummer getting ready to play (4)
-ECU of water glass moving across amp due to noise levels (2)
-LS of whole band (1)
-CU of girl at microphone (1)
-LS of whole band (1)
-CU of singers microphone with singer dancing behind (1)
-HA of drummer (1/2)
-MS of drummer (1/2)
-CU of microphone (1/2)
-LS of band dancing and playing instruments (1)
-CU of microphone (1)
-LS of band (1/2)
-ECU of singer at microphone(1)
-LS of band (2)
-CU of singer (1)
-ECU of microphone and singer (1)
-CU of drummer- shot moves from stomach to middle drum to lower drum (1)
-CU of singer addressing camera (2)
-LS of band (1)
-CU of girl (1)
-ECU of girl (1)
-CU of singer's torso climbing onto drums- camera follows his body onto drums (2)
-CU of girls face and microphone (2)
-LS of singer jumping from drums (1)
-CU of water glass (1)
-LS of band playing (1)
-HA of drummer (1/2)
-ECU of drummer (1)
-CU of singer (1/2)
-CU of girl (1/2)
-LS of band playing- canted angle (1)
-ECU of girls face and microphone (2)
-MS of band playing (1)
-ECU of guitar (1)
-ECU of hair/head (1/2)
-CU of girl
Although this deconstruction is of less than half of the song, it is clear that for a music video to be successful (which includes being repeatable, interesting and conforming to some of the generic conventions) the shots must be short and cut sharply between each other and, as it is a performance based video, the emphasis must be placed on the band as the main talent using a range of shots such as close-ups. From this excercise i've learnt that we have a challenge ahead of us for our own video to get this many shots and ranges of shots included!
Key:
(1)= How long (seconds) the shot lasted
- = New shot
LS = Long Shot
CU = Close Up
ECU= Extreme Close Up
HA = High Angle
LA = Low Angle
MS = Mid Shot
-LS of drummer (4)
-CU of him putting water glass on amp (1)
-HA of drummer getting ready to play (4)
-ECU of water glass moving across amp due to noise levels (2)
-LS of whole band (1)
-CU of girl at microphone (1)
-LS of whole band (1)
-CU of singers microphone with singer dancing behind (1)
-HA of drummer (1/2)
-MS of drummer (1/2)
-CU of microphone (1/2)
-LS of band dancing and playing instruments (1)
-CU of microphone (1)
-LS of band (1/2)
-ECU of singer at microphone(1)
-LS of band (2)
-CU of singer (1)
-ECU of microphone and singer (1)
-CU of drummer- shot moves from stomach to middle drum to lower drum (1)
-CU of singer addressing camera (2)
-LS of band (1)
-CU of girl (1)
-ECU of girl (1)
-CU of singer's torso climbing onto drums- camera follows his body onto drums (2)
-CU of girls face and microphone (2)
-LS of singer jumping from drums (1)
-CU of water glass (1)
-LS of band playing (1)
-HA of drummer (1/2)
-ECU of drummer (1)
-CU of singer (1/2)
-CU of girl (1/2)
-LS of band playing- canted angle (1)
-ECU of girls face and microphone (2)
-MS of band playing (1)
-ECU of guitar (1)
-ECU of hair/head (1/2)
-CU of girl
Although this deconstruction is of less than half of the song, it is clear that for a music video to be successful (which includes being repeatable, interesting and conforming to some of the generic conventions) the shots must be short and cut sharply between each other and, as it is a performance based video, the emphasis must be placed on the band as the main talent using a range of shots such as close-ups. From this excercise i've learnt that we have a challenge ahead of us for our own video to get this many shots and ranges of shots included!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
