Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Friday, 8 October 2010
Dowloading the song for our video
We used Zamzar to download our track for our music video, we copied and pasted the link from youtube and converted it on Zamzar to use as an mp3, so we can use it for the animatic, rough and final cut.
Make up trial
This is our first try at practicing our make up for the music video. We tried to make her eyes to look as wide as possible so her pupils look as if they are popping out. We also made the whites of her eyes go red to again make the middle of her eyes go blacker. We decided to do this instead of using coloured contact lenses as we thought we could create the look better naturally rather than buying contact lenses that we may not be comfortable with having them in our eyes.
Glow stick colour schemes
These are the basic ideas that we have for our glow stick colour scheme. We are going to put glow stick paint onto our tights and our arms to make us glow in the dark as we are going to film parts of our music video at night. We think that the pink, orange and purple glow paints look well together as a colour scheme and we could put these together on our tights. The bottom picture shows how the yellow glow stick shows up on a white material, this is what we will look like if we use the yellow glow paint on our material. Another image further up shows what the green glow paint looks like if one of us gets it on our hands, this may be a good effect for one character if they were to put a bit on their hands or skin etc... We think that we are only going to use three main colours of the glow sticks so there isn't too much going on on the costumes as the main focus of our costumes are going to be on our faces and make up. The other colours that we don't use may be used as an effect to be thrown about etc... when we create the fire for part of the sequence in the video.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Andrew Goodwins Theory
Andrew Goodwin has identified a number of key features which distinguish the music video as a form:
- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.
We plan to make our music video very conceptual, instead of it being mainly performance based, we would like to make our music video very original and different to many other videos that are popular in the modern day. While making the video we will be keeping typical dance video aspects in mind so we keep with the genre of our song, we would like to use bright neon handprints, colours where both characters we have created in the video has a wide range of coloured handprints on their outfits,we also plan to use fast paced and close up shots, the shots will all be edited together to fit with the timing of the beats of the music for example the shot will change every time their is a dominant beat,we will also fit our footage to the pace of the song.
- There is a relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music.
While planning our music video we planned to create a video which illustrates and amplifies the song, the ideas for our music video are related to people being emotionally upset, much like the main lyrics of the song 'I bruise easily'. As a result of this we have created our costumes, all mise-en-scene and lighting while keeping the idea of being emotionally upset in mind.
- Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography
We plan to keep the 'typical' aspects of dance genre videos in our own music video, as a result of this we plan to use, bright neon colours, coloured handprints on our costumes, colours where both characters we have created in the video has a wide range of coloured handprints on their outfits,we also plan to use fast paced and close up shots, the shots will all be edited together to fit with the timing of the beats of the music for example the shot will change every time their is a dominant beat,we will also fit our footage to the pace of the song.
Additionally, the first mix of 'Bruised water' uses natural elements as a main component of the story line, the character in the video needs water to live as the is a mermaid, also Chicane's 'Saltwater' the video starts with a person walking on the sand at a beach, we follow them using a handheld camera for realism. We then follow them into the ocean, which is a main aspect of this song, we also cut between the natural aspects and footage from a club. However in the initial 'I Bruise Easily' the video simple follows a story line, however we have been inspired by this video by the dark lighting when the main artist is lip syncing, we have also used natural elements in our video such as water and sand much like other Chicane music videos.
- Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist.
We plan for our music video to include 'meet' shots of the main artists lip syncing to the lyrics of the song. We have also filmed a large amount of close ups, including pans and tilts with the artists in main focus, we are planning to use these shots and cut them together quickly to create a fast pace for the footage, which will fit with the song. We are including a narrative story line which will entail following each character while they go through a loose story. Many other music videos use loose story lines to keep the story interesting but also not difficult to follow, as the first purpose of a music video is for entertainment.
- Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens, cameras, mirrors, etc.
Most dance music videos include voyeurism, we are planning not to include this in our video. This is mainly due to most dance music videos being based around people getting ready, going out and enjoying themselves. However we are including a narrative story line within our video, we wanted to make our music video very original and different from the typical music video as we believe this will be more challenging.
- There are likely to be inter textual references, either to other music videos or to films and TV texts, these provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewers/fans.
Our music video has similarities with the first music video of the mix between 'Saltwater' by Chicane and 'I Bruise Easily' by Natasha Bedingfield, the music video cuts between shots every time the louder and more dominant beat plays in the song. This shows that fast paced shots and cuts are also part of the dance music genre. The original music video also uses the idea of someone suffering (the 'mermaid') and the end of the song showing a solution to the problem.
- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.
We plan to make our music video very conceptual, instead of it being mainly performance based, we would like to make our music video very original and different to many other videos that are popular in the modern day. While making the video we will be keeping typical dance video aspects in mind so we keep with the genre of our song, we would like to use bright neon handprints, colours where both characters we have created in the video has a wide range of coloured handprints on their outfits,we also plan to use fast paced and close up shots, the shots will all be edited together to fit with the timing of the beats of the music for example the shot will change every time their is a dominant beat,we will also fit our footage to the pace of the song.
- There is a relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music.
While planning our music video we planned to create a video which illustrates and amplifies the song, the ideas for our music video are related to people being emotionally upset, much like the main lyrics of the song 'I bruise easily'. As a result of this we have created our costumes, all mise-en-scene and lighting while keeping the idea of being emotionally upset in mind.
- Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography
We plan to keep the 'typical' aspects of dance genre videos in our own music video, as a result of this we plan to use, bright neon colours, coloured handprints on our costumes, colours where both characters we have created in the video has a wide range of coloured handprints on their outfits,we also plan to use fast paced and close up shots, the shots will all be edited together to fit with the timing of the beats of the music for example the shot will change every time their is a dominant beat,we will also fit our footage to the pace of the song.
Additionally, the first mix of 'Bruised water' uses natural elements as a main component of the story line, the character in the video needs water to live as the is a mermaid, also Chicane's 'Saltwater' the video starts with a person walking on the sand at a beach, we follow them using a handheld camera for realism. We then follow them into the ocean, which is a main aspect of this song, we also cut between the natural aspects and footage from a club. However in the initial 'I Bruise Easily' the video simple follows a story line, however we have been inspired by this video by the dark lighting when the main artist is lip syncing, we have also used natural elements in our video such as water and sand much like other Chicane music videos.
- Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist.
We plan for our music video to include 'meet' shots of the main artists lip syncing to the lyrics of the song. We have also filmed a large amount of close ups, including pans and tilts with the artists in main focus, we are planning to use these shots and cut them together quickly to create a fast pace for the footage, which will fit with the song. We are including a narrative story line which will entail following each character while they go through a loose story. Many other music videos use loose story lines to keep the story interesting but also not difficult to follow, as the first purpose of a music video is for entertainment.
- Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens, cameras, mirrors, etc.
Most dance music videos include voyeurism, we are planning not to include this in our video. This is mainly due to most dance music videos being based around people getting ready, going out and enjoying themselves. However we are including a narrative story line within our video, we wanted to make our music video very original and different from the typical music video as we believe this will be more challenging.
- There are likely to be inter textual references, either to other music videos or to films and TV texts, these provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewers/fans.
Our music video has similarities with the first music video of the mix between 'Saltwater' by Chicane and 'I Bruise Easily' by Natasha Bedingfield, the music video cuts between shots every time the louder and more dominant beat plays in the song. This shows that fast paced shots and cuts are also part of the dance music genre. The original music video also uses the idea of someone suffering (the 'mermaid') and the end of the song showing a solution to the problem.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Genre Research
This is a screen grab of multiple screen grabs from music videos over the last ten years, I used Photoshop to cut all of these images together. We have looked at successful dance videos from the year 2000 up to the present day, this is in order to look at typical conventions of dance music videos. This can help us to include typical dance aspects in our own music video, as this will be what fans expect from a dance video. We chose most of these music videos from the nominees and winners of the 'MTV VMA Music Awards'.
2000 - Destiny's child music video uses colour themes where the mise-en-scene all matches in colour, these change between the basic primary colours throughout the video. Then towards the end of the video, the colours combine together towards the end of the video. The characters are repeated throughout, the females change costumes often, perform a dance routine where cars are in the background, this video also has a loose narrative story line.
2001 - The Lady Marmalade music video uses exaggerated glamorous make up, with references to the classical looks of the 1920's-1940's. The video also idolises women, as it shows them all getting ready, doing their hair and make-up etc. Additionally they all perform a dance routine within the video.
2002 Kylie Minogue's music video has a matched pace to the pace of the song, her costume changes throughout the video, into outfits which are quite revealing, she has backing dancers to support the routines she is performing, and the video often goes back to shots of Kylie driving a car.
2003 In Britney Spears' music video, she is the main focus for the start of the song, she is shown driving a car and then performing a dance routine with her at the front and centre of the dancers, the camera follows her while she is moving around the maze like building, all the while she is successfully lip syncing. In order to oppose one of the typical conventions of a female dance music video, Britney is wearing masculine outfits consisting of a suit and a hat. The music video also has a narrative throughout the video.
2004 Usher's music video has a narrative about him and a girl in a club, he also performs a dance routine which is expected of both a dance video, and a Usher music video, as dance routines are an aspect closely associated with Usher. The video has shots of people in a club dancing, with changes in coloured lighting. When Usher is performing solo, he is surrounded by blue lasers, when the other artists perform later on they are surrounded by green lasers. The concept of lasers is something which Usher has also used in many music videos. Finally the pace of the video follows the pace of the music, as at the start the video footage is slowed down to reflect the pace and associations with the video.
2005 The Lose Control music video uses a narrative and shots of cars, much like many other dance music videos. This music video has all of the dancers in matching outfits, all lined up and doing the same routine in the same time. The background to these dance shots are dark and simple, with a lot of focus shots of each artist.
2006 The Nelly Furtado video has simple dance routines performed by each artist against a differently coloured light brick wall background. It also has people inside of a club dancing, with a narrative of the perusal of women. The camera has close up shots of the artists lip syncing to the lyrics of the song.
2007 the Fedde Le Grande music video uses a consistent lilac coloured background, the same room, costume, dance routine and people throughout. The video uses a range of shots through the video. The females in the music video are objectified as they all have seductive outfits, playing instruments.
2008 The Forever music video uses conventions such as a car and a highly advanced dance routine. The car is used at the start of the video and the main artist is shown driving the car, much like Kylie in her music video. The song is very fast paced, so the editing of the video, the pace of the dance routines and the speed of the car all closely relate to the song. This music video also has a narrative about a woman at the club, and rescuing her when she needs it later on, thus relating to the lyrics 'won't let you fall'. The camera also uses close up shots which Chris is lip syncing, and him singing and dancing surrounded by coloured lights circling him, showing he is the focus or 'meat' of the video.
2009 Akon and David Guetta's music video has a narrative much like many of the music videos, it is about the perusal of a mystery woman. Therefore the whole video focuses highly on the idolising of the woman at the pool party, and identifying the woman from the picture at the start from her tattoo. The camera shots in the music video all focus towards women dancing dressed in bikinis. The video uses shots of a party and people enjoying themselves, and switches to a gig performed by the artists.
2010 The Swedish House Mafia video starts with close ups of the music equipment. The video then changes to some close ups of an eye as the lyrics start in the song. As the eye blinks, the Dj mixing board is reflected in the eye. The video then uses birds eye high angle shots looking down on a party, the camera focuses very little of people's faces. This video shows very little signs of narratives or controlled dance routine.
In conclusion, a large amount of dance music videos over the last decade use conventions such as cars, dance routines and a narrative, we could use some of these aspects within our music video. Additionally most videos use matching outfits, which change through the video, use of bright contrasting colours, different coloured lighting to change the mood of the video, to show something has changed and in some videos the lighting changes colour when the artists change through the song. We could use all of these aspects to help with ideas for our music video.
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