Music Video Class Notes

The Construction of Music Videos
(Click to enlarge image)



Notes:

• Do not JUST follow the lyrics - interpret them and construct a narrative around your own, creative interpretation.
• Opening shots is often longer to establish the mise-en-scene, characters, and mood.
• Could include intertextual references that only your target audience would understand, therefore adding niche audience appeal.
• When editing - change pacing and cut lengths according to the moments in the song.
• Be symbolic.

Analysis of Stop Animation Research

I was really enthusiastic about the stop animation idea. When Jam, Jack and I were discussing, Jemma came up with a narrative idea for Eagle Eye Cherry's "Are You Still Havin' Fun?" with many short stories of different people's lives. One of these included a young child who represented the innocence mentioned in the song's lyrics, stacking books and toys in his room to create a city scape. We thought we could do 'post production stop animation' where we would take screen shots of the clip, and using Adobe Photo shop CSI, draw a thought bubble with the child imagineing himself as a dinosaur, destroying the city scape he was creating. The animation (drawing of the thought bubble) itself would be done in a scratchy style to mimic a child's doodle, and therefore symbolic to the thoughts of the boy.

However, after some consideration I thought about the time limit and realistically, this would be difficult. Although we had the equipment to create an amateur's stop animation video, we would have to start with 15 frames per second. This inevitably, would mean the animation would be slow and the movements would not flow well together. I did think this would be an interesting effect that could also represent the child's undeveloped thoughts, but as a creator of media I really wanted the stop animation (if we would do it) to look as professional as possible. In industry, animators that use stop animation (Wallace and Grommit, Fantastic Mr.Fox) work with 50 frame per second and sometime more.

Therefore, I came with the conclusion that the stop animation idea should not be used. Although it would be intriguing to try and possibly give us more credits in terms of using different technologies, it is not realistic in the time schedules we have currently.

Research: Stop Motion/Animation

During one of our group discussions today, I thought it would be a great idea to include some kind of animation element to our music video. It could be a form of presenting symbolism (such as animating the 'alter-ego' of the protagonist of our narrative) or just be used as a way to make our music video individual in its aesthetics. As we don't have access to animation soft wares suitable for the industry, the best way to create animation for beginners like us could be Stop animation. It would be effective with narrative and performance so that there is a range of camera and editing techniques, as well as providing a more interesting visual for audiences.

Below is some quick research of how to do your own stop animation videos. Because pictures of each minuscule movement of the subject must be taken, it is likely that even if we do stop animation, we would only be able to have a total of 20 seconds footage at the most. However, in terms of film time 20 seconds is quite a lot, and therefore this limit seems a suitable aim to go for.

Inspirational stop animation videos...

DEADLINE


THE MAKING OF DEADLINE

Directed by Bang-yao Liu
Music by Röyksopp (http://royksopp.com)
Sound design by Ian Vargo, Shaun Burdick
Actor: Chun-yao Huang

(They used adobe illustrator to make the designs on the computer and adobe flash to animate them. They then projected it on the projector so they had a floor mat to follow of where to put the post its. When the post its were done, they would cover the projector.)



Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance


Minilogue/hitchhikers choice - short version - by Youtuber Kristoferstrom

STOP ANIMATION FOR MORONS!

By Youtuber- Saxma

http://www.mamshmam.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=5#5
Step-by-Step guide on forumn - by Youtuber Mashman

Research: Inspirational Music Videos

OK GO - End Love

• Could take inspiration from the way they use the stop animation - Gives the idea that the performers and "sliding" over the pavement through the town - could do this backwards so it looks like the world is passing by them
• The eccentrics of the poses could be used - interesting, makes audience wonder what moves they're going to come up with next
• Simplicity - less symbolism and narrative, just entertainment

Regina Spektor - Samson

• Opening shot - sets the scene with stop animation paper cut outs.
• There is symbolism in the birds - could represent freedom and purity
• Mix of animation and performance
• To go with the bittersweet, melancholic tune of the song, it is filmed in low saturation. Despite being in an almost black and white, the performer stands out due to the glitter and embellishment on her top. She can "pull-off" the simple shots where she is just playing on the piano due to her powerful voice, change of expressions, and eye contact with the camera - draws in the audience.
• Folding out, picture book of stop animation doesn't follow the exact lyrics but shows symbolism - open to interpretation and therefore interesting and unique
• 2:32 - the origami folding out into a set of lines that looks like piano strings, then a jump cut to the actual piano strings is clever - shows continuity and gives flow
  

Paolo Nutini - Coming Up Easy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIQ2Rxh1k9Y&ob=av2e

(Video embedding code was disabled by the owner)

• Love the quirky-ness of this video, also sells the performer's style/personality
• Unexpected rabbit-suit - meant to represent singer's best friend that got involved in alcohol
• Has a care-free attitude but the lyrics have a deeper, personal meaning
• It leaves an IMPRESSION
• Opening shot is narrative - performer is also the character - shows how the song relates to him personally
• Foreshadowing in the narrative; before his "best friend" the rabbit is shown, statues of rabbits outside his house and photo frames of them inside the house is shown in panning shots
• Performer - never looks at the camera in the eye - camera is hand held, giving a very natural feel
• Performer sings in all the narrative location shots, in no particular order

Eminem ft. Rihanna - Love the way you lie

• First shot is longer (6 seconds approx)- extreme CU of Rihanna singing - she looks at the camera with powerful eyes that catches your attention immediately. Flames in the background compliment her red hair and style; also acts as symbolism as it matches the lyrics of "burning" and masochism.
• Narrative shots use jump cuts, and are shorter. The first narrative shot may be the "equilibrium" in Todorov's narrative theory. It also sets the scene from a bird's eye view angle. Low saturation gives a more melancholic atmosphere; suiting the song.
• Megan Fox, opening her eyes and then the rapping begins - this is deliberate, gives continuity as it seems like the rapping after she opens her eyes is her thoughts, her character's story. Also shows the beginning of the the problems in the relationship shown the the narrative - Todorov's "agents of disruption" - handheld cam is used here, shows distortion.
• Eminem - low angle, puts attention on him and makes him look more powerful. Shot behind the grass gives an artistic view. Later on, 1:30 tilting down shot of Eminem in the middle of the field - symbolises being lost; he's pacing.
• Although performers are in one location, it is made interesting to watch by the multiple camera angles and shots.
• "Where you goin'" "I'm leaving you" and "No you 'aint" is mouthed by the narrative actors/characters - shows a link in the lyrics and narrative, giving continuity.
• Often, instrumental interludes only show the narrative shots, no performance.

Bowling for Soup - High School Never Ends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRs7e58dsY&ob=av2n

(Video embedding code was disabled by the owner)

• Love the way it is a mini-movie in itself
• Clear narrative and balances with performance
• RELATABLE - draws in audiences of all kinds - universal
• Mostly mid-CUs and Long shots
• Unlike other videos, it matches the lyrics almost perfectly - but it works with this song because of its fun, energetic vibe.
• In a way, this video is VERY 'American Highschool' type of cliche, but at the same time is satirical and mocks its own cliche-ness. Humourous.
• Love the pranking element in this - makes adults feel like children again - entertaining

SamboMaster - 世界はそれを愛と呼ぶんだぜ/Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobundaze/That's What the World calls Love

• QUIRKY-NESS!! The idea that the performers are there physically everytime someone listens to their song shows a stronger connection between them and their fans - also, its entertaining to watch and is humourous in the way they go about it.
• Mostly performance
• A range of camera angles and shots

Initial Ideas

At our first group discussion, it was decided that we would use the conventional music video style where there is a narrative along side performance. We also wanted to have a certain edge to our music video, in the form of a controvertial theme such as drug of alchohol abuse (its overused in a conventional kind of way anyway!) We wanted to use music along the rock or pop-punk genre, and these themes are often prevalent throughout many music videos in these genres.


It was also made clear, that we should decide on a certain directional type or video aesthetic, as we did with Poker's advocate (in which we used a lower filter and saturation). However, whatever style this would be, at this point of time is not clear to us yet. (Although we know for definite that it should look cool and stylised)

Several songs were put forward. This included Eagle Eye Cherry 'Are You Still Havin' Fun' and two songs from Feeder - 'Just a Day' and 'Seven Days in the Sun'. Right now we're still indecisive because its difficult to find a song that suits everyone (this is important, especially considering we will be working on this project for a while and therefore we need to be enthusiastic about it). Moreover, all three of us have very different music tastes. Although at the discussion, I made it clear that I would be willing to use a song that isn't my taste/first choice if I could be in charge of styling and almost acting as a creative director (in a way this is important, as a group its best to give 'lee-way' for others ideas, otherwise the group discussions would have no development).
So as a quick conclusion to this discussion, it has been decided that we would all consider those three songs and listen to them (I have never heard of these songs before…) as well as do individual research on various music videos and have a re-cap of ideas next lesson.

Intro: Task Analysis

For my A2 coursework practical production, I plan to do a Music Video, with a digipak and magazine poster (for the subsidiary task) with Jemma Rowlston and Jack Blinman.They are reliable team mates who excell in different skills and areas of media that I get along with, in which we have worked well with previously in our AS practical production, Poker's Advocate.

Task Analysis
I Will begin the project by...

1. Researching inspirational music videos
2. Finding video-directors that I particularly like
3. Finding artists that I particularly like
4. Study the length of shots and alterations of narrative/shots when the beats to the music changes
5. Discussing with team mates and decide on a song that we all agree upon
6. Begin storyboard, propject proposal pan, schedules, location planning/booking, casting, etc...

And.. all along recording it onto this blog, and referring to media theorists when applicable.

Brief

For this year's media coursework we will need to produce one of the following:

• A Music Video
• A Local newspaper/magazine

Equipped with a subsidiary task which could comprise of:

• A digipak (including sleeve, and inside information) and magazine poster advertising your music video/digipak.
• A radio advert and local flyer advertising the radio programme.

The conception and progression of both these elements should be presented in a media blog (this!) which gives details on research, planning and evaluation. I plan to work in a group of three (including myself). In which, the evidence can be presented collectively in a single blog, however, we would be assessed on our individual contributions and evaluations.