Letter regarding permission

Here I have sent an email to the following address regarding permission to use the song 'the power of love' in my music video, whenever you want to use a song of someone else's you have to get permission, so this is my evidence of this. Showing my professional approach to my music video.

Production Diary - 27/11/14

Today I began at home on recording my music video, I sorted out all the deatails why my model Claudia Dyer. By this, we went through how I want my performance to look, as my video will be less based on lip sincing and more based on the perfomance and movement of my artist as the body lanaguage will be used to express emotion of the artist.

Research into genre

Anyalis of Ed sheeran - A team

Moodboard of audience research

Here are some ideas of what my audience will enjoy/hobbys/be like, this has helped me to gain an idea of what I need to aim my music video at as this will be my stereotypical audience. Ideas such as how they will dress and look like will give me an insight on how to apporach my performers, I have also included images as such off festivals to display the style of music my audience will like.

Production diary - 13/11/14

In today’s lesson I finished off my template for my magazine, this will ensure it being easy for me to finish quickly once my chosen images have been picked and my images have been taken. As I want to keep a consistent house style throughout all my designs when I started doing the template for my digipak I used similar fonts and will carry on using the same colours and image ideas.

It is hard to see in this image but the fonts are the same throughout my layout at the stage I am at, at the moment. Keeping a similar house style is essential to create a professional feel to your work.

Digi pack - deisgn template

Here I have began to create my digi pack, I have chosen to have the theme of photo frame style layout, by this I will have pictures in the white areas and change the writing of the song names to match the colour theme that I decide to go with.

Magazine advert - Progress stage 1

This is the template for my magazine advert of my music video -

 

Production Diary - 16th Oct

Anaylis of Beyonce - If I were a boy

The storyline of Beyonce - If I were a boy is the role reverse of the normal conventions of what we would expect from a male and female - although this a stereotype in society. Beyonce comes downstairs to have her boyfriend have cooked food ready for her, it would be socially expected that the women would be doing this for their husband, it is shown through the mise en scene that Beyonce is the domiant character as the is dressed in a police officers uniform, the connontations of the police force are powerful and strong characters which is the view which is portrayed with Beyonce. Long shot of Beyonce walking out of her house indicates the director ensuring the audience understand the role reverse that she is holding - as the video carrys on we see shot reverse shots of Beyonce at work with her team, ironicly we see the staff to all be male this explains the stereotype of police officers usually being male. Her husband is shown to be in his office looking up presents in which we are led to beleive are for Beyonce, signs of a 'whore' female is around him trying to catch his attention through the way she presents herself through her body language.

This further describes Beyonce to be the 'modonna' female as she is out at work, as a loverable and diserable female. However, we are shocked too see her declining her husbands calls while she is out with her fellow male work friends having dinner - it could be suggested that by this Beyonce enhathsies how men typically act and how they are stereotypically more tempted to see other women compared to their modonna lover.

We create the idea of the role reverse that the husband creates the 'modonna' theory and the male character which Beyonce works with is the 'whore' as Beyonce adores her husband as we see by the affection which they share together but desires and wants the male character as we can see through the way in which he looks at Beyonce.

Analyis of students work

I believe Clare’s music video is a very good example of something which I would like to create in the first scene of my music video. The song 'love like this won’t last forever' has a gentle feel to blend well with the setting of the song, you can tell once the artist starts getting dressed that it has a 60's styling to the video due to the long dotted dress with black and white dots with big red lips. My music video will avoid having a generation theme to the styling but will use similar aspects such as red lips.

Clare has opened her video with a close up of her nan - this image slowly fades away to Clare then picking out her outfit for the night this sets up the video to feel emotional and calming due to the soft music introduction and due to the use of close ups which helps engage the viewer emotionally to the video. It leads to a scene of her completing her make up for the further events of the night ahead, the extreme close ups on her face and make up enhance what she is doing - the slow motion of the editing keeps the mood of the video calm to compliment the song. As in my music I want to create a scene of my artist getting ready this is a good baseline for me to get ideas of the type of shots I want to use.

Shot reverse shot moves on to the next character in the video getting ready, were presented with a male character again styling his hair and getting dressed - we begin to get the idea that they are both getting ready for the same event due to their similar 60's dress sense. Unlike the camera shots of Clare the shots used on the male character are more mid shots, this could be suggested that the director wants the audience to create an emotional attachment with Clare.

Furthermore the characters are met together through an emotional attachment of holding hands, it would suggest they are a couple - they go on to dancing, mid shots are used whilst panning the camera to highlight the intense dance they share. As the dance ends a close up of the couple letting go of holding hands would discuss they are letting go of what they hold with one another. The video ends on a zooming out shot of her nan watching their dance on her TV, this is a good form of visual progression.

Analyis of Lyrics

Here I have analyised the lyrics to the song 'the power of love' by Birdy - this has opened my eyes to the deep meanings behind the wording to the song which has helped me to develop my music video around the lyrics now I have a deeper meaning to what they mean.

Props List

 For my music video I am going to be using the following props to help create my storyline, firstly the use of a mirror in my artists bedroom - I will be using this for the scene where my artist gets herself ready for her night out, over the shoulder shots will be used when looking over my artists shoulder into the glamourous mirror in which she owns to create the perfect setting. Connotations of looking in the mirror display ideas of the confidence and beauty, I want my artist to come across with this attitude. Furthermore, I will need make up to be layed out over my artists dressing room - this will be used when I film my artist putting on her make up to support the idea of happiness and good spirits.

 

When my storyline changes to my artist becoming depressed and dispirited the props I will use will switch to the use of her ex boyfriends jumpers; by this she will be holding them in an emotional atachment manor, this will propose the concept of a breakup and her loosing her life and self now that he has left her. I will be using a phone within my video, this will be used when the boy breaks up with the girl over text - this plays an essential role in my video as this tells the story of my video of a happy young girl who gets destroyed by her boyfriend leaving her.

Influences on style

Here I have started my discussion of what has influenced me on style, to create this brainstorm I began to watch videos of a similar genre to mine, therefore gathering style ideas from these videos. 

Artist styling + costume planning

Here I have produced a presentation about costume planning and styling which I want my artists to come across like, I have been able to explore different music videos which have infleunced my view on the way which I want my models to look like. I have been able to come up with my two different outfit scenes which I want to create, one being a dressed up teenager in a beautiful dress with bright red lips compared to my second scene where she will be dressed in all black with remainders of her make up left on which is all over her face from heavily crying.

Channels and Festivals

MTV is an American basic cable and satellite television channel owned by the MTV Networks Music & Logo Group, the channel itself is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, and is a subsidiary of Viacom Inc.  The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by television personalities.  In its early years, MTV's main target demographic were young adults, but today, MTV's programming is primarily targeted at teenagers. MTV's influence on its audience, including issues related to censorship and social activism, has been a subject of debate for years for MTV.

4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland. The channel launched on 15 August 2008, replacing The Hits. It is the only Channel 4-branded channel within the Box Television network. 4Music has coverage at both festivals of V festival and T4 on the beach during the Summer, with highlights repeated frequently throughout the Summer. The channel also has stages at both events. At T4 on the Beach since 2007 (renamed the "T4 and 4Music Stage" in 2010) and at the V Festival since 2005 (then known as the "Channel 4 Stage", renamed to the "4Music Stage" in 2008).

Glastonbury Festival (originally Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival) is a five-day music festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemporary music, the festival hosts dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, and other arts. It is organised by Michael Eavis on his own land, Worthy Farm in Pilton. Leading pop and rock artists have headlined, alongside thousands of others appearing on smaller stages and performance areas. Glastonbury is the largest greenfield festival in the world, and is now attended by around 175,000 people, requiring extensive infrastructure in terms of security, transport, water, and electricity supply. The majority of staff are volunteers, helping the festival to raise millions of pounds for good causes.

V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same lineup; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in South Staffordshire. Although predominantly a rock music festival, a wide range of musical genres are accepted now; in recent years pop acts have become more common. The "V" represents the Virgin Group, with the event being sponsored by Virgin Media. It was previously televised by Channel 4, predominantly on their sister channel 4 Music, although for the 2014 edition of the festival it was announced that television broadcast rights would be returned to MTV. V festival normally lasts over the duriation of 3 days in which you arrive on friday and leave Monday morning, V festival has grew in its existance over the years and has appeled highly to the younger generation.

Production diary - 18th Sep

In todays lesson we carried on with our set tasks for the week, today was spent on investing into the codes and conventions of music videos in which I had to establish the way in which music videos are put together through mise en scene, editing, camera shots and sound - I was able to use this task to make it clear what type of the 4 norms I need to do to create the type of video I want too.

Research Equipment

I will be filming my video on the variation of the schools Cannon camera and my own Cannon 600D camera which I have at home, this will mean if the schools camera is being used up at a time in which I need to use it I wont have to wait around and can get started. This will help speed along the process of filming for me. This camera will also help me when taking my photos of my mise en scene, including my props, setting and costumes. To ensure my video quaility and images are up to a highest standard using this source of camera will provide a professional look.

It will also be essentail when filming to have the correct lighting, the school will be able to provide me correct lighting that I can use in my chosen location of filming. Having good lighting will mean I can create unique shots within my video.
This is someones work from last year who used lighting and it demonstrates how professional it can look when used correctly -

Codes and conventions

History into artists - Birdy

Production diary - 11th September

Research of companies

Research of Companies

Music Directors

Chris Cunningham -  is a British video artist. He was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1970 and grew up in Lakenheath, Suffolk. Cunningham has primarily directed music videos for ambient music and electronica acts such as Autechre and Aphex Twin. He has also created art installations and directed short movies. He was approached to direct a movie version of the cyberpunk novel Neuromancer, but nothing came of early discussions. In the 2000s, Cunningham began doing music production work, he has also designed album artwork for a variety of musicians.

  

Spike Jonze is an American director, producer, screenwriter and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television. Spike Jonze is well known for his music video collaborations with Fatboy Slim, Weezer, Beastie Boys, and Björk. He was a co-creator and executive producer of MTV's Jackass. He is currently the creative director of VBS.tv.

 

Francis Lawrence is an American music video, film, and television director and producer. Lawrence directed his first music video for Michael Blakey for the bands single 'A Man Rides Through', Lawerence became known for his orignial and imaginative music video scripts and visual directing style unique to the other directors of his time. He went on to joining a new production company, working with stars just as Beyonce, Jay-Z, Green Day, Lady Gaga and so on.

 

Ideas for music video

What works well and what dosent?

- Make sure the story you’re trying to tell can be easily understood, avoid complicated story lines
- Shots in the woods work well
 - Avoid mainstream songs – slow songs work better
- Avoid dancing ‘routines’ works better with simple dancing to the music
- Drama studio lighting looks professional]
- Doing make up in the mirror works well
 - Break up story lines work well
- Close up of props (fairy lights, piano)
- Split personality idea – two sides to the person
- Walking away scenes look good
 - Actions shots in slow motion (falling down)
- Looking in mirror chucking water in face
- Singing into a microphone works well

 

Production diary - August 28th

During the summer holidays I have been researching music videos based on the 'emotional, upset' typed videos, this has helped explore my ideas and given me greater knowledge about what I would like my video to be about. I have been researching into the songs:

Ed sheeran – a team 
The power of love
Passenger – let her go (vocal)
Ellie goulding – explosions / your song
Birdy – let her go cover
Birdy – help the people

 

This screenshot is from the music video Birdy - Help the people, within my music video I want to include a range of shots such as this video as I beleive it works well in helping create the emotion of the video.

Production diary - 1st July

This week was heavily focused on trying to gain research to help us start to develop ideas and inspirtations for our music videos. After spending the recent week looking at a many different genres of music videos ive found my interest and passion comes heavily from music videos which convey the stereotype of a 'breakup' and 'upset', I feel that this is a really interesting and creative type of music video in which I want to be able to explore and create myself.

My inspiration has come from:





I have began to take note on the different music videos which I have come across and enjoyed as I feel this is a good form of a brain storm to create some ideas which I can put together to make a music video.
In this lesson I made a word document on 'digpaks' and the conventions of artists who have them as for my part of my task in A2 I will have to create my own so this was a good starter of getting ideas on the different conventions of other artists who inspire me.

What is a digipak + an anaylis of some example

Digipaks typically consist of a ‘book-style’ paperboard or card outer casing with one or more plastic trays holding the CD inside. Digipaks were the first alternative to ‘jewel cases’ used by major record companies. This style of packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums e.g. an extended album. The packaging is less resistant to markings and scratches so the case could get marked much easier than a jewel case however some big companies use a UV coating to protect it. Now in current times digpaks are very common and popular too.

 

I have chosen to analysis this digipak from Rihanna, this is from her album ‘loud’. This digipak follows the regular house style in which you represent with Rihanna, also following the codes and conventions of the genre of pop which she follows. In this example Rihanna is being shown to be a calm and gentle artist, this is conveyed through the use of red roses, the calming white flowy dress and bold red lips. It could also be discussed through the close up shots of Rihanna, avoiding eye contact with the camera that it is discussing the convention of her music video which is based on emotions. This creates an effective digipak, not only does the house style make it look professional but the use of extreme close ups mixed with dramatic shots with the roses creates an exciting dramatic digipak which works well with describing the artists behaviour.

 

I have chosen to analysis this digipak from the artist Ellie Goulding, from her album ‘lights’. This is a much different approach in comparison to Rihanna’s digipak, this approach is more suited to Ellie’s music and the personality in which she portrays in this album, the sense of pain yet a very gentle person. The lack of colour tells a story in itself by which this artist is much more quiet and innocent and this is conveyed by the lack of makeup used, the less so dramatic outfits and how very so calm the backdrop is. However, the reason this works so well is that it creates suspense for her music, you’re not sure what story is she trying to tell which makes it so interesting.

Production diary - 24th June

This week was all about finding out about the A2 coursework side in itself, exploring this we was given the range of different topic areas we can do for our coursework. It was evident for me straight away that I wanted to take on the role of creating a music video, for this you have to create a 2/3 minute music video to a chosen song using your creativity skills in which we'd gained at AS in order to create a music piece, its up to the student themselves to decide what sort of video they want to create whether it is someone singing to the screen, an actor performing or even a dance - we can choose. I began to look at some various past music videos from students in the years above and also tried to gain some inspiration from music videos off you-tube, this began to help me form an idea or what sort of genre/music video I wished to create.

This is some examples of music videos from you-tube which I enjoyed and which have given me some idea of what direction I want to take when creating my own video:




This music video has inspired me to form my music video on a 'break up' concept, I liked the fact the whole video was filmed in black and white as I believe this supports the idea of a depressed girl going through a tough break up, I also liked the way it was filmed itself, the simple yet meaningful camera shots really helped describe this girls story - shots of her feet from behind walking, her sitting down while people walked past her at a fast speed and even simple shots like a mid shot of her laying on the bench. This has all helped me gain some research and planning ideas for my own music video.