Personal Blog

PRODUCTION DIARY

Day 1

Initial thoughts – I started my new project with searching and looking at different music videos that were created by other A level students (in You Tube)

I decided to record and highlight camera movements that I liked in other works (I may use the same camera movements later in my own project)

Day 2

We have learnt new information from the presentation “why music videos are important and for whom they are made for”. What I have learnt:

  • Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry, Stephane Sednaoui, Mark Romanek and Hype Williams (well known directors, mostly famous for music videos)

Day 3

  • Pastiche (visual art, work that imitates the style or character of the work of one or more other artists.
  • Parody – take-off or a spoof, is a work on an original

It is conventional in a music video to…

  • Interpret the lyrics

Illustrating – direct illustration form the lyrics to the music video – its very literal 

Amplifying – amplification “I’m Still standing” – gold glitter – shows that he is still standing 

Disjuncture  – narrative themes that are not at all related to the lyrics of the song

  • Allude to someone or something – the act of making an indirect reference to somebody or something
  • Make links to other artists
  • Cut the beat
  • Feature the band / artist

Day 4

On today’s lesson, we focused on analysing music videos and already existed A level works. 

Music videos – shows the face of the artist, his personality. This can be represented through their actions in the videos, their image and clothes. If it is a group, usually all members are very different in terms of personality and image. One of the most important purpose of music videos were build and define an image for the artist.

Link between the style of a music video and the genre of the music

  • Rock (as live, concerts, have a narrative – dark)
  • Pop (dance)
  • Electronic (surreal, abstract, animation – digital, trippy, experimental techniques)
  • Hip hop/ rap (dance, as live, narrative, interpretative of lyrics, mise en scene city&streets and urban areas.) 

Steve Neal’s genre theory – codes and conventions are repeated within the genres, have hidden conventions for the active audience, to make them being more interested watching.

Techniques

  • A procedure or skill required – the procedure, skill, or art used in a specific task
  • Treatment of basics – the way in which the basics of an artistic work are treated

Common techniques are:

  • Cutting to beat
  • Effects – some invented for music video
  • Miming and lip sync
  • Playback and lip sync
  • Multi – image
  • Camera movements
  • Camera angles
  • Chrome key

Effects

Camera – frame rate, time – lapse / hyper – lapse, black and white – anything that involves camera operation and filming technique

Day 5

We looked at two prezis presentations about

Day 6

In lesson 5, we started practicing our skills using the camera and different techniques. Near by to our school, there is a theme park “SKAZKA”. Me and other media students had an opportunity to film inside and try using different camera techniques that were taught to us (day 4)

Day 8

During today’s lesson, I focused on analysing my prelim video. I posted everything on the prelim page.

Day 7

Today, we were taking about the plan for the next academic year. We started thinking more about the specific area where we want to focus and keep searching for our idea. As i decided to create a music video, I watched more music videos, that I found interesting.

Day 8

I have opened for myself a world of K – pop. I found it very interesting because the music video has giant amount of details that are interesting to look at.

K – Pop videos are very expensive, however show everything that are needed to impress their fans. They are colourful, full of impressive settings and designs. Furthermore, it is very interesting to watch because of the constant change of settings.

Usually there are bands of 4 – 20 members. Also, in the music video there is a lot of dance, because in the K – pop industry it is necessary for all artists to be able to dance. Therefore, I decided not to consider K – Pop music videos for my own project because I understand that I won’t be able to create a good content. I have a lack of people who can dance and the lack of possible places to film. Therefore, I have decided to focus on 80’s.

Day 9

After watching music videos, I started thinking of extraordinary, bright and colourful costumes that they use. This gave me an idea of Elton John’s costumes. Next step: I started searching his style and clothes that he used in the music videos. The music video “I’m still standing” has inspired me with the unusual use of effects, camera angles and its simplicity. Therefore, I decided that this song will be the one which I will use in the future. Right now, I am working on the mind map.

Day 10

I decided with my topic, so now I will start planning my music video. Im in the process of creating a story board, so I will be able to start filming before snowfall. Furthermore, I need to start thinking about the costumes and settings.

Day 11

I analysed numerous music websites of popular celebrities. I believe that this will help me to know all sides and conventions of the websites and will help my own.

Day 12

I finished my Home, About page and keep working on my personal blog. Furthermore, I’m starting working on my research page, where i will analyse each decade from 1960’s – 1980’s. I believe that I will gain a deeper understanding of each decade, so at the end I will be able to choose what exactly I want to do. Elton John is my first idea, therefor it can change at the end.

Day 13

I analysed pages 60’s / 70’s and 80’s. I’ve mentioned and talked about groups and artists such as Elvis Presley, Queen, David Bowie and others….. Right now I’m working on analysis of Elton John.

Day 14

Analysing Music videos 

Styles, Conventions and techniques of music videos 

  1. Style (common styles) 
  • animation – electronic, pop genre) 
  • dance routine ( pop genre) 
  • narrative 
  • surrealism 
  • homage 

MY GLAM ROCK / POP genre with Elton John – in concert as “live footage” and dance routine 

It is conventional in a music video to…. 

  • Illustrating …. direct illustration form the lyrics to the music video – its very literal 
  • amplifying – amplification “I’m Still standing” – gold glitter – shows that he is still standing 

Identify convention in the music video 

Common Techniques 

  • cutting the beat 
  • effects – some invented for music video 
  • miming and lip sync 
  • playback and lip sync 
  • multi – image 
  • camera movements 
  • camera angles 
  • chroma key 

All music videos are cut on “a” beat 

What is the purposes of the music videos? 

  • promote the band / singers image; Promote the song as part pf a record labels ,marketing strategy 
  • extensions of outlets (music, channels, direct DVD and CD sales, ad websites. downland) 
  • Extension of income 
  • To showcase a director’s skills
  • to communicate a message (political / charitable) Elton John? 
  • charitable has connection to the image of the artist 
  • product placement 
  • synergy (films, TV programmes) 

Selling an image 

The purpose of all music videos is to sell or represent the image of the artist / band. It is very important for any performer to show their image in order to receive “love” form their fans.

Elton John, for example, is after young age of his audience because his songs are easy to dance to and easy to remember. His main audience are form age 14 – 30. However, because he is an old artist, the age could possibly more from 25 – 40. However, as a young person who is not 18 yet, his songs are still interesting for me.

Reasons why its important to have music videos and sell the image:

  • to launch the competition 
  • music videos – are simply part of the marketing strategy

Day 15

Today we have discussed what exactly we need to include for each part of the project: music video, digital package and website.

Music Video

  • logo (style / pattern)
  • 6-10 videos analysis – conclusion for each
  • The most important is to PROMOTE THE ARTIST (THE BAND / SINGER)
  • PROMTE THE SONG / ALBUM
  • the song needs to be playable
  • Is it suitable for : you tube, websites, tv (music channels) , social media? – depends on the age
  • at what did people have first tv – 1950’s?
  • there were no music videos – PROMOTIONAL FILMS – cinemas / concerts / channels
  • MARKETING

Digital Package

  • artwork (photos / patterns)
  • font
  • logo

Website

  • photos / artworks
  • pinks to download
  • streaming platform
  • new single / album
  • storyboard
  • merch? – shop
  • logo
  • font
  • extra page with “listen now” sign
  • art gallery
  • tour dates / tickets / concerts