Music Video

20. Equipment

I decided to use a tripod for some of my footage. It was a good idea for me to use one because it enabled me to  hold the camera completely still when I'm filming, and also lets me perform a perfect panning shot. This is crucial in my video because I want numerous panning shots throughout.

The program I will use to edit my footage is called Premiere Pro CS5. It is a more professional piece of software as it allows me to cut, change, add transitions etc to my footage. I think this is better than iMovie as when comparing the two programmes, Premiere Pro CS5 is a much more professional and more efficient program.  

The last piece of equipment I used was a camera. This was a Canon HD CMOS recording camera in which I used to capture my footage. This was a clear, quality picture, but the only downside is that there is no flash, so when recording in the dark, a light or torch needs to be used to re-capture the quality picture.

19. Costumes

My first actor will be wearing a classy looking outfit for my video. I decided to make him wear chinos and a dark jumper to add to the sophistication I am trying to portray to my audience. I feel as though the audience will seriously be able to relate to my artist because he is wearing clothes in which many of my viewers wear on a day-to-day basis, making the video up to date and relevant.

My other actor will be wearing the expensive designer nike jacket in order to demonstrate the role he has within the video. Tommy plays the rich, big time money spender in my video and so I felt it appropriate to dress him in clothes that reflect that image. I also made him wear a expensive silver chain and grow out his facial hair because image and portrayal are the two main factors when trying to make a believable music video.

18. Props

I have chosen to use motor bikes in my video. I am selective at when i use them because i only want them to feature when my second artist begins rapping. The motor bikes will be in a cluster down an alleyway, and i will have my second artist rapping in front of the bikes. I feel this is relivant to the rap genre as motor bikes and motor vehicals play a large role in establishing the genre.

In a few of my shots i will use a panning shot of a cluster of £20 notes. This is relevant to my genre, as money is probably one of the most important props within the r'n'b/rap genre.  The lyrics and actions in this song can be interpreted in many different ways, but i want to leave the pro-dominant ideas to the audiences imagination. Obviously the song could be about the artist, and the love he has for one girl in particular, and how he wants to leave the planet with this one girl, but the song could also be about the love of money. The girl he may be talking about is the Queen as she is the major face on a paper note. Giving reason to believe that the song may have subliminal messages regarding the love of money.   

17. Locations

I have chosen to use my cousins house for some of my scenes because the walls are white and it makes the shot look quite sophisticated and classy because there is no disturbance in the background. I think this fits the slow paced r'n'b genre, and also add to the effects of the song narrative as the song is about and artist being in a dream. White is usually the colour associated with dreaming and so i feel that this works well for my mise-en-scene.

I have used a solid brick wall for my artists to perform in front of. I think this relates to the genre because at some points in my video, the song breaks down into a more ghetto/rougher look, and so some form of hoodlem areas are needed to fit all the generic conventions of my music video/genre.

I have chosen to use this garage door as part of my locations as I feel as though the green colour will add something to my video. Most of the video will conist of a white classy background, so by adding a different clear-standing colour will inform the audience that the video wasn't filmed all in one place, and that much thought and understanding has been put into creating this video.

When the song breaks off into the typical rap verse, I have chosen to use an alleyway to portray my rap genre. I think this will look effective because I am going to get people I know, to bring their motorbikes down the alleyway and look like a typical generic rap scene. They will all be standing behind my main actor as he stands in front of the motorbikes and performs.



I have chosen to use this background because it is quite neautral. The stone background looks very effective on camera as it gives the audience the impression that the artist is beforming in the middle of nowhere. I also go back to the idea of the artist being in a dream and so the stoney background adds to this effect.

My final location I decided to use was these green plants grown along a brick wall. I like the image this gives, it is like a forest, somewhere where my character can become 'lost', which ties in with the lyrics of the original song.

16. Casting Actors

Casting Actors

My main actor is James Benney. He is going to be playing 'Jay Sean' in my music video. I chose to use him because he has acted in music videos before with his own social group and was familliar to the way in which the scenes were shot, and what was needed in each shot. People have commented in the past that my actor looks like 'Jay Sean' himself, and so I feel that it was a perfectly suitable and realistic choice in actor.   

My other actor will be playing the featuring artist in my music video. He goes by the name of Tommy Benney and he plays Rick Ross in the song. This challenges the generic conventions of the rap genre because my actor is a white English born male, as opposed to the stereotypical black Afro-American. I understood that this was the case because i was interested to see if the music video once finished, would still look as effective. 

I have clearly stated my actors/cast for my music video I have picked these actors carefully ensuring they will benefit my music video. I've come to a conclusion on what will benefit my music video the best by doing research and looking at other music videos, in which i demonstrated in a previous post. (Music Video Analysis Post).

15. Shooting Schedule

Date: 20/9/13
LOCATION 1
Cousins House
Shot 1 - Mise En Scene: Candle burning (Close Up) - 5 SECONDS
Shot 2 - Jamie and Tommy lip syncing to lyrics (Medium) - 10 SECONDS
Shot 3 - Jamie in the bedroom, laying in bed (Medium) - 14 SECONDS
Shot 4 - Jamie lip syncing to lyrics (Close Up) (From shoulders upward) 15 SECONDS
Shot 5 - Jamie takes coat and walks out (Medium) 12 SECONDS

Date: 23/9/13
LOCATION 2
Brick Wall In Putnoe
Shot 1 - Mise En Scene: Panning shot of Jamie's and Tommy's eyes (Extreme Close Up) - 4 SECONDS
Shot 2 - Jamie and Tommy both lip syncing to lyrics, will be used as intermission when editing (Medium Shot) - 10 SECONDS
Shot 3 - Tommy lip syncing on his own (Medium Shot - Close Up, Zooms In) - 8 SECONDS

Date: 23/9/13
LOCATION 3
University Alleyway (Putnoe)
Shot 1 - Panning shot of bikes (Panning-Medium Shot) - 5 SECONDS
Shot 2 - Tommy lip syncing with boys behind him (Long Shot) - 14 SECONDS
Shot 3 - Tommy walking past camera with boys following (Longshot --> Close Up) - 8 SECONDS
Shot 4 - Tommy lip syncing to the camera (Medium Shot) - 15 SECONDS

Date: 29/9/13
LOCATION 4
Garden
Shot 1 - Jamie lip syncing to lyrics in front of grey stone background (Medium Shot) - 19 SECONDS
Shot 2 - Jamie looking up to the camera lip syncing (High Angle Shot) - 8 SECONDS
Shot 3 - Jamie standing in front of an old green garage door, lip syncing (Medium Shot) 16 SECONDS
Shot 4 - Jamie lip syncing to lyrics in front of green background, crouched down - {plants} (Medium Shot) - 11 SECONDS

14. Storyboard

13. Magazine Advert Planning

This is a plan of my Magazine Advert. I have tried to keep to the generic colours that they would use in my genre. I have however, chosen to use the colour black with orange, as I know they both compliment each other when applied next to each other on the page. I have also included my logo within the advert, making it instantly recognisable and unique to any other magazine adverts.

12. Digipak Planning



11. Similar Videos/Texts

10. Lyrics Planning

(Intro)
Girl - Performance - Candle burning to start off my video. 
Girl - Close up of my actors eyes
----------------------------------------------------------
(Verse)
Come, baby - Performance - Close Up of Jamie's facial silhouette - Lip syncing 
Come and get on my level
Breathe it in with me
Let it get to your head then get to mine
Let it get to your head then get to mine - Performance - Slowly shake camera
I wanna watch you take it in

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Chorus x2)
I'm so high - Narrative - He's happy because he has money
I'm wasted, I don't wanna come down
Let me take you to Mars, girl - Performance - Singing into camera as if he is talking to audience
We'll make love on a star, girl

(Bridge)
I don't wanna talk - Narrative - Head in hands - 'doesn't want to talk'
I don't wanna think
I'm up here waiting for you
I'm so high, high, high - Performance - Points up on every 'high'

(Verse)
You taste so pure, you see something working out, baby
My eyes must be clouded, purple haze - Performance - white background, 'heaven-like'
Reach in time to touch you
With you all night long
You're my fallen angel and I'm here to take you home - Performance - Exaggerated hand gestures, 'wanting to take her home'

(Chorus x2)
I'm so high
I'm wasted, I don't wanna come down - Narrative - Laying in bed, not wanting to move
Let me take you to Mars, girl
We'll make love on a star, girl, so high... - Performance - Arms spread out above head, questioning...

(Verse Rick Ross)
She's such a centrefold, you other chicks just run along - Performance - Boys behind him, Tommy walking towrds camera
She s*** on Christian Louboutins, she won’t put it on - Performance - Shakes head and big hand gesture
No logos on the bag if she got in on the arm - Performance - Points to arm 
All she talk is swag and you know she put it on
On those cold nights fat boy had to keep her warm - Performance - Refers to himself as 'Fat Boy' - Points to himself
Kept a paintbrush, studying The Art of War
Mr. Brainwash love her to my favourite song
I run with cash money but you know my money long - Performance - Arms out like he's flying

(Bridge)
I don't wanna talk
I don't wanna think
I'm up here waiting for you  Narrative - Panning shot of a stack of £20 notes
I'm so high, high, high.

9. Initial Ideas

For this post you will need to tell me the following things

Who are you working with? On my own.
Who is the artist you have chosen to make a song for? Jay Sean ft. Rick Ross
What is the name of the song? Mars
Are you going to have performance and/or narrative in your music video? My video is mainly going to consist of performance. I will drop hints of narrative throughout, but my main focus will be on the performance element.
Give me a general overview of your ideas for the music video you have come up with so far.
Why do you think that this idea is appropriate for the song you have chosen? I am going to have my main actor (myself) playing the role of the artist, expressing how he feels about a girl. The song can have many different interpretations, one being the artist is in a dream and he expresses how he feels. Another interpretation could establish that the artist is on a hallucienating drug and is explaining events in contrast to that.
Does your idea link to the lyrics of your song? The song exaggerates some lyrics and so this makes it relitively easy to re-make my own interpretations of the lyrics as the original song doesn't have a video.
How does your idea fit your genre?

To present this work you can do this a paragraph of text with some images to help you tell your story introduce your song and artist. Make this post as VISUAL as possible.

8. Editing And Cinematography For Music Videos

By completing this task, it has made it clear to me what forms of cinematography and editing I am going to use. I want to make my video as best it can be, and by including inspirational editing in which I have researched over these past blog posts, I feel i can achieve this.




After completing a small example of lip syncing I've understood how important it is to match the lip syncing my the track itself, i feel that my brief example was successful and will be repeating the same process in matching the lip syncing with the track when producing my final video.

7. Theories For Production

Postmodernism theories applied to Pink-Stupid Girls

6. Magazine Advert Analysis

5. Digipak Analysis

After completing a Digi pack anlysis, I am more confident I can now create on for myself. I know what common things to include on my own digipak now, and so when it comes to me making my own one, I can include everything I have analysed for this blog post. I also know where on the pack to place my individual objects, for example; the barcode and the track list on the back, with the artists name, photo and album name on the front etc.

4. Record Labels And Permissions

1. What are record lables? What do they do? A record label is a brand and/or a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Often, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks; coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing, promotion, and enforcement of copyrigh for sound recordings and music videos; conducts talent scouting and development of new artists and maintains contracts with recording artists and their managers.

2. My music video consists of two artists. The first of these artists, (the main one) Jay Sean, would belong in a independant record lable as he is not as famous as his featuring artist Rick Ross, who is signed by a major record lable company; Warner Brothers.

3. My artist would most likely be signed to a record lable such as 'Cash Money Records' as they are an independant compay in which manages the production and distribution of that artist's work.

4. Rick Ross belongs to the Warner Brothers record lable. Other artists from the same record label are Jason Derulo, Biffy Clyro, Linkin Park. The genre of music ranges from rock, to hip hop; from reggae to r'n'b. Warner Brothers as a label are specialised in managing artists in which all genres are used and performed.

5. What is copyright and how are record labels responsible for this? Copyright is a legal concept, legalised by most governments, giving the artist of an original song/music, exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time. Generally, it is "the right to copy", but also gives the copyright holder the right to be credited for the work, to determine who may adapt the work to other forms, who may perform the work, who may financially benefit from it, and other related rights.

6. When using copyrighted music, i am going to have to ask the company if i am able to use one of their artist's songs. I will have to supply a plan in order for an agreement to be met by the record label and myself. I will not be able to use images, and any other video clips that are copyrighted. I will be putting my finished video on youtube, providing i credit the original artist(s) and distributer.

7. The information i have learned concerning copyright will help me a great deal when it comes to making and analysing my digi-pack, as i now know what is allowed to be in my music video, and also the music itself in which i am able to use, with no copyright intended.  

My Record Label

My record lable is called Soundwave Productions. I have called it this because i feel as though this logo reflects the type of product that i am trying to demonstrate. Sound waves cause us to hear sounds and so having 'Soundwave Productions' as my logo would paint a clear vivid picture within my audiences imaginations.

My record lable would be honoured to sign many major recording artists in which participate in the R'n'B/rap genre. My logo would be a major lable who would have intentions of signing the likes of Usher, Drake, Kidd Ink & 2Chainz.

3. Genre Research And Audience Expectations

1. Where did this genre originate? What are its roots? The term R&B originated in the late 1940s. In 1948, RCA Victor marketed black music as blues and rhythm, and in 1949 the term "rhythm and blues" replaced the Billboard category "Harlem Hit Parade."

2. How has the genre evolved over time? R&B has grown out of African American culture. It shows radical differences from the genres pioneered by Caucasian American and European cultures, such as classical music or rock 'n' roll (though the genre certainly still has ties to these styles).


3. How are the artists in this genre represented? Are they sex symbols? Are they talented musicians? Role models? Artists in the r'n'b genre were originally very talented musicians, ranging from saxaphone players, to soulful african american vocalists. Over decades, the R'n'B genre has developped and so music has now changed to recorded backing tracks as opposed to vocallists being accompanied by live musical instruments. Many female artists within the R'n'B genre are viewed as sex symbols, for example, Rihanna, Beyonce etc.


4.  Main ideaologies represented through current music videos in the genre? The main ideas represented through R'n'B of the 21st century consist of many artists showing off how much money they have and how they can purchase or have anything they desire; ranging from clothes, the opposite sex, love, money, power etc.


5. Conventional Artists? The artists of today that fit into the R'n'B genre consist of, Jay Sean, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Usher, Robin Thicke etc.


6. Here is a typical video of the R'n'B genre.



7. When creating my own music video, I am going to ensure that I use the typical conventions of the R'n'B genre. I will be sure not to use every convention, as some conventions will be deamed as inappropriate, for example, nudity and swearing. I will however use the conventions of the exaggerated hand gestures and body movement. Every action has to be exaggerated in order for the music to add to the effect of the video.





Here is what the audience expect from the R'n'B/Rap genre.

2. Genre Music Video Analysis

I am going to analyse Usher ft. Rick Ross - "Lemme' See"

I have chosen to analyse this music video because it is similar to the music video I have chosen to remake myself. They both fit into the same genre and so it is suitible for me to analyze a music video of this R'n'B genre.   

It is positioned in the 'R'n'b/Rap'music genre with conventions that abide by the stereotypical conventions of the genre.

 I know this video is of the R'n'B genre because from the mise en scene we can tell that the whole video is about the artist's perception of love and relationships, therefore showing numerous shots of attractive women. We can also see the

 

3: Analyse the setting and décor of the music video.



The artist/producer has tried to create a moody, sexual vibe in the video, as it consists of dim lighting, creating a seductive atmosphere.
Why do you think the director has chosen it? The director has chosen to use dim lights because it also adds a hint of mystery. The artist is always in the dark areas of the shot, until he takes off his top half of clothing.

4. Analyse the costumes of the music videos

• At the beginning of the video, Usher has his top on, and his bare skin is covered up. As the lyrics play on, when it comes to "take my shirt off, show my chest" Usher removes his top. This is an example of when the lyrics coincide with the actions on video. He shows the audience his bare body, without a shirt on, connotating that he is proud and aware of his muscular framed figure. 
• I think the director chose to show Usher with his top off because it targets a particular audience of girls and women as they may be physically attracted to his muscular torso. 
• This video definitely fits the genre, as the R'n'B genre consists of love and romance, sex, relationships etc, Usher ft Rick Ross 'Lemme See' portrays exactly the same conventions.  
• The two artists are the only two people throughout the whole video. They both follow the same topless theme, but Rick Ross is wearing numerous diamond chains round his neck to demonstrate his wealth and superiority. He also wears a thick diamond encrusted Rolex watch in which he wears alongside his neck jewellery, again, showing how extreme his wealthiness is. 

5. Props

• The props that the director has used are a piece of rope in which a woman is tied up in, within the artists fantasy. 
• The rope prop has been used to connotate restriction to the audience. This gives the audience the impression that the woman entangled in the rope, is 'tied down', either, phsyically or metaphorically.  
• Does it fit the genre of the music video? The props used gives the audience the impression that the video is of the R'n'B/Rap genre.        

6. Body Language and Movement

• The body language displayed in the music video shows the audience that the artist is very open and proud about their image. Although 'Rick Ross' is overweight, he still feels obliged to take his shirt off and rap his lyrics, while showing off his expensive chains and wrist watch.   
• I think the director has done this because Rick Ross' tattooed body with the diamond chains have become an iconic symbol in the rap/R'n'B genre, displaying a significant level of wealth and richness.
• Does it fit the genre of the music video? The body language fits the genre because you would expect to see exaggerated hand and body movements, in which Usher and Rick Ross demonstrate perfectly.   
• How could different audiences interpret this? Different audiences could interpret this as being too 'over the top', but if you are a fan of the R'n'B/Rap genre, you will appreciate that both artists need to exaggerate body language and hand gestures to aid in delivering the song.  
• If so why and to what effect? The artists in the video act move and act quite similar, although Rick Ross is more from the hoodlem area of America, Mississippi, his gestures and body language seem more fiery and direct, compared to Usher.  

7. Performance

• How important are the artist(s) in the music video? In this video the artists are the most important, as they are the only two men in the video. There is a female actor who plays the mystery woman in which the artist interacts with.     
• What does the performance add to the music video? The performance helps the video make sense and seem more realistic.   

8. Narrative

• Is there a narrative? There is a narrative in this song/video. The artist is talking about wanting to 'see' this woman.  
• Does the artist take part in the narrative? The artist takes part in the narrative as he is the main actor explaining the narrative. 
• Does the narrative link with the lyrics of the song? The narrative links with the lyrics of the song, as the lyrics coming from the artist can have two meanings, an innocent meaning, and also a sexual reference.        
• What does the narrative add to the music video? The narrative adds a story and adds some more meaning to the video as a whole. The artist can tell a story through his lyrics and the audience may find that they have found themselves in similar situations, thus making it easy for them to relate to the song/video. 

1. Star Image

A Prezi showing how Richard Dyer's Star Theory relates to Pop Success Justin Bieber.