Next Steps

The next step I am currently thinking about, is getting my final filming sorted and uploaded. I am trying to stick to my storyboard and follow a filming schedule but the Talent is not always available, or willing for use of a better word. I am still currently editing alongside the filming but it is proving difficult because I do not have access to all of the footage yet. I recently had some more inspiration for the stop go animation that I would like to use in my video. This is a song by one republic, where they have effectively shot a music video and played it within another music video. I love the jumpy and lively effect it gives to the video because, even though the focus remains stationary for most of the film with simple zooms in and out, the background and the foreground are changing so much and every quarter of a second, that it creates fluid movement, and makes for a very captivating video.

I also have been thinking that a change of song may be in order for a faster paced track. If stop go animation becomes the primary focus of the video as I'd like it to be, I think that a quicker pace may suit the style of animation a lot more.

Storyboard

For my concept video I have decided to use Stop Go Animation in parts, because I think it will create a juddered and shaky effect that reflects the song style of alternative, rock, electronica and dub which is chaotic with a jumping beat. I will also be using some subtle Clint Eastwood inspiration from the film Dirty Harry in the acting because Gorillaz have two songs named Clint Eastwood and Dirty Harry, as an intentional signifier, meaning that not everyone will understand the reference but the select few that do will hopefully find it humorous and quite clever. This also links to the theory of Audience Pleasures and belonging to a select group, as you feel that it is targeted at you personally.

My first scene will be of ten people, all wearing white t-shirts. I will take a long shot photo of each person individually, front and back pulling a face or striking a pose but not blocking their t-shirts. Then using final cut pro, I will layer the letters D, I, R etc. onto the face of their t-shirts, so that when all cut together, they will spell DIRTY HARRY. This should last for the 24 second instrumental opening of the song. My teacher has recently shown me where to look to find out how to carry out this type of editing. I found a fantastic tutorial on Youtube specified to creating and editing music videos! This should be a really useful source for future editing on my video, and has taught me that if I need help when it comes to software I can always find the information myself first rather than having to ask a teacher every time.

My second scene is when it moves into the chorus. The last two people wearing the white t-shirts (R, Y), will come to stand next to each other in front of a blank wall with their arms by their sides, I will be using a mid shot of just their torso's and necks. Separately I will film actors carrying out the actions in the lyrics (dancing and singing) with the appropriate props (a gun). Then I will cut and edit this video accordingly to fit the 25 second long chorus, and use final cut pro to layer the two videos so that the dancing actors can be placed on top of their t-shirts. This will be a continuing theme throughout the video.

The next scene I will focus on is the rap, it lasts for 1 minute and 5 seconds. I would like this part of the video to be in a parody style. I will fade away from the white t-shirts and into the next video which will be of several different people, ranging from the ages of 5 years old to around 50 years old. They will all be doing one or two lines each, all in different ways. I will have the youngest and the oldest actor doing the typical low angle shot, where they rap down and directly into the camera with 'pistol fingers'! I would like this entire scene to be shot at a low angle, left and right of the actors. They will all be very over the top, jumping and stomping to the beat. I think this will fit in with the entertaining style the Gorillaz videos usually portray, and will also be fun to film for myself and the actors hopefully providing an enjoyable experience for my audience.

My final scene will be Stop Go animation again with the beginning ten people all appearing next to each other in a long wide shot with their faces to the wall all pointing to their backs which will again spell DIRTY HARRY. The final photo will be of all of them holding their fingers to their neighbouring persons head in a 'stick em up' position with leering smiles. I will then cut to black with a gunshot sound effect and the laugh used at the beginning of the Clint Eastwood music video.
  

Memes & Tropes of Music Videos

Music videos of all genres feature certain memes and tropes throughout, signifying to consumers of the text, what kind of genre the video is. There are many different examples of this e.g. Men Without Hats' Safety Dance. Some media works feature dancing and this makes sense when the scene is set in a night club, a prom or even a concert. However in some videos (like this one) there is an elaborate plot going on that the story is concentrating on but dancing is still featured in there somewhere, even though the story should be viewed as serious. This trope is typically seen in films about dance like Step Up and humorous/parody music videos.

One of the key features of a music video concept is camera movement. There is a type of trope known as a conveyor belt video, this is when the camera continually tracks to one side, with (in general) no jump cuts, creating the impression that the scene is on a conveyor belt. Coldplay did this in the music video 'The Scientist'. The actions were filmed backwards and the singing forward. The video helped to visually show consumers what the lyrics are trying to say as one of the repeated lines in the song is "I'm going back to the start."

    

Conventions of a Music Video

Typical music videos last between three and 6 minutes but can be longer depending on the artist and the editing of the video. These videos will always have a style that reflects the genre of the video, for example if you are shooting an 'indie' video it may have been edited with a lot of effects or be shot in black and white. One way or another they like to distort the image in someway to show that the video is different just like their music, and they will often be shown playing their instruments. The same goes for shooting a 'pop' music video, they tend to be upbeat dance tracks and so the location of the filming will often be set in a club with a lot of young people all having a good time, dancing and socialising. Providing a genre provides structure for the audience, and in doing so it is easy to watch a music video on mute and tell the genre just by the images on the screen. All music videos include the basic conventions of style, editing techniques, the sound (diegetic and non diegetic), Mise en Scene (props, costume, lighting, location and make up) and finally stereotyping. Here is an example of a pop video displaying what I am talking about:- Atlas Genius - Trojans.
This video is an indie video and features a lot of distorting effects, the singers playing their instruments and lots of close ups of seemingly random things like, a goldfish and a toy wind up eye ball.

My chosen song

I have decided to do a music video for my coursework, as I think it will be the most enjoyable for me and I will get to learn a lot in terms of filming and editing from it. The song I have chosen to do is called Dirty Harry by Gorrilaz. This is their animated music video.

Introduction

This is my A2 Media Blog. Throughout my upcoming lessons I am going to be creating a short film, a film trailer, or a music video, whilst learning how to film and edit throughout the process.