First look at different lighting

Today we got out the lighting equipment out where we were able to practice with different types of lighting as we could create different effects from the artificial lighting. One of the images we were able to creat to different sides to the character in the image as have of the side was lit and the other side was dark which created the meaning if good and evil.

Artificial lighting can be used to create Binary oppositions which are all useful when creating a certain Mise en scene or a representation of a character or setting.

First look at different lighting techniques on PhotoPeach

So many media theorists (linked to music videos)

Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin is a Australian music video theorist. Goodwin has identified 6 different aspects of a music video which should be used to make a successful music video. These 6 aspects should be easily visible when analyzing a music video.

• There is a relationship between the lyrics of the song and the visuals of the video. Therefor the lyrics are represented with images or they at least link in with the image on the screen. The lyrics can either amplify, contradict or illustrate the images.

This can be seen in nicki minaj's video "annaconda". The video amplifies the lyrics of the song with the mise en scene, costumes and acting. Nicki Minaj "annaconda"

• The relationship between music and its visuals. The means that the tone and atmoshphere of the video is reflected by the tone of music. For example if the music is hard and fast paced then there will be a lot more fast cuts and the shots will be alot quicker where as if the music was soft and slow paced then the cuts will be slow to show the meaning. This will make the video relaxed like the style of music. 

This can be scene in the video for "the pretender" by the the Foo Fighters.Foo Fighters "the pretender".

• Music videos often demonstrate genre characteristics. Every music video belongs to the genre in which the music belongs to. This is they key to appealing to the audience. If the video falls into the genre of the music then the video is more likely to be watched by the fans of the music. An example of this is rock videos. Rock videos often include live music being played. This isn't always life music like at a concert. They are often in random environments but have an effective meaning to the mise en scene. The videos always include the instrumented to create the music.

This can be seen in the video for You Me At Six's song "lived a lie". You Me At Six "lived a lie"

• Star image, multiple close ups of the main artist or vocalist. This is the demands of the record label. They require a variety of close ups on the main artist as it will then generate motifs which will then often recur across more of the artists work. This is often used for the audience to create a connection with them and the artist. 

This can be seen in the video for Green day's song "21 guns". Green Day "21 guns"

• There often inter textual references within the music video referencing of media texts such as film, TV programmes and other music videos.  Intertextuality is the way in which one media text refers to another media text in the same text. An example of this is in the video "last friday night" by Katy Perry. At the start and end of the video there are credits and also out takes which are common features of films. By having these features it  makes the music video very film like. The characters were all wearing costumes from the 80's and there are also references to social media websites. This video is also very postmodern. 

Katy Perry "last friday night"

• Frequently referring to notion of looking and also voyeurism treatment of the female body. "Voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other actions usually considered to be of a private nature" wiki. The male gaze is a common feature in female music videos. It is used to attract a male audience to gain a wider audience of both gender's. This can contradict the intention of the music as it may only be females who watch the video for the music where as the males may only watch the video for sexual preference.

This can be scene in Rihanna's video "pour it up" Rihanna "pour it up"

Laura Mulvey

Laura Mulvey's theory is the make gaze theory. The theory suggests that the male gaze denies woman human identity, relegating them to the status of objects to be admired for physical appearance.The theory also suggests woman can more often watch a film from a secondary perspective and only view themselves from a mans perspective.

Mulvey states that the role of the female character in a narrative has two functions.

1. An erotic object for the characters within the narrative to view.
2. An erotic object for the spectators to view.

Gender roles in film and music videos

Characters which look at others are thought to be the active role (predominantly male). The characters which are to be looked at are passive (predominantly female). This means that the woman are under control of the males gazes and they only exist for pleasure for the male and also the viewers. As a result of this, females slow down the narrative of the music video or film as they act as an inspiration for men to act. Males play the opposite role as they help push the narrative forward as it is often always the males who make things happen and are seen as active.

• The male gaze is used to gain the attention of a male audience. This is common in female music videos with sexual referencing. 
• Mulvey's theory is closely linked to one of the suggestions made by Andrew Goodwin.

Roland Barthes

Barthes stated that " a text has many meanings, or is like a galaxy of signifiers which can be interpreted in many ways."

In other words Barthes uses a similie. He suggests that a text is like a ball of threads, waiting to be unravalled. Once unravalled, we encounter an absolute wide range of potential meanings. "texts may be open or closed". Barthes narrowed down the action of a text into two main different codes, Enigma and action.

The action code: This is a term given to features of a text which allows the audience to interpret and identify was it to come in the text.  Narrative uses action codes so that the audience can tell what will happen.

The enigma code: This is used to create questions for the audience e.g who died?/how did she die?...Therefor this is used to expand the narrative of the text as it creates tension and satisfies the audiences demands.

Other codes from Barthes

The symbolic code: Often symbols and signs which are clues which help the audience piece together and understand the narrative.

pitching my mood board

After creating my mood board. I pitched my mood board to members of my class like the pitch of our idea for the music video.This was very valuable to my research as i recieved valuable feedback about my mood board. Overall it was mainly positive feedback which was great which ment i could discuss this feedback with my partner, Jessie.

preliminary task with a directors commentary

Here is another copy of our preliminary task but this time we have added in a voice over commentary. Me, Jessie and Helen decided to evaluate our video. The main comments which we brought up was:

Negatives

• The lighting of the first couple of shots is much different to the rest of the video. If we were to re make the video we would defiantly consider a different type of lighting.
• Some of the shots are out of focus.
• Not all the shots were filmed in the intended environment.
• Some of the shots would have been better if a tripod was used.

Positives

• Some of the shots were executed really well such as the shots when Ollie was on the bike.
• The editing worked really.
• The lighting outside was key to the video and worked well.
• Worked really well as a team.

Overall we are really happy with this short video as it was the first proper video we have made. Yes it wasn't the best we could have done as if we were to do it again, there would be some shots which we would film again. On the other hand some of our camera work was really good and it has taught us to plan before which we will do a lot of when it comes to our actual video.

Revisiting a mood board/ Pitching the mood board

I have already created a mood board which had a variety of different images based on the genre of punk rock. Unfortunately it didn't really provide me with any inspiration for our music video. After annotating the song lyrics with basically brain storming different ideas according to the lyrics I decided to make another mood board. This time I focused it around our video with getting different images which relate to my idea for both the narrative, setting and the band itself.

 I will be using my mood throughout the creating of our video for inspiration and ideas. I have also included the lyrics of the songs in the mood board as they helped me to gather different ideas.

Pitching the mood board
In class we were giving the task to pitch our mood board's to the class. Overall the feedback which I was given was positive as they like the layout of the mood board and the fact that I have collected ideas for the narrative, setting, and the band. I received a comment saying: "clearly shows that it is a music video and what genre you are catering for". On the other hand they did say that the narrative may be a bit confusing with different aspects going on which has made me reconsider some of our ideas. I have taken all of this information on board as it has helped me with my research as it is audience feedback.

Preliminary task

Here is our preliminary task. We were giving the task to recreate one minute of existing video.  Me, Jessie and Helen decided to take a minute from the video Pompeii by Bastille. It took us a while to get started as we were trying to find the right places to film the different shots. At first we intended the opening shots to be filmed in a warehouse. Unfortunaly due to health and safety reasons we weren't able to film there so then we got suggested to film at Exeter St David's train station but we were also unable to film there either. So we decided to find a suitable place to film in the school.

Overall the filming could have a gone a bit better as some of the shots were out of focus and we should have played around with the lighting. On the other hand some of the shots were successful and looked really good. We managed to get thing singing scenes in sync with the lyrics.  

By doing the preliminary task, it has developed previous skills and has also made me and Jessie more aware that we need to do much more planning and research into the codes and conventions into our own genre. Even though the video wasn't amazing. I am still very happy on how it has turned out.

copyright permission letter for the music track

Dear Warner Bros Records

Me and my friend Jessica Opie are A2 media students. I am writing to you to request for permission to use your song "wake me up when september ends" by Green Day. I believe that you own the rights to this song.

We are hoping to use this song within our A level media project where we have to make a music video for a song out on the current market. A long with the music video we are also required to make a digi pack and album poster for the band.

If you give us permission to use the track. It will ONLY be used to for educational purposes to make our coursework. The examination board which requires us to do this is OCR. We will not be taking the track as our own.

A bonus will be that the artist who is with you will gain further publicity through the video and the other productions. If there is a need for a copyright notice to be included in the records of my project then I will do so. I will be happy to this if you send me the details.

Me and my partner will be looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Edward Towers
Jessie Opie

Annotating the lyrics

Wake me up when September ends lyrics
In order to start to get a feel for a narrative for the music vide me and my partner annotated the lyrics of the song seperatly so we can come up with our own ideas relating to the lyics. This way we can come up with our own ideas and share them with eachother and see what eachother thinks.
This was a good way to get an idea for the narrative but also get to know my partener a bit better and how see works. It brought us closer togethor as we got to know how each other thinks and what we both wanted for the narrative of the video which we wanted it to be based around one man, his past and moving on.