Friday, January 28, 2011

Progess

Over the past week we have been re filming parts of our music video. Following the new investment of a HD camera we felt that added quality of filming could make our video alot more professional. Using experiences from previous filming and knowing what works well and what doesnt we were able to quickly film half of our song again. One thing we noticed is that adding more camera shots was needed so we took this into consideration and shot from a wide varitey of angles. Location stayed the same, and we took into consideration how we could edit to the beat, so tried to target our shots around this. Another major factor which helped us was the whether, and the fact that now we have a stable forecast, however with the changing seasons we need to be sure that continuity is kept.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Run this town- Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kanye West

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVA-xTBeHyM

Sound- Diegetic sounds from the fires are in place at the start, symbolishing destruction and helping to set the scene for the audience as there is no establishing shot.

Mise-en-scene-The artists and associates in this video are heavily dressed in leather, and metal, this strays away from the usual conventions of bling, money and girls which are normally scene in hip hop videos. The leather also represents a rebellious side to the artists who are going against the norms. Personally i feel that this refelects what all the artists wish to achieve in that they are trying to create new styles and stand out from the crowd whith there work. Obviously one of the narratives are performances from the individual artists themselves. In these sections editing is toned down so the audience can see the artist performing which is a key part to music videos in general.

Editing-Blurs and the slowing down or speeding up of scenes also gives the viewer the impression that this is a flashback, colours are faded, which adds to reality or verisimilitude. Over the top of the film has been placed a very grainy, old school lens effect which adds to the value of this being a handheld camera. The video lacks continuity as the shots are very much arrranged in a montage style and shots run back and forth between different scenes.

Cinematography- The shots used in this video very much give the impression of a documentary style or a home camera, supporting the dirty riot nature, as this is often what is scene when these kind of events are reported on the news etc. At the start of the video there are no establishing shot but instead medium- medium close ups which gives the viewer the impression that they are there in the crowd. Like most music videos, Run This Town is heavily laidened with editing to the beat, which helps keep the audience interested and adds to the flow off the narrative and the connection it has with the song. Other camera angles also see the artists most particularly Jay-Z shown in a good light or as a leader, this is represented through low angle shots, looking up at him. This reflects his role in the music industry as he is very much a front figure to the business and a leader.

Progress

On reflection we have realised that a few of the shots/scenes in our video could be made better due to previous weather conditions etc. At this moment in time we are to start re filming these particular scenes, and changing the editing in which we will make the cuts match that of the music which is the case in most successful music videos. Although our song is fairly slow, we feel that the pace of the editing must be quickened to make it more interesting.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Digi pack initial layout- design


Shooting Script

Shooting Script – The Script – Nothing – Music Video

Visuals
Audio
1.Location: Wooded area – County Road bridge.
Dan Fields as main artist.
Props: Plain white tee, long black chain, ripped jeans and white hi tops – Scruffy Look to represent the just woken up/rough night look.
Shot: Close up/Angle: Eye Level/Movement: Still Camera focused on face asleep, eyes then open at the first strong beat.
Slow beat at the beginning of the song.
Am I better off dead
2.Location/Props same as above.
Medium/Low Angle/Tilt Upwards
Dan gets up from the floor
Am I better off a quitter
 
3.Location/Props same as above.
Medium/Eye Level/Right to left pan and tilt, eye level to floor.
Dan bends and picks one of the many bottles from the night before.
They say I'm better off now
Than I ever was with her
 
4.Location/Props same as above.
Medium/Eye Level/Backtrack.
Empty Bottle included in one line.
Backtrack continues until the verse finishes and Dan emerges from the wooded area.
As they take me to my local down the street
I'm smiling but I'm dying trying not to drag my feet
They say a few drinks will help you to forget her
But after one too many I know that I'm never
Only they can see where this is gonna end
But they all think I'm crazy but to me it's perfect sense

5.Jump cut to Green Room.
Performance scene.
Medium/Eye Level/Still
And my mates are all there trying to calm me down
'Cause I'm shouting your name all over town
 
6.Jump cut to front room. Ashley pulls back Dan, trying to calm him down. Dan looks frustrated.
Medium shot. Over the shoulder of Ash. Eye level and handheld camera. This emphasises the infuriated mood of that scene.
I'm swearing if I go there now
I can change your mind turn it all around
 
 
7.Cut to green room. Long shot. Slight low angle.
Still camera on tripod. Performance.
And I know that I'm drunk but I'll say the words
And she'll listen this time even though their slurred

8/9.Cut back to house. Right to left pan following Dan’s movement. Dan walks out of conservatory doors on the phone and in garden. Handheld camera remains in the conservatory looking out to Dan.
Dial her number and confess to her 
I'm still in love but all I heard was nothing

10.Jump cut to railway lines.
Medium shot/Backtrack/Eye Level
Throughout that short verse.
Several shots cut to the beat. Same location.
So I stumble there, along the railings and the fences
I know if I'm face to face that she'll come to her senses 
Every drunk step I take leads me to her door
If she sees how much I'm hurting
She'll take me back for sure
11.Jump cut to Green Room = Performance.
Same clothing as above.
Medium/Eye Level/Still
And my mates are all there trying to calm me down
'Cause I'm shouting your name all over town
12.Dan coming out the front door of the house.
Long shot/Still/Eye Level
Dan walks towards the camera and then begins backtrack.
I'm swearing if I go there now
I can change your mind turn it all around
13.Pan left to right following Dan’s movement as he passes the camera.
Medium - close up.
And I know that I'm drunk but I'll say the words
 
14.Following Dan from behind – Handheld camera.
Tracking Dan/Medium.
And she'll listen this time even though their slurred
Dial her number and confess to her 
I'm still in love but all I heard was nothing
15.Dan presses the bell, no ones in and sits on the step.
Long shot/Still on tripod.
She said nothing
Oh I wanted words but all I heard was nothing
Oh I got nothing
Nothing
I got nothing
Nothing
Oh I wanted words but all I heard was nothing
16.Dan under bridge, darkness but light coming from lamppost above.
Close up/On tripod. Performance.
Oh sometimes love is intoxicating
17.Same as above.
High angle long shot on tripod. Dans performing this verse whilst making some eye contact with the camera. Performance.
Oh you're coming down your hands are shaking
 
18.Same as above. Performance.
Slight low angle. Medium long shot. Dan walks up and past the camera as the verse fades out.
When you realise there's no one waiting

19.Dan is stood upon the top of the rocks near County Road Bridge.
Low angle on tripod. Throws his jacket past the camera / Lands next to camera.
Am I better off dead
Am I better off a quitter
 
20.Medium – long shot on tripod. Slight low angle.
Dan jumps from the rocks, out of the frame.
They say I'm better off now
Than I ever was with her
21.Green room. Full chorus of performance. Variation of shots edited to the beat. Long shot/close up/medium shots.
End of chorus = High angle as Dan slouches to the floor. Fade transition.
And my mates are all there trying to calm me down
'Cause I'm shouting your name all over town
I'm swearing if I go there now
I can change your mind turn it all around
 
And I know that I'm drunk but I'll say the words
And she'll listen this time even though their slurred
Dial her number and confess to her 
I'm still in love but all I heard was nothing
22.Dan laid on the floor. Only face, neck and bit of shoulders in the frame.
High angle direct from above. Close up.
Dan mouths lyrics for the first few lines then eyes close. Fade out.
She said nothing
Oh I wanted words but all I heard was nothing
Oh I got nothing
Nothing
I got nothing
Nothing
Oh I wanted words but all I heard was nothing
Oh I got nothing
I got nothing
I got nothing

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I have begun looking into modern boy band front covers for inspiration to our album cover itself. Primiarily i have discovered that front covers for boy bands are very much performance based and i will be uploading other examples to show this. This technique has not changed with time either, it seems to be a trend that carries on through the eras. This particular front cover is for boyzones 'come-back' album, soo having the only images of the actual band works in two ways. One being that fans will see there faces and immediately associate to them, and relate back to who they are. The second being that it alerts people that they are back with a new image. If they was to realise a front cover with a say landscape picture, the audience may think that this is an old album. The colours used are sophisticated, and toned down, representing that off a much older man, showing that the band are back much older, and appealing to a different audiences. Straying away from the previous childish boy band state.
The light casting, shows reflection back upon there careers, and also the loss of stephen gately as the album is entitled brother. It shows both good and bad with dark and light representing it.