Shooting Schedule

It is Week A and we have decided to film on:

Monday 5th October: Period 5 for 1hr
Tuesday 6th October: After period 2 from 12:15pm until whenever required as we all have free lessons. We are planning on going to London to film this section of the video in order to capture shots of great advertisements and consumerism.

Bob Dylan - Signs Have Been Made

In continuation to the Bob Dylan music video, here are the cards I made:





I tried my best to make them similiar to those slogans seen at protests. It's remarkable that RED has been a colour to dominate much of this video and it captures the audiences eye. I think it's been a good contrasting colour to use against black, also fitting the conventions of the rock genre.

Quoted T-shirt Example

This is an example of one of the t-shirts (the one i own). It's white with black writing simply because it would be easier for the viewers to read what is actually on the t-shirt. We've quoted it in order to show those who look that it has come from somewhere, to them, for them.

Decided Quotations

The decided quotes;

"you can never imprison my mind"

Ghandi

"be the change you want to see in the world"

Ghandi

As you can see these quotes have been taken from one of the world's most well known inspirational yet controversial individuals, Ghandi. There are many reasons to why these quotes were decided upon, firstly, - as constantly mentioned - the music within our video is a controversial one which opposes against the regimes of this cynical world. Like wise to Ghandi, the lyrics could be classed as quotable as they also carry deeper meaning when analyzed. The targeted audience need to pick up on these quotes and search deeper with the other footage for the MEANING behind our music video and why it's not cliche (including the artist, physical attributes, a tokenized sub-culture).

Dress Code of Character(s)

• Black bottoms.
• Slogan T-shirt.
• Hair natural.
• Eyeliner/No facial make-up.
• Nail Varnis (black).

- The black clothing is in order to specify the genre of our chosen music - rock. We don't intend on showing any phsycial attributes, however, still require neutrality from the character.

Props List

• Red Paint
• White Sheet
• Slogan T-shirts
• Guitars
• Drum
• Smoke Machiene

These props are needed as it's required that we produce T-shirts with slogans on. I believe that this is an appropiate choice to go by as the notion of 'slogan' shows signs of mutiny and again the sincere personalities held by the media producer (us).

A white sheet is needed in order to produce an art piece of the whole situation, we were thinking to cover this sheet with flags of the world and then throw paint over to exhibit the emotion of guilt and obviously blood. Perhaps also tying instruments together with chains infront of this piece in order to show them that our voices have been taken away, but so has our music.

A smoke machiene would be ideal in order to underline the genre of rock and its polluted/smokey atmosphere.

The Lyrics to Hypnotize

Why don't you ask the kids at Tiananmen square?

Was Fashion the reason why they were there?

They disguise it, Hypnotize it

Television made you buy it

I'm just sitting in my car and waiting for my...

She's scared that I will take her away from there

Her dreams that her country left with no one there

Mezmerize the simple mindedPropaganda leaves us blinded

I'm just sitting in my car and waiting for my girl

I'm just sitting in my car and waiting for my girl

I'm just sitting in my car and waiting for my girl

I'm just sitting in my car and waiting for my girl

Notes on Storyboard

We have managed to complete over 50 shots of story boards in full colour and adequate detail. A lot of effort was put in from every member of the group as we all contributed with great care to the timings, shot type/angle of the frames.

- The most important and troublesome area of the storyboard is getting the art piece we're trying to produce to work and at the same time look reasonable. Due to paint and paper, it's going to force us slightly to use materials that we don't neccessarily have access to, however, the thought proccess is still ongoing and we are thinking of other substitutes. For example, a computerized version instead.

Story Board

Annotating the Lyrics of Hypnotize

Following on from yesterdays lesson, we have annotated the lyrics to our chosen song in order to engage our thinking to shape our music video. The following have been decided upon;

• Replace the "Tiananmen Square" with a shot of "Trafalgar Square"
• Replace "Propaganda Made You Buy it" with footage of advertisements in Central London i.e. Piccadilly Circus
• We are planning on incorporating an artistic/abstract element through the use of paint
• Due to the song exhibiting a political meaning, and the lyrics allows us to use countries, we are liking the idea of incorporating flags and red paint over them in order to highlight the corruptness caused by globalization
• Writing/Quotes/Moral Message underlined
• Like Bob Dylan, the use of cards to follow the lyrics at times during the video

System of a Down Research - General Background of Band

Originating from Armenian-American roots, system of a Down presents to its audience music which challenges the generalised views of merry sound. Explicit issues have influenced the band into constructing verses of deeper meaning and to some un-bearable notes. SOAD offer a wide range of topics within their songs:

Love
Hate
Political

The band is a part of the Axis of Justice, a non-profit organization co-founded by Tankian and fellow musician Tom Morello, dedicated to bringing together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_of_a_down ]

I personally favour this group as they deal with the realities of the world rather than just the limited society they’re surrounded in. The attitude which they portray is genuine and the music which they produce isn’t aimed at a particular audience, in other words, they do not make the effort to attract their listeners, the listeners become engaged with their music because they feel and agree. For example, another rock band to contrast to the genre of rock produced by SOAD is Simple Plan, they: portray the typical attitudes of famous people and are very commercial. By attracting and aiming at a certain audience they force themselves to act and behave (and undertake the issues) like their audience – teenage kicks.

System of a Down Hypnotize - The Chosen Song Audio Track

the original video wasn't available for embedding due to copyright restrictions, but if you want to check it out anyway it can be found at this address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTtuNseSjuo&feature=fvw

Music Video Analysis 6#: Cibomatto

Music Video Analysis 5#: Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues

We were inspired by the video below to use signs/cards with writing relating to the message/lyrics of the song used. Due to this music video being very well known, and successful in expressing an important message, we believed it may do the same for us.

I have been appointed with the responsibility of creating similar cards.

Music Video Analysis 4#: The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"

Yet again, the video is based on a performance.

• Energetic
• Editing is perfect
• Shots have been cut in time to the beat of the music
• The lip syncing is in time to the lyrics
• Projection in the background adds a different sense of appearance to the eye of the audience
• the lights used are also effective as they manage to blend in the sense of a discotheque

Music Video Analysis 3#: Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

One of the most popular music video/song.

Like I've stated in my previous posts, Rock Music videos rely mainly on the performance of the music they produce in order to create the video.

• It does not matter on the appearance of the performers/band members unlike it does in pop videos
• the way the performance is held can be changed and adapted to fit the content of the chosen music
• Nirvana have managed to appeal to their targeted audience through this music video due to its normality. There is no artificial use of editing software, lighting, make-up [etc]: very neutral - hence the audience will be similar to that in the music video

Music Video Analysis 2#: Avenged Sevenfold - Gunslinger

This Music video has a narrative. The beginning of the Music video is a brief introduction of meaning to the background of the song. This highlights that there is no structural way of constructing a music video, as long as it is effective on its target audience.

• It is not an abstract music video
• Whilst illustrating the lyrics, it manages to also highlight a moral message: war and the effect is has on soldiers
• Death is underlined: the personal intentions of the band are exposed

possible inspirations for own music video

• to go against the 'normal' conventions of music video
• to show target audience more than just narrative
• involve the audience with the video played

Music Video Analysis 1#: Linkin Park - "New Divide"

This music video has been filmed on the set of Transformers. The quality of the video is very good due to the graphical ingredients. Again, though the typical conventions of a rock music video has been changed, the band still have kept the performance and therefore are able to continue to identify with their target audience.

• Highly energetic
• The scene/shots are in beat with the rhythm of the music
• The lip syncing of the singer is also perfect
• Dark tones have been used throughout the music video for obvious reasons - in this case due to being a 'sub genre rock' video
• I like the way they have adapted the effects of the editing software used. It's different; unique and manages to give the video a richer quality

possible inspirations for own music video:

• to include the band performance
• incorporate graphical techniques rather than using monotonous footage editing at a simple level

Research and Planning: Led Zeppelin

English Rock Band formed in 1968 by:

from left: Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Hones (bass, guitar, keyboard and mandolin) & John Bonham (drums)


This particular rock band has been very inspirational for a lot of the younger generation as well as those listening to it during the time its music was being made. Many of their videos appear to be performance based and when typing the group into YouTube I found that there were a lot of concert clips on show. This highlights not only the popularity of the band, but its interaction with the listeners of its music.

• They clearly lead a healthy relationship with their audience
• Are appreciated and inspirational by/for their listeners
• Their clothing is simple: nothing for the sakes of consumerism
• Their performances are not over exaggerated but, extremely passionate

Research and Planning: Conventions of a Rock Music Video

Rock Music Videos tend to have a performance based foundation. Though the shots may not concentrate totally on the performance of the band, during the climax of the music the camera tends to turn towards the instrument vigorously perfoming at that time.

here is a photograph to illustrate my point:


Photo: AFP/GETTY, rollingstones.
<- Though this is a live performance photo, it is notable that the use of live footage is also common within Rock Videos. Showing the fans, the music, staging, lights [etc...] boosts up the energy of the performer towards his/her audience and the audiences' response to it.

Because Rock, like any other genre, divides into sub-genres, it cannot go unnoticed that through time, contemporary adaptations of rock have taken place and the music videos constructed have become more narrative or abstract. Unlike in the past where many videos consisted of merely the group performing and limited creativity.

Decisions

Okay, todays lesson has been about getting together with our group and deciding on the song we're going to use.

What we came up with:

• It has been decided that we are going to create a music video to the song 'Hypnotize' by 'System of a Down'
• The name of our created band is going to be 'Ataraxia'

What to do in next lesson:

• Annotate the lyrics to 'Hypnotize' and aim to gain as many inspirational ideas as possible
• Research further into the genre chosen; Alternative Rock
• Decide on the techniques needing to be used in order to attract our targeted audience(s)
• Begin story boards

Research and Planning: Survey

Here is a Survey I carried out in order to gain a better understanding of the concept: target audience. I asked many people from a broad range of demographics what genres of music interested them. I have created quantitative data therefore

Research and Planning: Rap Music

It's interesting to see that rap music has dramatically changed over the years. Tupac is one of the perfect examples as he's true, passionate and really tries to inject a message across to his audience. When in comparison to artists like 50Cent, Public Enemy and Atmosphere along side Tupac portray a very different representation of Rap music and street life.

The modern interpretation of hip-hop music evolves around sex, money, bling and gangs, where as true rap music evolves around political affairs, and meaning to the streets and reasons to why 'thugs' are 'thugs'.

The two drastic representations showed me the change in music as a whole over time and how it's now become an action for money and simply another trading opportunity, rather than, provoking deeper thought in those listening to it. It could be said that certain types of music have now become a tool to numb and simply sound 'good' instead of activating the souls of the listeners.

Research and Planning: Rock Music

Rock Music is another genre to noticably evolve over the years. After the sixties rock music stemmed many subgenres such as;

• folk rock
• soft rock
• glam rock
• heavy metal
• hard rock
• progressive rock
• grunge
• Britpop
• Indie rock
• punk rock
• folk rock
• nu Metal

The foundations of rock music lie within rock'n'roll which originated from the USA during the late 1940's spreading with speed to the rest of the Western world.

personal note: I would like to produce a music video using the alternative rock genre.

Research and Planning: Common Genres Regarding Music

The most common genres regarding music are:

Rap: refers to "spoken word or chanted rhyming lyrics with strong, rhythmic accompainment". Rapping can be traced back to its African roots.
Rap music has much history; Old School Rap: "identified by its relatively simple range" . . . "the emphasis was not on lyrical technique, but simply on good times". The Golden Age of Rap: 1980's, the invention of complex wordplay and lyrical kung-fu of later hip-hop.
Through the research of certain artists such as 50 Cent, I have found that Rap, a genre of music originating from the 'hard life', the 'Ghetto' has been transformed and manipulated to show a false portrayal of its real value and blended in which hip-hop. Rather than, social issues such as drugs, deaths, illegal weapons and racism being explored, it has become far too concerned with financial status - emphasized through cars, jewellery (Or in their terms 'bling'), women and the overrating of the drug use.

^takenfrom: here

Rock (Alternative, Metal): the foundations of rock music lie within 'rock 'n' roll', a subgenre originating from America during the late 1940's and early 1950's. There has traditionally been a perception of the decline of Rock Music.
Guitars, keyboards, bass-guitars [etc] are all the common instruments used within Rock Music

^takenfrom: here

Indie: Originated from the US and UK. Is a distribution of underground music. They belong to independent record labels rather than mainstream ones.

^takenfrom: here

Hip-Hop: is a cultural movement incorporating break-dancing, music, graffiti and rapping. Unlike rap music, it has originated from the African AMERICAN, Jamaican communities of NEW YORK. Other elements include hip-hop fashion and slang. Hip-Hop has been credited for reducing inner city violence and replacing them with art and dance battles.

^takenfrom: here

Pop: Genre has been developed in the 1950's, aimed at youth market. The most common genre to sell by far, the most singles. Refers to 'popular music - anything mainstream. Is an alternative to the rock and roll and later on rock music that was present during its time.

^takenfrom: here

Final Cut Tutorial

I've learnt how to use Final Cut. The variety of effects will allows to have a better quality of video as an end product.

Short Cuts:

• /i = in /0= out } selects a certain section of the clip you're editing
• /tool on right hand side breaks the link between the clip and sound
• /b = blade } use to cut
• /a = arrow, used as selection tool
• / cmd Z = undo
• / double click on footage; new tabs appear; motion --> crops --> effects tab --> video filter ]etc...]
• /render sequence
• /cntrl, t = transitions
• /alt_r = plays without render
• /cntrl_r = renders

Final seems to demand much more skill and patience than iMovie. I feel that it is going to take time getting use to using the new software but it will be for the better as there are better opportunities to improve the quality of your work through its editorial elements.

Theories #4: Bordwell and Thompson’s (2001), Four categories of Film Editing:

TEMPORAL

Conerns time of action and contributes to the plots' manipulation of story time - order, duration and frequency
The ORder of presentation of events can be manipulated = changes in story-plot relations which interrupt temporal order.
Example: Flashbacks (to past events) increases storyw knowledge and flashforwards (to future events) creating enigma.
Duration of story events within the plot can be altered via use of ellispis (presents action in less screen time than within story)

Ellipsis:

• Punctuation shot change e.g. dissolve, wiple and fade signals ommision of time
• Empty frame e.g. figure of interest seen moving out of a frame, cuts to empty frame where figure moves into it
• Cutaway e.g. figure moves into it
• Cutaway a shot of another event elsewhere that does not last as long on the ommited action

The frequency of events in continuity editing tend to be shown only once. Repetition can provide a powerful tool for building tension and expectation often to show explosive action

Theories #3: Bordwell and Thompson’s (2001), Four categories of Film Editing:

SPACIAL

Concerns film space (setting and location) and relation between manipulation of different points through similiarity, difference and development/

• Continuity editing produces analytical space via and establishing shot (extreme/long shot) followed by smaller range (mid) shots
• The KuleshoveEffect: (No establishing shot) leads to the interference of a single locale, aspacial whole based on seeing only portions of the space.
  Audience will infer a connective relationship between shots or spatial coexistence
• Crosscutting (parallel editing) can emphasise action taking place in seperate places

Theories #2: Bordwell and Thompson’s (2001), Four categories of Film Editing:

RHYTHMIC

Consider duration of shots - the length of each in relation and its patern involving acent, beat,and tempo. Specific emphasis on particular shots giving different effects.

Example:

• All shots the same approx length = Steady metrical beat
• Steadily lengthening shots = Gradually slowing tempo (leads to resolution or can build tension)
• Successively shorter shots = Accelerating tempo (builds excitement)
• Longer Shots = Greater time for audience reflection
• Rapid series of shots = Little time for thought

• 
  

Theories #1: Bordwell and Thompson’s (2001), Four categories of Film Editing:

GRAPHIC

Graphic: Draws upon 'Pictorial Qualities' found within mise-en-scene and cinematographic elements. For example, Patterns of light and dark, fine and shape, volume and depth, movement and stasis. Considers colour similiarities and differences. Can be used to create'smoothcontinuity' or 'abrupt contrast'.

Graphic Match: Linkage of shots by graphic similiarities.

Graphic continuity: 'Centre of interest constant throughout cuts, maintaining lighting level, avoiding strong colour clashes'.

Graphic discontinuity: Plays with juxtaposition of placement of focus figures, contrasts with colour and footage types (Example, Super 8 Vs DV) and movement and stillness.