This is an animatic to show roughly how i want my video for 'Shooting Star' to look when it is filmed and edited...
my drawing skills are collosal
Tuesday 16 September 2008
Monday 15 September 2008
Sven E Carlsson’s Theory
Sven E Carlsson stated that music video is a many faceted multi-discursive phenomenon that is communicated through the TV screen and its speakers via carriers of information such as, the music, the lyrics and the moving images.
Carlsson believed that music videos, in general, fall into two main groups; performance clips where the video mostly shows an artist (or artists) singing or/and dancing; and conceptual clips where the video shows something else during its duration often with artistic ambitions.
Standard Clip
A music videos that more or less contains a filmed singer blended with inserted images. A standard clip is meant to be dynamic and has many variations. The vocalist may actively participate in the story while simultaneously standing outside the video offering self-reflexive commentary; he may have an alter ego e.g. a cartoon character.
There are three pure forms of visual tradition in music video;
Performance Clip
If a music video clip contains mostly filmed performance e.g. a video that shows the vocalist in more than one setting, then it is a performance clip. The performance can be of three types: song performance, dance performance and instrumental performance.
In certain types of perfromances the performer is often made into a materialization of the commerical exhibitionist, this is where the performer is made into almost a selling item; someone that fans often aspire to be and these scenes will be extremely high in quality and have a gloss to them. The exhibitionist wants success and tries to evoke the charisma of stardom and sexuality. Another type is the televised bard, which is a singing storyteller who uses on screen images instead of inner, personal images. The the third and final type is the elctronic shaman, sometimes the shaman is invisible and only his/her voice that anchor the visuals and they often shift between multiple shapes.
Narrative Clip
If a music video clip is understood as a silent movie to a musical background it is a narrative clip. A narrative contains a story that is easy to follow and may not contain any lip-synchronisation.
Art Clip
If a music video contains no perceptable visual narrative and contains no lip-synchronisation singing then it is a pure art clip. These are normally associated with more modern, experimental music.
Carlsson believed that music videos, in general, fall into two main groups; performance clips where the video mostly shows an artist (or artists) singing or/and dancing; and conceptual clips where the video shows something else during its duration often with artistic ambitions.
Standard Clip
A music videos that more or less contains a filmed singer blended with inserted images. A standard clip is meant to be dynamic and has many variations. The vocalist may actively participate in the story while simultaneously standing outside the video offering self-reflexive commentary; he may have an alter ego e.g. a cartoon character.
There are three pure forms of visual tradition in music video;
Performance Clip
If a music video clip contains mostly filmed performance e.g. a video that shows the vocalist in more than one setting, then it is a performance clip. The performance can be of three types: song performance, dance performance and instrumental performance.
In certain types of perfromances the performer is often made into a materialization of the commerical exhibitionist, this is where the performer is made into almost a selling item; someone that fans often aspire to be and these scenes will be extremely high in quality and have a gloss to them. The exhibitionist wants success and tries to evoke the charisma of stardom and sexuality. Another type is the televised bard, which is a singing storyteller who uses on screen images instead of inner, personal images. The the third and final type is the elctronic shaman, sometimes the shaman is invisible and only his/her voice that anchor the visuals and they often shift between multiple shapes.
Narrative Clip
If a music video clip is understood as a silent movie to a musical background it is a narrative clip. A narrative contains a story that is easy to follow and may not contain any lip-synchronisation.
Art Clip
If a music video contains no perceptable visual narrative and contains no lip-synchronisation singing then it is a pure art clip. These are normally associated with more modern, experimental music.
Monday 8 September 2008
analysis two
Goodlife, Kanye West ft. T-Pain
The video for Kanye West’s “Goodlife” contains many conventions and features of music videos, and in particular those used in the R&B genre.
The video starts with a frontal mid-shot of Kanye West revealing the main star immediately. This catches his fans and fans of the music genre’s attention. As Kanye West begins to write “the Goodlife” on screen, the camera reverses to a mid-shot from behind him to reveal the title of the song. As West splashes ink to the floor it runs, with the camera following its movement to the feet of a person. After the ink wraps round his feet in colour, the camera tilts upwards to reveal the featuring artist T-pain, perhaps suggesting that he is also of a high status in the genre. As he sings the lines “Welcome to the Goodlife” they appear on screen in graffiti font thus amplifying the lyrics to the audience and making them want to join in. Zoom ins and zoom outs are occasionally used in the video to vary the editing and camera angles, sometimes giving a good effect when zooming in to Kanye West as the audience will anticipate it and can’t wait to see him close up.
This is continued throughout the video with lyrics being amplified on screen along with mid-shot, long shots and close ups of Kanye West. There are also close up profile shots of Kanye West from the side giving the audience every view of the star therefore giving them pleasure in watching it/him. The same shots are used when T-pain appears on screen too. At points within the video both Kanye West and T-pain are shown on screen, together, mainly through the use of long or mid shots, to increase pleasure for the audience with two stars on their TV screens that have done a lot for the genre of music, alas emphasising what a huge collaboration this is
Camera shots with a good looking woman are also included both on her own, with West and with both the male artists. Long shots are used to show off all her credentials and close ups used to emphasise her certain qualities meaning the video is particularly paying attention to its male demographic, contributing to the video’s voyeuristic features. Making the woman appear sexy and desirable, the video producers and editors are encapsulating and keeping the attention of the male audience.
The editing of the video is of a very high standard as expected for a song of a multi-millionaire music artist. However, some of the effects used in shots are incredible to watch and one can only imagine how long it must have taken to edit in time with the music and the artists acting. For example, when the lines “so I roll the good” are sang by West he rotates his arm to turn a wheel on screen which was probably added in after the footage was filmed using a green screen, etc. Another example of this is where Kanye West itches his fingers together and throws his arms at the camera where the editors have then added cartoon like diamonds to the footage to make it look like he throws diamonds and wealth at the camera, emphasising his huge success and high status. Thirdly, Kanye West puts on a pair of sunglasses in one shot where instead of the lyrics and images being projected behind him like previously in the video, they are on his lenses shown in a close up, giving a new, different and interesting effect which the audience will like and want to watch again.
In terms of intertextuality, the video or rather song and lyrics mention the music channel on which the video is most likely to appear on and make money from; “I’m gonna get on MTV momma” with West and T-pain walking into a TV screen being watched by the woman in the video, again perhaps adding to the voyeuristic qualities of it.
The video itself has a good quality narrative and performance by all involved which should mean good repeatability on channels and video websites such as youtube, myspace, etc. and thus with its individuality and originality has and will continue to gain success.
To conclude, the video is original and thus effective in gaining repetitive views and giving satisfaction to viewers.
my chosen music video
Shooting Star by Air Traffic (first minute and a half only)
Pretty if the sun won't shine
I'll be coming out to meet you
I'll be there to make you mine
You're pretty if the rain will pour
I'll be knocking at your window
I'll be begging you for more
It's as if you've come along too soon
And I'm trying to fit you in
But I can't seem to follow
You're a cutie if it all falls through
We can piece it back together
I can learn to trust you too
You're just too good to lose
And I can't refuse
So don't make me choose
Between the two
I'm fed up in here
In my atmosphere
Don't you know who you are?
You're my shooting star
Shooting Star, Air Traffic
This is an analysis of Air Traffic’s original, existing music video for their song “shooting star” which I am doing my own music video for.
The video begins with a long, profile shot of a girl in a messy bedroom holding an object. The shot is in slow motion (using over cranking) and sets the scene of where the narrative element of the video will take place.
The video is comprised up of shots of the narrative/story going on in the bedroom between the girl and a boy, presumably her boyfriend, and shots of the band playing their instruments. The setting of the shots of the band is in a very large, dark room with some lighting resembling street lights. This reflects the simplicity of the video.
The narrative is all in slow motion with objects being taken up in the air and then made to fall back down to the floor and crash. The styles of shots vary in terms of the slow motion shots. They are mostly long or mid shots of the girls, with some close ups of her flicking through what are presumably love letters from a boyfriend she has kept. This may create some empathy toward the character from the audience as at this moment in time it may look as though they have split up and is either reminiscing or getting rid of the bad memories as it appears she throws them to the floor without care. In one long shot, the lamp lifts up off the table and then the editing switches to a close up of the lamp falling. Furthermore, in synchronisation with the smash of the drums, the lamp also smashes which is has an interesting effect. These types of shots are repeated with long shots of the boy and the girl standing opposite each other and objects rising to the ceiling and a glass of water is also concentrated upon via close up when it smashes in time with the music.
There are some mid shots and close ups when the couple begin to take their clothes off. It also includes an over the shoulder shot and high angle shot of the couple.
In terms of shooting the band there is a little more variation. Firstly, there is a side profile close up of the lead singer. This seems to have a small element of a high angle shot looking up at him to inform viewers of who their fans idolise and admire. There is also a close up of his finger hitting the keys of his piano. This is used to satisfy the more musically inclined and for people to watch his talent in admiration. A further example is that of a mid shot of him sitting at the piano playing and singing, something which is deemed quite hard to do and entertaining. An over the shot shoulder shot of this also has the same effect. After the lamp crashes to floor in unison with the drum beat, the camera focuses on a close up of the drummer playing which is followed by a very quick mid, high angle shot of the drummer and his instruments.
The editing of the band playing is very fast in order to reflect the pace of the music at the point of the video; varying in close ups, mid shots and long shots of the guitarists especially. When the music starts to slow down again a pan shot is used to reveal all the band members and where they are in vicinity to one another. This is repeated later but in a long shot position to reveal the setting, lighting, instruments and amps. It also allows us to see the whole band playing together, something which puts across a good view of them and is entertaining for their fans who wish to see that some day in concert.
Towards the end of the one minute thirty seconds, the narrative and live performance elements come together with objects falling from above the band and crashing beside them while they’re playing.
The narrative is quite hard to understand as any ‘action’ is very minimal and during the one minute thirty seconds ill be doing, the story doesn’t really development and all we see is a couple together but not talking or hugging and just laying next one another. Therefore, from before in the video where the girl throws away letters, we get the impression they have fallen out slightly. However, the effects of the slow motion are a nice touch and if played on music channels I’m sure this would be a good advert for the band and receive repeated viewings. There is no evidence of any inter-textuality meaning it is totally original and different.
In conclusion, the video (or one minute thirty worth of it) is good viewing. It is edited well and in time with music i.e. the editing is quicker when the music speeds up. The slow motion effect separates the narrative from the live performance even more clearly and adds an element of originality making it a successful video in my opinion; one which I will try and learn from when filming and editing my video for the same song.
Pretty if the sun won't shine
I'll be coming out to meet you
I'll be there to make you mine
You're pretty if the rain will pour
I'll be knocking at your window
I'll be begging you for more
It's as if you've come along too soon
And I'm trying to fit you in
But I can't seem to follow
You're a cutie if it all falls through
We can piece it back together
I can learn to trust you too
You're just too good to lose
And I can't refuse
So don't make me choose
Between the two
I'm fed up in here
In my atmosphere
Don't you know who you are?
You're my shooting star
Shooting Star, Air Traffic
This is an analysis of Air Traffic’s original, existing music video for their song “shooting star” which I am doing my own music video for.
The video begins with a long, profile shot of a girl in a messy bedroom holding an object. The shot is in slow motion (using over cranking) and sets the scene of where the narrative element of the video will take place.
The video is comprised up of shots of the narrative/story going on in the bedroom between the girl and a boy, presumably her boyfriend, and shots of the band playing their instruments. The setting of the shots of the band is in a very large, dark room with some lighting resembling street lights. This reflects the simplicity of the video.
The narrative is all in slow motion with objects being taken up in the air and then made to fall back down to the floor and crash. The styles of shots vary in terms of the slow motion shots. They are mostly long or mid shots of the girls, with some close ups of her flicking through what are presumably love letters from a boyfriend she has kept. This may create some empathy toward the character from the audience as at this moment in time it may look as though they have split up and is either reminiscing or getting rid of the bad memories as it appears she throws them to the floor without care. In one long shot, the lamp lifts up off the table and then the editing switches to a close up of the lamp falling. Furthermore, in synchronisation with the smash of the drums, the lamp also smashes which is has an interesting effect. These types of shots are repeated with long shots of the boy and the girl standing opposite each other and objects rising to the ceiling and a glass of water is also concentrated upon via close up when it smashes in time with the music.
There are some mid shots and close ups when the couple begin to take their clothes off. It also includes an over the shoulder shot and high angle shot of the couple.
In terms of shooting the band there is a little more variation. Firstly, there is a side profile close up of the lead singer. This seems to have a small element of a high angle shot looking up at him to inform viewers of who their fans idolise and admire. There is also a close up of his finger hitting the keys of his piano. This is used to satisfy the more musically inclined and for people to watch his talent in admiration. A further example is that of a mid shot of him sitting at the piano playing and singing, something which is deemed quite hard to do and entertaining. An over the shot shoulder shot of this also has the same effect. After the lamp crashes to floor in unison with the drum beat, the camera focuses on a close up of the drummer playing which is followed by a very quick mid, high angle shot of the drummer and his instruments.
The editing of the band playing is very fast in order to reflect the pace of the music at the point of the video; varying in close ups, mid shots and long shots of the guitarists especially. When the music starts to slow down again a pan shot is used to reveal all the band members and where they are in vicinity to one another. This is repeated later but in a long shot position to reveal the setting, lighting, instruments and amps. It also allows us to see the whole band playing together, something which puts across a good view of them and is entertaining for their fans who wish to see that some day in concert.
Towards the end of the one minute thirty seconds, the narrative and live performance elements come together with objects falling from above the band and crashing beside them while they’re playing.
The narrative is quite hard to understand as any ‘action’ is very minimal and during the one minute thirty seconds ill be doing, the story doesn’t really development and all we see is a couple together but not talking or hugging and just laying next one another. Therefore, from before in the video where the girl throws away letters, we get the impression they have fallen out slightly. However, the effects of the slow motion are a nice touch and if played on music channels I’m sure this would be a good advert for the band and receive repeated viewings. There is no evidence of any inter-textuality meaning it is totally original and different.
In conclusion, the video (or one minute thirty worth of it) is good viewing. It is edited well and in time with music i.e. the editing is quicker when the music speeds up. The slow motion effect separates the narrative from the live performance even more clearly and adds an element of originality making it a successful video in my opinion; one which I will try and learn from when filming and editing my video for the same song.
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