Friday, 20 September 2013
Thursday, 19 September 2013
19/09/13 Update
Today I finished a music video analysis and decided on my song.
I've decided on Coyotes by Jason Mraz, as I love how up beat the chorus is and also I have many ideas to what I can do with filming and editing.
I also started making a brainstorm on paper on the song and all the possible things I could do, and then I'll copy it up on Bubbl to organise my ideas. I will also draw up some possible scenes that I've already decided in my head. That way I can develop and refine to make it perfect before filming.
I've decided on Coyotes by Jason Mraz, as I love how up beat the chorus is and also I have many ideas to what I can do with filming and editing.
I also started making a brainstorm on paper on the song and all the possible things I could do, and then I'll copy it up on Bubbl to organise my ideas. I will also draw up some possible scenes that I've already decided in my head. That way I can develop and refine to make it perfect before filming.
SHINee - Lucifer
Having a look at foreign music videos, I decided to analyse a very successful Korean pop band's music video, Lucifer.
Released in 2010
The video is extremely performance based, as the group is usually singing and dancing as though they are on stage. It is popular for Korean pop band to be performance based like this, as they are typically trained for years to perform before they can be released as a group.
The song is about how they feel trapped by a girl's love, as they can't escape and feel like they are no longer themselves.
The beat is very heavy and r&b/pop like, with a specially choreographed dance to go with it. SHINee (pronounced 'shiny') is specially known for their dances for pretty much every one of their songs.
As it is a Korean song, I decided to first look at the lyrics translated into English to see if it follows Goodwin's theory of how the lyrics link with the visuals, however there are only a few signs of the video doing so; there are CGI glows floating about around the group suggesting 'Your undeniable magic is the Lucifer'. Also, they sing about how they feel trapped, which fits in with the members who are all individually are either confined in a closed up place, in a maze, or trying to drive away.
In this music video, the editing is perfect (personal opinion and fact).
In the very beginning of the video, there is fast cuts used at every quick beat, showing the audience very briefly close ups of the members of SHINee. This fast cutting at the beginning tells the audience that the video and song is very up beat, quick and dramatic. The close ups used support Goodwin's theory of how the record label requests loads of close-ups of the artists. The record label does this to please the fans of the group and promote the individual people of the group.
The members would also usually pose, which is a very stereotypical boy group thing; they make themselves seem vein and stylish for their female fans - perfect boy.
Straight cuts are used to view the dancing at different angles, following the smooth flow of dance moves and the beat. This also supports Goodwin's theory of how visuals link with the music. The editing here is also complemented by the camera work, as there is a huge range of angles filmed and also tracking helps make it quite smooth.
Near the middle of the video, there are cuts used between two or three scenes of the boy group dancing the same dance but in different clothing and at a different setting. I found this editing technique very effective as it was extremely smooth, as though there was no obvious cut - the dance wasn't out of place, and fitted well together in each cut. I also thought that the editing at most of the beats suited the sharp dance moves, which also went with the beat.
The costume used in this video is rather glamrock/ punk like: leather jackets, silver leggings, fur coats and big boots. By dressing like this they are able to fit with the dark, rough settings and complement their dance moves. Also their clothing isn't identical, which suggests that they may have a personal style (or character style).
A slow mo effect is used in the video when the members jump in the air: on the part where they sing 'loverholic, robotronic'. It has a similar effect to the matrix: cameras are all placed in a circle and take a picture at the same time. I think it'll be extremely difficult for someone with such a small budget like myself to try to use this technique.
Camera roll movement is used in individual scenes of the members. By doing this they managed to achieve a smooth, hypnotised effect that followed the CGI glows. This could represent how the members feel trapped and lost by the girl (who is represented by the glow).
There is a couple of jump cuts used on the group when they are dancing, just by repeating mili-seconds of the same part. This helped create a glitch-like effect, that was also part of the song. This suggests that this group has a modern style, as the dance is manipulated by technology. They however do incorporate it into their dance routine when they perform.
There is 'swoosh' sound effects added in the video at one part of the dance routine, suggesting the speed of their dancing. This kinda makes the group seem rather powerful in their dancing and suggests to the audience that they are so good that they are even able to simultaneously cut through the air at the same time. This supports the fact that the video and even the group themselves are performance based - I've looked at their other videos and all of them has their own dance routine.
I also found that some parts of the dance were more focused on than other parts. For instance, when the members are all in a line and moving their arms to the beat, there is a camera tilt/track to view them straight on but at different angles. This is to help the audience gain the full effect and appreciation of this complicated dance move.
If I was to have a group of dancers in my music video, they would probably have to train for hours every day to be this simultaneous and perfect. That's why it would probably be easier to have single dancers if I include dance. However, I am really inspired by the editing in this video, and would love to try and get it as perfect as this (however, would take a lot of time).
In contrast to English speaking music video's, this one is more up beat and heavily developed in most aspects of the video. Compared to and English speaking boy group such as One Direction, this video and group shows more skill, which helps impress its audience.
Released in 2010
The video is extremely performance based, as the group is usually singing and dancing as though they are on stage. It is popular for Korean pop band to be performance based like this, as they are typically trained for years to perform before they can be released as a group.
The song is about how they feel trapped by a girl's love, as they can't escape and feel like they are no longer themselves.
The beat is very heavy and r&b/pop like, with a specially choreographed dance to go with it. SHINee (pronounced 'shiny') is specially known for their dances for pretty much every one of their songs.
As it is a Korean song, I decided to first look at the lyrics translated into English to see if it follows Goodwin's theory of how the lyrics link with the visuals, however there are only a few signs of the video doing so; there are CGI glows floating about around the group suggesting 'Your undeniable magic is the Lucifer'. Also, they sing about how they feel trapped, which fits in with the members who are all individually are either confined in a closed up place, in a maze, or trying to drive away.
In this music video, the editing is perfect (personal opinion and fact).
In the very beginning of the video, there is fast cuts used at every quick beat, showing the audience very briefly close ups of the members of SHINee. This fast cutting at the beginning tells the audience that the video and song is very up beat, quick and dramatic. The close ups used support Goodwin's theory of how the record label requests loads of close-ups of the artists. The record label does this to please the fans of the group and promote the individual people of the group.
The members would also usually pose, which is a very stereotypical boy group thing; they make themselves seem vein and stylish for their female fans - perfect boy.
 |
| Tracking following arms |
Straight cuts are used to view the dancing at different angles, following the smooth flow of dance moves and the beat. This also supports Goodwin's theory of how visuals link with the music. The editing here is also complemented by the camera work, as there is a huge range of angles filmed and also tracking helps make it quite smooth.
Near the middle of the video, there are cuts used between two or three scenes of the boy group dancing the same dance but in different clothing and at a different setting. I found this editing technique very effective as it was extremely smooth, as though there was no obvious cut - the dance wasn't out of place, and fitted well together in each cut. I also thought that the editing at most of the beats suited the sharp dance moves, which also went with the beat.
The costume used in this video is rather glamrock/ punk like: leather jackets, silver leggings, fur coats and big boots. By dressing like this they are able to fit with the dark, rough settings and complement their dance moves. Also their clothing isn't identical, which suggests that they may have a personal style (or character style).
 |
| Camera Roll |
Camera roll movement is used in individual scenes of the members. By doing this they managed to achieve a smooth, hypnotised effect that followed the CGI glows. This could represent how the members feel trapped and lost by the girl (who is represented by the glow).
 |
| Jump cuts used at this part |
There is 'swoosh' sound effects added in the video at one part of the dance routine, suggesting the speed of their dancing. This kinda makes the group seem rather powerful in their dancing and suggests to the audience that they are so good that they are even able to simultaneously cut through the air at the same time. This supports the fact that the video and even the group themselves are performance based - I've looked at their other videos and all of them has their own dance routine.I also found that some parts of the dance were more focused on than other parts. For instance, when the members are all in a line and moving their arms to the beat, there is a camera tilt/track to view them straight on but at different angles. This is to help the audience gain the full effect and appreciation of this complicated dance move.
If I was to have a group of dancers in my music video, they would probably have to train for hours every day to be this simultaneous and perfect. That's why it would probably be easier to have single dancers if I include dance. However, I am really inspired by the editing in this video, and would love to try and get it as perfect as this (however, would take a lot of time).
In contrast to English speaking music video's, this one is more up beat and heavily developed in most aspects of the video. Compared to and English speaking boy group such as One Direction, this video and group shows more skill, which helps impress its audience.
(However, to be fair, this one One Direction video was created by the boys themselves for charity so it wouldn't be as polished as their other videos, but their skill in performance (dancing) doesn't get much better).
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
18/09/13 update
Today in the unattended media lesson, I decided to analysis Linkin Park's music video: Castle of Glass.
It's quite a modern video and uses a lot of CGI. The reason I chose to analyse this video as it is very narrative based with a lot of concept hidden in the choice of camera work, lighting and editing. It is also performance based, as you see the band outside the narrative.
I'm thinking of next analysing some music videos that are very different compared to the ones if already looked at, and that way I'll hopefully have a better understanding of what makes a music video.
It's quite a modern video and uses a lot of CGI. The reason I chose to analyse this video as it is very narrative based with a lot of concept hidden in the choice of camera work, lighting and editing. It is also performance based, as you see the band outside the narrative.
I'm thinking of next analysing some music videos that are very different compared to the ones if already looked at, and that way I'll hopefully have a better understanding of what makes a music video.
Linkin Park- Castle of Glass
Released in 2012, and is based of true stories of how families are affected by war, making it a narrative music video. Also the song was created for an EA game called Medal of Honor: Warfighter.
In the very beginning of the video, slow paced tracking is used when the boy is heading to the door. It shows that the film was slowed down slightly as it takes the boy a little longer then normal to reach the door and open. This effect suggest that the boy needs to stay a little longer clueless to what is waiting for him: finding out about his fathers death. Making it slow keeps the audience calm yet more focused on the situation, as they are waiting for what is on the other side of the door.
When the boy meets the soldier, the camera focuses only on those two, with the surrounding background and people blurred out. This suggests how the audience is meant to only concentrate on only them, and that to the boy and the soldier, they are focused on only each other: the soldier needs to tell the boy important news and can not be distracted by anything else, and also the boy is just focusing on the news. It also represents how a child stereotypically needs to listen to the adult, and also how children are main concerns for when it comes to situations like this. I'm quite inspired by this technique, as I find it effective to let the audience focus on a person or object.
When the boy is in his bedroom, the atmosphere and lighting/colour in very blue and grey based, which reflects the young boy's depressed mood. The soldiers fighting in the raid scene are in the same atmosphere, which suggests the relation between the two scenes - boy thinking about dad who died in war, men fighting in war. These two scenes however, also contrast against each other, because of how calm the boy scene is compared to the chaotic scene of the soldiers running about with weapons. This helps the audience
understand the link even better, as we are never told that the boy's dad is dead, we just assume from the obvious clues.
The editing technique of swapping between the boy putting the hat on to the man (assuming that he is the dad) putting the hat on, suggested 'father like son'. This refers to the possible strong relationship between the characters, and how the child is now reliant on memories. I've also noticed in this scene that the characters are situated on the right of the screen with nothing on the left. This suggests that something is missing (the dad). Remembering that the narrative is based on true stories, it tells the audience how real life people are effected by loss. This is also shown when the boy is walking through the corridor after finding out about the news: his reflection is shown on the many frames on the wall, suggesting that he is feeling broken and lost, and also it shows how he only has memories (photos of the past = memories flowing back). It also shows Goodwin's of how the lyrics can link to the visuals as a line says "show me how to be whole again".
Another one of Goodwin's theory is used in the video as there is a band performance. The band is used with green screen, which first shows the house falling apart - linking to how the family is feeling from their loss - and turning into glass fragments (referring to the title 'Castle of Glass'). The performance scene contrasts against the other scenes as it is more emotionally based, whereas the other scenes are based on possible reality. The house falling apart and turning into glass reflects on how fragile the mind can be - the house portraying the mind as it represents a safe place.
At the very beginning of the video, there is a fuzzy unsettling noise alongside a piano which is played quietly. This makes the audience take in the distressed atmosphere of how the boy finds out about the death. The quietness of it all helps it make it more spine chilling, as the audience has to imagine the screaming and crying of the mum.
I'm not too sure, but the man we see put on the hat and who we expect to be the dead dad, is again seen at the end of the video telling bad news to a little girl.This suggests that the dad knows what it is like for families to lose loved ones, as he has experienced the pain his family is in through seeing other families in similar situations.
A video of the band with green screen
In this video, some of the band members discuss in an interview on what it was like to film with green screen.
In the very beginning of the video, slow paced tracking is used when the boy is heading to the door. It shows that the film was slowed down slightly as it takes the boy a little longer then normal to reach the door and open. This effect suggest that the boy needs to stay a little longer clueless to what is waiting for him: finding out about his fathers death. Making it slow keeps the audience calm yet more focused on the situation, as they are waiting for what is on the other side of the door.
When the boy meets the soldier, the camera focuses only on those two, with the surrounding background and people blurred out. This suggests how the audience is meant to only concentrate on only them, and that to the boy and the soldier, they are focused on only each other: the soldier needs to tell the boy important news and can not be distracted by anything else, and also the boy is just focusing on the news. It also represents how a child stereotypically needs to listen to the adult, and also how children are main concerns for when it comes to situations like this. I'm quite inspired by this technique, as I find it effective to let the audience focus on a person or object.
When the boy is in his bedroom, the atmosphere and lighting/colour in very blue and grey based, which reflects the young boy's depressed mood. The soldiers fighting in the raid scene are in the same atmosphere, which suggests the relation between the two scenes - boy thinking about dad who died in war, men fighting in war. These two scenes however, also contrast against each other, because of how calm the boy scene is compared to the chaotic scene of the soldiers running about with weapons. This helps the audienceunderstand the link even better, as we are never told that the boy's dad is dead, we just assume from the obvious clues.
The editing technique of swapping between the boy putting the hat on to the man (assuming that he is the dad) putting the hat on, suggested 'father like son'. This refers to the possible strong relationship between the characters, and how the child is now reliant on memories. I've also noticed in this scene that the characters are situated on the right of the screen with nothing on the left. This suggests that something is missing (the dad). Remembering that the narrative is based on true stories, it tells the audience how real life people are effected by loss. This is also shown when the boy is walking through the corridor after finding out about the news: his reflection is shown on the many frames on the wall, suggesting that he is feeling broken and lost, and also it shows how he only has memories (photos of the past = memories flowing back). It also shows Goodwin's of how the lyrics can link to the visuals as a line says "show me how to be whole again".
Another one of Goodwin's theory is used in the video as there is a band performance. The band is used with green screen, which first shows the house falling apart - linking to how the family is feeling from their loss - and turning into glass fragments (referring to the title 'Castle of Glass'). The performance scene contrasts against the other scenes as it is more emotionally based, whereas the other scenes are based on possible reality. The house falling apart and turning into glass reflects on how fragile the mind can be - the house portraying the mind as it represents a safe place.
At the very beginning of the video, there is a fuzzy unsettling noise alongside a piano which is played quietly. This makes the audience take in the distressed atmosphere of how the boy finds out about the death. The quietness of it all helps it make it more spine chilling, as the audience has to imagine the screaming and crying of the mum.
I'm not too sure, but the man we see put on the hat and who we expect to be the dead dad, is again seen at the end of the video telling bad news to a little girl.This suggests that the dad knows what it is like for families to lose loved ones, as he has experienced the pain his family is in through seeing other families in similar situations.
A video of the band with green screen
In this video, some of the band members discuss in an interview on what it was like to film with green screen.
Thursday, 12 September 2013
Feedback on Possible Songs
Today in lesson, we all had to present our top three possible songs that we want to make a music video for.
The songs I chose to get feedback on was Coyotes by Jason Mraz, Sinners by Lauren Aqualina, and Only Tear-drops by Emmelie de Forest.
The songs I chose to get feedback on was Coyotes by Jason Mraz, Sinners by Lauren Aqualina, and Only Tear-drops by Emmelie de Forest.
There wasn't much feedback when I was given the sheets back, but the little feedback I was given does help me a bit.
For instance, on one of the sheets, it said that I should try animation if I was to do the Jason Mraz song. I will have to look into what is required in animation for me to succeed if I want to use this technique.
Personally, out of all these songs, I would want to do Coyotes by Jason Mraz as I have quite a few ideas.
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Jonathan Glazer
Karmacoma by Massive Attack
The video is based in a hotel, which tells us there is many different types of people: they all have there own lives that are all messed up or creepy. The colours of the corridor of the hotel are the same colours as the man who carries the gun clothes: purple, red, white and brown. This suggests how the man can't escape as he is trapped within the hotel trying to get away. It also acts as a camouflage, as it is suggested that he is running away from the creepy twins.
The twins and the man-with-gun's doppelgänger, suggests Goodwin's theory with how the lyrics are shown through the visuals; in the lyrics it says "you're a couple, 'specially when your body's double". This use of mise en scene and sound reflects the strangeness of the hotel Glazer has created for this video, as the twins give off a creepy horror-film effect of being silent and symmetrical and also it was unexpected for the man's double to appear from the shadows like that. This shows that the music video is like a nightmare; the man is trapped with no escape from the girls.
There is extreme close ups of the man carrying the gun, showing the sweat on his face and panic in his eyes, showing his stress. The audience is also able to hear him stressed out through his dialogue as he reads out numbers as though he needs to remember them. He seems to be the only member panicking, suggesting that he is the one having the nightmare. The character also reflects the lyrics "I drink on a daily basis... It never cools my temper", as there is motivation edit from that line being said to the audience seeing the man pointing his gun at everything, being jumpy.
Parallel Cutting is used in the video to show several scenes and situations happening in the hotel. It shows the audience that the hotel is unsafe and unusual as everyone is acting weird and murderous: man dancing covered in dirt and also man who's trying to kill mini self. Again, this could link to the lyrics "you're crazy, but you're lazy, must be lazy", as it could be a dream suggesting "lazy" to be an option - hotels are for resting.
A tracking point of view is used in the video to give a sense of walking though the corridor. This would make the audience feel unsafe, as we have just witnessed a man walking around with a gun and strange people in the rooms.
There are close ups used on the singers who seem relaxed with the events going on, as they just wait about in the rooms wearing janitor suits. This could show how maybe they are use to the craziness and it is suggested through their clothing that they work there.
The lyrics "emotional ties they stay severed" link to the character with messy hair who says "I killed. Nothing personal. I want to be free. And I am free." suggesting how his selfish, messed up thoughts have effected others. It is also shown though the fast paced jump cuts with camera flashes that he is a murder, as the camera flashes link to a crime scene investigation (maybe foreshadowing deaths). It could also reflect how lost he is, as camera flashes can confuse people when they are surrounded by it.
Overall, this music video strongly shows Glazer's artistic, dream-like views on things, leading to confusion and inspiration for the audience as they try to figure out the meaning.
I'm rather inspired by his work, as he usually shows a small story by having his videos extremely symbolic and dream-like. I think this would help me in my own production, as I love symbolic meaning and mind tricks, however my music video probably wouldn't be extremely confusing and crazy; I would like to make some sense out of it.
The twins and the man-with-gun's doppelgänger, suggests Goodwin's theory with how the lyrics are shown through the visuals; in the lyrics it says "you're a couple, 'specially when your body's double". This use of mise en scene and sound reflects the strangeness of the hotel Glazer has created for this video, as the twins give off a creepy horror-film effect of being silent and symmetrical and also it was unexpected for the man's double to appear from the shadows like that. This shows that the music video is like a nightmare; the man is trapped with no escape from the girls.
There is extreme close ups of the man carrying the gun, showing the sweat on his face and panic in his eyes, showing his stress. The audience is also able to hear him stressed out through his dialogue as he reads out numbers as though he needs to remember them. He seems to be the only member panicking, suggesting that he is the one having the nightmare. The character also reflects the lyrics "I drink on a daily basis... It never cools my temper", as there is motivation edit from that line being said to the audience seeing the man pointing his gun at everything, being jumpy.
Parallel Cutting is used in the video to show several scenes and situations happening in the hotel. It shows the audience that the hotel is unsafe and unusual as everyone is acting weird and murderous: man dancing covered in dirt and also man who's trying to kill mini self. Again, this could link to the lyrics "you're crazy, but you're lazy, must be lazy", as it could be a dream suggesting "lazy" to be an option - hotels are for resting.
A tracking point of view is used in the video to give a sense of walking though the corridor. This would make the audience feel unsafe, as we have just witnessed a man walking around with a gun and strange people in the rooms.
There are close ups used on the singers who seem relaxed with the events going on, as they just wait about in the rooms wearing janitor suits. This could show how maybe they are use to the craziness and it is suggested through their clothing that they work there.
The lyrics "emotional ties they stay severed" link to the character with messy hair who says "I killed. Nothing personal. I want to be free. And I am free." suggesting how his selfish, messed up thoughts have effected others. It is also shown though the fast paced jump cuts with camera flashes that he is a murder, as the camera flashes link to a crime scene investigation (maybe foreshadowing deaths). It could also reflect how lost he is, as camera flashes can confuse people when they are surrounded by it.
Overall, this music video strongly shows Glazer's artistic, dream-like views on things, leading to confusion and inspiration for the audience as they try to figure out the meaning.
I'm rather inspired by his work, as he usually shows a small story by having his videos extremely symbolic and dream-like. I think this would help me in my own production, as I love symbolic meaning and mind tricks, however my music video probably wouldn't be extremely confusing and crazy; I would like to make some sense out of it.
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