Update: 26th Sep 2011

Over the last week we have been out filming some establishnig shots. These include shots of a station, road and bus stop.

Today we atempted to create a dirty/grimy style.

Update: 17th September 2011

Today we were out filming some establishing shots. We spent about one and a half to two hours filming these, and are pleased with our results.

Next week we are hoping to create a grimy style overlay which we can use on these shots.

Our Target Audience

The target audience for our music video, 'Wheels' by Foo Fighters, consists of, most obviously, fans of the 'alternative rock' genre, and also fans of the 'Foo Fighters'. The main age group that we are targeting will be within the age range of 16-24. Our audience will be mostly made from students and possibly fans of other rock genres. People who play instruments, such as guitar and bass, may also have a strong interest in our video considering the instruments going to be used within it.

This is mainly aimed at young people, this is because the lyrics portray when a girl breaks up with a boy and then he finds someone else and moves on, and some young people may be able to relate to this in some way.

Our music video will offer some of Richard Dyer's theory needs to our audience

Escapism
Entertainment
Education
Identification

Props List

The props we will be using are as follows;

- Bag
- Picture
- Guitar x1
- Drum Kit x1
- Bass x1
- Microphone x2
- Amp x2
- Microphone Speaker x1
- Drug 'look-a-likes'

Locations List

We will be filming in a variety of locations, some of these locations are as follows;

- Bus Stop - 23rd Sep
- Long Road - 23rd Sep
- House (dark - represents both the rock genre and the characters emotions) - 18th Oct
- Specifically bedroom - 18th Oct
- Several smaller roads - 18th Oct
- Scream - 29th Oct and 8th Nov

Shooting Schedule

Session - Practice shots, practice lip syncing. 12th Sep
Session - Ensuring that locations are suitable. 15th Sep
Session - Begin filming the storyline. 23rd Sep
Session - Continue filing the storyline. 18th Oct
Session - Stock Footage. 20th Oct
Session - Main filming session. 29th Oct
Session - Main filming session. 8th Nov
Session - Filming the final parts. 10th Nov
Session - Stock Footage 11th Nov
Session - Finalising - 12th Nov-onwards

The Music Industry

The Music Industry on Prezi

Research and Analysis of Digipaks

Digipaks are CD cases with the CD and a varying number of fold-out panes, each including unique images and information about the album or artist. Digipaks cost more than standard CD cases due to their cost to produce and the extra content given.

Digipaks are only really used for the following things; to promote an artist, to promote a specific song or to celebrate a specific release or a new album, etc. They are essentially another form of advertisement which are themselves advertised.

When creating a digipak the main focus is put into ensuring that it will stand out and meet all of its aims. The use of bold colours, unique fonts, important information and design are all taken into consideration when creating a digipak in order to achieve the best results from it.

Analysis of Digipaks and Digipak adverts on Prezi

Mise-en-Scene

The mise-en-scene is a crucial part of any music video and therefore must be considered and constructed carefully. The main parts to creating the perfect mise-en-scene are; props, costume, location and lighting.

For our music video props will not play an important role due to our video being performance based, the only things the people starring in our music video will be using is their instruments. Costume is also not entirely important, especially considering the fact that the genre of rock and the artist associated with rock are often seen as quite laid-back characters.

(to be finished)

Laura Mulvey Music Video Theory

Laura Mulvey's 'Male Gaze Theory' was constructed during her essay 'Visual pleasure and narrative cinema'.


The idea of the male gaze came from Mulvey realising that the audiences viewpoint is that of a heterosexual male. The way that women are 'seen' or filmed in the majority of music videos objectifies women for men, due to this men are given all the 'power' in the music video. Raising an issue of inequality in the large majority of popular music videos. Due to this viewpoint of the male simply having women as objects to look at is where Laura Mulvey created the name 'Male Gaze'.


Within Mulvey's theory she details that women can only be seen in one of two ways. Laura Mulvey describes these two different portrayals as follows.


1) Virgin Look
2) Sexy Whore Look


Mulvey has also continued this theory across the media, especially targeting films, however the 'Male Gaze' fails to change from one media form to another.


All in all the theory is based around the idea that men are given all the power and control over the women, and they are just merely objects of one of two types.  

Conventions for Music Videos

Pre Production Planning on Prezi

Our specific genre conventions: Rock:


Rock music videos are renowned for being performance based. Rock music videos also commonly feature the band playing live, however when they do not the video is usually dark and 'unsteady'. I mean unsteady in the sense that the camera work is often seemingly hand-held and rough. Finally, there is not often much editing or special effects involved in rock music videos, instead they are just to the point.

Who will be involved?

Producing and Filming:

- Marcus
- Scott
- Jack
- Stephen
- Jason (Technical Support)

Starring: (so far)

- Stephen
- Tom

Andrew Goodwin's Music Video Theory

As written about in his book, 'Dancing in the distraction factory'  here are the six different points to Andrew Goodwin's theory:


- Genre characteristics
- Link between lyrics and visuals
- Link between music and visuals
- The demands of the record label
- Notion of Looking
- Intertextual Reference


Genre Characteristics / Signifiers:


Genre characteristics are what you would expect to see when watching a music video of a specific genre. For example when watching rock music videos you would expect to see the band performing throughout the majority of the music video, however when watching RnB music videos you may expect there to be some form of storyline, often relating to the lyrics. 


Link between lyrics and visuals:

Goodwin states that the lyrics will be making constant references to what is going on in the music video, creating a two way reinforcement of lyrics to visuals and vice-versa. The visuals also help to illustrate what is being sang/said.

Link between music and visuals:


The link between music and visuals are similar to that of lyrics and visuals. The link is there to contradict and reinforce each other. 


Demands of the record label:


The demands of the record label consist of two main points. These are the need for close-ups and motifs. The whole idea of close-ups is to help build up the particular artists image and ultimately to sell the artist, these are used in a large majority of music videos. The final point, motifs, are also used for similar effect. A motif is a running theme that will focus throughout a particular artist or bands music videos. This also helps create an identity and again ultimately leads to the wide spread sale of an artist. Motifs however can vary, they can be images recurring through several music videos or the artists appearance. In either case it helps to create an identity for that artist. 


Notion of Looking / Voyeurism:


Notions of looking links in heavily with Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze Theory’. This is basically ways people are represented within music videos. An example of this being how women are represented, Goodwin himself refers to women being presented as objects in music videos, once again linking with Laura Mulvey’s theory. 


Intertextuality: 

Intertextuality is the referencing of other texts, be it through mimicking, mentioning or simply copying. Intertextual references occur in a range of different texts one example being music. These uses of other texts can be used to challenge or agree with ideas expressed or to highlight artists or a specific message or image within a text.

Intertextuality in Music Videos

Intertextuality inclusion of other texts into another text, be it through mimicking, referencing or simply copying. Intertextuality occurs in a range of different texts, one example being music. Intertextuality can be used to challenge or agree with ideas expressed in other texts or to highlight artists or a specific message within a text.

Most commonly, intertextuality is used in music videos to highlight idols and icons. An example of a music video referencing another text is 'Madonna - Material Girl', where Madonna dressed and appeared as Marilyn Monroe had in 'Diamonds are a Girls best friend', not only this but the whole blonde 'Material Girl' look. This was to highlight her idol, this image has also lead to become part of her and her identity.

Storyboards

Equipment List

Equipment and Software used;


- Camera x2
- Tripod x2
- Laptop x1
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere
- Final Cut Express