Photographs Taken For Ancillary Text

Here are the images I took with my artist for my music video, there were some problems with the lighting due to it being dark and I didn't have professional lighting.

Mock Exam Complications

As part of our mock week we were meant to have a 2  hour editing slot to edit our music video, however I did not have any footage to edit due to last minute cast changes, complications with equipment and not being able to find a suitable time to film with my cast. Instead, when me and my lead actor had a free hour we went out and took some pictures which could be used for ancillary texts which i will be editing during my mock exam.

Story Board & Animatic

Story board from s0016541

Overall, I think that making a story board and animatic were useful to do before filming. Creating a story board has allowed me to give structure and an outline of what I want my video to look like and include.  The pros of making this is that it allows me not to start filming blind and know what I want as the end result. It took me a long time to create this as I was stuck for ideas of activities that the younger version of the couple could do as I didn't want it to come across cliche and unrealistic.

Google Mock Up: Ancillary Text CD Cover

Creating Tracklist

creating track list from s0016541

Filming Diary: Organisation For Shooting Day 2

Shots To Be Filmed/Locations/Scene Duration:
Blank Wall/Photo Booth Effect (3:35-3:37) - 107, 108, 109, 110, 
Living Room (3:37-3:41) - 111, 112
Bowling Alley (3:41-3:46) - 113, 114, 115, 116, 
Restaurant (3:47-3:51) - 117, 118
Inside Car (3:51-57) - 119, 120, 121
Dressing Room (3:57-4:15) - 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 
Grave Yard - (4:17-4:22) 136, 137, 138 

Complications - I planned to use my own SD card instead of one from college, however I did not test out the camera with the memory card before and when it came to filming it wouldn't work and I didn't have a computer near by the fix this. I am working on fixing this problem before filming again this weekend. 

Filming Diary: Shooting Day 1 & Complications (29/11/14)

Shooting Day 1:
My first shoot that I have planned to do in on Saturday 29th November. This is the day that my main actors Jack and Natasha are available. Due to the fact I will be filming the majority of the flashback scenes, which are mainly set outside, I wanted to check the weather. According to the BBC website, it will be mostly cloud with some light rain from Friday - Sunday. I don't think this will be too much of an issue and should be easily resolved! I also need to keep in mind that it gets dark earlier, so I am planning on shooting before this happens due to lighting. I will also be filming scenes with the older version of the couple which will be filmed later on in the evening. I don't need to check the weather for this as it will be shot inside. My filming needs to be finished before 1:30pm on saturday due to the fact I am attending my cousins birthday party which will be on until late. However, I may be able to film some of the bowling scene sequence. 

Shots To Be Filmed: 28, 29, 30, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 66, 67, 68, 69, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118


However, I was unable to film on Saturday due the fact I had to babysit last minute until 1:30pm and I had to attend my cousins birthday party at 2pm which lasted until the evening. I did manage to film a small clip of the bowling sequence however the camera that i used, Panosonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 (my own), didn't record in the best quality due to the bad lighting inside the bowling alley and it was difficult to film because of the vast amount of people there for my cousins birthday. I think I will need to go back but with just my actors so the main focus will be on getting this right as I didn't tell them that I was filming. 

Ancillary Text Research

Useful Editing/Cinematogrophy Videos

Here are videos I have found on YouTube which I think will help me when it comes to the post production editing stage of my music video.

Location Ideas

Cast List (Updated)

After some consideration, I have decided to change my cast list of the younger version of the couple. I did this because I am very close friends with Natasha, therefore it will make it easier to keep in contact and both Natasha and Jack live in Beverley, making it easier to shoot as it will be primarily filmed in Beverley. I also felt that Natasha and Jack had more enthusiasm towards my music video, which will help when it comes to filming as they will be more willing to follow instructions. 

 Natasha Newman
Natasha, is a graphics, media and drama student at Wyke Sixth Form College. Due to her keen interest in acting will make it easy for her to get into character and will feel comfortable around a camera. Natasha has a very old school glamour look which will make her appealing to look at. Natasha was also featured in my AS foundation portfolio, so I know that she will be reliable. Natasha will be playing the love interest to Jack in my music video. She will also be seen in the flashback scenes and photographs in the scrapbook.

 Jack Wilson
Jack will be playing the main character in my music video.  He will be seen in the flashback scenes and the photographs in the scrapbook. Jack is a talented guitar player which will make the performance element more realistic. Despite not being a singer, Jack is very enthusiastic and is comfortable around the camera. His simplistic style also fits with the vibe of the song as it falls under the indie/pop/soul genre. Jack also lives in Beverley, which will make it easy when it comes to filming

Jack and Natasha are also in a relationship, this will give my characters in the music video verisimilitude and the audience will believe and relate to these characters. The music video will focus on them meeting and different aspects of their life and them growing older.

Visual Mood Board

I have created a visual mood board in a story board style format, this helps me give a visual representation on how I want my music video to look like. It will also help my cast as it will give them a clearer indication of what I want them to do and what i want to achieve. This visual story board also sets the theme and the feel of the music video. It has also helped me add more features to my story board and what order i want them to go in. 

Costume, Make-Up & Hair Ideas

Make-Up

Hair

Health and Safety Precautions

Narrative Analysis

I have chosen to analysis the song ‘Blank Space’ by Taylor Swift as part of my Narrative Analysis. This video is a convention pop music video as it features the main conventions of music videos, narrative and performance. This allows the audience to feel more connected with the song and the artist, it also allows the audience to represent themselves in a certain way, which Taylor Swift has done.

Tim O’Sullivan (1998) – argues that all media texts tell us some kind of story about us a culture/set of cultures. This is apparent in Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’ music video, as the narrative of the music video depicts Swift as a ‘serial-dater’, a woman who is obsessed with love though she is never able to hold a man down. The video shows Swift and her love interest doing several activities such as horse riding but she soon suspects that because he is texting another woman he is cheating on her, which leads her to crazy and begins to vandalize his car and destroy a heart shaped cake. This leads to the love interest leaving Swift, but as he leaves another man arrives. Love and breakup is a common theme used in music videos, thus relating to us as a culture and audiences may be able emphasize with the plot. Swift has purposely presented herself as boy-crazy and a ‘serial-dater’ as it is the way the media have represented her to be, Swift uses this to her advantage as a joke on anyone who takes her image seriously. Swift has made this joke by over emphasizing the sexist caricatures attached to ‘crazy’ woman as they are acted out for the audience’s amusement. This music video shows that Swift has full creative control over her image and isn't afraid to use it to mock efforts to stereotype her.

Kate Domaille (2001) – argues that each narrative can be held in 1 of 8 narrative types. Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’ music video fits into the Romeo & Juliet narrative even though it is a dysfunction relationship, as the video is about her ability to find another man once she’s done with you. But due to the emotions shown by the characters and the values that are reflected in the narrative are very typical of a love story narrative. The video also fits into Candide, the indomitable hero who cannot be put down, but this is only apparent if you know that Swift it poking fun at the media’s representation of her.

Cast List (Former)

Jack Conman
Jack Conman will be playing the main character in my music video. He will be seen in the flashback scenes and the photographs in the scapbook. Jack was perfect for the role as a part of my music video includes a performance scene and as Jack is a singer-songwriter and can also play the guitar, i thought he'd fit this character. His simplistic style also fits with the vibe of the song as it falls under the indie/pop/soul genre. Jack also attends wyke college, so it will be easy to keep in contact about filming schedules. 

Hannah Irvin
Hannah Irvin will be playing the love interest to Jack in my music video. She will also be seen in the flashback scenes and photographs in the scrapbook. I chose Hannah as she has this girl next door beauty to her, which will make her relatable to female audiences. Hannah attends Hull University and has facebook, so it will be easy to keep in contact with her when it comes to filming schedule.












Jack and Hannah are also in a relationship and have been for 5 years. This will give my characters in the music video verisimilitude and the audience will believe and relate to these characters. The music video will focus on them meeting and different aspects of their life and them growing older.

Where To Advertise/Market My Music Video

Social media marketing from s0016541

Video Techniques & Influences

I will be showing gifs of editing, costumes, lighting, special effects, locations, make up and costumes in popular music videos that have premiered over the past few months, which the YouTube channel "The10TopMusicVideos" have put into montage form. These gifs are what will inspire me for my own music video.

T.Mills - All I Wanna Do

In this gif, i like seeing the relationship between the characters in the car and how it has a natural feel to it, even though their is lip syncing involved. I also like the use of the sun flare through the window which gives of feeling good and having fun vibe. 

                                                                              Charli XCX - Boom Clap

In this clip, I like the use of bright scenery and neutral clothing, as it gives of a simplistic effect but is visually appealing. I also like the alternating locations. Instead of staying in one location when singing a line of a song, we see the singer in 2 different locations. This also matches the fast pace beat of the song.


Sia - Chandelier 

In this sequence, i like the use of colouring of the video, to represent the sadness and meaning of the lyrics. By using a bleak and dull colouring it gives a visual representation to the viewer that this song is meant to make you feel sad and emphasise with the song. I could use this in my music video for the parts of the video which feature the older version of the couple.

Lilly Wood & The Prick and Robin Schulz - Prayer In The C

In this gif i like the use of tracks and then the camera stables itself to focus on what they're doing. I think this is effective as it makes you feel like you are watching and your head is turning whilst in the music video the actors are on skate boards.

Lana Del Rey - West Coast

In Lana Del Rey's video, i like the use of alternating picture quality of footage. This makes the video more personal and reflects their relationship better. The use of tracks that alternate camera angles is also effective as it matches the beat of the song but also makes it more visually appealing.




In all of the music videos above, i like the use of a black boarder on the video. I think this gives the video a more cinematic and professional effect.

Genre Theory

Genre theory from s0016541

Audience Theory

audience theory from s0016541

Narrative Theory

Narrative theory from s0016541

Representation Theory

Representation theory. from s0016541

Textual Analysis: Beyonce - Pretty Hurts

Pretty hurts Textual Analysis from s0016541

Textual Analysis: The Fray - How To Save A Life

        ‘How To Save A Life’ by The Fray was released in 2007 and quickly become their bestselling song. It reached the top of the charts all over the world. The song is about a band member’s relationship with a friend addicted to drugs, and how he recovered.

LANGUAGE

The video opens with a long shot tracking shot of the band; this sets the scene and gives the band a face, however, the shot has been blurred, possibly post-production. This could perhaps show the uncertainty that would be in the relationship between the band member and his drug addicted friend. 

 It then cuts to a close up of a man singing, this gives the voice an identity which is important for the audience because they will feel much more involved in the song, so the meaning in the lyrics and video will be portrayed much more. The next cut is to another close up of the same man singing; this time though he is looking and singing straight into the camera (could also be considered the audience’s eyes). 

In the next cut it shows an extreme close up of an eye, the pupil of the eye dilates showing the influence of drugs; once again helping portray the drugs usage message to the audience. Next it cuts to a montage of what appear to be random images. This could furthermore be showing the drug addicted friend’s confused thoughts. It cuts back to a mid-shot of the singer and pianist. This helps keep the bands identity which helps promote their image, also it reminds the audience from where the singing is coming from which puts a face and meaning into the song. 

The next shot is a mid-shot of memories of a group of people that he had a relationship with before it got ruined because of his drug addiction; showing the anti-drugs message that has been abundant in all of the video and song so far. 

      The band is shown once again in a mid-shot/long-shot when other instruments start being played and then a close up of the singer/pianist, this helps keep the bands personality on show. Next, I think the lyrics are important when collaborated with the visual elements of the video. The lyrics “she goes left and you stay right” suggests that a decision he made has meant he has parted with someone or maybe many people. During that line of lyrics there are 3 shots, a long shot of a young woman standing alone; possibly an ex-partner who he lost through his actions. Next it cuts to a long shot of lots of people walking in two directions (left and right) which could signify the confusion of which path his life should follow. It then cuts to close up of a young woman turning left, showing the “she goes left” lyric. All these people are memories of people the drug addict had relationships with, whether friends, family or a partner.

       Once the song gets into full swing there is a series of shots of the band. There is a mid-shot of the pianist singing, mid-shot of the guitarist, long shot of the whole band with the drummer in the forefront, a long to close zoom of the guitarist to his guitar and a close up of the pianist singing into the camera. The three shots that have the most influence are the long shot of the whole band, the long to close zoom of the guitarist to his guitar and the close up of the pianist singing. The long shot of the band gives the band identity which is important in keeping fans close, because when they see them they would then know who they are. The zoom to a close up of the guitar adds a bit of emphasis to the sound of the guitar in the music track; this makes the music more forceful and therefore creates a bigger impact on the audience. As stated earlier, the singer singing directly into the camera makes it a lot more personal with the audience because the camera is the audience’s eyes.

       I think the pace of editing varies really well in the video. As the music becomes more lively and louder the pace of editing; this is a good way of keeping the music and the video as one because it makes it more in time and the link between the two is much stronger, thus making it a better video.

      The director uses juxtaposition in the video by having close up shots of a caterpillar and a butterfly. Because the butterfly is a progression of the caterpillar it shows that what is happening with the drug addict consumes not only his but others lives. It’s another way of portraying the anti-drugs message.

      Throughout the video there are close ups and mid-shots of lots of people. These are people who have been affected by the drug addiction and who he has lost from his life because of his actions. Each shot of them they are sad, showing the audience how drugs can have a negative impact on lives. The close ups help show this even more because you can see all their facial expressions clearly. Whilst the mid-shots of groups show the large number it affects.

        Overall, the video is a fairly simple one in terms of the style of shots and the mise-en -scene. However, this has helped make it easy for the director to get the message of anti-drugs across and also give and improve the band an identity which will make them more popular.

        IDEOLOGY:

      The ideology of the song and the music vary's on the person. However, lead singer Isaac Slade claims that the song is about people unsuccessfully reaching out to a boy he once knew who took drugs and was in depression. The verses of the song describe an attempt by an adult to confront a troubled teen. In the chorus, the singer laments that he himself was unable to save a friend because he did not know how. The video project an anti-drugs message by showing that drugs not only effects the victim but others that surround him. This is shown by the symbolism of the butterfly and caterpillar. The actors we see in the video are mainly teenagers, which shows that they are targeting it towards that age group due to the alarming rate of depression, drugs etc in this age group. The video also features words such a 'love', 'open up', 'remember' and 'open up' which shows the viewer who may have an addiction that there is always a way out.

        INSTITUTION:

    The Fray is an American rock band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, they achieved success with the release of their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005, which was certified double platinum by the RIAA and platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. The Fray achieved national success with their first single, "Over My Head (Cable Car)", which became a top ten hit in the United States. The release of their second single, "How to Save a Life", brought the band worldwide fame. The song charted in the top three of the Billboard Hot 100 and was a top 5 single in many different countries. They signed to Epic Records, a conglomerate of Sony in 2004.

        AUDIENCE:

      The main audience for The Fray are teenagers/ young adults. This is shown by them being signed to Epic Records, who's artists are usually marketed towards this demographic. Their song 'How To Save A Life', in particularly, is targeted towards teenagers due to the ideology of the song and how the videos actors are mainly teenagers/young adults. By including band performance into the music video will make others watch the video as they are fans of their, not just this demographic.

        REPRESENTATION:

       Due to the minimalistic mise-en-scene used in the video, this makes it very clear that their sole purpose is to get the ideology of song across. By doing so, it represents them as looking out for the audience and gives their fans something they can rely on and relate to. As the song is about a teenager that the leader singer knew, makes it even more relatable as it is coming from his past experience not something he has made up in order to get a hit. Despite being a rock-pop band, they have not conformed to Richard Dyer's 'star theory'. Instead of presenting themselves as typical 'rockers' they are wearing plain outfits to make their more relatable and the focus to be on the video.