Planning: Artist Image

Introduction: This blog post will show the image that my group will have of our male and female artist in our music video.

The Image of our male and female artist:

Age: 19

Ethnicity: African-American

Physique: The artists will have a medium build physically.

Genre stereotype: The artists will rap and sing, as they are representing the genre of hip-hop and RnB. 

Costume: Clothing that connotes the street style. In other words, urban street wear. Snapback, tracksuit, hoodie etc.

Hair and make up: The hair of the female artist will be neat and stylish along with her clothing.

Body language and facial expression: For the male artist, the body language will be: Sloppy, lazy and carefree. As for his facial expressions it will include being laid back and being happy(in his imagination). As for the female artist, her body language will be seductive and caring. Her facial expression will be also seductive and happy like the male artist.

Representation in the video: The male artist will be represented as oblivious when he has his imagination of his dream girl. The female artist, will be represented as seductive and caring when she appears in the male's imagination.

Interactions with others in the video: The interactions the artist (male) will have with others will be non-existent as he will be oblivious to whatever is going on around him in his imagination. But he will have a lovely interaction with the female artist who is his imagination.

Traits of our artist according to our genre:
1). Imaginative
2). Unpredictable
3). Controversial
4). Unique
5). Oblivious

Moral values: Our artist will have values that are social. This will relate to the artists being distinctive, creative and a fantasist.

Media perceptions: The artists will be niche. Also, our artists use social media sites like twitter and Facebook etc. Also, the artists are likeable and they appeal to the audience even though they can be quite controversial with their drug taking which usually has a bad influence on fans. Our artists represent the idea of narrative escapism.



Relations to the theories:

Goodwin: Close up shots will be used this includes: Mid close up, extreme close up etc. This will help enhance the star image.

Mulvey-male gaze: The female artist there will have camera shots on her lips and close ups around her body showing male gaze.

Popular culture: There will be dancing and scenes that relate to drug taking.

Dyer-Star image: Our artists will be used as constructions as they will have a unique selling point in the video.

Hebdige- Subcultures: The audience will be active from viewing our music video as we are making it for them. Therefore there will be a niche appeal.

Two similar artists:

Vic Mensah: This rapper is stylish and artistic with his rapping and clothing he is really attractive which makes him marketable. Furthermore, he is a independent artist making him have a niche appeal. This relates to our male artist.

Tinashe: This is a artist that is really seductive with her looks as she is very attractive  and really flexible, due to the fact that she is a dancer as well as musician. Clearly, she relates to our female artist.

Conclusion: These are the images that are artists have and will clearly show in our music video.`

Planning: Cinematography-Shot list

Introduction: These are the shots that we will be using in our music video it is displayed on this sheet. As a group we decided on some of the main uses of cinematography to help our cameraman and this will also help us when it comes to the editing room.

 

 

 

This has helped us to prepare for our final music video for. These  shots also links in with the editing we are going to use as we know the different camera shots, sizes and movements.

 

Conclusion: Now we have the full outline of camera shots we plan to use. This will help the filming stage.

Planning:Storyboard

Introduction:

As part of the group we each had to come up with a storyboard of our own to present our ideas we have for our final idea music video.

Here are the photos I have taken of my storyboard.

 

 



 These are other storyboard photos from somebody else within my group he displayed his ideas for the our final idea of the music video.

 



 

 

 

 

 

These photos shown here are the ideas I will present and explain to my group to help understand the Imagination I had for the final music video.

Conclusion: There are ideas that we individually had for our music video.

Planning: Research into similar videos

Introduction:

In this post I'm going to break down the narrative of our final Ides as well as explain the theories that apply to our final idea 'Lost' and much more.

Star Image: The 4 music videos that influenced our final Idea when it comes to star Image:

The Weeknd- King of the fall

Representation of male artist:
In this music video, the male artist certainly has a star image. He is represented as a male who has sexual feelings, at the start of the video a medium shot with slow editing is used to show him slowly leaving with a attractive female lying in the bed where he is walking away from. This relates to our final idea because our final artist will relate to the theme of sexual feeling, the only difference is that the final idea will be a imagination. In a way, the male is represented as lonely, especially when he says the lyrics " Cause my life too private". The representation of this male in the video
This music video influenced us as a group to look at the way the male artist was represented in the music video and how we could be use star image in our music video. For our final idea our male artist will be very dosing and trippy showing that he is under the influence of substances where the female artist is his drug this is why this music video is the best music video to use for ideas for our final idea. The use of star image in this music video is used very well and it is used effectively and used in a variety of ways which could be very good for our final idea.

Kendrick Lamar featuring Drake: Poetic Justice

Video content: This music video contains themes of love, relationships and tragedy. The music video relates to the video content that we want to use in our final idea as love and relationships are shown with the male dreaming getting high on his female imagination. Tragedy could also be used in our final idea when in our music video it will be discovered if the imagination is real. This is how this music links in with our final idea, in the context of video content.

Ciara featuring Ludacris: Body party

Female artist representation:
This song influenced our final Idea through the star Image of the female artist. As Goodwin theory states that star image motifs must occur in the music video as part of the 8 characteristics that make a music video in this video it occurs with the close up shots of the female's lips and body as well as the mid side shot of her dyed hair.  For our final idea , we are going to use a females actress an singer towards the end of the son in our music video. We want to present her image as a commodity what our target audience will be able to buy into.



Cashmere cat- Wedding bells:

We focused on the structure that's was used in this music video.

Performance: This music video contains no performance, since there is no artist in the video.

Narrative: This music video portrays the issue of a relationship between 1 female and 2 males from start to finish. The female shows love and desire to both males but in the end she makes her choice with the one she really loves, the same male that was with her at the start of the music video. Our final idea has similar issues of relationships between 2 people.

Concept: There was concept that was mixed up with the narrative. Between the lyrics and the visuals they have relations. For example when the male and female actors are arguing the speed of the editing increases with straight and jump cuts. To match up with the narrative, the music is played fast. When the fighting between the two have stopped there is a breakdown of the climax, the editing is slowed down and piano is playing as the music becomes quite. The idea of 2 people that meet each other for the first time and they go places and spend time together is really enforced through micro-elements especially the editing which helps the portray he transform of the relationship, for example when they are in a setting of a forest, shopping mall and the use of jump cut into natural images of birds flying away when they're making out and reach to a point of climax. From here, the pace of the music plus the editing gets faster.

Conclusion: These are the music video that have had an influence into our final idea when it comes to video content, representation of the artist male or female and narrative structure.

Planning: Locations

Introduction:

The locations we choose for our music video was crucial. The setting had to fit the needs of the genre of our music video as well as our themes . This is all part of making our music video appealing to our target audience.


Location 1: The dark room

Relevant lyrics: "My druggy" 'Love me, " When I'm ugly" Hug me"

Relevant to genre:Rap music is very conventional in dark locations as it adds visual aids to the music video.

Relevant to target audience: The audience can relate as when they have relationship trouble they to sit in a dark room all by themselves thinking abut the relationship problems.

Describe locations: The dark  room is going to be used at the start of music video as we need to show the audience that the artist is in a dark place getting high and thinking about someone( his druggy). This will help portray the theme of loneliness and addiction.

Advantages of location: A dark location can be achieved very easily and this location shooting would save time in our production.

Pontential problems and how you will overcome them: Dark location can be hard to film and hazards are that someone could be hurt in the dark location we will overcome this by making sure the room is clear of any objects that could be a danger.

Existing videos that have influenced us with this idea:
The weeknd- King of the fall



Location 2: The street

Relevant to lyrics: "Let's get lost -t The male artist will be walking on the street saying these words throughout.

Relevant to genre: In hip-hop/RN'B it is conventional to rap in the street, as it is specifically the locational origin of hip-hop.

Relevant to target audience: The target audience are usually appealed to singing/rapping on the street. This will easily appeal to our target audience.

Describe location:
This location will be used throughout the music video. It will be specific ally used to show the male character in the music video thinking of his imagination and being emotional about it.

Advantages of this location: This location is easily accessible to film and also it is conventional to the themes that will be represented in our music videos.

Potential problems and how you will overcome them: There might be complaints from randon people of being recorded. Therefore we will edit them out from our music video. Also, we could be hit accidently by vehicles.

Existing videos that have influenced you with this Idea:
Chance the rapper-Juice



Location 3: The bedroom

Relevant to lyrics: "She met her match", "It let her match", "She lit  her match", "She let me smile".
These lyrics will be said when the female artist lights the match for the male's cigarette. The scene shows passion which is shown through the lyrics.

Relevant to genre: This setting is a typical place where sexual interaction occurs, as it is usually represented in hip hop and Rn'b.

Relevant to target audience: Our target audience, who are young adults can relate this as they usually goes through relationship issues. People usually go to their bedrooms when they are in a relationship dilemma, this is what will appeal to our target audience.

Describe location: There will be sexual interaction taking place in the music video and the bedroom will be used to portray that. This helps portray the theme of sexual love.

Advantages of location: The location is easily accessible to film, it also can be flexible when used.

Potential problems and how you will overcome them: There is a danger of lighting a cigarette in the bedroom as there are bedroom materials that are highly flammable. We will overcome this by having water nearby and using the safest lighting effect.

Existing videos that have influenced you with this idea:
Chance the rapper- Juice
The weeknd-King of the fall

 

 

Conclusion: These are our ideas for the locations of the music videos.

Planning:Outline Of Narrative

 



What I think our song is about?
Our song is about a male that gets high but he is not getting high on weed he's getting high on the music he listens to as he imagines his perfect girl.

What themes are evident in the song?
The themes that are evident in the song are relationships as their will be interactions between the male actor and the female actress. Loneliness as the male actor throughout the song is lonely despite being in a imagination where he is not. Addiction, the audience will get the impression that this is what he regularly does when he's alone at his home, making it a addiction. Love the lyrics in the song will show love being especially in the hook when the male artist says "My druggy love me". This theme will also be shown with the interaction that the male actor has with his imagination adoring her.

Narrative assessment:
After analysing the song were making the video for. We have identified from the lyrics the themes that will be portayed in the music video which includes: loneliness, relationships, addiction, imagination and love.

The storyline of the music video is about a male who regularly has imaginations of his perfect girl. In the process, he will be 'getting high'. But instead of getting high on weed, he's getting high in his imagination of his dream girl. There will be 2 males and 2 females, 1 artist and 1 actor for each pair.
This will take place at the home of the male actor.

As the music video starts with a hook, a jump cut will be used to speed up the tension of what's going to happen in the music video. This is where the theme of loneliness will be portrayed, and there will be only camera focus on the male actor in the music video. The male artist is referring to his imagination, this also represents a performance structure. The male artist will start sing about the imagination.

Cinematography will be pivotal as it will help portray the male actor as he is getting deep into his imagination. The audience will get the impression that this is what the male regularly does, therefore portraying the theme of addiction. A mid shot, close-up, high and low angle shot will be used  to help emphasize the male in his imagination of his dream, which is the female actress in the music video being seductive. When the artist says the word "oh oh oh". There will be a duplication of him this will be to emphasize the atmosphere in the song. Next the hook returns and different shots will be taken.
In the 2nd verse, there will be a narrative and performance structure in the music video. Connotation will be used when the male says the words "time" and "pussy" through flash pictures of a clock and animal. There will also be a relationship between the lyrics and visuals, when the male artist mentions the lyrics "aight let go" twice. To emphasize  the worry of the male actor of losing his imagination. As the 2nd verse continues, the male and the female actress who is his imagination will be making out.  As the male actor and his imagination are expressing their love for one another, the theme of relationship is portrayed as well as love. The hook returns, where the male artist will mostly be shown. Then unto the 3rd and last verse. The 1st and 2nd verse will both show the male artist as well as the male actor.

Star Image has been present on the male. But this time, star image will be on the female artist meaning more focus will be on the female actor. The audience will be able to see, if the imagination of the male's actors dream girl is fictional or real, but he just doesn't know it.

Theories that apply:

Goodwin theory- Star image, relationship with lyrics and visuals and technical elements.

Dyer's theory- Character/personality-portraying the character in our music video.

Mulvey's gaze-Will contain females but not portray the full features, due to the purpose of the song.

Hebdige-Active audience- They have a choice to view the video or not. Were portraying the song for the mainstream as well as subculture.

Adorno-We don't follow the theory of Adorno where it states that the audience is passive about their song choice and music. We consider our work as a piece of art, where the bourgeoisie don't.

Conclusion: This is the breakdown of our narrative for the final idea.

Planning:Copyright letter.

Oasis Academy Hadley 

South St, Enfield  

EN3 4PX 

TEL: 020 8804 6946 

Chance the rapper LLC 

8055 South Princeton 

Chicago 

IL 

60620 

CLEWISGROUP@CAA.COM 

RE: Chance the rapper “Lost” 

Date: Friday the 7th of November 2014 

We are Paradime Productions writing to inform and ask the record label that we are hoping to use your song “Lost” by your artist Chance the Rapper. The single will be used in order for us to create a music video for our A2 media coursework. The coursework involves making our own music video as well as create a digipak and a magazine advert. The coursework will make up 50% of our final A2 grade. 

We have chosen your song for our music video as it will best appeal to our intended target audience and we know the artist well. Through detailed research and discussions, we have chosen your song from many others as it is the best song for us to use in our music video. Our narrative will be original with our own original ideas. We are therefore asking for your permission for the use of the song in our music video.  

The video will only be for educational purposes and there will no commercial gain. The music video will be on social media sites such as Facebook. If agreed, we are happy to acknowledge the artist and company through our credits and mention them on our blog. 

We look forward to hear from you and if there is any problem we will be delighted to cooperate and do please not hesitate to contact us. 

 

Yours sincerely,  

 

Paradime Productions  

Abdullah Miah 

Rex Okere 

Ken Nuygun 

Planning:Final Idea

Artist: Chance the Rapper

Song title: Lost

Genre: Soul, Hip Hop, Rap and R&B

I have chosen the artist and the song because I believe that we as a group can represent the artist well and we have a good understanding of the genre to make a music video of this genre. Also it is mainstream and we can make the music video conventional to the music video genre.

Video content: The artist will be shown to be in love with a imaginary girl, he only sees her when he is listening to the song. There will be a movement of flashbacks out from a picture and in addition it will include pop culture such as dancing and acting.

Video structure: The video structure will performance and narrative.

Why have you chosen this?: We have chosen this because the genre hip hop/RnB 

Star Image:  I will be using Dyer's star image in my music video within 4 elements which is: Star as construction, where the artist will be constructed and have a unique selling point from our music video. The audience and the Industry and audience, where the audience will be attracted to the artist in our music video and it will lead them to other ventures that our artist can attract them through. Ideology and Culture, Ideology will occur as our artist will promote messages that will relate to our target audience. As for culture, it will occur within the narrative of the music video when our artist is getting high but on music, along with his Imagination of his ex girlfriend. Getting high tends to be a popular culture that is followed. Most Importantly, character and personality where our artist will stand out due to his personality, this will help attract our target audience.

Theory Influence:
The theories that will influence our final Idea will be Goodwin's theory as it will contain micro-elements as well as star image motifs. Also, it will be influenced by Mulvey's male gaze theory when our male artist has his flashback and imagination of the girl who seems to be his ex-girlfriend.

Mise En Scenes: 
The costume that will be worn will be normal clothing that is usually worn by our target audience which is branded clothing.
Two Music video influences:

 Cashmere cat: Wedding bells- The specific influence this song had on our decision to chose our final idea was due to the narrative where emotional feeling and needs our portrayed within a loving relationship. This is similar to our final idea because they both express their attitudes of emotional needs and the subject of love.

Chance the rapper: Juice-  This music video relates and influences our final idea from the lyrics which portray the artists Imagination, as the lyrics of our final idea does although it is on a different subject.

Our final idea relating to feedback:
One of the questions we considered was do you prefer the music video to be shot in various locations rather than one?. A lot of our target audience wanted the music video(our final Idea)  to be shot in various locations adding excitement and creativity.

Why and how is this music video conventional to mainstream music video making?
This video is conventional to mainstream video making through the themes that are expressed which is imagination and love specific cinematography will be used in significance to it as well as specific editing. Also, our music video will contain star Image of our artist through his character which is conventional in the way he expresses the issue he's talking about. Also, special effects will be used for our music video that will be mainstream.

How is the music video conventional to your chosen genre?
Our music video is conventional to our genre hip hop/RnB mainly through our themes that will be expressed and our Mis Es Scene which will be shown through the costume. More importantly our artist will portray a character that is expected from a rapper.

How will the music video represent your artist?
The music video will represent our artist as active, as features of Mulvey's male gaze theory will be represented when he has his imagination of the girl. The artist will have star Image motifs which comes out of Goodwin's theory.


Conclusion:
This is what we have prepared for our final Idea.
 

Planning: Audience

Introduction: It is Important for us to very well know who are target audience is before we launch are music video cover. The benefit of this is that it ensures that the cover is a success, as we will include elements that will be specifically be made to appeal a certain target audience.

Song: Chance the rapper-Lost featuring Nomane Gypsy

Now I'm going to break down the target audience were appealing to.

Age: 13-40

Gender: Unisex

Race: Appeals to all races but predominantly black.

Audience category: E-C1

Income bracket/status: This audience will earn a very low age, because they are likely to be unemployed as their students or they will just be casual workers.

Hobbies and interests: The target audience we are going target we expect to have a hobby of playing sports that are usually American or watching TV programmes that relates to their age. They will also like to go out to parties, get drunk smoke cannabis etc.

AUDIENCE REACTIONS:

The reaction we are expecting from our target audience will be excitement about the music video . The reaction we also be chilled from the audience as they will be able to relax watching this music video, largely due to the narrative. We want all reactions from the audience.

Audience engagement:
I want my audience to engage with my product as I understand that all audiences are active and I want them to be able to read and interact with the messages within my video.

Audience expectations:
We expect our audience to relate to the music video cover, as it contains elements that are conventional to the genre of Hip hop, which appeals my target audience. The elements include the lyrics the rapper is saying, the dancing in the music video and the narrative which is about getting high.

Audience Foreknowledge:
The audience will know about the rapper very well as he is up and coming at 21 years of age. The audience will also know that the genre usually has catchy instrumentals.

Audience Identification:
The audience will be able to relate to the artist through what their rapping about as it could represent the situations the audience goes through.

Audience Placement:
We will make the music video cover feel especially for them through the clothes the dancers and actors will wear that is popular amongst our target audience.

Conclusion:
This has shown me the full picture of the target audience we are trying to attract with our music video.

Research: Planning Initial Ideas

Introduction:

As a group, we each had to present our initial and personal Ideas about the cover music video we want to make.


Rex Okere:

Song: Ed Sheeran- You need me I don't need you.

Genre: Folk, alternative, hip hop

Narrative: A personal rivalry taking place between 2 characters on a dance competition.

Narrative structure: I want the music video to be performance based and narrative

Characters: The artist, 2 actors and dancers

MES: Black suit and tie for the artist, normal branded clothes for the actors and dancers.

Advantages: The Idea is easy to understand and relate to.

Disadvantages: It could be time consuming to execute the whole video cover. It will be difficult to recruit dancers and actors.

Ken Nguyen:

Song: Usher- Good kisser

Genre: RnB/Hip hop

Narrative:  Guys and girls that are flirting

Narrative structure: Performance-based and concept

Characters: Singer, male and female dancers

MES: Dancers will wear colour and fancy clothing.
          Smart dress white shirt and black trousers with a bowtie.
          The singer will also wear stylish clothing that is colourful.

Advantages: This is easily planned and it saves time. This will appeal to the mainstream and has a concept that is simple which will be enjoyable for the viewers. Also the concept is simple to understand.

Disadvantages: It will be difficult to find dancers. Most people won't be willing to do this for free. This would very time consuming and there will be loads of footage to contain.

Abdullah Miah:

Song: Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith- La La La

Genre: RnB, Pop, Soul

Narrative: A little boy grows up from a bad environment, the portrayal of his life is reflected through the narrative in the music video. Even though he comes from a deprived area he still has ambitions.

Narrative structure: Narrative based

Characters: The little boy and people in the background (extras)

Advantages: The music video will be mainstream , the idea will be original and will relate to the audience with it's narrative.

Disadvantages: A child might be too immature for the role. It will be difficult to be granted parental permission from the child's parents.

Conclusion: This has been beneficial to my group as we have explored each other's Ideas giving us every chance of being successful with our final music video cover.

Planning: Graphs from music video questionaire.

Introduction: From the questionnaire, I asked 20 people on what appeals them to alternative music videos and what will be the most important in making a alternative music video cover exceptional. In this post I'm going to show graphs that represents the most important answers from my questionnaire.

Do you value star Image in music videos?: This graph showed that more people valued the use of star image in music videos. This helps me to understand that the use of star image  will help to construct an image of my artist in the music video to the audience as well as he or she being a good performer in alternative music. Also, this gives me the target of presenting my artist to a large and loyal audience, it doesn't have to be within the mainstream. Another target, that this gives me is to make my artist in the video ordinary, in other words having their original identity but extraordinary for the consumer(target audience).



Who appeals to you the most to the music videos?: This graph shows that most people are drawn to alternative music videos by the artist. Therefore, this gave me the target of making my artist the most appealing in my music video, this doesn't mean that I will disregard the other elements that could appeal the audience to my music video(which could be dancers or actors). Further more, this result has also shown me that despite the artists being the most appealing all 3 talents that I would most likely have in my music video contribute in gaining the attention of the target audience. In other words, I would have to focus on the image of the dancers and actors as well as the artist, so I would have to be a bit balanced with my focus on the actor, dancer and artist.

 

 

 

 What types of issues do you want to see portrayed in music video?:
These results show me that social issues should be the main priority in my music videos. Therefore, within my music video, a lifestyle must be portrayed and promoted in order to attract the target audience. Further more, it has shown me the that I need to make sure my artists is interested in societal Issues which will persuade he or she to promote social views that are moderate in the music video which will attract a fan base. In addition, this graph also shows me that moral issues is also highly valued by my target audience not as much as social but still highly valued. This also gives me the aim of portraying moral issues in my music video cover to make the video appeal more to my target audience.

What micro-element would be the most important for the music video?

The results show that most people out of the 20 hold the opinion that Mis en scene would be the most important micro-element in making my music video successful. This provides me with the target of making sure that the use of costume, iconography and lighting relates to my music video. This will be a huge influence in making my music video cover a success. However, the results also show that I need to be balanced with my focus on micro elements to perfect the cinematography, editing and sound to make the music video successful as a whole. My second priority concerning the results given will be cinematography, as it shows the opinion that cinematography will also be a huge asset in my video cover attracting an audience.

 

 



Should the theory of Hebdige's subculture be represented in the music video?:
These results show that more people in my target audience believe that theory of subcultures shouldn't be portrayed. This makes me aware that I must carry out a task of carrying out a music video cover that doesn't exclude people who are usually into the mainstream music. This could very well help my music video cover to become a success. But, I also have to take in consideration that I must give the right representation of the original music video's genre as I'm making the cover for it, for the benefit of the people that wanted the Hebdige's theory of subculture to be represented.


Conclusion: These results have given me a clear indication of what I must do to make my music video cover a successful and appealing to my target audience and maybe outside.

Planning: Questionaires

Introduction: A questionnaire had to be set to know thetarget audience I'm aiming at with my music video?

Age:

 

Gender:

 

Occupation:

 

Ethnicity:

 

 

 1) Are you interested in acoustic alternative artists?

 2) Do you like watching music videos?

 3) What attracts you to a music video?

 4) What appeals to you most in the music videos?

The artist         Actors          Dancers         

 5) What specific cinematography do you like to see in music videos?

 6) What specific editing do you like to see in music videos?

 

7) What specific MES appeals to you the most to music videos?

 

8) What interactions do you want to see in music videos?

 

 9) What type of location would you like to see this music video shot in?

 

10) What do you want the narrative structure to be for the music video?

Concept         Performance         Narrative

 

11) Do you value "Star Image" in a music video?

Yes                 No

 

12) What themes should be portrayed in the music video?

 

 

13) Name the type of lighting you like seeing in these music videos?

Low-key                  High -key

 

14) How would you like the see the artist represented in the music video?

 

 

15) Should the theory of Hebdige's subculture be represented in the alternative music video?

Yes       No

 

16) In your opinion, what makes a good music video?

 

 

17) Would you prefer to see acting or dancing in the music video?

 

 

18) Would you like the music video to only have 1 setting or more?

 

 

19) What types of Issues should be portrayed in the music video?

Social     Political      Moral

 

20) For the music video, what Micro-elements would be the most Important?

Cinematography     Mis-en scene     Sound       Editiing