Question 1b: narrative

Due to the nature of our music video ideas there is little narrative techniques or perspectives. This is down to the lack of actors and storyline in our simple, homemade video.
We could relate it to Levi-Strauss' theory in the way that we are showing a binary opposite by going against the glossy mainstream by making a alternative, quirky video with a amateur, homemade feel.

Question 1b: media language and audience

Colour scheme and audience

In my AS production, of a music magazine, my use of a sepia colour scheme would generally target an older audience as it has connotations of tradition and old photography and pictures. However the picture I used - a young up and coming band specialising in the older style of music and the coverlines I included - adressing issues of this section of the music industry, were intented to target the younger, alternative, radical audience who are interested in the older genre of music and also to encourage more young people into this genre.

Audience research

We've set up a facebook group promoting our video ideas and have asked people to comment on what they think. We have invited people to join the group who we think would the product and the music.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=174461543734&ref=nf

Question 1: creativity and genre

Looking back on all my media projects I feel that, generally, I have been quite creative with my initial ideas and have tried to be as different as possible to existing media.
My music magazine was quite redundant as it contained all conventions of a magazine, but the genre I feel was quite entropic as the music style I chose you don't see around that much, so was specific to one target audience.
The video I made at the very start of the media course was quite entropic as it broke conventions of usual filming, however this may have been just because we made errors in filming as we had never used the technology before. The initial idea was very redundant as it was typical of a short extract of film conveying a conversation between two people and was predictable throughout.
I feel the music video we are now planning is mainly entropic as we are going against conventions of popular music videos. This is mainly because of the small budget we are working with but also because we really want to portray the 'homemade' feel.
However there are aspects of redundancy as some frames portray the lyrics literally, but without in depth meaning. It is quite redundant in regards to genre, as most indie videos are trying to be different and individual. Therefore our video would attract the indie audience.
I don't feel that my work has any type of signature to it, because each one is fulfilling a different purpose and appealing to different audiences so calls for fresh ideas. However the genre I choose is generally the same - non-mainstream, individual and alternative as opposed to what appeals to the mass mainstream.

Permission E-mail

Storyboard

This is a rough idea of what we are trying to achieve ...

Time plan

This is a rough idea of what needs to be done and by when.

Ask art dept if we can use studio. Find out if they are using it during our media lessons
8th Oct

Collect props needed –
Lego: Chloe
Magnets: Emily
Playdough: Chloe
Dominos: Emily
Rubix cube: Chloe
Army men: Chloe
Crayons: Emily
Lined paper: Emily
By 12th Oct

Book equipment –
Stills camera, video camera, tripod, battery, tape, SD card etc.
16th Oct

Start filming 19th Oct

Complete research and planning and post on blog 2nd Nov

Finish filming 27th Nov

Start post-production 30th Nov

Finish post production 15th Jan

Complete blog including evaluation 5th Feb

Analysis of a music video - 'The Cribs - Another Number'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzN6oJG_5as&feature=related

What kind of audience is being addressed via this music video?

The audience would be young, alternative, independent, hedonistic, radicals.

What kind of 'brand image' is being created and exactly how is this achieved?

The band is shown to be fun and interesting and don't take themselves too seriously. It is also suggested that they are modest as they do not appear in their video and are trying different ways to showcase their music. They do this by use of stop-motion animation connoting fun and simplicity giving the video an unprofessional look. The narrative throughout the video doesn’t over complicate or take anything away from the song only amplifies it, showing the band are dedicated to their musical talents.

How conventional or challenging is the video in terms of the genre of music? Is it typical, or does it challenge the usual conventions?

This video challenges usual conventions of the genre as most indie music videos are gritty and always feature the band. By creating a illustrative, light hearted video with aspects of disjuncture and not featuring themselves, the band are shown to not be image conscious and don’t have the need to establish themselves. Breaking conventions makes the video stand out and portrays the bands independence.

Finally, what exactly can you learn from this video to use in your own?

We have been inspired by this video and have decided on a similar idea to use stop motion without actors. However we will adapt it in our own way – incorporating more props and disjuncture and being less literal with the lyrics.

More research

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u46eaeAfeqw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfCUxeQ2VSE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKNETHLBb2k&feature=related

We liked the use of drawings and showing the hands in the shot aswell in these video clips. They are all extremely visual and original, which make them so interesting to watch. We feel as though they can be watched over and over again, which is something that we hopefully will achieve with our music video.

Responses to feedback

We pitched our idea to our media class and got 6 sets of feedback. What they were asked to comment on included:

• Comments on suitability for stated target audience
• Comments on the originality of the idea
• Comments and thoughts on the logistical arrangements
• Comments on the technical arrangements of the idea-does it sound achievable with the colleges equipment?
• Does the idea sound realistic?
• Does this idea sound exciting and achievable?

The general opinions were that the child-like look suited the genre and would appeal to the target audience as well as attracting a new one.

It was also noted that the idea was original and that it will ‘differentiate the bands brand image from the glossy mainstream’.

In terms of logistics opinions were that it is easily achievable as we are not reliant on actors as props will be used. However it will be very time consuming requiring a lot of patience.

In regards to technical arrangements everything we are trying to achieve can be done in college, using borrowed equipment and existing computer software for post-production.

People said the idea sounds achievable, realistic and exciting and generally a good idea.
‘Seems exciting, new, fresh and unique. I like how they want the video to appear homemade’.