A2 Music Video: Song Choice

When approaching possible songs we came across the issue of copyright. This meant we were limited to either acquiring copyright or using unsigned material.
Using Google Mail Freddie contacted a band called “Vampire Weekend” to ask permission for their song “Cousins”.

‘Cousins’ is a fast, catchy and ultra rhythmic song. The drum beat is incredibly fast and energetic. The song is rounded off perfectly with amazing vocals. We thought a fast pace would create a more fun, interesting music video giving us the chance to use a wider range of camera angles and shots.

To increase our chances of hearing from the band, I contacted "Vampire Weekend" using social networking site MySpace.

A2 Music Video: Decisions On Type Of Music Video

When looking at existing music videos, I noticed that there were three main types of music videos; a performance of the band, a narrative, or a combination of the both.

Personally, we would prefer to create a music video that will consist of a combination of the two with the story element being more prominent, and are hoping to use a more fast paced song. Market research however, should provide us with what will be more successful.

A2 Music Video: Music Video Deconstructions

Greenday . Know Your Enemy



Number of Shots:
Watching the entire video I counted a number on average of 113 shots. There was on average of about 15 shots per 10 seconds. Again, I think this is because of the fast paced music, also, although there are a lot of cuts and shots, I have noticed the same images are repeated in other areas of the video. (The basketball players to the singer then back and fourth again.)

Camera movement:
The first 17 seconds I could only count three shots where the camera movement was static and these were images of the band and close ups of the singer. The shots appear to be static all the way through because of the shortness of them but in reality the movements range from shakiness, to pans across the various images. One example of this is at 4 seconds with a close up of the guitar playing, although it is just a guitar and hand in shot, the camera is moving in a shaky way. Similarly, the shot after this is a pan from left to right of a basketball team.
Overall, there are 14 shots with static camera movement whereas the rest are dynamic.


Number of locations:
This music video is shot over two main locations, one appears to be near some train tracks within a fence (maybe an outdoor basketball court, however it also slightly resembles a prison with the types of fences). This location is used for shots of the band and is the only place the band is seen throughout this song. The other location is an indoors basketball court where a match is taking place. There is also the use of a small room used at the beginning to show the basketball players. In relation to the lyrics, there is a link between the “know your enemy” line and the fact that there is a basketball match with two rival teams.

Length of each shot:
Most shots last just over 1 second, if that, whereas the longest shots are with a basketball player falling into the camera and the final shot of the band. But even these are still very short. I feel this is because of the quick drum beats in the song. They are very quick and short.

Composition of shots:
The majority of the shot compositions are close ups of the band members individually, their instruments and wide shots of the entire band. Within these shots, the band is always the focal point of the shot wherever they are placed. These usually range from being in the centre or on top of the stage. They are the only moving objects within the compositions. The basketball match is usually filmed from the nets on each end of the court. And there are again. Close ups of each players faces and playing techniques etc…

I counted 19 extreme close ups which were mostly of the band and their instruments and of peoples facial expressions and a mascot. The only wide shots used were with the band and when introducing the two basket ball teams. Medium shots were used to show the basketball game and the full length of a band member and the rest were close ups which were used similarly to the extreme close ups.

Narrative
There is not an obvious story as such, but there is the rivalry between the two basketball teams. Both teams seem to be happy at the end of the video but I’m not sure what message this is attempting to portray. The band is just playing being themselves and there is a basketball match.

Post Production
There are photography camera flashes that look as though they were added after filming but most of the other effects seem to be lighting and other elements capable of being done during filming. However, there are various shots that are tinted different colours which I assume would have been done in post production. The small visual affects make the video seem a little more fun and exciting which I guess, is how the band want the song to seem. The fast cuts add to this idea.

A2 Music Video: Music Video Deconstructions

Paramore . Ignorance


Camera Movement + Composition:
Compositionally, this entire video is a combination of close ups and extreme close ups with the occasional wide shot. All of these shots are of the band, individual members and their instruments. The compositions and angles of this music video seem purposely messy as the subjects are never framed straight (tilted) nor does there seem to be any purpose for why the shots are angled how they are. There are high angles, then cuts to low angles, to mid shots with no particular order. I'm guessing that it is in relation to the cramped, exciting and messy atmosphere. On top of this, there is a light bulb prop that the lead singer is holding throughout the song and I have noticed that the camera follows her and the bulb which will also affect the composition.

The camera movements used are very simple but interesting, it begins with a pan towards the band in a cramped room,, the camera is mostly shaky throughout, and the entire video is shot dynamically. Along with shakiness there are small pans following the band members movements. However, they're space is limited making the cameras movement limited also. This also relates to the narrative in that the lead singer is singled out, almost trapped by the limits. Because this is a fast paced song with strong drum beats, the different shots last for a small number of seconds before cutting to a new angle and new composition.

Narrative:
After deconstructing this music video, I found that it portrays the lead singer being singled out and "ignored" by the other members of the band which relates to the song title. The light bulb shines throughout the video and it is constantly on her without being able to reach the other members strengthening the ignored idea. Towards the end of the video, it is shown that the spotlight is only ever on her when the band members are able to wrap the wire around her. So the narrative, camera movements and props are all closely related in this song.

Location:
The majority of "Ignorance" has been filmed in a small blackened room with all lighting limited to a bright light bulb held by the lead singer. And there is also a larger performance area and a small glass box where the lead singer is laid in white clothes with her hair pulled back. These relate to the narrative and song lyrics in the sense that the limited or empty rooms show her being ignored. I feel that because it is only two simple locations that you get to focus on the performance and band more than their music video.

Costumes/Props:
The entire band are dressed in black and placed within a darkened room. The lead singers hair can almost be seen as a costume as it is her identity and is what singles her out in this video. (much like Slash with the big hair, hat, sunglasses etc…) The key prop in this music video is the bright light bulb held by the singer as it is the only part (other than lyrics) that is telling a story. This light bulb is also the focal point of the camera shots and is the only item providing light to the video.

SFX:
I do not think that this video took too much work at post production. The effects that may have been used could be brightening the light bulb for better effect. There is also a section where the lead singer is contained in a box surrounded by blue lights, this could have possibly been done in post production, but because of the simplicity of the music video, not much was needed to make it better. The idea itself is good enough.

A2 Media Studies: Brief

For my A2 Media Studies, I was given the following brief:

A promotion package for a release of an album to include a music promo video together with two of the following three;
A website homepage for the band
A cover for its release (digipak)
A magazine advert for the digipak

I have decided upon making a digipak and a magazine advert for the digipak. I chose these two because they seemed to link together nicely. For the music video, I will be working in a group of two, Freddie Elsom and myself. This is because we worked well together for the AS task but we are also capable of sharing good, imaginative ideas with each other.