With various delays on our filming we could only get just over half of it done. Furthermore, we could not do the shaving scenes (which take up a lot of the song) because of the problem with continuity. If we film the protagonist at the start with no beard, then further through he suddenly has one, it looks very bad and not well thought out.
Nevertheless, we uploaded all the footage into Final Cut, as well as the music, and have started editing finally. We have put together all the footage we have, and made a very rough cut. Pretty much the footage is all there, but with no effects and not very well cut at this present time.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Weekend filming
We have now booked the camera along with a tripod and a dolly for this coming weekend. We are aiming to complete almost all of the video, so we can start editing it all next week.
Pistola Kicks
We have been looking into the Pistola Kicks previous videos and album covers, and came accross a few that would be good for inspiration.
Here is the album cover
This really connotes the feeling we are going for in our music video, the darkness connotes negative feelings, the tunnel connotes isolation, and the light at the end connotes how the men are stuck in a negative world.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Upcoming filming
Hopefully all should go to plan this weekend, I have a number of different actors that are all willing to act over the weekend, and we will book a camera soon, then its just a matter of hoping the weather is right and hoping nothing goes wrong!
We have gotten pictures of all the actors and here they are:
We have gotten pictures of all the actors and here they are:
Filming over the weekend
Over this weekend (4th - 5th of December) I filmed some of our sequences. I got the shots done where the man is at a party and playing football. I also got the shaver part done, and the section where he plays on his XBOX.
Now we need to carry on filming whilst we edit along the way, I will book a camera out over this coming weekend as well.
Now we need to carry on filming whilst we edit along the way, I will book a camera out over this coming weekend as well.
A few more texts for influence
With the Kaiser Cheifs music video to 'I Predict a Riot' we felt that the overall feeling of the video could be used in the same way for ours. The extremely fast cuts, the quick glimpses of the band members faces, and the partying going on in front of them. Nevertheless; this video is taking a much more performance based approach to the work, rather than our text which will be more focussed on the narrative and experimental side.
Filming time
Now we have pretty much completed all of our aims for research and planning, we need to get on with the actual filming. I am booking a camera out today and will film a few of the scenes at the beginning and towards the end of the music track. Then it leaves us the weekend to get most of the rest of the filming done.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Mise en scene
Now we have completed the storyboard, we are in need of planning our props and actors. So far we have the following planned out.
ACTORS:
Main protagonist - Tom Swinburn
Memory people from past life - Curtis Reid, Harry Curry, Owen Lake
People rushing around at home - Jennifer Quillen, Curtis Reid
Random people at party
LOCATIONS/SETTING:
Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden County High School
Cambridge
Littlebury/Debden
PROPS:
Paper/work
Computer
Clock
Desk
Shaver
Mirror
XBOX/PS3
TV
ACTORS:
Main protagonist - Tom Swinburn
Memory people from past life - Curtis Reid, Harry Curry, Owen Lake
People rushing around at home - Jennifer Quillen, Curtis Reid
Random people at party
LOCATIONS/SETTING:
Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden County High School
Cambridge
Littlebury/Debden
PROPS:
Paper/work
Computer
Clock
Desk
Shaver
Mirror
XBOX/PS3
TV
Barthe's media narrative codes
Having researched into narrative codes, Roland Barthe came up and his theory of narrative codes.
The codes are as follows:
The Hermeneutic Code
This code refers to plot elements of a story that are not explained. They exist as enigmas that the reader wishes to be resolved. For example; The Pigeon Detectives music video for the song 'Everybody Wants Me' shows two people in pictures at the beginning, who are they? what are they doing?
The Proairetic Code
The proairetic code refers to plot events that imply further narrative action. For example, a story character confronts an adversary and the reader wonders what the resolution of this action will be. Suspense is created by action rather than by a reader's wish to have mysteries explained. The final three codes are related to how the reader comprehends and interprets the narrative discourse.
The Semic Code
A seme is a unit of meaning or a sign that express cultural stereotypes. These signs allow the author to describe characters, settings and events. The semic code focuses upon information that the narration provides in order to suggest abstract concepts. Any element in a narrative can suggest a particular, often additional, meaning by way of connotation through a correlation found in the narrative. The semic code allows the text to 'show' instead of 'tell' by describing material things.
The Symbolic Code
The symbolic code refers to a structural structure that organizes meanings by way of antitheses, binary oppositions or sexual and psychological conflicts. These oppositions can be expressed through action, character and setting. An example of this would be the Killers music video to 'When You Were Young' - The two protagonists are at opposite ends - binary oppositions.
The Cultural Code
The cultural code designates any element in a narrative that refers to common bodies of knowledge such as historical, mythological or scientific. The cultural codes point to knowledge about the way the world works as shared by a community or culture. Including Bruce Willis, for instance, in the Gorillaz video to 'Stylo' refers to the audiences' common knowledge of action and adventure.
We can use these narrative codes with our music video, so that we create a greater sense of narrative following and engage the audience more effectively.
The codes are as follows:
The Hermeneutic Code
This code refers to plot elements of a story that are not explained. They exist as enigmas that the reader wishes to be resolved. For example; The Pigeon Detectives music video for the song 'Everybody Wants Me' shows two people in pictures at the beginning, who are they? what are they doing?
The Proairetic Code
The proairetic code refers to plot events that imply further narrative action. For example, a story character confronts an adversary and the reader wonders what the resolution of this action will be. Suspense is created by action rather than by a reader's wish to have mysteries explained. The final three codes are related to how the reader comprehends and interprets the narrative discourse.
The Semic Code
A seme is a unit of meaning or a sign that express cultural stereotypes. These signs allow the author to describe characters, settings and events. The semic code focuses upon information that the narration provides in order to suggest abstract concepts. Any element in a narrative can suggest a particular, often additional, meaning by way of connotation through a correlation found in the narrative. The semic code allows the text to 'show' instead of 'tell' by describing material things.
The Symbolic Code
The symbolic code refers to a structural structure that organizes meanings by way of antitheses, binary oppositions or sexual and psychological conflicts. These oppositions can be expressed through action, character and setting. An example of this would be the Killers music video to 'When You Were Young' - The two protagonists are at opposite ends - binary oppositions.
The Cultural Code
The cultural code designates any element in a narrative that refers to common bodies of knowledge such as historical, mythological or scientific. The cultural codes point to knowledge about the way the world works as shared by a community or culture. Including Bruce Willis, for instance, in the Gorillaz video to 'Stylo' refers to the audiences' common knowledge of action and adventure.
We can use these narrative codes with our music video, so that we create a greater sense of narrative following and engage the audience more effectively.
Finished storyboard
We have now finished our storyboard. We developed our ideas and have now implemented a much bigger variety of shots and techniques. The only thing left is to film and edit, then create our ancillary tasks.
I will scan the storyboard in next lesson and put it on the blog.
I will scan the storyboard in next lesson and put it on the blog.
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Storyboarding
Having almost completed our storyboard, we have thought of a few techniques and ideas for certain shots that could connote the meaning of the song that we want to audience to see and feel. At one particular point, when the lyrics get to 'The days that just don't seem worthwhile' We have incorporated a close up of the protagonist's face. Having just shaved, one half will be clean, one will still be bearded/stubbly. This connoted the two way, almost split personality and lifestyle of the man. One side is clean and caring, the other is dark and careless.
Furthermore, we have developed our idea for the shot when he is at home and everyone is buzzing around him. Now we think it would connote the mans lifestyle if we were to edit to and from his workplace and back to his home, connoting that it is always on his mind and that he cannot relax.
In addition to this, we have planned our opening shots while the song is having the introduction with no lyrics. We will film a sunrise over a hill for a long period of time, and then using Final Cut Pro we will edit it so it plays extremely fast and shows the sun coming up. We will also use this technique with a shot of a street, showing people and cars going past very fast. This technique connotes the repetetiveness of everyday life, which is what we feel the entire song is about, even before the lyrics start. Foreshadowing to the audience what is to come.
Furthermore, we have developed our idea for the shot when he is at home and everyone is buzzing around him. Now we think it would connote the mans lifestyle if we were to edit to and from his workplace and back to his home, connoting that it is always on his mind and that he cannot relax.
In addition to this, we have planned our opening shots while the song is having the introduction with no lyrics. We will film a sunrise over a hill for a long period of time, and then using Final Cut Pro we will edit it so it plays extremely fast and shows the sun coming up. We will also use this technique with a shot of a street, showing people and cars going past very fast. This technique connotes the repetetiveness of everyday life, which is what we feel the entire song is about, even before the lyrics start. Foreshadowing to the audience what is to come.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Media lesson
Today in our media lesson all the different groups presented their ideas on different narrative-based music videos. The one i feel was the best, was the song 'Stylo' by 'Gorillaz' as seen below.
This is a really interesting music video, as the audience is never left with any answers, they are always left with posed questions. Who are they? where are they going? where have they come from?
This connotes the Roland Barthes theory of Enigma. Which means that at the start of any media text, the audience is left with a question that needs to be answered throughout the rest of the text. Nevertheless, in this particular music video, that/those questions are never answered.
This influenced our idea a little and helped us develop it. The audience for our music video will be posed with similar questions, who is this man? why is he so depressed? but the questions will not be answered by the video, they will be answered through the lyrics of the song, which carry the narrative.
This is a really interesting music video, as the audience is never left with any answers, they are always left with posed questions. Who are they? where are they going? where have they come from?
This connotes the Roland Barthes theory of Enigma. Which means that at the start of any media text, the audience is left with a question that needs to be answered throughout the rest of the text. Nevertheless, in this particular music video, that/those questions are never answered.
This influenced our idea a little and helped us develop it. The audience for our music video will be posed with similar questions, who is this man? why is he so depressed? but the questions will not be answered by the video, they will be answered through the lyrics of the song, which carry the narrative.
Preparation for filming 2
Having now found everything we need for us to begin filming, we will need to book out a camera sometime over the next few weeks and begin our filming process. For our protagonist we have found Tom Swinburn (a former media student) who is available for filming almost whenever we need him. We have found the locations, ranging from the school corridors, to the streets of urban Cambridge. For the costume we have decided on a slightly casual laid-back look, the look of someone who doesn't really care what he wears to work as this is the narrative we are following. This will connote to the audience that the man doesn't care about how he looks anymore, or about his life in general. We also need access to a computer, a desk, paper, a clock etc. To recreate an office room in which the man works. This will connote the repetitive nature of the mans life and the audience will be able to relate to this.
Preparation for filming
For our music media text, we need to focus on finding everything in relation to Mise-en-Scene, such as locations, props, actors and costumes for the video. We have already found almost all of the locations we will need, now we just need to find the actor(s) and props/costumes.
Our own production
After looking at all different forms of music videos, we have decided that our video will follow a more narrative-based pathway, with some performance pieces to break it up and make it flow a lot better. With the lyrics connoting a person who is bored with everyday life, it only seems logical to follow this narrative connotation. In addition to this, the Punk-rock genre usually follow a set narrative, or are performance videos. This means that I can mix the two together and this would directly appeal to the target audience, with a mix of the two types of music video they are most used to. After finishing our storyboard, we are now looking towards filming our first shots to edit on Final Cut Pro.
We have found the locations needed for the initial sequence and all that is left to do now is book a camera after finalizing the storyboard and creating a shooting script for our filming.
We have found the locations needed for the initial sequence and all that is left to do now is book a camera after finalizing the storyboard and creating a shooting script for our filming.
More research - different forms of music videos
After looking into more music texts, we found that there are numerous different forms of music video. There are performance pieces, experimental pieces and those with a narrative. The performance pieces are usually focussed on the band or solo artist performing. Such as this song by 'The Killers'.
I thought that we could use a few shots like these, where the artist or band is seen drumming or playing the guitar or singing to the camera/into a microphone. This seems to be very common in the Indy/Punk-rock genre, and therefore the audience would be able to relate very easily and recognise what this video is about.
Experimental pieces are usually done as more of a form of art, as an experiment. Such as the 'Red Hot Chilli Peppers' song 'Can't Stop'
We could implement various similar shots, however with the genre of the Pistola Kicks being very different to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, it would not relate very well to the target audience, and would not fit overall with the punk-rock genre.
Narrative based music videos are much more rare and hard to film. These are texts that follow an obvious narrative path, such as 'The Killers' music video to their song 'A Dustland Fairytale'
Narrative music videos are very effective, they are also fairly common within the punk-rock genre, so the audience could relate to what kind of video it is very easily, and would be attracted to it. This type of music video is very difficult with most songs, as they don't usually follow a set narrative, however my song 'Friday Nights' is very narrative-based and it would be very effective to follow this narrative throughout the video.
I thought that we could use a few shots like these, where the artist or band is seen drumming or playing the guitar or singing to the camera/into a microphone. This seems to be very common in the Indy/Punk-rock genre, and therefore the audience would be able to relate very easily and recognise what this video is about.
Experimental pieces are usually done as more of a form of art, as an experiment. Such as the 'Red Hot Chilli Peppers' song 'Can't Stop'
We could implement various similar shots, however with the genre of the Pistola Kicks being very different to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, it would not relate very well to the target audience, and would not fit overall with the punk-rock genre.
Narrative based music videos are much more rare and hard to film. These are texts that follow an obvious narrative path, such as 'The Killers' music video to their song 'A Dustland Fairytale'
Narrative music videos are very effective, they are also fairly common within the punk-rock genre, so the audience could relate to what kind of video it is very easily, and would be attracted to it. This type of music video is very difficult with most songs, as they don't usually follow a set narrative, however my song 'Friday Nights' is very narrative-based and it would be very effective to follow this narrative throughout the video.
Critical analysis task
Today in our A level Media Studies lesson, were asked to go and film a 2-3 minute video analysing our work so far. We analysed our work in relation to 7 points.
- Research into similar products
- Organisation of actors
- Shotlists, drafting, storyboarding etc
- Time management
- Presentation of research and planning
- Skill in the use of digital technology
- Communication skills
- Shotlists, drafting, storyboarding etc
- Time management
- Presentation of research and planning
- Skill in the use of digital technology
- Communication skills
Having just created a short video on evaluating our progress, it really showed how we have little time left, and that we need to look into (research) a lot more videos with the same genre and/or narrative as what we are looking for in our own text. We also need to finish our storyboard and crack on with the actual filming.
In relation to these bullet points, we gave ourselves a score so far on each one, ranging from minimal to excellent. For most of the points we gave ourselves proficient level of work done.
In relation to these bullet points, we gave ourselves a score so far on each one, ranging from minimal to excellent. For most of the points we gave ourselves proficient level of work done.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Other texts for influence
This song (The Pigeon Detectives - I'm Not Sorry) also connotes the same meaning that we are looking to connote in our text. The black and white colours put across the feel of isolation and depression. Much like what we are attempting to employ into our music text. Therefore, after watching and analysing this video closely, I have decided to implement some of the techniques that they use. Such as the use of only one protagonist, being alone in the world. Furthermore, I have leaned towards the technique of black and white, rather than washed out colours to further connote the idea of isolation and depression. All of these ideas are very similar to other videos of the Punk-rock variety, and the target audience would be able to recognise this and relate to our music video through these techniques.
Research
Having looked into various music videos of the same genre/narrative, we came across this. The 'Arctic Monkeys' video for their song 'When the Sun Goes Down'. We feel that not only the narrative structure fits our text, but also the techniques they use, such as the washed out colour.
Therefore our ideas changed slightly from this influence. We now want to use washed out colour or black and white, as this fits the narrative of the song. A man who is bored with life, the lack of colour would connote this. Furthermore some of the shots used in this video are similar to ones we would want to use, such as the high angle mid-shots and close-ups, looking down on the protagonist. This connotes how he is weak and has no control. This would also relate to the target audience very well. The indy/punk-rock audience would be able to relate directly to the lack of control in life.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Ideas developing
Having listened carefully to the lyrics, Our interpretations and ideas have developed a fair amount. With the opening lines 'I've been living with my eyes wide shut' and 'I'd give it my all if you'd let me give it up' we could have various shots of the individual walking down different corridors (Towards the camera), singing to the camera. We could then cut these shots together to create a collage of different shots that all link together smoothly. I like this idea because it connotes the sense that he has had multiple walks in life, but whatever path he chooses or goes down, he is never interested or enjoying what he is doing.
We have also thought about shots that isolate the key individual in certain scenes, for instance, with the lyrics 'Its Friday night tonight... Its another working week for you' we can fast-forward everyone running around him while he sits on a chair dreading the week to come. This furthers the narrative reading of the video and re-enforces the repetitive nature of working life that the individual has grown to hate.
Furthermore we have thought about merging two shots together, to connote the underlying status that working life and home life have become one thing to the man. With the fast-forward sequence, we could gradually fade it out and fade in the exact same shot but at the mans workplace. This connotes how his work life is intruding upon his home and family life, suggesting that he has no freedom. This idea could be implemented during the chorus, with the lyrics 'its another working week for you'.
In addition, we thought that the repetetiveness of the lyrics and the underlying meaning of the lyrics could be represented through multiple shots. For every line of 'Whatever happened to that smile of mine...What ever happened to...What ever happened to' we could implement multiple shots of a past time when the character was not bored with his life, and when he was enjoying the time he had off work.
We have also thought about shots that isolate the key individual in certain scenes, for instance, with the lyrics 'Its Friday night tonight... Its another working week for you' we can fast-forward everyone running around him while he sits on a chair dreading the week to come. This furthers the narrative reading of the video and re-enforces the repetitive nature of working life that the individual has grown to hate.
Furthermore we have thought about merging two shots together, to connote the underlying status that working life and home life have become one thing to the man. With the fast-forward sequence, we could gradually fade it out and fade in the exact same shot but at the mans workplace. This connotes how his work life is intruding upon his home and family life, suggesting that he has no freedom. This idea could be implemented during the chorus, with the lyrics 'its another working week for you'.
In addition, we thought that the repetetiveness of the lyrics and the underlying meaning of the lyrics could be represented through multiple shots. For every line of 'Whatever happened to that smile of mine...What ever happened to...What ever happened to' we could implement multiple shots of a past time when the character was not bored with his life, and when he was enjoying the time he had off work.
Monday, 11 October 2010
The Friday Nights Umbro music video
We really liked the colouring and the lighting that is used. We also like the way there is no obvious narrative; but the video still follows common themes that we found in the lyrics and the song. However, I think with the songs lyrics, we should follow some kind of narrative, the song denotes a man who is bored with his life, so rather than taking inspiration from the actual structure of this video, we have thought about using the colours that they implemented in this text instead, the washed out colour, with some shots very colourful. This really helps connote the theme we are going for, and fits the target audience very well. The indy/punk-rock following will relate to the boring repetetiveness of every day life, and will be attracted to this video.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Lyrics
I...
I've been living with my eyes wide shut
I'd give it all if you'd let me give it up
I've tried too hard and now i've had enough (x2)
(Chorus)
Its friday night tonight, the weekend passes by
Monday coming soon, well its another working week for you
(End Chorus)
For every letter that i push
For every dinner that i rush
The days that just dont seem worth while
Whatever happened to that smile?
Whatever happened to that smile of mine?
Whatever happened to that
Whatever happened to... (x16)
Chorus x4
These lyrics gave us the impression of a working man, who has lost all motivation to continue with his working lifestyle. Therefore we feel that a black and white/washed-out colour would fit it well. It symbolises depression and unwillingness.
I've been living with my eyes wide shut
I'd give it all if you'd let me give it up
I've tried too hard and now i've had enough (x2)
(Chorus)
Its friday night tonight, the weekend passes by
Monday coming soon, well its another working week for you
(End Chorus)
For every letter that i push
For every dinner that i rush
The days that just dont seem worth while
Whatever happened to that smile?
Whatever happened to that smile of mine?
Whatever happened to that
Whatever happened to... (x16)
Chorus x4
These lyrics gave us the impression of a working man, who has lost all motivation to continue with his working lifestyle. Therefore we feel that a black and white/washed-out colour would fit it well. It symbolises depression and unwillingness.
So it begins...
My name is David Revell, and i am now studying the next year of my Media Studies course (A level) at Saffron Walden County High School. For my A2 Advanced Portfolio of constructing a music video me and my group have decided to use the song 'Friday Nights' by the band 'Pistola Kicks'.
Initial impressions of the song have been that it is of rock/punk/indie style and culture. From carefully listening to the lyrics it gave us the impression of a working man dreading the week ahead. This triggered impressions of depression and the inevitability that life goes on.
After listening to the song multiple times, it got us thinking of similar style songs and videos, such as 'The Arctic Monkeys' music video for 'When the sun goes down'. The video had a gritty feel to it, shot in washed-out colour. The washed-out colour and grayscale of the music video, i think, would suit our songs aesthetics and subject matter.
Initial impressions of the song have been that it is of rock/punk/indie style and culture. From carefully listening to the lyrics it gave us the impression of a working man dreading the week ahead. This triggered impressions of depression and the inevitability that life goes on.
After listening to the song multiple times, it got us thinking of similar style songs and videos, such as 'The Arctic Monkeys' music video for 'When the sun goes down'. The video had a gritty feel to it, shot in washed-out colour. The washed-out colour and grayscale of the music video, i think, would suit our songs aesthetics and subject matter.
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