Risk Assessment

This is the risk assessment of the locations we shot in, it explains the risks and hazards that we had and how we plan to overcome them. It is very useful as it has made us aware of the health and safety points that we have to take into account.

Digipak planning

Influences ideas

This video is the ideal situation we want for our video, the argueing scene looks really realistic.
We used certain elements in our videos to add realism to our video - the camera angles and the mise - en - scene in particular.

Filming Two

Yesterday we had our Second day of filming, the first day when Hanna and Jon would be acting together. We shot the scene of them in bed together, when they have an argument scene and also the scene where they reminisce.

Although we filmed a lot of footage, we are not able to use much of it because it was more experimenting with the camera and the different affects for our footage.

We will need to re film a lot of it because it is not the correct angle or we did not film the right thing.

Digipak Research

Another aspect of our courswork is to design a Digipak.

Firstly we researched to discover what a Digipak is and existing examples.

What is a Digipak?

Digipak is a patented style of compact disc or DVD packaging, typically consisting of a gatefold, (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside.

Filming

First day of filming was planned to be at my house, having been given the deadlines as very soon we were aware we had to have some sort of material to be-able to work with and get our footage done.

Although we used this as an opportunity to see what elements worked and which did not.

The lighting in many of the shots was awful, the suit that Jon used appeared green despite it being grey. Many of the outside shots, the angle of the camera was extremely wonky or you were able to see a reflection in windows and glass making it look amateur filming which is definitely not what we want.

Some of the shots are too close up or don't include Jon, focusing on more insignificant objects.

It gave us all experience with filming and also skills of directing the actors around.

We know we still have a lot of work to do, but we can use the material we have obtained.

Animatic Storyboard

Now we have drawn the storyboard we have composed an animation of the pictures.

This is very useful, as it gives a very vague idea of how the music video will eventually turn out.

It provokes aspects that we had not considered before until we had made the animated video including timing, continuity and the reference to the lyrics.

We had huge gaps where we realized we needed more scenes but still had to make sense to the whole story.

The animatic overall looks very affective, although it is only a very rough cut of how the overall video should appear and how we plan for it to be eventually.

It gives opportunities to plan improvements.

Storyboard drawing

Now we have a set idea of what we want the video to be based around, we worked out as a group the scenes we would have to shoot, and also parts of our film that we would be able to repeat.

The idea of time passing and a new day would mean significant things such as the routine of the male in our video and his journey to work.

Jake took this into account and produced a hand-drawn storyboard for our group, which included around 30 different pictures. As the artist of the group Jake was voted to draw out all the different pictures.

Now we have produced the pictures, we have to put them into an animated video which will enable us to work out the timing of the shoots and if it works out how we intend it to.

Storyboard FINAL IDEA

Our final idea was based upon the feedback that our teacher gave us.

She pointed out how we may have gone about the wrong way of our song - choosing a theme that is too mellow and does not suit the theme of the song.

Pitch

We had the task of presenting our video idea in a 'dragons den' style to our teacher to see how she would perceive it and approve it as a successful idea.

We presented our idea, but as we did so we realized how very much it would not work. The interpretation of death did not fit the tone of the song which was actually quite fast pace upbeat song.

So we went back to the discussion within our group - we listened repeatedly to the song - despite the halfway gone being perceived as death it could also be about a relationship.

It would be much easier to convey, it is also much more realistic to film a video as it is such a common theme to appear within music videos. It made us rethink very carefully our next video idea - not only did we need a good storyline, it needed to fit in with the tone and lyrics of the song !

Copyright

To use the song of our choice - we have had to ask for permission from the producers of our song.

I have emailed the official Lifehouse band to as if we can use the song for our video - so far they have not replied which means that we should be fine to use the song.

Copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted by the law of a jurisdiction to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work.

Storyboard FIRST IDEA

Our first idea was loosely based around the idea of death.

We interpreted the lyrics 'halfway gone' as a girl being halfway gone out of a boys life.

She would portray a ghost, ke

ep reappearing throughout his everyday life as he cannot get over her - shes halfway gone out of his life until the very end when he establishes that he is finally over her.

We planned how we would need a main male character protagonist - it would be vital that they were able to act to a certain standard and would be willing to express the grief they feel. The girl would have to also be believable in the role she would be portraying - constantly haunting him to show that he is not over her.

The idea initially was very good, we had planned our locations - it would include places to establish her death - such as a graveyard and everyday places as he would continue his everyday life - town centre.

Group discussions

We had thorough group discussions throughout lessons - deciding upon ideas and how we interpreted the music. We realised how very difficult that the task was going to be - not only did we have a to have a good storyline that the audience would understand but we needed locations that would be sutible and people to star in our video that would take it seriously and would fit the roles of our characters.

Pitch Planning

We have as a group had many discussions about the the story boarding of our music video -

These have included possible

Settings/ Locations for filming

The people we will be using

Mise- en-scene - costumes, props, daytime/nightime

Editing - Transitions

Sound - reference to lyrics

Target Audience

The song is classed under the genre of American Alternative Rock - which emerged various subgenres that have emerged from the independent music scene since the 1980s, such as grunge, Britpop, gothic rock, and indie pop.

This genre means including the typical conventions such as a band playing along with a narrative.

Researching this including this we found that the videos are usually a pesismistic tone.

We used the UK tribes website to help us have inspiration.

Planning Ideas

As a group, we went through our iPods and used the music search engine Youtube to gather information about the type of song we wished to do and the kind of ideas we wanted to use.

We decided that we wanted a song which was diverse where they would be able to have different elements to it.

Analysis of Song

Halfway Gone - Lifehouse

Song Ideas

We had a brainstorm of the possible song choices we could use -

The conventions that we were looking for it to include were a strong storyline, with meaningful lyrics, but also one that was not well known - in the charts so it could not be compared to the original video or have high expectations.

These were the ideas that we came up with -

The Editors - No sound but the wind

Snow Patrol - You could be happy

The Killers - When you were young

Chase & Status - Heavy

Coldplay - White Shadows

Example - Fast Cars

Bloc Party - Signs

Kele - Everything you wanted

The Xx - Islands

Love you better - Maccabees

25 to Life - Eminem

Miami to Ibiza - Swedish House Mafia

We have originally decided on using the song Halfway there - Lifehouse

Conventions of a Music Video

Researching before we begin actually planning and making our music video is vital, we learn how to make it successful, look realistic and convey the mood we wish it to.

The conventions that I have noticed watching and analysing the various music videos include -

Lyrics

Camera Shots

Camera Movement

Editing

Sound

Mise-en-Scene

Genre

Costume

Colour

It is vital we use and include these to produce the best music video we can possible.

Kiss of Life - Friendly Fires

Kiss of Life - Friendly Fires

Kiss of Life

Friendly Fires - Kiss of Life

The video was shot on a beach in Ibiza, the overall feel to the song is the meaning of life, the lyrics describe the comparison of love being the 'Kiss of Life'. The band 'Friendly Fires' being relatively new, have a very indie-dance sound to their music and it was important to establish themselves as a band as well as their music. This video received much positive criticisms and is their most popular song to date. The overall video includes all the conventions to make interesting to watch as well as being relevant to the lyrics of the song.
The video begins with a beach setting with blurred outlines of people in the background. It is a bright, sunny day which implies the tone of the song will be upbeat and lively. The tin drumming comes in at thebeginning sounding almost like a tribal sound. The camera changes the focus, the foreground of the beach and the plant are blurry, revealing the brightly coloured group of people standing holding instruments, the title of the song 'Kiss of Life' is sung as the key of the music changes.

A close up shot of the lead singer, miming the words of the song. The focus is completely upon him as he has a plain white background behind him, he sings the lyrics 'rub that line above the sand', it establishes the band, it is recognizable for the aud

ience that it is a 'Friendly Fires' music video.

Whilst he sings it features snippets of the drums being played, within the pauses of the music when the drums are being played. It adds the element of the african tribal drums.

The chorus begins, the lyrics -

'Oooooo kiss of life (x2)

Could you wave goodbye to sun?

The sea the stars the waves the tide?

The wails inside that life has died.

But all you need is a kiss of life'

At this point in the video, various different shots are used, high angle, low angle, close ups. All the different crowd are shown dancing, the lead singer of Friendly Fires begins to dance - it is the epitimy of the video - the idea of life is

expressed through this part of the video.

The colours are all bright, the dancers contrast with the lead singers clothes, who is dressed all in black, the group of people are all also wearing masks to complete the idea fo the African Tribal theme.

Various body shots are also shown, the feet of the people jumping, the movement over the instruments - it shows the meaning of life and energy which fit in with the lyrics.

The singer, begins to dance along with the song - more shots of the group of people as a whole are shown, with teh backdrop of the blue sky and clear water on a sunny day. They stand out with the clothes they are wearing.

When the words 'tambourine' and 'drum' are sung, there is a lyrical reference, the instruments are shown playing. It is very affective, its gives a variiation of shots compared to if the Lead singer was filmed for 3 minutes just singing the lyrics.

Once two verses and two choruses have been sung, the music changes - the bridge begins The singer is seen against the backdrop as a sillohette of clouds at night time. It is a contrast with the very bright and sunny settign previously shot with the dancing. The pace of the song slows down, there is an instrumental at this point in the music. There is references to the previous shots ones upon the beach and ones of the drums being played and masks of the crowd.

In sync with the music the tin drums begin to play, and the group of dancers move slowly foward and dance.

The video ends with the kiss of life being sung with a close up shot of the lead singer, it reminds us of who sung the song and establishes the ending of the video.

Video Analysis

Kids -MGMT

The video begins with children's voices in the background - laughing and screaming.
The introduction counts from five to one, primarycolors suggests the very childlike theme of the song hence the title 'kids'

The music begins with the children's voices in the background, It cuts to the close up shot of a toddler laughing, the light is from above, illuminating the child's face. The surroundings are of complete darkness outside of the cot, the focus is upon the child.

From behind the child, monster limbs appear, they grab the child, as the music still continues. The child looks distressed as they touch him. He begins to cry. Various shots - including aerial show the child upset and confused, holding the rails ofhis cot - implying his wish to escape.

The music changes slightly, the minutes introduction of the repetitive sounds finishes as the hands of a human reach down and grab the child, through it's silent crying. It adds a sense of confusion to he story.

The band begin singing, the first line 'you were a child crawling on your knees'

Brief

We have started the media course for A2 and been given a summary of the tasks we have to carry out for next year.

This is the brief that I believe I will be following for this year within my group, as it seems the most attainable and we will be able to do a large amount of research to it.

1. A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options:

a website homepage for the band;
a cover for its release as part of the digipak (CD/DVD package);
a magazine advertisement for the digipak (CD/DVD package).