Star Image

As I decided to change my video concept, including the story, actors and locations, my star image had a drastic change as to what I expected it to first be. In the first 'Embrace This Day' story, lovers Alice and Charlie were a couple who had suffered a break up and were learning ways to get back together. Looking back, it was extremely difficult to place a 'star image' on the two, as my plan was to make the audience realize that these were two, very ordinary and normal teenagers. However, as I changed my plot, my star image began to develop.  Zarenna Porter, my main actress was playing both the singer and the fallen angel where eventually at the end of the song, she becomes both people. My chosen song Embrace This Day is a dance song and therefore uses several upbeat and exciting sounds, however due to the narrative of the Fallen Angel, I wanted to contrast against the lyrics by using Zarenna's image.

Costume

The costume I decided to make Zarenna wear was simply a black turtle neck top for the singing shots, as I believe that the idea of her neck being covered up as well as her chest and shoulders enhances the fact that this person is very guarded off and is not embracing herself or the day she is in. However the fallen angel costume is quite different. I asked Zarenna to come to filming in all white/natural colours which will contrast heavily against the black angel wings and eye mask that she is wearing to present her angel characteristics. I wanted to  show that this angel once embraced herself but experienced a lot of pain and therefore is now an angel with dark features to illuminate her upset.

Make up

In a few shots, I decided to draw black stripes down Zarenna's face whilst she was singing. I decided to do this as I thought that it would represent her 'otherness' to people and the song very clearly as it is not often you see people with stripes down their face. It was important to me that I showed that she was different to the audience by using this make up as I thought that the plain shots of her singing would not express her unique image to the audience well enough. In the shots that I have used the stripes I additionally added video effects on top such as a mild Gaussian blur to show how the stripes may be effecting her vision and her feelings are trapping her in a jail (represented by vertical lines going down her face). Zarenna also wears red nail varnish when she is seen touching her face to leave the audience wondering whether they represent evil or love inside of her mind.

Embrace This Day- The Second Plot

Issues with the original plot

Although the plot was successful, the filming did not necessarily go to plan as I started editing. It was clear from the completed video that there was not enough lip syncing and was more like a short-film than a music video. There was additional problems with the light in many of the shots, as I filmed at night, I did not have any natural light in my shots, which posed to be an issue when on the editing programme. It was to much deliberation that I had to re-film, and possibly with a new story, and new characters.

The old and new story

The previous story line was a couple who are having a bad day and are arguing. Leading to the main character and singer (Alice Isaacs) storming off after an argument with the actor (Charlie Varney), which leads to him trying to find her in Central London. The main theme was that the couple are not 'embracing the day' and are having a bad patch.

The new story

When I thought about a new narrative, I wanted to keep the theme of not 'embracing the day' that the song title and lyrics suggest, however I did not want to use the relationship story as I believe that this may have become too complicated trying to portray this in such little shots. I therefore decided to cast a new singer, who would also act as the singer. I casted Zarenna Porter, a singer from Potters Bar. She is the singer in the video, and also the narrative which as a fallen angel, who is desperate to embrace the day and to not feel upset. I used a fallen angel idea with lyrics such as 'superstar, ease the pain' which can be interpreted as the fallen angel asking the stars to help her be happy. 

Fallen Angel Costume

In comparison to my previous video, I used costume with the second plot. The Fallen Angel in the video is wearing black feathered wings and a black eye-mask, with all white clothes on. The use of the black eye-mask and wings suggest that she is desperate to become pure and happy, as white signifies purity whilst black expresses anger and fear. 

I additionally believe that my second plot, relates a lot more to my existing artist research of Ed Sheeran and his video 'Give Me Love'. Refer to post for details.

Target Audience

The target audience for this song and video of Embrace This Day is of a younger generation from ages 13 - 30 years, including people who enjoy dance music. This is because the sound of the music is extremely upbeat and may not be suitable for a older generation who may enjoy softer music. However this does not apply to all elder people in society. I believe the music video would apply to younger people more due to the fact that my singer Zarenna is a young adult.

How filming went (First Plot)

Filming

On Sunday the 26th of October, I filmed for my A2 music video. It was a cold night, so we wrapped up and headed to my main actor, Alice's house which is in Barnet. Charlie, Alice and I filmed the scenes of the pair getting ready in Alice's bedroom and in her spare room, to give the illusion of two separate houses. After this all went well, we drove to High Barnet station where we boarded a train to Waterloo, London.


After we got off the train, we headed for Parliament Bridge, where we set up the tripod and camera to film setting shots, and also shots of Alice walking around (as she is trying to get away from Charlie after an argument). I also used the underneath of the bridge along the sidewalks, to film close up shots of their faces, and also the moment the pair finally are brought back together after Charlie's hunt to find her.

In my opinion, the filming of their acting went perfectly well, and I do not need to film anything else to replace it, however the lip syncing shots did not go as to planned when we were in Central London, and I unfortunately needed to film again, days following after the original filming day.
I believe that this was due to a state of nervousness and also the additional pressure from strangers walking around London, so we decided to film the singing shots, in a close up, so that it wasn't obvious to the audience where she was whilst she was singing. Fortunately, these shots went well and I did not need to film them again as second time round, Alice was a lot more confident and comfortable whilst filming.

I was unfortunate to have to film during a week of bad weather in England, and I did not manage to capture the shot of the sky and clouds, moving along in a sped up wide angle shot. However due to the poor conditions, the sky was mainly grey most days. I then had to re-book the camera and tripod for the day, so that I could film this shot as it is one that I incorporated into my storyboard. 

Risk Assesment

Risk Assessment

DATE OF TAKING OUT FILMING EQUIPMENT - Friday 24th October 2013 

DATE OF (TBC) FILMING- Sunday 26th-Monday 27th October 2014

1 - Risk Assessment of Camera

• make sure that the camera is fully loaded with charged batteries
• make sure that there are no current mechanical issues with the camera or its wires,etc.
• make sure that the camera has been fully booked out in your name
• make sure that the tripod is working with no damage or breakages which may cause it to fall/break.
• when filming, make sure that the camera is securely fastened to the tripod
• when filming, make sure that the camera and tripod are not left alone or away from your presence
• when filming, make sure that the camera and tripod are put away correctly when moving from destinations

2- Risk Assessment of Singers/Actors

• ensure that the singers and actors are not put in any danger in any locations
• make sure locations are safe

STORY BOARD- TEXTUAL

Textual Shot Sheet

I will be printing this out and taking it with me when I go to film as this will help me know when and where I am filming and what time during the song.

It will follow with the times such as (0:00 to 0:20) and will be basic information about the shots.

START

0:00-0:30-  FOUR SPLIT SCREENS; C AND A GETTING READY, SHUTTING FRONT DOOR, WALKING OUT OF HOUSE, LOOKING AT PHONES
SHOTS OF LONDON- BUSES/GRAFFITI,TUBE SIGN, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ECT.

0:30-0.34- ALICE ON BUS- GOING TO MEET C

0:34-0:39- SUN SETTING

0:39-0:43- ALICE GETTING OFF BUS

0:43-0:46- CHARLIE GETTING INTO CAR

0:46-0:49- CHARLIE DRIVING OFF UP STREET

0:49-0:55- SPLIT SCREEN; C AND A ON PHONE TO EACH OTHER

0:55-0:57- ALICE PUTTING IN HEADPHONES IN

0:57-1:01- CHARLIE PUTTING MUSIC ON IN CAR

1:01-1:08- ALICE GETTING INTO CAR

1:08-1:13- CHARLIE AND ALICE ARGUING IN CAR

1:13-1:19- SIDE VIEW OF ALICE ARGUING

1:19-1:23- SIDE VIEW OF CHARLIE ARGUING

1:23-1:27- ALICE GETTING OUT OF CAR

1:27-1:32- ALICE WALKING OUT OF CAR

1:32-1:39- CHARLIE GETTING DISTRESSED (SIDE VIEW)

1:39-1:55- SEVERAL SHOTS OF ALICE GOING INTO CENTRAL LONDON (WALKING,ECT)

1:55-2:10- CONTINUOS BACK AND FORTH SHOTS OF C AND A FACES (SINGING/LOOKING).

2:10-2:34- LONG PERIOD SHOT OF CLOSE UP OF ALICE FACE (WILL BE SLOWED DOWN WHEN EDIT) THIS CAN BE HER SINGING OR JUST STARING. 

2:34-2:40- CHARLIE AND ALICE BUMP INTO EACH OTHER

2:40-2:50- 360 DEGREE TURN? ON COUPLE.

2:50-3:05- QUICK-FLASH BACKS OF EVERYTHING IN VIDEO.

END

DIGITAL STORY BOARD

Digital storyboard video is uploaded below;

Location

Location

I have decided to film in a Central London due its iconic status and broad area's of interesting and historical places across the city. Known for it's historical monuments and buildings, I have chosen to take more of a modern route with my choice of shots of London. In my storyboard I decided to include several shots of and also in London's public transport. This will include shots of London's red buses and London's Tube with an addition of TFL bus stops and signs. I have decided to include these qualities of London rather than the historical findings due to the fact that the song and my actors within it, are quite upbeat and fresh, a characteristic I believe that TFL has.  I believe too that using London transport as my use of iconography in my music video reflects my singers and actor's personalities and their youth in a 21st Century London.




These are some of my own photo's of iconic TFL places in my local London Borough;

Storyboard 2

Embrace This Day- The Video Plot

The 'Probable Plot'

I decided to call this the 'Probable Plot', my own theory which outlines what most people would expect from media by just hearing its name or in my case, its lyrics. My own first hand research into the song, Embrace This Day represents (in my opinion) an individual spending the day with somebody- embracing the day that they are spending together. Although there may be other interpretations to the lyrics, my opinion is therefore what I am basing my plot on/against.

The Story

Rejecting the typical representation of this song that I gathered, I want to move away from the idea that the couple are having a 'good day' and oppose this- making the video contrast against the lyrics of the song and initially representing a negative and mores depressing day for the couple. 

Lyrics in the song such as "I never thought I could feel like this" can fortunately be interpreted in different ways. In my opinion it means that the singer is feeling a certain type of lust towards someone, I have chosen to reject this and choose themes such as a break up between the two. 

At the start of the video, my singers/actors are getting ready to meet up and spend the day together, it is clear from the shots that there is tension between the two, but the audience are yet to see this. The girl, takes public transport to go and meet her boyfriend, whereas the boy, takes his car to a destination to pick her up. As she gets into the car, they begin to argue and as it escalates, she gets out of the car and storms off, assuming that they have broken up. Distressed, the boy makes endless attempts to contact her and driving around to find her. She takes a journey into London South bank where the audience assume is a well known destination to her and her boyfriend, as he heads in that direction too, desperate to find her. They bump into each other despite her desperation to get away from him. He attempts to reconcile their relationship through talking to her- the video will then cut with a cliff hanger allowing the audience to make their own mind up about whether the couple got back together.

Casting

Casting

Casting the main actors for my music video was not necessarily difficult, however I did need to cast individuals who have the ability to act and sing. I was not initially worried about casting people who had the talent to sing or act, however after watching several music videos, including former A-Level student work, it was clear I needed actors with talent.

My Actors

Alice Isaacs

Alice is a 17 year old singer from Hertfordshire. From a young age, Alice has loved to sing and dance whenever she can and has performed in several school productions. Alice's favourite singers range from Colbie Calliat to Chris Brown and is passionate about performing in her own music video. I approached her via text message asking whether she would be available to cast in my music video. After a positive response, I have casted Alice to be the main singer in my music video (due to the female voice singing) alongside her co-actor Charlie.

Charlie Varney

Charlie is a 18 year old boy from East Barnet. At school Charlie studied drama and media studies where he found a passion for acting and filming. After achieving good grades in Drama, I approached Charlie to ask whether he would be available to cast in my music video as the co-actor alongside the main singer- Alice Isaacs. Charlie and Alice will act together throughout- despite the fact Charlie will not sing the song- he will act out words through his actions and facial expressions in the same way Alice will.

Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin's theory consists of five main parts. He believes that these five parts are the most important aspects of a music video.

1. More than often, music videos tend to demonstrate typical genre characteristics. For example, in a rap video, you are most likely to see sport cars. Whereas in a love song you are most likely to see a boy and a girl together.

2. There are frequent references of looking or treatment of the female body- Men and women most often are reffered to seductiveky throughout the video. Goodwin add's that voyeurism is widely used in music videos to sell the artists song. For example, artists such as Rihanna and Miley Cyrus frequently use sexual movements or words. Furthermore, Goodwin believes that voyeurism in todays society is only shown from females- not males.

3. There is a clear relationship between the music and visuals- there are three ways in which the relationship between the two can be portrayed. These are either; illustrative, amplifying or contradicting. 

4. Record Labels that the artist is signed with usually demands specific needs of the artist. These demands may include a certain style or specific shots. For example, Lady GaGa is famously known for wearing wacky clothes that match her style of her songs.

5. There are always intertexual references. These can be to tv shows, other music videos, films ect. For example Sugarbabes- Too Lost In You (2003) was used in the 2003 film Love Actually. 

Lyric Moodboard

In this moodboard, I have applied images to the lyrics in the most 'typical way' or most expected way. I have done this by taking the lyrics very literal. For example;

• 'Daylight slipping away' - an image of the sun setting or somebody going to bed
• 'I never thought I could feel like this'- a couple happy together
• 'Ready to release the town'- somebody getting ready to go out in the evening 

British Director - Jonathan Glazer - Auteur

Jonathan Glazer

Jonathan Glazer is a British who's directing work includes  music videos, feature films and advertisements.

Music Videos

Glazer has done several music videos, including;

• "Karmacoma" -Massive Attack (1995)
• "The Universal" -Blur (1995)
• "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" - Radiohead (1996)
• "Virtual Insanity" - Jamiroquai (1996)
• "Cosmic Girl" (version 2) -Jamiroquai (1997)
• "Into My Arms" -Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1997)
• "Karma Police" - Radiohead (1997)
• "Rabbit in Your Headlights" - UNKLE ft. Thom Yorke (1998)
• "A Song for the Lovers" - Richard Ashcroft (2000)
• "Live with Me" - Massive Attack (2006)
• "Treat Me Like Your Mother" -The Dead Weather (2009)

Existing Music Video - Live with Me- Massive Attack (2006)

  

The video features a young woman drinking heavily, to the point of excess. It features a young (mid twenties) professional-looking woman drinking herself into oblivion on her own in her flat. The setting of the video clip and of the off licence store featuring in it is an area in London.

Why I chose to analyse this video

I chose to analyse this video because it had an interesting storyline which was continued with throughout the whole video. This idea of having a continuous 'story' of an individual gives me a lot of inspiration for my own music video. Although 'Live with Me' is not a 'House' music genre, I believe that I could apply this type of video to house music. 
The initial story of the young girl whom is evidently suffering with being an alcoholic, inspires me to also make a music video which explains an individuals life in one day. I could also adapt to this and make a video of a group of people following the same sort of issues. 
My film Return Me in my AS studies was a gritty and emotional story that I applied to an action film- I would like to adapt to the theme of current affairs in the world today but to an upbeat music video. 

Skrillex

Skrillex

Sonny John Moore (born January 15, 1988), better known by his stage name Skrillex, is an electronic dance music producer, DJ, and singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, California.

Skrillex is a DJ of the following genres;

• Dubstep
• Electro House
• Post-harcore

Why I am researching Skrillex

Although Skrillex's music is a lot more upbeat and 'hardcore' however in his music video's uses interesting links between the video and the song. For example; the music will match the video such as when the beat 'drops' something will happen in the video to reflect this.

SKRILLEX - Bangarang feat. Sirah

Eric Prydz

Eric Prydz

Eric Prydz is a Sweedish house DJ based in Los Angeles, California. He is a DJ for the following genres;

• House
• techno
• progressive house
• tech house

Why I am researching Eric Prydz

Eric Prydz is a house artist similar to my own artist- PandamanUK.  I have decided to use him as a research artist due to his popularity and succes over the past few years. I believe that listening to his songs and watching his music video's will give me inspiration for my own video as the songs follow the same idea's. I believe that I can draw information from his video's that'll either make me want to move away from the type of music video's for house music, or bring me closer.

I will be looking at Prydz's most famous song- 

Call On Me (2004)

The music video for "Call on Me", directed by Huse Monfaradi, features an aerobics class of women wearing 1980s styled aerobics outfits performing sexually suggestive gym routines led by dancer and choreographer Deanne Berry, much to the enjoyment of the sole man in the group, played by Juan Pablo Di Pace.

Fundamentally, this song does not neccesarly match the lyrics, a trait that I do not want to use in my video. However I like the idea fact that the video encorporates two 'main' characters whom we follow a story of throughout the music video. I would like to have a main chracter in my music video so that the audiece can understand the video and the lyrics much better. However I would like to use other actors in my video, like Call On Me has so that the video does not look empty.

House Music

What is 'house music'?

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. Early house music commercial success in Europe saw songs such as "Pump Up The Volume" by MARRS (1987), "House Nation" by House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House (1987), "Theme from S'Express" by S'Express (1988) and "Doctorin' the House" by Coldcut (1988) in the pop charts. Since the early to mid-1990s, house music has been infused in mainstream pop and dance music worldwide.

Early house music was generally dance-based music characterized by repetitive 4/4 beats, rhythms mainly provided by drum machines. While house displayed several characteristics similar to disco music, it was more electronic and minimalistic and the repetitive rhythm of house was more important than the song itself.  House music has also fused with several other genres such as euro house, tech house, electro house and jump house.

House music proved to be a commercially successful genre and a more mainstream pop-based variation grew increasingly popular. Artists and groups such as Madonna, Janet Jackson,Björk and Daft Punk were incorporating the genre into their work. 

Music Video Timeline

Nickelodeon (movie theater) 1905

A nickelodeon was the first  indoor exhibition space  showing projected films/motions. They were usually small and simple theaters which would charge five cents for admission. The name 'Nickelodeon' was inspired by the name of the U.S five-cent coin with the addition of a Greek word odeion, a roofed-over theater. Nickelodeons changed the way films were exhibited to the American public, they were distinctively known for showing continuous performance of short films. Nickelodeons in general was a cheap form of entertainment, especially for those who could not afford it.

Soundies 1940

Soundies were three-minute musical films, produced in New York City, Chicago, and Hollywood, between 1940 and 1946, often including short dance sequences, similar to later music videos - WIKIPEDIA. The films were usually played on a Panoram (a coin-operated  jukebox) in nightclubs, bars or restaurants.

Scopitone 1955

Scopitones were developed Panorams which origianlly played Soundies. Scopitones were first developed in France, in which eventually spread acorss Europe and evenutally reached the USA during the 1960's. Like Soundies, scopitones were intiially made to play inside nightclubs and bars, however many artists failed to release music onto scopitone films.

Golden Age 1920-1960 Musical Films

Musical Films (otherwise known as 'Musicals') were created due to the development of Sound Music Technology. This development therefore allowed the room for more performers, set and location in Musical Film production. One of the most famous musical films to date is Moulin Rougue, produced in 1928.

Top Of The Pops 1964

Top of the Pops was a British music chart television programmer, broad-casted by the BBC. Traditionally, TOTP was broad-casted every Thursday evening on BBC1. Each weekly programme consisted of performances from some of that week's best-selling popular music artists, with a rundown of that week's singles chart.  The show's audience was mainly aimed at teenagers to young adults who were interested in music. Famous performers include Kylie Minouge and Meatloaf.

Concert Films 1964

A  concert movie, or concert film, is a type of documentary film, which includes live performance or concert by a musician. Originally introduced in the 1960's, concert films became increasingly popular, especially for individuals who wanted to see their favorite artist without having to pay for a ticket. Concert Films could therefore be produced onto music videos which enabled those who was not available to view the artist live, could watch them in the comfort of their own home. 

MTV 1981

MTV (or otherwise known as Music Television) is an American  television channel owned by the MTV Networks Music & Logo Group. The channel is now head quartered in Los Angeles. MTV was first launched on August 1, 1981 where the original purpose of the channel was to play music videos to their main target audience who at the time were young adults, but today, MTV's programming is primarily targeted at adolescents and teenagers. The first ever video to be played on MTV was 'The Buggles- Video Killed The Radio Star'. 

YouTube 2005

YouTube is now the world's largest and most popular internet space to share videos varying from all types. YouTube is now the most common place to view music videos from all genres. Many artists today will release their videos onto YouTube via large corporations such as Vevo. YouTube is still free for all many years on and is the hub for all new music content.

Ed Sheeran research

ED SHEERAN

Born as Edward Christopher "Ed" Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Hebden Bridge, raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he moved to London in 2008 to pursue a musical career. Ed Sheeran began recording music in 2008, where he only played at small venues to build up his career. After being organised for his talent, Ed Sheeran eventually reached the highlight of his career as a music singer-songwriter and was signed to a music label. Ed Sheeran is now a hit in not only the UK but also in the US too.

MUSIC VIDEOS

Ed Sheeran- Give Me Love-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOjdXSrtUxA

In the video, it features a young woman- shown below- whom is shown to very lonely and desiring to be 'loved' hence the lyrics 'give me love'. The video features her essentially 'pulling' out her wings from her body which give the look of an angel. She embarks on journeys with a bow and arrow that she created, where she 'shoots' to any two people who she believes should 'love' each other. However, her desperation to be loved herself unfortunately overrides her power and she unfortunately ends up 'shooting' herself which therefore concludes the video with her being surrounded by paramedics.

How this can help me with my own video

After watching a video like this from Ed Sheeran,  this video has given me a lot of inspiration for my music video. Although this music has video effects that I may not be able to achieve due to the time I have to film and also my facilities at school, it has inspired me to film something unusual and that doesn't always mimic everything the lyrics are saying. This video especially by Ed Sheeran is unique in the fact that it does not follow what a 'typical' love story is, and infact embarks on a journey of an individual who helps other's to love each other, although desperate to be loved herself. The idea behind the angel/cupid theme is inspiring in the fact that it is a unique and symbolic idea of love and expresses the emotions of love in a different way which is interesting to watch for the audience.

A2 Music Video- The Search and The Brief

Searching for a singer

Initially, when I had to begin my search for an artist, I didn't really know where to start. Even though I knew a few singers, finding out whether they had their own recorded tracks was proving to be difficult. I started to look through my social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see if any of my friends/mutual friends had high interests in singing. 

To start of with it was quite hard to find somebody who had a passion for singing, as a lot of people simply just did it as a bobbie and did not have the time to help me out. However after searching for a while I came down to a few names of people who were easy to get in contact with, were not a signed artist and were also very passionate about singing and wanted to make a career out of it. 

Encounting problems

I did have a few problems with finding an aritst along the way. I orignally found somebody who's style of music was mellow and suited what I 'wanted' to do more, however after a while it was clear that we would have problems recording the song's he had written to a professional standard that would actually come across as 'powerful' on my video.
Unfortunatly, I had to let go of my singer and I decided to attempt a new style of music.

Originally I rejected using an upbeat song, as I found that after filming my AS film openeing 'Return Me' I definitly preffered slow editing with quite 'gritty' themes. However after research, I did find that it would be possible to record the same way I like, with an upbeat song!

Using a DJ

I decided to use an up and coming DJ named as 'Pandaman UK' who has up to 700 followers on the infamous music sharing site Soundcloud. After listening to a few of his tracks, I found one that intriguied me and also included lyrics that can be lip synced in my video. I did not hestitate to contact him. He instantly agreed and was very happy to give me the 'go ahead' to download. 

His bio reads;

PandaMan is an 18 year old Vocal/Deep/G-House Producer and DJ. His music career may have started in the deep underground, playing Drum and Bass in warehouses with a safety level of a prison on the Mexican Coast however after the colossal transformation to House, he realised all importance with the dreams to be the headlining name on your favourite dance fest!

Combining the punchy Deep/G House style with future vocals, Panda’s aims are to make girls with straw hats jump on the muscular shirtless man next to them and throw out their sun burnt arms horizontally screaming as if anyone can hear them over 150K worth of sound on a beach in the middle of nowhere.

I hope you enjoy my style, leave feedback its all welcome!

I then decided to ask him a few other questions, just to get the best background information I could. In which he responded;

"I have always loved dance music. For years House music has been one of the only types of music I listened to, and after a while I believed that I could have a chance in being just as good as my favorite artists. I started up my soundcloud account and simply thought 'why not' and started posting instantly. My follow up has been great and I get tons of support from not only my friends but other aritsts too. Its a great feeling after finishing a track and I hope in the future I can be extremely succesful with my passion"