Music Video Analysis - The Vamps, Somebody to You ft. Demi Lovato

Music Video Analysis - Robbie Williams, Let Me Entertain You

Applying the Andrew Goodwin Theory

prezi embedded not showing on home computer.

Andrew Goodwin - Music Video Theory

Andrew Goodwin is a prestigious director of music and has noted how music videos feature certain elements. He addresses these six steps (listed below) in his book 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory' to bring it it the audience's attention as well as assist the music video directors when creating a music video.

#1  Music Videos demonstrate genre characteristics

#2  There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images

#3  There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music

#4  The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artists and the artist may develop motifs which reoccur across their work

#5  There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens with in screens, mirrors, stages) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the  female body

#6   There are often inter-textual reference (to film, tv programmes, other  music videos) etc.



How will this impact our work / how will we incorporate this theory in our work??

#1  - Genre research will be vital for demonstrating the genre accurately.  This stage in development will be key for success, as portraying video for the fitting genre will ensure continuity throughout the whole video, digipak and website.

#2 - Despite being told that presenting the visuals word for word by Pete Frazer was cliche and over used, I think, what this point is trying to convey is that audio can also be used. For example we could potentially have a shot where the guitar is especially apparent with a riff etc. this would then simultaneously show the guitarist playing this piece. The key here is finding a track with prominent audio, which we can present in footage.

#3 - This point is dependant on the genre of the music. This point is trying to reflect that a softer slower tempo song would require less rapid cuts and perhaps soft fading between transitions to emulate the genre and tone of the song. Where as a rock genre would require faster paced cutting, harsher lighting and probably more extreme close ups of instruments etc. 

#4 - This point is essentially the artists brand. Creating a  logo and featuring it on products so that it becomes synonymous with the artist will be a key part of advertising. Ensuring that it features on merchandise, digipak, website etc will make people become much more aware of it. Feature images and footage of the artists will make audience have a connection with them. One Direction uses this technique in the majority of their work. Close ups of faces, and individual band merch - this is much more geared towards the pop industry I feel as this is an effective way to increase profit and sales as fans will buy more. We can apply this by featuring the artists in all of our products.

#5 -  The emphasis of looking is heavily used in music videos. This point is trying to convey that you must look closely to find this aspects and when you do you appreciate the work gone into the scene. For example using, like stated, screens featuring on screens. We could potentially use this point in a creative way by using reflections to make a creative shots.

#6 - Intertextuality is great way to include other aspects of life into music videos.  Depending on the genre it can allow the target audience to feel more involved with the music. For example fashion is an important aspect of many genres so featuring artist going into shops or wearing shoes that appeals to the target audience is a technique that many music videos take advantage of. Primary research will be vital to this stage as it will allow us to collect information on the likes and dislikes of the target audience and use this in the video.

Meet Our Group

Get group pictures

Random Album Cover Exercise

From Pete Fraser's powerpoint presentation there is a skills development slide which suggest an activity where by you produce a 'random' album cover. This will aid photoshop skills and help those unfamiliar with photoshops use of layers. Here is the slide below;

So here it goes ...

Band Name: Konata Mannings      (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konata_Mannings)

Album Title: Find yourself up there  (http://quotationspage.com/random.php3)

Album Cover : (https://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/)

(https://www.flickr.com/photos/27416425@N02/14926631584) - 3rd picture

Product:

Skills Development - Editing

Today we worked on our editing skills using a band rehearsal. We edited pre-existing footage of a college band, and using tips from Pete Fraser and Jake Wynne we individually created a video for the band. Here is my own outcome below.





A2 Music Video - Editing Skills from Anouska on Vimeo.


(insert screen grabs of tools used)

By doing this skills development this allowed us to become familiar with the tools and processes used when editing footage. Skills that we did which we will inevitably put into use when making our own group works were;

• syncing up the beeps at the beginning of all the clips
• cutting on the beat of the music - gives more fluidity to the video
• Have multiple tracks to make use of changing the transparency
• Using a variation of shots - variations of close ups and aerials           

Jake Wynne Shooting / Filming / Editing TIPS!

Pre-Shoot

• Use a music video time line! - by doing this you are able to breakdown your into verses, chorus, instrumental parts, key phrases and sounds.COLOURS to help differentiate the parts de-constructing the track - start to annotate the timeline explaining. Also tell you which part of the song is accompanied by what type of visuals.

• Do test shots! - doing test shots will confirm or disprove your thoughts on a particular type of shot. You wont know unless you try it. Once a shot has been ruled out or in, this enables you to move quicker and more efficiently in the planing stages.

During Shoot

• Cameras shout turning! - before music starts get camera operators to shout 'turning' when they hit record. This makes sure all of your cameras are on and no one 'forgets' to record. 

• Play your music! - Play your music during filming so that band members and singers are all in time with each other. 

• BEEPS at start of music! - add three or four individual beeps to the beginning of your track which is played while filming. Makes it easier to sync up music during editing stages.

Post Shoot / Editing

• Match up beeps - this is a music quicker way of syncing all of your footage together as all cameras had been recording prior to music and beeps starting. 

• Use multiple editing lines - this makes the editing process much quicker and easy as all the footage you could want is there. This means that you can change sections you want to change without finding the specific section all-over again. Because your footage is also synced, this means you don't have to use additional time precisely syncing as its already done (poss screenshot)

• Fading tracks - another benefit of syncing up tracks on multiple editing lines is that you can alternate between different cameras by cutting sections and changing the opacity/transparency of a track. (possible screenshot)

Music Video Event

Yesterday (19th August) we had a music video workshop with the chief examiner Pete Fraser and Jake Wynne a music video editor. Through the course of the day we worked on project revolving around the Robbie Williams music video, Let Me Entertain you. Both Pete and Jake during the day were giving us tips and sharing their own knowledge and experience about how to achieve the best grades as possible. Throughout the day we worked with may processes associated with the production of a music video, from lighting, camera set up, number of shots to take (and variation of angle and stationary), costume, performance and editing.

In the morning before we went into production of the video, Pete and Jake introduced themselves to the class before presenting a powerpoint with useful tips for the organisation of our blog, video and our coursework over all.. Here they are below;








The main things which I found useful and will put into practice are;

• Planning + being organised - Ill admit that this isn't one of my best traits but I intend to improve with the tips given in this power point. For example shooting early and story boarding more effectively.
• Experimenting with software - Test running things like final cut and after-effects to gain some knowledge and how particular things operate
• Experimenting with shots - This will allow us to see what works and doesn't
• Getting feedback - Don't just rely on class comments, post draft of video to forums etc. to get additional comments    
• Look at the Pros - Look at professional material out there already to get inspiration videos, digipacks + websites
• Show how your products evolve - Using screen grabs will clearly show our thought process(es)

Afterwards we then began setting up for our video shoot. Bring on the black and white war paint! We began setting up props such as the drum kit and microphone, then followed the placement of the guitarist and backing singers. Its important to have a sense of balance in a studio themed environment. Next was the lighting. This consisted of two spotlights positioned inwards slightly to the left and right of the drummer and an additional handheld spot light on 'Robbie'. This allowed for the light to catch the whole of the band but also highlight and shadow particular things for a creative effect ie. light on drum kit reflected.

Pete - L Jake- R

The set up of cameras consisted of a 'main' camera capturing the whole of the band on a track enabling movement left to right. Another on a tripod to the left of the band which could be moved and was capable of zooming to pick up close up shots. A fig rig which was capable of getting close ups and extreme close ups of individual members and instruments. Finally we had a mock moveable camera which consisted of one person sitting on a roll able chair and another pushing. 

Once the set was complete we began shooting. During the filming process we had done about seven complete full takes. Throughout Pete an Jake were constantly giving us ideas about how we could potentially adjust things in our own videos to make them look more professional. (these will be featured in a upcoming post)

Admittedly, I was kinda nervous before hand, but afterwards, despite being out of breath, I really enjoyed it. It's surprising what a bit of face paint and a microphone can do to a person. 

After shooting multiple takes, we then performed a group take with the whole of the class which was then later pieced together. And here's the final product of our group shoot!

After shooting the Robbie Williams video we changed to editing. This was one of my first times editing a video and I actually enjoyed it. We were given a selection of music tracks to choose from. Once we had chosen we were able to choose from a variety of clips enabled us to be creative and get to grips with final cut.

(insert bear costume video - comp 14)
(screen shots from editing)

Because the clips provided included blank sections this enabled us to improve our cutting techniques and using the razor tool. This divides up a section of film wherever desired. We also improved our editing and cutting to the beat of a music track. I think this exercise made us think about editing and how it relates to the music, but also whether the editor has cut intentionally on the beat to make things flow or off beat to confuse the audience.