Editing photos

I want to add effects to my digipak photos to make them look better. I started watching tutorials on youtube on how to for example blur the backgroud of images, change the backround of images and also how to work with layers.

This image shows how i isolated the image of our actors face and blurred the background, this adds the effect to draw our attension to the actors face and makes it good to look at.

Digipak Research

 The Script's new album, 'Science and Faith'. The front cover consists of a close up of the lead singer with the other members of the band in the background. It looks as though the contrast has been played around with also a bit of saturation. The background as a whole is a scenery of some kind of beach.

On the top right is the band's name in large white writing so it stands out. The close up of danny shows his importance in the band suggesting that he does all the singing and has the most important role.

We can see inside thier is two shots of hands coming together. Which to me symbolises the the 'faith' part of the title as the hands holding eachother shows unity and togetherness.

Here is another digipak i have found. It is from Rihanna's album, 'Loud.' This is very attractive as it is very bright and has vibrant colours. The front cover again is a close up of the main artist. The name of both the artist and album are clearly visible on the front. Inside we can see is again really attractive and it is one picture that is taking up all three sides, which i think is a great idea. I think a long shot with a scenery in the background is a great idea and i want to use it in my digipak.

Lastly, i saw this katy perry digipak. It seems to be following the same trend as the two above. The cover is a close up of the artist and the inside has one whole picuture stretched over numerous sides. All three of these digipaks mainly focus on the face of the artist and capturing it in various shots i.e. medium and close up.

Audience Research

 This is a video showing our research we conducted in terms of audience research. We asked questions which would give us answers to help to us an idea as to what we should include in the video and what age group this music appeals to. This is a video showing our research we conducted in terms of audience research. We asked questions which would give us answers to help to us an idea as to what we should include in the video and what age group this music appeals to.

Our Pitch

Pitch

Inspirational Camera Shots and Techniques

While researching, i decided to look for really interesting and unique shots which i would like to employ into our own video. I went onto youtube and typed in music video camera shots and techniques and watched various videos. I came across effects and angles which are produced my the use of the camera. These are the zoom dolly effect and the dutch angle and various other shots.






Above is a video demonstrating the dolly zoom effect. This effect really caught my attension as it plays tricks on the eye and is visually captivating. This effect is performed by tracking backwards away from the object in focus and at the same time slowly zooming in creating this sort of vortex effect.




Secondly, above are some dutch angle shots. These are definately used in music videos and are used when there are rapid cuts and shots. It will be suitable in our music video as we will be having a whole wide range of shots and they will be quick and fast.


Thirdly, i came across shots which are shot through and object, e.g. a hollow tube, or a reflection shot at a mirror; all focusing at the main subject, in our case the artist.

This shot above, is a shot which i would use in our video. It shows a different angle, could possibly carry a narrative and shows the different ideas the photographer can come up with.

Again, this shot is very similiar to the shot above. This shot is purely used to vary the shots and show a change.

 This is a shot that made me think as to why use a spoon and not a mirror. Again this shows the creativness of the photographer and makes use of what is around him to produce such a shot.

This shot is from a rick ross music video. This long shot is shot from some kind of hollow tube. I really like this idea as it brings creatvness to the shot and also once more making use of what is provided or around you. When we are shooting at our locations for example the urban street at london southbank, we could possibly shoot through a metal gate or through a parked vehicle via reflection.

Possible Locations

My partner and i have been looking for suitable locations to shoot our video. As our track is in the indie genre, we did research on indie music videos and they revolve around the idea of shooting a music video with a live band and another location for example a music studio or and urban street etc.

The two main locations we are looking for are a professional looking recording studio/sound booth and an urban looking street. We will decorate the sound booth to our expectations. In the urban street, we plan on doing more medium and long shots as we have a nice looking background, and also when the artist is singing the lyrics, most of the time it will be at this location. We plan to shoot the musical interludes between verses at the studio while the artist plays the electric guitar.

Music Video Goodwin Analysis

For Goodwins analysis, i have chosen to analyse the music video for Superhuman by Chris Brown ft Keri Hilson. I have chosen this video because it illustrates genre characteristics, relationships between lyrics and visuals and it is a narrative video.



1. Music Video demonstrates genre characteristics:

Throughout this music video there are numerous elements shown presenting the R'n'B elements of the song. One part where the genre is shown is at 0:47 where keri hilson goes with he swing of the music draping the pole sort of like a pole dancer showing her sexiness and attractivness. Moreover, at 1:26 chris brown dances to the music in a break danc style, this again shows the genre as his moves and sharp and on point.

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals:

In this video there is a direct relationship between lyrics and visuals. One example of this is when Chris Brown says " Superhuman heartbeat."

The picture above is chris brown beating his heart with his fist when he sings "Superhuman Heartbeat" this shows a direct relationship between the lyrics and visuals.

3. There is relationship between music and visuals:

The song begins very gracefully with a piano, the shots are not the quick and th cuts are at moderate pace. But when the chorus comes in the shots get quicker, the music increases in texture and the cuts come more often. At 2:00 the chorus is playing, both chris brown and keri hilson are accompaying eachother and the texture is thick. At this moment the peak of the narrative is showing which is chris brown saving keri hilson from a fast moving car. The number of cuts increase and the editing becomes more rapid.

4. The demands of the record label will include the need of lots of close up’s of the artist and the artist might develop motifs which recur across their work.


The main focus and stars in this video are obviously Chris Brown and Keri Hilson. The wide range of close ups of these two develop emotions with the audience and also build up a connection between them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indie music video conventions

Our chosen track is in an indie genre, so it only makes sense to shoot our music video consisting of conventions linked to an indie genre music video. By doing some research i have come across the following points which which occur than once from numerous sources.

• Often has a narrative

• Sometimes artist doesn't feature in video

•  It is arty, symbolic and creative.

• Instruments are shown (guitars, drums, amps, ect.)

• Often have Black and white

• The main actor wears casual clothes

• Usually filmed at dark locations 

•  Use of some special effects.

Reading through the lyrics of our chosen song, love is the central theme so we instantly have a narrative. Secondly, an example of where the artist does not feature in the video is in the ed sheeran video of lego house, although he does feature for the last 10 seconds or so. In indie music videos, there is a live band playing in the background of the main singer. This is followed by extreme/medium/close shots of them playing the instruments. The character we ae trying to replicate for our video is Danny O'donoghue from the script. He in most music videos is dressed exactly how the conventions say, in casual clothes. Lastly, some videos use special effects like slow motion and colour correction to the video. Taking all these points into account, we will definately try some if not all, these conventions and employ them into our video.

Evolution of a pop star through their videos

Onika Tanya Maraj, known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer, voice actress and television personality. Nicki Minaj has worked in the RnB and Rap. The two images on the top row to the right are two images before the became mainstream.

The two images above are in relation the the previous two that i mentioned from the time when she was not signed to a major record label. These are from the freestyles she used to do before the mainstream.

When recording music videos, there are ways in which they try to sell the star. The main way they sell nicki minaj is through dismemberment of female body parts.

In terms of hairstyle, costumes and props, nicki minaj wears a different colour wig in almost all of her songs in different shapes and sizes. Here are a few examples .















Overall, suming up the main points, i think nicki minaj has developed through her appearence. Evidence of this is from her early pictures from before she was signed and to pictures until present. We can clearly see that she is more extravagantly dressed, and to put the idea of her being less covered and more revealing enhances her main way to sell herself to the audience.

Ian Brown - Longsite lyrics

Here's your gift wrapped easter egg
You're scented like a rose
Got so many dreams
I think my head might explode

Let the stars shine on
Until the break of dawn
Let the stars shine on
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/i/ian_brown/longsight_m13.html ]
Seen so many happy faces
Waving back at me
Been so many places
Even rich don't ever get to see
Got ex-friends in a frenzy
Green with envy jealous eyes
With far to many demons now
Too ever exorcise

Let the stars shine on
Until the break of dawn
Let the stars shine on
And let her move, move like a queen
Of Longsight M13

You and I
Now we are together
Love will fly
Love will fly
We will live forever
You don't have to justify

Let the stars shine on
Until the break of dawn
Let the stars shine on
And let her move, move like a queen
Of Longsight M13

Music Video Style - Technical codes, Camerawork and Editing

Music video's can be more memorable than the song.

Technical codes:

When analyzing pop videos it is important to consider the technical codes which are used to construct both the video itself and the representations inherit within it.

laura mulvey - male gaze

post femininism

realism

dismemberment of women body parts

dont cross the fourth barrier

Camera work:

How camera is used and how images are sequenced will have significant impact of the meaning

Camera movement angle and shot distance.

Circulating band members on stage.

Close ups predominates, emphasizes half the commodity, not just the song single or album, but the artist.

  Carol Vernallis

a video must provide a flattering depiction of the singer lip synchin the song

music videos make us as aware of the edge of the frame

Editing:

common in music videos is fast cut montage. impossible to grasp on irst viewing thus ensuring multiple viewing.

there are videos which use slow pace and gentler transitions to establish mood.

saturted or disstressed colours

iconography - of an artist, a music genre, and the director.

Richard Dyer- " a star is an image constructed from a range of materials. (1979)

Goodwin - " Star texts intersec with video clips"


h/w evolution of a popstar through music videos.

Katy Perry - Research

Katy Perry