The Pharcyde - Drop

The Pharcyde were a bunch one of the first and most original alternative hip-hop artists. This video was produced by Spike Jonze and the video is the group performing the song backwards and the beat and the visuals merge to making a surrealistic and unique feel. This method is used and created in many alternative hip hop videos now, however all based on technology. This song is one of my favourites due to it being something that the hip-hop world had not been opened to until The Pharcyde. The group actually performed the entire song backwards in which they needed to be trained by language experts. Enjoy 'Drop'.

Contingency Plan‏

Cast Dropping Out/Unreliable Cast:
If actors do not show up on set, we will use members of the crew (the group) to replace the characters that have not shown up. This means majority of the primary characters are replaceable. Also, we have willing actors ready to step forward to play the role of the woodland tea party creatures.

Crew Not Showing Up/Being Late
Because we are the crew, one member's role may alternate on the day if one member of the crew is unable to or simply doesn't show up.

Location Becoming Unavailable: Too Noisy/Too Crowded/Closed-Off
Because our location choices are quite generic and can be shot at various different locations, for instance, if we are unable to film at Clapham Junction Tube Station, we can film at another tube station or film at Clapham at a less busier time.

Camera Battery Running Out
We will always carry at least one spare and full battery pack on our person, so if one battery does finish, we always have one in reserve.

Lip Sync

Equipment List

Equipment List

Location Recce

Location Recce 1

Location Recce 2

Location Recce 3

Location Recce 4

Props List

Props List Template

Calendar

By having a calendar we all can access, it allows us all to plan when and where we will be filming, which helps us manage our time and prevents misunderstanding within the groups on dates and times.

Questionnaire Analysis

Questionnaire Analysis

Childish Gambino - 3005

This is the actual 3005 video that was release this week. It is entirely a performance music video, which is something Gambino fans will be often expectant of as he makes many videos in which he performs. This alters from the lyric video completely, as there is actually no correlation to the lyrics in this video.

Childish Gambino - 3005 (Lyric Video)

Before Childish Gambino's release of 'Because The Internet', and drop of 3005. he made a lyric video. The video featured Abella Anderson who was a former porn star, the whole hype around this video was based on 'how far Gambino would get' over  a messenger. Many people were intrigued to how this would end as this is not a usual lyric video (comparing it to Katy Perry's Roar lyric video), which was a way of Gambino creating publicity about his song but also his expected album. Gambino also did loads of interviews about writing the actual song, in one he said:

"Everybody's like, 'It's a love song,'" Gambino said. "It's kind of an existential thing. I'm just really scared of being alone. When I was little, there was a big dog down the street. I was really scared of it. But when I was with my sister, when I knew I had to protect her, I wasn't afraid of the dog as much because somebody was there. I had a purpose...I kind of feel lost. I kind of lost that, I feel."

As a pop star loads of fans will want to know more about Gambino's inspiration etc and by telling these stories it allows him to become more 'human' as people can relate, which is considered in Goodwin's Star Theory

Crew Requirements

Crew Requirements

Costume List

Costume List

Costume list

Costume List

Costume List

❄ The M&S Christmas TV Advert 2013 ❄

The current M&S Christmas advert is based on various stories, including Alice in Wonderland which is helpful for us because we can take inspiration from the filming (of her falling), setting, props, costume etc.

Filming Dexter

We organised to film the part of Dexter and the passing of the tab on Friday 13th December, by arranging dates in advance it allows us all to make sure we will be available and again helps us to manage our time.

Storyboard

This is our storyboard, as evident we created it with forty frames, which allows us to have a basis and foundation to work upon on what kind of shots we want and in what order. This means that when we go to filming we are not going into it with a blank canvas, we know roughly what we need to film which helps our time management.

Treatment

He's Coming Home Treatment

Vox Pops

We filmed this Vox Pop in order to gather information about what kind of music was popular amongst people of a certain age. We could gather from this that hip-hop and rap which fits slightly with out genre as alternative hip hop often has qualities taken from typical hip hop music. It also showed us that music videos are often a major part in promotion of an artist. Along with platforms of people viewing music videos.

Production Schedule

Production Schedule - Alice in Wonderland

Animatic A in Wonderland

Underwater Mystic

We are looking to film part of our video underwater. We have been discussing and reviewing various ways to film this, this has played a big part in our inspiration, giving us many ideas!

9 Key Frames

9 Key Frames.docx

Genre Shopping List

Survey

Click here to take survey

Mood Board

Copy of Concept Mood Board

Audience Profile

Audience Profile

Lyric Analysis

lyric analysis

Songs For Music Video

Possible Songs for music video:

1) 'He's coming home' 
Artist(s): Katya Des Etages and Taurean Roye
Genre: Alternative hip-hop

2) 'Do you mind (Miguel Remix) 
Artist(s): Cashmere Cat
Genre: Jersey House

3) 'She was fly'
Artist(s): Mar and Full Crate
Genre: Neo-Soul

After some discussion we decided to agree on the song 'He's coming home' because we had an understanding of this genre, it was also one that would give us a wide roam on creative and artistic freedom visually. Which is something we felt strongly about as we had already had ideas on a concept, and this genre would allow us continue with this idea. The song also has a nice balance of instrumentals, vocal rifts and lyrics which means that we don't have to base our video heavily on performance and can instead have aspects of all styles. 

Roland Barthes

Barthes suggested that narrative works with five different codes which activate the reader to make sense of it:

ENIGMA- A narrative device that teases the audience by presented a puzzle or riddle to be solved

ACTION- Narrative device in which a resolution is produced through action 

SYMBOLIC- Connotation

SEMIC- Denotation 

CULTURAL- A narrative device which the audience can recognise as being part of a culture

Claude Levi Strauss

Claude Levi Strauss examined how stories and myths unconsciously reflect the values and beliefs of a culture. These are usually expressed in the form of binary opposition. A binary opposition is two things that are completely dissimilar. This could be a opposition between:

-Black vs White (race)

-Old vs Young 

-Wealth vs Poor

Vladimir Propp

Propp came up with the theory that in every narrative there is always certain people that can play certain roles, which consist of:

-The Hero: the hero usually leads the narrative and is usually on a quest or trying to solve something. 

The Villain: The villain is usually the character that tries to stop the hero from completing whatever quest they are on

The Princess: This is usually the 'prize' for the hero, normally what the hero is trying to conquer to get to.

The Princesses Father: This is an authoritative figure that offers the reward to the hero.

The Helper: Also known as the sidekick and helps the hero on his way

The Donor: this gives the hero something or a clue that helps them to complete their quest.

The False Hero: usually a rival of the hero, a competition that is not actually helpful, yet wants to be destructive. 

Tzvetan Todorov

Todorov proposed that all narratives whether that be plays, books, music video etc contains these five fundamental stages:

1) Firstly a state of equilibrium meaning everything is okay

2) There is then a disruption of order by an event

3) Then a recognition that there has been a disruption.

4) An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.

5) A return or restoration of a new equilibrium which is not necessarily the same as the start but peace is restored in some way.

Anderew Goodwin Theory

Andrew Goodwin Theory

Student Video Analysis

I really enjoyed the symbolism of the bubble gum as some sort of drug along with using the props (tea cup and kettle) instead of the alcoholic bottles etc. By using this we get a more interesting narrative rather than something that could be classed as cliche going along the route of drugs in more a glamorized way. I also like the use of reversing the video which gives it an artistic, creative feel which goes with the 'indie/alternative' music choice. at 0:51 I like the colour change which shows a change in their relationship, also the deliberate off centred camera which works well. Lighting could have been better at times and the repetition of clips shows there wasn't enough footage which is crucial because in this case it spoils the ending as it looks like they have put something just to fill he space of the song.


This is an extremely successful example which I think was filmed and edited very well. I really like the overlapping and the monochrome filter. The fast cutting and overlapping also fits with the genre of music, which is 'dubstep' and works well with the timing of the song. I also like the camera being faced towards their faces whilst walking which gives a slightly voyeuristic feel to the song. Again the use of reversing the footage is again even more effective.

Richard Dyer Star Theory Essay

A pop stars social status within today’s society means they are seen as figure heads by ‘fans’ and this means they have a great influence on their audience, often resulting in them replicating their fashion style, hairstyles, tattoo’s, make-up etc. According to Richard Dyer’s ‘Star Theory’ there should be a distinguishable difference between a ‘pop performance’ someone who creates music however are not always classed with the famous ‘star’ title and someone who is a commodity constructed by management team with a particular persona, however are not actually ‘real’ people. Dyer believes that the title of a pop performer and a pop star have becomes synonymous and interchangeable. He also states the process; Stars as construction, industry and audience, ideology and culture, character and personality and fandom.
 

  As stated by Dyer in Stars, pop stars are constructed, artificial, even if they are represented as being ‘real people’ experiencing real emotions etc. We can see this construction process happen with many stars however an extremely relevant example would be Miley Cyrus. She started as a young country singer on a Disney channel and now has been completely changed. She now has a new image which is meant to be a wild new young Miley. She cut her hair and style, changed her music and who she is working with for example associating with trap rapper Juicy J and doing semi-nude shoots with Terry Richardson. Not forgetting her extremely raunchy performance with Robin Thicke at the VMA’s in which she was extremely sexual on stage. However this opened her up to a wider audience for either good or bad reasons, whatever anybody thought of her she was being talked about everywhere! Miley’s fans and people that are not even normal fans of Miley have taken on aspects of her image, many girls have copied her hair style and fashion sense.
 

                Another pop star that has an impact on their audience in many ways is Kanye West. When Kanye West performed in a leather skirt and Givenchy there was a sudden change in many peoples fashion style. Givenchy prints and skirt front trousers had suddenly found their way into many fans wardrobes. His fandom, which is a subculture of people that have a common interest in the same topic, in this case Mr West have a fascination with going to extremes of believing Kanye is a God, which was heavily influenced by his Yeezus album in which he is on a crucifix. In an interview he even says himself ‘I am God’ and many of his fans believe this themselves. He also uses ‘illuminati symbols’ in videos which causes controversy but many of his fans believe in this ‘satanic lifestyle’ and even changed their opinions on religious figures due to his opinions.

 

Overall pop stars have a heavy influence on their fans due to construction of the stars and how they are presented to their audience in a way that they are seen as a ‘real person’ in order to allow their audience to have an emotional response therefore creating a solid fan base. 

Michel Gondry Case Study

Michel Gondry

Codes and Conventions- Raider Klan vs The Underachievers

Music Video History Timeline

Holiday Enid and Kenya Media Project

Music Video Structures

Video Structure

INFOGRAPHIC

   Music video stats | Create infographics

Promotion, Synergy, Extension of Outlets/Income

Music Videos Knowledge

Kojey Radical - Gun Fight with a Bottle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA7MqvI1j7w

I am extremely proud of my friend Kojey who is a spoken word poet and music artist. This is his music video to his newest work named Gun Fight with a Bottle. I loved the unusual camera work of this video along with the use of text half way through without any visuals, I thought this had an impact on the lyrics of the songs. I also adore how Kojey has challenged typical conventions of a music video, by cutting to a spoken word poem with more a theatrical and dramatic ending. I thought his work was extremely inspiring and creative.
Enjoy

Introduction

Welcome to my A2 Media Blog.

I am really excited to start this year which is mainly due to how much I enjoyed last year. I hope to gain more knowledge in practical work, along with being more creative with camera work and editing. I also have an interest in music video production which will be explored this year.