Shooting Schedule

We will be looking to start filming within the next week or so, and attempt to get the filming finished within a few full days in different locations. During this time, as well as when we are editing the music video, we will be updating our blogs with the progress of filming and detailed reports of what we have done after each day. As our main location is going to be Central London, we may have to spend a day or two making sure we have all the shots we need there as well as perhaps spending another day filming in our other locations. 

Luckily, Central London has one of the best transport systems in Europe which means it will be easy to transport from place to place as relative ease and cost. The time of day in which we will film will be varied, and by spending the majority of a day filming, combined with the time of year we are privileged to film in means we can film easily during differing times of the day. There will be a more specific schedule and reports from days of filming when we have commenced filming. 

As a lot of the landmarks we would be looking to film are clustered within a few locations, for example Trafalgar Square and The houses of Parliamnet are very close, this will save us time in order to go and film perhaps further afield. It wouldn't be that worthwhile to implement a specific shooting schedule at this moment in time but once we are finally organised it will be much easier to plan and implement the filming we need to create our music video. 

Locations List

Locations List:

Green Park

Oxford Street

Regent Street
Tower Bridge    
 Trafalgar Square
Big Ben & Houses of Parliament  
London Eye

People Involved

List of people involved:

•        Nathan Russell - Editor
•        Will Pilkington - Filming and Research/Editor
•         Jon Chace - Director and Ideas
•        Charlie Gilbert - Locations/Editor
•        Jason Fox (Media technician for any additional support needed)

Props and Resources list

List of Props: (This list is not exhaustive; we may add or take away)

•        Car – for opening scene when  the main female actor is run over
•       Costumes (See list of people involved for detailed description)
•        Cigarettes- to correspond with the line “All alone, smoking his last cigarette”
•        Alcohol – when the male actor is depressed after the death of his girlfriend
•        Envelopes – to come through the door rapidly to correspond with the line “You never sent me no letters”
•          House  - to facilitate letters coming through letter box
•        Clock for time-lapse – to simulate the loneliness of the main character being alone 

DigiPak advert analysis

Digi Pak Research

List of Equipment

Equipment List: (This list is not exhaustive; we may add or take away)

• Camera
• Tripod
• Steady cam
• Dolly
• Speakers/Music
• Actors
• Mac (Editing Software)
• Location (see location list)
• Copies of story boards and scripts for individual referral

Conventions of Music Videos

In music videos, there are many conventions that are followed such as camera shots used and editing techniques. Firstly music videos tend to feature a lot of close up shots of the singer or band; this helps create a connection with the audience and to reflect the emotions of the song through facial expressions and the lip singing.

(You Found Me - The Fray)



But there are also medium shots and long shots used depending on the video, this shows the surroundings of the singer/band and lets you reflect in what is going on. Generally the camera tracks the artist/band as they perform, there also seems to be a lot of crane shots and tilts, this again breaks up the usual routine of a bland medium shot. The editing process is also a fairly standard convention, which sees jump cuts as the main technique used, as there are many shots used and many scenes to keep the audience interested in the video.  Fades are also used often as well either to end the video or to introduce a new scene.  The lighting used, depending on the video is generally artificial especially when it’s in a studio setting but if they want to create a dark setting then they may use natural light.

(You Found Me - The Fray)



Some generic conventions for the genre we are working in which is Rock/Indie include the scene and lighting to be black and white or set in a dark location, or even night. They also seem to be more performance based with the artist/band shown in the video throughout, and close ups and long establishing shots seem to be used often as well. The pace of the videos is generally fast, this works well with the instruments, which are usually shown such as drums and guitars.

(Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club)

Music Industry

What are music videos?

Music videos tend to be short films bring together a song and imagery, which are created to be used for promotional reasons as well as gaining and maintaining an audience. Music videos are most commonly used as a marketing device for a record label or an individual artist. Music videos became most popular during the 1980’s when MTV based their format around music videos. Before this they were commonly known as “Illustrated song” or “Promotional clip”.

Music videos are generally made by playing the song to the artist or actors whilst on set and having them mime or act to it. This can be done in a variety of different ways, including animation, green screen or on location. The video usually represents what is happening in the song, for example, love songs tend to follow couples breaking up and then getting back together again...
...and songs relating to events such as robbery or murder show the artist in prison with flash backs to them committing the crime...


Although many music videos do not have anything to do with the song, following random themes that mean nothing.

Music videos can be found in a number of different places, on the internet on websites such as http://www.youtube.com/ and http://www.virginmedia.com/music/video/music-video?paid=vm_music_videos  where you can find almost any video by any group in any genre as long as they have published it. You can also find music videos on the television on channels such as “MTV” and “4 Music”. These often have special shows within them highlighting and artists success through showing all of their music videos in a day or counting down the UK top 40 chart whilst showing you the videos to the songs.

Intertextuality

Intertextuality is very important when considering making a music video. Our video would need to show a style that has been proved to work within other media texts. Although we do not pick a specific theme to go with in our music video it will always be clear what we are trying to show. Although not our only theme love is a main idea within the play much like Romeo and Juliet set in today's world. 

Taking the idea of using Romeo and Juliet we want to make sure that everything our actors do is believable making this music video seem as if it is a real love story.

Looking at intertextuality in music videos The Hoosiers – “Goodbye Mr A” many references to things that do not even relate to their music video are included, for example using the 118 catchphrase but adapting it to “Hoosier gonna call”, which relates to the theme of super heroes that is present throughout the video.



Another example of intertextuality in a music video is that of Evil Kenevil in Kanye West's Touch The Sky. This video is based around the story of Evil Kenevils famous canyon jump that he failed, gaining serious injuries. The video seems to mimic this, making it look as if the crash was on purpose. The video is set out exactly as the coverage of the day when the real event happened was.





Continuing the idea of intertextuality within music videos, The Universal by Blur is a very good example of this because it also pays homage to A Clockwork Orange. The song is based in the milk bar, which is a predominant setting within the film, as well as this there are many other give aways that this is paying homage to A Clockwork Orange becasue of the eye make up that is worn by the lead singer, just as it is by the main charcter of the film, and the colours of clothing that is worn by extra's in the background.

Categories of Music Videos

Performance

Performance Music Videos are music videos that feature the artist, group or band performing the song through most if not all of the video. This is probably the easiest video to create from the three categories because it is simply filming a band performing especially on a tight budget providing that you are able to find suitable location for filming. A good example of this is would be “I Predict A Riot” by The Kaiser Chiefs.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hamKl-su8PE&ob=av3e

Narrative 

Narrative Music Videos are music videos that contain mainly footage that to tells a story through the film. This usually involves actors to make the video as real as possible. Sometimes the video can be linked to the lyrical content of the song, but this doesn’t always happen, as it is possible to have a music video that has nothing to do with the song! This type of music video tends to be popular for a song that is featured within a film, or is being used as the films theme tune, often incorporating clips from the film into the video.  A good example of this would be “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koJlIGDImiU&ob=av2n

Concept 

Concept Music Videos are music videos that are based around a single concept or idea. These types of music videos are not often made, and if they are, include a very unusual edit or effect, even an unusual concept. It’s not often you get a purely conceptual music video as the audience for music videos  demand the video to be accessible  and easy to view. A good example of this is “Here It Goes Again” by Ok Go. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA