Marina & the Diamonds

A band that uses predominantly performance music videos is Marina & the Diamonds. I am hoping that we are able to achieve similar shots that they have within their music videos, especially the close up shots and how they have made it so that some of their shots go with the beat of the song.

BFI Visit

On the 25th of November my media class and I travelled to the British Film Institute to listen to a music video conference. Throughout the conference we learnt how music videos have changed over the years and how we are able to achieve the highest marks possible in our own music video. However, they focused largely on performance music videos that would not have been helpful for Esther and I but since our idea had changed and we are focusing a lot on performance, I can notice how the conference was at least a small bit beneficial to us. 

Group Update

Due to problems with contrasting ideas in our group, we have decided to split into two. Esther and I have decided to work together on creating a new music video, combining both of our ideas. We have already started thinking of some ideas for our coursework and will begin filming as soon as we choose our actors and are certain of what we want our final outcome to be like. 

Wednesdays Filming Cancellation

As a group we had planned to go and carry on our filming on Wednesday (09/11) but due to the weather being particularly bad we were not able to go. For the majority of our shots set outside we need it to be sunny and so it has been challenging to find the time when it's not raining and we are all free to go out and film.

We rescheduled to the following Wednesday (16/11) but even then, we don't know if we will be able to go out and film. We can only film on Wednesdays as that is the only time when we are all free, but it's likely something may come up mean we can't go and film then which is why we are having difficulty with carrying on with our music video. It may mean we have to rush to get it done (hopefully that won't be the case). We will probably get a lot of our filming done over the Christmas break so that when we come back to school we can focus on editing it together before the deadline.

Visual Effects in Music Videos

When editing our final product, visual effects will play an important role into how people view our music video. If our music video looks simple, it will not stand out as much as ones which do have visual effects.

- Different camera angles;
- Colours;
- Effects;
- Cut to the beat of the music.

After discussing it as a group, we have decided that we would be interested in including a multiple exposure piece in our video. It would involve a 'normal' shots, merged with manic shots of our actor Marcus Buck. We feel that it would show the different emotions of our character and the comparison between how he is viewed by other people ('normal' shots) and the feelings he has to hide (manic shots).

Filming Schedule

Filming Schedule by Lucy on Scribd

Location Visits

Esther and I decided it would be best to visit a few locations and take some pictures of where we could possibly film, which will help us when we storyboard our ideas. Some of our shots will be set outside and so finding a place where can film is important. However, as the majority of our shots will probably be set inside, we also need to find places which will allow us to film e.g. a gallery. 

Hilly Fields: 

Alexandra Palace: 

Actors

Yesterday Esther and I went with our actor Marcus Buck to visit locations where we could film. As I am also starring in the music video, we decided to take a few pictures together to see if we would work well together on camera when filming. This is required as we need it to look relatively real to achieve the idea we have come up with. 

Mac 1 Lip Sync

Today we attempted to lip sync to our chosen song 'Snap Out Of It' by Arctic Monkeys. It helped us with our editing skills and has shown us how precise we have to be when lining up shots with the song lyrics. We have decided to use a small bit of lip syncing in our actual music video, but we are still sticking with the majority of it being narrative. 

Permission Request

Here is a screenshot of the email I have sent to the producer of the Arctic Monkeys album our chosen song is from. Alongside sending it to Ross Orton, I have also sent it to the official address for the band. I had first sent it to the bands email address as I could not find any other one, but since finding a website for one of the producers which had their contact information, I thought it would be best if I sent it to him as well as it may be more direct.

Mac 1 Vlog

Song Choice

We chose the song 'Snap Out Of It' by the Arctic Monkeys as we felt that the lyrics worked really well with our narrative. We also feel that the beat is something we would be able to work with, especially when transitioning each shot. I haven't watched the video for this song but I feel that gives us more of a chance to go with our own ideas in our music video, rather than trying to replicate parts of the official one. 

Mood Board

Nothing But Thieves: Honey Whiskey

[Verse 1: Conor Mason]

This party's pretty boring

I don't think it's for me

Lucy's already crashed out

She's on the spare settee

[Bridge]

This air is getting so thin

Go down, go down, go down

The honey whiskey's kickin'

Go down, go down, go down

[Chorus]

I think I better go, before I try something


I might regret, I might regret

I think I better go, before I try something

I might regret, I might regret

[Verse 2]

Black hearted angels sunk me


With kisses on my mouth

There's poison in this water
 

The words are falling out

[Bridge]

This air is getting so thin

Go down, go down, go down

The honey whiskey's kickin'

Go down, go down

[Chorus]

I think I better go, before I try something

I might regret, I might regret

I think I better go, before I try something

I might regret, I might regret

I think I better go, before I try something

I might regret, I might regret

I think I better go, before I try something

I might regret, I might regret

[Outro]

But if you wanna free your body tonight


It's our secret, it's our secret

I think I better go, before I try something

I might regret, I might regret

Arctic Monkeys: Snap Out Of It 

[Verse 1]

What's been happening in your world?


What have you been up to?


I heard that you fell in love, or near enough


I gotta tell you the truth (yeah)

[Chorus]

I wanna grab both your shoulders and shake baby


Snap out of it (snap out of it)

I get the feeling I left it too late but baby


Snap out of it (snap out of it)

If that watch don't continue to swing


Or the fat lady fancies having a sing
I'll be here


Waiting ever so patiently for you to


Snap
 Out 
Of 
It

Forever isn't for everyone


Is forever for you?


It sounds like settling down


Or giving up


But it dont sound much like you girl

[Chorus]

I wanna grab both your shoulders and shake baby

Snap out of it (Snap out of it)

I get the feeling I left it too late, but baby

Snap out of it (Snap out of it)

If that watch don't continue to swing or the fat lady fancies having a sing

I'll be here waiting ever so patiently for you to

Snap out of it

[Bridge]

Under a spell you're hypnotized (ooh)


Darling how could you be so blind (snap out of it)

Under a spell you're hypnotized (ooh)

Darling how could you be so blind

[Chorus]

I wanna grab both your shoulders and shake baby

Snap out of it (Snap out of it)

I get the feeling I left it too late, but baby

Snap out of it (Snap out of it)

If that watch don't continue to swing or the fat lady fancies having a sing

I'll be here waiting ever so patiently for you to

Snap out of it

**

Both songs could have been good options for us, especially as they both have good beats to them, but we decided that it would be more suitable to go with 'Snap Out Of It' as it is as if they are telling themselves to snap out of the thoughts they are having. This goes well with our chosen storyline which involves a boy having hidden possessive thoughts about a girl who he is obsessed with but her does not want to have these thoughts. 

Goodwin firstly noticed that music videos have either a complete similarity or a direct contrast to the lyrics of the song. He also identifies that the visuals within a music video may have been edited in time to the lyrics or the pace that the song has. 

This theory goes well with our song as we have planned to change a lot of our shots to the beat of the music, especially at the beginning of our music video. 

If I Were A Boy - Beyonce

One of our main ideas for our music video is the switch of gender stereotypes. In our pitch we had explained how we were going to have the girl stalking and being obsessed with the boy. However, to deter from stereotypes, we were advised to switch the roles, having the boy be obsessed with the girl instead. This is shown in Beyonce's 'If I Were A Boy' as she has a profession and does things which may normally be associated with a man. 

Mac 1 Pitch

Indie Music Video Conventions

Music videos in the indie genre often have very natural and simple settings in their music videos e.g. in a forest or an empty room. Although indie bands often perform their song within the music video, narratives also get included which allows the music video to have meaning, while also showing the band who created the song.

Also, as indie artists often aren't signed up to any major record labels, the budget for the music videos may be less than that of a popular artist, such as Taylor Swift, who is signed up to five major record labels.

Camera shots, which are often either close up or mid-shots, are very static and move to the beat of the music, whether it be slow or fast paced. It means that the audience can feel the emotions of the artist as it highlights their talent. Long and wide shots are used when showing the narrative to create establishing shots to set the scene.

Editing is an important part of a music video within the indie genre as it's what makes the video stand out and interest their audience. Most indie music videos have special effects and are added over the top (such as a black and white effect) to create a worn, classic look.

I particularly noticed these kind of conventions in the music video for Nothing But Thieves' - 'Graveyard Whistling':

The beginning of the music video sets the scene of where the band are performing, before switching over to the narrative where they show shots of the father and his son out having breakfast, before showing a low angled shot of the boy and his father in front of the block of flats. This creates the establishing shot for the narrative section of the music video. 

The camera shots of the performance move around a lot, especially when the beat of the song is fast paced. This can be applied to the editing of the video which reflects the beat of the music.  Also, the lighting in the video is rather dark creating a very doom-laden atmosphere, which makes you know that something isn't going to end well. 

Song List

In class we came up with a list of examples for performance and narrative music videos. As a group, we found that a lot of current music videos often have a mixture of both performance and narrative, which made it difficult to differentiate between the two, but here are our examples: 

Keeping Your Head Up - Birdy

 

I particularly liked the shots that were used in the music video for 'Keeping Your Head Up', especially with the kaleidoscope effect, but also with their choice of colour. The red and blue tones are a nice comparison to the rest of the music video which is quite dark. I also liked the fact that they begin with Birdy laying down, but also finish the music video in the same spot.