Production schedule for prelim

Date	Scene	Details	Location	Props/ actors
30/06/15	Dialogue in front of white wall	The actress will be stood in front of a white wall and will say “intimacy”	In front of a white wall	No props actress
30/06/15	Dialogue in front of white wall	The actor will be stood in front of a white wall and will say “honesty”	In front of a white wall	No props actor
30/06/15	Dialogue in front of white wall	The actress will be stood in front of a white wall and will say “commitment”	In front of a white wall	No props actress
30/06/15	Dialogue in front of white wall	The actor will be stood in front of a white wall and will say “you”	In front of a white wall	No props actor
30/06/15	Dialogue in front of white wall	The actress will be stood in front of a white wall and will say “me”	In front of a white wall	No props actress
2/07/15	Voiceover in the bedroom	When in the bedroom and actress is getting changed and both actor and actress saying “us”	Bedroom	Actress getting changed
2/07/15	Walking down the stairs	The actress walks down the stairs for breakfast as song starts	Stairs	Actress
2/07/15	Breakfast	The actress comes into the kitchen and the actor brings over breakfast	Breakfast table	Actress and actor
2/07/15	Breakfast table	Breakfast will be out on the table in the kitchen/dining area and the actor will bring breakfast to the table.	Breakfast table	Actress and actor   Breakfast plates Table
2/07/15	Outside	The actress will walk outside and put sunglasses on as she walks down the stairs.	Outside door/ stairs	Actress Sunglasses
2/07/15	In the car	The actress will get into the car with the other male actor.	In the car	Actress Other actor   Coffee cup Sunglasses Hat

Music videos

Purpose of a music video:

 

The purpose of a music video is to:
- Promote the artist and there new albums/ singles
- Sell the song
- To give the audience a better understanding of the song and the lyrics

- To entertain
 

Conventions of a music video:

Music videos are comprised of two types of image;

 

-Performance: shows the vocalist in one or more settings, such as a recording studio or stage performance. Performance settings; the singer could be in their bedroom, singing out the window or walking down the street.

 

-Conceptual clips – narrative and artistic. Artistic clips have no obvious narrative, no performance and does not relate to the lyrics.

In the majority of videos the two types are combined

Narrative: a narrative clip contains a visual story that is easy to follow. A pure narrative clip contains no lip-synchronised singing.

Performance videos:

Tracking shots are hard to achieve without a dolly

The singer must be miming in prefect sync with the music

You need a large number of shots & edits

Shots need to be varied, constantly moving, with multiple takes

 

Pop:

-Star promotion

-Choreography

-Obvious meaning

-References to pop culture

 

Hip hop:

-Aspiration

-Wealth

-Money

-Women

-Self-promotion

 

Boy band:

-Equal shot time,

-Choreography

 

Rock:

-Performance videos

-Musician

Promo pack analysis

 

 

In this PowerPoint above I have included the conventions of a tour poster and things that relate to a specific genre, for example a pop artist will use bright colours on their tour poster this is to clearly show the genre of music that artist does. I have then analysed a pop, indie, rock and hip hop tour poster and have clearly explained which ones adhere to the conventions of a tour poster and which ones subvert the conventions. I have also explained what is included in each tour poster and said if it relates to the genre, for example the typography used on Lady Gaga's tour poster adheres to the pop genre. 

History of Music Videos and Intertextuality

Media texts are a bit like a mosaic of references of other texts.

Intertextuality is the way in which one media text is referenced in another.
 

Intertextuality: audience pleasures
 

Can be used for humorous or serious effect

Privileges part of the audience - they’re in on the joke

Nostalgic – reminds audience of past

Intertextuality credits its audience with necessary experience to make sense of such references and offers the pleasure of recognition.

Intertextuality is also reflected in the fluidity of genre boundaries and in the blurring of genres.

 

Examples of Intertextuality:

 

Madonna – material girl (copy) = Marilyn Monroe – diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Madonna - Material girl

 

Marilyn Monroe - Diamonds are a girl's best friend

 

 

From looking at the two music videos above it is clear that Madonna has copied Marilyn Monroe's music video. Madonna has used Intertextuality  in her music video as she has copied what Marilyn Monroe wore in her music video as well as the video itself. This suggests that Madonna idolises her and looks up to her and therefore wanted to copy her video but put her own twist on it to show that she is a fan of Marilyn and that she wants to be as successful as her.

 

History:

1960s: The Beatles' first major music video 'A Hard Day's Night' was released in 1964 and was directed by Richard Lester. The music video was film like, it contained basic visuals compared to the music videos today, this music video influenced a large number of contemporary musicians, and countless pop and rock group music videos. The Beatles took the music video to new heights with their film like music video for 'Strawberry Fields Forever' in 1967. The video used techniques borrowed from underground and avant garde film, such as reversed film effects, dramatic lighting, unusual camera angles and rhythmic editing.
 

The Beatles first major motion picture – it’s been a hard day’s night (movie like/ 1960)

 

“Ready steady go” and “Top of the pops” were on TV from 1964 to 2008 and featured artists performing new songs and they also included:
 

- Chart based – singles not albums

- Live or mimed performances

A good example is The Rolling stones singing The Last Time on Top of the Pops in 1965:

1970s: The early self-produced music videos by , including the pioneering compilation "The Truth About Devolution" directed by Chuck Statler, were also important (if somewhat subversive) developments in the evolution of the genre and these Devo video cassette releases were arguably among the first true long-form video productions.
 

Queen’s Bohemian – Rhapsody (1975) = performance and narrative video

Bowie – Ashes to Ashes (1980)
 

The rise of MTV:

MTV was established in 1981 and grew rapidly in the Us. Potential of medium quickly realised by artists such as big budget videos, a good example of this is Michael Jackson – Thriller (1987).

 

 

MTV:

- MTV ignored black rap videos- niche audience

- Small budgets

- Threating content a problem/ gangster rap

Music channels and promo videos became new means to propel artist’s mega stardom

By 1984 MTV firmly established as key channel for music industry

Own Oscars for music videos (MTV)

VH1 was launched in the mid-80s

MTV Europe launched in 1987

MTV became more lifestyle orientated – TV shows

The present:

Convergence: availability of music video on YouTube, iTunes, mobiles etc.

Wider range of genre based music channels (cater for niche audiences)

 

Cutting to the beat

Key:

B - Beyoncé

M - Male

BT - Breakfast table

BO - Beyoncé outside

BC - Beyoncé in car with other male

Dialogue:

B: Intimacy/     MS - B

M: Honesty/     MS- M

B: Commitment/      MS - B

M: You/       MS- M

B: Me/     CU - B

B getting changed: Us    MS – B

Song starts:

If I were a boy/ /even just for a day/      1) HA – B   2) MS – BT   3)LTS -BT

I'd roll out of bed in the morning/      LS - BT

/And throw on what I /wanted and go/    1) MS – BT    2) MS - B

/Drink beer /with the guys   1) MS – B   2) MS - BO

And chase after /girls    LS - BO

I'd /kick it with who I wanted   MS - BC

And I'd never get confronted for it    MS - BC

'Cause/ they stick up for me   MTS – BC

Analysis:

This is a mid shot showing Beyoncé at the start of the music video for her song, this is effective because it shows the audience who's song it is. At the start of the music video there is dialogue from Beyoncé and the male character shown in the next shot, this tells the audience that they are describing what is needed in a relationship through the use of six words, the words also relate to the lyrics as the song is about a relationship. This shows that this music video is amplification as there is a narrative but the key lyric "if i were a boy" is shown in the narrative throughout. This shot shows Beyoncé stood in front of a wall that's white this could connote a sense of innocence and purity, she is also wearing a white top which also shows this connotation. Beyoncé's hair is well groomed and has been combed back to give an elegant look this implies that her appearance has been carefully planned to ensure the realism of the video, it also shows the simplicity of the video. The video is in black and white this makes the video appeal to the audience as well as makes it memorable and stand out. Within this shot there is ambient sound of traffic, however this sound is faint which makes the dialogue stand out more. This shot is at the beginning of the music video and this is when she says "intimacy". This shot is effective as it shows her facial expression and how she is feeling which also could relate to the lyrics of the song. 

This is a mid shot showing the male character within the music video. This shot is also at the beginning  of the music video during the dialogue, he says the word "honesty". This could suggest that within this music video this male character Beyoncé are in a relationship and they are saying the words that reflect a good relationship that they are possibly wanting. From his facial expression you can tell that the words they are saying don't reflect their relationship as his face is quite serious, however it could also signify that this is what they want from each other. This shot has been used to reflect the song as it is about a relationship, he is also stood in front of a white wall and is wearing a black top this could suggest that he has done something wrong in the relationship as in comparison to the previous shot with Beyoncé in she is wearing a white top, this could also signify that they are different people. This shot is effective because it shows who is in the music video as well as reflects some of the lyrics. 

The next shot is another mid shot of Beyoncé standing in front of a white wall. During this shot she says the word "commitment" which furthermore tells us that the song is about a relationship between two people that doesn't contain intimacy, honesty and commitment. Throughout the shots where dialogue is used straight cuts are being used to make the music video run smoothly and also these shots are quite long takes to show the two characters and them saying the words. This shot uses the rule of thirds as it shows Beyoncé  in the middle of the shot whereas in the previous shot of the male character the camera has been positioned so that he is on the left hand side, this tells the audience that she is more important and it could also signify that the narrative and the lyrics relate to her and her feelings. 

This shot is a mid shot of the male character and is when both him and Beyoncé say the word "you" together. The shot now shows the male in the center of the shot which could suggest that he is important within the music video however not as important as Beyoncé. This shot is effective because it shows the male character as quite masculine as you can see that he has big muscles which clearly signifies that he works out or has a job where he needs to be physically fit or strong. Within the first few shots showing the male character and Beyoncé there is the ambient sound of either wind or maybe even traffic. However the ambient sound is quite quiet which allows the audience to hear the dialogue clearly. 

The next shot is a close up of Beyoncé showing her facial expression. This shot is where they both say "me" together, this close up shot shows that she is the most important person in this music video. This shot also shows that Beyoncé has quite simple make up on and you can see a reflection of what looks sort of like a window of her forehead which could suggest they are inside but there is natural light shinning through the windows. As the previous shots are mid shots this suggests that the dialogue is coming to an end and the songs is about to start. It also could indicate that that she is the most important person in this video as she is the last person that is shown before the song starts. This shot also follows the rule of thirds as she is in the center of the shot which shows that she is the most important thing in this shot. The fact that there is nothing else in the background apart from the white wall it also shows her importance. Her make-up is simple and natural which could suggest realism, this could also mean that she subverts conventions of a typically woman as she isn't wearing much make-up. 

This  shot is a mid shot showing Beyoncé from behind putting a t-shirt on, this is where both the male character and Beyoncé say the word "us". This shot is in a different setting, it looks like this shot could be in her bedroom as she is getting dressed. This shot uses the rule of thirds with the main points of interest being the background and Beyoncé, the background is a main point of interest as it clearly shows a change of setting from the previous shot and Beyoncé is another main point of interest because she is the artist signing the song and therefore she is the most important person throughout the video. This shot continues and shows Beyoncé putting her shirt on, as she finishes putting her shirt on the music begins. As the lyrics "if i were a boy" are sung the shot changes. 

This next shot is a high angle shot showing Beyoncé from behind walking down the stairs, This shot clearly shows that she is at home, she is wearing a white top which connotes innocence and purity. This shot is effective because it clearly shows the setting as well as makes the audience want to keep watching to find out what happens next. The background of this shot is blurred this makes Beyoncé stand out more and also tells the audience that she is the most important person in this video and shot as she is the artist.  

This is a two shot, mid shot showing the male character and Beyoncé in the kitchen. The male character has made breakfast for her and at this point during the music video the lyrics "even just for a day" are being sung. The fact that both the male character and Beyoncé as being shown in the same shot it tells the audience that these two are in a relationship in the music video, which again relates back to the song as it is about a relationship. The male character is wearing a smart shirt and trousers this suggests that he is trying to make an effort for her and treat her how she deserves to be treated. The main props in this shot are the two plates that the male character is holding as this shows that he has made breakfast for her which could also signify that they are in a relationship. This shot continues (the two screenshots below) to show the the male character and Beyoncé at the breakfast table, this shot is a long take. 

This next shot is also a two shot, mid shot showing the male character bringing the plates to the table. It also shows the male character smiling which could suggest that he is happy to see her and that he hopes she likes that he has made her breakfast. 

This shot is a two shot, mid shot showing the male character placing the plates at the able and Beyoncé pouring herself a drink. This shot shows the realism of the music video and it allows the audience to relate especially people in relationships as this music video clearly shows this representation. 

The first two shots are a two shot, long shot showing Beyoncé with a drink in her hand, standing next to the breakfast table and the male character sitting down at the breakfast table. This could suggest that there could be something wrong within the relationship such as they could have had a fight and the breakfast was his way of apologizing. It could also signify that she could be running late to work and has to rush breakfast and therefore that's why she isn't sitting at the table.  This shot also clearly shows the breakfast table, which also shows how much effort he has put in to make it for her. The second shots shows Beyoncé taking a bite of breakfast then leaving, the third shot shows the male character sat at the table alone after she has left. This could suggest that there is something wrong with their relationship and also makes us feel sympathy for the male character as he has made an effort for her. Through these shots the lyrics "i'd roll out of bed in the morning" are being sung, these are effective shots as they make the audience feel sympathetic towards the male character  and also want to keep watching to find out what happens next. 

This shot is a mid shot showing the male character sitting alone at the breakfast table. This is a short take as it isn't shown for very long. The lyrics "and throw on what i wanted" are being sung, this shot makes the music video seem realistic almost like a movie. 

This shot is a mid shot showing Beyoncé in a police uniform adjusting her hat, the most important prop used in this shot is her hat as it is the main focus of the shot. The lyrics "and go" are sung at this point and it shows the audience that she is an authoritative figure as she is a policewoman, it also tells us why she didn't sit down at the table to eat breakfast, this adds to the realism of the music video and hooks the audience. As she is a policewoman it could suggest that she has the most power in the relationship as she is an authoritative figure and a role model to others. 

This is a mid shot of the male character showing him at the breakfast table eating and reading the newspaper. Shot/ reverse shot has been used as he is looking at something which means that in the previous shot she was looking at him. This is an effective shot as it makes the audience feel sympathy towards him as he is eating breakfast alone and seems to be in a bad relationship. This image doesn't relate to the lyrics as the song is from a woman's point of view expressing how she feels within the relationship, however in the music video it is seen the other way round so the woman is experiencing what its like to be a boy and the male is experiencing what its like for the woman within the relationship. The newspaper and his breakfast  are the most important props in this shot, the other plate which had the breakfast that he made Beyoncé on is slightly shown in this shot becasue it makes the audience feel sympathy towards him as he is eating alone. 

There is then a mid shot showing Beyoncé walking towards the door and leaving to go to work. 

This is a mid shot showing Beyoncé putting on her sunglasses and walking down the stairs. During this shot the lyrics "drink beer with the guys and chase after" are being sung, this shot then cuts and goes to the next. The shot clearly shows the change of setting as she is now outside this adds to the realism of the music video and makes it seem more like a movie. 

This is a long shot showing Beyoncé walking down the rest of the stairs towards the police car. In the foreground of this shot the roof of the car and the police lights are shown clearly, this shot is looking over the top of the car to see Beyoncé in the background in the police uniform. The lyric "girls" is being sung during this shot. 

The shot then follows Beyoncé as she gets into the car and also shows a close up of the other male character within the video. As she gets into the car the lyrics "i'd kick" are being sung. 

This shot is a mid shot showing Beyoncé and the male policemen in the police car, this shot is a long take as she sings "with who I wanted and I'd never get confronted for it, cause they". As she gets into the car she takes her hat off and picks up a takeaway coffee that the male character has got for her. 

The last shot is a two shot, mid shot showing both Beyoncé and the male character, during this shot she sings "stick up for me". They are both smiling, whereas with her boyfriend she didn't smile this could indicate that she has a thing for the cop or could even signify that she is cheating on her boyfriend. 

Analysis of the whole video:

This music video could be illustration and amplification as it has a narrative throughout and does relate to some of the lyrics. This music video is circular as it starts showing Beyoncé in front of a white wall and it also ends the same, it could also be linear as it goes in chronological order and follows the lyrics of the song. This music video is also multi-stranded as it contains two story lines and it is closed ended as it has a conclusion. I think that this music video also adheres to Todorov's theory of narrative as there's a equilibrium, disruption, a recognition of the disruption, a attempt to repair it and a new equilibrium at the end of the video. The use of dialogue at the start and middle of the music video keeps the audience interested as well as adds to the narrative of the music video and makes it seam realistic. The use of the black and white makes the video stand out more and also makes it more memorable for the audience. This music video adheres to the conventions that there is an obvious meaning and that it promotes the artist, this music video promotes the artist as it appeals to the audience through the use of narrative and obvious meaning which makes the audience understand the lyrics and song better and also helps them to relate/ understand what's happening in the relationship. However it also does subvert conventions of the pop genre such as the use of choreography which is not used in this music video and there is also no bright colours used as the whole music video is in black and white which is also effective. 

This music video uses slow motion when Beyoncé puts her sunglasses on and walks down the stairs, this makes the music video interesting for the audience and makes them want to keep watching. At the start of the music video Beyoncé is playing the male role which relates to her lyrics. This music video also adheres to Laura Mulvey's theory as towards the end of the music video Beyoncé and the male character swap roles this means that Beyoncé is now an accessory to the male character and it also makes us feel sympathy for Beyoncé as there is a shot of her with a tear running down her face. 

Music video notes

Focus: narrative/ illustration/ amplification/ disjuncture

 

 

 Advert to promote the artist and their music

 

 

 Car advert:

 

 

Storyline – introduction, climax

 

 

Cut in with the rhythm and the beat of the music

 

 

Variety of camera shots

 

 

 Traditional and classical narrative structure

 

 

Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement

 

 

Narrative types: linear – chronological order, no-linear – not in chronological order e.g. flashbacks/ flash forward, ellipsis, montage

 

 

 Closed – there is a conclusion/ closure, open ended – cliff hanger

 

 

Circular – the story starts where it ends

 

 

Singular-stranded - only one storyline, multi-strand – several different stories

 

 

 Todorov’s theory of narrative: (5 stages)

1.      A state of equilibrium (all as it should be)

2.      Disruption

3.      A recognition that the disorder has occurred

4.      An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption

5.      A return or restoration of  new equilibrium

 

 

Synaesthesia: a condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a colour.

 

 

 Music videos use this to make you feel certain emotions

Andrew Goodwin's theory

Andrew Goodwin suggests music promos can interpret or use meanings in the song lyric in certain ways. There are five points to his theory, one being the Demonstration of genre characteristics, two being Illustration, three being Amplification, four being Disjuncture and five being Intertexual reference.

 

Demonstration of genre characteristics:

 

 

This is where something such as props that relates to the genre of music is used within the music video. For example a music video that includes a stage performance is mainly used for a metal music video, a dance routine is usually used for a boy/ girl band which shows all members within the band together doing the routine.  A performance video shows the vocalist in one or more settings, such as a recording studio or a stage performance. A good example of this is Green Day's American Idiot music video where they do a stage performance. This type of video uses a variety of shots and camera movements, this makes the music video more interesting to watch although it is harder to produce because there are so many shots and camera movements.

 

 Illustration:

Illustration means that the promo basically illustrates the ideas/ narrative in the song lyrics, for example in Eminem's music video Stan. This type of music video has a narrative and the artist sometimes lip-syncs the lyrics in the video. Illustration means that there is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals and in this music video the relationship is clearly shown.  This type of video is easier to produce then a performance video, it also includes a narrative which relates to all the lyrics within the song. By relating the lyrics with the narrative it makes the music video more interesting as well as makes the audience feel like they are watching a short film or video. This music video is linear which means that it is in chronological order, the video links with the lyrics so that in the video he is acting the lyrics as well as lip-syncing the words at certain points in the video. This type of music video adheres to the conventions of a illustrative music video which makes the audience want to keep watching to see what happens. The music video is multi stranded as it has many storylines, for example the character Stan's story and Eminem story. I think that this music video follows Todorov’s theory of narrative as there is a state of equilibrium at the start of the music video, then there is a disruption when the girlfriend comes into the bathroom and calls him by his name. Then there is a  recognition that the disorder has occurred and an attempt to repair the damage of the disruption when he writes a letter and when he drives to go and see Eminem. Finally there is a return or restoration of  new equilibrium after the car goes off the bridge.

Amplification:

 

Amplification uses a key idea/ image from the lyrics and develops it into a concept within the promo. A link remains between the lyric and the promo. For example Kanye West's music video for homecoming, this is a good example as it shows his home as well as him walking around the city that he knows well. this type of music video doesn't relate to all the lyrics within the song however the song is related to within the music video. This music video has an artistic feel to it and features many different locations this makes the music video stand out to the audience as well as makes it memorable. At the end of the music video it fades out, this means that the video has a closed ending which means that it has a conclusion and doesn't end on a cliff hanger. The video is non-circular as it doesn't ends where it started, the video started showing the audience the location/ a moving train and it ended with Kanye. This video is also multi stranded as it contains many stories this is shown through the use of different characters within the video. This music video is classed as amplification because some of the lyrics relate to what's going on in the video.

 

 Disjuncture:

Disjuncture is when the promo bears no resemblance to the lyric or its meaning abstract; often seen as unconventional/ “arty” videos; creates a new range of meanings for the song. Good examples of this are all of Sia's music videos as they do not feature her. Rihanna's music video for Rude Boy is also a good example for disjuncture because throughout the video there is an artistic feel an there is no relation between the lyrics and the video. The video also uses synaesthesia because it focuses on colour in order to make the video memorable for the audience and it also makes the audience listen to the lyrics which adheres to synaesthesia as it evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a colour. This music video is also singular stranded as there isn't multiple story lines, however this video does not include a narrative this makes it more memorable for the audience as there is only one sort of setting throughout the video. This music video does include many different visuals and colourful backgrounds, it also includes some of the lyrics when the chorus starts to play this makes the audience remember the lyrics. I don't think that this music video follows Todorov’s theory of narrative, however it has a closed ending.