Reflecting - Music Video remake

Reflecting back on the AS year - Music video remake

Ella, Kaoutar, Cindy - Trumpets

REFLECT - AS Music Video Remake

Research - Copyright Clearance

These are three of the main artists which i have sent emails to for copyright clearance. 

Research - Vernalis' Theory

Vernalis' Theory

Carol Vernalis studied editing and camerawork closely in music videos. She found that the usual rules of 'continuity' in editing are broken to draw more attention to what is on the screen. Edits may be obvious to draw attention to themselves, such as special effects. Jump cuts are used frequently; a master shot is frequently used to give the video a structure. The camera may move in time with the music. Editing has a rhythmic basis clearly connected to the song.

Below are music videos which illustrate her ideas.

Research - Andrew Goodwin's Theory

Andrew Goodwin (Dancing in the Distraction Factory)

Andrew Goodwin’s theory on music video is that they are usually built around songs and often don’t pose traditional narrative structures. Music videos also use the singer as the narrator and the character. The singer breaks the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera trying to involve the viewer at home.

There are three types of Relations between songs and videos:

1.      Illustration this is where the video tells the story of the lyric.

2.      Amplification occurs when the videos introduce new meanings that do not contradict the lyrics but add more meaning.

For example : Rizzle Kicks - Lost Generation



3.      Disjuncture is where there is little to no connection between the video and lyrics.

Research - Function of a music video

Function of a Music Video

What is a music video?

 'A videotaped performance of a recorded popular song, usually accompanied by dancing and visual images interpreting the lyrics'

The music video is a marketing tool used to sell the artist as a brand and their products.The main purpose of a music video is to promote the single, the album and the artist. The music video can only do this with the following:

• Make the video memorable
• provide the viewer with a better understanding of the song so that the viewer can engage with the video visually and audibly. This is mainly achieved through 'story telling'.
•  Entertain the viewer by showing the artist's talents - dancing , singing , performing and physical appearance.

An example of the this is Jessie J. There is clearly a common theme from the album cover to the single cover and the music video. Jessie J has a signature look which has become part of the brand. The colours black and purple were used in all three. Jessie J performs in the music video and her physical appearance is creative and artistic. She changes outfits frequently to entertain the viewer.

Album cover

'Price Tag' Single Cover

Research - Copyright Clearance

During the Summer holidays I wrote copyright clearance to artists with songs I wanted to use. I left a message on the XL recordings website for the use of M.I.A 's song 'Paper Planes' and I emailed Atlantic Records for copyright clearance of Marina and the Diamonds' song 'Hollywood'. I have not received any response from any of the record labels.



Copyright clearance MIA - Paper Planes



Copyright clearance for Marina and the Diamonds - Hollywood

Reflecting back on the AS year - Technical Skills Developed

Technical Skills Developed During AS

During the AS year I learnt various skills that will be of great use to me in the A2 year. Here are some Skills that I learnt.

Skills Learnt:

• Using Final Cut Pro - This software was great for editing. I learnt how to change the speed of the video, add filters, add text, cut and add transitions.
• Using Sound Track Pro - Using different sound effects to enhance and improve the quality of the sound in the video.
• Using Blogger - This was used throughout the whole of the AS course. I learnt how to embed videos. I learnt how to use apps to upload Images and presentations to the blog.
• Using the Equipment - I learnt how to use the Camera , filming different types of shots and angles.
• Creating and using Foley Sounds.

Research - Laura Mulvey's Theory

Research - Andrew Goodwin's Theory

Andrew Goodwin theory (Dancing in the Distraction Factory) states that music videos do not follow the usual narrative structure that is usually used in films. The artist or band in some genres can be both narrators and characters within the video

This allows the music video to break the fourth wall which is seen when the viewer sees the artist singing directly to them as if they are literally performing it only for the viewer this is used to make the viewer seem as if they are somewhat involved within the performance. The song the video will usually repeat shots as they would repeat the chorus.

There are signifiers within certain genres which the viewers will expect to see in a music video an example would be how women would be dolled up just to draw the viewer in. Despite this, the music video tries to appeal to its widest audiences without trying to excluding any.

Music videos can be separated into three:

• Illustration - is when the video tells the story of the lyrics

• Amplification - is when a video has something to do with the lyrics and also adds new meaning to the lyrics

• Disjuncture - is when a video has little to nothing to do with the lyrics, like a music video of a band performing in a studio

Research - Function of a music video

Reflecting - Technical skills developed throughout AS

Throughout the AS year I have picked up on numerous skills which have helped me endlessly some of which are:

Skills	Challenges	Positives
Learnt how to edit using Final Cut Pro, being able to put up pieces of text within the video, framing the video and editing such as blurs, fades etc.	Blogging on time was a major challenge for me throughout the whole AS year	For me the main positive was the exam since I was very well prepared for it
Including different types of sound within the video with the use of Sound Track Pro	Focusing camera numerous times and understanding the new types of equipment	Being able to understand how to use new equipment
Learnt how to film following rules such as the 180 degree rule, rule of thirds and breaking the fourth wall	Cutting scenes, not enough footage and combining interactive skills such as sound	Being able to work in a group so not all the wright was put onto me
Uploading, embedding videos and some form of acting	Attending workshops  and meeting deadlines	Making a few good friends within my AS media class
Learnt how to use Blogger which was a massive part to the AS project and similarly, it will be in A2	Group problems were very hard to resolve due to numerous issues	Experience of being able to make a Thriller opening and understanding its conventions
Learnt how to use a camera effectively and learning how to focus shots
Learnt how to use different shot types and different types of cuts such as jump cuts
Creating and understanding the conventions of a film opening

RESEARCH Copyright Clearance

Before creating our video we were told we had to request copyright permissions from a selection of artists. Ideally our chosen song is not supposed to have a video therefore my chosen artists were not as known. It was also stated that the artist must be British. This slightly restricted the selection of artists. I chose five different artists. A reason for this was simply so my group had a good selection of different genres and artists to select from. 

Here are the screenshots showing me requesting permission 

RESEARCH Technical skills developed during AS Media

At the beginning of AS media I lacked a lot of skills technically. I was aware of some software that I’d be using in the near future e.g. final cut pro though I never knew how it worked. Throughout the year we were given exercises which gave us the chance to develop our skills with the software and also with the practical equipment. Down below is a list of skills I developed during my year in AS media  

Ø  Getting to know the camera

Ø  Filming in a variety of shots accurately

Ø  Filming in specific angle to portray power

Ø  Use of Final Cut Pro

Ø  Using footage and creating variety of edits e.g. shot reverse shot

Ø  Learning how to apply colour filters and other effects to filmed footage

Ø  Creating Foley sounds

Ø  Adding non diagetic sound onto work via Final Cut Pro 

RESEARCH - Copyright Clearance

During the summer, we were all set the task to write a letter of copyright clearance to a British artist of which we wanted to remake their song. I had chosen Gabrielle Aplin and she is signed to Parlophone Records, below is my draft letter I had sent off to them which I unfortunately didn't get a reply to :(

Research - Analysing genre in music videos

Genre:

Genre - French for sort.

A conventional category that identifies pieces of music which share certain beats or set of conventions. Distinguished from musical form and musical style all songs have a certain genre that they're put in, this allows the audience to get a rough idea which genre the piece of music possibly could come from. Rock tracks may have some guitar solos which could be used as an identifier whereas, dubstep has deep drops from the chorus at times which is also an identifier.

Subgenre:

A more specific generalization of similar types of styles within a less specific genre. Subgenres are constantly changing, as they are so specific if artists in one subgenre changes their style a little this sometimes redefine the subgenre completely. Some subgenres include Indie-pop, RnB-soul, Dubstep-rock etc.

Research - Analysing structure & narrative types in music videos

Research - Analysing media language in music videos

Welcome to our blog! ^_^

Hey guys this is group 12 and starting from the left its, Kimberley, Joyce, Quddus and then Cindy!