Monday, 12 December 2011

Evaluation

Here is the link to the evaluation, that we have recorded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDenhKnpr5s


In this video, although we talk about information that was relevant to the music video, we weren't able to say everything but here is the evaluation in written format which includes all the relevant pieces of information and information that we didn't talk about within the recording of the evaluation.


1.In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

  • The ways in which my media product challenges forms and conventions of real media products is that my product contains a quote from Scarface, which is not present in music videos at all, from this I would say that my music video takes on the role of a philosophical outlook to the world which would only be seen in mediums such as films.
  • I would also say that my music video challenges the conventions of real media products that are related to the music genres of rock or new wave music as in those video their is usually a band that is in the music video compared to mine where their is only the singer walking through the woods singing.
  • Another way I guess this challenges real media products is that even those music videos use black and white colouring in the videos, i have found that those videos don't use film noir whereas my video does as I represent the theme of the femme fetale within my video.
  • My video also use conventions of real music products as in my video, the character is seen wearing casual clothing which is used in other new wave music videos.
  • My video also uses conventions such as it contains narrative based and performance elements within the video which is typically seen in new wave music videos.   
  • Also my music video, includes intertexual references but these are not shown in the conventional sense of including intertexual references which is usually done through costumes, props, plot etc. 


2.How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary tasks?

  • The combination of my main product and ancillary tasks are effective as the through looking at the task of the Andrew Goodwin theory I was able to learn about the types of conventions, props, costumes, cinematography and editing etc that were typically used in the videos that i analysed.
  • From looking at these videos i was able to gain an insight into what types of transitions, effects and cinematography I need to use when it came to the construction of the music video we created.
  • From looking at and analysing these videos, I was able to learn what types of symbolism were used and these helped me to as it allowed me to think of what types of symbolism I could put into my video and from looking at the video of Mr Brightside by the Killers, helped me as it taught me about the symbolism through the apple, which was symbolic of the Genesis story of Adam and Eve.
  • From analysing this video I was able to learn about the intertextual references that were made through the video of Mr Brightside which was made through the video, which included a reference to Moulin Rouge. This helped me as it allowed me to think of the intertexual references that I could make in my video and this interested me as it allowed me to create intertexual references to the films of Verigo by Alfred Hitchcock and 2001:A Space Odyssey by  Stanley Kubrick and Scarface. In the video I also made references to greek mythology and christianity and I was able to portray my say on capitalism and relate the title of the video to Sigmund Freud.I also got a sense of how to use symbolism from the film, Blade Runner.
  •  From the Andrew Goodwin theory I was able to learn about the relationship between the music and visuals and learned how I could put this into my video to portray this relationship in the construction of the music video.
  • From the Mr Brightside video I was able to learn about how the director was trying to communicate themes across to the audience through props etc. I was also able to learn about how the director used cinematography to portray voyeuristic treatment in the video. Even those I didn't portray, voyeurism in the way that the director of Mr Brightside did  but it gave me a sense of how I could used cinematography and the actors to portray voyeurism. When analysing what themes were used I was able to get a sense of what themes were characteristically attached to the genre of new wave music and I was able to learn what are the typical themes that should be portrayed within the video.
  • I was also able to learn about the visual style that the director of Mr Brightside imprinted on the video and how she was trying to portray her visual style. This helped me as it allowed me to gain a sense of how I could portray or imprint my visual style whether it was through themes, cinematography etc.
  • From analysing the video I was able to learn about the genre charactreistics through analysing the video and from this I was able to learn what genre characteristics that I needed to portray in the music video and how I could do this. 


3.What have you learned from your audience feedback?

  • What I have learned from my audience feedback is that, people like how I used the cinematography in the film to create a questionable and claustrophobic mood that was illustrated within the music video.
  • I have also learned that from showing the video to my classmates, that I need to make the narrative within the video more clearer to the audience.A way that I have thought of improving the narrative and making it more clearer to the audience is by providing more hints within the music video so people can perceive what sort of narrative that I am aiming to construct.
  • From looking at the feedback that I have received from one of my classmates, is that I should provide a more clearer and more effective way of illustrating the reversal of time. A way that one of my classmates told me to illustrate the reversal of time through the clocks and memories was that I should use saturated colours within the music video to illustrate the reversal of time and the memories as they would be able to relate more to an focus on time and this would relate more to the title of the music video.
  • I have also learned that I need to connect the scenes of the person singing with the actual band that was  singing so that they would be more synchronized, as from before it just look like I just put the scenes anyway without actually relating the performance element of the music video to the song attached to the video. 
  • From looking at my editing of the music video, I have also realised that I should of just used one watch to illustrate the reversal of time within the music video, not two as this confused people through the illustration of time through the watch handles as both these watches were going different ways. This confused people as they wasn't sure if I was trying to represent the fast forwarding or reversal of time. 
  • I have also learned that even those I have edited the music video together, I feel as if I could of made a better effort to relate the scenes to the lyrics and visual style as even those I used film noir to illustrate the narrative I was portraying I should of used more lighting to display the visual style that I was trying to portray through the portrayal of the film.
  • I have also learned that people weren't able to recognise my inter-textual references to films such as Vertigo or 2001;A Space Odyssey.
  • They also weren't able to recognise the religious symbolism that I conveyed through the film such as the scene were the female character is lying on the ground in the forest, which relates to Christianity and Greek mythology etc..
  •  I have also learned that when it came to applying the 2001;Space Odyssey scene, that I tended to use too much of the scene in the music video and I should cut it down.
  • I am also debating with my partner if I should use the quote from Scarface to illustrate my point of the Marxists opinion on capitalism as I am not sure, whether I use it that it would seem too much like a movie then a music video.  
  • An opinion that I received on my music video, was that my music video was very ambiguous. I felt this point was good as it made people want to watch the video again and question what I was trying to portray through symbolism and imagery.


4.How did you use technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

  •  The ways that I used technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages was at first I used a camcorder and tripod to record mine and Patsy's audience research. These pieces of technology were used to record our audience research that we later uploaded onto the blog through uploading the video through the use of a Sony Vaio. Through the use of the camcorder, me and Patsy were able to ask a couple of people questionnaires that we came up with that we asked people. The questionnaire was used to ask people about the sort of music they listened to and why etc. Through the use of this questionnaire, we were able to get a sense of the types of music that people related to and what conventions etc they liked within music videos and why.Through the use of the laptop I was able to cut scenes into portions that I wanted or didn't want and add transitions to the scenes we recorded.After using the editing software to edit the music video I was able to upload it to YouTube and blogger where I was able to get a wide variety of views from the sites. From the user generated material that I uploaded, I will able to get feedback on how I should improve the audience research.    
  • The technologies that I used in the construction of the evaluation stages is that I used my Sony Vaio laptop were I was able to write and post my evaluation to blogger. After this I will be able to record my evaluation, through the use of my Sony camcorder and Hama tripod, where I will be able to upload the video of our evaluation which will allow people to view the video interactively. 
  • Other pieces of technology I used in the construction of my research is that I used my phone and the college's computer to analyse videos that were relevant to the music style of new wave music.From this I was able to gather a sense of what are the conventions, props, costumes, editing, cinematography that was used in those videos and try to use those videos as examples that would influence me in the construction of the music video that me and Patsy were aiming to construct.
  • I also used other technologies in helping me in the construction of my music video such the computers were we were able to gain access to the song, we were requiring through the use of facebook.We also used other pieces of technology such as a camera, where we took images that we would later upload and use photoshop to create our magazine adverts and digipaks. From us taking pictures, we were able to upload these to adobe photoshop were we were able to put the images that we wanted in the magazine adverts or digipaks we were constructing. Through the use of photoshop we were able to construct our magazine adverts and digipaks in the style we wanted and make them look believable and realistic when compared to other magazine adverts or digipaks as we were able to use effects, filters etc, which gave us the type of styles we were looking for to reflect our music genre and upload them straight to our blogs, where people were able to get an idea of the music genre we were representing.
  •  As the director for the narrative part of the music video I was able to find that from using my samsung mp3 player, I was able to listen to the song by the Shiny Toy Guns, "You are the one" repreatively and get a sense in how I would construct the video through our ideas, script, plots and storyboards.

    Conclusion: What I have found out about my audience is that, when it came to applying religious symbolism or mythology, that this was not notice it. There also wasn't no feedback on the intertextual references i made within the film such as the reference to 2001:A Space Odyssey or Vertigo, or the famous quote that I gathered from the 1932 film of Scarface, as I used this as a way to reflect my own opinion on the political system of capitalism and through this quote I was able to criticise capitalism. I have also learnt that the narrative of music video isn't told in the conventional narrative structure way, as it is told in non linear format. I have also learnt that while I connected the title of the film to Sigmund Freud's theory on psychoanalysis and the repressed memory, that people didn't notice how I was trying to make the music video as a psychoanalytical analysis of the protagonist and what lead  to the demise of his character and his traits that bring him to the end of his subconsciousness. I also influenced by many music video's in the construction of their videos such  as "The hands that built America" etc I was also inspired and influenced by Maya Derens film Meshes of the Afternoon and the famous gladiatorial painting "Turned Thumb" by Jean Leon Gerome. While editing the music video I do admit I had a few problems when it actually came to editing such as when i finished the first draft on my old computer, all my files were deleted. List lead to me having to transfer all my footage on to another computer where I was able to make the media product more diverse and analytical approach as I was able to construct, edit etc the video so that it would establish the narrative, synchronize the songs to the music being played and establish the relationship between the lyrics and the visuals.I also used alot of Christian symbolism and Greek mythology, as I found it to be suitable to the context and text of the narrative.

    Production Journal

    Production Journal 
    1)Hainault Forest Country Park
    Filming time:11:20am-1:15pm
    Date: 13th November
    For the first time we started filming, I did the directing and me and Patsy shared the role of the camera person.She also took on the role of the femme fetale.The equipment that we used was a Sony camcorder called the DCR-SR35E and a Hama I chose to use these equipment as it gave me a betterlighting and graphics through the use of the camera. These pieces was very easy to hold and they very portable, this was good as I did have to rely on the equipment from the college.The Props we used were a cross  that was used to symbolise Christianity etc and we also used coins that were relevant to Greek Mythology etc.
    2)Romford Brewer shopping center, Brewery park, Waterloo Romford, Romford Essex, RM1 1AU, Romford Brewery Car Park.
    Filming time:11:00 am-5:30pm
    Date: 20th November 2011
    We chose this place because we wanted to create a non hostile but quite claustrophobic tension-able mood within the video and the forest was used as it fitted in with the characteristics of the narrative of the music video. The roles we took for this day of filming our music video, were the same as before where I was the director and me and Patsy were the camera people and she was also the actor. The equipment that we used this time was the Sony camccorder that we were using from before and the same tripod.The props we used in the filming for this part of the video was that we used props such as a vodka bottle to symbolise the cleansing of the sins. We also used other props etc and we also used makeup to symbolise death.
    3)Havering College of futher and higher education, Romford Road, Chigwell IG74QN
    filming time:6:00pm-6:45pm
    Date:23rd November 2011
    We used this location as we wanted to be able to recreate the scene from the start of Vertigo that would relate to the theme of voyeurism etc.The role we took were different this time as I was the camerperson whereas Patsy was the director.I would say the only problem we had was waiting to film as the room we wanted was being used so we had to improvise with a photography and instead of using studio lights we used tungsten lights and this created a photographic and illusive mood that was relevant ot film noir.The equipment that we used included tungden lights, a Sony camcorder and Hama tripod.
    4)Hainault Forest Country Park 
    Film time:11:00 am -3:30pm
    Date: 4th December 2011
    We chose this location, because I remembered there was a pond that was very dirty and we used as I wanted to reinforce the theme of the cleansing of the sins and relate to biblical references and I also wanted to make the audience to be able to see the femme fetale as a strong and obsessive character and through the clinching of the fist this signified the femme fetales obsessive and manipulative trait and it was also used to signify a marxist viewpoint of the proletariat rising up against the bourgeiosie.The roles we took on included that of me as the camera person and Patsy as the director. The equipment that we used were the camcorder and tripod from before and we also used props that included a guitar as this was used to signify the musical essence and the relationship between the lyrics and visuals etc.
    Editing:
    While editing from 13th November 2011, I remembered at first I didn't enjoy the editing I was doing because the software that I used wasn't that easy to use, the software that I used in the first couple of editing was windows Movie maker this type of software wasn't easy to use. I also remember in the 2nd week of editing that my computer actually deleted all my files for the edited rough cut of the music video and this was the day before that I was suppose to hand it in, so I had to stay up all night reconstructing. At first I was angry that all my files for my music video had been deleted but what I did to solve the problem  was that I transferred all my files to another computer. On this computer I was able to use Adobe Première elements 10, I found this software to be easy to use and from using all other software's such as Song Vegas, and Wndows Movie maker as these software kept on freezing every half an hour, but Adobe was better to use then any of these other software as it was easy to use it allowed me to construct my music video is a more non linear then linear construction of the narrative of the music video as I felt by making it a psychoanalytical study if the characters encouraged them to ask questions on what was the basis of the story and was it a reflection on me or not etc.Through this I felt to would not make the audience feel happiness or excitement but it would make them question what I was trying to portray how I was trying to construct the persona and the visual style that I was trying to portray in the music video.I have found Adobe to be better then any other software that I have used for editing as it would allow more freedom within the construction of my musiv video an example of this is that it gave me more options such as transitions or effects that I could use that I wouldn't of find in any other pieces of software. Through the experience of editing I have learned that when it comes to backing up my files I should transport them straight on to a hard drive in the risk that it could get deleted. The use of the Adobe editing software program was useful as this allowed me to construct my music video in a way that I wouldn't be able to do through the use of Windows Movie Maker but Adobe let me add graphics and it allowed me to gain a better connection to the construction of the music video and it gave me a sense of what it would be like to be like an  movie editor such as Thelma Schoonmaker etc.

    Wednesday, 7 December 2011

    Music video drafts

    Here is the link to our first draft of the music video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8InXDhKD3GA

    Final version of music video, here is the link to it on Youtube:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2ZYC7BOdGU







    Tuesday, 6 December 2011

    Designs for Magazine Adverts

    Here is some of the designs I have come up with for my magazine adverts:
    Draft1:

    Draft2:
    Draft 3:

















    These are just drafts that I have created using Photoshop, at the moment me and Patsy are still gathering our ideas together.
    Draft 4:
    Here is another draft of our magazine advert:
    http://patsykatejonesa2cwblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/magazine-advert-draft-1.html

    Final Version of Magazine Advert(Draft 5):
    http://patsykatejonesa2cwblog.blogspot.com/

    Comic Strip

    https://skydrive.live.com/view.aspx/comic%20strip%20n%20logo/rhyss%20hwk.pptx?cid=3f892b8816bb48c7&Bsrc=Docmail&Bpub=SDX.Docs&app=PowerPoint

    This link to the comic strip is just basically like a diary of what me and Patsy, going through the stages of pre production, production and post production while creating the version of the music video. The Storyline for the comic strip was made up by Patsy while I created it.

    Tuesday, 25 October 2011

    Synopsis and Powerpoint presentation of Pitch for music video

    Here is the synopsis that me an my partner, Patsy plan to use in our music video:
    The storyline for our narrative is based on the film noir style/genre; this is a conventional story about a relationship between a detective and a deceased victim. This is the basis for our narrative; the story line will focus on the relationship between a man and a ghost. The initial idea of one of the main characters being a ghost build up an enigma for the audience and the main male character, as they are both uncertain if the girl is real or super natural. 



    The storyline will follow the man and his obsession with the women, which leads to his demise. He is seen as being upset and lonely; the man is later followed by a girl. The way in which the girl is shown to the audience helps to build up a representation of her being a ghost. This will be done by the use of camerawork, make-up, costume, and editing techniques



    There is a confusion of time in this video as the story line is not told in start to finish order .Throughout the video, flashbacks are used in a non-conventional way to manipulate time and play with the thoughts of the audience. Through the use of symbolic references, the relationship between the man and women is left to the audience to decide. Our influences for this music video are the films Vertigo, Scarface and story of Macbeth and the Greek and Roman mythology of Charon’s obol and Orpheus and Eurydice. 

    Wednesday, 19 October 2011

    Contact with artists for their permission of their song


























    Here is the email that Patsy received for the permission to use Shiny Toy Guns- You are the one song and sent to me afterwards.

    Tuesday, 18 October 2011

    Location Shots and prop shots

    Location Shots:
    Hainault Forest:





    Here are some of the locations that me and Patsy have thought of using but we are still looking at a variety of  locations.
    Prop shots:
    Here are the props that I plan to use in my music video narrative:














    Here is the location and prop shots of the locations and props that we plan to use in our music video.

    Monday, 17 October 2011

    Technical Analysis

    These two videos tend to cut on the beat of the songs:
    The Killers:Human


    Shiny Toy Guns: You Are the One


    In the Killers video of their song "Human" there are a lot of shots such as close ups of the lead singer, Brandon Flowers and the other band members. When we analyse the video we also see a few cuts on the beats of the song, such as sometimes it would change to animals such as an eagle, mountain lion/cougar and a white tiger. When we also look at the video we also see that the location of the video is in the location of Goblin Valley Sate Park Utah. Other camera shots portrayed in the video consist of shots such as mid shots, long shots, low angle shots, high angle shot, eye level shot etc and tends to be other editing techniques such as an fade, cross dissolve, inserts and also cutaways. The band in the video also tend to only be wearing one piece of costume. The clothes worn by Brandon Flowers and the band members also tend to be casual wear such as we see Flowers wearing a Dolce&Gabbana jacket which was part of the fall/winter 08 collection. The camera movement used by the band includes movements such as tilts, pans, whip pans, crane movement and maybe a arc movement.


    Here are some shots of the band, the Killers in their music video of "Human"(not in order):
                                                      

    If you notice, in the video of Human by the Killers, there is no narrative included within the song such as their song of Mr Brightside but the video is basically a band performance, which is different from that of a band like the Shiny Toy Guns video You are the one which has a performance video accompanied by a narrative. In the video there is also a lot of cuts, fades and dissolves and also contains the typical camera shots of close ups, mid shots etc the video also shows the band playing in Utah and also has similarities between to Pink Floyd's live at Pompeii concert film such as the band playing in a desert landscape amongst amplifiers and other stage equipment, which is mostly seen in the camera angles. The video also depicts the band watching the son setting in the desert, which turns into the album cover drawn by Paul Normansell.

    What shots and transitions do you take inspiration from?
    Killer's video-Human (Camera Shots):
    Long shot of the scenery of Utah with Brandon flowers and tracking movement being used.
    Hand held camera used on Flowers in a close up, a tilt movement is then showing an eagle in the air flying.
    A tilt is used in a close up portraying Flowers singing and showing the eagle in the background flying.
    A crane shot is used showing the band from a high angle, zooming out showing all the members of the band and the scenery.
    A fast pan is used in a long shot showing Flowers and the band members then pans back to Flowers. A pan is the used to show the band members playing in a long shot in an arc movement.

    The camera shots that I have been inspired include shots such as long shots of the the scenery and the band members. The tracking movement has also been used to move in towards the lead vocalist. The hand held camera in a close up to tilt up towards the face of Flowers and then to an eagle. Close up has also been used to create show the facial features and expressions on the face of Brandon Flowers. There are also lots of other camera shots used in the video such as a crane shot is used to show the band playing in the scenery from the Utah park. In the video it also shows the camera person using other shots or movements such as an arc movement so we are able to see the band from different angles or a pan to scan the scene and the band members while performing etc.  

    Transitions:
    Fade of Flowers and scenery then fades to artwork of the band members and back to the lead singer.
    A dissolve is also used to show an eagle flying then dissolves back showing the lead singer.
    A cut is then used to show the band then to cut to another location within the Utah county park.
    A stock shot is then used to set out specific parts of the film into 15 images of the same image, the images are then used in a telephoto shot to give the impression of interest and voyeurism and zooms into one of the images.
    A cutaway is then used to depict artwork as photos, which are holded by the band members, then cuts to the band playing in the surroundings.

    The transitions that I have found to be used in the making of the video of "Human" is that the director has used a of transitions within the video such as fades are used showing the band members while we are able to see images within the video merging into other images which is the case between the eagle fading into a close up of Brandon Flowers. I have also found that dissolves and cuts have been used to depict the difference between time and place. Stock shots which I have only seen, which has been used in this video has been used to show a different types of point of view and it also has been used to show the Killers artwork which depicts the band members in a sort of collage. A cutaway has also been used in this video, to cut to a related piece of action such as when we see the cutaway from the band members to mountains within Utah which connote the subject of interest and curiosity within the video.
    Shiny Toy Guns video-You are the one (Camera Shots):
    At the start of the video depicts a women sitting up from lying down but only showing the silhouette of her.
    The camera movement of a zoom out is used after showing a close up of the women in a bubble, then zooms out fast to the band members of the band.
    A tracking movement is used in a long shot the band members but mainly of the lead vocalist.
    A crane is used showing part of the bubble then showing the band in a high angle shot.
    An eye level shot is used showing the women which makes us feel connected with the situation of the women and relate to her through the relationship between the character and audience.
    A fast pan is also used in the video to portray selective images of the band members performing.
    A birds eye view is also used to show the bands lead singer throwing himself into a blank screen, which then turns out that his throwing himself into water.

    In the video of "You Are The One" I have found out the director has used many camera shots and movements to connote different connotations about the artists through those shots and movements.

    Transitions:
    Cut, cutaway-to band then to women trapped in bubble.
    An cutaway is then used showing the braking of a beer bottle on the ground.
    Slow motion and motivated cuts of the band members performing by themselves.

    These transitions have inspired me in the making of learning what transitions to use such as in new wave music they use a lot of cuts, cutaways and motivated cuts and slow motion which isn't really a convention of editing techniques used in the making of new wave music videos.

    From these videos I found these camera shots and transitions to inspire me as they are used to suggest different ideologies, views or perspectives which are attached to the music genres of new wave music. The camera shots used in these videos have been used to connote the new wave ideology of anti-commercialism, anti-mainstream etc. It also seems that the camera shots and transitions that have been used in the Shiny Toy Guns video appear to have a relationship or connection to the narrative themes of rejection and mainly acceptance. The camera shots and transitions used in the Killers video appear to have a connection with each other scene and promote themes such as rejection of the conventional lifestyle etc, so through these 2 videos I would say that montage editing has been used to manipulate time and place but has also been used to suggest different meanings from the video's.

    Symbolism:
    Symbolism which has been used in the Killer's music video "Human" include:
    Eagle-Spirituality, strength, freedom and creation.
    White Tiger-bravery and perseverance 
    Cougar-Courage and power.

    Symbolism that is used in the Shiny Toy Guns music video "You Are The One" include:
    Bubble-Isolation, self denial and distinction between reality and fiction.
    Angel-Dignity, loyalty, glory and honor.
    Water-Life, birth and wisdom.
    Smashing of the beer bottle-Rebellious, stubborn and arrogant.
    Rain-Rebirth, sadness, cleansing and new life

    The types of symbolism that are used in the music videos, "You are the one" by the Shiny Toy Guns, "Human" by the Killers  consists of symbols which either tells us about the bands and the genre of music they're playing. I have found, that these symbols in the music videos have been used, in a diverse but essential level characterised by the lyrics of the song as they often allow the audience to gain an insight into society. I haven't thought mush about the idea of using symbols in music videos but it was my partner, Patsy that suggested to me that we use symbols as they deliver verdicts and opinions on the characterisation, narrative and the perspective of a society through the eyes of the director.
    Here are pictures from Blade Runner that contains symbols but is also shot in the film style of film noir:

    The origami Unicorn is used in the film Blade Runner, to ask the question of whether Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a replicant in the film or not, this is also shown in another scene whether Deckard has a dream of a unicorn. This symbol is also used by Ridely Scott to ask whether the advancement of technology is always advancing  and asks themes of reality vs fiction, manipulation of the minds memories, death vs mortality, environment vs globalization, genetic engineering and cloning etc. . The origami unicorn also asks the question, is Deckard a human or a replicant. It also stands for what exists and what doesn't exist. It is also a reference of Gaff's knowledge of that he knows Rachel is a replicant. The unicorn also represents Rachel as a product of human creation and Deckard only being able to be tamed by the beauty of Rachel.

    The dove at the end of the film is used to connote religious symbolism. The dove represents the ascending of Roy's soul to heaven. I would also say that the dove represents freedom and purity and battles the themes of human creation vs God's creation, so in a way Ridley Scott is actually connoting that it isn't the replicants that are inhumane but the humans. The dove also is linked to the story of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge and where punished by God and relates to the capitalist system as being run by corporations and human thirst for knowledge.

    I have also found this image from the film Blade Runner to be influential because through this image the director, Ridley Scott is giving us a reflection of the hellish landscape portrayed in the film. It also communicates the theme of paranoia and economic inequality and corporatism.

    How has these 2 videos influenced me in the construction of mine and my partners music video: 
    These 2 videos have influenced me in the construction of my music video because from watching these videos I have found that the new wave music videos usually contain montage editing as they are usually contain editing such as cuts, cutaways, dissolves and fades.  I have also found that these videos contain camera shots and camera movements, these includes movements such as tracking, pans etc whereas the camera shots that are usually used in the making of new wave music videos contain a lot of close ups of the band members but mainly the lead vocalist, I have also been influenced by other shots such as birds eye view from the Killers video , but what I have interesting from the Shiny Toy Guns video is that the director and cinematographer have used slow motion not to just portray a dramatic effect of the narrative or the bands performance but is also connected to the message and themes connoted through the lyrics of the song. I have also found that these 2 videos are different because when looking the video it is centered around performance whereas the Shiny Toy Guns video is centered around a narrative and performance based narrative. The videos also talk about other themes such as the Shiny Toy Guns video communicate themes such as love, depression, acceptance and rejection, whereas the Killers video communicate themes such as acceptance, questioning our existence and destiny. So what I am basically saying is that is that i will try to use similar camerawork and movements, such as eye level shots, close ups, birds eye view, mid shots, tracking, pans etc. I will also try to use a lot of montage editing such as cuts, fades or cutaways and I will also have a go at using slow motion shots.
    I would also say that I have been mainly influenced by the concept of film noir, which is a unconventional visual style, which emphasizes low key lighting and unbalanced compositions which has been used by director David Fincher. I have been influenced by this concept of film making as I see it as a type of film making concept that embraces many film genres such as the gangster genre and many more. I have also found this type of film making as using the character types of private eyes and the female fatale and this type of film making also doesn't have a generic/conventional setting such as other types of film genres. I have found this type of film making essential to the construction of my music video because I were to use this type of film making I would also be relating to the German Expressionism which was an artistic movement in the 1910's and 1920's and I have found this film making essential as it doesn't comply with conventional cinema which is similar to the new wave music, alternative rock and rock genre as these types of genres reject the conventional/mainstream features of music and I want to use black and white with color, not make a dramatic point but also to manipulate time and manipulate the thoughts of viewers when watching the narrative. Here is a picture of what I will try to achieve within the video constructed by me and my partner Patsy and film noir has been used in films such as Citizen Kane, Meshes Of The Afternoon, Blade Runner and Raging Bull etc.

















    Here is also video of The Godfather (1972), which uses film noir:


    I have also been influenced by the start sequence of the film, Vertigo directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1958, because at the beginning of the movie there is a sequence where we see a women in red lighting, showing hers eyes. This is used by Hitchcock to portray the character as someone who is mad, cunning, manipulating, psychotic and basically a female fatale without actually letting the audience being able to create their own thoughts or opinion on Madeleine's character themselves and having to believe in Hitchcocks characterization of the character, Madeleine.
    Here is a link to the video which has influenced me:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qtDCZP4WrQ&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL0265A36BB006732A

    Sunday, 16 October 2011

    Shotlist

    In the shotlist, this is where I will be talking about the shots that we are planning to use and a description of how and why they were used:

    Number of shots and Type of shot used
    Description
    1. Extreme close up shot
    An extreme close up was used in this scene to communicate how I am trying to portray madness within the character.
    2. Mid close up shot
    A medium close up of the eye was used so the audience feel drawn into the film by the characterisation of the product.
    3. Close up
    Close up was then used because I wanted to show the women’s facial features from the side to project a female that has a destructive behaviour.
    4. Close up
    Close up was used in this scene to illustrate the characters facial features and communicate the theme of the femme fetale.
    5. Long shot
    A long shot was used because I want the audience to ask questions about the behaviour of the protagonist.
    6. Point of view shot
    Point of view shot was also used so the audience are able to see the world through the protagonists’ eyes.
    7. Close up
    Close up used to signify the characters drinking obsession and his isolation within the film.
    8. Mid shot
    Mid shot was then used to connote how the man has become obsessive and weak minded.
    9. Mid shot
    A mid shot was used as I wanted the audience to see the character from the waist up and watch the character as if they were in the same room.
    10. Over the shoulder shot
    So the audience would be able to gather a sense of what the narrative is about.
    11. Point of view shot
    Point of view shot was used so the audience were able to understand the relationship between the characters but also to create empathy for the detective.
    12. Long shot
    Long shot is used to represent the boundaries between reality and supernatural world.
    13. Long shot
    Long shot to show the ghost from head to toe.
    14. Close up
    Close up was used as I wanted to create empathy with a character that may/may not disserve it.
    15. Close up
    Close up was used to connote the importance of the cross within the narrative.
    16. Extreme close up
    To show the cross to represent the theme of sacrifice, innocence and belief.
    17. High angle shot
    I used the high angle shot as I wanted to use an unconventional shot that would depict the action differently.
    18. Point of view shot
    To see what the character was seeing through his eyes.
    19. Long shot
    Long shot to show the characters paranoia of seeing the ghost from his body language as he runs.
    20. Medium close up
    To show the man washing his hands and signifies to the audience that the character is in self denial.
    21. High angle shot
    To make the character feel like his being watched and to communicate the theme of voyeurism.
    22. Point of view shot
    So we are able to find out about the compulsive and obsessive identity/relationship of the characters.
    23. Over the shoulder shot
    Over the shoulder shot to communicate obsession and paranoia and questioning of the state of mind of the character.
    24. Point of view shot
    So the audience are able to relate with the character and see the blood which represents guilt and redemption and the blood is a reference to Macbeth.
    25. High angle shot
    High angle shot to represent how reality is questioning the detective’s state of mind.
    26. Low angle shot
    Low angle shot used to make the character out to be vulnerable and weak minded.
    27. Close up
    To see footprints.
    28. Mid close up
    To show footprints and to give an ideal of the audience becoming spectators.
    29. Low angle shot
    Low angle shot is then used to show the bottle as wielding power over his life and whether it be one of the factors that contribute to his death.
    30. Point of view shot
    To gain a perspective of how isolated the character has become and whether it was his drinking habit that leads to his or his girlfriend’s downfall.
    31. Over the shoulder shot
    This shot is used to show the audience that the protagonist is having a conversation with someone but we don’t know.
    32. Over the shoulder shot
    To show the relationship between the characters and to give one perspective of the conversation and to represent the themes of imprisonment within ones body and liberation of the soul.
    33. Mid close up
    To show the protagonists facial features and clocks in eyes.
    34. Extreme close up
    This was used as I wanted to show the hands of the clock to represent the manipulation of time and space.
    36. High angle shot
    To show the aftermath of the death of the women and see the character and for the audience to question was this, the killer or was he part of what lead to her death.
    37. Point of view shot
    This was used so the audience get a sense of the characterisation of the character has paranoid, obsessive, isolated etc and to make the audience unable to find out whom the identity of the character is so they get attached to finding out who it was.
    39. Insert
    40. Close up
    These shots were used as I wanted to communicate to the audience what is reality and what is fiction. The props were also used to represent that the man’s state of mind is controlled by the ghost and that death has beaten life etc.

    Number of shots and Type of shot used
    Description-Performance in music video:
    1. High angle shot: This shot was used to show themes of obsession and to relate to the theme of femme fetale and to relate to the title of the film.
    2. Long shot-the long shot was used to show the performer sitting on a bench and the landscape in Hainault forest, this shot was also used so that me and Patsy could show the story isn't being told in non linear form.
    3. Mid Close Up: This was used to communicate o people the signification of the guitar to people within the story. Pan is also used which comes from the right of the picture to the left.
    4. Close up: This shot was used to show a close up of the guitar.
    5. long shot with an arc movement this was used so the audience get a sense of the type of genre, we're using and are also a reference to Coldplay’s song, the Scientist.
    26. Mid shot of guitar being played by actor: To show his body language to the audience.
    29. Long shot of actor walking in Hainault forest with leaves falling in foreground or midground: This was used to communicate the theme of nature etc.
    30. Tracking of performer walking through forest:
    31. Mid shot of actor walking towards the camera playing the guitar showing base of actors chin and the guitar.
    32. Long shot of actor walking through woods and camera following him from behind the trees.
    33. Over the shoulder shot of actor walking in woods.
    37. long shot of man walking in a grass and walking towards trees. To show man as a small figment of reality through he setting of the forest.
    39. Mid shot of character walking through woods and being tracked.
    40: Arc movement and long shot of character walking towards the end of the forest; this was used to make the audience feel involved within the plot and connect with the character.
    41: worm’s eye view actor stumbling across glasses in woods: This was used to communicate the theme of identity.
    42: Close up glasses, on actors face: Presents the actor as someone who is lost in society and in reality.
    43: long shot of actor walking towards bench in Hainault forest:
    44. Close up actor pulling of glasses: to reveal the identity of character so audience are able to connect and question the characters motives.
    47. Mid close up of actor face, which is used to reveal the identity of the performer.