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