Finished music video

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Finished digipak and magazine advert

Images for my digipak

 

I had various ideas for the images I was going to select for my digipak. Having planned to film cars on the motorway from a bridge as part of my music video, I decided I wanted a picture of this from the car's point of view on my digipak. The photograph I selected in the end depicts twilight from a car on the motorway. I like this as it links my main product to my ancillary texts, creating a sense of house style.

 



 

 

I also decided to use photographs I took while filming for my music video of my artist/the characters in the video for my digipak. In keeping with the indie genre, I decided I wanted the image of my artist to be quite obscure and not disclose too much, giving anonymity to my artist. I shot images which slightly obscured the artist's face, while providing some identity. In the end I decided to use an image which created a slight silhouette. It makes the artist recognisable and distinct but the subtly it very effective. The image has the sun behind my artist's head, which links to shots in my music video, also in keeping with the band's house style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once I had selected my chosen image, I edited it. I used a Adobe Photoshop to increase the brightness of the image and added subtle pink tones, in order to get it to match the other existing images on my digipak.

 

 

BEFORE EDITING:

 

AFTER EDITING:

 

Mock ups for my digipak and magazine advert

Magazine Advert Analysis 3

Magazine Advert Analysis 2

Magazine Advert Analysis 1

Digipak Analysis 3

Digipak Analysis 2

Digipak Analysis 1

Bastille - Bad Blood

Actor Release Forms

Risk Assessment

Call sheet

Costume and make-up planning

The makeup looks for the female character in my music video is heavily inspired by Kaya Scoderlario's character, Effy Stonem in Skins. Her character is very carefree and this is reflected in her makeup look. 

I plan on creating an eyeliner-heavy eye makeup, while keeping the skin relatively clear and natural. I may add glitter to the cheeks and eyes for some shots.

I created the above mood board when planning the costume for my female character. I have decided they will wear black skinny jeans, black boots and a denim jacket. The look is neutral and features no particularly bold colours. By keeping the colour scheme neutral, the look will appear classic, reflecting no particular time period or region of the world, therefore making it relatable to all. The look is also stereotypically indie, therefore fitting with the genre of my music video. 

Similarly, the male character's look will also be neutral. I want to keep the looks relatively consistent across the video. 

I plan on dressing the male character in black skinny jeans, trainers, a white tshirt and a bomber jacket.

Equipment List

Camera

I plan on filming my music video using a Canon PC1680 camera. I have used this camera before and have been very satisfied with the camera's quality. I may also use my iPhone camera to film shots that may benefit from being shot in slow motion or use a time lapse. 

I may use a tripod for some shots such as the footage I shoot on the bridge of the cars. However, for a majority of my video, I plan to film handheld.

Lighting

A large proportion of my music video will be filmed outside, therefore I will be relying on natural light for a large part of this. However for some of the footage to be shot inside, I will use lamps and spotlights to create the right mood. In addition, fairy lights will also be used in these shots to create a soft and romantic atmosphere.

Software

I will be using Adobe Premiere to edit my music video. I have used the software before and am familiar with how it works. I think this will allow me to produce my music video in the exact way I have envisioned and create a professional outcome.

Additional equipment:

• Speaker
• Laptop
• Car

Cast and crew list

Crew List

Cast List

Main male character

Played by Max Mitchell. 

Max is the lead singer of the band, The 4am Club, and is therefore playing the lead in the music video for 'Facedown'.

Main female character

Played by Darcey Lang.

Darcey's character plays the lead male, Max Mitchell's love interest. 

Potential locations

Bedroom setting

Trelawney, Chapel Lane, Hermitage

This location is where I will shoot the scenes of the characters in a bedroom. The room will be relatively neutral, decorated mainly in white. I will use a variety of different lighting, including lamps and spotlights to light the room. I will also use white fairy lights to create a gentle ambience to the scene. I also think the use of fairy lights will make the scene seem romantic and soft, which is what I am going for with these scenes.

 

Bridge and road setting
M4 bridge, Hermitage

This is where I will film shots of cars on the motorway. I plan to film this in the evening when it is beginning to get dark as I think the lights of the cars on the motorway will be aesthetically pleasing. In addition to this, if possible, I will attempt to film at this location when there is a sunset. The way the bridge faces would perfectly capture this.

Also at this location, I am going to film the characters walking together and having a laugh.



Woods scenes
Any of the woods in and around Hermitage

The shots filmed at these locations may not include the characters but may be used to provide a sense of location. I often associate the woods with freedom, which is a theme that is very apparent within the indie genre.



Representation in my music video

The male and female characters in my music video are both in their late teens. They are very youthful and living their lives to the fullest. They fit the free, lovesick teenage stereotype. They do not fulfil the stereotype of being reckless however, with my music video depicting their loss of one another.

Artist Planning

The artist for my music video for is a band called The 4am Club. 

The 4am Club are an indie pop band from Reading, Berkshire. The band consists of two members, Max Mitchell and Darcey Lang. Their musical style is often described as reverb-soaked guitars and emotive vocals with a haunting twang. The 4am Club's music is noted as being able to take you on hazy, atmospheric journeys and being sonically diverse.

Dirty Hit Records

Dirty Hit Records is a British record label, which was formed in 2009. The label was set up by Jamie Oborne and Brian Smith. Dirty Hit is distributed by Universal Music Group. The label is based in West London, England.

The label mainly distributes alternative music, genres such as alternative rock, indie pop and indie rock. The label's current roster of bands include Ben Leftwich, Wolf Alice, the 1975, Pale Waves and the Japanese House.

The first act on the label to achieve mainstream success was the 1975. The band achieved a number 1 on the UK Album Chart in September 2013, with their self-titled debut album.

Initial Ideas

I have chosen to use 'Facedown' by the 1975 for my music video. I decided to look at the song's lyrics and analyse them. This gave me a better feel of the song's meaning and gave me lots of ideas of what to do for my video.

 

The song's key themes are love, addiction and overdosing. For my video I will focus more on the youthful vibe of the song and the youthful, self destructive nature of it.

After analysing the lyrics, I brainstormed any ideas I had for the music video.



I then added to my moodboard from deciding my target audience.

FACEDOWN MUSIC VIDEO

PRODUCED BY DARCEY LANG

DIRECTED BY DARCEY LANG

My music video will star a lead male character. Similarly to the suggestions from the lyrics, the character is troubled. There is also a female character who will feature in the video. She will act as the male character's love interest, who has lost through his struggle with mental illness. In addition to this, there may be background characters in the form of the ex-couples friends.

The music video will focus on the couple's loss of one another, and show the distance between them, with the two characters not appearing together on screen.

 

Target Audience

I used my audience research to inform me when deciding on the target audience for my music video. 
I created a moodboard to show what I think will represent my target audience.

A typical member of my target audience will be a female, between the ages of 16 and 24. They will most often be students with an active interest in music. Typically they will fit the explorer psychographic. Music is very important to my target audience. They will most likely be of the ABC1C2 demographic.


Character Profile:

Gabby is a nineteen year old  student from Reading, England. She is currently studying graphic design at Leeds University, where she lives with 3 friends in a flat. She works part time in a bar. Gabby's disposable income is most often spent on concert tickets, nights out with friends and clothes. Her favourite stores are Urban Outfitters, Topshop, Boohoo and ASOS. She also often buys clothes second hand from eBay or ASOS Marketplace. Gabby's fashion taste is very carefree and follows a 90s-esque style. She is an avid music fan, with her favourite genres being indie and rock. Her close friends, as well as some of her flatmates, share a similar music taste to Gabby, and she often attends gigs in her local area. She has also attended Reading and Leeds Festival for the last three years, and plans to go again next year.

Gabby has always been actively interested in the arts, which led to her decision to study graphic design at university. The art surrounding her favourite bands and albums, including music videos, is important to her. She most often chooses music artists with a distinctive style. This is typical of someone who is an indie music fan. She enjoys watching her favourite artists' music videos and looks forward to the release of music videos for her favourite singles.

Audience Research Analysis

Copy of Audience Research Questionnaire

Copyright letter

Screenshot of my copyright letter to Dirty Hit Records:

*UPDATE*
I attempted to contact Dirty Hit Records in order to gain copyright permission, however I didn't receive a response.

Performance, narrative and concept based music videos

Performance
A performance based music video shows the artist or band performing. Although the artist or band doesn't have to move and dance, if they are singing, or playing their instrument, then the music video is performance based.

An example of a performance based music video: Green Day 'American Idiot'

Green Day's 'American Idiot' music video The lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, is lip syncing the song whilst playing the guitar. The other band member playing their instruments alongside him. This is a convention of rock music videos. They are usually performance based as performing live is very important within in the genre.


Narrative
A narrative based music video shows a story. This might be the artist or lead vocalist of a band, but it is usually an actor as the artist or band would be performing the song. 

A purely narrative music video would show no singing and will have a beginning, middle and end. The story may not show everything, like a movie, but important aspects of the actor's life.


An example of a narrative based music video: All American Rejects 'Gives You Hell'

The narrative of this music video is a linear-narrative and is about two neighbours and one house being neat and calm and one being wild and fun. 


Concept
A concept based music video shows an idea formed by combining all the characteristics of the song it is being presented with. Most concept based music videos are abstract and may seem confusing or 'random'. The sequences may seem random and weird but that keeps interest.

Intertextuality

Intertextuality

• Linking/referencing other media texts
• Refers to the fusion and borrowing of ideas from other media, creating the idea of music videos as 'post modern'.
• Other media texts can include references to TV shows, films, other music videos, etc.
• Pastiche is when other media texts are referred to in a complimentary way; they are portrayed in a positive light
• Parody is when media texts are referred to negatively; making fun of other media texts in your own work.

Example of pastiche: True Romance (1993) and The 1975 'Robbers' music video

The music video for the song 'Robbers' by the 1975 was inspired by lead singer Matty Healy's love of Quentin Tarantino's film, True Romance. The music video directly references the film.