Inspirations...

Arctic Monkeys
                                              
Arctic Monkeys are an Indie Rock band formed in 2002, from Sheffield. The band consists of Alex Turner (Lead Vocals/Guitar) Matt Helders (Drums) Jamie Cook (Lead Guitar) and Nick O'Malley (Base Guitar). Currently they have 4 albums out, 'Whatever People Say I'm I Am Thats What I'm Not', 'Favourite Worst Nightmare', 'Humbug' and 'Suck it and See'. All very successful albums, and an all around the world successful band.


Arctic Monkeys are recognised for being one of the first bands that became famous from online videos, showing that the public were interested in them from the beginning, and they now have a very strong fan base.


Like Naked Voyage they are the same style in the music they produce and have been an inspiration for Naked Voyage. And so, we would like to use Arctic Monkeys as an inspiration for what we would like to do.

Track permissions

Again, fortunatley for us, Naked Voyage are their own band and write their own songs, and they have agreed to make a music video with one of their songs. This works in our favour as we don't have to ask for permission to use an already produced song, so we can get straight to planning and filming.

Research into Indie bands.

As we have completley changed ideas, we started to again research the genre we are working with. We started by looking at all the different bands and their own music videos in the indie rock genre.

After looking at the following videos we saw that most indie videos are more performance based and, have to theme of 'lads' messing around. Focusing on one style or dress sense also. Not the normal kind of video, trying not to be your everyday mainstream pop video.

Libertines: 'Don't look back into the sun -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLYsIESNtUc   

Arctic Monkeys: 'Teddy Picker' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2XBoxtcUA&feature=related

The Vaccines: 'Blow it up' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qkYWEHwtSo

The Smiths: 'There is a light that never goes out' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtW1MAZ32M

Naked Voyage.

Naked Voyage are and Indie band, and so our genre has entirely switched from the hip-hop scene. But as a group we probably would be more comfortable to work within this genre.

Change in idea.

Unfortunatley, with all the problems with actually putting the music video together, and also the plan was starting to fall apart, Blaze Boy informed us that his friend wouldn't be able to get the cars to us when we wanted to film. After trying to then re-think the plan, our artist wanted to take creative control of the video and wanted to change ideas. So as this is our A-Level and want it to be taken seriously. We decided to tell Blaze Boy that it wasn't working out and was getting to big and complicated to finish in time.

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However, after some more planning afterwards, we were lucky to have a group of friends who have their own band called 'Naked Voyage', and after we explained what problems we were having. They agreed that they would work with us to make our music video.

                                               

Problems occuring.

Whilst starting to plan times for filming and locations, it was beggining to become difficult to get all the people we wanted in the same place at the same place. As we had a quite complex plan and vision for we wanted, everything was starting to get impossible to put together, to run smoothly in the shots.

Planning filming

Email sent to Blaze boy from our groupRight, we have come up with a plan for filming this week and next. We need to crack on.

Thursday 3rd Nov - get bus into Burnley periods 3 and 4.
- Stills for CD cover - in subway and Thompsons park.
- Slowed down version of song in town. Adriano you need to learn to mime the song slowed down by about 10 times please.
- Shoot in subway and Thompsons park.

Friday 4th Nov- Dinner time, Auditorium.
- Black and white outfit needed.
If we don't get it finished it will carry on after school.

Monday 7th Nov - Car park scene, straight after college.
- Adriano, we need you to organise to get the cars and get as many people to come as possible please.
- Red, could shay please dance in this part.

Let us know if there are any problems with the plan

Typical CD covers

As within this project we also have to make CD covers and promotional posters for our band, we looked at the different types for the hip-hop genre, looking at what works to make a CD look appealing to the type of people who will be buying it.

                                                    

After looking at these types of covers, we saw that there were key differences with the American and English rappers. As seen with the music videos too, because the American rappers have a more expensive and flashy videos, whereas, English rappers videos can seem more real, yet with elements of wealth sometime showing. A clear CD cover showing this is the 50cent cover, with the Gucci designer clothes, the 'bling' and bullet holes. In contrast with the minimilstic, yet effective Wretch32 cover. Plain background, black and white colours making his face stand out much more

With our CD cover we wanted to combine both aspects, but to focus on his upper body and face and for wealth to show through the clothes. We would also edit the cover so we would have a unique view. 



                   

   

                 

    

Storyboarding

After a few meetings with Blaze Boy to figure out what we would want to do, we started storyboaring, and this is what we came up with:
 

         #2 - this shot is in the introduction to the song, focusing on blaze boy getting out of the car in the carpark.

#4- this shot is going to be filmed from high angle, of Shay dancing with the cars in the background.

                                                       

#5- the shot then will change to a low angle of Blaze Boy rapping with the dancers and cars in the back ground.

#6- and then to a mid shot of Blaze Boy with dancers in the background.

#7-then the location changes to the subway with a long anle shot of Blaze Boy (rapping) walking through the subway (tracking shot)

#8- then again swithes to a long shot of people dancing back in the carpark.

#9- Long shot to mid shot of Blaze Boy in the car with his friend driving (location, town centre)

                       #10- this shot is a mid shot of Blaze Boy, with people in the background edited by speeding their movements up, practise will be needed for Blaze Boy to mime the worlds slow enough.

                                       

#11- this shot is a mid shot of Blaze Boy in the white studio, sat in a red chair with two dancers at either side.

                  
                              #12- same shot as the last but the scene changes to the black studio, colour of the clothes changes.
                                               

#13- this shot will be a long shot of Blaze Boy and his friend, walking by the viaduct (tracking shot)

#14- Close up on Blaze Boy's face from the side, again by the viaduct.

#15- this shot again follows on at the viaduct with Blaze Boy and his friend walking out of the cameras view.

                                                                       

       #16- Then the shot follow with a mid shot tracking shot of Blaze Boy walking through the club into the piano bar. 

                                                                          
  

   #17- mid shot of Blaze Boy sat on a settee at the club with girls on either side.

#18- Close up on Blaze Boy ending the rap and the video

                                                                               

Track Choice & Lyrics

Obviously the track was written by Blaze Boy 'Don't be foolish, listen'

Here's the song and lyrics:

 

Song Lyrics

{verse 1}
hiya                                                   
lemme remind ya
I think u look a bit tired
I got a $ sign on my cap so money is always on my head
spending ur hating its real stupid
Only jus cos im dominating
Tryna play me but u cant like most pple cant play chess
When it comes to my mates I always check mate, b4 u find urself on an nhs bed
When they back stab
Catch me in burnley , doing my fing risin
Nice and steady
Lesson for the younger one,
Stay in school and study.
Wish I could stay but sorry im in a hurry
Busy tryna chase that money
{verse 2}
Steady tryna get it
But this game got me thinking
Is it really worth it
Cos its taking ages
But they say practise makes perfect
That’s why u might have seen me on your pages
Or heard me on your local radio
But bro its not all glitz and glam
I been through a lot though
N I all I do is learn
Cos life is a learning curve
As well as a long journey
Wells it’s a good job I brought a spare wheel with me
Do whatever needs be
Im a shoulda to whoever needs me
I aint going back to Africa 4 the
Im jus going back for the place
Theres nothing like race we all equal
Black Asian white
Word of advice u lookin foolish
{verse 3}
Theres light at the end
After every single storm, theres a brighter a day
Yes If u feeling low u know where to go
Jus press play and listen to me
blaze boy aka Adriano
the big fish in a small pond
well the other rappers are erm
lemme see
the fishes in a toilet pot
u know why cos they the poo poo
evry thing u do aint real
im realer than silver and gold
im iller than a sick patient with
if u didn’t know my name is blaze
jus tryna be me
evrythin is a ritano
dnt worty about my voice
my accent, im not
if u don’t like me u must be foolish
{verse 4}
I pray to Christ
That everyday all I ever do is rise
And never let my enemies get the better of me
Cos were im from theres no such thing as gravity
Yess let let me be
I never let me my haters get above me
N I pray that I never get over confident arrogant big headed
Until my head blows up like them bombs in Afghanistan
I don’t think anybody understands
Above the money the girls the fame the cars
I do this cos I love it
And I aint never gonna sale my soul to the masons
Send them a straight message
I don’t need no body to make me big
I don’t need no helping hands im my own manufactor

More good news...

After the news about the cars, one of our friends has a cousin who is the manager of a local club 'Posh' and has agreed we can film a clip out of our music video! Again linking in with the theme for our music video.

                                                               

Location Hunting

Possible locations:

• Car park
• Graffitied areas
• Town centre
• Streets
• Studio
• Industrial

We think that all of these locations would fit in with the hip-hop genre.

Pictures

                                                                 Car Park scene

                                          
                                              Could use this location at night with people around
                                         
                               
                                          

Track Permissions

Lucky for us, Blaze Boy writes and produces his own music, so this means that we don't have to write to a band or singer for the rights to use their song. Again makes our video unique and never done before.

Blaze Boy:

Inspirational videos

Although we had looked at a few current hip-hop videos, we needed to research more to get a broader view and some different aspects, the three videos that inspired us the most to get our final plan for the video were:

Wretch 32 feat. Example : 'Unorthodox': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LysZJBo2HI4 

N-dubz: 'I need you': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxq-wCf5G8o 

Tinchy Stryder feat. N-dubz: 'Number One':  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc7W8Q-g9Lg

Our group wanted to combine the three, but obviously different and
 unique!

                                                           

Preperation for making our video

                                        

When we were planning our video, we looked at other videos like;

http://www.virginmedia.com/music/video/player/tinchy-stryder/you're-not-alone/60418378001/#vid-60418378001
http://www.virginmedia.com/music/video/player/n-dubz/playing-with-fire/60246204001/#vid-60246204001
These videos gave us some ideas on locations like car parks, and a graffittied subway, as these scenes fit alongside the type of artist Blaze Boy is.

This is because, we wanted an urban British feel to our video, yet for it to be a bit 'flashy'. So when Blaze Boy told us he had a friend who owned some sports cars, because obviously not having a budget we could have never afforded them.

                                         

Early days of planning

When Blaze Boy first agreed to work with our group, we had various meetings to brainstorm ideas, as Blaze Boy would preform better for us if he was interested in what we were doing. He was very eager to work!

Some examples from our brainstorming.

http://www.reverbnation.com/blazeboy - this is also Blaze Boy's website with examples of his music, pictures, comments from fans.

Examples of hip hop rappers

There was a clear link between Blaze Boy and other English rappers, with a much more grime feel, than other American rappers. Some examples like Blaze Boy are, Dappy, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk. And so we thought that it would be good to research these rappers and their videos to get some inspiration for what would work with Blaze Boy.

 

Choice of track/artist

Researching the different type of music genres, we came to the decision to work with the hip-hop/R&B genre.

As we wanted something that had a new look, we have decided to use the local rapper Blaze Boy, this also clears up any copyright issues. It also makes our video better to do as it isn't living up to a big bugdeted video in the media.

Studying types of music videos

1) The lyrics in a music video tell the story so the audience understands the narrative.

2) The narrative is important if songs are stories, then the singer is the story teller. Music videos are often cut between a narrative and a performance of the song by a band. In a Pop video the performance aspect is much more important to keep viewers interested. Pop videos usually consist of a choreographed dance.

3) A star image is important in respect to a pop videos success for recognising the star with a specific look. The star may then become a fashion icon.

4) Illustration in terms of a pop video is knowing the meaning of the lyrics and the genre, providing a sometimes over literal set of images.

5) Amplification in terms of a pop video is seen as the mark of the true music video Auteur, the director as an artist.

6) Disjuncture is a term used to describe those music videos that seem to work by ignoring the original song and creating a whole new set of meanings.

Music culture and roots of music videos

1) There are arguments that music video's in the 50's and 60's are actual videos, and whether music videos in the 70's are the first music videos. A classis is Bphemian Rhapsody.

2) Viocan were behind MTV, which was the television industry.

3) Artists such as Bon Jovi and Madonna dominated early 80's music videos.

History of music

1)Pop music has being the greatest influence on youth for over 50 years because of music shows such as Top of the Pops in the UK, American Bansfand in the US and Beat Club in Europe which were centre pieces in the emergent youth culture revolution.

2) Music critics are worried that pop videos are becoming necessary to enhance a musicians career, however they are not concerned about the impact this has on emerging artists because you do not necessarily need a big label backing you because genres such as indie rock do not need to spend money on exotic locations.

3) The primary purpose of a pop video is to promote an artists music.

4) The public have come to react to the videos themselves, strickly aimed at teenage audiences, it is a common misconception.

Pitch Three

Pitch Three

Christmas Themed - Wham, 'Last Christmas'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

                                                             

For our third pitch we thought it would be fun and refreshing to do a christmas themed video, for promotion purposes. Although it could of been different and creative, again we don't have the resources to use, to make the video seem like Christmas! It also could have got expensive, which we don't have the budget for. We wanted to have various christmas sterotypes like elves, father christmas, etc but we don't have the people to furfill these roles. Also in a real music world, a Christmas video probably wouldn't work to promote a new artist, which is what we are meant to be doing. So again this isn't a practical idea and we wouldn't want to be marked down for not going with the specifications.

Pitch Two

Pitch Two

Wham

For our second pitch, we thought it would be interesting to work with the song 'Wake me up before you go' by Wham. This is because not many people work with an 80's genre, so it would be different and a change from what examiners are used to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgZ7gMze7A&ob=av2e

As we were trying to plan what we would do within the video, we realised that it wasn't totally pratical, this is because would don't have the people that would want to work with this kind of video, and really we wouldn't know where to start designing, to try and make it look like and 80's video.
We also thought as Wham are a well known band people would have a perception and critise, as our artists wouldn't look anything like the real thing, also as we don't have the same budget, it couldn't really compare to the real thing. Overall it wasn't the most pratical idea.

Pitch One

Pitch One:

Blaze Boy:

Blaze Boy is a local rapper in Burnley, we thought that he would be good to make a music video for, as he has his own material and the hip-hop genre is very relevant to todays generation. Although he isn't a famous rapper he is recognised by the local people as this Lancashire Telegraph states: http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8487915.Burnley_teen_flying_flag_for_hip_hop/

If working with Blaze Boy, we would like to shoot the video in a much more urban scene, different from the American flashy videos. This is because English rapping is much more grimey, yet still a little glamourous.

                                   

We would use a more performance based video rather than a narrative as for his type of music, we thought it would be better to just watch what he does best! If working with him we would use a few girl street dancers, and one young breakdancer. Which would fit in with the stereotypes and conventions for the hip-hop genre.

The type of scene we would choose to use would again be quite urban, like the graffitied subway above. Also with a carpark with fancy cars, again to fit with the stereotype. For a special effect we thought it would be good to have Blaze Boy rapping with people in the background speeded up. We thought this would be attractive and would show that we can work with different effects. 

10 steps to success - making a music video for A level.

To get a better understanding on what the examiner actually wants from our music video and promotional package we researched the Top 10 tips from Pete Fraser, the cheif examiner. This will also help throughout making our video, to come back and look at what we need to do. 

1. Research- before starting to plan a music video, it's best to know the history of music videos. What works and what doesn't... To do this as stated in my first blog we looked a t a variety of music videos, where they started and what they are like to this day.
2. Getting in a group- Who to work with is a crucial decision, choosing to work with friends may not always be the best idea for your own grade. - We have a strong group with each member having a different quality. This has proved effective as we are able to work together and get things done.
3. Choosing a track- It has become apparent that choosing a well known track and artist wouldn't be the best, this is because our videos will never compare to the high budgeted videos, and the use of a popular artist would cause criticism, beacause the people in our videos won't be like the actual star. Fortunatley for us our artist Blaze Boy produces his own music, so it wouldn't have been done for.
4. The pitch- this is part of the planning towards your music video, it shows that you are planning and can give a preview to the what your video is going to look like. I also think it's best, so you can get all your ideas down, not forgetting anything.
5. Look at previous students work - This is so you can get the feel for what works best. We looked at a variety of music videos, bad and good, so that we could come up with an idea what we wanted to do, you learn which type of videos don't work as good, like the well know big budgeted videos. After this research we decided to use the hip-hop genre.
6. Planning and shooting - The timescale is the most crucial here. Like in the real music world, you have to treat it with the same importance to meet downloads. To have planning done will make the making the video much smoother, for example knowing what shots you'd like to use before actually shooting.
7. Editing- Looking at all your footage you have filmed, needs to be edited sensibly, it's better to break the work down, and get rid of things you definitely don't want then it will become easier. Again plan how you want to edit your video, a crucial thing that needs to be perfect is the lip syncing! If planned well you will recognise that it comes along easier!
8. Screening and feedback- This is the part where you get feedback from your class, this can be positive as if things need changing here's the chance to! It's good to know what people think of your video too. Ask questions on what they thought of the video and the artist. Take detailed notes on the feedback.
9. Writing-  Follow guidelines you have been given for the A level specification which you are working towards. Certaining write on a electric format, like this blog.  Don't fill writing with excuses why it went wrong. In the blog cover the whole of your process, technical language, feedback and comments on your video, examples and influence, and include an analysis of the finish product.
10. Marking- Leave the marking to your teacher and hope you've done well!

Media Production, first blog.

Our brief is to produce a promotional package for a new album, which includes a music video accompanied by a CD cover, and a digipack, also a poster for the CD.

 To start off thinking about the production of our package, we have started to research the music industry by looking at what works for the different kind of genres. Including past music videos, like Micheal Jackson's 'Thriller' and how this had a great impact on viewers and also looking on various arcticles on the start of the music industry. Including an article on the history and development of music videos by Stephen Hill.

We have also looked at what makes a music video popular. Further research took us to an article named 'I Want My MTV by Matthew O'Neill, on distributions of music video's to the public. We looked at some of the first videos released on MTV, such as 'Video Killed the radio Star' by The Buggles. http://www.virginmedia.com/music/video/player/the-buggles/video-killed-the-radio-star/590222875001/#vid-590222875001