My group created a narrative storyboard as part of our planning for our music video. Click on the images below to view an enlarged version of our narrative storyboard.
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Analysis:
Overall, I feel that the narrative storyboard was an essential part of the planning for our music video and the production of the storyboard was well worth the time invested. The storyboard kept us on track and focused on our ideas, which meant more efficient filming. We are also open to the idea of adapting our storyboard to improve the narrative.
We created a production meeting agenda for the performance aspect of our music video. In the agenda all of the equipment is detailed and responsibility has been shared out to the different members of the group.
Click the picture below to view our production meeting agenda.
Analysis:
The production meeting agenda was very helpful as it kept my group and I organised. It also meant that we all knew exactly what our roles were and what needed to be completed prior to the filming of our performance. The agenda also outlines what props we will be using and the timing of our shoot, which was particularly relevant in our instance as we were filming on the school premises after the end of the school day.
To assist us in preparation for our music video we were tasked with finding two music videos of the same genre as ours, then analysing them to establish what shot conventions are apparent. I have selected two songs, the first by AronChupa, ‘I’m an Albatraoz and the second by Martin Garrix, ‘Forbidden Voices’. I have specifically looked at the shot types used and the distances.
Prior to this task, we were pretty confident that we had identified the types of shots we would be using for the performance. We are intending to predominately use close ups, mid-shots and dolly shots. I found that moving shots have certainly been used effectively in music videos of similar genres to ours. Effective shots that I’ve found also include side-shots, mainly from mid to short distance.
AronChupa – I’m an Albatraoz
Mid-shot that rotates around the performer, we will certainly use this type of shot.
Shot that shows the performer dancing, also zooms in onto the DJ table.
Martin Garrix – Forbidden Voices
More candid shot of Performer enjoying himself, over the shoulder shot will add perspective.
Close-up moving shot of performer will add to the energy of the video.
Analysis:
Good shots that we will include.
Close up
Mid-shot
Moving shots
I felt this task was beneficial to us, as it helped us decide what types of shots we want in our performance. We will certainly include some of these variations of shots. I personally want the performance aspect of our music video to mirror certain features of Garrix’s performance, for instance the close ups of dancing and the moving shots of him composing music.
As part of our planning we had to fill out a risk assessment document before we could film. Our document was relatively straightforward as for our performance shoot we did not need to leave the school premises.
Risk Assessment (Performance):
Click on the image below to view our risk assessment.
Overall:
I felt that this document was of limited value as our performance shoot location was inside of the school so the relative risk was low. However for external shoots, the merits of such a document is obvious.
As a group we created a narrative timeline for our music video. We produced the timeline so as to have a pre-set structure for our narrative. The timeline mans that when we are in the midst of the editing process we do not have to waste time being concerned how the narrative will be arranged. The timeline will also help us when filming as we will have a structure for our narrative and will be more efficient as we will know exactly what we need to film before we film it.
Click the image below to view our narrative timeline:
Performance Timeline:
We also produced a performance timeline. This timeline is not as detailed as the narrative timeline, simply because the DJ is not necessarily doing a wide range of different things during the performance. Another point to mention would be that most of the performance will be improvised by our performer as we want the performance to feel very natural and relaxed. Consequently, we will not be providing many specific directions.
Overview:
I have found that use of the performance and narrative timelines are very useful they keep the group on course. I think the timelines are beneficial to our filming. We are also constantly thinking of new ideas for filming so our final product may not exactly align with our narrative/performance timelines.
After we pitched our music video idea we received feedback.
Feedback:
This is a screenshot of the feedback:
Here is the exact feedback.
“I like the idea of a struggle and journey in the narrative. The word anachronic is used incorrectly…I think you mean disjunctive. You could argue it is a pastiche of the Rocky montage which is a popular post modern intertextual reference although your target audience might not connect with that. Be careful it does not appear like a A Level sports montage – there needs to be energy and pace in the narrative which fits with the young, vibrant target audience but there should be some theme to it too…success, failure, triumphing over adversity.
The performance should be lively, energetic, focused and colourful to fit with the genre. Be careful though that it isn’t too self indulgent as electronic DJs are often portrayed as very self obsessed even though they would argue they focus on the mixing and tracks – it is all about them too.
Angles and colour correction will be important but I think the main issue is cutting between the two aspects of a DJ performance and a naturalistic narrative – how will you juxtapose or integrate the two?”
Targets:
Energetic Editing
Lively Performance
Focus on angles and colour correction
Focused Performance
Analysis:
We have found these comments extremely helpful and we will certainly incorporate these suggestions into our music video. For instance I feel that an energetic performance is imperative as without it the video would have to mainly rely on the narrative aspect. Our intentions are to create an energetic performance with an interesting and engaging narrative.
After we had decided which song we were going to use, we were tasked with creating a pitch for our song in the form of a Prezi. In our pitch we cover crucial aspects of our idea such as narrative. We also addressed certain elements of the song such as the lyrics and the meaning of them. Also in the Prezi we cover how we are going to film the narrative and what existing videos are similar.
Click the link below to view our Prezi:
Analysis:
Overall I feel this is a strong presentation and displays to the viewer clearly what we are trying to achieve. I found producing this Prezi was beneficial not only to my group and I, but also the viewer who was listening to our pitch. I feel our Prezi is particularly effective as we managed to accurately portray our ideas across in an attractive manner. This Prezi also will allow us to gain the first significant bit of feedback for our video idea.
As part of how planning for our music video we were tasked with communicating with the artist of our chosen song and asking them permission to use their single. Matthew from my group tweeted Flight Facilities (@flightfac) enquiring as to whether we can use their song.
Below is a screenshot of Matthew’s tweet:
Analysis:
I believe that this task was ultimately not necessary as the artist is not likely to respond to tweets as their account has roughly 31,000 followers so the likelihood of a response is very small. In total I see this task mainly as a courtesy.
For our final song choice as a group we decided to choose “Down to Earth” by Flight Facilities. Originally we had planned to use the song “Warriors” by Imagine Dragons but this didn’t come to fruition as we faced certain difficulties in regard to filming the intended music video. ‘Down to Earth’ is from the electric genre, which is fairly unique as there are no particular conventions, this will make our video unique and stand out from conventional music videos.
Click the link below to view the original song.
Overall:
I believe this is a strong song choice. The song is not well known and this will mean that viewers will not have a preconceived view of what the video should be like. I also particularly like ‘Down to Earth’ as there is no specific narrative direction encoded into the lyrics of the song, this enables my group and I to be as creative as possible when creating our music video.
In order to have a better understanding of our chosen artist we produced a Pinterest page containing images relating to or including Flight Facilities. The Pinterest page should assist us with how our group will emulate Flight Facilities and their style of music. The production of this Pinterest page also helps us to further understand the group’s meta-narrative.
Pinterest Page:
Click the image below to view our Pinterest Page
Overview:
Flight Facilities present themselves as a very relaxed and fun loving group. Similar to most electronic artists, they are young and in turn are appealing to younger people.
Some key adjectives that describe them would be:
Dynamic
Energetic
Happy
Mysterious
What I have learnt:
I now have a greater understanding of both the meta-narrative of Flight Facilities and of some of the conventions associated with their genre of music. We will aim to present our star in a similar fashion. It is important to present our star in a similar fashion as this will positively contribute to the overall feeling of the music video.
