My group had made this mood board to show us the different conventional camera shots we can use for our music video. We are able to use this as a reference for our own shoots for example, we can use a fast pan to show the tempo of the song. We also made gifs of music videos of the same genre which enabled us to find camera techniques more suited to our genre. We commented on each photo and gif we used as it enabled us to describe what the camera technique did for the music video and it also shows us the repertoire of elements we could use in our music video.
Once we had come up with ideas for our music video, we pitched it to our teacher to see what thoughts she had on our ideas. We recorded it so we could have some points to add to our pitch.
Feedback
Each band member has edgy outfits and the lead singer wearing something slightly different to stand out
Give each different sections with each band member a common theme to show they aren’t secluded and are connected
Try to develop the idea of a black sheep with someone trying to be there for someone who is the odd one out- maybe done by having the other band members join each band member in their own scenario, bringing them all together towards the end
The song my group has chosen is Black Sheep by Metric (Clash At Demonhead Version). We chose this version of the song as the original is too long and it would be hard to create a narrative. This song was a good choice as we already have a band to perform for our music video. What also works well is that this song has a female lead singer, as does our band.
Our music video is based on the work our group members do. We created a group production agreement which includes our strengths, weaknesses and the times we are able to record our music video. We all agreed to sign it as it shows that we will follow this agreement.
Now we have been put into our groups, we had to go through everyone’s ideas on the song choice and pitch they have made. We had to choose which song we were going to choose for our final music video.
My pitch is having a band who would perform the song Restless by Kakkmaddafakka. I would have little clips of each member playing their instrument. The band members will wear casual clothing in a garden location.
Eve’s music video is called Black Sheep by Metric and it’s about someone who knew another person but something happened to their relationship, causing them to not be friends anymore. The person wants to change the past and believes she can manipulate the friend with her love.
Allan’s pitch was about Matt Martians “Dent Jusay” which is the genre alternative hip-hop. It gives the idea of the stars being calm and relaxed with a narrative that represents freedom. The performance would be in an abandoned environment with male hipster clothing which includes a beany, jeans and a hoody.
To give me an idea of what my music video could be like I’ve made a pitch of what ideas I have. I’ve included ideas such as the narrative, star image and performance mood board.
I chose this music video as I believe it met the criteria very well and it would give me inspiration for my music video. To help me meet the criteria for my own music video, I have evaluated this previous student’s work. I evaluated it to check if it’s appropriate to the task, the see if there’s a variety of shots and distances, the mise-en-scene selection and if there’s editing for meaning.
Appropriate To The Task
Overall, this music video looks very professional. The actors are well directed and it clearly represents the genre. The director has clearly shown the split between performance and narrative which show that it’s a conventional music video. The director has shown to be organised by the lip syncing of the actor as it shows that he has been told to learn the lyrics for this role. Also, the scene where the actors are gambling can show the organisation of the director as it is clear that they have gone over acting out that scene to make it good.
Variety Of Shots And Distances
There is a wide variety of shots and distances used in this music video including long shots, mid shots and close ups. The close up of the performer singing in the shower half way through the video tells a story and shows a lot of emotion. I can see the pain and agony in his expression which shows us that he’s going through a bad time. There is also a match-on-action when the performer is walking through the park. This shot is filmed at different angles and distances which show him nearing his friends.
Mise-En-Scene Selection
Throughout the video the outfits are casual which suits the style of the music. The filters and colours are soft and natural at points which create a feeling of everyday life, whereas some areas they are black and white. This shows the melancholy feel of the sad side of this song. The acting in this video is really good as it looks genuine, like they are living this themselves. It’s really effective as the part at the end where the girl and the guy is upset with the performer really shows us the emotions going through everyone.
Editing For Meaning
This music video shows a clear narrative throughout it. It shows us the relationships between each character and what they go during this video. The main performer and the girl at the start show us that they have an intimate relationship, however throughout it their relationship deteriorates. It shows us that they go from a calm relationship to the girl hating the guy. Also, it shows us the building relationship between the performer and another guy. This performance fits the song as the song is about fueling a fire, which happens with the relationships.
I have analysed the music video by the Foo Fighters – The Pretender. I was looking for technical conventions as this will help me have a clearer idea of things such as mise-en-scene, framing and camera techniques. I should use all of these in my music video to make it fit the music style.
This is my edited version of ‘The Glitter Card’. We had to record a short scene and edit it to 25-30 seconds with no dialogue. First, we planned out our scene with a story board using post-it-notes. We did this because it is easier to swap the clips around if we make a mistake. Our story was someone pranking another person with a card full of glitter.
The assessment criteria was:
1. Holding a shot steady
2. Framing a shot
3. (Shooting a) variety of shot distances
For our video, we used camera techniques such long shot, close up and mid shot. We used the shot and reverse shot so it gives the audience an understanding of the actors having a conversation. These techniques can show the actors facial expressions, body language and their stage directions which allow the viewer to see the actor’s emotions clearly.
I have learnt to use the following continuity editing rules: the 180 degree rule, shot and reverse shot and match on action. The most important technique to keep in mind is the 180 degree rule as if we swapped filming sides, it would be too confusing for the audience to view. These rules give a sense of the space and of the passage of time. I used these rules so that the clip is easy for my audience to follow. At the end of the video, when my actress is walking out the door, I nearly broke the 180 degree rule. I will need to consider this more when shooting my music video.
I have learnt to use fade out and the title intro in premiere pro. I used these techniques so that the scene doesn’t start and end abruptly.
If I was to do this project again I would add a few more facial expressions, for example when the actor was upset that he got a sweater, he should have a disgusted expression. I could also change the lighting as the room we were in had low key lighting.
