This is my A2 media coursework blog. I will be creating a music video for the song 'Confessions' by 'We Are The Ocean'. The project also involves creating a digipak album and a magazine advert for the digipak.

I am working in a group with:

Tuesday 30 November 2010

The Pitch/ Idea That I Chose To Go With.

This is taken from Mary's blog [http://mary-jenner-musicvid.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-pitch.html] 

  • "We Are The Ocean - Confessions
  • Performance and concept.
  • I already have some performance shots of the band playing but i will need some more close-ups of the instruments.
  • Concept of a girl running away from home, she writes a letter to her parents then leaves.
  • The target audience is 15-24 year olds due to the genre (alternative rock / post-punk hardcore). "
  • She outlines her ideas that she had for a music video for this song. 
  • I chose to work on this song in a group with her and Chris.

    Tuesday 23 November 2010

    Case Study on: Queen


    • Queen are a British band (from London) that formed in 1971.
    • Massive band throughout the world; they had 18 number 1 albums, 18 number 1 singles, 10 number 1 DVD's and they sold a staggering 300 + albums worldwide.

    • Target audiences; Younger: 16 - 34. Older: 34 - 55.
    • Quite a few special effects are used within several of  their music videos. They were also very iconic such as; "I Want To Break Free" with the lead singer (Freddie Mercury) dressed as a women cleaning the house and doing domestic jobs and also Bohemian Rhapsody with the 4 face screen split, these have influenced a lot of todays artists with their own music videos.

    Case Study on: Cher

    • She also is an actor and director and she is quite often reffered to as "The Goddes Of Pop".
    • She became smaller and lost popularity as her career went on. 
    • In 1998 she was the oldest woman (at 52) to have a number one hit with "Believe".
    • If I Could Turn Back Time - The video is set on a navy war ship with Cher doing a performance with lots of sailors as the audience in the background. Lots of phallic imagery is also used, this brings up the idea and theme of sexuality as Cher is also not wearing very much at all and the navy is very stereotypically used so the song and video appeals to the "pink pound" audience. 
    • Walking In Memphis - This video was quite distinctive and talked about quite a lot. In this song especially her deep voice is really noticeable and she has a male personality throughout it, there have been some questions about her sexuality because of these issues. It's a gospel blues style song that's set during the 50's in America. Part of it is set in a very stereotypical diner, she is also seen sat on the steps of a greyhound public bus this helps to bring out the humble side to her personality so that her audience can relate to her. All of the video is in black and white, this has been used to signify that it is set in the past and not present day.

    • Believe - Quite an emotional song, it has quite a lot of meaning in it. It is set in a club environment which appeals to her primary target audience of 15-34. Lots of coloured filters and flash cuts are used with very fast paced editing. Her physicality is quite a big part of her appeal to her audience. She clearly uses a vocoder within the song. 

    Case Study on: The Pixies

    • Formed in 1986, their career spread to 1993 then the band split to go their own ways and make their own music. They then reformed in 2004 and are presently still making music. 
    • They have been with 4 differnent record labels throughout their career: 
      • 4AD - a British independent record label 
      • Elektra - American label, owned by Warner Music Group
      • Spin Art - New York, Independent formed in 1991 (now defunct since 2007) 
      • Artemis - New York, independent label formed in 1999 (now defunct since 2006).
    • Although they were an american band they were actually much more successful in the U.K.
    • They had very little chart success but they were received a lot better in the U.K.
    • All the band members come from very humble backgrounds and origins and these factors have helped and influenced them with their music.
    • Here Comes Your Man - This music video was used as a protest video by the band because they were asked to perform on a chat show but they were told that they would have to mime. The band certainly weren't happy about this because as a band the hole point of them is to perform to people and spread their music around anywhere they can. In making this music video in response it shows the bands authenticity and that they can stand up for themselves. 
    • Velouria - This video was made because they were asked to perform on 'Top Of The Pops' but they could only appear if their single had a music video to go along with it. They then went and grabbed a camera, travelled to a quarry and filmed 24 seconds of footage and slowed it down so it fit the same length as the music. 

    Wednesday 3 November 2010

    Timo Maas - Pictures


    My ideas for a music video for this song...
    • The lead singer is shown walking down the street and then into a bar. He then orders a drink and sits on a bar stool. 
    • Pictures of him pulling funny and strange faces would also be used and edited into it.
    • Canted/ dutch angles would also be used to emphasise the strangeness of the song. 
    • I would also include lots of shot variation, and lots of colour filters to make it more interesting.
    • The video would also feature lots of shots of people in the background dancing, talking, and having a good time. 
    • People playing instruments (such as drum machines and synth's) would also be in the bar within in the background.
    • The lead singer would sometimes also grab onto the camera so that the audience feels like their privacy is being invaded, this also would make the proximities really close so the audience feels intimidated.
    • Fast moving and flashing images would also be used as well as lots of close ups of the lead singer.