Tuesday 11 December 2012

Summary of Pitch Feedback

From our pitch feedback, we have found that we need to make some slight changes to our narrative as we don't want the music video to come across to cheesy or cliche. The run up to the girl at the end of the video could make it appear to cheesy which is why we have decided that Beau will just be walking towards the girl. We need to explain how stop motion will work with the rest of the footage, and we need to think about the variety of footage that we will be including. Also we need to work on the styling and image of the artist as it might not fit exactly with the song. We will work on our target audience as our feedback shows that they think the target audience is too young for that type of music and should possibly aimed at more mature, young adults. Therefore, we need to do more research about the types of target audiences that would listen to this type of music. If we change our target audience it will also mean that we need to make changes to our audience profile and demographics.

Thursday 6 December 2012

Improvements to make from my blog feedback


Improvements

To improve my blog I need to start doing my journal posts to explain what we have been doing in lessons and independently and to explain what the purpose of everything we are doing.

Animatic - Beau
As a group, Yasmin and I need to add on a few more shots to our animatic, as it does seem quite slow paced. I think of some of the footage of him singing, we should have more close up shots of his face.


Research on Record Labels
I need to add context to my research on record labels and explain how this knowledge has impacted the way I have thought about my coursework.


You Give Me Something - James Morrison
I need to give and explanation as to why I have put this video on my blog.


In your arms - Music video analysis
I need to put this analysis with the music video, so it makes more sense.

Bruno Mars Music Video inspirations
I need to put this analysis with my music video and to explain more about how this video gave us inspirations to have animation in our video.

Pitch Feedback
I need to summarise and make comments about the feedback from our pitch. I need to explain how I am going to plan to input changes to our project. We need to make changes to the audience profile and demographics.



Blog Feedback
I have made some of the improvements Leanne has told me to do but I still need to add relevant labeling of my posts. I also need to make comments on Leanne’s feedback to show that I have critically thought about my work.

Target Audience for Beau – Demographics and Psychographics
As a group, we need to slightly change our target audience as we have said it is going to be aimed at ‘indie’ teenage boys and girls. However, we need to be more specific about the target audience and explain that it is more for ‘upper-class indie’ people, and not necessarily for people who ‘don’t follow the crowd’. Our target audience needs to be for people who have a bit of an edge to their fashion, and not for the ‘scruffy’ indie people. We will still stick to Beau wearing shirts and converse, but he will also wear a black leather jacket and possibly bracelets.


Coldplay Analysis
I need to put this post with the actual Coldplay Music Video post. I also need to fix the issue as to why the images can’t be seen.


Moodboard
I have already uploaded the Prezi version of my moodboard to my blog.


Adorno and Horkheimer
I need to add context to my post about Adorno and Horkheimer and explain how this knowledge has impacted the way in which I have thought about my coursework.

MISSING  POSTS
I need to add a post including notes and review about that album cover article that I have read. I need to summarise what I have read and explain how this can help to plan my album cover.
I need to add my analysis of digipaks to my blog, the written and virtual versions. 

Class Blog Feedback


CLASS COMMENTS – GENERAL COMMENTS THAT APPLY TO ALL – December 3rd 2012
Lack of blogging – and relevant blogging that really shows that your research has contributed to your planning is an issue. For example the theory being applied Goodwin should have been mentioned more than once across your blogs, you should have analyses video and used screen shots in the same why that I did with the Trey Songz video and explain how they fit with Goodwin. If they don’t fit consider why they are going against these conventions that Goodwin has listed.
What elements of Godwin have you incorporated in to your music video planning and why? Also it you are subverting these convention or incorporated intextuality explain why.
Adorno and Horkheimer explain the relevance of having this knowledge on how the industry works. Is your artist unique or just another product of the ‘sausage machine’ that is the music industry?
Record Label research – who is your artist signed to and why. Consider the differences between Major and Independent Record Labels some Majors own smaller labels what effect does the record label have on your artist?
You should all have recce shoots – (pictures of possible location and not ones taken off of the internet, you need to perform reconnaissance to see if where you want to film is feasible)
Album cover article and De-commodification article lots of you are still missing this – and also the relevance of placing the articles in their context. They should get you thinking about your digipaks and the design of them. Who still buys CDs? Why would someone make the effort to pick up your digipak from the shelf when they could probably down load it and copy the video from YouTube – don’t become complacent that this is just a design task you need to show that you are contemporary media students living in a digital age where the decommodification of CDs is a very real issue.
Many of you haven’t even commented on the feedback you got from Leanne, it takes hours to mark blogs and you are making a mockery of teachers efforts when you don’t even action the feedback that you’ve been given.
Frankly – with the marjority of you due to lack of work on your blog, I can’t really see what you have done during class time and for independent study.
Journal posts aren’t just a narrative of what you have done, but what you have done and why, it should provide reflective commentary on your work – so we are able to see the workings of the group – also these aren’t shared posts you don your own journal.
BIGGEST BUG BEAR – DO NOT COPY AND PASTE FROM THE INTERNET AND DO NOT COPY AND PASTE FROM EACHOTHER! This shows now ingenuity or any level of impendent work, and frankly is become boring reading the same thing over and over again.Copying and pasting from Wikipedia doesn’t constitute as research what it actual mean is that ‘I’m lazy’. You should be referencing where you are copying and pasting from and commenting on what knowledge you have gained and how this contribute to your project or even better read the research on the internet put it in your own words and reference where you got your knowledge from.
There is a lack of detailed Music Video analyses you should have initially had video that showed that you understand the conventions of music videos and also music video of the genre you are working in. You should be referring Goodwin and also using screen shots.

Blog Feedback


Sarah Perez
ANYTHING BLUE IS HYPERLINKED TO THE SPECIFIC BLOGSPOST
No need to label posts with Raji and Leanne, just Research, planning and construction
You seem to be lacking journal posts
Animatic - Beau
Looking at the animatic the cuts seem a little slow paced, and I think it could be feed up by adding in more shots e.g. more perspective on the shots that are long you could add in some close ups of his face. I know the song is slow paced but the cuts don’t even seem to be happening on a beat. In saying this and having spoken with you and Sarah I really like the concept.


Go back over these posts and add context to them e.g. how has this knowledge/research impacted the why in which you have thought about your coursework? Research on Record Labels,

You Give Me Something - James Morrison
Don’t just embed YouTube video without an explanation as to why it’s on your blog

In your arms - Music video analysis
This post should really be with the video

Bruno Mars Music video inspirations
This post should really be with the video also along with the above post there should be more commentary/ analysis

Pitch Feedback
Please comment on what you got from this feedback, summarize the feedback and how you plan to input changes in your project due to this audience feedback – this shows that you have considered audience feedback and are able to adapt you work sue to this feedback.

Blog Feedback
You haven’t commented on the feedback you got from Leanne, this shows that you haven’t critically thought about your work, although I see you have made some of the improvements. Some things Leanne mentioned and still haven’t done
Relevant labelling of posts 

Target Audience for Beau - Demographics and
Psychographics
I wouldn’t agree with your psychographic and it doesn’t completely match your demographic. You said mostly female and then said mainly teenage boys and girls. Also I’m not sure the song you chose is can be considered ‘indie’ and appealing to those who ‘don’t follow the crowd’. This song you have chosen reminds me of Van Morrison and I would consider it to be Pop/Soul possibly for those teens who have grown up listening to what their parents have but want something with a modern edge, fans of this music appreciate it’s old school roots but also want a contemporary sound to it.


Coldplay Analysis
Move this post to underneath the actual video, I can’t see the images, check what the issue is


Moodboard
Have you got the Prezi version of this? I can’t remember if I saw it


Go back over these posts and add context to them e.g. how has this knowledge/research impacted the why in which you have thought about your coursework? Adorno and Horkheimer,


MISSING POSTS
Notes and review of album cover article – You should have read the article on album covers by now! Summarise what you have read and how what you have read can inform your planning
Analysis of Digipaks – written and virtual – I think Jack may have scanned some other covers

Tuesday 27 November 2012

Research on Record Labels


Major record labels are ones that own their own distribution channel. Major record labels produce mainly mainstream music. Record companies and music publishers that are not under the control of the big three are generally considered to be independent even if they are large corporations with complex structures. Independent record labels release non-mainstream music, regardless of its corporate structure. Independent record labels are record labels operating without the funding from major record labels. Many bands and artists begin on independent record labels. Some independent record labels, in particular those with successful performing artists, sign dual-release agreements and make other deals with major labels and may rely on international licensing deals, distribution agreements, and other arrangements with major record labels. 

The Big Three record labels are the three major records labels. They are:
   Universal Music Group
   Sony Music Entertainment
   Warner Music Group

      Universal Music Group:
Universal Music Group is an American multinational company. Its leading market share has proved that it is the largest company of the Big Four Record labels. On 12 November 2011, it was announced that EMI would sell its recorded music operations to Universal Music Group.

       Sony Music Entertainment:
Sony Music Entertainment (SME) is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big three" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America. In 2004 SME were a joint venture with Bertelsmann Music Group to form Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

·      Warner Music Group:
Warner Music Group (WMG) is a US-based business group and family of record labels. It is the largest American-owned music corporation, and it is the third largest in the recording industry and one of the big four record companies.

Examples of independent record labels are:

   Big Up Records
   Candid Records
   Grand Central Records
   Trend Records

Subsidiary Labels:
Artists who are signed to a Big Four record label are either signed to the central label or signed to a subsidiary label. A band may be signed to Sony, or they may be signed to the Sony subsidiary label Columbia Records. These subsidiary labels have their staff and usually sign their own artists and make most of their own financial decisions. However, the "main" company sets their overall budget and makes decisions like reducing staff at the subsidiary.

You Give Me Something - James Morrison



I have done research and found that this is the original James Morrison music video to 'You Give Me Something'. After seeing this video we have tried to make our video completely different to the original. Although we have kept the guitar as this is Beau's selling point. However, we have made differences because in our video Beau will not be singing the whole song or playing the guitar throughout the whole video. Also, we are going to use a range of camera techniques such as; stop motion and animation. We will also have more of a narrative than the original music video.

'In your arms' - Music Video Analysis




In your arms - Music video analysis

The music video 'In you arms' inspired us to use stop motion in our own music video. We felt it would be effective as it is a unique technique, and would broaden our range of camera techniques, as well as having footage and animation. This music video took one year to make, so we understand that stop motion can be time consuming, which is why we decided to not have our whole music video in stop motion. I have used this particular video as I feel it shows a good demonstration of the stop motion technique. 

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Bruno Mars Music Video



Our animation ideas have been inspired by Bruno Mars - 'Just the way you are' music video. The video uses a small part of animation in the video, where the singers face has been created out of a tape and the animation is singing along with the music. We thought we could use this technique in our video, with a hand drawn face of Beau. We wanted to use this technique as it will broaden out range of camera techniques. However, animation can be time consuming as they are hand drawn drawings which is why we decided to only have a small part of the music video in animation.

Pitch Feedback





Pitch - Beau Music Video

Annotation of song lyrics


We have annotated the song lyrics to give an idea as to what will be happening in the video during each part of the song. We have also labelled the timings of each verse so we roughly know how long each shot should be when we are planning.

Monday 8 October 2012

Coldplay - Paradise Music Video




Paradise Music Video Analysis - Coldplay


  • Some of the lyrics to the song are held up on the cardboard, so the sound is connecting with the visuals. 
  • The band doesn't take themselves too seriously, and is quite a light-hearted fun music video. 
  • Elephants - Random but compares to how an elephant would be feeling stuck in a zoo but actually wants to escape to paradise.
  • In london, on the tube - everyday places, audience connecting with the video. 
  • Bright colours, sun shining, contributes to the light-hearted feeling.
  • Lyrics and visuals link together as it shows they are dreaming of paradise.
  • The video is telling the audience a story, it has a beginning, middle and end.
  • Mixing fantasy with reality - takes off elephant head - zooms up on converse.
  • Intertextual referencing Bob Dylan (dropping of cards).
  • Looks like the opening sequence of a film with titles at the beginning, introducing the story.
  • When he has finally reached 'Paradise' it is like a family reunion.
  • The band playing together is paradise - playing in 'paradise' to playing live on stage.
  • 'When she was just a girl' - There is no girl. Amplifying not illustrating. 
  • No close-ups of the band - not necessary as Coldplay are well known. 

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Lesson 1 - Adorno and Horkheimer


Adorno and Horkheimer

Adorno and Horkheimer adopted the term ‘culture industry’ to argue that the way in which cultural items were produced was analogous to how other industries manufactured vast quantities of consumer goods. Adorno and Horkheimers view of cultural production has, with some justification, often been portrayed as the pessimistic lament of cultural elitists who were dismayed at what they perceived to be the homogeneity and vulgarity of “mass” taste, and who were concerned that the potential for artistic creativity in music, literature and painting had been co-opted and corrupted by the production methods and administrative regimes of industrial capitalism.
This means that Adorno and Horkheimer believe that the culture industry forms mass audiences who can be easily manipulated by capitalist corporations and authoritarian governments. They believe it limits creativity for artists as everyone is now the same and the mass audience are controlled and do not expect anything more. Artists now are seen as products and we try to make as much money as possible in a short period of time as singers now have a short ‘shelf life’.
Artists that follow this theory are JLS, One Direction Justin Bieber and many more. They all have products sold of them which would appeal to their target audience so that they make more money aside from singing.
Artists who do not follow this theory would be less mainstream artists someone like Lana Del Rey. She has a unique voice, a little bit different to what the mass audience expects and she isn’t being tried to be sold as a product.

Arctic Monkeys presentation


Music video analysis - Jay Z





99 Problems Music Video Analysis – Jay-Z:

  •  
  • ·      Not much scopophilia as he is saying he doesn’t have a problem with girls.
  • ·      Black & white effect – ‘ghetto stylee’ – opposing old NY films, dull run- down, urban 
  • ·      Low camera angles – making Jay-Z look big 
  •       Montage – random shots
  • ·      Intertextual referencing – “this one’s for you Rick” – Rick Ruben – founder of Def Jam
  • ·      Hip-hop genre – shows typical ‘thug life’ – graffiti, police, criminality, chains, baseball cap, big jacket, baggy jeans
  • ·      Derogatory treatment of women – ‘bitch’ – shot of a dog, then women shot in bikinis
  • ·      Illegal dog fight, prison, fences, setting – Brooklyn – run-down, basketball courts, balaclavas, shooting, street dancing – less about money aspect
  • ·      Record shop shots repeated throughout – old school – keepin’ it real
  • -       Representing him as having musical integrity
  •    Lots of close-ups of Jay-Z
  •   Hand gestures
  •    Exit signs crop up throughout – recurring motif
  •    Recurring use of ‘the diamond’ throughout – reference to Rock Nation – promoting others on label as well as himself