Hi today we had to know what were the good and positive qualities of the artist's websites. One of the good website was of the "Run the Jewel" website. Mr. Harrison showed us an analysis of it and it clearly showed the difference between an ok website and an awesome website. I felt that with this clear analysis I was able to identify the features and I have a picture in my head of what to do for my own website.
--> packaging for digital contact (CD/DVD/Blue Ray)
- It is important?
makes it look nice - might buy
increase sales if appealing enough
can be sold for collection
Why have digipaks to help artist's music?
1. attract consumers
2. to not "put off" consumers
3. Genre-specific appeal to target audience
4. Star persona = star development
5. appeal as a physical product
*Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s.
In class today, we have annotated the 3 digipaks of the 3 famous but very different artists of this era. Each digipaks has its own unique point and there are both similarity and difference of each digipaks depending the year or what they like.
These are some shots that were very similar to the original music video. Even though some shots were not that similar, but I believe that it has show some originality of our group which I feel have made it more unique.
This is the full music video that we have compared, most part were similar but we also changed it a little to make it our own style.
Editing During my free period on Friday as well as media studies lesson, I have tried to experiment around with editing the clip. It was not that easy at all because of the limited shots taken and the number of edits per second. I have taken more than 3 hours to just do the first 30 seconds of the music video. This is the screenshot of one of the scenes that I had to edit. It took about 30minutes to edit this part because I had to make sure that the two shots that I have taken was in the right place and was in sync with the music.
This is my first try for the first 30 seconds of my "Uptown Funk" music video
This next clip is the time-lapse of George's, Pooh's and mine's editing in Premiere. This is only the first few seconds of the editing.
This is the final piece of the first minute of Uptown Funk George, Pooh and Pearl's music video.
This is a little blooper for our music video. I would say this is one of the most fun experiences I had when working with other people that I have never worked before:)
In today's lesson, Mr. Harrison showed us a music video which was Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars. We were given a task to portray our own Uptown Funk which is similar to the original. This is the original music video
The analyzing of this music video was not as easy, because due to many edits. There were at least 5 different shots in the first one minute of the music video, but they were mostly edited therefore it looked like there was more than 5 different shots. I have screenshot most of the shots that were edited in the first minute of the music video I have also printed this sheet and put the time on the sheet to know which shot should be edited at what time but I kind of lost the sheet so I have screened shot the one in google Docs instead.
After all the planning about the settings, characters, shots etc. My team: Pooh, George and I, we have started shooting on Tuesday lesson and lunch, and Thursday media lesson. I was mostly the cameraman and I have acted as the girl who walks past the Harrow "Bruno Mars." I would say that the shots wasn't as hard to shoot, it was only just how to put together and make it look good and effective.
I am the girl in blue, I was trying to shoot one of the scenes. Which in this case, this shot was one of the low angle shots.
These two pictures were the "behinds the scene", and as shown in the picture of George dabbing, he is holding the sheet of the screenshots that I have took from the original music video too. So we were all trying to make it as similar as much as possible.
Hi Blog!!!! After learning more tools and getting used to premiere after a little while, I have decided to help the Prefect team to produce their Prefect video. The prefect video is based on one long take and is based one only on song which is "Can't stop the feeling" - Justin Timberlake I would say that the visual and the music amplify each other because the music is upbeat and the emotions of the people are most positive and cheerful. One of the changes I had to do while editing this video was the lighting of the clip. This video was taken at 5:30pm which the lighting in the sixth form building was quite dim and therefore the colors were not as vibrant and bright. So I had to change the colours and change the level of exposure to make it brighter and more fresh for the audiences.
As I have mentioned above, this music video is formed by one long take therefore, I tried not to cut or edit a lot so I have just change a part of the music video. But other than that I have just added names which has a font called "semi-casual" in to introduce the people in this music video and to make it more than just a music video for the students at school to see.
This is our finalized version for the Prefect Video.
I felt that this was a good practice and most of the people in the team said that it was pretty good. So I would say a good start before editing the real music video.
Today session we had a practice on editing our own music video. It was quite challenging because I have not quite done a lot of editing since the last coursework, but also I have never worked on producing my own music video. Therefore I had to fiddle around with the tools to get use to premiere and also learning more about the great techniques of producing an epic music video. I found that today's lesson was very fun and it had made me realized that to make one good music video, it takes more than just 10 minutes to just edit one scene but you have to put your all into it and try to imagine what audiences like yourself would like from a music video. The first tool that I've learnt from this session was when we click the letter M on the keyboard, the green arrow would appear and this would tell which part or shot we want in each scene. This is also an advantage for me because it was easier for me to know which part I want or which part is important.
This screenshot of the timeline is very significant as well because it will tell me exactly where I have put each shot or part. Also when making music video, there should be many editing to make it more interesting to audiences and therefore this timeline makes sure that I reach my target or objectives.
By the end of the first minute of the music video, I have already used at least 2 hours of editing and this have proven to me that editing music videos is not that easy to appeal to as many audiences. And with limited shots that have been taken, it can take longer to put each scene in and to make it as fascinating as other great, top music video in the music industry. This is the final cut for the first minute of "GET LUCKY" music video
This week we had a lesson and homework time to do a presentation on a music genre on "codes and conventions". I have chosen Rap as my genre and I specifically compared female artists e.g.. Nicki Minaj, Fergie I have done Rap Genre because I feel that I want to come out of my comfort zone and do something different than what I have already know already. From different research of rap music, it made me realize how rap can shape people and it also represents a group of people who wants to be themselves and be honest.
Here are some other extra conventions that also represent Rap Music:
a lot of focus on the artist
the excitement of the music video is all created through facial expressions, camera angles and editing techniques
uses simple locations or abandoned locations
usually shot with dark lightings and low angle shots --> shows mysteriousness and powerfulness and important when using the two techniques
Hi Blog! In this lesson with Mr. Harrison, we have learnt about codes and conventions of boybands. Each boyband has their own characteristics but they are also similar in some kind of way. Also some music videos have intertextual from movies and shows as well.
Today we have discussed about editing music videos. We believe that for a good music video, there has to be regular cuts to make the video more attractive to audiences. Without edits, the music video wouldn't be as interesting because there are not a lot of new shots or any shots that could make the audiences engage with the music video.
1. My Neighbour's House
Counting Edits: 8 edits in 40 seconds
This Music video was created by students. I would say this music video is not a good example of a good music video because it has only a few edits which makes the song and the video not as interesting as other music videos that may have more interesting edits and more cuts. Also the shots that were taken were kind of dull and not as good taken as other music videos.
Some of the shots here are not that clear or significant so I feel that the music video is non-uniformed and they are not as appealing.
Some audiences would say that the shots taken were not linked because in one shot the guitarist was playing very fast, but the song was actually not and it wasn't in tune, therefore when taking shots or editing scenes, they should be careful with details and should make audiences attract to the song and the video.
2. We share the same skies -The Crib
Counting Edits: 23 edits in 40 seconds
This music video was sung and acted by "The Cribs". I would say that even though the video is not as clearly planned or even when the scenes are only black and white, this music video is more attractive and more fascinating that the first one that is made by students. The 300% increase in editing makes the video more appealing and it attracts the audiences attentions more. The side by side shots here also made the video more significant because audiences are able to see what the two shots are and how they are similar, contrasts or linked.
3. Who's That Chick? - David Guetta and Rihanna
Counting Edits: about 60 edits in 40 seconds
This music video have became one of the most edited music video I have seen. The changing of shots were very regular and it has created some excitement for audiences like me. However, sometimes the editing have been a little to frequent and have created some dizziness for me. On the other hand, the editing of the color effects are very eye catching and makes us watch the music video until the end. 4. Love you like a love song - Selena Gomez
Counting Edits: 16 edits in 40 seconds
This music that I have chosen is one of my favorite music video for counting edits because I feel that its not a bad number of edits and because every cut links to the next scene and it makes audiences wonder what will happen next due to the mis en scenes, setting and even the edit. Even though the number of edits are a lot lower than the one before, but it doesn't make the music video any less interesting. But I think it depends on the rhythm of the song and the plot of the music video as well.
1. Lyrics and Visuals - Illustrative --> Clear connection e.g. Can't stop the feeling by Justin Timberlake The lyrics imply that people are having fun and they cannot stop being happy, which is also illustrate in the music video because the main vocalist (Justin Timberlake) and other people are dancing and having fun. Dancing here may also symbolize the positive feeling they all had
- Contradict --> Connection is unclear e.g. Price tag by Jessie J The Music Video here contradicts with the lyrics in almost every scene because the lyrics should be about not thinking too much about the money. However, some shots in the music video includes money and how people is surrounded and care about money because "money is important" and "money is the key to happiness"
In this shot where Jessie J is dancing beside the "money" trees contradicts the most. - Amplify --> Visual create further meaning eg. We don't talk anymore This music video is one of my favorite music videos this year because all the scenes are parallel edited and it shows both characters clearly about their similarities, differences and even emotions. The song is about how the 2 characters used to be lovers but now they have been separated so the music video shows both character's life after their breakup and how they "don't talk anymore". Which this also links to feelings and emotions not just how they don't talk anymore but how this breakup has made them who they are now.
2. Music and Visuals - Illustrative --> e.g. Brave by Sara Bareilles The use of rhythm, beat here connects with the music video. Every shot that is edited matched with the beat of the song which makes audiences like me feel that the song and shots are uniform and not confused about the contrasts. The song and the people in the shots are dancing or walking on beat so therefore it makes the song more positive and smoother.
3. Voyeurism = Notion of looking... - "Objectification" --> the process turning someone into an object. --> not based on talent, personality, identity * OBJECT OF SEXUAL GRATIFICATION e.g. I Luh Ya Papi by Jennifer Lopez The Music Video here has a different point of view than most music videos because usually female would be the sexual objects but in this music video Jennifer Lopez and her friends decided that they wanted the males to be the sexual object instead because they said that they see only females being objectified in music videos and the artists (mostly males) are shot in yachts and with luxurious cars with half naked girls. Therefore, they felt that females should be dominate and males should be objectified this time.
4. Intertextuality e.g. Love Story by Taylor Swift This song was written by Taylor Swift and she create an allusion where she compares her love for a boy and of Romeo and Juliet. It was mostly based of how they were banned to see each other and are willing to die to be together.
The location was firstly shot at a school but then changed into a castle, ballroom and in an older time period. I find that the lighting is very significant because it changes to the mood and atmosphere of each scene.
The intertextual here is the link between Romeo and Juliet, however, the music video is the modernized version of the story. Taylor Swift had adapted this epic, most popular, most well-known love story into her music video, therefore this had made her music video and music more interesting and attractive to audiences of different ages.
Andrew Goodwin theory --> Music videos ignore common narratives as they essentially advertisements. As consumers, we make up our own meanings of a song in our minds: a music video can anchor meaning and gives the record company/ artist a method of anchoring meaning... He explains his theory using 6 different conventions within a music video: 1. A relationship between lyrics and the visuals, which illustrates, amplify or contradict the lyrics
2. The relationship between music and the visual, which illustrates, amplify or contradict the music.
3. Genre-related style and iconography present
4. Multi close-ups of main artist or vocalists: the creation of star image to promote a recognizable brand image 5. Voyeurism often plays a major part, especially in relation to women
6. Intertextual references to other media texts may be present, especially humorous videos
This is the screenshot of one of the scenes that I had to edit. It took about 30minutes to edit this part because I had to make sure that the two shots that I have taken was in the right place and was in sync with the music.
The first tool that I've learnt from this session was when we click the letter M on the keyboard, the green arrow would appear and this would tell which part or shot we want in each scene.
This screenshot of the timeline is very significant as well because it will tell me exactly where I have put each shot or part. Also when making music video, there should be many editing to make it more interesting to audiences and therefore this timeline makes sure that I reach my target or objectives. 
The location was firstly shot at a school but then changed into a castle, ballroom and in an older time period. I find that the lighting is very significant because it changes to the mood and atmosphere of each scene.
Andrew Goodwin theory --> Music videos ignore common narratives as they essentially advertisements. As consumers, we make up our own meanings of a song in our minds: a music video can anchor meaning and gives the record company/ artist a method of anchoring meaning...
