Final Outcome - Music Video

Brief Ideas:

1.) LGBTQ+ or coming out themed video:

• Experimental video
• Emotional 
• Black and white with rainbow colours at the end

2.) Travel/journey video:

• Music video
• Fast pace
• Narrative
• Traveling or going somewhere unknown

3.) Mental health video:

• Experimental
• Use of colours to represent emotion
• Danse and emotive movement
• Dark meaning
• Low key lighting 
• Experiment with filters on the camera

Planning For Video

From my brainstorm collection of brief ideas, I have chosen the narrative journey/travel music video to progress on and work towards for my final video piece. My main concept is to film and document a journey with a travelling theme.

 My instant idea for the song, to accompany the music video was a choice of three songs:

"I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons

"Keep Your Head Up" by Ben Howard

"Misguided Ghosts" by Paramore 

I played all of the songs and carefully listened to the lyrics, writing notes and breaking down the structure as a basis of the structure of the music video. I experimented and played with certain ideas on all three choices, however I ended up choosing the Paramore song "Misguided Ghosts" from their third studio album, "Brand New Eyes" (2009). I did this as I felt that the lyrics and instrumental features really matched and complimented with my concept much more than any of the other songs.

 I also didn't use the other two songs as they already had an official music video made. I wanted to create a video which hadn't been filmed before so my ideas weren't copying or influenced by what work was already produced. 

My other ideas for the music video was to use a contrast lighting effect, using technical features learned in the photography lessons. Experimenting with natural, low key and high key lighting. Also how the song is structurally, I wanted to cut the clips to fit with the chord changes in the song.This is quite a fast change throughout, however it is quite effective as it helps move along the narrative of the music video and when the lighting changes, its a simple indication that time is passing.

As "I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons already has an official music video, I wanted to analyse it anyway to see what kind of music video conventions are in the video and if there is any techniques I could use for my final piece. 

Mumford and sons I Will Wait Music Video Analysis:

Key

Description

Technical features

Analysis 

[All of the images in this analysis are screenshots taken from the official music video]

• Intro without music 
• Into and title 

• Tripod and static shots of fast cars and quick shots of  the road and travel shots. Having the fast shots keep the music video interesting and to continue and follow the storyline and structure of the song. This could represent and show the journey of the band's career as of financially, in the music industry with fame etc but also from personal experience. Mentally and physically maybe. From analysing the lyrics of the song, the story is about waiting for someone. This implies that the period of time waiting for this individual is quite significant and isn't a few days. It suggests years of being without this person but in an optimistic way, writing a song and having an upbeat melody shows that they will reunite eventually. Despite taking this meaning literally, and in a positive outlook, the song definitely has a personal feel to it. It could represent a significant death in one of the band members life or something. Or to include the whole band, it could also represent achieving success and waiting and working towards the ideal lifestyle. 

• Music phases in with a countdown from the band
• Diegetic sound from the audience in the concert crowd
• Large establishing shot of the brand performing at a concert
• Short exposure and screen time of some shots, encourages the spectator to continue the following of the music as of the fast interchanging sequences from being edited together on a video software like PremierPro, iMove, etc. As of the multiple fast, changing shot types, this was probably heavily influenced by people being paid to work on the video as of this being an official music video. The fast shots from different and opposite sides of the stage look effective as their shot on multiple cameras. This benefits the overall look and aesthetic of the video as of the more footage shot at the same time, while the band is performing. Examples of multiple and fast shot types:  
• Mid shot of fast guitar, suits the features and tempo of the song
• Flashing lights from the concert, changes focus, use of small amounts of low key lighting
• Variety of shot types with different members of the band playing
• Hand held shots, to enhance the feeling of the intimacy of performing at a large venue full of fans and a mass group of people in the crowd. Feels more realistic  
• Close up and fast shot of instruments
• Fade in shot to another close up 

• The use of a drone or advanced film recording equipment to capture footage of the concert. Shows the scale of the amount of people there (supporters) as everyone in the crowd are singing along and enjoying themselves. It's highly likely that this video was edited from recordings from an actual show, not a mass group of fake actors at a show. From this, it makes the whole video to feel more real and gives the spectator more of an insight to what a show would look like if you went to see Mumford and Sons perform. Showcases their work in a way. 
• Low key lighting, and main focus on the stage with more lighting 
• Zoom out and camera angles
• Coloured lighting, red
• Fast movement between features of the stage and people in the audience
• Pull focus between audience and band
• Tracking shots, moving towards the microphone 
• Pan in towards elements of the band 

My Personal Opinion:

• As of there being an official music video produced, obviously there has been a lot of money spent on the video. You can tell  as of camera quality on all angles and features of the video.
• I found the beginning a bit boring as the shots were very similar and I didn’t really like how it didn’t have a narrative. 
• When I was analysing the video, I just quickly lost interest as of of the repetitive features. Personally, I don't like music videos without a narrative. I just find them boring.  

Summary:

As of the music video being worked on by a mass group of people with lots of money, and a high budget, the outcome is going to look much more professional and "polished off" as a good video. When thinking of ideas, there are many features and criteria which need to be met when you're creating a music video for a famous and popular band.

From my findings by analysing the "I Will Wait" official music video, by Mumford and Sons, I will use this information towards my own video. For example, using techniques I found to be effective, like the fast cuts between footage. Also from doing this specific piece of work, I definitely know that I want to use a narrative within my video. 

Story Boarding:

 With my first attempt at my story board, I couldn't really decide on what the structure of the video I wanted, so I briefed some visual shots that I thought would fit the concept of the music video. However, I didn't get very far with those ideas. 

From that, I decided to listen to the song and right down lyrics which stood out to me the most and from the strong, vivid imagery. I started to create more of a powerful concept and plot in my head because of this. I broke the song down into the different verses, pre chorus and the main chorus to try figure out the linear structure, with build ups, etc. 

 To achieve this, I listened for specific instrumental features in the song and the range of vocals, then I drew a rough graph to what that looked like as I could use this as a reference to the structure too, syncing with the music in the song.

 Reflecting back on this, to improve the shot types I drafted out, I could of drawn other sketches or more illustrations to make specific elements stand out to save time later on when storyboarding as I'd already thought of techniques and who types I could of used. 

 With my actual storyboard, I wanted to draw it digitally as I thought the lines would look much cleaner and I just wanted to draw on something other than standard paper. I also wanted to do this method instead as of many storyboards for films and TV shows are made on a digital software too. 

 When my final piece was planned, shot and then edited, I wanted to include the drawn shots from the storyboard which "made the cut" in the visual appearance of the video. 

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Inspiration/Artist Research:

From the song choice "Misguided Ghosts", I wanted to create a music video corresponding with the travel and journey accosiated lyrics. With this, I would research different official music videos by Paramore to then identify and pick out key features of their visual styles. Some examples being: lighting, colour, any acting scenes or other featured cinematic techniques, making this into a style similar to previous music videos produced for the band.  

Context about the song: 

Paramore, is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams (middle), guitarist Taylor York (left) and drummer Zac Farro (right).

Their current album, After Laughter, was released in May 2017 and featured a number of ‘80s-pop-inspired songs about the challenges of being famous from a young age, dealing with everyone else’s over-the-top obsessions with your physical appearance, and being forced to act happy when you’re struggling with depression. At the time, Williams gave a remarkably candid interview to The Fader’s Alex Frank, in which she told him, “For the first time in my life, there wasn’t a pinhole of light at the end of the tunnel... I don’t think I understood how dangerous hopelessness is.” 

She is so gifted and generous, but I’m hesitant to call her a hero because she has specifically asked me not to. On the After Laughter song “Idle Worship,” she instructs her fans: “Don’t hold your breath, I never said I’d save you, honey.” Which is fair! She didn’t. I love and respect her, but will try not to project my desires onto her career or person.

"Rose Coloured Boy" official video

Analysis of a short sequence at the beginning of "Rose Coloured Boy"

Key

Description

Technical features 

Analysis 



[All of the images in this analysis are screenshots taken from the official music video]

• Acted fake persona scene before start of music
• News TV Presenter, 80's matching the inspired music sound, mid shots, direct looking at the camera
• Mies-En-Scene of News TV Presenter, interior of studio and behind the scenes
• "Roseville", reflecting on the song
• Hayley sings straight to the camera
•  From end of TV recording cuts to side view on the other side of the desk, personality changes and face drops the smile
• Throws papers away from co worker, red resembles feisty and angry, colour of Hayley in red links to the "Hard Times" video which is another song on the "After Laughter"Album. This also links to the representation of the band. This is an unspoken feature as this stemmed from the success of the "Hard Times" video as each member of the band is in designated coloured jumpsuits. Taylor York in yellow, Zac Farro in blue and Hayley Williams in red. I found this to be a clever way of viewing the band's appearance as all the three colours are primary. As before; red, yellow, blue. You can't mix any other colours to make them. This shows that they are original, individual but also represented as a group of the exception. This could be spoken and said about the colours as well as Hayley, Taylor and Zac.

 "Rose Coloured Boy" screenshot

"Hard Times" screenshot

• All of the group uncomfortable and sad 
• Forced happiness when the camera is turned on
• Mid shot through the TV perspective (the viewers) 

"Rose Coloured Boy" - Lyrics "just let me cry a little bit longer, I ain't gonna smile if I don't want to" screenshot

• Irony with the lyrics synced with this sequence in the music video, " I don't have to smile if I don't want to". This also suggests that Hayley has a choice as "she doesn't want to, but she does it regardless as of her being controlled by her work and managers, being implied that the higher people or bossed could symbolise a significant part in the band's experience where they've felt trapped, controlled or forced to something they don't want to do. Filming "Rose Coloured Boy" in my opinion, was used to 'let go' and accept past experiences and in a way forgive people by creatively creating something out of it. I also have learned and researched in the past of how mentally changing creating an album is. Besides the cost to make one but the amount of time and effort which goes into a three minute song for example, which in a few weeks people are bored and 'over' with the music must be difficult to deal with. From watching and analysing this music video, I feel like Paramore have experienced difficult issues within the music industry but also a relatable topic that others (listeners and fans) can also relate to, resulting an effective single.
• Controlled again and interrupts Hayley's privacy from the higher members of staff in the news company. All of them controlled by money and statistics. The higher members of staff in this case could be the record label who signed Hayley and the rest of her band. Hayley Williams has been signed into a music company since she was 14 so she is used to higher people in a industry forcing her to do and act in a certain way. 
• Hayley, not paying attention, looks into the mirror, artificial bright lighting creating a contrast with the dull and low key background

• Fantasy as she moves through past the mirror, as she slowly moves away past the lights (fake lighting), could be interpreted that Hayley 
• Moves to a cooler toned lighting setting with this affecting the face. Direct eye contact at the camera, music video convention, mid shot
• Mid to long shot of a child figure in the empty studio, low key lighting, cool tones. Analysing this sequence in the video could reflect on mental health, more specifically Williams' mental health. Just from the visuals and the contrast in lighting (low key and high key) in the mid shot screenshot above, this shows much more dark and black in the shot than light and white. This could resemble losing hope and patience as of consistently keeping up this fake persona, day to day. As the camera slowly zooms into Hayley's face, at a close up, the facial expressions of her face also look very blank. This shows how confused and lost she is, which would also match the reasonably for why she is like this. Having Paramore dress as news reporters and presenters is a effective way to describe and express their true feelings about keeping up this "rose coloured tint" while working in the music industry. Fans, society, the press and other social media as well as their own music label expect so much form them, and with one slip up, that could cost them their reputation. So living in this "rose coloured tint" is just the more easy, positive and optimistic way of looking at the situation they're in as its really difficult and messy.

Production: 

The shoot for my work was done while I was traveling up to Edinburgh by car. I wanted to document the journey by filming while I experienced everything myself first hand, so when I came back and edited my footage, it would appear as if the spectator was watching and experiencing first hand like I did. By doing this it also creates a sense of urgency and and freedom as the spectator follows me and the family I travelled with, however it creates sort of an escape by watching the video as maybe the spectatorship would be active as the individual would create their own opinions of Edinburgh, Scotland and maybe hasn't visited there themselves.

The benefit of filming as I was in away was to also create more of a reality of the footage, as trying to re-create the footage at a later date would of just been silly. The final video wouldn't have all the impact that it does now, with a linear structure, all because the footage was shot while I was there.  

To document the process of editing together the footage and produce the video, I took screenshots of my work at different stages to show the progression.

Inserting clips of footage from my shoot to progress the plot of the video:

Adding in the credits sequence at the end of the video:

  

Final Outcome - Narrative music video "Misguided Ghosts"

Evaluation Of Project:

 What went well in the project:

• Evaluating all the work for the moving image project, I was really pleased with my final outcome video. Analysing the clips which made up the video, I tried to keep a wide range of shot types keeping the viewing of the work diverse, not just full of the same shot types resulting in the video to be boring. To prevent this form happening, when planning out my storyboard I made changing up the shot types one of my main goals to keep the viewer interested.
• I really liked the use of the lighting contrast I created when I edited the clips together. This technique was  really effective as it showed and helped with the narrative storyline, for example, having a linear structure shows the time and days, passing from day turning to night. Obviously with this, the lighting changes from high key to low key, natural helping the plot line move along with not too much force or guidance.
• The music choice, in my opinion, matched and synced perfectly. The message and themes of the video came through very clear, but they weren't forced upon the spectator. I documented and edited the footage to feel as the spectator was there experiencing first hand, looking through my eyes as there isn't any shots of myself in the video.

What could of been improved:

• Assessing my own work, if I had the access to more advance recording equipment such as a drone, I would of liked to have more tracking shots from a birds eye view. This was one of the main shots I couldn't really create with just a digital camera. Even if I couldn't use a drone or more advance tools and equipments, the solution could of been if I'd planned more around the shot in question. Assessing the situation whether I could of used steps to add more height to the setting for me to  look down cheating the birds eye effect. Using more detailed storyboarding with my shot concepts would have helped to prevent this issue. 
• Another issue I really struggled with was my SD card not importing all my clips into my laptop properly. Fortunately this didn't show or effect my final video piece, however it just made it more difficult for me to edit. It took up to 10 hours or so to finally fix the issue which just happened by coincidence. Many factors could of applied to this issue, such as the age of the computer and software I was using as I could of been mixing old and new technology which didn't want to correspond with each other. Also the risk and possibility of storage space. The list of possibilities go on. I researched into the issue with my SD card and I tried some techniques online to fix the issue standing in my way of editing my work. To improve this, I would of used frequent saving points so I wouldn't of lost any of my work, and also set myself enough time to pay my full concentration to the work so I didn't rush anything. 

Another concept of "Misguided Ghosts"

I wanted to include another video example of the same song I used in my final piece to show a different approach and concept to how the music video could of been shot. 

In this video, it is more experimental as the main female protagonist explores different natural locations looking for her music sheets. You follow her from a third person view as all of the shots are of her, not looking form her perspective.

With the editing, the plot just progresses and doesn't pay too much attention to the song structure, compared to my video version of the song where I cut to the chord changes in the song. With the plot line in my video, it progresses over several days where in this video, it is progressed in one day. This is shown by the lighting. The same natural exposure of lighting consists throughout.