Some time after, we created a mind map for song ideas:
Below is a list:
Ed Sheeran - Photograph Bruno Mars - Freinds It feels like summer Aint go no, I got life (Nina Simone). 'Feeling good' (Nina Simone).
I decided for my first music choice to do 'Feeling Good', by 'Nina Simone', due to its optimistic and happy feel.
A common issue with many people today is depression and taking things for granted. This song conveys an optimistic
On Friday the 18th of September 2015, we were given a power point overview on the conventions of a music video.
Music videos can convey stories in different ways, including:
Narrative: Song involves a specific story (e.g Sam Smith - 'I'm not the only one' - Husband affair, with wife knowing ) enabling for the lyrics and songs meaning to bear more significance to the audience.
Performance: Showing a band/music artist playing the song in the video ( E.g. James Bay - Hold Back The River').
Mixture: A combination of both a narrative and of the musician playing the song, with the camera cutting from one to the other ('Ed Sheeran - Sing'),
Animation: Music videos involving animation (e.g. 'a-ha' Take On Me'), giving a more entertainingful mood for the audience.
Cameo: Music video involving the musician in a brief role, but without being part of the storyline, or performing (E.g. Ed Sheeran - The A Team).
The common conventions of a Music video include plenty of angles to make each shot interesting, cut aways to give variety in the visuals (e.g. audiences are not retained to just focusing on one figure in the shot), instruct the singer to mime the lyrics accurately to effectively convince audiences the person is singing.
Additionally, we watched music videos, stating their concepts (I.e storylines) and how they created appeal with target audiences.
For example, in one music video, there is a narrative where a man is lying on the ground. Other people ask him why he is on the ground. We do not hear what he says, but find all the other people to now be lying on the ground.
The concept applied to this song was the idea of something susposedly terrible the man on the floor done, that saying it had the same effect. This bewilders audience and makes them wonder as to what it was.
The mystery of the people lying down will make the music video memorable and most likely entice people into watching it again, so they can try to pick up any clues as to what the man may have said.
In another music video there was the concept of a woman turning her alarm clock on to snooze. She underwent dreaming, but the alarm rang again and was very big at the end. The concept was the idea of the alarm clock telling the woman to get up, other wise she would be late.
This concept is a common scenario many of us find ourselves in. Many people like to set their alarm to snooze and continue going back to sleep.
However the idea of oversleeping and being late for work can be quite a terrifying factor for many of us. Thus the music video uses a concept which we can connect with. Making the song in the music video more memorable.
We looked at the different music video genres and their conventions:
Rock music: Dark colours, simple settings (e.g. stage), with music equipment (e.g. drums and guitars) and a performance format, where the music video shows the band playing (e.g. Feeling Good - Muse).
Rnb: (e.g. 'Fith Harmony' - Worth It') Usually present women inuendousely, by having revealing clothes. Additionally, they feature expensive cars and men with luxurious houses and women beside them. Thus portraying wealth and power, which many audiences (particularly men in the prefered audience reception) would feel influenced to want to live like. This helps to give them a form of escapism in which they could imagine themselves as the people in the music video.
Jazz music: Bright lights and often contain performances on huge stages. The men and women are dressed in sophisticiated clothing and incorporate ecentric items such as the old fashioned microphones and clothing (e.g. bow ties). The music videos often convey an elegant and sophisticate look.
Hip hop: Comprise of dark colours and portrays women in a inuendous appeal for male audiences. Additionally, it portrays men in an inuendous appeal for women.
Pop music: Uses bright colours, flashing lights as well as creative backdrops/settings. This helps to engage younger audiences, as well as by having young pop artists wearing innocent and relatable clothing for further appeal.
Below is a list of concepts I would like to apply to my music video:
A close freind/family relationship: This concept I believe is rather minor among music videos today, as many centre around romantic relationships (E.g. 'Marvin Gaye'). Additionally, I feel this concept to be more closer to the heart, as family and freinds are considerably the most closest of people you bond with. Some youths nowadays take their parents for granted and may ignore their close freinds at times. Therefore, I feel a concept such as this would be educative in enforcing the message that you should always appreciate those closest to you.
A person deciding to be more optimistic and overcome depression. Depression is a common issue in many of todays society, with people rarely looking on the positives. I would like to use this concept in hopefully inspiring audiences to think more optimistically and forget about all the bad things.
My chosen concept will be the second one. My target audience for this music video is youths aged 16 to 18, whom are very likely to exhibit depression as a part of growing up and confusion with what they want to do.
I feel this concept would be very relevent to this target group.
According to the website http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/generalized-anxiety-disorder-among-children.shtml 1.0% of 15-16 year olds have 'Generalised Anxiety Disorder', while 1.8% of 17 to 18 year olds too have it.
'Generalised Anxiety Disorder' is a long term condition, where people can have a high amount of anxiety/worry over different scenarios ( E.g interview/argument), which can result in restlessness, lack of concentration and sleep.
From personal experience, I have found that just making yourself forget about the worries and thinking about the good things is a good way of easing anxiety.
Website link : http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anxiety/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Therefore, I feel this concept would tie in nicely with a song called 'Feeling good', by 'Nina Simone'.
The key lyrics in the song 'Its a new day, Its a new life for me' I feel are the most crucial in my concept. The meaning behind this song (in my personal opinion) is to forget about all the things from 'yesterday' and start fresh (without thinking about any negative factors regardless) and renew yourself more positively.
The idea of wiping away your supposed old self (one possesing all worries and fears in head) enables for you to feel empty and full of opportunity to fill your self with everything positive.
I will present this concept into a narrative, so the lyrics retain their crucial meaning and are significant to the audience. This way audiences will more likely take in the message of forgetting about yesterday and deciding to start fresh regardless of what happened in the past.
Whereas if the song was presented in a performance format, the audience would just be focused on the band playing the song, rather than paying exact attention to the lyrics and understanding the meaning behind the song.
Analysis of the song:
Below are the lyrics:
Birds flyin' high, you know how I feel Sun in the sky, you know how I feel Breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel
Comment: These lyrics feature elements from nature (I.e birds, sun and breeze). This gives a rather calm tone to the song. Additionally the theme of nature implies a mood of freedom, as the birds are free to fly about anywhere.
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me. Yeah, it's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me, ooooooooh... And I'm feelin' good.
Comment: These lyrics instnatly imply the start of something new for the anymous character (I.e singer - Nina Simone) and that she will now start a whole new life and is feeling better for it. This gives the impression that she now feels refreshed from leaving behind her past and sees great opportunity in her new life and present day.
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel River runnin' free, you know how I feel Blossom on the tree, you know how I feel It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me, And I'm feelin' good
Comment: Metaphoricaly emphasising the river as "runnin' free" helps to reinforces the song to be about freedom.
There are no humans incorporated into the lyrics either, conveying a possible sense of rebelion toward her past, which may have revolved around difficulties in human society. However animals are isolated from us and do not live facing stressful difficulties like we do (with exception to eating and finding food). Thus seperating human society and revolving the song around natures elements gives an isolated and rather care free mood to the song.
It also implements the singers character does not care about what others will think. Animals 'supposedly' do not posses judgemental thoughts, as they usually carry on with their usual lives living freely. This ties in nicely with the singer rhetorically stating the animals know what she is meaning (I.e 'freedom is mine' - she now has freedom).
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don't you know, Butterflies all havin' fun, you know what I mean. Sleep in peace when day is done: that's what I mean, And this old world is a new world and a bold world for me…
Comment: The lyrics "Butterflies all havin' fun" reinforces a care free mood, while "Dragonfly out in the sun" implements a relaxing tone.
Stars when you shine, you know how I feel Scent of the pine, you know how I feel Yeah, freedom is mine, and I know how I feel.. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me [scat] And I'm feelin'… good.
Song duration: 2 minutes and 55 seconds.
Muse version: 3 minutes and 19 seconds
Nina Simone: Songs pace: The pace of the song is slow, but with an upbeat tone too. This conveys a rather prideful and optimistic tone.
Muse: Songs pace: A more quicker and up beat pace. It conveys a more rebellious and care free mood, emphasizing to forget about yesterday and feel optimistic about the present.
Nina Simones Performance Style: Nina Simone used a range of genres, including Jazz, classical and even pop. They had a rather positive and happy tone to them.
Therefore I would like to convey the same positive mood in my music video.
Muse performance style: They like to convey an aggressive rebellious and confident tone to their songs. This coincides well with the songs concept.
Performers image: Nina Simone wore a bright yellow dress in one of her others songs 'Got no I got life' (again another positively toned song). Additionally, she often wore large ear rings and had a rather distinct hair style. This was mainly due to her performing in the olden times, where there existed eccentric based wear.
However, her distinct image conveys a sense of self pride in your distinct self. Nina Simone both sung and played the piano, giving an eccentric and happy felt tone to her songs.
Muse performance image: Muse had spiked up hair and skin head styles, conveying a rebellious personae. This coincides well with the songs prideful and optimistic tone.
They play generic rock instruments, including guitars and drums. This gives the rebellious tone to the song.
Once more their image gives a sense of independence and self pride, reflecting the songs message of 'feeling good' about yourself.
Nina Simones video style: Unfortunately there is no official music video to the original song.
Muse version: Uses dark/bright toned colors, including a red background, while one band member wears a black T shirt and the other a red hoodie. Thus enabling the band members to stand out in front of the simple red background.
Thus it gives a slightly dark tone, but colorful appeal for audiences.
The use of leaves slowly drifting down the performance stage gives a gentle tone of freedom and connection to wildlife, due to
A surreal concept is applied to the video, as they are contained inside a large red box, with an opening hole allowing red leaves to fall down. Additionally there are people appearing with warped faces as well as climbing on the backdrop wall.
These visuals make the music video distinct (due to its surrealism), enabling the song to be memorable to audiences.
Creative concept: The creative concept looks into the idea of forgetting about everything that happened to you and focussing on the new day ahead. It may also implicate the idea of eradicating whom you once were and that renewing yourself with new challenges and forgetting all the bad things regardless will make you feel more better and positive.
The idea of animals knowing the singers freedom conveys a sense of isolation from society. This perhaps emphasises a positive meaning to being your own independent self.
Semiotics and imagery:
In the 'Muse' music video, the people with warped faces can emphasize people with varied differences. Some of the people are smiling and climbing on the wall. This emphasizes different people being accepting of their differences and not caring about what anyone else thinks and being free.
Thus the semiotics in this music video cleverly relate to the songs concept of being free and forgetting about all the bad things.
The use of a bright evening sky gives a light tone to implicate freedom as well as a connection to nature and isolation from human civilization.
Below is my plot idea for the music video
A depressed Youth is sitting alone on the beach. He is holding something (e.g. a failed exam results sheet/broken up relationship with girl friend). To enhance the depression, I will apply grey clothing and grey colour effect to the scene.
Suddenly, a beach ball hits his face. He is asked to throw it over. A beach ball usually has rainbow coloured stripes and will serve as the first impact of optimism and happiness. It serves as a physical metaphor in wiping away the negativity and replacing it with happiness.
Suddenly when the instruments occur in the song, the youth stands up and throws the ball back. He stands up and walks toward the sea smiling to himself. Additionally, he will take his grey clothes of and have colourful shorts and a shirt.
Along the way, he may help people, such as making a sand castle with a child, or giving someone a new ice cream.
These actions will help to implicate the character is now forgetting about his past and leading a new life, in helping people.
In the end, I decided the youth could reach the water, jump in and when the final chorus of 'Feeling good' occurs, he resurfaces all refreshed.
Additionally, he could perhaps stand onto a rock pool and raise his arms freely, closing his eyes. Shortly after he then jumps into the water (may show cut ins of feet interacting with water). Or I may apply green screen of someone midway to jumping.
However, there is least likely to be much available sunny weather through 'September' and 'October'. Additionally the lyrics 'Blossom on the tree' would be controversial against the setting of a beach.
Additional ideas and reasons for effectiveness:
Instead of a beach ball hitting him, the sun could suddenly come out and the boy spots the sea. This would emphasise everything grey suddenly being eradicated by the brightness of the song. Thus being literal to the lyrics 'Its a new day', as the protagonists previous day with low exam results and a broken up relationship , has now faded away. The 'new day' with a bright sunny weather has now occurred.
When the protagonist stands up, the bright clothes could suddenly fade onto him, with his grey plain clothes disappearing too. Additionally some of the other people around the beach could be in plain dark clothes too, to emphasise the initial miserable mood in the opening.
Alternatively the protagonist could suddenly have a piece of paper pushed toward him from the blowing wind in the grey weather. This would help to easily convey to audiences that THET message of the song is to forget about the bad things and the significance of the saying 'Tomorrow is a new day"
For the lyrics mentioning animals (e.g. fish in the sea) there could be people on the beach doing mime fish impressions or fish kites around the beach, like below.
If the Muse version was to be used, the youth could be pressured by some people about his failure in exams and other negative factors.
Muse use a rebellious tone and indicate a sense of isolation from modern society, due to the use of people with warped faces being welcomed into the performance stage and being free to climb the walls.
Therefore, I would possibly have the idea of the Youth suddenly running away from the people, perhaps kicking the sand and then in the end jumping into the water.
The narrative idea of the person ignoring the people pressuring him and doing whatever he wants, connects well with the style of 'Muse', due to them liking to convey a rebellious and confident personae to the song.
Mood boards:
Below are some images
The use of kites are a common element usually occurring in summer time at the beach.
At the same time it corresponds to the lyrics showing 'fish' and 'butterflies'.
In terms of production, it relieves the difficulty of having to film actual animals.
The use of bright jackets and eccentric flat caps, glasses and trilby hats gives a jazz happy like feel to the music video. Which I would like to convey in my music video.
Alternative idea:
A young youth is sitting in his house alone and rather depressed, with worries about what course he is going to apply for, as well as a possible broken up relationship.
Suddenly when the music cues, the Youth takes of his hooded jumper and appears in bright clothing. He walks through the country fields and look around at all the natural elements including birds and trees (as stated in some of the lyrics).
In the end he comes up to a hill and begins spinning around, smiling and closing his eyes.
The plot of this music video, may be a slightly more closer scenario to general ages. When people are stressed with situations, they tend to go for a walk to calm themselves down.
Additionally the lyrics and meaning behind the song have a more synched meaning with the scenario, as there are a variety of wildlife based elements in the lyrics (e.g. birds and tree blossoms). The woodlands and country are usually peacefull and can often assist people in escapism from any stressful/worrying situations, due to the woodlands tranquility and beauty of all the animals and trees.
The song has a slow pace, synching well with the woodland setting, which has a tranquil and calm tone.
Currently, I have decided to go with my beach scenario.
Feedback from Tutor
Feed back from Tutor:
My Tutor stated there need to be more stuff going on in the music video, which would convey the happy tone to the music video.
He also stated there could be a flash back of the youths troubles, and of him suddenly having a to do list.
Having just a beech ball hit the youth would be quite random, as the audience would read the youth from being sad and suddenly turning happy. There needs to be more obvious exposition for the youths sudden desire to be happy.
I need to consider what everyone will dress up in and what the do, as well as the settings in Weymouth
Evolved storyline:
Depressed youth looking at low mark in Maths exam.
He reaches for a tissue in his pocket, but instead grabs a piece of paper, which has a 'list of things to do'.
The sun comes out and the youth throws the exam result paper into a river.
He does a variety of things, including going to an aquarium, butterfly house and climbing a tree.
At one point he is lying on his bed, smiling at himself.
In the end, he rides a push bike through some fields and slowly raises his hands in the air, while pedalling.
Effectiveness of the plot:
Previously my plot of the beach had a random catalyst for the youth turning happy. This plot however incorporates a more legitimate drive for the youth to take on new things. A to do list is a common thing used by todays society.
The plot meets narrative conventions, due to most of the shots incorporating scenarios relating to the lyrics. It also follows the basic storyline of a youth forgetting about his low exam mark and trying to more positive things with his life.
For example the scenes incorporating the youth interacting with the butterflies, the lyrics "Butterflies all having fun" would be used.
It meets the conventions of Jazz due to there being multiple settings, including an aquarium, butterfly house and river.
Many pieces involving Jazz usually revolve around upbeat emotions, expressing a positive mood, to hopefully uplift audiences.
Jazz videos use bright lights (to give a happy mood), a wide variety of setting (express the songs energetic tone), character dressed in sophisticated clothing (helps relfect the olden years, symbolising of the 'Jazz era'). Additonally, the settings are old/worn down. This helps to express the surge of excitement and energy in the song, by making the dull setting appear bright and colourful.
How does 'Big When I Was Little' meet 'Jazz' music video conventions?
There are multiple settings with quick cuts to each. These synch very effectively with the energetic and happy tone of the song. The settings are common street ways, house rooms and a record store.
However, bright colour palletes have been applied to give a more appealing quality as well as adding value to the energetic and bright quality to the song. For example, some of the walls by the street ways, have been painted in bright yellow, or had intriguing graphiti drawn.
Below are examples.
The drawing of the turtle with car for a shell is very bizarre and gives a very intriguing peice of imagery for audiences to see. Additionally, there is a drawing of R2D2, which will appeal to many youths (as many are fans of 'Star Wars' and the character).
The bright effect of the sun coming through the window reinforces the bright and happy feel to the song.
The character are dressed in a rather quirky and yet sophisticated manner.
The lead singer is wearing rather modern youth clothing, including a short top and skirt. However, she is also wearing a large eccentric hat ( called a ……). This enables for a good blend of both modern clothing to appeal to todays target audeince, but also ecentric elements to keep within the conventions of Jazz.
This male character is wearing a jacket, red vest and sophisticated black shoes. This clothing wear is rather eccentric, paying very good homeage to the eccentric era, when Jazz first began (specify year please).
To meet with todays target audience, some of the character are seen wearing modern clothing. As we can see here, one is wearing a hooded jumper and the other, a T shirt.
Here is again, is a good blend of both ecentric and modern. The girl in this shot is wearing a rather typical rappers based clothing, to appeal to modern rapping/street dance clothing.
However, she is also wearing a peculier small hat too, along with some pink bands around her arm, giving a quirky, but yet modern approach to her costume.
However according to my Tutor 'Nina Simones' 'Feelin Good' had a dark over tone, while my music videos scenario implied a happy and cheerful theme.
While I still wish to convey this theme it would not go so well against the dark tone of 'Feelin good'.
I then decided to pick a version of the song which conveyed a slightly more optimistic tone.
In the end I chose 'Aviciis' version, which had an upbeat and slowly rising heightness in pitch from the singer, implying a rising form of hope and pride.
This version I felt would be more suitable for the plot of my music video, as it shows the gradual process of the protagonist becoming more happy and hopeful.
Below is the video
Finalised idea
The video however still contains a rather dark and emotive tone.
Therefore I decided to alter my story around the tone of the song, by incorporating a more dramatic and upseting vibe.
I did so by keeping the plot of the youth having a broken up relationship.
However to further dramatise the youths sadness I would establish him to have a drinking problem. Thus emphasising how sad the protagonist is as well as his difficulty in being able to cope with the scenario.
Audiences may feel rather pitiful too in sensing the vibe that the relationship was very special for the protagonist to be this upset. Rather than have the youth just feeling sad one moment and happy the next, I will have the youth go through different stages of emotions, from trying to hide the sadness by drinking and being falsely happy.
The next minute he establishes anger, then depression, which triggers him into wanting to move away from the town and to the country.
This will enable for the equilibrium of the characters constant depression to be broken, as the move to the country will enable him to let go of his sadness and move on.
Thus also having the music video meet the conventions of the narrative genre, due to it containing an equilibrium (youth being depressed) and then the disruption of the equilibrium (youth moving away from town and to the country).
This scenario could also be potentially educative in informing audiences about the different emotions we go through and how we try to hide our sadness and that we have to let go of it at a certain point.
The genre of this music video is electronic:
This versions is sung by Avicii which is more recent and appealing to my target audience.
Additionally the song is still sung by a female, appealing to the female gender.
The song has a more up beat tone tone too.
My tutor stated the original track had a more dark over tone to it.
This song has a similar quality and has given me inspiration for my own.
Songs duration: Approximately 3 minutes and 49 seconds
The songs pace: It has a slow pace to begin with but then becomes more upbeat.
Performers style:
Performers image:
Videos style: There is a very isolated and ambient tone to the location, due to rural locations with rarely many people. Wide shots are often used to display the characters isolation and him being free in the rural areas.
Most of the shots last longer when slow and peaceful sections of the song occur, while when faster paced sections occur quick cuts occur.
Creative concept:
The concept of this video looks into the idea of the character being free ultimately.
Semiotics and Imagery:
There are many shots of rural areas such as the fields and beaches with the sun shining through the sky. This gives beautiful imagery to captivate audiences. It semiotically emphasises the lyrics of the song also 'Its a new dawn' as the sun coming out from the sky usually is signified with the morning, which in turn is the start of a new day.
The cut ins of young children's hands interacting with nature implicate an isolation by urban society, as well as the children playing about by the hay bales, rather than being on technological gadgets.
Additionally the shots of the artist 'Avicii' ( ) spending time with his family over dinner help to convey the importance of spending time with your family and social interaction no matter how simple (eating dinner with family or messing about with mates) can be a real privilege.
To make my story line similar to this format, I will need to convey a less cheerful but optimistic tone, which will correspond with the songs slightly dark over tone, but yet optimistic feel.
Therefore, I will need to give a more realistic approach to the character by giving him a more pitiful bad form of luck.
I have decided the character could be in a broken up relationship with a girlfriend, which nearly all audiences can relate to.
Additionally, to emphasise the characters sadness I will include the factor of him possibly having a slight drinking problem by presenting him with a can of beer.
Instead of him suddenly coming accross a to do list, I have decided to have the character instead travel away from the town, to convey himself trying to escape from sadness.
He travels to the country where he slowly begins to feel slightly more happy as the setting makes him feel free.
Eventually he becomes optimistic to give up drinking, finds a friend, part time job and hobby of bike riding. In the end he feels free and happy.
This plot is one nearly all youths and adults can relate to as it is common from time to time to get depressed or upset about something. Some people find it difficult to move on.
This plot will re inforce the common message of being content with the simple things in life. In this case the protagonist becomes more free in the country and the sun shining makes him feel more positive.
Thus feeling more happy, he gains more enthusiasm to do good things with his life.
This scenario can educate audiences that no matter what bad has happened (I.e the relationship break up), always remember to see the positive things in life (e.g. the sun shining on you and beautiful trees) .
Codes and conventions of electronic music videos:
The main codes and conventions are:
Bright colours Fun up beat atmosphere Strobe light effects quick cuts
For example in one of Aviciis other videos 'Waiting for Love' there are shots of bright green fields, the scooter being drove is bright red. These make the visuals more visually captivating for audiences.
The use of quick cuts help to retain audiences attention spans.
How will I apply these codes and conventions to my music video:
Aviciis 'feeling good' and 'Waiting for Love' use rather light colours which are not too strong for audiences eyes.
For example in 'Waiting for love the elderly man wears a sand yellow jacket. Most of the colours have a realistic tone and less surreal (I.e overly bright and vibrantly colourful).
I will apply this by reasonably light colours to the costume of my character.
Decided costume and how it will tie in with my colour pallette
For the opening, I want to convey a bleak mood to the scene as the youth is depressed and angry about the break up with his girlfriend. Therefore I will need to film on reasonably grey days and apply a dark toned costume to the protagonist.
To make the character stand out still, I will apply a dark green hoodie and grey trousers to emphasise on the protagonist have a bad day. At the same time though the dark green hoodie will stand out and enable audiences to fixate on the protagonist.
From watching the music video of 'Avicii- feelin good' there is a soft colour palette in most shots.
In others the main figure wears a bolder colour (e.g. black jumper and wolly hat) to make them stand out in certain shots. However the colour tone worn by the figure is not too bright to not distract audiences away. I will apply a similar concept to apply a realistic tone to the setting and character and enable audiences to focus on both the protagonist and the settings he is in.
The dark green hoodie and grey jogging bottoms have a dark colour tone to correspond well with the grey back drop in the town but are reasonably a mix of bold (jumper) and light (jogging bottoms) to highlight the character in shot. The jogging bottoms and hooded jumper give a rather slob like personae to the character as though he makes no effort in anything forming us with the familiar stereotype of a youth whom commonly just goes about around streets causing trouble. However this enables for this characters stereotype to be broken, for when we find out his back story and resolution.
Hair style for hooded costume of character
To convey the characters depression, I will apply a rough hair style with parts sticking out to convey the character makes no effort in making himself presentable, which would be a legitimate side effect of his depression as many people can not always see the point in doing or seeing anything positive if something very sad has happened to them.
The use of a light toned pink and white shirt is bright but not too strong to distract audiences from the scenery. Sequentially though it is light enough to convey a light hearted tone its causal look can emphasise the youth feeling more free and happy due to the bright and light colour tone.
The blue trousers are reasonably light too and have a smart look to imply the youth is now changing his outlook from a hooded jumper and jogging bottoms and wants to look more smart. Additionally it applies the bright colour convention of electronic music videos, due to the light pink and white shirt. While not being too bold in colour tone, it is still reasonably light to visually attract audiences and convey a bright tone to the music video.
The blue shorts have a very light and bright tone of blue, which will correspond well with the light white and pink/red toned shirt. Thus making the character stand out in the scene.
Hair style for pink and red shirt character
For when the character feels more happy and free, I will apply a casual comb like style to convey the character wants to make more of an effort with himself. However I will not apply a too formal style to the combed hair, as that would imply the character turning more formal than happy and free. If the hair style is loosened in a casual smart manner (e.g. front parts of hair sticking out) it conveys the character wants to make an effort but also feels more relaxed and sociably interactive.
This shirt will be used for the shot where the youth hangs out with a new freind. The shirt is casual and smart, implying the youth now wishes to make more of an effort with himself.
This shirt is smart and casual too and will be applied to the youths new freind.
How will I apply the codes and conventions of electronic music videos to my music video?
In my narrative I will have the protagonist at one point commit a variety of positive actions from helping someone cut the grass, hanging out with a new freind, jogging and quiting to drink.
I will apply the quick cut convention of electronic music videos, which shall convey an energetic and up beat vibe too (yet another required convention), due to metaphorically expressing the protagonists immediate determination to do a lot of good things.
Props
Beer can:
Beer cans are a more common form for youths to drink alcohol.
Vodka bottle:
Vodka is a common type of drink for youth consumption.
Its large size and glass material gives a rather heavy vibe, emphasising the youth to have a very bad drinking problem. Thus implicating how upset and depressed he is from his relationship break up.
Photograph of the girl and boy
I asked one of my peers for permission to take a picture of us both smiling.
She very kindly accepted.
After taking the picture, I imported the picture and then printed it into a suitable size (the one below), which would not be too big or too small. To give our characters a naturalistic smile in implying a happy relationship, we just acted casual, as though we were doing a normal picture of two friends.
Unfortunately we were out of black ink for the printer. Therefore a slight green effect was applied to the picture. However this may apply a rather depressing tone to the picture possibly emphasising how upset the protagonist is about the relationship break up.
Below are the location mood boards
Shooting script
Story board
Proposal form
Budget
Note: The salaries are approximated and the number of days is approximate to how many filming sessions there will be.
Pre production requirements
Bridge scene
Dark green hoodie, jogging bottoms/grey trousers Picture of Youth protagonist and his girlfriend. Can be taken on one of my peers modern phones and then sent to me via Facebook. I can then print the picture and cut it up.
Additionally an urban area is more grey and bleak and will contrast greatly to when the youth feels free in the country.
Beer can A return ticket for the train. A camera man
House scene:
Bike- can be lent from family member Beer can Friend to act as protagonists friend
Lawn mower (for scene where Youth offers to cut locals garden). Money note ( for shot of Youth being paid for cutting the grass).
Location moodboards
Location Number 1:
Trowbridge bridge -
Pets at home fish tank
I asked for permission to film in this location. Unfortunately they did not allow filming. However one of my grandparents recommended the 'Aquatics Centre in 'Whitehall Garden Centre' at 'Lacock', which I thought would be a very good idea, due to the diverse range of fish and multiple tanks adding for visual appeal.
Below is a picture:
Bus
Woodland area with stream
Front garden
This front garden has a plain vibe to it.
Below is an alternative location
This garden comprises of scattered leaves, a large tree and some bold coloured flowers and other plants. Thus giving more visual appeal for audiences.
Back garden
The light blue chairs give a bright and happy mood, along with the glass chair having a similar light tone.
As we can see the shirts, table and pink drink glasses all correspond to a light tone, enabling for the visuals to be easy and not too harsh on the audiences eyes. Additionally there are the green leaves in the back drop adding for more variety in the visual shot. Hopefully retaining audiences attention span more.
Shop area - shot of youth throwing beer can into bin
Tree by stream area
This tree has a rather distinct character with its arched and bent branches. This tree I personally feel, has an intriguing character, making audiences more engaged into the shot. Additionally, it is not too high for the risk of the actor falling and hurting himself.
There is also a stub area which the actor can comfortably sit on for shots of him resting on the tree.
This stream is shallow enough for the actor to be able to splash around the water.
Additionally the banks of the stream have grass and stones, adding more visual appeal in the back drop.
There is also a small bridge as you can see, which can serve as a good exit for the audience leaving the location.
Tree tunnel and back track field.
For the end scene of the youth cycling through the field, I wish to emphasise the youth now feels completely free and happy.
This field area is very wide and expansive with beautiful views of the hills and trees too.
The wide size of this field can help to convey the youth is now able to go wherever he likes.
This upward slope in the field can metaphorically convey the protagonist is slowly rising to freedom and entering a new world, due to where the slope ends not being completely seen in this picture.
Casting choices
1st Choice:
The protagonist in my narrative music video conveys two extremes of emotion. In the beggining, he conveys a very deep depression. However, when he stands up and everything turns colourful he will convey a sudden sense of energy and happiness.
One of my friends would meet the character criteria. From personal experience, he is able to convey very exagerated and easily readable facial expreesions, including exagerated happiness and to even a comical level, which could enhance the bright and happy tone to the music video.
2nd choice:
If my first choice is not available, then my second choice for the protagonist would be my step brother.
My step brother naturally has a rather monatone expression, giving a more natural quality to his characters depressed nature. However, it might be quite difficult instructing him to act very happily.
If though I am left with my second choice, I will need to create a more modest personae to my character. For example, having a faint mild smile with no exageration to convey a sudden surge of happiness/energy.
Thus my character would suit my second choice more. Additionally, it would give a more natural quality to my character and not over exaggerate to audiences that you must suddenly feel extremely happy.
Although it would not convey the bright and optimistic tone to the music video and have a more neutral dramatic tone, to the characters realistically based personae. Wheares if the character has an exagerated surge of excitement it helps to reinforce the exciting and rather care free tone that Jazz music conveys.
Unfortunately there are a variety of scenes from Trowbridge town to my local village that there is the risk of them not being able to make it.
My first casting choice will most likely be busy with sixth form studies, whereas my step brother lives all the way in Swindon causing the risk of delay times.
Therefore, I will take it upon my self to portray the main protagonist.
In my personal opinion I feel I am reasonably able to convey good facial expressions from angry, sad and happy, which will be vital in the music video due to no dialogue being required of a music video.
Talent release forms
Talent release form for actor portraying the protagonists new freind
Talent release form for actress portraying the lady whom gives the protagonist some gardening jobs to do
Talent release form for female youth portraying the girlfriend in the photograph
Production session 1 - Scene of youth lying on the rock
Props required?
Pink and White short sleeved shirt
Blue shorts
Orange laced shoes
Camera
Two spare camera batteries
Tripod
S.D card.
Camera operator to film high angle shot of you lying down on the rock. Will ask my mother to film this shot, which she kindly accepted.
Reconaisance sheet
Risk assessment sheet
Production session 2 - scene of youth climbing up tree and playing around the stream
Reconaisance sheet:
Production session 2
Props required:
Short sleeved red and pink shirt
Blue shorts
Orange laced shoes
Equipment:
Camera
Spare batteries
Tripod
Risk assesment
Production session 3: Prologue for bridge scene
Reconnaisance sheet for bridge and street scene
Risk assesment sheet for bridge and street scene
Reconnaisance sheet for 'fish tank' scene at
Risk assessment sheet for fish tanks scene at 'WhiteHall Garden Centre'