Group. Refining Our Concept

Refining Our Concept

After completing both our deconstruction of music videos and technical analysis, we as group have gathered a greater understanding of what our music video will consist of. Through closely looking at the conceptual music video of 'Count on Me' by Chase and Status and a narrative based music video,  'You & Me' by Disclosure, we want to create something that conforms to both narrative based performances and conceptual performances. We as a group held a discussion today which helped us move our concept forward, symmetrical cuts shown in 'Getting Nowhere' by Magnetic Man, 'Summit' by Skrillex and 'Kick starts' by Example all demonstrate this effect we wish to incorporate into our own music video. In addition to this we wish to maintain certain aspects as mentioned previously such as colour grading, time lapse's and slow motion. In addition to this we are considering shooting on several different locations (of which are undecided at this moment in time), all of which should signify youth culture in some way, shape or form. We even considered certain props we are going to use in the music video like dry paint that we would throw at each other, connoting this idea of freedom within youth culture. Over the next couple of days we will have another reflection period as a group, which will further move our concept forward, all building up towards a pitch.      

J.R. Technical Analysis

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
GETTING NOWHERE - MAGNETIC MAN FT JOHN LEGEND

Analysis of 00:00 - 01:35

This music video is a narrative based performance, representing youth culture in  a negative way. This music video could be the result of the London Riots which positioned youth a separated from society, something which i believe is illustrated in this music video. 

Shot Number	Framing	Duration	Mise en scene	Effect
1	Extreme Long Shot/ Tracking Shot	00:00 – 00:03	Located in an urban settlement, this shot shows the dark gloomy side to modern day society, explicitly illustrated through the use of low key lighting.	The effect this shot has on this music video is establishing the mood of the video, which conforms to being quite mysterious and dark.
2	Long Shot / Slight Pan Right to Left	00:03-00:06	The brightly coloured clothing of the individual positioned in the right third of the shot, creates a contrast in colour between him and the surrounding area.	This is the first shot which establishes that this music video is a narrative based, shown through the slight pan, which positions the audience with this character.
3	Mid Close Up/Tracking	00:06-00:09	Costume does not reveal identity of this character, this is supported through the fore ground of the shot being blurred out, only focusing on the background of the shot.	This could connote the ideology that was produced mainly from the London riots about, youth hiding their identity within this urban environment.
4	Mid/Long Shot Handicam	00:10-00:12	The character is once again hidden from the audience, as it employs the same effects as the previous shot, focusing only on the foreground of the shot opposed to the background where that character is positioned. The monochrome colour scheme also symbolises	The positioning of this shot produces the idea that we are spying on the characters, revealed through the way the camera is hidden in conjunction with the character.
5	Mid Close Up/Tracking	00:12-00:13	Cut back to the previous shot, once again showing the unrevealed character. These range of shots are I slow motion which allow the audience to concentrate of the characters movements.	Starts to connect the audience with a range of characters, building upon the narrative in this music video.
6	Extreme Long Shot (Handicam)	00:13-00:15	Showing a previously shown character in the brightly coloured clothing on a BMX bike.	This represents youth culture and how they have been singled out in society, shown through the framing of only the young male (unidentified).
7	Tracking Shot	00:15-00:17	This Low angle tracking shot, shows authority of a character, presenting him as dominant.	The dark urban environment is continued through this shot.
8	Handicam/Over the Shoulder (POV)	00:17-00:18	Over the shoulder shot positions the audience with that characters perspective, facial features still unrevealed, with low key lighting.	Establishing a perspective for the audience to look into.
9	Tracking Shots	00:18-00:27	Shows various urban locations, all with low key lighting. These shots also cut in accordance with the beat of the music.	Creates a dark image for this urban environment.
10	Compilation of various handicam shots	00:27-00:30	BMX riders, shown completing an array to tricks.	This conforms to youth culture, shown through their non-verbal language, and in some way developing upon the idea of rebellion.
11	Long/Tracking shot	00:30-00:32	This is the first shot that shows all ‘mysterious’ characters together, showing the unity through the fact that they are all positioned on BMX bikes.	The effect the edit has (normal-slow motion) transforms this shot creating a more meaning in the characters movements.
12	Low Angle	00:32-00:35	Hooded youth, located in an urban environment.	Creates a sense of authority, youth have in accordance with the surrounding area.
13	Fast Cutting Rate/Symmetrical Shots	00:35-00:37	Dark urban settlement coloured clothing contrasts with the surrounding environment.	Flick book sort of effect this process has on the video.
14	Selection of fast cutting rate shots	00:35-00:56	Predominately low angle shots of the BMX bike riders. Illustrative approach to the lyrics, shown though props used in the shots.	Slow motion and rewinding editorial features put in place to create an artist style to the music video.
15	Close Up	00:56-00:58	Old women, with make-up representing her as possessed.	This shot identifies that the hooded individuals may have some sort of power.
16	Selection of Mid Close Ups	00:58-01:02	Reveals that the hooded individuals have no identity shown through the blacked out face. In addition the cutting to and from the horse all in black symbolises death and negativity.	Creates an eerie, un-natural feeling.
17	Pan Left – Right	01:02-01:05	Old man positioned in the right third of the shot, positioned in a plain dull room.	Creating a feeling of emptiness and the use of slow motion allows us to gather an understanding what this characters through and emotions are in comparison to the previous shots, in the video.
18	Close Up	01:05-01:06	Close up of the old man and possessed woman.	Creates binary opposition between the two characters.
19	Mid Shot – Close Up	01:06-01:08	Hooded individual with heavy edit placed over this shot.	The edit put in place, signifies the fact that he could be evil, predominantly shown through the use of the colour black, which connotes negativity.
20	Repeat of Symmetrical shots	01:08-01:10	Shows all the different characters in this dark dingy environment.	Creating flick book effect, adding to the somewhat conceptual style of this music video.
21	High Angle Shot	01:10-01:12	Young males are shown violently approaching another young male shown through non-verbal language.	Creates comparison between the young individuals and the hooded BMX bike riders.
22	Mid Close Up	01:12-01:13	Shows expressions of young male’s faces, non-verbal language.	Re-states this idea of violence within youth.
23	Pan Right –Left	01:14-01:15	Black horse positioned in the same location of the young males (at a different time) connotes that they are related with this individual.	Reveals the character positioned on the black horse, brings back this notion of evil.
24	Close Up	01:15-01:16	Unidentified individual all dressed in black positioned on the horse.	Supports the idea of negativity shown throughout the video, linking the youth with this iconic image.
25	Selection of fast cut shots	01:16-01:35	Non-verbal language is shown as violent.	Creates a connection between the negativity of the BMX riders and Black Horse and the young youth shown to beat up an individual. This is shown through the inter-cutting of the two scenes.

To reflect upon this music video, it is clear to identify that a residual ideology of young people has been produced representing them in a negative way within todays society. This has been constructed through various shots which include close ups that stress the colour of black which is intertwined in their costume representing negativity and violence, which is supported through the characters body language. A fast cutting rate is also an aspect of this video production that conforms the song to the genre, and the use of slow motion and shots placed in reverse creates a more conceptual approach to the music video.






 

H.C. Technical analysis - Skrillex 'Summit' (feat.Ellie Goulding). (Pilerats, 2013)

Framing	Duration	Mise en scene	Effect
Close up, Centre of frame. Breaking fourth wall, looking into lens.	0.00–0. 27	This sequence of shots is cut roughly every second to reveal the female in different locations. The interesting thing about the composition of this sequence is that there are changes to costume from each shot and some actions like the application of the lipstick sustained between some shots. Each location is set outside in the dark or inside with darkened lighting, connoting night time.	This is a disjunctive, conceptual style technique, which is an artistic approach to the video. The lighting effects denote night life culture which is associated with young people, the group being represented in this video.
Sequence of mid and long shots intercut. Characters placed in right hand third of frame according to rule of thirds.	0.28-0.34	In this sequence, young male and female characters are seen in an ice skating rink. Low key lighting from the location itself provides colour and shade on the characters.	The location denotes a safe, fun environment, challenging the stereotype that young people sole source of entertainment is negative behaviour. The low key lighting is a stylistic effect and is reminiscent of noir film making, giving this video an artistic appeal rather than just being another generic big budget narrative production.
Mid shots showing artist Skrillex.	0.34-0.38	The artist of this song Skrillex is shown cooking on a barbeque and conversing with people we would infer to be his friends. Plain, inexpensive looking but fashionable clothes with accessories like glasses and hats.	The presence of the artist and his conversion with seemingly ordinary people add to the construct of his star persona.
Range of long/ mid shots as well as close ups.	0.38-0.48	These shots show the group of young friends running around at night on suburban streets, riding bikes, on skateboards and carrying each other. Cut in time to the beat of the music as well as with effects added in.	These are images young people can relate to, as they relate to rebellion – being out late at night without the concern of authority.
Montage of longshots, mid shots and close ups.	0.48-1.23	This sequence of shots shows similar content to those before, with interesting focus on low key and natural lighting. Camera focus is awarded to particular light sources, like fairy lights, torches in the distance and the sparkler. Rewind shot outdoors of a male emerging from a large pool and landing back on the roof of a car.	The details focused on in these shots are stylistic camera techniques designed to entertain a youthful audience. The lights can also be interpreted as symbolic of young people being beacons for the future.
Close up of faces	1.50-2.06	Close up shots of characters smoking in an enclosed room. Low key lighting in corner of the room. Shots are rewound to give impression of smoke inhalation.	The low key lighting in the corner of the room is stylistic and typical of this genre, as well as helping to illuminate the third of the frame where smoke appears and adding to the artistic effect. The slow motion rewind shots are also an artistic feature, common in conceptual videos.
Close up of knees	2.07-2.10	Close up shot of knees covered with multi-coloured glitter and sparkles that also cover the floor. Illuminated by spotlight.	Artistic feature representing youth as creative. Also implies sense of carelessness in messy nature.
Mid close up	2.10-2.13	Mid close up of young female sitting against completely white background. Wearing glasses and a hat. Shutter effect placed over the top of visuals.	White background signifies innocence and purity. Shutter effect distances audience from female, preserving her beauty.
Montage of close ups	2.14-2.26	A range of close up shots of different individuals, couples, objects and possessions. Like the montage cuts at the beginning of the sequence, locations change each time.	The close ups of different individuals are placed to present diversity between people. Close up shots of possessions like the gold watch and the heeled boots are placed to represent materialism in young people.
A range of low angle indoor shots of the group of friends.	2.26-2.30	Camera positioning places the audience at level with the action on screen. Visuals show group of youngsters performing stunts on skateboards in side.	These visuals connect with a younger target audience as they are not engaging in criminal behaviour, but instead are performing potentially dangerous acts, which is exciting to a young rebellious audience.
Mid close up	2.31-2.31	Young male holding a sign that reads “Please keep your love making music down…It is disgustingly too loud!!!”	This challenges stereotypical beliefs that young people encourage sexual behaviour and have disregard for polite social values.
Close up/Mid close up	2.38-2.45	Young female in a bare, smoke filled room illuminated with different colour lights on the cut.	Artistic feature displaying the effect of illumination of different colours.
Long/mid shot and close up montage sequence	2.52-3.01	Young female is seen riding a bike customised with coloured fairy lights on along a dark road.	The content in this image projects a bohemian theme, and the positioning on a dark road as the only source of light could again be interpreted as youth being a beacon for the future, rather than a nuisance.
Close up montage	3.01-3.07	A sequence of close up shots showing characters holding strobe fairy lights or being positioned near them.	This sequence denotes the fairy lights and more significantly the repeated exposition of different colours as a visual motif in the video, connoting vibrancy in youth.
Mid shots	3.12-3.15	Three mid shots are intercut showing the youths lighting spirits on different parts of their bodies.	Like the skateboard stunts earlier, these visuals appeal to a younger audience because of their recklessness and disregard for proper social behaviour, which constructs star persona.
Close up	4.12-4.27	Sequence of mid shots intercut to the tempo of the track. Each of these shots is cut by breaking up the frame and having different visuals placed, to make a montage of faces simultaneously.	This is a technique of creativity more than representation, but contributes to showing the diversity of youth.
Montage sequence of various shots.	4.40-5.08	Skrillex performance in a club venue. The star is shown performing to a large crowd with a strobe electronic lighting show playing behind him. Bird’s eye view angles as well as low angles and handi cam shots are shown, positioning the audience in the thick of the action on screen. Cuts are made in time to the track.	We are able to see skrillex however he does not break the fourth wall and so fulfils Dyer’s paradox of presence and absence. The cuts are placed in time with the music, a feature of illustration.
Long shot	5.36-5.43	Camera focuses in on two females are seen on playground rockers, matching the music as the tempo has slowed down during this period.	The blurred focus in effect is artistic, distancing the audience from the characters at first.
Close up	5.56-6.11	The female seen in the opening montage sequence of the video is positioned in the same way at the end of the video, this time holding a lighter in front of her face as the shots cut between each other, and it is still lit as the final shot fades out.	The lighter being held up is symbolic of the flame of youth, ultimately conveying the message that youth are a beacon for positive things in the future.

Reflection:
My analysis of this video has allowed me to identify the artistic and stylistic features of the type of music video we would like to create. This video employs a high cutting rate that matches the beat of the song creating pace. Linking with this is shot length, which is generally kept minimal, to around a second, or cuts are made to individual shots, giving a disjunctive appearance to the framing. These effects, enhance camera, which is in contrast quite minimalist in this video. The rule of thirds is ignored in the close up shots which instead position the lead character in the centre of the frame, placing the audience closer to them. An interesting technique used in this video, is the breaking up of the frame to incorporate more than one image, and this is something I would be keen to use in our music video. A bohemian style is created with the use of lighting as props, with the young characters appearing mesmorised by them and they become a key motif in the video. This is also a style I think would be interesting to try out in our final production. A huge variety of locations are used in the video. This is iconic of lo fi, guerilla style filming, where the director has set out with the intention of capturing a volume of shots that can then be manipulated with creative lighting and effects.

Because this was originally a fan made video, rather than by the record label, it displays features of postmodernism more prominently than any narrative direction or performance. The visuals are linked with a focus on young people, stereotypical of the genre, as well as bright lights, colours and night life.