PW Blog 2 - Record Companies/Styles of Music

PW Blog 3 - Purpose of a Music Video/Synergy

Edit To The Beat

Cut to Beat

I managed to cut this video to the beat. I did this by not making any shot last much longer than a few seconds. This could be used in actual music videos to make the video pleasing to the viewer because if a shot lasts too long it could not fit the song well and bore the audience.

Special Effects

I did not manage to add any special effects to this video as I did not know how to. If I could I would have added an effect of glass breaking when the glass breaks in the song, next time I will take more time to learn a special effect if I want it in my video. Special effects are used in actual music videos because it makes the video more unique by making it look cinematic, attracting a larger audience.

Split Screen

I did not add a split screen to my video as at the time I did not find any part to put the split screen in. Looking back I realise that I could have added a split screen at 14 seconds when the shark and tiger are together on screen and replace it with a split screen of single shots of both of them. Split screens are used in actual music videos sometimes when a song is sung by a duet and it could show the story and parallels between both the singers at the time. 

Styles of Music Video

In Concert Music Video

In concert videos are where a director puts together a music video from one or more live shows. Clips from the gigs are edited together and usually put to a professionally recorded version of the song. Sometimes the audio will actually be from the live performance but usually not.

Pastiche Music Video

A pastiche takes influence from a certain time period making use of period costume props etc. 

Animated Music Video

Animation is when for the purpose of the music video animation is used this can be in the form of drawings, clay stop motion or digital animation

Parody Music Video

A parody music video is a music video where something is being made fun of this could be any number of things for example another music artist, a product etc. This is usually done for a comical effect.

Performance Based Music Video

A performance based music video is usually the artist performing the song usually with a band and with instruments singing along to the song.

Intertextuality Music Videos

An inter-textual music video makes use of other texts that have come before them such as a book, film etc. 

Abstract Music Video

An abstract music video often doesn't fit, they are unique with strange visuals and very little / no connection to the lyrics these are weird and confusing. These are usually more artistic experimental music videos.

Narrative Music Video

A narrative music video is when the music video contains a storyline, and the story usually has something to do with the lyrics. This is usually the most common type of music video used as it is effective for audiences.

Lip Sync Exercise Evaluation

Pros:

• I had 4 shots: 2 shot, one from one side, one from another side, low angle 2 shot
• The music managed to sync up normally
• Shots mainly went on for 2-3 seconds

Cons:

• The camera shots were not too good
• A few shots went on too long

From this exercise I have learnt the process made to film a duet music video, such as the fact that you need to film each shot all the way through and that you need to have multiple shots from different angles.

I have learnt that for editing music videos it has to be fast paced with cuts every 2 to 3 seconds, when I originally did it my shots went on for far longer so I had to re-edit it afterwards. I have also learnt that editing music videos is not done in a linear way but instead by having all the clips lined up on different rows with the song synced up. 

Lip Sync Exercise

1)   Using Elton John and Kiki Dee’s Don’t Go Breaking My Heart film a duet from at least three different angles.

2)   Film the song all the way through taking care to look into the camera where appropriate and think carefully about sightlines. Also, watch out for the mise-en-scene – do not film into a light source.

3)   When editing upload each of the complete takes of the song and layer them on separate Adobe Premiere timelines.

4)   Upload the music and synchronise each of the layers to the music.

5)   You can now choose how to edit between the layers and each will be completely synchronised throughout

The Brief

Your task is to produce: 

A music ‘promo’ video

Up to 5 minutes

Either working on your own or in a group of up to 4 members

You also need to produce:

A ‘digipak’ (Six panels) for its release on CD

A magazine advertisement for the digipak

In addition to your ‘promo’ video you will have to produce:

A critical evaluation