Narrative & Visual Style (Camerawork & Editing)
The storyline for our video is essentially related to the lyrics of the song, and will be about a couple who have broken up and miss each other. This relates to the Blumler & Katz uses and gratifications theory (1974) in the sense of personal identity; the audience could connect with the lyrics and video, particularly if they are in a similar situation. The video will start by showing both the girl and the boy lying down on their beds, putting on their headphones and closing their eyes (split-screen). At this point the song would start. Use of memory will be used throughout our video. The narrative will flick from real time, to memories from the past and how happy the couple were. The memory scenes will have a light filter on, so they can be easily differentiated from the real time scenes, which will be considerably of darker lighting. In between this will be shots of the band playing their respective instruments, a feature of mise-en-scene which is conventional and typical of Lostprophets. These shots will have fluid camera movement to create an intense, powerful vibe and will be quick edits for fast pace, especially during the guitar solo, where the camerawork will be shaky and dramatic, with varying focus. A variety of shots will be used, such as panning long shots to show the woods (scenery shots), as well as medium shots of the boy, girl and band. Close up shots will be used to convey emotion and during the guitar solo for dramatic effect. Focus will be used efficiently as well as layering when it comes to editing the footage.
Dark lighting effects and use of shadows will also be implemented in these scenes. In the real time, the shots will be of the boy (which will be the lead singer) singing and shots of the girl wandering the woods, now alone and sad. Also in the reality scenes, to go alongside the boy/Ian Watkins' reality shots, the girl will be in a room playing the piano part of the song, adding to the performance aspect. This will contrast with the memory sequences, when there will be shots of the girl being chased through the woods (from the boy's point of view), and these scenes will have connotations of happiness. Cross-cutting will be frequently used in our music video, allowing us to portray three different scenes at the same time. Editing to place the memory scenes in a slight slow-motion will also be used. Fades will be strategically used when necessary (e.g. when the pace of the song is slow during the memory shots or in the transitions from the boy to the girl in the memory scenes).
Costume will be essential to conveying the difference between real time and memory, as the girl will be wearing a black dress in the real time scenes, and a light dress in the memory shots. The boy however will differ from this, and stay in the same dark clothing to match the band and in order to add to the element of performance, accompanied with narrative. The end of the video will adopt a similar style to the beginning (split-screen), as the shot will show both the boy and the girl open their eyes, take off their headphones, and a close-up, over-the-shoulder shot will show them both write a text saying "I miss you..." and the screen will then fade to black as the end note of the song fades in volume.
Cast:
* Band: (drummer, bass guitarist, lead guitarist)
* Ian Watkins (lead vocalist and boy)
* Girl
Location:
The music video will be filmed in a woodland area for both the memory and reality scenes. A room with a piano will be used for the piano shots, and a dark room will be where the band will play. Both the boy's bedroom and the girl's bedroom for their respective scenes will also be needed.
Costume:
The band members and Ian Watkins will be dressed typical to the style of Lostprophets; in dark clothing with typical hairstyles and many accessories (such as jewellery and tattoos). The girl will have two outfits; a black dress for the reality scenes and a light dress for the memory scenes).
Time to film:
We will create a filming schedule once we have all band members which will take into account when all members of the cast will be available for filming, thus making the filming process more reliable timing-wise and allowing us to stick to a production schedule.
Link back to research into other Media Products:
In our video we have paid great attention to detail, and mise-en-scene (such as props, costume and lighting) will be vital to our music video, allowing us to keep within the conventions of Lostprophets and the rock genre. Editing and camerawork in our video will also resemble the typical style of Lostprophets and indeed other music videos of the genre.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Research On Chosen Artist/Band: Lostprophets
Lostprophets, originally a nu-metal band from Cardiff were founded by lead vocalist Ian Watkins in 1997, and released their debut album "The Fake Sound Of Progress," in 2001. As the band creates a fresh sound with every new album, the band appeals to many audiences; from the youthful generation to middle-aged adults. The band displays a number of different genres: from metal to post-hardcore and breakbeat. Lostprophets also won Best British Band at the Kerrang! awards in 2006.
I have chosen to create a music video to a Lostprophets song as they are very versatile as a band. Their music varies in style and pace, ultimately meaning they have a wide target audience. Furthermore, the band do a mix between emotional, powerful songs, to aggressive/rebellious as well as upbeat songs. This would allow me to be creative when it comes to the narrative and performance aspect of my music video.
I have chosen to create a music video to a Lostprophets song as they are very versatile as a band. Their music varies in style and pace, ultimately meaning they have a wide target audience. Furthermore, the band do a mix between emotional, powerful songs, to aggressive/rebellious as well as upbeat songs. This would allow me to be creative when it comes to the narrative and performance aspect of my music video.
Monday 19 September 2011
Brief History of the Rock Genre
1940's - 1960's
Rock is thought to have originated from the late 1940's, where a popular music style of the time (blues and country) were combined with a steady drum beat and an electric guitar. In the 1950's, artists such as Chuck Berry used the blues structure but displayed his own style as a performer. As this was a conservative time, the aggressive nature of rock (often suggesting sexual freedom) was found shocking by many.The Rolling Stones, inspired by Berry, tackled controversy (caused by them showing sex and youth rebellion) and took rock to a new level.
1970's
This was the time where rock became more popular as a genre. Led Zeppelin in this decade gave rock a darker, heavier tone, inventing the sub-genre hard rock or heavy metal. Around the same time, Pink Floyd created progressive rock, by combining complex arrangements and a theme maintained across albums. In response to this, in the late 70's, bands such as The Clash and The Sex Pistols shunned the "hippie" bands like Pink Floyd and stripped rock down to it's basic essence: loud guitars, attitude and enraged singing, which led to the creation of the punk sub-genre.
1980's
At this time, the sub-genres of rock began to assert their dominance and place in the music industry. English bands such as Depeche Mode were more keyboard-orientated and showed a introvereted songwriting style, leading to postpunk, whereas American groups such as REM created college rock (later known as alternative or indie, as some artists/bands were signed to small labels), named because it was popular on college radio stations. In 1988 the music magazine known as Billboard gave alternative rock music its own chart (calling it modern rock).
1990's - Present
Nirvana's 1991 album "Nevermind" made alternative rock a more dominant sub-genre, and the age of grunge (a mix between hard rock and punk) was born. By the middle of the decade after Niravana frontman Kurt Cobain's suicide, mainstream rock made a comeback after the popularity of alternative rock faded. Limp Bizkit was one of the first bands to embrace this, creating the new hybrid sub-genre of rap-rock. Bands such as Staind and Puddle of Mudd followed, but focused more on melodic hard rock than the rapping element. Red Hot Chili Peppers, who did not quite fit in with the grunge genre, continued to find new audiences throughout the 90's. Bands such as Foo Fighters re-energised mainstream rock with the influence of the alternative sub-genre. Today there are various bands from different sub-genres. Linkin Park for example combines hip-hop and metal, whereas 3 Doors Down creates a contemporary version of hard-rock traditions.
Rock is thought to have originated from the late 1940's, where a popular music style of the time (blues and country) were combined with a steady drum beat and an electric guitar. In the 1950's, artists such as Chuck Berry used the blues structure but displayed his own style as a performer. As this was a conservative time, the aggressive nature of rock (often suggesting sexual freedom) was found shocking by many.The Rolling Stones, inspired by Berry, tackled controversy (caused by them showing sex and youth rebellion) and took rock to a new level.
1970's
This was the time where rock became more popular as a genre. Led Zeppelin in this decade gave rock a darker, heavier tone, inventing the sub-genre hard rock or heavy metal. Around the same time, Pink Floyd created progressive rock, by combining complex arrangements and a theme maintained across albums. In response to this, in the late 70's, bands such as The Clash and The Sex Pistols shunned the "hippie" bands like Pink Floyd and stripped rock down to it's basic essence: loud guitars, attitude and enraged singing, which led to the creation of the punk sub-genre.
1980's
At this time, the sub-genres of rock began to assert their dominance and place in the music industry. English bands such as Depeche Mode were more keyboard-orientated and showed a introvereted songwriting style, leading to postpunk, whereas American groups such as REM created college rock (later known as alternative or indie, as some artists/bands were signed to small labels), named because it was popular on college radio stations. In 1988 the music magazine known as Billboard gave alternative rock music its own chart (calling it modern rock).
1990's - Present
Nirvana's 1991 album "Nevermind" made alternative rock a more dominant sub-genre, and the age of grunge (a mix between hard rock and punk) was born. By the middle of the decade after Niravana frontman Kurt Cobain's suicide, mainstream rock made a comeback after the popularity of alternative rock faded. Limp Bizkit was one of the first bands to embrace this, creating the new hybrid sub-genre of rap-rock. Bands such as Staind and Puddle of Mudd followed, but focused more on melodic hard rock than the rapping element. Red Hot Chili Peppers, who did not quite fit in with the grunge genre, continued to find new audiences throughout the 90's. Bands such as Foo Fighters re-energised mainstream rock with the influence of the alternative sub-genre. Today there are various bands from different sub-genres. Linkin Park for example combines hip-hop and metal, whereas 3 Doors Down creates a contemporary version of hard-rock traditions.
Sunday 18 September 2011
Digipak Research Findings: Lostprophets & Good Charlotte
For my research on these two bands, I have decided to analyse the style of two of their album covers (front and back) and to then draw conclusions as to the general conventions for the rock genre. The two Good Charlotte albums I will be analysing are "The Young And The Hopeless" (2002) and "Good Morning Revival" (2007). The two Lostprophets albums I will be analysing are "Start Something" (2004) and "Liberation Transmission" (2006).
Similarities and certainly conventions are clearly shown on the album covers I have chosen. All album covers except "Good Morning Revival" have the name of the band in that band's particular font, making it instantly recognisable and iconic. Another similarity is the title of the album, as for three of the four album covers (all except "Good Morning Revival"), are all in the same script-like font, differing from the way in which the band name is portrayed. "Good Morning Revival" however is in the same font as Good Charlotte, and evidently goes against the conventions that are beginning to show. Being a later album for the band, perhaps this has been stylistically done to show a different side to them, in order to appeal to other audiences. For the album cover I will create for my music video, I believe I will follow the conventions shown in the majority of these album covers.
The Young And The Hopeless & Good Morning Revival
"The Young And The Hopeless" album cover generally has a dark colour scheme, with the band title and album name in a dark shade of green. In-keeping with conventions of album covers for the rock genre, this album has artwork on the front cover, relating to the theme of the songs on the CD. The font in which "Good Charlotte" is written has connotations of rebellion and conveys the band's image and attitude that is often shown in their songs and music videos. This is also shown on the back of the album, through the clothes the band are wearing, which are dark and conventional of the rock genre, along with a couple of band members' hairstyles (iconography). The song listed are at the bottom of the cover, as more attention is drawn to the band instead.
Conversely, the "Good Morning Revival" album cover completely contrasts to the other album cover by this band. The colour scheme is a simplistic and bright white and orange. The front is of minimalistic styling, and shows a long shot of the band with all their music equipment. A basic font and plain background ensures the main focus of attention is drawn to the band, but the orange makes the album eye-catching. The band's iconic "GC" logo is still present on the cover, in the form of a shadow. The back of the cover takes a more artistic approach, with an assortment of polaroid pictures of the band and a reverse in the colour scheme; from white to black. Similar to the other album cover, the songs are listed at the bottom.
Start Something & Liberation Transmission
The "Start Something" album has the image of an empty motorway (or highway), and the same image is maintained onto the back. The album uses artwork, typical of this rock genre, and makes use of the colour red throughout. The image of one person on the motorway with the city behind him could symbolise his significance compared to his surroundings, and the pose which he is in suggests emotion. Again, dark colours are used overall, but the red draws attention to the band name. One the back, the red artwork dominates the cover and similar to the Good Charlotte albums, the songs are listed in a small print at the bottom so the layout is not cluttered and there is a clear focus.
Similarly, the "Liberation Transmission" album also has a dark colour scheme; although it is a more minimalistic, and is once again accompanied by the presence of red. The amount of red is once again then increased on the back of the cover. This album differs from "Start Something" as there is a picture of the band on the back cover. Also, the band name is in two different fonts on both albums.
A dark colour scheme accompanied by one other colour seems to be conventional of the rock genre, along with a band photo displaying their image and style. When creating my own album cover, I will adhere to these conventions to ensure that I convey the correct message.
The Young And The Hopeless & Good Morning Revival
"The Young And The Hopeless" album cover generally has a dark colour scheme, with the band title and album name in a dark shade of green. In-keeping with conventions of album covers for the rock genre, this album has artwork on the front cover, relating to the theme of the songs on the CD. The font in which "Good Charlotte" is written has connotations of rebellion and conveys the band's image and attitude that is often shown in their songs and music videos. This is also shown on the back of the album, through the clothes the band are wearing, which are dark and conventional of the rock genre, along with a couple of band members' hairstyles (iconography). The song listed are at the bottom of the cover, as more attention is drawn to the band instead.
Conversely, the "Good Morning Revival" album cover completely contrasts to the other album cover by this band. The colour scheme is a simplistic and bright white and orange. The front is of minimalistic styling, and shows a long shot of the band with all their music equipment. A basic font and plain background ensures the main focus of attention is drawn to the band, but the orange makes the album eye-catching. The band's iconic "GC" logo is still present on the cover, in the form of a shadow. The back of the cover takes a more artistic approach, with an assortment of polaroid pictures of the band and a reverse in the colour scheme; from white to black. Similar to the other album cover, the songs are listed at the bottom.
Start Something & Liberation Transmission
The "Start Something" album has the image of an empty motorway (or highway), and the same image is maintained onto the back. The album uses artwork, typical of this rock genre, and makes use of the colour red throughout. The image of one person on the motorway with the city behind him could symbolise his significance compared to his surroundings, and the pose which he is in suggests emotion. Again, dark colours are used overall, but the red draws attention to the band name. One the back, the red artwork dominates the cover and similar to the Good Charlotte albums, the songs are listed in a small print at the bottom so the layout is not cluttered and there is a clear focus.
Similarly, the "Liberation Transmission" album also has a dark colour scheme; although it is a more minimalistic, and is once again accompanied by the presence of red. The amount of red is once again then increased on the back of the cover. This album differs from "Start Something" as there is a picture of the band on the back cover. Also, the band name is in two different fonts on both albums.
A dark colour scheme accompanied by one other colour seems to be conventional of the rock genre, along with a band photo displaying their image and style. When creating my own album cover, I will adhere to these conventions to ensure that I convey the correct message.
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