Prop List

Equipment list

·         Video cam cord

·         Tripod

·         Tape/ memory card

·         Mac Computer

·         USB

·         Final cut

Instruments

·         Drum kit

·         Electric guitar

·         Base guitar

·         Piano

·         Microphone

We will need these when filming the performance part of our music video. We need these to show the band members playing throughout the music video, this fits within the rock conventions because in most music video i have seen they have either used both narrative and performance or just one or the other, we decided to do both narrative and performance within our music video. We are hoping that most of the band members have their own instruments, if not then we will hopefully be able to book out some instruments from the music rooms in college as the band members we have, also do music.

Costume

·         Band members- All in black, black jacket, black skinny jeans, black top and accessories ( jewellery, tattoos and one tattoo sleeve, wristbands  and belts)

·         Ian Watkins- waistcoat, black top, grey jeans and accessories (belt, wristband and tattoos)

·         The girl- light cream dress and dolly shoes. Dark black dress and dolly shoes. Accessories (belts and chains, ankle bracelet, bracelets, necklace,  tattoos and piercing)

These costumes all fit into the rock genre conventions as i have seen through researching the rock genre.

Location props

·         Bedroom furniture- beds, wardrobe, mirrors and bed cabinets

Location Report

One of our locations is Apley Woods, we decided to do the narrative within a wood and thought Apley woods would be a perfect location. We are also using the two bedrooms (bed, wardrobe, mirror and bedside cabinet) to show the start and ending of the music video and we are going to book a music room in the HAC to do the performing part of the film. This fits into the rock genre as it shows both narrative and performance and the narrative is about meaning of the song lyrics which most rock genre do and go back and forth from performance and narrative.

Digipak

Cover (Outside)

Cover (Inside)

Production Schedule

Video Plan (Lostprophets - 4am Forever)

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.

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.

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.