Lyric Analysis - Shot Idea's

As i am deciding what shot types I am using for my video and taking inspiration from various artists I have decided to brainstorm some idea's on what shots I can use through my video, these aren't for definite its just to give me an idea on what I am working towards in my project. 

"If you love somebody"
- Shot from rooftop, urban city 

"Better tell them why they're here 'cause"
- Shot of couple, or friends 

"They just may run away from you"
- Shot of people running away from camera or towards camera, maybe slow motion, will research how cheesy it would look if i used slow motion. 

"You'll never know what went well"
- shot of suburban city/ fields 

"Then again it just depends on"
- cuts back to friends in car having fun 

"How long of time is left for you"
- could have a shot of the driver laughing smiling, either from the side or from the rear-view mirror

"I've had the highest mountains"
- Shot from the window of fields passing by 

"I've had the deepest rivers"
- cuts to a shot of a large body of water, possibly Rother Valley, need to research where i can shoot this type of shot. 

"You can have it all but not til you move it"
- Close up of someone singing the lyrics. 

"Now take it in but don't look down"
- Friends playing football or playfully shoving people on a field 

"'Cause I'm on top of the world, 'ey"
- Shot of car driving past in the distance 

I'm on top of the world, 'ey
- someones hanging out the side of the window laughing 

"Waiting on this for a while now"
- shot of fields and hills from the view of the car 

"Paying my dues to the dirt"
- shot of people buying something in shop 

"I've been waiting to smile, 'ey"
-shot of people leaving shop laughing 

"Been holding it in for a while, 'ey"
- shot of friends getting in car shoving each other in having fun 

"Take it with me if I can
- shot of car driving off

"Been dreaming of this since a child"
- Shot of car in distance driving 

"I'm on top of the world"
- Car in rural area 

"I've tried to cut these corners"
- Car driving around corner 

"Try to take the easy way out"
- Shot of people in car 

"I kept on falling short of something"
- shot over city 

"I coulda gave up then but"
- cuts back to car 

"Then again I couldn't have 'cause"

"I've traveled all this way for something"

"Now take it in but don't look down

'Cause I'm on top of the world, 'ey

I'm on top of the world, 'ey

Waiting on this for a while now

Paying my dues to the dirt

I've been waiting to smile, 'ey

Been holding it in for a while, 'ey

Take it with me if I can

Been dreaming of this since a child

I'm on top of the world

'Cause I'm on top of the world, 'ey

I'm on top of the world, 'ey

Waiting on this for a while now

Paying my dues to the dirt

I've been waiting to smile, 'ey

Been holding it in for a while, 'ey

Take it with me if I can

Been dreaming of this since a child

And I know it's hard when you're falling down

And it's a long way up when you hit the ground

Get up now, get up, get up now

And I know it's hard when you're falling down

And it's a long way up when you hit the ground

Get up now, get up, get up now

'Cause I'm on top of the world, 'ey

I'm on top of the world, 'ey

Waiting on this for a while now

Paying my dues to the dirt

I've been waiting to smile, 'ey

Been holding it in for a while, 'ey

Take it with me if I can

Been dreaming of this since a child

I'm on top of the world

Theorist Analysis

I am wanting to create a post modernism music video based of the theories of Andrew Goodwin. He had multiple theories surrounding music videos. One of these theories is that there is a succinct relationship between music and visuals. This means that whatever i put on screen will have to have a link to the music so that they are seeing what they're thinking when they hear the song. I am creating a post modernism music video as all my ideas are my own however i could be criticised for taking inspiration and idea's from other video's. I have used information gained from researching Andrew Goodwin to help plan my work. 

His theory is very well researched however applying his theory to my work will prove to be quite tedious as i will have to analysis every scene and depict what in the scene coveys to an audience.

Results of Filming at Night Experiment

The four area's of filming at night which i have tested are light sources being from Above, Behind, Below, and forward.

Filming at Night Analysis

One of the main idea's i have for my music video, is that i would want to film at night. The reason i want to film part of my video at night is because if i film at night then i control the lighting as there will always be the same amount of lighting (none) and so i will have full control over how much light i have in my shots. The problem with this however is what lighting i use. This poses a problem because if i use the wrong lighting then the video might come out looking like a horror movie type video, and won't match the upbeat song.  

I have several idea's of things i could use as light in my video. For example a streetlight is an idea for the lighting, it's directly above and so will cover the hole scene however there could be a problem with filming in such a small space, and the people in the shot might end up looking quite sinister. This is the same problem is if i use light coming from underneath like a torch, then they will end up looking like they're about to tell a ghost story at a campfire. The other option is if i use light from behind the camera, which is a good idea but i will have to figure out how to light my scene without blinding my actors. To do this i will have to go out at night with a camera and shoot experimental pieces to decide which lighting will be best for my video. I will then record my results, and ask an audience which lighting they feel best gives a happy, upbeat feel.

 I looked at a few YouTube video's as I feel like they would help my knowledge of night time shooting as I have minimal experience. I need to find out how to shoot on a DSLR Camera as they are the types of camera's I have at my disposal.

Research into Analysis

Research into Analysis 

I have read this article entitled "How to Analyse Movies#1: The Introduction" to try and find out what i could learn about analysing videos, and hoping these skills were transferable to music video's. The article was very helpful, giving very helpful advice. 

The article talks about how a single picture (or shot) can be annualised very deeply. One single shot coveys a message and all these messages put together needs to reflect what you are trying to put across through your video. She uses the example "A picture is worth a thousand words" which is why a video needs to portray the correct message that you want it to say. This makes me think about how i'm going to make sure every single shot shows the message i want it to show. It has made me realise i will need to analyse everything in my shot, including props, to make sure nothing gives off the wrong impression. 

Music Video Inspiration - "Burn"

I chose Ellie Goulding's "Burn" as inspiration for my music video for multiple reasons. The video features rapid jump cuts to other scenes that don't entirely make sense to the video. It also jump cuts multiple times to a shot far away from the scene and puts Ellie Goulding (the focus of the video) in the foreground. The main reason that this video is an inspiration is because a large part of the video is filmed at night, yet it still maintains a professionalism feel while still being able to follow what is happening. This intrigued me into filming at night however the makers of "Burn" will have had advanced studio equipment and so had the ability to manipulate the light in ways that I can not as I do not have that equipment. However I will research into filming at night and this will hopefully give me the skills needed to create unique shots that are not typical in A level media video's and challenge media conventions.

Music Video Inspiration - "When you break up in a small town"

"When you break up in a small town" 

The music video for "When you break up in a small town" by Sam Hunt is a video that has inspired me in my media project. The types of shot used are interesting as he uses ones that are possible to do with the equipment that i have available. 

Music Video Inspiration - "Chevy Thunder"

Video Inspiration - Chevy Thunder

This song's has given me inspiration for my own personal music video. The use of quick, jump cuts to various scenes, all following a story line but not one continuous shot intriques me into using this technique for my video. The group are young and the video show's them having fun and through this they have a number of interesting shot's throughout the video. One of these is them smashing an electric guitar on a rock. In the video it is done in anger however i could use a similar destructive type shot in my video but with a lighter sense to it, to make it seem like a group of friends are destroying something for fun. 

The beggining of the video looks very appealing to me. With long shots overlooking a non crowded area. It gives the video a secluded feel and makes it seem very centred to the people in the video. It also has a car driving in the background, this has connotations to mystery, you wonder what they are doing in an area like this and want to follow the group through the video. It would be hard to recreate these kinds of shots. I will have to research places i can get high up to take pictures from, and also secluded areas that i could shoot. However i feel like if i managed to use these long shots in my video it would increase the quality of my work.

Throughout the music video it seems to be a story of friends on the road. They seem to be having fun but at the same time there is a serious undertone as if things are going wrong for them throughout the video. This is understandable as the song has high and low parts and the song is about a sad topic. In my video however it's simply about being happy and so i will try and use purely happy shots, with minimal sad parts. However i could include some shots where my models are sad (ish) to add a contrast to the happy theme, if my video was constantly people being happy, it could become boring, cheesy, and slightly repetitive. 

Shots like this interest me, its nice simple shots taken at night of common sights such as motorways, city lights and houses. These shots inspire my work because they're not overly complicated yet they're mysterious and make the audience wonder whats going on closer up. These types of shots however will be difficult to achieve as they are shot at night and so i will have to do research on how to shoot these particular scenes. 

This music video has lots of shots that are unique and interesting. This shot of a close up of money is an intresting one. It has connotations of mystery, why has he got three different types of notes? where is he going? And where could he be/going that he would need all these different types of currency. It makes the audience intrigued. This shot also connotes poverty, as he hasn't got much money on him. This type of shot gives the video a depth as it makes it appear there is a story behind the video and you want to find out what the story is and what will happen next. 

These shots are the type i definitely want in my video. The shot is of a road speeding past with the camera positioned on the front of the car. This connotes travelling and adventure as its not clear where they are going but the desert background is a beautiful shot and makes the audience want to join in on this adventure and they get more out of the music video as they are more invested in the video. These shots are doable for me as i have the equipment available to film these shots. 

Final Song Choice

Final - Chosen Song

I have chosen Imagine Dragon's "Im on top of the World" as the song i will use for my video because it is a soft, alternative rock song with a very happy message and upbeat track. I feel like with this song i will be able to create a high quality video with shots i have taken through inspiration from other videos. Because the song is so happy, i will have to make sure the shot's i take will match this happiness, however there is also the fear that i make the video too happy and it becomes cheesy and unbearable to watch. For this reason i will need to experiment with diffrent shots to see which ones i should use and which ones i will leave out in fear of making my video look painfully cheesy.

My audience should receive this song better than my other options because of the large cult following for imagine dragons. It's also used in multiple movies, tv shows, and games and so even if you are not  a big fan of imagine dragons, you might recognise it and enjoy the video.

I am wanting to create a post modernism music video based of the theories of Andrew Goodwin. He had multiple theories surrounding music videos. One of these theories is that there is a succinct relationship between music and visuals. This means that whatever i put on screen will have to have a link to the music so that they are seeing what they're thinking when they hear the song. I am creating a post modernism music video as all my ideas are my own however i could be criticised for taking inspiration and idea's from other video's. I have used information gained from researching Andrew Goodwin to help plan my work. 

Record Company Permission

Record Company Permission 

I researched Imagine Dragon's record company and sent them an email asking for their permission to use their song in my work. There record label is Interscope Records, founded in 1989 by Ted Field and Jimmy Lovine. There parent group is Universal Music Company and finance and represent thousands of well known artists such as Imagine Dragons, Eminem, Dr Dre and many others. The song i am wanting to use is obviously copyrighted however because I'm not using the song for profit or claiming it to be my original work it docent violate the data protection act. I still asked permission just encase they had any objections for me using there song. 

Song Analysis - "Friday Night, Don't Ever Let it Again"

Spector - Friday Night, Don't Ever Let it End

I have this song as the song i will use on my music video because it's very upbeat and a song i feel would allow for a variety of creative shots, however, because the song tells a sort of story, i could be varied to the amount of shots i can include and the video still sync into the song. The song also has quite a depressing theme to it, even tho it's disguised with upbeat music, it's about a man spending Friday night alone and wanting to kill himself and not wanting to live past that night, this is quite a depressing song when only listening to the lyrics and i don't think i will be able to shoot scenes that will match the lyrics and it will end up not being very in sync. However, the band "Spector" do produce good music videos and i will use another one of there videos as a style model for my video. 

The honey moon was over

Before the wedding had begun

The tropical Capricorn

Left melting in the sun

But what could be more beautiful

Than a weekend in the rain?

The moment that you realize

That you're on your own again

On-on on you're own again

Oh giving him a while to stop and stare

No-ones coming to rescue you

Oh giving him a while to stop and stare

You know that girl is rivaling you

I thought it was the weekend

Oh where are all our friends?

It's Friday night, don't ever, don't ever let it end.

I heard you got a new gang

I guess you're seeing how it goes

And if the light outside could save me

I better keep the curtains closed

That night we took the boat out

Still replaying on my mind

More to memories

Someone passing time

Oh giving him a while to stop and stare

No-ones coming to rescue you

Oh giving him a while to stop and stare

You know that guy is cramping you

I thought it was the weekend

Oh where are all our friends?

It's Friday night, don't ever, don't ever let it end.

This is not something that I do best

This is not a heart within my chest

This is not a subject I understand

This not the evening we had planned

But I know you now like I knew you then

This will repeat itself again

This is not the end, this is not the end, this is not the end

Of, Fri-day night, 

I don't want to wake up alive

Song Analysis - "On Top of the World"

Imagine Dragons - On Top of the World 

This song is one of my first choices for my music video. It's a very upbeat song and is well known, it also hasn't got any lyrics that are morbid or depressing and so i think i will be able to make a lighthearted video theme. The song is about a man being very happy, and has no points where the song dips into a sad part. It is a soft rock song and has no lyrics that are vulgar or crude. I feel like audiences in current media would find this song more appealing than my other options, as Imagine Dragons are a very popular band at the moment. They also have a larger following than my other two bands and so my video would be better received by more audiences. For these reasons this is an option for my chosen song. 

If you love somebody
Better tell them while they’re here ’cause
They just may run away from you

You’ll never know quite when, well
Then again it just depends on
How long of time is left for you

I’ve had the highest mountains
I’ve had the deepest rivers
You can have it all but life keeps moving

I take it in but don’t look down

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world.

I’ve tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on falling short of something

I coulda gave up then but
Then again I couldn’t have ’cause
I’ve traveled all this way for something

I take it in but don’t look down

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world.

Oooooooo... OoooAhhhhhOoooAhhhhh[2x]

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child

And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down
And it’s a long way up when you hit the ground
Get up now, get up, get up now.

And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down
And it’s a long way up when you hit the ground
Get up now, get up, get up now.

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world.

Song Analysis - "Not Nineteen Forever"

Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever 

This song would appeal to my project because its an upbeat popular song which i think i would be able to create a professional looking video for this song. It's in the "indie" genre and as you can see by the video have a large fan base. However, the song does have parts where it could be depressing and i don't feel like i could capture the seriousness of the song and it could come across imature and ridiculous. Some of the lyrics in the video also could come across as inappropriate and so i may choose a different song based on these points.  

Lyrics

She's had to peel me off the pavement

Trying to insinuate sometimes I'm in danger of going too far

Said would I like to go for tea and toast?

Get your hand off my thigh

In the car she turned to me and said

You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together

I know it seems strange but things they change

Older woman and a younger man

Both of them doing all they can

Trying to get your attention all night long

Asked you once, I asked you twice, asked you four times

If you'd like to dance to that song front crawled the crowd

Down the stairs and then I followed you out in the rain

Nowhere to be found, never mind

You'll probably never look that pretty again

You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together

I know it seems strange but things they change

Older woman and ever so slightly younger man

God bless the band, they're doing all they can

You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together

I know it seems strange but things they change

Older woman and ever so slightly younger man

God bless the band, they're doing all they can

You're not nineteen forever

You're not nineteen forever

You're not nineteen forever

It's not me, you're definately not clever

x

Music Video Analysis

Music Video Analysis 

For my video, possibly the most important part of this would be choosing the song which will be the main part of this video. I will select a few songs which I will analyse to decide the best song for my video.

I want to choose an upbeat song for my video, i feel choosing a slow song or a love ballad for instance would be harder to use as i would then have to include dramatic scenes otherwise it would look unprofessional and amateur. I also feel like i wouldn't be able to capture the seriousness and maturity of a love ballad with the equipment and props i have at my disposal. For this reason i have chosen to do an upbeat and happy song. This will be easier to create as i can do lighthearted scenes that don't have to be serious. I have selected a few songs which i will analyse to see if they are appropriate for my music video.

Any songs with heavy swearing would be innapropriote to use for my video, however most songs in the media at the moment do have one or two swear words and so i might include a song that has light swearing as long as its not excessive. I also will not include any song that has a vulgar theme or crude lyrics that could be considered offensive to some audiences.

Planning my Research 

Preliminary Task

This is our preliminary task which was supposed to represent todays "British Youth Culture" however because it involved filming and editing I believe it links to this task. Filming and editing went well however when we were editing the film a portion of the film (0.09 and 0.38) was corrupt and so the footage was grainy and at a bad quality. This means that in my actual video I will have to make sure I have fully rendered all my clips and make sure I have no corrupt pieces of footage.