Permission to use music

The Song that we have chosen to create the music video for is called 'Simon Says' which is a remix of the Pharoahe Monch song by Mt Eden. As this song was originanlly created by Pharoahe Monch we decided that his record label should be contacted to ask for the permission to use the music. We contacted 'LCC' and asked permisson for the rights to create the music video using the 'Simon Says' track.

We HAVE NOT yet had a response from the record label in question so have committed to creating the video without permission as we feel that no responce means that they don't mind us using this song for the music video we have created for this project.

Questionnaire

1) What is your favorite music video genre?:

· Narrative

· Band performance

· Artistic

2) What are your 3 favorite music videos?

· ………………………………........

· …………………………..............

· …………………………..............

3) Why?

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

4) Do you prefer long or short music videos? Why?

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

Our Music Video Idea

In our music video we use a Frankenstein theme to Simon Says, a song that has a very fast beat. The video begins with Frankenstein and his Monster. The Monster then runs off to see his romantic interest, after a number of failed attempts, the Monster finally wins her heart. The Monster’s romantic interest turns out to be Frankenstein’s wife, causing Frankenstein to confront his Monster; at this point, the Monster hails a few dancers, Frankenstein does the same, and we have an old fashioned dance off. The Monster comes out victorious and gets the girl.

5) What do you think of our idea?

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

6) Do you have any suggestions on how to improve our music video?

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

Audience Theories – Music Video

The target audience for the music video (Frankenstein Says) that we have created has quite a wide range as we are predominantly aiming it at men from the age of 15 to 45. We feel, having done some research that this is the sort of audience that are interested in the old style Frankenstein films and this includes the genre of a thriller film. The social demographic that we have aimed the film opening at is C2-E as we feel that it will have a greater appeal to people from a lower class background; this, however does not mean that that people from a higher class won’t enjoy and engage with the music video. As this music video is aimed at quite a wide audience we feel that it appeals to every ethnic background and doesn’t discriminate against any group within society. This means that the music video that we have created will appeal to people from any religious or ethnic background.

Audience Grouping

Media Grouping

Graham Burton’s Grouping Theory says that audiences can be grouped by their common interest in the media for example the media type they prefer (e.g. Magazines, Newspapers) or in this case they can be grouped through the genre of media that they most enjoy. This can be genre of film or television for example, or in this case the genre of music video.

Burton’s Media Grouping says that an audience can be grouped by their common interests in the media. When aiming a music video at a certain audience this way we decided to group the audience by the genre of film which they enjoy the most. This was an easy way to research as the music video that we created could be interlinked appropriately with the Frankenstein films as well as other films of the same genre and the same time. This is a great way to group as anybody that enjoys the thriller genre when watching films will be able to relate to this using audience reference when watching this music video.

The target audience for the music video that we have created can be identified as having the same interest in the media. The common interest in terms of this music video is the fact that the target audience enjoys the thriller genre that relates well to the music video that we have created based on the old Frankenstein films.

This however shows a very wide audience as many people enjoy this genre, which is why it is also important to use social grouping to refine the audience that we are aiming the music video at even further.

Social Grouping

John Hartley developed the media grouping theory saying that an audience could be refined into a more niche audience by grouping different audiences through their social background. This involved splitting this theory into five categories which are Self, Gender, Age Group, Class/Social Demographic and Ethnicity/Race. This means that a target audience can be targeted appropriately by applying these social groups; this would then refine the audience that a media product such as a music video was aimed at.

Self

As an individual watching the music video that we have created they would have to be quite adaptable to change as the music video has many changing elements such as a quite cold and spooky opening to then being a warm love story at the end. They would also have to use ‘Schneidenfraud’ which is when you take pleasure from someone else’s pain; in this case applying it to both Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s Monster in parts (this is used in the media a lot, an example in magazine articles about celebrities).

Gender

Our music video is predominantly aimed at the male gender after we researched what gender watch more Frankenstein films and listened to the music that accompanies the video. This research showed that Men watch this type of genre more than women do. This means that the film would appeal to a wider audience by targeting men and we believe therefore would become more of a success than if it was aimed at women.

Age Group

We have decided to target a wide age range as we believe that the film would appeal to people from the age of 15 to 45. This creates a wide audience but we believe that the music video will appeal to the majority of people that are within this age range.

Class/Social Demographic

The social demographic that we have aimed the music video at is C2-E as we feel that it will have a greater appeal to people from a lower class background. This again is quite a wide range as we believe that it will appeal to people with good jobs such as tradesmen and will also appeal to the unemployed and everyone in between. This is because the music video, although slightly different or weird should be entertaining for the social demographic that we have targeted.

Ethnicity

As this music video is aimed at quite a wide audience we feel that it is aimed at everyone in terms of ethnicity as this will be appropriate for anyone to watch and will not offend anybody in relation to their race, religion or background.

Uses and Gratifications Theory

In the 1970’s Blumier and Katz suggested that the media audiences make choices about what to consume in order to meet certain needs. Their Uses and Gratifications Theory shows some of the different reasons that audiences have for consuming certain media texts.

Entertainment

The music video that we have created will entertain the target audience as it is it has many differing elements. This means that although, the dominant genre is the thriller genre the video also has elements of horror, comedy and romance which will keep the audience engage throughout.

Escapism

We believe that the audience are going to become very engaged with what they are watching as the characters that the music video is based upon will make the audience feel many different emotions, this includes the audience feeling scared, feeling empathy for the rejection that has happened at one point in the music video. This would involve the audience in the music video so much that they could escape from what is going on in their own lives. We believe that this would allow the audience to escape from their own lives for a short time whist watching this fictional story unfold.

Social Interaction

The way that the target audience would interact with the music video is through the emotions that they feel for the character of Frankenstein’s Monster which we believed are often mixed as he is seen as a monster, however is also shown to be a caring and loveable character in this music video which we felt when creating it challenged the stereotype. The audience could also interact with the character because although they may not understand what it feels like to be a monster, they may have experienced rejection in the past from someone that they themselves cared about.

Information

We believe that the basic storyline of this music video gives the target audience information and an idea of how horror and love/romance can be interlinked whether in a fictional video or in the real world in which they live in.

Identification

We don’t believe that the audience can identify with what is happening to the character in some aspects of this music video. However we believed that they can identify with others such as the emotions that the character is feeling. This is what we wanted to show to make the audience take notice of the fact that everyone is the same inside which obviously challenges the stereotype of the old Frankenstein films that this music video in based on.

Richard Dyer’s Utopian Solutions Theory

Richard Dyer states that people will respond to a media text if it offers them compensation for the inadequacies in their own lives. Through the media audiences can vicariously live their lives and fulfil their wants and needs, leading them to strive to a utopian life.

The reason that most people watched the old Frankenstein films was to become engaged with a fictional world that offered them a range of different emotions including the main one which was pleasure and excitement. This includes becoming sad, happy and emotional to feel a sense of life so that they are not bored.

We believe that Richard Dyer’s Utopian Solutions Theory relates to the music video that we have created as it engages the audience and make them feel a sense of unease and excitement. This therefore feels the boredom within the members of the audiences’ lives meaning that a utopia is created as they are no longer bored due to the fact that the music video has filled some of the inadequacies within their own lives.

Analysis of Far East Movement - Like A G6 ft. The Cataracs, DEV

In this video they have used a limited amount of camera shots, angles and movements. The establishing shot shows us the modern setting of the video. The whole video is in one continuous point of view shot, therefore using subjective filming throughout the video to put the audience in the action. which is modern technique used as the audiences today like to be more involved. Hand-held camera is used to give that unsteady/shaky feeling and to create realism. Only close-up and medium shots are used throughout the video, and I think that is to keep in with the tone of the song which is very in your face. A fast paced pan is used to go from one location to another and to go from person to person. A few zooms in and out are used in the video for us to focus on the person. A low angle shot is used to end the video to show us the power of the plane which is a G6 and the people who went inside.

They have used a lot of effects like most music videos in their editing process. The fast paced edit/cuts from shot to shot in the video are used to go with the fast beat of the music and lyrics. A bad TV effect was used a few times when going from one shot to another, to give parting/clubbing feeling. Also a blurred effect is used to give a drowsy/drunk feeling.

The mise-en-scene in the video is very modern. Ambient lighting is used in the video to create that clubbing atmosphere. From what the people in the video are wearing and the setting of a club, we can see that they are trying to make that partying/clubbing feeling. From the clothes that most of the women in the video are wearing they have gone with that stereotypical view of women being seen as only objects, apart from one of the women in the club who wears suitable clothing that is not revealing which is a juxtaposition from the other women in the video, but this is done to appeal to the modern audience.

With the sound of the music it is very fast to go with a party scene and the voices are modulated at points to create atmosphere to go with the actions in this modern video. Overall the camera work, sound, editing and mise-en-scene all work well to make a great modern party song and music video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4s6H4ku6ZY

Analysis of 'We No Speak Americano' Music Video

The establishing shot is of a early 90’s Ford driving through a country road, a medium shot is effectively used to show us a basic over-sight of the location. From the start, some editing features are noticeable; a Sepia tint is used in conjunction with feathering of the edges of the frame. This has the effect of making the video appear aged and pays tribute to the stereotype that goes with the early 90’s film quality.

The camera work is very simple, long or medium/long shots are used, and the occasional medium close up. If the aim of the director is to emulate the early ninetee's filming style, job well done. I personally don't like the style, since it makes the video feel 2D and inclosed. The most interesting camera work would have to be the pans used for chase scenes or to follow a singular character, apart from that, there isn't much camera work to comment on

The song has no lyrics, and as such, there is no dialogue in the video. Instead of dialogue, there are speech cards edited in when someone is saying something. The video matches the pace of the upbeat song, as do certain actions in the video, e.g. the girl sulking with the flower in her hand as the trumpet toots.

The editing is something in which the styling of the video has strayed from the early 1930's films. Fast cuts are used to match the beat of the song, and an aging effect is used, which causes the video to darken in certain places at random times. Speech cards are used instead ofdialogue, like silent movies. A couple of frames are skipped within a few seconds, jolting the video, and keeping it in pace with the song itself, and making it appear aged.

The customs, buildings and vehicles all appear early 1900's. The three females we see are all covered and dressed appropriately to their time. Their roles are a little different to what would be expected of them, a woman of that period would not be in a pub getting drunk, or doing manual work, the little girl selling flowers is viable.

Altogether, the narrative of the video is good, the editing and camerawork both suite the theme of the video, and the mise-en scene is believable.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wavpWRK6IX8

Analysis of Rock Star by Rihanna

Camera work

The music video uses a range of different shots but mostly close ups the effect of this is to engage the audience and also as if to drag the audience into the music video, the music "Rockstar" mainly consist of two second shots or just a bit more making the shots very quick and rapid this was very good in the way it kept the audiences attention it gives the audience feeling as if they were in a club partying because thats the effect it gives. We liked the way the shots were very quick and sharp so we incorporated that into our music video giving it that cutting edge and also giving us that power to keep the attention of our audience.

Editing

Quick fast jump cuts are used through out the whole music video; the jump cuts give the music video an energetic feel, the music video also uses a series of visual effects the main effect we see being used is a strobe light, but the use of the black and white effect made the video seem very gritty and dark it really felt like a rock song and we liked the idea of our video being dark and gritty so made our video black and white.

Mise-En-scene

The mise-en-scene was very simple in this video, what stood out for me was the use of dark gloomy colors although it was in black and white the way the artist was dressed really grabbed my attention, her make up was dark and raw, her clothes were torn and her hair was very wild, and when we saw this it immediately gave us ideas on ways we could add to our music video and the reason we wanted to use this was because of the effect it had on us as a audience it was able to grab our attention and just maintain it through out the whole video and thats what we wanted to achieve.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMOIUUS8GWo