I did some more filming with James on Friday 24th October, college was not open due to a teacher training day but we were able to use the media studio to do the filming in. Got some more footage of James lip syncing in front of a white background. Got a locker in the background in some shots but hopefully that wont effect the video too much. James was a lot better with the words this time through, but we got about 6 different individual lots of footage so we have a variety to choose from for our video.
We are filming this afternoon and have lots to do before the actors arrive at lunchtime. Here is our list of things to get done by 12:20pm
* Check Lighting on stage * Experiment with camera angles * Check positioning and space of camera with props (off stage too) * Sort the props and attach to the poles * Find an armchair to use * Do test shots * Mark/note where camera offstage and on stage ends and begins * Write exactly what we are going to do when the actors arrive (shot list) * Test space
Watched a professional music video (James Blunt - Carry you home) The song is about a soldier travelling to his dead friends loved one with a possesion he had on him when he died. Its about carrying a part of the soldier who was killed in action back home t where he belonged. It differs from the other music video I analysed by Ne-yo as this James Blunt video is more storyline based rather than effect and dance based. It follows the story of a couple separated by the man going off to war and fighting, leaving the woman at home alone and worried. The video opens with a pretty image of the sea, and a helicopter view moving towards the cliff tops. The water is restless and fierce, waves splashing everywhere, which in a way relates to what the husband is doing in his soldier role, whilst his wife is safe on the rocks, helpless, and not dragged down into the fighting. The coloring of the sea is black and white which is quite dull so from the beginning the viewer is warned that this is not a bright and cheerful story. Its a sad and dark video full of sorrow and loss. Even the cloud cover is dark threatening rain any second which could link to the woman's emotions in the video. As the image changes from the sea to James Blunt in the train there is a slight overlap of a forest (where the soldiers are fighting) this suggests there is something on his mind. James Blunt begins singing on a train looking out of the window as if he has a lot on his mind and he is eager to get somewhere to get something over and done with. Worried perhaps and a bit miserable. The shot type is close up which gives a better personal feel to it and helps the audience realise that they have to focus on James Blunt and perhaps his emotions as there is no smiling taking place. The coloring remains dark shades of black and white throughout to help maintain the gloomy feel to the video. The video also includes the lonely woman waking in her bed alone and lying on her side awake obviously thinking. A medium shot is used here to show how small she is in comparison to her big empty bed. From the very start the audience is taught to sympathize with this fragile character. A low angled shot is also used to show the empty grounds of the woman's house in the middle of nowhere, in the cold and windy months of autumn or winter. The barb wired fencing perhaps relates to the war the man is fighting. Everything is still which might represent a normal morning. Quite a confusing shot of a train door opening is used. The camera is close up with half of the view on the train and half of the outside, I only figured out what it was when James Blunt walks out. The shot type is quite surreal and confusing but it soon sorts itself out. It suggests that he is on a journey and going somewhere as we are following his course. The bright lights in the distance are blurred so that the viewer focuses on the image of Blunt and the side of the train. Close ups are shot on the lonely women showing her looking sad and upset still lying in bed, suggesting she doesn't want to get out as she does not see the point in doing so. I especially liked the image when Blunt is standing on the platform working out which way to go and the train moves off behind him, creating a contrast of movement which looks really effective. Keeping with the idea of Blunt on a mission/journey we follow him walking down streets with his bag and a sorry look on his face, and watch him have a pint in a pub to brace himself for something. Images of a dark, mysterious, dangerous forest are included. The camera pans a long little way whilst Blunt finds a car to get a lift in and the woman brushes her hair and gets ready for her day. Lots of cross cutting is used to help show the viewer of the things that are happening at the same time and what already happened. Little snippets are included so as not to confuse. The forest images of the soldiers walking slowly with their guns at the ready towards the camera is quite a threatening look. It helps the audience piece together the women with the war, and the possibility that Blunt is remembering what he saw. Blunt is holding a picture and necklace in his hand which relates to memories of someone he lost, a friend perhaps. When the music changes towards the end, turning a bit harder, the focus switches to the soldiers running, suggesting a problem or running away from something or that they have found something serious. When the music calms it slows the image cutting, The harder music had a lot more clips fitted in with choppy, sharp changes, whereas when the music slows it focuses on the women walking out on the cliff top outside in the quiet space and howling wind. When Blunt enters the house a window point of view shot is used to see what he is looking at. It helps the audience understand what he is thinking. A flash light is used to reveal a dead soldier with the necklace and photo round his neck. This photo and necklace are given by Blunt to the lonely women who is now standing on the cliff top. A close up is used to make the passing of the necklace significant. Blunt walks away, without saying anything. This shows no relationship between the two, and perhaps that he could not say anything as it would be too hard. There is a pan out near the end of the women falling and getting upset and Blunt walking away which gives the feeling of the lonliness of the women.
The Waco Brothers is the band who sings 'Harms Way. They are Hard Country Super group consisting of Jon Langford, Steve Goulding, Tom Ray and Tracy Dear. The group grew out of Langford's wish to play more country-influenced music as the Mekons concentrated more on a punk sound. The Mekons are a British rock band. Formed in the late 1970s, they are one of the longest-running and most prolific of the first-wave British punk rock bands. The Waco Brothers were originally put together simply for local Chicago shows, but the success of their Bloodshot Records albums allowed them to tour the US occasionally.
We all went round the class and assesed other groups blogs. This is the feedback we got from other groups. it became apparent that we have not carried out a lot of research into the band and their genre. We also got criticised for not going indepth enough about our final idea and need to go into more detail on most things. From our feedback we have decided to make a to-do list of all things to add to our blog by next week.
-Band Research -Genre Research -Target Audience of both Band and our Music Video -Another music video Analysis -Shot types -Mise En Scene , go into depth about clothes worn, setting, props etc. -Research into colours and lighting to use
And also we plan to get all of our props and backdrop finished and painted.
We watched a professional music video (Ne-yo - Closer). It is a really good video with obviously a lot of money put into it for all the special effects they used on the lighting and studio alone. We really like it how the lights change to the rhythm and beat of the music, so that when it slows down the lighting on the back wall is slow almost water like, and when the beat speeds up the lights speed up too and become more choppy to fit with the music which looks really effective and good. They use the lighting to create a shadow figure effect too, so that when people are dancing the viewer can only see the shadow of the person dancing because of the lights behind them. The video uses kinetic typography a lot really well, it even uses letters such as 'O' to have an image inside which the camera then zooms in to. The video does quick snappy cuts from different images and sets back and forth so we found it hard to get bored as it always has something new to look at which is interesting. Various shot types are used. Close up, distant, portrait, point of view. An interesting effect is used towards the end of the video to link the different dances that have been recorded. They are linked with a blink/shutter effect, so one minute it will be the singer dancing by himself then quickly there will be people behind him as if the viewer has just blinked and loads of other people have popped out of nowhere which looks really good. There is not really a storyline behind this music video. It is more effect based and the dancing and actions included relate to the lyrics rather than an individual storyline. The change of image cuts also change to the beat of the music which looks good and helps the audience get a better sense of the music and feel a bit more involved.
We watched a second student music video (S1-19 Arguments). We thought it was quite a good music video as there was a variety of things to watch and it had an easy to follow narrative. It had a good use of special effects, for example the use of black and white with the couples story, then back to normal when the band were rehearsing. It was a good contrast of coloring which made the video a bit more interesting. We liked the huge variety of camera angles and shots used. The one on the roundabout stands out a lot as it puts the camera in a point of view shot and puts the audience in the place of the girl then the boy. An unusual shot but effective. When the band is rehearsing the camera angle is mostly higher and tilted down upon the playing band. This makes the audience feel as if they are watching the performers but from a security camera or something. It feels a bit more personal. The lip sinking in the video was good and well rehearsed. It fitted to the time of the music which looked good. They created the story well so that it was not boring or unrealistic which was good. It was a believable story and it looked really well done.
We watched a student music video (T2-54 Riot Radio). We thought it was a good music video but it got a bit repetitive after about a minute of the same thing. They used good effects in the video which linked with the music and to the beat really well, it made the video look a lot more professional. We liked the jumpy parts of the video and when it skipped quickly to another shot as again it related to the beat of the music which gave a really good effect. The lip sinking was really good and looked realistic, as was the playing of the instruments in time with the music and it looks a lot like they are actually playing the music. We liked the variety of camera angles used in the music video. Especially the low angle looking up at the band playing. We liked the different speeds of footage used. It gave a good fast effect like the pace of the music. They didn't dwell on one image too long they made quick snappy scene change cutting from bit to bit which was good as it looked interesting. We were a bit confused about the guy running round in the orange waist coat and we didn't understand the story or meaning behind it. We like the kind of sureal feeling tot he video, in the way that you don't ever really get a clear view of the musicians. Its only ever their close up side of face or distant view. Which was quite effective. They used a great variety of shots and from lots of different angles which we liked. But overall we give the video a 7/10.
We listened to the lyrics, as we have not yet had a reply from the band 'Waco Brothers' via myspace, and we think these are the lyrics:
Well I slipped out the back door As the ambulance arrived Well I could've tole 'em my story But I know I would have lied So I pawned my sisters diamond ring Got all the grams back I figured with a little leywey I might just get on track
An I'm just trying to stay out of harms way An I'm just trying to stay out of harms way
By the time I got to Chicgao I thought I had something to sell But the deal feel through as they always do cest la vi what the hell Every time I think of my baby Working in that old coal mine I feel so God damn guilty I almost change my mind
And I'm just trying to stay out of harms way An I'm just trying to stay out of harms way
An I'm just trying to stay out of harms way An I'm Just trying to stay out of harms way An I'm just trying to stay out of harms way An I'm just trying to stay out of haaaaaaaaarms way
We are emailing the band 'Waco Brothers' who sing 'Harms way,' so that we can hopefully get hold of the lyrics. Fingers crossed they will email back, or else we will have to listen very hard to the lyrics for hours on end figuring out the lyrics for our character to mouth to the music whilst we are filming. We are getting hold of them via there myspace page.
These Images are some of the scenes we are considering recreating DIY style in our music video. Because the band is american we are using scenes that look american. Also the desert fits in with the country music sound in the song.
