Decision made!

I have finally decided that i'll be using The Saturdays - 'Died in your Eyes' song for my music video. The Saturdays were are my first choice, and I took a chance by emailing their management, and within an hour they got back to me so i'm really happy about that. I've texted Sunday Girl (she is a family friend of mine) also, as she will be my 'back-up' artist. I have also emailed her management too, and i'm currently waiting on a reply from them.

My plan is:
During the Christmas holidays I will arrange a date for me and 5 friends (who will be in the girl band) to meet up and discuss outfits, locations, best conditions to film etc. The 5 girls I will be using (hopefully) are:

• Grainne McIntyre (who helped me previously last year at AS as my actress)
• Rosie McIntyre (Grainne's younger sister)
• Ellen Sutherland (my cousin)
• Sophie Jordan
• Beth Miller

I have chosen these girls because we all live within 5 minutes of eachother, so I'm hoping this will make filming and organising dates a lot easier. None of these girl are camera shy either, so I have no doubt they'll be able to work well together. Also, 3 of these girls do Media Studies, so they'll be able to help and guide me when filming :). They are all still at school so I know they will not have any other commitments e.g. work etc.

Email to The Saturdays Management:

Contacting Jade Williams (Sunday Girl)

As I went to contact Machine Management, I had an inbox through from the Saturdays manager saying it would be fine to use their song, so I didn't bother contacting Sunday Girl's management as The Saturdays was the band I really wanted to focus on.

Undecisive Artists!

I'm really struggling to think of new ideas for my coursework. I really want to do something different and I know I could do it if I were to be really strict with myself and get organised, however I don't know what artist I would focus on. Realistically, chosing an english artist is the way forward as you're more likely to get a response from someone who isn't so 'huge' in terms of the music industry. I have in mind Sunday Girl, as it would be very convinent for me to get in contact with as she is a family friend, however I'm afraid it would be the easy way out, yet I know that I have the perfect girl to play her in the music video. I'm also very keen on people like Adele, Pixie Lott and Ellie Goulding.
So, I've decided to get in contact with each of these artist's managers, and see what responses I get, then make my mind up.

Textual Analysis

My textual analysis is of Paparazzi, a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga. The music video was directed by Swedish director, Jonas Åkerlund, who has previously directed music videos for artists like Madonna, Moby, Rammstein, and U2. The video is a 7.11 minutes long, which Gaga described her music video as “a short film”, and goes on to describe that, "It has a real, genuine, powerful message about fame-whoring and death and the demise of the celebrity, and what that does to young people”. Written by Rob Fusari and Gaga, the song portrays Gaga's struggles in her quest for fame, as well as balancing success and love. Musically, it is an up-tempo Pop/Dance song, which its characteristics are shown through various dance routines by Gaga, and other characters in the video.

Throughout this music video, the lyrics are illustrated by use of the visuals we see. This becomes evident when we first see her in the wheel chair paralysed, the lyrics say “I’m your biggest fan I’ll follow you until you love me”, then we see 4 women and 4 men crowd around her as if they worship her. Also when she says numerously, “I won’t stop until that boy is mine”, we see her struggling to move on her crutches as if she is eager to get this “boy”. This part of the song is again emphasised towards the end of the video when she drugs her boyfriend’s drink, and the lyrics repeat “Promise I’ll be kind, but I won’t stop until that boy is mine”, conveying how she is seeking revenge on him; she doesn’t really want him. After she kills him, we see her being harassed by the paparazzi and again the same lyrics are repeated, and we see visuals of the newspaper about how Lady Gaga is ‘back’ in the spotlight and has regained her fame. We see lots of still images of women lying dead in different locations as she talks about how she’ll be “your girl backstage at your show”, and “you’re my rock star”, talking in terms of idolisation over someone she admires, and what fame is doing to young girls. She also illustrates this by making the sign of a gun with her hands, and with her hands around her neck as if she is being strangled. We see images of eyes when she says, “The tear drops I cry” yet it is a contradiction as there are no tear drops in the eye. When she talks of how the paparazzi “snap snap” their cameras, the lighting in the video shows the flashing lights.

What I find most interesting about this music video, and what makes it so dramatic is how the video cuts to the beat of the music. For example through various dance routines, and the way Gaga moves her hands across her face and parts of her body robotically, is kept at the same pace with the music throughout the video. We see lots of different scenes of Gaga in different costumes and playing different roles, which the beat of the music cuts to the order of the clips. However, there are no instrumental parts of the song that need highlighting in the song as it’s a pop song, and the main focuses are the artist herself.

The record company are looking to sell this track simply through word of mouth – clearly something like this hasn’t been done before. The music video itself is so shocking, and the fact that its 7 minutes long shows that this is very typical of Gaga. It focuses on the artist and the star images we see throughout the video, typically when there are various close-ups of her in different outfits, playing different roles. Lady Gaga is offering an unusual look which will make the audience want to watch more because you are drawn to her strange image, and what she’ll do next. Many close-up shots are focused on her face, and different parts of her body, emphasising how she is perceived as a sexual and sensual person. I think if Lady Gaga wasn’t the eccentric and dramatic person that she is, she wouldn’t be as successful; however, there is no denying that she can produce an amazing performance vocally.  Her music video’s clearly show that she has the most unusual and rare ideas, as they are all completely different, yet in the same way all link together. For instance, the video for “Telephone” with Beyoncé, is a continuation of the "Paparazzi" music video, and is a short film as well, which motifs are similar as the concept of poison and drugs are incorporated into that music video too. The video picks up right where "Paparazzi" left off; starting with Gaga in prison. “Paparazzi” is also very similar to another one of her music video’s “Bad Romance” where it features the same actor (who plays her boyfriend in ‘Paparazzi’) Alexander Skarsgård, and the same dogs appear in both video’s as well as her “Poker Face” video. 

Lady Gaga is portrayed to be on display in a sexual manner, not only in this particular video but in every one she has done so far. This is conveyed through her various unconventional and bizarre costumes and through dance. She is often seen in outfits like metallic leotards, underwear, fishnets, tape, leather etc., which draws our attention to her body and how she is putting herself on sexual display at all times. Especially in this video, we see her touching her body and her face, even kissing other women and touching them. The effect of this is to not only fulfil the male fantasies, but make Gaga be recognised as sexual ‘feature’ which we are all engaged in. She often looks into the camera lens touching her face, and putting a finger in her mouth in a seductive way.

However, the end of the video where Gaga lies at the ground in her own blood as the photographers continue take pictures of her bloody body and tabloid headlines proclaim that her career is over, shows intertextual reference to Alfred Hitchcock's film Vertigo. Also Gaga’s metallic outfit is a reference to the film Metropolis. When Gaga wears a yellow jumpsuit with circular glasses and shoulder pads, it is said to show that she is trying to be Minnie Mouse.

The music video is a combination of performance, narrative and concept based. Performance – she performs for half of the video, illustrating different dance routines, as well as singing to the camera throughout. Narrative – as Gaga said, this music video is like “a short film” as the video shows a story of a young girl balancing her success and love. Concept – Gaga is extremely artistic as she designs and directs her own videos. Particularly for “Paparazzi”, the story line was Gaga’s original idea.

Overall, this particular video of Lady Gaga’s shows her experiences on her way to fame. It is based on slightly languorous synch textures and incorporates percussion to convey the emotions. Emotions lying in the composition range from sexual desire, dread, and resigned acknowledgment to an insistence to have fun. The lyrics of "Paparazzi" deal with stalking and the trappings of fame.

Sources:

• Wikipedia - Paparazzi (Lady Gaga song)

100 Greatest Music Videos

We looked at a few of the top 100 greatest music videos and made some notes on how they were made, what they featured, who the director was etc. Here are some of the notes I made, starting from number 77 in the list:

77. Mc Hammer - Can't touch this
Features: dancing, haream pants (made his dance moves better), colours.
76. Beatles - Strawberry Field
Features: many close-up shots of aspects of their faces e.g. eyes, lips etc.
75. Duran Duran - Rio
Often filmed their music videos on beaches, portraying holiday scenes. Focused on the lifestyle - bright coloured suits, mean on yachts, women in bikini's. Very 80's music video.
74. Wu-tan Clag - Gravel Pit
Features: Dinosaurs, women in bikini's in the desert. Many special effects
73. Basement Jaxx - Where's your head at?
Features: monkeys - replaced the band. Monkeys are the inventers of music
72. Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love
Black and White theme
71. Bjork - All is Love
Features: abstract visuals, surreal objects, portrays a sense of suffering.
Director: Chris Cunningham
70. The Police - Every Breath You Take
Black and White theme
Close-ups of lead singer Sting
69. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes
Features: boxing in suits (presidents), creates energy, portrays how boxing has replaced war.
68. Madonna - Ray of Light
Director: Jonas Akerlund (also directed The Prodigy - Smack my bitch up & Lady Gaga - Paperazzi)
Time lapse photography
Filmed in Sweden, New York and LA
67. The Beastie Boys - Sabotage
Mockery of the Police
Director: Spike Jonze (also directed Weapon of Choice/Praise You)

These are only some of the greatest music video's, however I feel they are slightly outdated for a girl of my age, therefore I have noted my top 5 favourite music videos. Here they are as follows:

1. Michael Jackon - Thriller
Director: John Landis
This music video has been voted the best music video of all time. It is by far my favourite as it is almost like a short film at an outstanding 14 minute long music video. It's scary how suddently Michael Jackson turns into a zombie and the other zombie's around him break into an elaborate song and dance number, followed by the main chorus of "Thriller".

2. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
Director: Walter A Stern
This is my second favourite music video mainly because this is one of my favourite songs of all time. I love how the video focuses on the lead singer walking down a busy London pavement, refusing to change his direction throughout, completely oblivious to what is going on around him, repeatly bumping into passers-by. I also find it very interesting how the video lighting is very dull and gray, making the lead singer look very miserable.

3. Fat Boy Slim - Praise You
Director: Spike Jonze
This is my 3rd favourite music video because it never fails to make me laugh! It is based on a dance group who look like they are making up the dance on the spot, however it fits to the music. I love how there are many onlookers observing their 'moves', with straight faces. It looks as if this music video costed close to nothing as it is all filmed on a handheld camera.

4. Lady GaGa - Paperazzi
Director: Jonas Akerlund
This is my 4th favourite music video as I think this is the best video Gaga has ever produced. All of her music videos are great as they portray a narrative storyline to each one, however this one really interests me as its very dark and disturbing. I love how she plays so many different roles and has so many different outfits. She is portrayed as a murderer at the end as she kills her boyfriend after what he has done to her, yet the 'paperazzi' love it and the Fame is back. I love the dancing, the close-up shots of her face and the locations of which each scene is filmed in.

5. Coldplay - Fix You
Director: Sophie Muller
This is my 5th most favourite music video partly because I love the song, and everytime the electric gutair kicks in towards the end of the song, it gives me goosebumps everytime! I love how the lead singer, Christ Martin, is seen walking through various streets in London, and we see where about he is walking. Then, as soon as the electric guitar kicks in, his walk turns into a run as he darts through streets until finally reaching the Reebok Stadium, where he joins the rest of the band for the song's finale. Here the audience can be clearly heard singing along, and at the end of the video Martin thanks them for their support and wishes them goodnight.

"History of the Music Video"

1920's - Silent movies
1940's-50's - Musicals (Judy Garland "Get happy")
1950 - First Colour TV
1955 - James Dean killed in car crash

1967 - First heart transplant
The Beatles - "Strawberry Field" - one of the best videos ever made.

1975 - First VCR to ever sell in shops
Queen released their "Bohemian Rapsody" - no technological special effects used - created it themselves and the video was made in 3 hours. - Was the first proper music video, too hard to perform live so it had to be shortened. Directer: Bruce Gower. The famous image of the 4 of their faces is iconic - has been parodyed many times.
1980 - John Lennon murdered.
David Bowie - "Ashes to ashes" - Directer: Kevin Gooley.
Duran Duran - "Planet Earth"
Adam Ant - critism for acting too much rather than performing.
Queen - "Radio GaGa"

Father of MTV - Mike Nesbitt (The Monkey's star)
- Wanted to create a 24 hour music television network.
- Created 'Popclips' channels. - people tuned in to watch the "VJ's" (video jockies)
- Collected video's
MTV first launched, the first video they played was "Video killed the Radio star"
Problem: only around 200 video's to play - British only produced videos
British bands were most prominent - (The Cure)

1985 - CD's first avaliable in shops.
MTV wasn't ging to get money if the video's wern't selling records.
MTV went natio wide - was one of the top 40 channels you watched.
MTV became more interested in the way people looked. If you looked good in the video, the record would get played. - Duran Duran - MTV took over their 'look'.
Most expensive video ever made (up to that time) - Wild Boys. - Michael Jackson's THRILLER soon took over.

1983 - The year of the cabbage patch doll.
Boy George - drag queen
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - "Relax" - America didn't understand wha the song was about, (ejaculation) - was BANNED before anyone could see it on screen.
Gay soddomy scenes
Never got played on the radio, however was still a very successful record.
George Michael - "I Want Your Sex" - BANNED - too graphic
The Prodogy - "Smack My Bitch Up" - BANNED - too graphic

Before MTV, no one knew what Rock 'n' Roll looked like - no one would know what you looked like.
"I Want My MTV" - Many artists would mention this in their songs.

Toon Tunes - animated videos.
Paula Abdoul - "Opposites Attract" etc.

MICHAEL JACKSON
"Billy Jean", "Thriller" and "Beat It" - biggest videos - dancing.
"Thriller" - one if the greatest videos (if not THE greatest) of all time. - inspired by the film "American Wolf". - Power of the video sold records.

GENRE

We were assigned to a task in class where we watched 3 different YouTube video's, and noted down where it was Performance, Narrative or Concept based, the Genre Expectations and Examples of the music video's where this information became evident. Here are the notes I took:
                                       
Song 1:
"Something Kinda Ooo"              .
 Girls Aloud.
Performance     
Narrative
Concept?
Performance
Genre Expectations? 
Pretty girls - lots of body shots - dance routines - nothing too explicit - skimpy clothes.
Examples?
Fast cars - intertextual references - crotch shots - close-ups - winking to camera.

Song 2:
"Supermassive Black                      
Hole"
Muse     
Performance
Narrative
Concept?
Performance & Concept based
Genre Expectations?
Unusual images, close-ups of the band and the instruments, possibly disturbing?
Examples?

Masks - close-ups of the lead singer, mirrors, bonoculars, different body shapes.

Song 3:

"Fit But Don't You Know It"

The Streets

Performance

Narrative

Concept?

All of them.

Genre Expectations?        

Humorous, tracksuits, chavs, lead singer talking to the camera, girls.

Examples?           

Pictures - on holiday with girls, him talking in the pictures, walking in the streets, inter-textual references.  

Action Plan

I have roughly 14 weeks to complete my Coursework, so I have organised my work schedule week by week, as follows:

14.11.11
- Set up Blog
- Establish reasons for your blog (few posts)
21.11.11
- Research music video's
- History of the Music videos
- Artist research
- Get in contact with artist
- Find friends to perform in video
28.11.11
- Audience research (2/3 blogs)
- Questionnaire
- Blog ideas of what I want featured in my music video
5.12.11
- Treatment sheet (ideas) -justifying decissions
- Cast members (5) - whos who? (photos etc)
- Take pictures of locations
12.12.11
- Storyboard
- Shooting schedule (notes etc)
- Beat Sheet
- Make sure lyrics are rehearsed
- Props/Outfits/Locations
CHRISTMAS BREAK - meeting up with cast members
4.1.12 - FILMING
9.1.12 - FILMING
- Photoshoots with the band
16.1.12 - FILMING
23.1.12 - EDITING
30.1.12 - EDITING
6.2.12 - EDITING
- Play around with shotoshop
HALF TERM
20.2.12
- Research Ancillary Task
- Digi Packs
- Audience Feedback
27.2.12
- Making/Organise Photo Shoots
- Digipacks: produced front and back cover
5.3.12
- Digipack Finished
- Advert Finished
- Draft/Edit odd bits
- Get audience Feedback
- Tidy up blog posts
DEADLINE: 9.3.12

Welcome to my Blog!

This blog will be used for my A2 Media Studies Coursework, in which I will be creating a Music Video of my choice, and editing it. Over the next few months I will be posting about my ideas and plans for my coursework project, researching and posting about the production process.