Initial Storyboard

This is my initial toryboard for my music video. In each shot I have made relevant annotations to help convey what meaning and connotations I want to portray in the music video.

I originally wanted the video to start with merely a set of eyes making very eary, subtle lateral movements in order to create a sense of foreboding with the slow guitar riff at the beginning of the song. I would then cut to a plain black background with the bands name "The Case" in a very original, iconic typography that gives the band a brand identity and allows them to be recognised. Despite the fact I have changed my idea, this is one of the shots I wish to keep in my final cut for definite as it is an efficient method of marketing the band as it renders them with an identity, a means of recognition - this logo/sign is how they will market themselves as it will also be displayed on all ancillary texts as well.

Although I have changed my idea, I may also keep the use of an extreme close-up on some eyes in my new idea as I like the ambiguity it presents and feel it would work well given the genre and conventions of a 'heavy metal' ballad. I was origininally intending to use the eyes of the lead singer, however, now that I have developed my idea and reinvented my product, I will use the eyes of a young girl to provoke a sense of empathy from the audience as it will come across as innocent, and is almost breaking the fourth wall to gain attention/interest from the audience.

However, despite all this, I will be changing my other ideas as I will no longer be using the band in my video as I have opted to shoot a narrative video rather than a performance video. Therein, I will be uploading another comprehensive, detailed account of how I wish to shoot my video in the format of a storyboard shortly before beginning to create some mock ups for my ancilliary texts that maintain relevance to the video.

Equipment List

I plan to utilise a range of the adobe products in order to edit my video to alter some of the effects to either adhere or break some of the traditional codes and conventions for the genre of my video (rock). I will therefore be using programmes such as Adobe Photoshop CS6, Adobe After effects CS6 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS6. Along with these editing tools, in order to actually film the video I will be using a Nikon HD camera and a tripod. However due to practicalities and availability, I will probably opt to use my own camera - a 12.1 mega pixel Casio Exilim. This particular camera boasts a better quality lens than some of the Nikon HD cameras provided by my school's media department, and I want to emphasise quality control in my product as using the more basic cameras may produce a more lackluster final product, whereas I want my product to be viewed as authentic and ever so slightly more lavish (despite the fact I still wish to incorporate a 'rough around the edges' look into my video, this does not mean compromising lens quality and subsequently picture quality to obtain this more original, authentic feel).

Using the aformentioned editing tools to edit my product will allow me to add important effects during the editing process such as slow motion and monochrome effects, both of which will work well with the slow intro of the song I am producing for. The tripod will allow me to pan efficiently whilst keeping the subject of the shot centralized in the frame and also ensure that the shot is consistent - there must be an element of quality control. It is also essential for maintaining still for close-ups, time lapses, zooming in/out of the subject and extreme close-ups/close-ups. A tripod is essential to filming landscapes as the increased range of motion allows for more dramatic panoramic shots to capture the larger environment - which will help in my video as I have to convey the isolation of a child to the audience, which is why I have chosen to use a large field that will encompass a large area of space surrounding my actor to further reinforce the idea that he/she is isolated.

 I will also have access to state of the art MacBook Air laptops on which to edit my product. These come with a plethora of Adobe programmes already installed to help me edit my footage, whilst I also find the MacBook range of laptops by Apple are far more accessible and easy to use than some of the more dated computers/laptops produced by other companies which seem somewhat  obsolete and, as I have stressed before, I want to maintain some level of quality control and ensure that my product is of the highest quality as is practically possible with the resources that I have access to.

Therein, my equipment list is as follows:

Casio 12.1 Mega Pixel Camera (for some elements of my promo I may also opt to use the Nikon HD camera provided by the media department of my sixth form)
Camlink Camera Tripod
MacBook Air Laptop
Adobe Premiere CS6
Adobe After Effects CS6
Adobe Photoshop CS6

In terms of using the tripod, I am going to omit the use of a tripod for some shots as I believe a handheld shot can give a very 'indie' effect which I want for my video whilst it also gives the audience a sense of involvement and realism. This technique has been heavily featured in Ed Sheeran's "The A Team" video which I am taking huge inspiration from due to the similarities found in my video (young, lonely girl who is isolated, dealing with some form of rejection). This serves as a sort of 'pastiche' reference to Ruskin Kyle's work on the video. I have also made this decision to film some parts of the production without a tripod to incorporate elements of verisimilitude into the video which maintains relevance to the mise en scene, the style in which the video is edited, the idea of minimalism in the video and also the genre of the song/artist.

It will also connote minimalism in my film making which is something I certainly want: if the music video represents minimalism then it will echo the bands approach towards making music which will earn them respect from other artists and potential record labels/executives.

Change in Idea

After drafting my first storyboard, my intentions were to film the band in a warehouse and possibly obtain some footage of the band performing and collate this footage along with the clips I had already recorded of the band in a warehouse performing (similar to the location in which Guns N' Roses recorded "Sweet Child O' Mine"). After contemplaiting this idea for a while, I decided to take a more pragmatic approach and use an actor who is more accessible rather than spend an inordinate amount of time organising sessions to film the band for numerous cuts each session when all members of the band may not be available, and so due to practicalities I have chosen to opt for a new idea. I will use a young female actor around the age of nine or ten roaming the streets to help connote/embody the metaphor of isolation that is evident in the song, and by using a much younger actor this notion can be portrayed much more sensitively when aided by a good choice of camera angles, Mise en Scene, sound and editing. Therein, I will be producing a new storyboard that chronicles each shot/scene in detail with annotations to suggest ideas for Mise en Scene, camera, sound and editing, in order to make it relevant to the song. By using an actor that will be available more of the time than the band (who will have a series of gigs to play) I will be able to shoot and re-shoot  my video quickly and can therefore make more adaptations to the product in a shorter space of time.

The idea centres on a young girl roaming aimlessly in secluded but open locations - mainly inspired by the lyrics: "Our youth you've strangled from us has brought me to this state" - which ensures that the narrative maintains relevance to the song; the video will be steeped in irony. The young girl will be the only character who features in the narrative as this will connote isolation, which is frequently alluded to in the song - which often makes reference to the desire of escapism with lyrics such as: "I've got to run away and get me back my rights", which is repeated throughout the song in the chorus which is why it is important that I successfully portray this through the camera, miss en scene, sound and editing. This idea will see the video incorporate elements of pastiche film making as I intend to take inspiration from Ed Sheeran's "The A Team" video that was directed, shot and edited by Ruskin Kyle, and I wish to emulate some of Kyle's work in tribute as I feel the same ideas can be applied to the song I am producing for. For example, I intend to use black and white effects and low-key to give a melancholy effect to the video. I also intend to use a lot of inter cutting in the video as I want the video to work on the basis of binary opposites, capturing different expressions subtly but using this editing technique more aggressively when the song eventually culminates during choruses. By using inter cutting to show binary opposites, I can build/connote meaning through my video and send messages to the audience not only through content alone, but also in the manner in which the footage has been composed.

Lyrical Analysis: The Case - "The Fight"

My project will be centred around an up-and-coming unsigned band The Case, and in order to gain a better idea into how to best market their product to the right demographic I am going to analyse the lyrical content of one of their songs - The Fight (the song I will be producing a video promo for) - a rock ballad similar to that of a Guns N' Roses ballad.

The lyrics are as follows:

1st Verse
I think you knew what's right and you took it away from me,
The light you saw in us has pondered far from me,
Our youth you've strangled from us has brought me to this state,
It's at these times I have nothing to say,

Pre Chorus
But now you know the feeling that is high above,
The light is bringing you to do the things you've never done,

Chorus
I've got to run away and get me back my rights,
The violence and anger is bringing me to fight,
Fight for my rights,
Fight for my youth and take me far away,
I've got to get away from this fight!

Verse 2
I hate the way you strangle me it brings me to disgust,
The feeling that I once knew that brought me to,
You bore me to temptation - there's nothing I can do,
This pain and vulgar anger is hating on me too!

Pre Chorus
But now you know the feeling that is high above,
The light is bringing you to do the things you've never done,

Chorus x 2
I've got to run away and get me back my rights,
The violence and anger is bringing me to fight,
Fight for my rights,
Fight for my youth and take me far away,
I've got to get away from this fight!

Lyrical Analysis

The lyrical content of the song centers on the use of powerful imagery and extended metaphors that document the traumatic experiences of the protagonist's love life, stating how these experiences have weakened him and that he must take some sort of action to regain happiness. This action is to fight (figuratively speaking) for his rights, youth and general happiness. The verses themselves are not necessarily individually thematic, however, there is a common topic that runs through the song; escapism - the protagonist frequently alludes to the idea of 'getting away' in lines such as "I've got to run away and get back my rights" and "Fight for my youth and take me far away". This evokes a sense of empathy within the listener who may be going through similar experiences to that of the protagonist. The first and last verses bear lyrics that postulate that the protagonist has been spiritually constricted and backed into a corner, and this has been forced upon him by what we presume is his lover. This can be interpreted as a negative message, the fact that one must respond to the actions of a brutal lover by running away elicits depressive and awful thoughts from many, however, this is juxtaposed by the positive lyrics which state that the singer will not tolerate his unjust treatment, and that he will fight to regain what has been diminished by his lover. The word 'fight' is often seen in a negative light, evoking images of malicious combat and the atrocities of war, however, the word fight is also synonymous with successful political activists such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and even Rosa Parks, who all 'fought' for social change and development without the use of violence. Of course, this is looking extremely deeply into the meaning of the song, but the metaphor remains valid. The distinctive riff that is played almost as an ostinato throughout the songs entirety is strikingly similar to that of a Guns N' Roses ballad - the guitar parts create a chilling sense of foreboding that works seamlessly in conjunction with the lyrics.

Many of the themes and ideas portrayed through the lyrics will have to be considered carefully in my planning to understand how they can be translated onto the screen, and the lyrics must effectively inform my planning based not only on the song but the image of the band and something that will appeal to their target demographic. It must also address all the negative and distressing issues that one faces when they are in an unhealthy relationship and have been subjugated by someone whom they do not feel genuine affection for anymore.

The frustration of the protagonist is made clear from the very start of the song as they convey that they have been forced into submission by their lover with lyrics such as: "Our youth you've strangled from us has brought me to this state" and "I hate the way you strangle me it brings me to disgust". These images of being 'strangled' connotes that the protagonist is being emotionally tortured and has therefore been subdued by their lover and is searching for freedom. The way in which the strong is constructed makes the song catchy: by employing a pre-chorus, it allows the listener to decipher when the chorus is approaching and engages them before the chorus even commences, as sometimes songs with copious amounts of verses can be seen as tedious and cause people to switch off and stop listening.

[NEEDS MORE ANALYSIS COMMENTING DIRECTLY ON LYRICS]

Narrative Structure

After discussing my storyboard with my teacher, we felt it was appropriate to experiment with different narrative structures and the possibilities of rearranging certain shots/scenes and the impact it would have on the narrative. Therefore, I have decided to rearrange my storyboard numerous times to gauge exactly how it will effect the perception of my music video. This is relevant to Todorov's narrative theory. The narrative will be though provoking, it will present the struggles of a young girl (around the age of 8-9). I will also be analysing some popular narrative videos to help me collate research and further understand the importance of narrative structure taking into account Todorov's theory.

Costumes/Props

In order to create a sense of verisimilitude in my production I have had to organise some costumes/props to make the video as a whole seem more believable. Therein, as I have chosen my younger sister to star in the production. I have been researching music video extensively, and, as Pete Fraser alludes to in "Teaching Music Video", the Mise en Scene is of much importance as it is "the combined effect of a series of visual elements within the frame of a visual text, such as costume, props, decor, figure placement." 

Therein, in order to further help me and be more incisive in creating the production, I have photographed the costume that will be worn by my younger sister with a photo of a prop that I will use in my video. This planning will allow me to be more concrete in the actual production of the video and so by collating my thoughts now it will allow me to foresee how it will pan out.

This is the coat that will be worn by my younger sister who is nine, I intend her to wear it fully zipped up with the hood up to connote a lack of identity and insignificance - just like the girl who wore a large jacket and a hooded top in the A Team which created the effect of her seeming inferior physically and conceptually. Luckily the colour of the jacket is quite dull which will work well in conjunction with video effects on Premiere Pro such as black and white and colour correct (which isn't technically an effect but it may still have to be altered). The fur hood will go far in obscuring her face in some of the video and creating ambiguity. The coat also denotes that the weather outside is pretty unpleasant which does well in creating the effect of pathetic fallacy, essentially echoing the emotions of the girl wearing the coat who needs to be made to look smaller and more vulnerable - this parka style jacket does exactly that. I knew as soon as I was using a young actor that I would need them to wear a coat of this sort of style, it would be useless if she was wearing a fluorescent cardigan in the sunshine, the narrative/visuals need to go some way in matching the audio/lyrics.

Depicted above - a mid shot from Ed Sheeran's "The A Team" with the girl sporting  hooded jumper and large coat with the hood up - this denotes that she is obscured from society and also that he is generally trying to keep warm in cold weather and is suffering from a lack of shelter.

Another photo of the coat from the front.

During the inaugural scenes of the video, the girl will be reading a note she has found in her school bag, and so in order to match this and bring an essence of verisimilitude to the text she will be wearing school uniform attire to connote a sense of realism. The cardigan is a maroon/burgundy shade and quite an autumn like colour, it is not too bright and so it will not look ridiculous when black and white effects are applied to the piece, it also bears her school's logo/badge on the left side of the chest which clearly shows that it is a school/educational institution of some sort and not a fashionable piece of attire - this also goes a long way in establishing that she is very young and is not even in secondary school yet. This does well in embodying the lyrics of my chosen song: "the youth you've strangled in us it brings me to disgust". This is also why it is a good idea to ensure it is made clear through the Mise en Scene that she is very young, because it can help me reinforce Andrew Goodwin's theory of music videos - the visuals should match some of the lyrical content in the song. A good coincidence is that this cardigan is actually slightly too big for my sister, which will only make her appear more diminutive especially when filming her encompassed by large fields and in long distance shots.

This is another component of my sister's school uniform which I felt was important in continuity and verisimilitude - there would be no point in having her wear her school cardigan and coat if she was wearing jeans or jogging bottoms, it would lose the text credibility and people would most likely become confused by the mise en scene which would impact my production negatively. My actor will be wearing black tights underneath the skirt just to further reinforce the idea of youth to construct meaning and evoke a sense of empathy from the audience. It also connotes innocence and youth, the fact they are grey makes the whole outfit look more dull and miserable - which reflects the way in which the actor will be behaving in the video.

My video will feature this large teddybear at one point or another, I intend to have my actor clutch onto this in a moment of extreme depression (excessive crying) in order to build further meaning by creating another binary opposition - I like the idea of a young girl, who should really be carefree and enjoying the best years of her life, being depressed and clutching onto a teddybear - something that signifies youth, joy and compassion. However, this is not the case, the girl will be clutching onto the teddybear in desperation and in utter sadness (she has read a note containing an abusive message - I am unsure whether I will disclose the message on the note or not yet) and so she has been psychologically damaged by this. In addition to this, the teddybear is white, which in semiotics connotes a youthfulness, a purity and an innocence which is why it will be so effective in helping create a binary opposite. In addition to this, again, the teddybear is very large which will help create the illusion that my sister is incredibly small (which she is) but this will go some way in making her look even more vulnerable.

The residual effect of this prop is that it will elicit a sadness in the audience, therefore evoking a sense of empathy from them as they will be feeling what the protagonist is feeling.

Digipak Analysis: Lil Wayne - "Rebirth"

Rebirth does not use monochrome features like those that are seen on an array of indie albums (Artic Monkeys, The Kooks etc.). However, the difference in genre is one of the key reasons that the mise en scene and colour scheme on Lil Wayne's album manifest significant differences: he is trying to appeal to a completely different audience/demographic. The album cover poses some form of juxtaposition: rap music is renowned for utilising materials such as 'synth' sounds using computer programmes such as logik, fruitloops and maybe even cock garage band depending on the stature of the artist, however, Wayne poses with a guitar placed across his lap - this causes us to question why he would have a guitar on his person as a rap artist whos songs use no guitars whatsoever. This could essentially be considered somewhat of a binary opposition - rappers who maintain a very macho image and remain loyal to hip hop (almost hip hop/rap 'purists') and guitars that are usually considered 'rock n roll' or 'indie' do not go hand in hand, which is what makes this a very intriguing digipak cover.

As it can be expected a bold and very modern typography is used and centralized within the confines of the frame, this is a commonality I have noticed on an array of different digipaks. The colour of the typography (which features no serifs due to it's more modern look) contrasts the colour of the background image. This is important in catching the eye of potential consumers so that they are immediately aware who the artist is (also due to the image on the anterior of the digipak).

The gold colours used in the image are clear connotations of high status and wealth, which are the exact words that hip hop artists want associated with them. It is also clear that the lethargic position the artist is laying in suggests a certain nonchalance about his personality, as if he is of a high status but almost 'isn't bothered' about it as if to say that being successful is easy. The artist himself is also centralised, and when taking into account the rule of thirds in the mise en scene, this denotes that he is important and the pinnacle of the album - as it is his album. In addition to this, the artist is wearing a white t shirt - white, the colour that represents purity is an interesting choice of colour, and it only adds to the artists lavish look.