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Music Video 

A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a song or music. Today’s music videos are made mainly as marketing devices that deliberately try to increase and expand the sale of music recordings. Even though music videos originally go back much further, the term music video became more popular in the 1980's when MTV released VH1, the Video based format for their music.

MTV inserts (above)

Performance 

A Music video usually contains either, parts of the performance with artists, singer and band or the whole performance. This can be done either live on stage or on a set. The prodigy's Music video "Omen" is mostly band and stage performance based.

The Prodigy "Omen" (above)

The Big Pink "Dominos" (above)

Narrative

A narrative in a music video acts like a short film, they can either run close to the lyrics or stray to something different, usually stay in between because following the lyrics can sometimes loose the audiences is attention. Nickel Back use a narrative in their music video "Someday". It has a Hollywood horror story feel to it.

Nickel Back "Someday" (above)


The conventions of a music video depend on the genre of music. The style of the video often has to match the style of the song. Generally for a music video to look like a music video they have to include the artist performing, the lyrics of the song influencing what is being shown and the pace has to fit the melody and tune of the music. Some music videos have none of these and have their own codes and conventions. These tend to be made for symbolic purposes where they have hidden or clear meanings behind the surrealistic videos.  




Camera Movement

Natural Transition

Example of natural transitions

A natural transition is a transition that is made using in scene elements to create a transition while shooting, rather than adding a cross fade or wipe in post-production.  

There are a variety of ways to create a natural transition; it’s only the creativity that limits you.

Here are some examples:

·         Film through a doorway and then close it during shooting to create a wipe to black. This can be reversed in post to create an opening wipe.

·         Change the focus until completely out of focus to create a fade out and reverse to create a fade in.

·         If a person moves past or towards the camera until the shot is completely obscured until it goes black.

We will use a natural transition to cross fade from the bedroom scene to the wall scene. This movement will help the video to flow nicely between scenes as well as giving it a feel as if its continuous.

The Whip Pan

Example of Whip Pan 

This is a rapid type of camera movement where the camera pans so quickly in a certain direction that the image blurs the image.  This movement creates a clever effect that can also be used to disguise a cut from one location/scene to another. It keeps the motion of the scene and also can be used in long takes or cuts to keep the continuity.

This movement depends on what lens, settings and camera you use. The distortion and moiré (strobing) will add to the effect.

We will use this camera movement in our music video to keep the pace fast and the style interesting. We want the video to flow from scene to scene and location, rather than having an obvious cut.

The Reveal

This is the closest thing I could find that gives an example of a reveal. They use it for comic effect to reveal T-Pain. 

This is where something hidden is revealed to the audience, that adds to the scene or story and can amplify the meaning of the shot before it. This can be done using camera movement or the subject. For instance, someone is in the foreground fills the frame, when they move they reveal someone standing behind them in the background. This is effective when the second person is revealed.  

 Camera Equipment 

The Steadicam is one of the best and effective methods of camera movement. It helped change history and create some of the best looking moving shots. It helps keep camera movement smooth, stable and can be used where other equipment cannot be. They don't need flat and smooth surfaces to move across and have no restrictions to moving on ground and can travel through tight spaces, upstairs and over rough ground. It enables the film maker to place the camera anywhere and a professional operator can create certain complicated moves more simply.  

The traditional Steadicam consists of a camera mounted onto a central pole with the operators video monitor and battery pack is secured to the bottom. When the Steadicam is positioned correctly the two should counter balance each other making the camera movement stable.  

This equipment will help with the moving scenes as stable, flowing movement in the scenes will add more energy and motion into film. This will help accompany the feel good and up beat song. 

Jib Arm

This allows for high  and low angle shots, the camera pivots on a fixed point and can boom up and down from its ground point. This piece of equipment is good for moving the camera up or down up in the scene and can bring the audience into the level of the subject. The camera is mounted to a plate at one end of the long extending pole, while weights are added to counter balance the camera and longer end of the pole. This pole is then balanced on a pivot and when it is correctly balanced the tow should not move and remain horizontal. 

This equipment can all so give nice Ariel shots and used on wheels it can move freely left, right, up and down. Though the jib arm requires additional planning for shots and extra time setting up and dismantling, it is a good piece of equipment for moving shots and can result in some impressive footage.  

We will use this equipment for the band and music stage scene to get some Ariel and up high shots of the band and Cara. as well this piece of equipment can cover any angle and movement from one stationary point. it can also track in any direction when needed. 

Lighting 

Natural day light 

This is lighting we will be filming with for most of the narrative as we will be shooting on location outside.

 

image above from http://www.cravehandmade.com/true-color-lighting-white-balance/

Indoor, house hold lighting. 

Image above from http://www.cravehandmade.com/true-color-lighting-white-balance/

Both images shot the colour and white balance settings of the different light types. We will most likely be filming using the AWB, Sunny and Cloudy white balance settings.

If we need to film in doors, lights and a reflector will be used to add light to subjects. AS well as an extra effect we were thinking of adding fairy lights in the bed room scene. 

Fairy Light Idea

We are thinking about using fairly lights in the bedroom scene, hanging them up around Cara's curtains and across her bed post. This would add a little colour to the room and give it a little extra style.

Band/Stage Lighting 

This is the sort of style we want the Band/ Stage scene to look like, we want to use a warehouse as the location and place red/blonde heads in a semicircular all at the same level behind the band and Cara during there performance. This shot will require about 6 lights, possibly a smoke machine and good positioning.

We want the light to pass over the band and Cara as the camera moves and catches the light and creates nice lens flares and effects.

Luke wants to be in charge of lighting.