Initial Idea's for Own Video

Characters

We wanted two characters who hardly knew each other so we could see the awkwardness in the acting, which showed the hate coming through. We also wanted people who looked like people who would be interested in rock music/ who liked the band Muse to relate to the song as they would know the song well.

Luke Evans and Stephanie James;

Camera Angles
For a effective horror music video, Sammi and I will be using all different types of camera shots, from extreme close ups to tracking shots. We will be using a close up camera shot to show pictures of the main character, and what the music video is actually about. For most of the video we plan to use medium shots, so the audience can see the characters and what they are doing. When the music to the video builds up, we will use fast tracking shots to show the chase scene, this will build up tension, which will make the audience want to keep watching. A few 'over the shoulder' camera shots will be used so the audience is the third character in this music video. This will make the video look effective due to the presence of the audience. While in the chase scene, two point of view shots will be used so we sense their fear, which will again relate to the audience feeling sympathetic towards the character.

Editing

When finishing all our filming, Sammi and I will edit the shots to connect with our chosen song. As we plan for our characters to mime some of the song lyrics, we will have to take great care and patience to make sure the timing is brillant! To make the fast chase scene look effective we must have fast, instant camera shots to make the video flow. We will have to have many camera shots to edit, we have thought of filming extra shots before and after the actual shot. Example, camera shots lasting 10 seconds, we will film 2 extra seconds before and 2 extra seconds after.

Mis-en-scene

Our props have been chosen carefully to relate to the story. We have pictures of the two characters, photo frames, and a car. The props will be used at the start of the music video before the chase scene to tell the story. The lyrics and the props (pictures) will immediately let the viewers know the video is about an broken relationship. Too make a true horror themed video, our main character Luke will be dressed in all black, this connotes depression and possibly anger/evil, which relates to danger. Stephanie will be wearing casual wear to make sure the focus is still on Luke.

Sound Effects

As will be playing the whole track throughout the music video, we won't be using sound effects apart from a certain slow section in the song, which appears to the end of the music during the chase scene. This will create tension while the instrumental section plays due to Stephanie slowing down, seeing Luke appear behind her. This part in the music video, Sammi and I plan to turn the volume down on the video and have a sound effect used here. The sound effect will be of loud breathing to show Stephanie out of breathe, wanting to give up on running away from Luke.

Music

The music video below is the track we will be using for our actual video. The track is called Time is Running Out - By Muse. We chose this song due to the up beat, rock tone and the fact we could add a scary theme to it as Muse's music is known for its surreal sound. As the existing music video for this track is weak, we have decided to make a better job of it. I hope we succeed. Though the song repeats it self we have decided to change the way existing, repetitive songs create their music video e.g the chorus repeats the same clip over and over. We decided to run the story line throughout the video, so there is no repetition. This will interest the audience more.

Setting

As Sammi and I wanted to relate our video to our target audience, we decided to set the first half of the song in a normal, everyday environment to relate to normal rock styled audiences. This setting will be of normal house, to set the scene of the story line. The second half will be set in the woods to create that horror effect, creating suspense for the audience, asking why have they set this video in the woods? Because we wanted to have a chase scene, we thought this setting would be perfect, rather than having a chase scene in buildings, car parks, side walks. We have selected a new setting, which comes across as 'creepy' when only two characters will be appearing in this woods, alone.

Initial StoryBoard

Here is my storyboard of my ideas for the music video. Sammi and I decided to work alone for this as we good think of our own ideas and then come together and combine them, so we have equal input into this video. As Sammi and I had similiar ideas, it wasn't hard to overcome our final ideas. 

I focused mainly on the beginning section of the video as it is a 4 minute song, Sammi and I had alot to do.
When coming together with our ideas, we agreed with each other and got straight to thinking of our characters, costumes and setting etc.

Focused analysis: Editing

In many music videos, the editing is normally cut to the music, for example, for the built up instrumental part in the song the editing will become fast, quick shots to make it more interesting to watch. I chose this song 'sorrow' by Flyleaf. Fast cuts go to the music, the editing is paced to make the video flow even when the song build ups and slows down. The beginning of the music video shows slow camera angles and long shots, when the music starts using many different shots against the drumming introduction builds up an effect to the song..

Focused Analysis: Locations

The video begins with a young teenaged girl sitting in her bedroom. This shows a normal life styled character in a normal location, which leads the audience to believe the video will be an original music video. The song starts playing and the location changes, to a fairy tale themed setting. From starting with a black and white video, the coloured music video changes the mood of the video by making it brightly coloured. The next location is in a garden/field filled with flowers to make the location look magical. By making the video bright, it makes the video glowing relating to the certain song and story line. The girl is escaping from her normal lifestyle with her boyfriend to a fantasy land, this is shown to the audience by the change from the location in the house to a fantasy world when she opens the doors. For most of the music video the location is set at the seaside and a deserted building. This suggests the two characters escaping to be alone with each other until the fairy tale is over and the girl has to go home to reality. This shown when her bag is dropped on the floor and the video turns back to black and white.

Focused Analysis: Mise-en-scene

I chose this music video to analyse the use of props and special effects appearing in the video. The video begins with Miley Cyrus coming out of the cinema with her 'boyfriend', who is holding a drink. A special effect is used right from the beginning of the video to interest the audience into keep watching. The drink turns into a camera and the boyfriend becomes a paparazzi, Miley then runs off screaming. The rest of the video is located in a car park with Miley hiding from many paparazzi's trying to take photographs of Miley. The scene's with Miley singing the song is effected due to the flashing background lights which relates to the use of camera's in the music video. At the end the paparazzi dance in a huddle with their props which relates to the song and the pop styled theme/track.

Focused Analysis: Sound/Music

I chose to analyse this song by Radiohead because it was actually a song appearing in a famous film 'Romeo and Juliet'. Radiohead didn't need to make an actual music video for this song due to the lyrics. The song was overly listened to, due to the famous band who sang it. The song obviously linked to the storyline of the film Romeo and Juilet. This is the song you hear periodically throughout Romeo and Juliet and it helps make the movie due to the lyrics. While the screenplay and casting was successful, I think the music is one of the more substantial parts to the movie. Although a very recognized movie/play, it has the very dark and sinister sounds of Radiohead implemented into it which added the bit of unfamiliarity in it. Listening and feeling makes that true character out of the movie. To me I find that the lyrics are talking about a guy in a particularly stressful situation that he wishes he could escape, and he begins to change his attitude from wishing to be someone else to come and get attitude. It's as though he'd rather hide from the problems than face them even though he says he's ready he's still hiding with sandwiches and a gun. And this is why directors of Romeo and Juilet, the film, chose to use this certain track.

Focused Analysis: Characters

I have decided the character of Pink in her video 'Funhouse'. When first looking at this video, I thought I would analyse the video for its setting but when looking at the video in depth the character/singer Pink portrays a classic, fun and unusual character. Due to the 'fun' lyrics and song title, the character appearing in the video to come across as a fun character to relate to the lyrics. And Pink has achieved that character and that is why the music video is successful. The certain character establishes this fun character by showing her freedom and no care in the world relating to the lyrics again. Pink is seen as the only main character though, there appear to be background characters to create the scene and relate to the story line of clowns. As there is no actual story line, the use of lyrics in the song has it be acted in the video to interest the audience/viewers.

Analysis of Existing Album Covers

This unusual front cover does not relate in any way to the album title or the bands name, and thats why i think it looks so effective. The way its so weird and unsual relates to the each member of the bands personailities. For a rock genre band, you would normally see a bold text but in this case the text is a connection to the scene on the front of the cover.


The red bold background relates to the word 'sweat' in the title, connecting to the word 'hot'. The unusual characters on the front cover relate to the songs sang by the band 'panic at the disco'. By the name of the band and album title, it again relates to their personailities of each band member. I love this front cover due to the difference of normal album covers. I love the modern characters shown on the front contrasting with the black and white old fashioned characters.



When looking at this album cover, the viewers immediately think its 'dull and plain'. When looking at this cover in more interest I find the cover interesting to look at, as you ask the question why does it say RIOT so many times, and the answer is, to catch the viewers eyes. Also the orange text 'RIOT!' stands out the most. This wild album cover relates to the band and the songs appearing in the album.

Moodboard

This moodboard shows what kind of genre I will be focusing on in my project. By gathering photo's of rock/indie bands also helps me with my research towards magazine poster ideas (what sort of photography and setting to use) and also CD cover images.
I have selected my favourite bands here due to the image and sound of the band. These bands were introduced to me through all sorts of media, especially on youtube and itunes, where i download my music.
By looking at each image on this moodboard, you can see the sort of image they are portraying and what audience they are targeting. Which is mainly teenagers, who like to attend public gigs. Having already known alot about all of these bands I found it easy to research them and know what rock genre's need to do to attract their audiences.