Questionnaire
View more documents from rachael swan.
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Audience Research- Questionnaire Responsibilities
We have decided to create our questionnaire based on the area that we are each analysing. For example, as i have currently analysed album covers, i will specify my questionnaire to be based on album covers and ask questions which are focused on the design and genre to gather ideas of how our product should look like. I wanted to get a range of opinions on features such as lighting, themes and asked to rank the order of importance of certain features in order to help create our cover. I also used a variety of different album covers as examples to see which ones the audience felt the most attracted to.
While doing this, Joe and Drew are working together to create a questionnaire based on music videos and Molly will create a questionnaire based on music (magazine)advertisements.
While doing this, Joe and Drew are working together to create a questionnaire based on music videos and Molly will create a questionnaire based on music (magazine)advertisements.
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Analyses of Music Videos (Drake – Find Your Love)
Analyses of Music Videos
Drake – Find Your Love – RnB/Hip-Hop
Location - There are two scenes in this video, one is set in a music studio, Drake is seen exhaling smoke, singing into a microphone and pressing buttons in the studio concentrating on his music. The other scene is a story of Drake going back to a woman in the slums of Jamaica where it is shown in a club and going to a house and being caught.
Lightning – Throughout the video, dim light is used which sets the mood of video of being mysterious and not sure what is going to happen in the way if Drake is going to be caught or is he going to get the girl.
Representation- Drake is represented as thinking with his heart over his head as he decides to go back for the gangster’s girlfriend
Story line - Drake wants to go back to meet a girl he likes but a older man has warned him not to and carry on with album but decides to find the woman but makes the wrong decision and ends being caught by the gangster and may have been shot due to a gun sound being made but not shown. .
Mise en scene – During the studio scene he is seen smoking as stereotypically in the rap scene it is smoking weed and this could be glorifying taking drugs which could be a negative of this video. He wears plain clothes throughout the video; this could have been so that the audience keep concentrating on the story of the video and not on other stuff such as clothes and other people in the video. He is shown in the slums so that stereotypical mise en scene is seen such as unpainted cracked walls and chicken coops.
Camera work - They used filming techniques to set messages about the characters; the use of low angled shots on the protagonist which was Drake. Most shots used are close up or medium shots so they establish who is in the shot as they only last for about 3 seconds, this helps with showing emotion but not presenting the entire story to the audience.
Editing - They are all straight cuts, no shot is longer then 3 seconds even when there is no music played.
Sound - The track is played in time with the shots but is barely shown singing to lyrics this could be due to Drake acting in the story and singing along would match the scene.
Genre and narrative - This video doesn’t follow Todorov’s theory even though it has equilibrium but it is left on a cliff hanger, this could be due to having the next single being the second part of the story. There could be Propp’s theory in this video as there are certain characters such as:
The Hero - Drake
The Donor - The man at the start giving Drake advice
The Princess/Prize – The woman Drake wants to go back to see
The Villain – The gangster who’s the woman’s boyfriend
Audience theory:
Dyer - They used Dyer’s Utopian Solutions Theory to motivate and engage the audience, offering the ‘solutions’ to ‘clarity’ by using the scene at start explaining why he is going back for her.
Maslow - They threatened the audience’s need of ‘safety’ by using an unfamiliar environment in the setting that the main character would explore.
Institution – The video was directed Anthony Mandler who is one of the top commercial and music video directors working today, having written and directed music videos for artists including Rihanna ("Russian Roulette"), John Mayer ("Who Says"), Jay-Z ("Run This Town"), Mary J. Blige ("The One"), The Killers ("A Dustland Fairytale"), John Legend ("Everybody Knows"), T.I. ("Live Your Life"), One Republic ("Stop and Stare"). The gang leader is Mavado who is another popular singer or artist who is from Jamacia.
Posted by Joe Lavigne
Drake – Find Your Love – RnB/Hip-Hop
Location - There are two scenes in this video, one is set in a music studio, Drake is seen exhaling smoke, singing into a microphone and pressing buttons in the studio concentrating on his music. The other scene is a story of Drake going back to a woman in the slums of Jamaica where it is shown in a club and going to a house and being caught.
Lightning – Throughout the video, dim light is used which sets the mood of video of being mysterious and not sure what is going to happen in the way if Drake is going to be caught or is he going to get the girl.
Representation- Drake is represented as thinking with his heart over his head as he decides to go back for the gangster’s girlfriend
Story line - Drake wants to go back to meet a girl he likes but a older man has warned him not to and carry on with album but decides to find the woman but makes the wrong decision and ends being caught by the gangster and may have been shot due to a gun sound being made but not shown. .
Mise en scene – During the studio scene he is seen smoking as stereotypically in the rap scene it is smoking weed and this could be glorifying taking drugs which could be a negative of this video. He wears plain clothes throughout the video; this could have been so that the audience keep concentrating on the story of the video and not on other stuff such as clothes and other people in the video. He is shown in the slums so that stereotypical mise en scene is seen such as unpainted cracked walls and chicken coops.
Camera work - They used filming techniques to set messages about the characters; the use of low angled shots on the protagonist which was Drake. Most shots used are close up or medium shots so they establish who is in the shot as they only last for about 3 seconds, this helps with showing emotion but not presenting the entire story to the audience.
Editing - They are all straight cuts, no shot is longer then 3 seconds even when there is no music played.
Sound - The track is played in time with the shots but is barely shown singing to lyrics this could be due to Drake acting in the story and singing along would match the scene.
Genre and narrative - This video doesn’t follow Todorov’s theory even though it has equilibrium but it is left on a cliff hanger, this could be due to having the next single being the second part of the story. There could be Propp’s theory in this video as there are certain characters such as:
The Hero - Drake
The Donor - The man at the start giving Drake advice
The Princess/Prize – The woman Drake wants to go back to see
The Villain – The gangster who’s the woman’s boyfriend
Audience theory:
Dyer - They used Dyer’s Utopian Solutions Theory to motivate and engage the audience, offering the ‘solutions’ to ‘clarity’ by using the scene at start explaining why he is going back for her.
Maslow - They threatened the audience’s need of ‘safety’ by using an unfamiliar environment in the setting that the main character would explore.
Institution – The video was directed Anthony Mandler who is one of the top commercial and music video directors working today, having written and directed music videos for artists including Rihanna ("Russian Roulette"), John Mayer ("Who Says"), Jay-Z ("Run This Town"), Mary J. Blige ("The One"), The Killers ("A Dustland Fairytale"), John Legend ("Everybody Knows"), T.I. ("Live Your Life"), One Republic ("Stop and Stare"). The gang leader is Mavado who is another popular singer or artist who is from Jamacia.
Posted by Joe Lavigne
Monday, 28 June 2010
Analyses of Music Videos (Plan B - She Said)
Analyses of Music Videos
Plan B - She Said - Pop/Soul
Location – There are two main locations, in a police interrogation room and outside and in the court where Strickland Banks (Plan B) is being trialled. In the interrogation room he is shown explaining to policemen that he is innocent, this is heard with the lyrics “on the day that I got arrested, I’m innocent I protested”. The other scene is in the court room where he is being trialled; there are other characters in this scene such as the accusing woman (Kaya Scodelario) and Strickland Bank’s girlfriend.
Lightning – Normal lighting has been used, no high key or artificial lightning is used, and this is done to make the video look more realistic.
Representation- There is a period setting style, depicting of the late 70’s due to mis en scene and clothing such as the tape recorder. This video could show the representation of how the penal system worked in that era as it is showed that the black man in the corner of the jury does not click along at the start and this could representing that he is not paying attention and not caring about the court case, this can also be showed when there are several shots of the jury looking unhappy or bored.
Story line – At the start it shows clip from the night before (which is from the last single) so that the audience can see why Plan B is in the court room. He is being trialled, even though it is not told, for rape as how the story line is being planned out and due to the lyrics. At the end of the video, there is a shot of Plan B’s face and expression which looks disappointed so this could show that is he had been found guilty and is going to prison.
Mise en scene – The video is looked to set in the 70’s/80’s as the characters clothing of the style of suits and dresses, and also due certain pieces of mis en scene such as the tape recorder.
Camera work - In the same way as the video for Drake – Find Your Love, they used filming methods to set traits about the characters; the use of low angled shots on Plan B to show that he is the protagonist. Commonly the shots used are close up or medium shots so they establish who is in the shot as they only last for about 3 seconds, which vary between Plan B singing along to the song and not.
Editing – As usual music videos, shots are straight cut and last no longer then a couple of seconds, this could be done to keep the audience interested with video and the story line.
Sound – The shots last for about 3 seconds, which differ between Plan B singing the song and not. It would not suit all of the shots as it is also a visual based media as well as the audio song.
Genre and narrative - This video doesn’t follow Todorov’s theory as it doesn’t start with an equilibrium and it is left on a cliff hanger, this could be due to being the second part of the story with one before and one following it up. This video also doesn’t follow Propp’s theory either as there are no standard characters as even though Plan B is seen as being portrayed as wrongly accused it didn’t doesn’t actually show this.
Audience theory: Dyer - They used Dyer’s Utopian Solutions Theory to inspire and connect the audience, offering the ‘solutions’ to ‘clarity’ by using the couple of shots at start explaining how Plan B got into that situation of being accused in court. Also uses ‘Isolation’ as they show to the audience that there are other people in the world who have been wrongly accused.
Maslow – They threatened the audience’s need of ‘Affiliation’ as the accusing woman is lying to everyone about what happened as there is also a clip where it shows one of Strickland Bank’s friends going against him as well due to jealously.
Institution – The music video for "She Said" shows Plan B as the soul singer Strickland Banks on the night after one of his concerts. He is in court following the night after one of his concerts. Like Stay Too Long, the video stars Skins actress Kaya Scodelario as the female lead. It is the second single and therefore the second part of a story with a third part afterwards.
Posted by Joe Lavigne
Plan B - She Said - Pop/Soul
Location – There are two main locations, in a police interrogation room and outside and in the court where Strickland Banks (Plan B) is being trialled. In the interrogation room he is shown explaining to policemen that he is innocent, this is heard with the lyrics “on the day that I got arrested, I’m innocent I protested”. The other scene is in the court room where he is being trialled; there are other characters in this scene such as the accusing woman (Kaya Scodelario) and Strickland Bank’s girlfriend.
Lightning – Normal lighting has been used, no high key or artificial lightning is used, and this is done to make the video look more realistic.
Representation- There is a period setting style, depicting of the late 70’s due to mis en scene and clothing such as the tape recorder. This video could show the representation of how the penal system worked in that era as it is showed that the black man in the corner of the jury does not click along at the start and this could representing that he is not paying attention and not caring about the court case, this can also be showed when there are several shots of the jury looking unhappy or bored.
Story line – At the start it shows clip from the night before (which is from the last single) so that the audience can see why Plan B is in the court room. He is being trialled, even though it is not told, for rape as how the story line is being planned out and due to the lyrics. At the end of the video, there is a shot of Plan B’s face and expression which looks disappointed so this could show that is he had been found guilty and is going to prison.
Mise en scene – The video is looked to set in the 70’s/80’s as the characters clothing of the style of suits and dresses, and also due certain pieces of mis en scene such as the tape recorder.
Camera work - In the same way as the video for Drake – Find Your Love, they used filming methods to set traits about the characters; the use of low angled shots on Plan B to show that he is the protagonist. Commonly the shots used are close up or medium shots so they establish who is in the shot as they only last for about 3 seconds, which vary between Plan B singing along to the song and not.
Editing – As usual music videos, shots are straight cut and last no longer then a couple of seconds, this could be done to keep the audience interested with video and the story line.
Sound – The shots last for about 3 seconds, which differ between Plan B singing the song and not. It would not suit all of the shots as it is also a visual based media as well as the audio song.
Genre and narrative - This video doesn’t follow Todorov’s theory as it doesn’t start with an equilibrium and it is left on a cliff hanger, this could be due to being the second part of the story with one before and one following it up. This video also doesn’t follow Propp’s theory either as there are no standard characters as even though Plan B is seen as being portrayed as wrongly accused it didn’t doesn’t actually show this.
Audience theory: Dyer - They used Dyer’s Utopian Solutions Theory to inspire and connect the audience, offering the ‘solutions’ to ‘clarity’ by using the couple of shots at start explaining how Plan B got into that situation of being accused in court. Also uses ‘Isolation’ as they show to the audience that there are other people in the world who have been wrongly accused.
Maslow – They threatened the audience’s need of ‘Affiliation’ as the accusing woman is lying to everyone about what happened as there is also a clip where it shows one of Strickland Bank’s friends going against him as well due to jealously.
Institution – The music video for "She Said" shows Plan B as the soul singer Strickland Banks on the night after one of his concerts. He is in court following the night after one of his concerts. Like Stay Too Long, the video stars Skins actress Kaya Scodelario as the female lead. It is the second single and therefore the second part of a story with a third part afterwards.
Posted by Joe Lavigne
Copyrighted Music
As a group we chose to do the Stevie Wonder song Superstition and as part of the coursework we had ask the copyright owners permission to see if it was okay to use their music. I decided I would email Stevie Wonder's record label first (that email can be seen in a post below). They replied the following day saying:
Thank you for your inquiry with Universal Music Group. We have reviewed your request and have determined that it is not privacy related.
However, for general Licensing and Usage of Universal Music Group Content please refer to the following link:
http://www.umusicpub.com/licensingrequests.aspx.
Thanks again for your interest in Universal Music Group!
Kind Regards,
UMG Privacy Office
I went on the following link and had to fill out a questionnaire saying when and why I wanted to use the music and now I am waiting for a reply from them.
Thank you for your inquiry with Universal Music Group. We have reviewed your request and have determined that it is not privacy related.
However, for general Licensing and Usage of Universal Music Group Content please refer to the following link:
http://www.umusicpub.com/licensingrequests.aspx.
Thanks again for your interest in Universal Music Group!
Kind Regards,
UMG Privacy Office
I went on the following link and had to fill out a questionnaire saying when and why I wanted to use the music and now I am waiting for a reply from them.
Analysing Album Covers
Before we started this coursework in a group we individually started on analysis album covers and as I partly finished one I thought I would blog it.
Lil Wayne - Rebirth - Rock/Rap
Even though Lil Wayne is a rapper, this is rock album and it is reflected on the cover.
One way it is shown is with the mise-en-scene as such with a guitar is placed on top of him in the center of the shot which is a symbol of rock music. Also everything in the shot looks like its matching from the sofa to his scarf and trainers, this cold be done to represent his fashion conscious .
It is a medium shot of the artist which shows him relaxed and laid back. This could relate how he feels about the album due there was negative criticisms before the album was released.
The artists name stands out quite a lot more, compared to the album title as it is in white, maybe this was done to show whatever the album is the artist will sell music just due to his name.
Posted By Joe Lavigne
Analysing Album Covers
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Analysing Album Covers
View more presentations from rachael swan.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Email to Universal Motown
To Sir or Madam
I am writing to request your permission to use the popular Stevie Wonder song titled Superstition from the Talking Book album.
With your permission, this track would be used in my current A-level Media Studies project which involves creating a music video for a popular music track, as well as producing an album cover and a magazine advert for the artist. I will be working in a group with Drew Middleton, Rachael Swan and Molly Pitman and we unanimously picked this song due to as it is an entertaining and enjoyable and also for the audience to listen to with its soulful vibes
If I receive your permission, this track would only be used for an educational purpose and be viewed by my media class, my teacher and the exam board moderator. It would not be released to a large audience or uploaded to any public video websites.
The artist and your company would of course be fully recognised throughout pre-production and the final video itself. A copyright notice, with wording supplied by you can be included in the records of the project. If this is required, please send full details. We would proud to send you a copy of our completed music video for your interest.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Joe Lavigne
I am writing to request your permission to use the popular Stevie Wonder song titled Superstition from the Talking Book album.
With your permission, this track would be used in my current A-level Media Studies project which involves creating a music video for a popular music track, as well as producing an album cover and a magazine advert for the artist. I will be working in a group with Drew Middleton, Rachael Swan and Molly Pitman and we unanimously picked this song due to as it is an entertaining and enjoyable and also for the audience to listen to with its soulful vibes
If I receive your permission, this track would only be used for an educational purpose and be viewed by my media class, my teacher and the exam board moderator. It would not be released to a large audience or uploaded to any public video websites.
The artist and your company would of course be fully recognised throughout pre-production and the final video itself. A copyright notice, with wording supplied by you can be included in the records of the project. If this is required, please send full details. We would proud to send you a copy of our completed music video for your interest.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Joe Lavigne
Further Genre Discussion and Song Choice
After further deliberation, our group has chosen 'Stevie Wonder - Superstition' to be our final choice of song. We all agreed that the 'Jazz' and 'Soul' influences made it an entertaining and enjoyable song; for the audience to listen to and for the group to create a music video for.
However, if copyright issues restrict the use of the song, we will need to investigate into other songs which we have placed in our shortlist. Additionally, if other songs are not available, we will turn to an unknown artist. We have already been in contact with a band who may be willing to allow us use of their recorded material - but this needs to be confirmed. If we are allowed the rights, our genre will change to 'Indie Rock', as this is the genre the band follow.
Confirmation of both copyright issues (for 'Superstition') and the band's willingness for our group to use their songs will hopefully occur in the coming week.
Posted by Drew Middleton.
However, if copyright issues restrict the use of the song, we will need to investigate into other songs which we have placed in our shortlist. Additionally, if other songs are not available, we will turn to an unknown artist. We have already been in contact with a band who may be willing to allow us use of their recorded material - but this needs to be confirmed. If we are allowed the rights, our genre will change to 'Indie Rock', as this is the genre the band follow.
Confirmation of both copyright issues (for 'Superstition') and the band's willingness for our group to use their songs will hopefully occur in the coming week.
Posted by Drew Middleton.
Monday, 21 June 2010
Music Genre Discussion
On the 17th June, our group underwent a phase of discussion; which included a creative and spontaneous idea/thought process (based on the music genre we intend to use for our music video).
Firstly, we considered whether to use copyright free music - produced by artists in the public eye - or investigate into an unknown band/artist, who may allow our group use of their songs, for our practical promo video. We eventually agreed to conduct further research and investigation into the matter. Our group done this by sending numerous emails and messages to relatively unknown artists (via social networking sites e.g. MySpace, and personal contacts e.g. friends, relatives and teachers) and examine how and where to purchase copyright-free music.
Secondly, the concept of music genre is an important element in the promo video design process. It is an extremely vital aspect, one of which we must decide as an entire group and one which we must stick to throughout the coursework module. After various discussions, of which 'R&B' and 'Pop' where mentioned, we eventually choose an 'Indie Rock' genre to follow. However, we will not be strict with our choice, and take various influences from other genres (such as 'Jazz' and 'Pop') in the choice of song and production phase i.e. mise-en-scene.
Finally, before starting product analyses, we choose to create a short-list of possible songs to use. When cut down, we have chosen the potential in 2 professional songs: Stevie Wonder - 'Superstition' and Plan B - 'Love Goes Down'. Furthermore, this is subject to change; due to copyright reasons, we may not be able to use the songs we have chosen, therefore will have to use a song from an unknown artist (one of which will give our group the right to use their recorded tracks).
These discussions have allowed our group to move swiftly on to our product analyses -of music videos, advertisements and album covers - of which we will grasp further knowledge of connotations from the 'Indie Rock' genre, allowing us to conclude findings for use in our final products.
Posted by Drew Middleton.
Firstly, we considered whether to use copyright free music - produced by artists in the public eye - or investigate into an unknown band/artist, who may allow our group use of their songs, for our practical promo video. We eventually agreed to conduct further research and investigation into the matter. Our group done this by sending numerous emails and messages to relatively unknown artists (via social networking sites e.g. MySpace, and personal contacts e.g. friends, relatives and teachers) and examine how and where to purchase copyright-free music.
Secondly, the concept of music genre is an important element in the promo video design process. It is an extremely vital aspect, one of which we must decide as an entire group and one which we must stick to throughout the coursework module. After various discussions, of which 'R&B' and 'Pop' where mentioned, we eventually choose an 'Indie Rock' genre to follow. However, we will not be strict with our choice, and take various influences from other genres (such as 'Jazz' and 'Pop') in the choice of song and production phase i.e. mise-en-scene.
Finally, before starting product analyses, we choose to create a short-list of possible songs to use. When cut down, we have chosen the potential in 2 professional songs: Stevie Wonder - 'Superstition' and Plan B - 'Love Goes Down'. Furthermore, this is subject to change; due to copyright reasons, we may not be able to use the songs we have chosen, therefore will have to use a song from an unknown artist (one of which will give our group the right to use their recorded tracks).
These discussions have allowed our group to move swiftly on to our product analyses -of music videos, advertisements and album covers - of which we will grasp further knowledge of connotations from the 'Indie Rock' genre, allowing us to conclude findings for use in our final products.
Posted by Drew Middleton.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Introduction of Advanced Portfolio
We are doing a promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two the options:
• a cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DVD package);
• a magazine advertisement for the digipak (CD/DVD package).
We have decided to do this brief as a group as we all enjoy watching music videos on the television and online such as on MTV and YouTube. We also enjoy other mediums which are representing music artists and work with the music industry.
Our group consists of Joe Lavigne, Drew Middleton, Molly Pitman and Rachael Swan. We will all work on the music promo video together but we all we create a separate a cover for its release and a magazine advertisement for the digipak.
At the start we had to make a blog, as we was going to do separate parts of the coursework we thought we would make separate blogs but then our teachers said we can make one together and decided to keep this one.
Firstly to help us on our way to producing my own music video, cover and magazine advertisement we will do some product analyses on the separate parts, We will do 4 analyses on music videos and two on the cover and the magazine advertisement. This will help us find generic conventions of different genres.
Posted by Joe Lavigne
• a cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DVD package);
• a magazine advertisement for the digipak (CD/DVD package).
We have decided to do this brief as a group as we all enjoy watching music videos on the television and online such as on MTV and YouTube. We also enjoy other mediums which are representing music artists and work with the music industry.
Our group consists of Joe Lavigne, Drew Middleton, Molly Pitman and Rachael Swan. We will all work on the music promo video together but we all we create a separate a cover for its release and a magazine advertisement for the digipak.
At the start we had to make a blog, as we was going to do separate parts of the coursework we thought we would make separate blogs but then our teachers said we can make one together and decided to keep this one.
Firstly to help us on our way to producing my own music video, cover and magazine advertisement we will do some product analyses on the separate parts, We will do 4 analyses on music videos and two on the cover and the magazine advertisement. This will help us find generic conventions of different genres.
Posted by Joe Lavigne
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