Music Audiences & Subculture

This task is based on music audiences and how videos for musicians are presented to appeal to certain audience. The way music videos are shown is to convey the subculture of particular groups. For example the use of turntables, graffiti and dance used to represent hip-hop culture shown in the Common - I Used To Love H.E.R. 

Scene Kids: Fall Out Boy - Dance, Dance

Chavs: Eminem - Lose Yourself

Hip-Hop: Common - I Used To Love H.E.R

Ravers: Afrojack & Steve Aoki ft Miss Palmer - No Beef

Hipsters: Friends - I'm His Girl

Metallic: Slipknot - Psychosocial

Punks: Greenday - American Idiot

Skaters: OPM - Heaven is a Halfpipe

This has helped to show me the way different music subcultures are represented in terms of the music artists sell to their fans and how videos differ visually. This task was done previously by me when I was in another group, although there is another version of this task done on this blog by another group member.

Rough Test Footage Music Video

Digi-Pack Mood Board

The Task:

As part of an idea of what we had to do in order to create our Digi-Pack, we was asked to look  into how we wanted to it to look, and come up with some ideas or inspirations for it. This task would help in promoting the band "The Fergies" through the creation, and widen their Niche if the Pack is appealing and attractive to their audience. Furthermore, this task will not only promote our band, but will also allow us to experiment, evaluate and conclude various ideas I have for our Digi-Pack idea.  

 

This is the rough Mood Board i did in class for our Digi-Pack. I constructed the ideas by listening through to the song we planned on using a number of times, and wrote down everything i thought and felt would look good for our pack. Certain aspects i linked together by using arrows to point at them, and show some form of relationship between them, and keep early ideas together. This rough would benefit us, as it shows early elements of what we can or can't use in our Digi-Pack, and shows clear planning strategy.

This is a neater version of the first mood board I constructed, and unlike the first one, certain points have arrows pointing in their direction in more than one instance. This was to help me understand any reoccurring themes within the web, and set a clear idea of what is the most popular and used method within this scheme.  Moreover, this neater version will help us far more than the rough, as it is easier to read and makes good use of justifying and demonstrating reoccurring themes within the web. 

I constructed a collage of some of my inspirations for what I wanted our Digi-Pack to look like. This shows visual understanding and creates an ideal look of how we want it to appear. This demonstrates that if we were to actually go forward with any of the ideas suggested, we know that it is very possible, since there are examples of others doing the exact same, and there is no saying we cannot do the same. Moreover, we can evaluate and possibly emulate certain elements presented in collage, such as the use of lighting or makeup by some of the subjects present. 

In conclusion, this task shows the early stages of planning our Digi-Pack, and demonstrates a clear idea of what we can do in order to create our Pack. Moreover, the use of listening to the song a number of times creates an atmosphere that we can use to both influence our Digi-Pack idea (as it did me) and the video we will be making. Furthermore, this task will help us keep in mind that our pack must be similar to both our Music Video and Website, so as to keep the meaning, Influence and Image the same. 

Ownership:

This post was done by Deborah Akinkuolie. 

Sophie, Deborah & David A2: Media tutorial

During class, our teacher showed us how to upload our footage into Final Cut. Since we had not used it since June, he decided to show us again to remind us of how to use it.

Sophie, Deborah & David A2: Media tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtnzXZ6Q9Yg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

In conclusion, this video is deeply essential, as it will help remind us (if we forget, or a teacher is not present) how to use Final Cut in the future, and allow us to continue our work with ease, without any problems.

Shot List

The Task:

Debbie & Sophie-

David

These are the shots done in the format of the order of when they will shot, evident through me separating the shots into sections based on their locations. The shot list helps very much in us knowing what shots are to be done within the content, angles and types of shots each one is. This should also assist rapidly in the speed efficiency on the days we go out filming. Additionally, it makes it clearer in which shots are being done in  certain locations.

Key:

• Dark Green: Outside House 
• Gold: Classroom 
• Yellow: Room, Chessboard 
• Red: Inside 
• Blue: Bathroom
• Orange: Living Room (LR) 
• Light Green: Dark Room 
• Lilac: Hallway, School/House
• Dark Blue: Outside
• Light Pink: Kitchen 
• Dark Orange: Street 
• Light Blue: Hall
• Pink: Bedroom 

This task was done by Deborah Akinkuolie, Sophie Butcher and David. It was divided between us and we each did an equal amount. 

Prop List

The Task:

In order to understand and assure ourselves with what we needed for our Music Video, I was tasked with setting up a list of everything that was necessary and essential before we began shooting. This allowed us to organise and evaluate what we needed, how we would be able to get it, and any necessary advantages or disadvantages we may have to face during or before the shoot.  Furthermore this task prepares us to be able to think ahead and plan, also demonstrating our analytical skills of what may or may not happen should we begin filming.

Chess Board

The chess board will be used as a catalyst (or rather, the symbolic item) to represent the actions that are taken by the characters. Each move will be planned and moved accordingly by an anonymous figure, who clearly is similar to an omnipresent being in the duration of the of the music video. The colour scheme (unlike that of the one presented in the picture) will focus on the aspect of black and white, to represent the stereotypical Good vs Evil scheme, so the black pieces represent bad, and the white, good.    

Knife

The Knife plays a key role during the conclusion of the music video. Its symbolism is one that reinforces its use in the video, an item of harm. Its use is significant as it will be the factor that contributes to the ambiguous ending of the music video. This one shot (or several) of the weapon will leave an open ending conclusion for the audience whether our main character has chosen to take his own life, or that of his fathers. Noticeably  I realised that there would be several problems in acquiring the knife, as it is (considered) a weapon under law. Taking it from one of our homes would (if it were discovered by the police) result in immediate arrest. In order to combat this issue, it would be better if we gained the knife through the school kitchens, and possibly (if it is needed) have a teacher supervise us as we use it. 
                  

   Paint (Red) 

This will only appear towards the end of the music video (just like the knife) and will be used to represent some form of harm being done to a character, as it will be used (thrown on) a chessboard  This will further add an ambiguous feel and ending to the conclusion of the music video. Due to the anonymous implications of who has died in the music video, this will add further suspense to the conclusion.

Police Light

The police light, may be one of the hardest props for us to find.  Its significance will only appear in the opening of the music video. Acquiring a Police Light will be especially expensive, as it is not something that can be bought easily in stores, creating a problem for us. But there is a solution, it is possible to download apps online or on phones that create the same effect as an ordinary police light. This, even, makes it easier for us, as it will not be likely that one of us will leave our phone behind. And should this happen, it would better that all three of us download the app, thus preventing an accidental loss or forgetting to bring our phone. That way, we are all prepared.   

Alcohol

This will be significant almost throughout the music video, and demonstrate the violence in the main characters life. Moreover, they will add to the hyperreality of a working class background, in which the boy is living. Finding this will be both relatively easy, and difficult at once, carrying alcohol around during the day may prove quite dangerous, and we may be questioned for it. However, since the art room is full of such bottles, we can use those to our advantage, as it saves us from having to actually having to go out and buy the drinks. Moreover, if we use a scene in which a character is drinking, we can simply fill it with water, as quite a few alcohols share a physical resemblance to it.                                                             

Bag

This is by far the easiest and cheapest of all  items we will have in the music video. Since he is from a working class family, it will be notoriously easy acquiring this, as we would just need to use one of our own old bags to use for the video.   

Police Tape

This will be used in the opening of the Music Video also. This will further be used to let the viewer know that something has happened in the opening of the video. Finding this may prove hard, and will require us to actually pay for the tape, but it will be of definite importance in the music video. 

Skate Board

This will be, just like the bottles, a recurring item in the Video. And may demonstrate the boys only means of escape in the music video. This will also be an expensive item to acquire, as none of us (within the team) uses a skateboard.  If we cannot find a skateboard, we have suggested that as a compromise, we will use a bike instead.

White Tiles/Paper

In order to create a life-sized chessboard, we would need white paper/tiles to create an authentic and realistic look. This was to act as part of the inner conscious of our main character. This will be relatively easy to get a hold of, due to paper being a luxury most of us could afford. 

In conclusion, this task will help us understand what we need for our music video, and ensure that we do not forget what is needed when we start filming. Moreover, it will act as evidence that we have looked into and evaluated all in which we need to buy, and how we will work around any problems we may come across. 

Ownership:

This task was created by Deborah Akinkuolie. And I am in charge of gathering all of the props together. 

Hot Chip Edit

This is my Hot chip edit, not my best piece of work but at least it has gotten me used to using final cut pro again.

Additionally it has given me a small amount of experience in terms of how editing a music compares to another form of visual media like a film.