Music Video Theories
Videography Workshop
After doing the basics of videography which includes most of the technical aspects such as camera work, lighting and editing, that we had already discovered and worked with in the previous magazine task, we moved on towards the more detailed part of music videos which included its narrative, codes and conventions and their deeper meaning. As we finished with learning, we were told to experiment with kinds of cuts and shots typically used in music videos which included shot/shot reverse, match on action, master shot, close ups, 180 degree rule, over the shoulder shot, eyeline match and jump cut with a small task of making a short video with a narrative, no longer than 2 minutes.
As a group it took as literally 5 minutes to decided the narrative which clashed with another group so I gave the idea of making a video that showed a very simple scenario that we all go through which was that there is a girl who reaches the class late and is told by the teacher to give her class presentation first. The thing was that we could easily film in a free class and use our maximum group members to act and then get random girls in the cafeteria to be the class audience. I think that the main problem regarding the filming process was the scenes that we had to shoot in the corridors. Teachers and students went past there many times so we chose the early morning time to shoot because it was the time when all classes were in process.
We made a sheet with the needed shots and what we could do in the act to fit with them. Making the sheet before hand was really helpful as it made things much easier and organized as with this we shot the scenes in order. 
I contributed to be the one behind the camera because I had a few ideas in my mind of how to shoot this, especially the movement and the angles. Thankfully the team member understood me and trusted me to be the one to capture with the help of Iqra of course who contributed to help me in the filming process.
Behind the scenes
The filming literally just took us nearly half an hour and i think that the reason was that we had already planned and the places that we used to shoot the scenes were just in one path. And also I think that we all worked out really well together without any disagreements and arguments which was a really positive thing.
One thing that i found difficult to shoot was match on action because making it look smooth and realistic was very complicated especially when you have to stop the actor and then move to the second position and film it from that angle with continuous feel. It did take few attempts but at last we did make happen. Iqra was persistent with what she did. I think she also has a good idea for how to shoot videos but the angles and movements we wanted was i guess were challenging for everyone.
Final video
Codes And Conventions of Music Videos
Music Videos
After watching a few music videos i have seen that atleast 90% of them have the following three pure forms:
- Performance Based
- Narrative Based
- Concept Based/Thematic
Performance Based
From what I learned performance means where you perform an act that can be concert, play or other form of entertainment. It is a music video which presents the artist/band throughout the entire song. The video has the features of a performance based music video as it includes the lead singer. The camera angles focus on each of the band members and these camera angles also emphasize the punk rock and the personalities of the band. The performance based video is emphasized by the camera shots showing the cameras recording the band singing their song. They are performing in what seems to be a studio performing to the camera. However, even though the band are performing, the video could also be linked to ‘concept based music video’ as the video has nothing to do with the song itself and the theory behind the song.
Some popular and more known examples include:
Beyonce-Single ladies
I think that this song is a classic example of performance based music video as beyonce herself dances in the middle with two other dances in front of a blank background in a studio and the emphasize is on the lyrics of song. There isn’t a lot camera work other than the camera moving around the singer and dancers in 360 degrees. I think that the choreography and the editing as well as camerawork makes the song pop out more.
Havana-Camila Cabello
This song basically has two portions of performances with the first being very stereotypical dramatic and the other half in which she says that she loves (either a boy or her birthplace, Havana) and half of her heart is there linking them together. In my opinion this song shows the difference between two mindsets when considering love for a person or a place.
Narrative Based
Looking into narrative based, Narrative means the different ways in how you present written or spoken events i.e. narrating at a play or presenting a speech. It may be the one that uses more footage that attempts to tell a story. These types of music videos are linked to the lyrics of the song as they tend to usually have a story line. Most appropriately understood as a short silent movie to a musical background. It features artists or actors/models in the story.I believe it mostly contains a visual story that is easy to follow.A pure narrative clip contains no lip-synchronized singing. Through basic narrative they try to get a message across to the audience and forces the viewer to listen to the lyrics more than just the video automatically emphasizing on the story that is being told.
We don’t talk anyone
I chose this song specifically because i see the video of the song as the best narration for the lyrics. It clearly shows the story behind the song and itself explains the lyrics too.
Faded
The interpretation of Faded actually means that the thing she’s looking was her joy and happiness and then another day it disappears and she is looking for it every time and then since she can’t find it she thinks it is all a dream,her imagination and what she meant by “I’m faded” is that she’s lost without it. I guess that this song has strong and painful emotion being displayed inside a person because of something or somebody precious from the past is missing him or he misses it and the eager to achieve is stronger than ever.
Conceptual Based
On the other hand concept based music video means that the director has one single idea or theme that doesn’t match the video to the song. These music videos could be abstract and artistic. Song contains no perceptible visual narrative or any lip-synchronized singing. Although it may give a hint of the story with a clear message. However it could leave audience with a question. Conceptual based music videos mostly contain symbols are used to build up meaning.
Her morning elegance-Oren Lavie
This is one my most favorite songs because the song is as simple as it looks and sounds. The song describes a day in a life of a woman or a girl who wakes up, drink tea, and struggles to work. I think that this video of this song has been directed remarkably as it has been shot in with compiling pictures of each shot with pillows, sheets, clothing items used as background props on a mattress. This is the first time that I have seen such a video and it has inspired me a lot.
SIA-Elastic heart
The video shows Shia LaBeouf and Maddie Ziegler acting out a fight that is both emotional and physical. The song is about how she’s afraid to fall in love, so she pushes people away. She uses “bite the dust” in reference to how people would leave her because she refuses to get close to anyone. Rather than the performance, the concept behind the song is standing out more because when I saw it I instantly thought that if a music video has no dubbing and a performance with a lot of expressions and weird body movement then a message is definitely being conveyed by the song.
Introduction To Music Videos
Basically, a music video is a promotional film for popular music, especially a rock song. They began to be widely broadcast on television in the early 1980s. Like the commercials they essentially are, music videos may qualify as the stereotypical postmodern art form.
I think that music videos, as an art form, are as important now as they’ve ever been. They’re part of our visual language — a significant part of the culture of our consumption of music, art and entertainment… And they are also a great way to spend five minutes in the afternoon. A video connects an artist and a listener, as well as connecting a listener to an audience automatically. In many ways, they are an important medium for contemporary pop culture and technology and by no doubt music videos as an art form are as important now as they’ve ever been.
Music videos are still an important jumping off point for directors to hone and explore their creativity. They give young talent an opportunity to break into different areas of the film industry — they are still very much a way in. The media still look at music videos for discovering new talent, and those ideas are then applied to so many other things. Take the example of Billie Eilish.
Music videos create a multi-dimensional experience. We are no longer just hearing; we are seeing too. It’s not just about sensation, it’s about the content. When you watch a music video you are watching the song’s visual representation. How an artist visually represents their song says a lot about them and their music. What direction would you take? Music videos create a multi-dimensional experience. We are no longer just hearing; we are seeing too. It’s not just about sensation, it’s about the content. When you watch a music video you are watching the song’s visual representation
My Team (Monkeys)
For the project this year we will be working as a team of 4 and we named it the “Monkeys”. My team includes Iqra, Fatima and Arooj.
1. Iqra is really good at learning at retaining new things and has an open mind towards something out of the box. She made a pop rock magazine which she handled exceptionally and and the outcome was equally outstanding.
http://www.iqrasmedisblog.weebly.com
2. Fatima. She is a passionate and enthusiastic member of the group. She is really good at brainstorming ideas and made a remarkable cultural magazine project last year. Fatima also really good at time management.
http://www.fatimaqaiyum.home.blog.wordpress.com
3. Arooj Fatima. She is one of the most competitive member of the group. She made an amazing pet magazine project in A1. She is an active member of the group and what i have noticed is that she is really social in terms contacting people and friendship circle .Working with her is surely going to be fun and productive.
http://www.aroojfatimah2.home.blog.wordpress.com
Set brief for our Advanced Portfolio
MAIN TASK
Basically the main task of this is a coursework component, internally assessed and externally moderated. In this coursework we are said to produce a media campaign through a combination of three media (video, print and website), selecting from a choice of set briefs and detailing the process of the planning, research and production of their work online, in a blog format. Finished products and creative critical reflection is also later presented on the respective blog.
The set briefs each contain a major task along with two associated minor tasks; the weighting of each element should be roughly two thirds to the major and one third to the minor tasks combined. Now the set brief option that we chose are as follows: Option 1: music promotion package A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music video (major task), together with a website for the band and a digipak for the album’s release (minor tasks).
This work may be undertaken individually or by a group . In a scenario in which candidates have worked in a group, the evidence for assessment may be presented collectively but centres must assess candidates on an individual basis. Each student’s blog should clearly indicate the candidate’s own role in any group activity to allow the teacher to assess the contribution of each individual within the groups.
The Advanced Portfolio component assesses the following objectives: AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding to show how meanings are created when analysing media products and when evaluating their own practical work. AO3: Plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills. AO4: Undertake and apply appropriate research.
PROCESS
The whole process is slow and thorough in which we must have an individual blog which is started at the beginning of the project. The process of research, planning and production, including refinement, changes and reflection on key moments, and any individual contribution to a task undertaken as a group, is to be evidenced on the online blog. Some production elements such as storyboards may be shared by all members of a group. Collaborators who worked with the candidate on research, planning and/or production must be listed on the Individual Candidate Record Card under ‘other group members’.
It is really important for each of us to have a blog with evidence of any preliminary exercises, the finished product and the creative critical reflection (see below) and will comprise the complete evidence for the moderator at the end of each project.
Daheem's A2 Music Portfolio 