Wednesday 27 July 2011

Smaller than you - who knew

The  song I am using for my music video fits into both the genres ska and indie. Musically the key characteristics  of the indie genre was jangling guitars, a love of sixties pop and often fey, innocent lyrics.These are the lyrics to the song I am using in my music video and the demonstrate the innocent lyrics of the indie genre. However, the upbeat rhythm of the song and elements of American jazz also give the song characteristics of the ska genre. I chose this song because I like the genre of music and also because I like the song as it is upbeat and cheerful. However, in the music video I don't want to link the narrative with the lyrics.


It was very easy to see when you were looking around at me,
A face of despair,
A dream of prosperity,
But things started to change,
A decision was made,
About what you wanna do,
Who knew!
About all the troubles and hassles of life,
Run away from it all,
Run away from the light,
You can't deal with these problems later on in your life.


All the things that you said,
All the things that you've done,
Have only set in upon the minds of the young,
Actions have conscience as some may say,
And they're coming for me not you,
Who knew!
About all the troubles and hassle of life,
Run away from it all,
Run away from the light,
I can't deal with these problems later on in my life.

Friday 15 July 2011

Intertextuality in Afrika Shox

Chris Cunningham, the director of 'Afrika Shox' may have been specifically influenced by the film 'Blade Runner' and the silent masterpiece 'Metropolis'.


In 'Blade Runner' the replicant is portrayed as a slave and alien compared to other people. This is similar because in the black man in 'Afrika Shox' is seen to be alien to white people and someone they are not familiar with. This is also shown with the urban landscape, within both 'Blade Runner' and 'Afrika Shox' there is an urban surrounding which is unfamiliar to both the main characters in the music video and the film. It reinforces the idea that they are both alien to us. The noir lighting throughout 'Blade Runner' has also inspired Chris Cunningham and he has used it in 'Afrika Shox'. This creates unfamiliarity for the slaves and disorientates them along with the audience which makes it seem surreal and like it is a nightmare. There are many identical shots in 'Blade Runner' and 'Afrika Shox, especially the shot of the polive car sirens. This reinforces the electro genre. Along with this there are also many low angle shots in 'Blade Runner' that are also in 'Afrika shox' which shows that people who are different are looked down upon.


'Afrika Shox' also has intertextual references with 'Metropolis'. The workers are slave figures, just like the black man in 'Afrika Shox', they are zombie like which is also similiar to the man. Along with this representation, there is also urban surroundings which is also seen in 'Afrika Shox', disorientating the slave. The low angle shots are also taken from this film and used by Chris Cunningham in 'Afrika Shox' representing the slaves as lower class than everybody else.

Claude Levi Strauss's narrative theory of binary opposites
Within the music video 'Afrika Shox' there are many binary opposites. The black man is represented as a binary opposite to the white people. This is because of the slave reference of the video. Another binary opposite is that the black man is of low class and the white people are higher class. This is shown through the low angle shots of the black man on the floor and also by what he is wearing in the video. Whilst he wears rags, the other people wear upper class clothes that are associated with the higher class.

Treatment

The backline story of my music video is showing a break up. However, because of the upbeat rhythm of the song the concept is to show unity and friendship and how it can strengthen a person by having a group of friends surrounding them. We will do this by interweaving a narrative with a band performance. For most of the music video I will film at the beach which will show the group of friends having fun, playing beach ball and drinking to make their friend feel better about the situation.

In my video, the mise en scene will change frequently. To start with it will be the couple breaking up. There will be many quick cut shots from scene to scene so that it matches the beat of the song. Although the mise en scene will change a lot, there will be many shots of the beach and the tent and all the friends together having a good time. I plan to film at different locations, such as the beach, a car and also a bleak room where the break up will occur at the beginning of the video which will match the mood of the people. Many shots at the beach will be lit by the sun so I will be depending on the weather on the days I choose to shoot scenes of the music video. I want it to be natural lighting at the beach so that it feels like a real situation. However, at the scene at the very start I will use artificial lighting such as strong key lighting to create a contrast to show how the mood changes from the start of the video to the end. In the video costumes need to fit the music genre, the song I am using is of the indie genre therefore the people in the video will have to look like they are a part of this style. The music is very fast paced therefore the whole video will be very fast paced so that it is in time with the music. I will have a lot of close ups throughout which will show the emotion and also mid shots to present the unity of the friendship group.

The target audience for my music video is young people of both genders between the ages of 16 – 21. This concept will appeal to this target audience because the people in the music video are between the ages of this and it will also include both genders. The location I am choosing to shoot at is a place where young people are familiar with, mainly because it is a place where they generally go to party and camp with friends and drink. This means that they will feel comfortable watching my music video. This is important so that the audience can relate to the video and will actually like it. Along with this the narrative in my music video is something that young people can relate to; break ups are something that happens to most young people therefore they understand how it feels and the importance of having a close knit group of friends to get through it. So that my music video will target people who follow the indie/ska genre I will include shots of instruments such as trumpets, drums and guitars that they are familiar with.

Thursday 7 July 2011

Mood Board



My moodboard features pictures of the characters in my music video, settings that I plan to film at, and my ideas that I have to create my music video.  The people that appear in my moodboard are people I am likely to use in my actual film. A couple, arguing and then making up. They will be dressed to suit the indie/ska genre that the music belongs to. The settings I am filming at are a beach, demonstrating freedom and in contrast I am also filming in an confined room which will create discomfort during the arguement. The beach will be deserted as I want my main focus on the people in my video. In my video I am having both narrative and performance. The performance will be of the band because ska music is focussed on the use of jazz instruments such as trumpets.