Storyboard

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

(Some of the shots were hard to explain, and so I have referenced which videos I have taken the inspiration from. These shots can be found in previous posts.)

Music Video Analysis Theory

Andrew Goodwin identified a number of key features which distinguish the music video as a form. Before you understand his theory, you need to understand some key terminology. If you click on the key terms you will be taken to videos which best illustrate these terms.

Illustrate: Images used to represent the meanings of the lyrics and genre (this is the most common feature of a music video and is often very literal).

Disjuncture: When the meaning of the song is completely ignored.

Amplify: Meanings and effects are manipulated and constantly shown throughout the video and shown to the audience (basically repetition).

- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the lyrics.

- There is a relationship between the music and visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the music.

- Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography.

- Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist.

- Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens, cameras, mirrors, etc.

- There are likely to be intertextual references, either to other music videos, or to films and TV texts. These provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewer/ fans.



blink-182 / All The Small Things (features the trio doing parodies of other popular boy-bands such as Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, and 'N Sync. The video also features parodies of Britney Spears' "Sometimes", and Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" video.)




Shihad / Pacifier (influenced by Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange".)



Beastie Boys / Sabotage (a parody of 1970s crime drama television series such as Hawaii Five-O, The Streets of San Francisco, S. W. A. T., Baretta, and Starsky and Hutch.)

Adapted from http://mrsmitha2musicvideo.blogspot.co.uk/

Test Shots

I shot this footage on my iPhone at Woodlands Nursery & Garden Centre in Leicester this afternoon, using the app "Video Star". I decided to film some of the fish as they were swimming in the tanks due to some of the lyrics which feature in "Where Is My Mind", for example, "I was swimming in the Caribbean, animals were hiding behind the rocks, except the little fish..." etc. Also, as previously noted, Green Day incorporated fish into their video for "Basket Case" so as to convey an altered state of mind, which I think could also be applied to my song choice. I purposely blurred and slowed down some of the footage whilst shooting to distort and create a sense of disorientation, thus fitting with the theme of the song, and tried to also create a shaky camera effect. The first video is better quality than the second (the second being my first attempt) as I was just trying out different effects and you can see my reflection in some of the shots), but I may use some of this. I intend to edit the footage so it is placed over a shot of the band's vocalist, as shown below, but I may manipulate the footage in other ways too.

Audience Feedback

These are the comments I received on my pitch last week. Overall I think the responses were good; my ideas concerning psychedelia, surrealism and the abstract were well regarded by my peers, as well as the use of a shaky camera effect.

After much thought, I have decided to dismiss the idea of including a narrative element within my video, as this will create too much work for myself and possibly take away from the ideas I already have, rather than adding something unnecessarily to the video. 

The saying "less is more" applies here, and a simple performance video would more than likely result in a better video than if I overcomplicated my ideas and tried to achieve something that wasn't possible. By trying to shoot a narrative piece with a non-existent budget and limited software available, the professional style of the music video could be sabotaged in the process. Therefore, I intend to stick to performance, though adding in some shots of the band which are not related to the instruments to break up the song.

Camera Equipment

I am going to be using three different cameras to shoot my music video.
The first being the Nikon D5000 Digital SLR.


The Nikon D5000 feels has a lightweight body and is a comfortable camera to hold. I will use this camera for very precise, still shots as it can also be placed on a tripod, so as to ensure the shots are steady.
It has an innovative vari-angle monitor, outstanding image quality and digital SLR movie function as well as 19 scene modes that automatically adjust exposure, image processing and Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast environments, therefore making it the perfect camera for my project.

I also intend to shoot some of the footage on my iPhone.

One of the main reasons for using this software is due to the number of apps that can be downloaded to the phone to create special camera effects, for example Video Star, iMajiCam Pro etc.
As well as this, it is handheld and would make creating the "shaky camera" effect very simple to achieve.
I have the iPhone 4 model, which has a 5.0 megapixel camera that can record video at 720p resolution, considered high-definition. It also has a backside-illuminated sensor that can capture pictures in low light and an LED flash that can stay lit while recording video. It is the first iPhone to natively do high dynamic range photography. Saved recordings may be synced to the host computer, attached to email or (where supported) sent by MMS, which makes the process of shooting and uploading very simple.

Finally, I want to use the Samsung VP-L800U Camcorder.

Samsung's compact, user-friendly 8mm camcorder offers an array of advanced video and audio features that assure quality video recording. The 8mm video system provides a crystal clear picture image, and its lightweight and compact size make recording a lot easier. It features EASY-Q and CUSTOM-Q, guaranteeing excellent shots under any conditions, and allowing users to program their favourite settings. Optical zoom and digital special effects are also made achievable with the Samsung VP-L800U.
The only downside is the fact that the camcorder works with tapes. To upload any footage shot on the camcorder, the tape would have to be converted to a disc before going any further. However, I intend to use this software for the few opening shots of my video only, and plan on displaying the footage on a HD television, then re-recording what is being played on the screen with the Nikon camera. I want to achieve a sort of playback effect, and therefore as I am watching it back, I can pause and rewind the footage and record this as I am doing so. For example, I would like to create something to this effect:

Location Shots

The following photos were taken in Leire earlier this afternoon. I like the country road and the untamed wilderness surrounding the lake. The old shed (image 3) is too run down to film in, however looks quite authentic from the outside and could work well as a backdrop. Some of the filming will definitely involve the pair walking down the lane which has been photographed, but an indoor setting such as a garage may be needed also.

Influences Playlist

Camera Movement

Guided By Voices / I Am A Scientist

Panning shot, close-up of guitar:



Throwing Muses / Bright Yellow Gun

Panning, replay of shot:



The Cure / In Between Days

SnorriCam effect, camera moves with the guitarist but shot is displayed from the shoulders up:



Panning back and forth, camera follows close-up of guitar, as if it is attached to it:



Shaky camera, close-up:



Vocalist pushes camera away, it comes back and he grabs hold of it:

Location Ideas

(From a fan-made video of Talking Heads / Psycho Killer) 

I like the idea of shooting in a garage and then moving out onto a country road, following the vocalist/guitarist. 

Shot Styles/Camera Movement

The Smashing Pumpkins / 1979

360 degree panning shot:



Evangelion shot (zoom out):



The Lemonheads / My Drug Buddy

I like the way these three shots fade into one another, and also the distinction between the black-and-white performance and the use of colour to separate the two.



Blind Melon / No Rain

Over saturated colours, quick edits:



Beck / E-pro

Shaky camera, panning shots:



Beck / Where It's At

Mise-en-scene, over saturated colours in the background:

The Wedding Present / Brassneck

Panning shot, performance:

The Cure / The Lovecats

Shaky camera, flashes of over saturated colours:



Tracking shot:



I like the setup of the band and the frame of this shot. The camera stays in place as the vocalist moves around, staying within the shot and keeping the band in focus.

A Field In England (film)

Alternative Rock Videos

Artist Twitter Account

I have decided to name my band 'Electric Addiction' and have created a Twitter account to coincide with the project. I chose to use 'Electric' in the name because it is a powerful, striking concept, thus reflecting the band's personality and sound, as well as the fact that electric guitars play an important part in the music. Electricity permits the creation of dramatic effects such as lightning, once again reflecting the band's experimental side. 'Addiction' is "the continued use of a psychoactive drug, or the repetition of a behaviour despite adverse consequences". Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, irritability and hallucinations. This touches on the characteristics of the band and the kind of style their songwriting permits, touching on elements of psychedelia. The song I have chosen to use, "Where Is My Mind" perfectly illustrates such things and would not be the only song of its kind to feature on an 'Electric Addiction' album.
I plan to use the band's Twitter account to promote and publicise information about the artist, upcoming events, news etc. and will use this method of social networking to illustrate the production process of the music video, album artwork and digipak.

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

I like the way 'I Am A Scientist' by Guided By Voices combines black and white filming with very colourful, abstract found footage. Rather than filming and leaving it unedited, I plan to shoot in black and white but add or enhance existing colours to certain aspects of my video, as shown in 'I Am A Scientist' and also 'Basket Case'.

Name of track:
I Am A Scientist

Artist:
Guided By Voices



Genre Characteristics:
Alternative/Indie Rock, black and white, performance, guitars, shaky cam, dark/abstract colours, etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
The lyrics "I am a scientist, I seek to understand me" are expressed through the use of found footage, which in the simplest terms illustrate a number of different scientific happenings, such as the use of the satellite etc. Other than that, the video is simple and bears no relevance to the lyrics in the song.

Relationship between the music and visuals:
As with other videos, the editing and the performance element of 'I Am A Scientist' reflect the pace of the music used to accompany the video, and there are also shots of the vocalist as he is dancing to illustrate this further.

Are there any close-ups and star image motifs?
As before, no star image motifs.
Close-ups:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
Generally, the band members, including the vocalist, are glancing away from the camera; either to convey a naturalistic style, for example as the band are playing their instruments, or to illustrate a sense of "losing sight", as the lyrics suggest.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video begins with a close-up of a guitar, and focuses on the band as they play/hang out in different locations. However, the video is not solely a performance piece. The meaning of the song is conveyed through found footage; shots of nuclear explosions etc., and there are also a few shots that are completely irrelevant to the song and video, for example as the band play a game of basketball. There is no set concept or narrative element.

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

I like 'Bright Yellow Gun' by Throwing Muses because of the editing. The shaky camera style and different angles/shots, such as tilt shot, dutch angle and whip pan, as well as the psychedelic colour palette, make the video interesting to watch. The camera zooms in and out and spins around, often cutting out the subject it's focusing in on, for example filming half of someone's face or the vocalist's mouth in the corner of the screen.

Name of track:
Bright Yellow Gun

Artist:
Throwing Muses



Genre Characteristics:
Alternative rock, psychedelia, guitars, dark colour palette, grunge, disorientation, shaky cam etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
The shakiness of the camera and the way it pans round in different directions creates a sense of disorientation, which is reflected in the lyrics, for example "And I think I need a little poison to keep me tame, keep me awake; I have nothing to offer but confusion, and the circus in my head..."

Relationship between the music and visuals:
As before, the editing matches the pace of the song, and instruments are included in the video to illustrate the performance of the song.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
Once again, there are no star image motifs. I have found that smaller rock artists do not tend to use these, as those who are not aware of the band would not recognize the references. There are many close-ups of the band throughout the video, however, as this is a general convention of a music video.

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
The vocalist looks directly into the camera and follows it around, although the other band members tend to avoid eye contact. This, once again, is common in most videos, as the vocalist has to connect with the audience through the lyrics of the song.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video is set in a dark room with red walls, and tracks the band as they play. It is without a set concept, although the camera styles and the colour palette of the video reflect the song and its meaning.

Green Day / Basket Case

I like the surreal effect of this video and want to use certain aspects of it to recreate something of a similar style using the track "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies. "Basket Case" and "Where Is My Mind" are similar in that they both illustrate a sense of inner turmoil. This is expressed in the "Basket Case" video as it was filmed in an actual mental institution in Santa Clara County, California. "The institution had been abandoned, but most of the structure remained in a broken-down state. The band members found old patient files, deep scratches in the walls and dental molds scattered around."
The video frequently references the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", and was originally filmed in black and white, although colour was added in later. The abstract colour palette contributes to the psychedelic and almost psychotic feel of the video, enhancing the vocalist's struggle with anxiety and an altered state of mind.
"Where Is My Mind" was inspired by the vocalist's experiences while scuba diving, in which he claims a fish was "chasing" him. Similarly, the "Basket Case" video uses images of fish swimming around to convey a sense of disorientation and even a loss of sanity. I would like to somehow incorporate this aspect within my own music video, as it links into the song's major influence.

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

As I have chosen which song I want to use, I have decided to analyse other videos of the same genre to gather inspiration and become aware of the typical characteristics of an alternative rock video.
I like 'Shocker In Gloomtown' by The Breeders (cover of Guided By Voices track) because of its performance style. The simplicity of the video allows the audience to get a feel for the band's style and strips right back to just the music, as if you were watching the band play live.

Name of Track:
Shocker In Gloomtown

Artist:
The Breeders



Genre characteristics:
Alternative rock, instruments, performance, unkempt, scruffy style, etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and the visuals:
As the video is solely performance and is without a set concept, the lyrics of the song are not expressed through visuals at all.

Relationship between the music and the visuals:
Editing is quick to match the pace of the song. Instruments such as guitars, drums etc. are included within the video to illustrate the music which is being played.

Are there any close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
No star image motifs. However, close-ups of the band are frequently included:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
The lead singer, Kim Deal, often looks directly into the camera as she sings, although the other band members gaze in other directions throughout so as to convey a naturalistic style of video.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video begins with a group of people walking down the street. Hearing the band begin to play, they stop outside the garage and watch the band practice through the windows.

Band Biography

Possible Band Names: The King's Electric / Nuclear Sunrise / Living Taxi / Electric Addiction / Fight Club?

*band name* are an alternative rock group, relatively new to the music scene yet experimental with both current and older musical styles.
The band's music contains a range of elements, including indie rock, psychedelia, noise rock, and surf rock, and incorporates extreme dynamic shifts. The band have described their sound as follows: "There are the two basic components of rock music [...] the dreamy side and the rockin' side... We can play loud or quiet - that's it."
Having listened to artists such as Black Flag and David Bowie whilst growing up with only their parent's record collection, the band have been heavily influenced by 1970s and 1980s punk rock, as well as New Wave and Psychedelic Rock bands such as The Cars and The Beatles.
Their songwriting has been described as containing "bizarre, fragmented lyrics about space, religion, sex, mutilation, and pop culture."

Pixies Videos

Indie Cindy



I like the way this video uses a white noise image to resemble a tape recording. The video seems to chronicle a love triangle that ends badly, and is reflected in the lyrics; "We offed ourselves in a lovers pact, we threw ourselves into the sea... Indie Cindy, be in love with me, I beg for you to carry me."
It begins telling the story in reverse, indicated by the 'rewind' symbol which appears, then recaps it in forward motion, as if someone is watching the recording back to analyse the relationship.

Bagboy



The concept of the song is expressed through the video as the "Bagboy" raids a supermarket, rides home on his bike with some groceries, bathes in a tub full of Froot Loops and then destroys someone's house with menace. Other than the word "Bagboy", the meaning of the song is unclear to me, but I like the way the visuals illustrate the music, for example when the song kicks in as the word "Bagboy" is smashed.

Monkey Gone To Heaven



This video is solely performance based, but is interesting to watch because of the varying camera shots/angles, such as tilt shot. I also like that it is filmed in black and white.

Here Comes Your Man



Once again, this video is performance based, but is shot in colour and includes more outrageous camera styles.

Debaser



I really like the editing used in this video. The transition of shots is very quick to match the pace of the song, and both colour and black-and-white shots are included. The lyrics are based on a surrealist film by Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali called Un Chien Andalou. The title "Debaser" references the fact that Un Chien Andalou debases morality and standards of art, according to Black Francis. This is reflected in the video through the use of abstract camera effects and styles.

Dig For Fire / Allison



I like the colours used in this video and the range of different shot types and angles.

Moodboard

Audience Profile

I intend to aim my band's music video at a relatively wide audience of ages 15-30, including both males and females, as the genre of alternative/psychedelic rock is generally popular among teenagers and young adults, although maybe even attracting a slightly older audience as they recognize elements of earlier rock styles.

Alternative Tribes

Tired of cookie cutter celebs and how everyone at school looks the same, Alternative Tribes are driven by the need to set themselves apart from the mainstream. From candy-hued hair to sleeve tattoos and multiple piercings, they're determined to be different - but do it together.

Lucky for them, Internet culture means the alternative lifestyle has never been so accessible - or so popular. Getting acquainted with the 70s punk rock scene. The Strokes' 'Is This It' or Skrillex's latest remix is just a click away. Though most Tribes are fluent in digital, the Alternative Tribes in particular define their tastes, friendship groups and activities online more than anyone else.
Alternative Tribes are passionate about music, sharing an appreciation for live music, independent record shops and grass roots talents – it’s all about authenticity and being ‘real’. Unusually, Tribe members will buy music to support the artists they love and a dedicated merchandise and gig goers. Rather than rebelling against specific objectives, the Alternative segment is motivated by a need to be themselves, nothing more, nothing less…

Young Alts

Open-minded and non-judgmental, Young Alts have their eyes and ears open to different genres and scenes – both new and old…

Young Alts are the Tribe for young people who ‘want out’ of the mainstream. It’s an entry-level Tribe, with equal split between the sexes, and members share an inquisitiveness for everything Alternative – from Grunge to Hardcore.

Experimenting with art, music and fashion unites the Young Alts, who are dipping in and out of scenes like there’s no tomorrow. Tribe members are likely to gravitate towards Leading Edge Tribes once they’ve figured out what they’re most interested in, but for the time being Young Alts are happy to get stuck into as much media as they can – from reading Penguin Classics on Kindle, streaming ‘Girls’ on Netflix (even the boys) and checking out the latest music on Spotify. Skater, Emo and Hipster trends are most commonly tried and tested by the Young Alts, it’s about keeping an open mind.

Individuality is key, and tribe members will experiment with looks that will make them stand out from the Townies and Trendies. Music-wise, Young Alts will listen to a wide range – from heritage bands like The Smiths, to Scene Kid favourites Bring Me The Horizon and even the occasional urban sounds like Joey Bada$$ and A$AP Rocky.

Leading Edge 

Leading Edge Tribes are proactive scene leaders that live for the new and now. From making music to curating club nights, publishing magazines to documenting the latest in cool online – these guys collaborate across Tribes, develop contacts, share ideas and set the agenda.

Attuned to global trends and switched on to developments across diverse fields, they reject passive consumerism and are driving tastes across virtually all other segments on the map. They might be hard to predict, but following what’s going down here is a must for any marketer.

The Leading Edge used to mean older Tribes (it takes time and confidence to become an expert!) but increased access to smart devices means the segment is getting younger and more diverse – anyone with determination and an original idea now has the platform to be heard online.

Indie Scenesters

Spending hours trawling through records, Indie Scenesters have their fingers on the pulse on the current artists du jour…

Indie Scenesters are dedicated to finding the newest music, exploring all avenues to get there – online, print, record shops, club nights and word of mouth. Staying ahead of the curve is a must, but it’s borne out of a genuine love for music – and this is what separates them from those more fickle dabblers and dilettantes, the Hipsters. For Indie Scenesters, there’s nothing better than discovering new artists and spreading the love.

Guitar music has seen its cool usurped by the rise in electronic-synth based music in recent years, and Indie Scenesters have broadened their musical tastes as a result. It’s no longer just about indie rock bands like Vampire Weekend – Indie Scenesters have embraced experimental, genre-blending artists like Four Tet. Yet, the Indie Scenester approach remains the same – it’s about championing independent artists rather than a specific genre, especially before the masses get in on the act.

Potentially having their own music blogs and club nights (or at least dreaming of it), Indie Scenesters are more concerned with building up their vinyl collections than conspicuous consumerism. The sounds of the moment are ever changing, but currently include Youth Lagoon, Beach House, Animal Collective, Kendrick Lamar and John Talabot, as well as old favourites like Caribou and Thom Yorke.

Boys and girls are rocking similar looks – skinny jeans, vintage and Converse/Vans. Their high street staples focus around the functional and unisex – Uniqlo, Cheap Mondays and American Apparel.

Trip Scene - A Field In England

I really like the editing used in the following clip, which has been taken from the film "A Field In England". Shots are overlapped, reflected, blurred, replayed over again, merged together and manipulated to illustrate a sense of disorientation and drug psychosis.

25 Word Pitch

Existing Bands

The following bands reflect my chosen genre of music and portray a certain style which I want to recreate: