Thursday, 15 December 2016
Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Job Role
Editor
I would like to apply for an Editor job roIe because I feel this role would suit me the best as I have passion for Video Editing. I've been video-editing since the age of 12. I have all sort of video-editing software at home which you can't access at college such as Sony Vegas Pro, Adobe After Effects, CINEMA 4D and Boujou. These software are huge essential when it come to making a music video.
I have experience editing videos for multiple clients (YouTubers) including one client who has over 100k subscribers. I started YouTube back in April and now I currently have over 1k subscribers. Many people has offer to pay me to edit their videos but I declined most of them because I don't have time to edit their videos as I'm busy due to College.
As I like to watch tutorials to learn on various effects, I learnt how to do Motion track w/ realistic reflective 3D text (similar to Ident), Twitch (RGB Split), Nightcrawler Teleport, Shake Effect, Text Animation, Smooth Transitions and many more creative effects you won't able to do on Final Cut Pro to make your music video noticeable and unique. Due to my knowledge of video editing software, I personally think Final Cut Pro X is limited for someone with extraordinary creativity. As I have all of these editing software, I believe that with your vision and my editing skills, we can create a music video that stand out from the rest.
I have experience editing videos for multiple clients (YouTubers) including one client who has over 100k subscribers. I started YouTube back in April and now I currently have over 1k subscribers. Many people has offer to pay me to edit their videos but I declined most of them because I don't have time to edit their videos as I'm busy due to College.
As I like to watch tutorials to learn on various effects, I learnt how to do Motion track w/ realistic reflective 3D text (similar to Ident), Twitch (RGB Split), Nightcrawler Teleport, Shake Effect, Text Animation, Smooth Transitions and many more creative effects you won't able to do on Final Cut Pro to make your music video noticeable and unique. Due to my knowledge of video editing software, I personally think Final Cut Pro X is limited for someone with extraordinary creativity. As I have all of these editing software, I believe that with your vision and my editing skills, we can create a music video that stand out from the rest.
Task C: Chroma Key & Effects (iii)
Chroma key is a special effect and post-production technique for combining two images/videos or more together. This technique is heavily used in many different fields of media such as news casting, film, television, music videos, video games. They are used to remove a background from the subject of a photo or video. They are used for performance in different location.
Chroma keying can be done with backgrounds of any colour but I recommend using the colour green which is the most common colour for Chroma keying. We use the colour green because it is a less common clothing colour, meaning it's less likely to make part of your body to disappear with the green screen. Wearing green clothing with green screen behind won't be exactly a good idea. Green is also used often because it's easiest for most modern cameras to pick up, make it easier for the video-editor. White is a bad colour to use as it's common clothing and eyes. Same go to the colour black, which include hair. Both of these colours play a strong role in lighting and shadowing, which is also another reason for you to avoid these colours. Red is another bad colour because it's seen in our lips and mouth. To select a good colour aside from green and blue, pick one colour that's not going to be found on anything else in the shot.
Green screen is used to add effect to videos. It’s used to focus on the performance of Artists. Artists don’t want their music videos to look boring, they want the music video to catch the audience's attention. Artists may use green screen and effects for their music videos to create a sense of hyper-reality. As hyper-reality music videos can appeal to their target audience and make their music video successful. Most hyper-reality music videos are usually unusual and creative. It's also can be original and unique. This style of music video usually help the artist create bigger fan-base and generate revenue. It also allow to portray these artists as creative, artistic, dynamic, original or weird etc. Green screen could be use for sense of hyper-reality, to reflect the lyric, to focus on the artist/performance or to represent emotions etc.
Chroma keying can be done with backgrounds of any colour but I recommend using the colour green which is the most common colour for Chroma keying. We use the colour green because it is a less common clothing colour, meaning it's less likely to make part of your body to disappear with the green screen. Wearing green clothing with green screen behind won't be exactly a good idea. Green is also used often because it's easiest for most modern cameras to pick up, make it easier for the video-editor. White is a bad colour to use as it's common clothing and eyes. Same go to the colour black, which include hair. Both of these colours play a strong role in lighting and shadowing, which is also another reason for you to avoid these colours. Red is another bad colour because it's seen in our lips and mouth. To select a good colour aside from green and blue, pick one colour that's not going to be found on anything else in the shot.
Green screen is used to add effect to videos. It’s used to focus on the performance of Artists. Artists don’t want their music videos to look boring, they want the music video to catch the audience's attention. Artists may use green screen and effects for their music videos to create a sense of hyper-reality. As hyper-reality music videos can appeal to their target audience and make their music video successful. Most hyper-reality music videos are usually unusual and creative. It's also can be original and unique. This style of music video usually help the artist create bigger fan-base and generate revenue. It also allow to portray these artists as creative, artistic, dynamic, original or weird etc. Green screen could be use for sense of hyper-reality, to reflect the lyric, to focus on the artist/performance or to represent emotions etc.
We use green screen because it's cheaper and it allow us to be creative and unique. It also allow us to get to the location we can't normally get to. VFX have their own award as they are now conventional in music videos. We should use filters to blend the subject into the background so it would look realistic and not fake. Usually when green screen is over-used, it doesn't have a purpose.
David Hasselhoff - Hooked on a Feeling is an good example of an bad chroma key. You could tell it was bad, the subject did not blend with the background at all, there was some scene that were cringe and laughable as if it was a comedy film. At 0:51, when he catches a cube you could clearly see fake and unconvincing it was, then the next scene he started flying as if he got some supernatural power.
There was another scene where he was standing on top of a moving motorbike like it was nothing, droving past a monster and started to fly. At 1:56, the way he was flying was not believable at all. It look like he just bending over with his arms out. The overall of this music video was obviously not convincing, to make the video better they would have to use filters to blend the subject into the background to make it more convincing.
However, bad use of green screen can make the video go viral as it will be enjoyable to watch. The video has over 12 million views, 34 thousands likes and only 3 thousands dislikes, this show many people have enjoyed watching this music video. This generated a lot of revenue.
Labrinth - Earthquake ft. Tinie Tempah is an good example of an good chroma key. This music video has used green screen to make the artist the centre of attention. The green screen helps create a sense of hyper-reality. Music videos with good chroma key bring power to the beat which will engages with the audience more. When he says "I predict an earthquake up in here", the room/screen shakes along with visual sound waves with a touch of his hands or feet, the green screen has given the artist the control of his music as he has control of everything he does in this music video. This created link between the lyric and visuals and also music and visuals.
The green screen can make the audience think they are in another world with the artist. The music video has over 79 million views, 350 thousand likes and 10 thousand dislikes. This also show many viewers were entertained by this video and they decided share to their friends. As it was hyper-reality music videos, there's likely a chance that the music video will be successful or viral or both. Most hyper-reality music videos are usually unusual and creative like this one. This style of music video usually help the artist create bigger fan-base and generate revenue. This has helped them generate revenue.
Chroma Key Guide
Chroma Key Guide
This is a footage I kept from last year when I did a practice music video. Once you have filmed the footage with the green screen and you got what you wanted, you can now begin to edit your video which would be entering post-production. In order to remove the background (green screen) from the subject of the video, you'll need editing software such as Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Sony Vegas etc. So you can get to use this Chroma key plugin which could be called different depending on what software you use, for example, 'Chroma Keyer, Keylight 1.4, Ultra Key' etc. On Final Cut Pro, it's called 'Keyer'.
After importing your footage and placing it on the timeline, you'll need to go to the Effects library and search for Keyer. Once you found Keyer, you'll need to apply the effect to the footage. After you've applied it, you will noticed that the green screen have been removed and the background is now black. This mean you can now look for clips online that could be used as a background or you can record that footage yourself as well. Once you've found the footage you want to use as a background, you have to import it to Final Cut Pro and drag and place it under the footage which background you already removed.
This is the final outcome, I decided to use a white backdrop as my background because it's the perfect foundation for showcasing your creativity. It focus the viewer's attention on the artist as it will prevent visual distractions. We can use the space for other things such as visual effects or text etc. I also replace the original audio that came with the footage and swapped it with the soundtrack as it's much better sound quality.
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Task C: Camera Movements and Angles (ii)
There are many different types of camera movements and angles when making a music video, all of camera movements and angles are used to show or reflect the meaning/importance to the audience when they're watching the music video. These include many shot types such as Tilt, Track away, Dolly in, Canted/Dutch Angle, Crash Zoom and many more etc.
Tilt
Tilt is very similar to Pan but less common to use as we humans look left and right more often than we look up and down. Tilting is a vertical camera movement, it's when you move the camera lens up or down while keeping its horizontal axis constant. For example, nodding your head up and down is tilting. This shot could be used to show the whole subject from top to bottom or bottom to top in one shot, usually the subject will be the artist as it will sell the artist and help develop their image. You could also use tilt to show how high something is. For example, a slow tilt up a Giant Sequoia tree shows its grandness and enormity.
In able to do the Tilt shot, you will need to place the camera on a tripod, start on a still shot then begin the tilt with the tripod slowly up or down or both and then finish on a still shot.
The Weeknd - False Alarm (Tilt, Pan and Handheld was all used in this music video as first person perspective/POV)
Arc
Arc is a type of camera movement where the camera is moving around the subject in full circle or semi circle. In able to do this, you will need the camera operator to move the camera around the subject while the subject remain in the middle. The purpose of this camera movement is to show the world that revolves around the artist. This camera movement also put artist in the superior position as us audience are the ones who meant to be inspired by them.
To do the arc shot, you'll need the subject to stay in middle of an certain area and then you'll need to walk and film around the artist either full circle or semi-circle, it'll be better if you place your tripod on a dolly and then move around the subject.
Track away
Track away is another camera movement which is when the camera is moving away from the sub while the subject is coming toward to the camera. Using this camera movement will allow you have more freedom rather than just staying still which is very generic and common for an music videos. This effect of this movement is similar to Low angle, Track away can creates the effect as if the camera operator is running away from the artist which make them look powerful, aggressive and dominant.
Track away is done by putting the camera on a dolly and then wheeling it away from the artist as they walk towards the camera.
Dolly in
Dolly in is when the camera is slowly zooming steadily into the subject, this can be done either when you have a camera placed on a dolly and pushing it towards the subject without changing the zoom or can be done using zoom. But using the zoom will change the length of the lens which can introduce wide-angle distortion etc. So it's more preferable to dolly than zoom. This camera movement is used to show importance as the subject will become bigger as the camera moves closer. It can also can be used for dramatic effect.
Some people may used Dolly in to follow an object smoothly to get a unique perspective. Some directors combine the dolly and a zoom shot for a real sense of doom. To do this, the camera lens zooms into the subject at the same time as the camera physically dollies out, and the person in the shot remains the same size, but the background appears to move. It's difficult to master smoothly, but done right, the shot conveys a real sense of tension and feeling of vertigo.
Majid Jordan - Small Talk (Dolly out and Zoom were used at the same time which create unique perspective, at 0:48)
Low Angle
Low angle shot are shots that shows the subject from below, which give them the impression of being more powerful or dominant. It's an opposite of high angle shot. To do this angle shot, you put the camera below the artist and aim the camera pointing up at them. This gives the effect to the audience as it show power and intimidation, it's often used to makes the subject look strong and powerful as the angle make them look bigger. This shot angle is very common in hip-hop genre's music videos.
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton (Track away was also used)
High Angle
High angle shot are shots that is filmed above the subject, similar to Birds eye view but not so extreme. Also similar to Low angle but the opposite. To able to achieve this shot angle, angled down the camera towards the subject or you could use a crane and elevate the camera above the action/subject.
As high angles make the subject seem smaller, it has the effect of making the subject appear less powerful or less significant. It also used to show weakness or vulnerability of the subject. But in most music videos, the high angle shot are used for other effect, to make the overall music video look more stylish and artistic.
Kendrick Lamar - Alright (High Angle @ 3:18)
Canted or Dutch Angle
Canted/Dutch angle is an camera angle that is purposely slanted to one side. This help creates an interesting and dramatic effects. In order to do Canted/Dutch angle, you must ensure the camera alone or the tripod in which it is placed is tilted to one side.
Crash Zoom
Crash zoom is another camera movement, this is when the camera moves at a fast rate towards the artist or another subject that is something crucial in a shot such as reaction or something that is important for the audience to know when they're watching. In order to do this camera movement, you will need to zoom in fast rapidly and abruptly into whatever you want such as your subject and their reaction etc. It can also be used to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia because the zoom may make the audience feel trapped in a small confined room.
The Weeknd - In The Night
Birds eye view
Birds eye view is when the shot is filled from directly above, this shot allow us audience to view of an object from above as if we were a birds hence the word Birds eye view. This shot is similar to high angle but more extreme, this shot angle put us audience in a godlike position, looking down on the action. In order to get birds eye view, it can either be done by getting on a higher ground such as buildings or by a radio-controlled drone which help carry the camera above the target and film. This type of shot angle could be used as a scene-setting, establishing shot etc.
PARTYNEXTDOOR - Break From Toronto (Handheld was also used) (Birds eye view was used as intro/first shot)
Handheld
Handheld is when you hold the camera without tripod, monopod or other devices you use to hold the camera. It's used to create an amateur shaking effect which is simply done by holding the camera and filming also while moving. The purpose of it is to create an atmosphere of an edgy realism although the camera shakiness can suggest unsteadiness and chaos as the character is being seen in distress. Using handheld will also allow you greater freedom of motion while filming.
In able to do this is basically not to use any camera-holding devices and just use your hand to hold the camera.
PARTYNEXTDOOR - Recognize ft. Drake (Handheld was used as VHS camera)
Tilt
Tilt is very similar to Pan but less common to use as we humans look left and right more often than we look up and down. Tilting is a vertical camera movement, it's when you move the camera lens up or down while keeping its horizontal axis constant. For example, nodding your head up and down is tilting. This shot could be used to show the whole subject from top to bottom or bottom to top in one shot, usually the subject will be the artist as it will sell the artist and help develop their image. You could also use tilt to show how high something is. For example, a slow tilt up a Giant Sequoia tree shows its grandness and enormity.
In able to do the Tilt shot, you will need to place the camera on a tripod, start on a still shot then begin the tilt with the tripod slowly up or down or both and then finish on a still shot.
The Weeknd - False Alarm (Tilt, Pan and Handheld was all used in this music video as first person perspective/POV)
Arc
Arc is a type of camera movement where the camera is moving around the subject in full circle or semi circle. In able to do this, you will need the camera operator to move the camera around the subject while the subject remain in the middle. The purpose of this camera movement is to show the world that revolves around the artist. This camera movement also put artist in the superior position as us audience are the ones who meant to be inspired by them.
To do the arc shot, you'll need the subject to stay in middle of an certain area and then you'll need to walk and film around the artist either full circle or semi-circle, it'll be better if you place your tripod on a dolly and then move around the subject.
Track away
Track away is another camera movement which is when the camera is moving away from the sub while the subject is coming toward to the camera. Using this camera movement will allow you have more freedom rather than just staying still which is very generic and common for an music videos. This effect of this movement is similar to Low angle, Track away can creates the effect as if the camera operator is running away from the artist which make them look powerful, aggressive and dominant.
Track away is done by putting the camera on a dolly and then wheeling it away from the artist as they walk towards the camera.
Dolly in
Dolly in is when the camera is slowly zooming steadily into the subject, this can be done either when you have a camera placed on a dolly and pushing it towards the subject without changing the zoom or can be done using zoom. But using the zoom will change the length of the lens which can introduce wide-angle distortion etc. So it's more preferable to dolly than zoom. This camera movement is used to show importance as the subject will become bigger as the camera moves closer. It can also can be used for dramatic effect.
Some people may used Dolly in to follow an object smoothly to get a unique perspective. Some directors combine the dolly and a zoom shot for a real sense of doom. To do this, the camera lens zooms into the subject at the same time as the camera physically dollies out, and the person in the shot remains the same size, but the background appears to move. It's difficult to master smoothly, but done right, the shot conveys a real sense of tension and feeling of vertigo.
Majid Jordan - Something About You (Arc, Track away, Dolly in were all used in this music video)
Majid Jordan - Small Talk (Dolly out and Zoom were used at the same time which create unique perspective, at 0:48)
Low Angle
Low angle shot are shots that shows the subject from below, which give them the impression of being more powerful or dominant. It's an opposite of high angle shot. To do this angle shot, you put the camera below the artist and aim the camera pointing up at them. This gives the effect to the audience as it show power and intimidation, it's often used to makes the subject look strong and powerful as the angle make them look bigger. This shot angle is very common in hip-hop genre's music videos.
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton (Track away was also used)
High Angle
High angle shot are shots that is filmed above the subject, similar to Birds eye view but not so extreme. Also similar to Low angle but the opposite. To able to achieve this shot angle, angled down the camera towards the subject or you could use a crane and elevate the camera above the action/subject.
As high angles make the subject seem smaller, it has the effect of making the subject appear less powerful or less significant. It also used to show weakness or vulnerability of the subject. But in most music videos, the high angle shot are used for other effect, to make the overall music video look more stylish and artistic.
Kendrick Lamar - Alright (High Angle @ 3:18)
Canted or Dutch Angle
Canted/Dutch angle is an camera angle that is purposely slanted to one side. This help creates an interesting and dramatic effects. In order to do Canted/Dutch angle, you must ensure the camera alone or the tripod in which it is placed is tilted to one side.
Crash Zoom
Crash zoom is another camera movement, this is when the camera moves at a fast rate towards the artist or another subject that is something crucial in a shot such as reaction or something that is important for the audience to know when they're watching. In order to do this camera movement, you will need to zoom in fast rapidly and abruptly into whatever you want such as your subject and their reaction etc. It can also be used to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia because the zoom may make the audience feel trapped in a small confined room.
The Weeknd - In The Night
Birds eye view
Birds eye view is when the shot is filled from directly above, this shot allow us audience to view of an object from above as if we were a birds hence the word Birds eye view. This shot is similar to high angle but more extreme, this shot angle put us audience in a godlike position, looking down on the action. In order to get birds eye view, it can either be done by getting on a higher ground such as buildings or by a radio-controlled drone which help carry the camera above the target and film. This type of shot angle could be used as a scene-setting, establishing shot etc.
PARTYNEXTDOOR - Break From Toronto (Handheld was also used) (Birds eye view was used as intro/first shot)
Handheld
Handheld is when you hold the camera without tripod, monopod or other devices you use to hold the camera. It's used to create an amateur shaking effect which is simply done by holding the camera and filming also while moving. The purpose of it is to create an atmosphere of an edgy realism although the camera shakiness can suggest unsteadiness and chaos as the character is being seen in distress. Using handheld will also allow you greater freedom of motion while filming.
In able to do this is basically not to use any camera-holding devices and just use your hand to hold the camera.
PARTYNEXTDOOR - Recognize ft. Drake (Handheld was used as VHS camera)
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
Task C: Beat Editing and Lip-syncing (i)
I will be explaining why beat-editing and lip-syncing is one of the most important significant editing techniques. Editing techniques are used to today to help promote the artists music so that the audience is more drawn to them. Techniques shows the audience what kind of artist they are, they are a way to produce a music video to make it look interesting and gained more audience and revenue. Techniques such as Cutting to the beat and Miming/Lip-syncing. They are very important when it comes to music videos, it allow to promote the song and the artist. Without it, the audience won't able to visualize the song. Keep in mind that you can't use beat-editing if you don't have enough shot. For the music video to go viral, the editing will need to be high quality.
Location beat editing:
With beat editing:
You can see there is a massive difference between these two videos, the first video didn't really contain beat editing that much which made it boring for the audience to watch. Although the lip-syncing at 0:28 was good and quite convincing but I still believe the music video was not good enough due to lack of beat editing especially on significant beats. Moving onto the second video, which beat editing was used effectively and made the video much better as it will engage with audience and keep them entertained. The quicker the cuts, the more the audience will have to pay attention to the video as the visual is interpreting with the music. This type of music videos will usually go viral.
Location beat editing:
Summer Music Video (Calvin & Maya):
For my summer music video which Maya and I produces as group as two for a two weeks transition period. As we was ask to do a music video, we chose to do Majid Jordan- Every Step Every Way. In our music video there was some techniques we use such as lip syncing which is very conventional in music videos, by doing this it shows a style of performance. We also had some choreography in it as we can see the artist dancing in the music video. We also had some elements of abstract in it which is creative but hyper-realism (not realistic). As I edited this music video, I am very familiar with beat editing as you can see we had beat editing. You can see flashes on the artists and other objects such as the text (title of the song) and abstract objects etc. You could see they were syncing with the beat (e.g 0:00 to 0:03, 0:13 to 0:18). Another example of beat editing, at 0:32, as this beat drop is very significant, I had two abstract blob crashes into together and the artist suddenly appeared out of smoke syncing on the beat drop. Not using the cutting-to-beat/beat editing technique on significant beats could prevent the audience to visualize the song, which could lead the song and the artist not getting promoted.
After watching our music video, there was some things that we both could improve or add to make the music video better and professional standard. For example, the camera focus could been better as it was a bit blurry. We didn't use pull focus at the time, now we know what the outcome will be like and why we should use pull focus. Also we could have use more shot which made us limited for our editing, which is important to have loads of shot in order to be creative with our beat editing, there was some shots I didn't like (0:14) but we had to use it because we didn't have other shots of the lyric verse at 0:14. We can't not use this editing technique if we don't have enough shot, luckily it managed to come out good.
Purpose of Cutting to the beat
The purpose of beat editing is to engage with the audience. Having a one long take/cut could easily make the audience bored and you could lose audience and revenue from this. Beat editing lead audiences/viewers into paying attention to the music video as the visuals will interpret with the music. Usually cutting to the beat is used when you can hear significant beats (beat drops etc.) it may change to a different location or change of camera shot or angle/movement. Having many different shot types and angles will help the audience visualise the mood and pace of the song which make the music video go viral due to its high quality of editing.
I have used beat editing in my summer music video, I'm glad I used beat editing because I believe it made the video much better. If there weren't any beat-editing or I didn't sync on significant beats, this music video would have been boring. Beat editing help creates a sense of hyper-reality and a dynamic visual style.
Lip-syncing is when an artist or singer move their lips silently or pretend in synchronisation with a pre-recorded soundtrack being played. Miming is when using gesture and movement to act out a role or play, miming is how you create lip syncing. Most artists/singers usually lip-sync to their songs in their music videos. When editing an music video, if the artist's lips in the footage move faster than the soundtrack, the slow-motion effect is highly recommended so the artist's lip-syncing can look very accurate to the soundtrack. We use it because it gives the allusion that the artist is singing. This technique is used on the majority of music videos.
For my summer music video which Maya and I produces as group as two for a two weeks transition period. As we was ask to do a music video, we chose to do Majid Jordan- Every Step Every Way. In our music video there was some techniques we use such as lip syncing which is very conventional in music videos, by doing this it shows a style of performance. We also had some choreography in it as we can see the artist dancing in the music video. We also had some elements of abstract in it which is creative but hyper-realism (not realistic). As I edited this music video, I am very familiar with beat editing as you can see we had beat editing. You can see flashes on the artists and other objects such as the text (title of the song) and abstract objects etc. You could see they were syncing with the beat (e.g 0:00 to 0:03, 0:13 to 0:18). Another example of beat editing, at 0:32, as this beat drop is very significant, I had two abstract blob crashes into together and the artist suddenly appeared out of smoke syncing on the beat drop. Not using the cutting-to-beat/beat editing technique on significant beats could prevent the audience to visualize the song, which could lead the song and the artist not getting promoted.
After watching our music video, there was some things that we both could improve or add to make the music video better and professional standard. For example, the camera focus could been better as it was a bit blurry. We didn't use pull focus at the time, now we know what the outcome will be like and why we should use pull focus. Also we could have use more shot which made us limited for our editing, which is important to have loads of shot in order to be creative with our beat editing, there was some shots I didn't like (0:14) but we had to use it because we didn't have other shots of the lyric verse at 0:14. We can't not use this editing technique if we don't have enough shot, luckily it managed to come out good.
i) Cutting to the beat (beat editing)
Cutting the beat involves the soundtrack and the music video. Most music videos you'll notice the scene cuts to a different scene on a certain beat. This editing technique can help the audience get the feeling of the song as it help us to visualise the mood and pace of the song. This techniques is commonly used in the music industry. We can't not use this editing technique if we don't have enough shot.Purpose of Cutting to the beat
The purpose of beat editing is to engage with the audience. Having a one long take/cut could easily make the audience bored and you could lose audience and revenue from this. Beat editing lead audiences/viewers into paying attention to the music video as the visuals will interpret with the music. Usually cutting to the beat is used when you can hear significant beats (beat drops etc.) it may change to a different location or change of camera shot or angle/movement. Having many different shot types and angles will help the audience visualise the mood and pace of the song which make the music video go viral due to its high quality of editing.
I have used beat editing in my summer music video, I'm glad I used beat editing because I believe it made the video much better. If there weren't any beat-editing or I didn't sync on significant beats, this music video would have been boring. Beat editing help creates a sense of hyper-reality and a dynamic visual style.
ii) Lip-syncing/Miming
Lip-syncing is when an artist or singer move their lips silently or pretend in synchronisation with a pre-recorded soundtrack being played. Miming is when using gesture and movement to act out a role or play, miming is how you create lip syncing. Most artists/singers usually lip-sync to their songs in their music videos. When editing an music video, if the artist's lips in the footage move faster than the soundtrack, the slow-motion effect is highly recommended so the artist's lip-syncing can look very accurate to the soundtrack. We use it because it gives the allusion that the artist is singing. This technique is used on the majority of music videos.
Easier ways to lip-sync is is to memorize the lyric, artists should able to know their own lyrics as they wrote it. You can easily find lyrics online if you can't make out the precise words. Knowing the lyrics by heart can make the lip syncing look good.
Purpose of Lip-syncing/Miming
The purpose of Lip-syncing is to create a sense of realism of the performance as the audience watching the music video will feel like the artist is singing/rapping(performing) to them. Lip syncing help sells the realism of the performance, this can add more feeling to the music video as it will seems believable. This can be used to sell tickets as fans will want to attend that artist's concert, this will help artists make more money and also for their record label as well. Lip-syncing can be genuine as it make the artist look like they're actually performing and make it part of their image.
In my summer music video, I feel it was less convincing that I was singing the soundtrack as I wasn't the singer and I don't know the song like the artist of the soundtrack we use. Next time we make a music video, it would be better if we get the original artist of the song so it will be more convincing because they know the song well and the meaning and how it should be perform.
Beat Editing Task (w/ Lip Syncing @ 0:28s)
Without beat editing:Purpose of Lip-syncing/Miming
The purpose of Lip-syncing is to create a sense of realism of the performance as the audience watching the music video will feel like the artist is singing/rapping(performing) to them. Lip syncing help sells the realism of the performance, this can add more feeling to the music video as it will seems believable. This can be used to sell tickets as fans will want to attend that artist's concert, this will help artists make more money and also for their record label as well. Lip-syncing can be genuine as it make the artist look like they're actually performing and make it part of their image.
In my summer music video, I feel it was less convincing that I was singing the soundtrack as I wasn't the singer and I don't know the song like the artist of the soundtrack we use. Next time we make a music video, it would be better if we get the original artist of the song so it will be more convincing because they know the song well and the meaning and how it should be perform.
Beat Editing Task (w/ Lip Syncing @ 0:28s)
With beat editing:
You can see there is a massive difference between these two videos, the first video didn't really contain beat editing that much which made it boring for the audience to watch. Although the lip-syncing at 0:28 was good and quite convincing but I still believe the music video was not good enough due to lack of beat editing especially on significant beats. Moving onto the second video, which beat editing was used effectively and made the video much better as it will engage with audience and keep them entertained. The quicker the cuts, the more the audience will have to pay attention to the video as the visual is interpreting with the music. This type of music videos will usually go viral.
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Task 2b(iii): Post Modern Styles
Hyper-Reality
Hyper-reality is when a music video's visual is exaggerating the reality, something we don't usually see everyday in our lives, something very unrealistic. Special effects/Green screen are often used in this type of music video.
This is an example of hyper-reality music video. Through out the music video, Robbie Williams seems like he has supernatural powers as he got halo on his head, was moving pedestrians out of his way without touching them, jump in front of a moving car and survive, while laying on the ground dancing, another car drives over him but didn't suffering any injury, damage, or harm at all. He got back up then got hit by two cars at the same time but again, he didn't suffer any injury as he still standing up, this is not realistic at all. There was a lot of other things is in the music video that wasn't realistic such as the piano was dropped on him from a great height but didn't gain any pain.
The purpose of Hyper-reality music videos is to appeal their target audience and make their music video successful as it is different compared to most music videos. Most hyper-reality music videos are unusual and creative. This has over 65 million views. This way can help the artist create bigger fan-base and generate revenue.
Parody
Parody is an imitative work to created to mock, or make fun of an original work. A video that exaggerates and mimics the characteristics of a work or person. The purpose of it is to make the audience laugh and make the video and the channel go viral. This style of music video isn't really used for an artist to promote their music. Bart Baker is well-known for making parodies music videos, he has over 8 million subscribers. This is an example of an Parody music video, Bart Baker were mocking Fifth Harmony, as this music video was disrespecting and oversexualizating Fifth Harmony. Bart Baker often to be rude in other of his parody music videos, the purpose of it is to make the audience laugh.
Original work:
Homage
This style of music video is kind of similar to Parody as both styles imitate out of something. But instead of imitating to mock a media product or star, Homage is used to imitate to pay tribute or show respect. For example of an Homage music video, Take Back The Night by Justin Timberlake which paid tribute to Michael Jackson. You could hear a strong Michael Jackson influence in the song, and also see Justin Timberlake dancing through street which very similar in Michael Jackson's Billie Jean music video. At 1:44, Justin's shoes look very similar with Michael Jackson, Justin was also doing Michael Jackson's signature glide/side slide walk.
Allusion
Allusion is when a reference to a person, existing text, place or event is made within a music video, they usually don't mention what the references is from. Very similar to intertextuality. They can be obvious or difficult to get the reference.
This music video is an example of Allusion, Taylor Swift ~Bad Blood ft. Kendrick Lamar. This music video has countless movie references including Kill Bill, Sin City, Tron, The Matrix, DareDevil, The Hunger Games, Quantum of Solace etc. Allusion type of music video may be used to help the song flow more and give it a deeper meaning.
Animation music video is use of drawings to illustrate lyrics and meanings. This is an example of Animation music video, Heartless by Kanye West. You could see it is animated and not real, tells a story and illustrates the song, this music video shows Kanye West wandering through a city alone at night, with scenes of various women shown throughout the video.
Hyper-reality is when a music video's visual is exaggerating the reality, something we don't usually see everyday in our lives, something very unrealistic. Special effects/Green screen are often used in this type of music video.
This is an example of hyper-reality music video. Through out the music video, Robbie Williams seems like he has supernatural powers as he got halo on his head, was moving pedestrians out of his way without touching them, jump in front of a moving car and survive, while laying on the ground dancing, another car drives over him but didn't suffering any injury, damage, or harm at all. He got back up then got hit by two cars at the same time but again, he didn't suffer any injury as he still standing up, this is not realistic at all. There was a lot of other things is in the music video that wasn't realistic such as the piano was dropped on him from a great height but didn't gain any pain.
The purpose of Hyper-reality music videos is to appeal their target audience and make their music video successful as it is different compared to most music videos. Most hyper-reality music videos are unusual and creative. This has over 65 million views. This way can help the artist create bigger fan-base and generate revenue.
Parody
Parody is an imitative work to created to mock, or make fun of an original work. A video that exaggerates and mimics the characteristics of a work or person. The purpose of it is to make the audience laugh and make the video and the channel go viral. This style of music video isn't really used for an artist to promote their music. Bart Baker is well-known for making parodies music videos, he has over 8 million subscribers. This is an example of an Parody music video, Bart Baker were mocking Fifth Harmony, as this music video was disrespecting and oversexualizating Fifth Harmony. Bart Baker often to be rude in other of his parody music videos, the purpose of it is to make the audience laugh.
Original work:
This style of music video is kind of similar to Parody as both styles imitate out of something. But instead of imitating to mock a media product or star, Homage is used to imitate to pay tribute or show respect. For example of an Homage music video, Take Back The Night by Justin Timberlake which paid tribute to Michael Jackson. You could hear a strong Michael Jackson influence in the song, and also see Justin Timberlake dancing through street which very similar in Michael Jackson's Billie Jean music video. At 1:44, Justin's shoes look very similar with Michael Jackson, Justin was also doing Michael Jackson's signature glide/side slide walk.
Pastiche
Pastiche video is a music video that imitates or copies features to another artist such as techniques, theme, style etc. of the original music video in order to show respect to the artist and their music. As in the examples below, Miley Cyrus paid tribute to Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares 2 U in one of her song Wrecking Ball. In the beginning of Wrecking Ball, there was exact same use of close-up in both music videos which you can see almost through out Sinead O'Connor's music video.
Pastiche video is a music video that imitates or copies features to another artist such as techniques, theme, style etc. of the original music video in order to show respect to the artist and their music. As in the examples below, Miley Cyrus paid tribute to Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares 2 U in one of her song Wrecking Ball. In the beginning of Wrecking Ball, there was exact same use of close-up in both music videos which you can see almost through out Sinead O'Connor's music video.
Allusion
Allusion is when a reference to a person, existing text, place or event is made within a music video, they usually don't mention what the references is from. Very similar to intertextuality. They can be obvious or difficult to get the reference.
This music video is an example of Allusion, Taylor Swift ~Bad Blood ft. Kendrick Lamar. This music video has countless movie references including Kill Bill, Sin City, Tron, The Matrix, DareDevil, The Hunger Games, Quantum of Solace etc. Allusion type of music video may be used to help the song flow more and give it a deeper meaning.
Animation
Animation music video is use of drawings to illustrate lyrics and meanings. This is an example of Animation music video, Heartless by Kanye West. You could see it is animated and not real, tells a story and illustrates the song, this music video shows Kanye West wandering through a city alone at night, with scenes of various women shown throughout the video.
Sunday, 16 October 2016
Task 2b(ii): Styles & Conventions
In-concert and ‘as live’ footage (performance)
This is an example of In-concert music video; in the music video above, you can see the artist performing on a live stage in front of audience, this is also another example of performance music video. Although this song's genre is Pop, this type of music video are very common in rock music videos, it's their genre convention. This music video contains different clips of her performances and behind-the-scenes footage taken from her world tour The 1989 World Tour. They have recorded it live and turn the footage into a music video so this way, they can show their audience what it would look like if they came and watch one of their performances live. Music videos like this can help artists/bands make more money as it can attract the audience into buying tickets as the audience may want to experience the live performance. This also make the company more money.
Interpretative
This is an example of an interpretive music video. This song is called ‘The Hills’ and it is sung by The Weeknd. Interpretive means something that looks like something else but has a different meaning. These types of music videos usually make the audience to make their own theories of what they think the music video is about, as the music video doesn’t have a clear meaning. This music video links to the artist's other music videos.
This is an example of In-concert music video; in the music video above, you can see the artist performing on a live stage in front of audience, this is also another example of performance music video. Although this song's genre is Pop, this type of music video are very common in rock music videos, it's their genre convention. This music video contains different clips of her performances and behind-the-scenes footage taken from her world tour The 1989 World Tour. They have recorded it live and turn the footage into a music video so this way, they can show their audience what it would look like if they came and watch one of their performances live. Music videos like this can help artists/bands make more money as it can attract the audience into buying tickets as the audience may want to experience the live performance. This also make the company more money.
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| Taylor Swift ~ New Romantics (YouTube Comments) |
Interpretative
The video begins showing a wrecked car that has been flipped over, but it is unknown why the car was flipped over which give the audience to come up with a theory. The Weeknd is then crawling out of the car then he walk to the other side of the car to help other two women to get out the car. As the song continues, The Weeknd is walking by himself down a dark street which low-key lighting was used in most scenes. Around 1:50, the wrecked car explodes behind him, which was sync on the beat drop. Later he entered an abandoned mansion and went upstairs to a room, which is illuminated with red light. In the room there was a man who was holding an apple that seems to be waiting for The Weeknd, the two women from the car scene was also there sitting with the man. The video then cuts to black.
This music video make the audience interpret their own meaning on the video as it isn’t made clear why the car was wrecked and flipped, who was those two women, where is going, why did he go into the mansion, who was that man in end, is that the same man in other (The Weeknd’s) music videos? etc.
Narrative
This is an example of an narrative music video. Narrative music video is a style of music video that tell any kind of story in linear. Similar to short film. Most narrative music videos are more likely related to the lyrics of the soundtrack. Love stories are the most common narrative theme in music video as you can see a love story in this music video, it was about a man who's returning home and finding out she has been unfaithful, there was also a twist at the end. In the music video, there was no lip-syncing at all which mean there's no performance linked to it so therefore it's 100% narrative although the artist is in majority of the video as he is the main character/actor of the story. Narrative music video usually cost a lot for a record label.
Impressionist (Conceptual)
This is an example of an conceptual music video. Conceptual music video is when the purpose of the music video is to create meaning. The meaning doesn't tend to relate to the song and they usually consists of montage used to create meaning.This music video does not really have a narrative storyline but it has a meaning about it. This can mean many different things. For example, J. Cole ~ Wet Dreamz, the video uses a pair of dogs to humorously represent the lyrics of the song. The song tells the story of J. Cole losing his virginity.
This music video make the audience interpret their own meaning on the video as it isn’t made clear why the car was wrecked and flipped, who was those two women, where is going, why did he go into the mansion, who was that man in end, is that the same man in other (The Weeknd’s) music videos? etc.
Narrative
This is an example of an narrative music video. Narrative music video is a style of music video that tell any kind of story in linear. Similar to short film. Most narrative music videos are more likely related to the lyrics of the soundtrack. Love stories are the most common narrative theme in music video as you can see a love story in this music video, it was about a man who's returning home and finding out she has been unfaithful, there was also a twist at the end. In the music video, there was no lip-syncing at all which mean there's no performance linked to it so therefore it's 100% narrative although the artist is in majority of the video as he is the main character/actor of the story. Narrative music video usually cost a lot for a record label.
Impressionist (Conceptual)
Referencing (Intertextuality)
Intertextuality is the way in which one media text is referenced in another that producers think the audience will get the reference. There many reasons why they used intertextuality in music videos, for example, other artists of the younger generation could be playing tribute to older stars, likely well known or they could be a reference to motivate you or a reference to other songs etc. Intertextuality could be lyrical reference or visual reference or both. Intertextuality are very common in Hip-Hop and Parodies of an movie or music video, for example, parodies usually make fun out of famous particular stars or movies. Another reason they may be used in song/music video is to help the song flow more and give it a deeper meaning.
An example, The Script ~ Hall of Fame ft. will.i.am, it contains lyrical reference to the film King Kong.
At 0:52, the lyric is an allusion to the film King Kong. There was a scene where King Kong bangs on his chest on top of the Empire State building. According to Genius (a website that allows you see the interpretation of song lyrics), the line symbolizes strength, courage and pride of achievement. As King Kong is on top and doesn't seem to be scared to fall as he is banging his chest, being on top represents success, not being scared to fall represents courage and banging your chest can represent strength. This song is basically motivating you as they're saying you can reach to the top.
Intertextuality is the way in which one media text is referenced in another that producers think the audience will get the reference. There many reasons why they used intertextuality in music videos, for example, other artists of the younger generation could be playing tribute to older stars, likely well known or they could be a reference to motivate you or a reference to other songs etc. Intertextuality could be lyrical reference or visual reference or both. Intertextuality are very common in Hip-Hop and Parodies of an movie or music video, for example, parodies usually make fun out of famous particular stars or movies. Another reason they may be used in song/music video is to help the song flow more and give it a deeper meaning.
An example, The Script ~ Hall of Fame ft. will.i.am, it contains lyrical reference to the film King Kong.
Task 1C: Purpose of Music Videos
To sell the song
The purpose of a music video is to build an image for the music artists. They are promoted to emphasis the music artist. Another purpose of a music video is to sell the song and leaves people to remember it. It is to entertain people by showing off their talents. To sell the song it need to create a memorable visualization in able to increase its sale. There are bunch of different ways for artist to sell their song such as monetization. YouTube is a way to monetize music videos, once the video is eligible for monetization you will be able to earn money from it and get paid. Once it is monetized, you will start seeing ads before and/or in between the video. They’ll make roughly about $2 (£1.50) per 1,000 views. There are other distributions such as SoundCloud and Spotify etc.
An example, Wiz Khalifa - See You Again ft. Charlie Puth, it has over 2 billion views (2,055,713,949) on YouTube, which made over $4 million in revenue (2,000,000,000 ÷ 1000 x 2). This video gone viral as it is a tribute to the late Paul Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013 in Valencia, California. The song was commissioned for the soundtrack of the 2015 action film Furious 7, Paul Walker played a main role in six of the Fast & Furious' seven installments. See You Again was the best selling-song of 2015 worldwide.
Promotional for the artist
Music videos have become a key promotional tool for the artists as it help create an image for the artists. There are many ways to promote an artist, you can promote them through social media such as Sound Cloud, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube etc. It can allow people to hear the artist's song. There are others promotional ways such as Print-based media such as magazine, billboards and newspaper
This is especially important if the artist new to the industry, they will need to gain exposure as it will help them to promote through different platforms, this will make more money for the artist themselves and also the record company. Making the music video controversial could possibly get the public talking about this new artist.
Exposure and Expansion of the Artist
To sell the song, invoke a reaction from the audience
To give the audience a better understanding of the song
Often songs have a meaning. Music Videos are often used to develop the meaning behind the song and use a visualisation to create an image for the artist and give the audience better understanding of the song from a visual perspective and from a different outlet. The benefits of this is that the audience can relate to them and therefore they can relate to the song more. Example of this would be Selena Gomez - The Heart Wants What It Wants. In the lyrics, Selena was explaining her account of her relationship with Justin Bieber (although she doesn’t actually name him), and was seemingly justifying why she remained with him for so long. The music video demonstrates the lyric.
Product Placement
Product placement is used in almost all Entertainment outlets as a way to increase revenue. Product placement is selling and promoting products of the specific company in which are usually inserted into a music video, it's basically an advertising technique used by companies to promote their own products. Product placement is not only in music videos, they are also seen in TV, magazines, billboards, newspapers and Social Media.
Product placement in music videos are very popular, especially Beats by Dre's Headphone/Pill. Nearly all artist will use this technique within their videos as companies will pay a lot of money to see an promote their product to their audiences. Companies would like extremely popular artists to promote their product as it make the product more desirable to customers while watching the music video.
An example of this a music video, Little Mix ~ Black Magic. At 0:42, you could see two out of the four girls wearing Beats by Dre's Wireless Headphone. When one of the girls took the wireless headphone off and place it on the table (0:46), it changed camera shot to Extreme Close-Up onto the wireless headphone. This is example of promoting a product such as Beats by Dre. This music video has over 200 million views, many viewers may have like and brought the product because of the artists promoting them.
Promotion for Music and Album
Synergy
Synergy is when two companies or product decide to work and combine together to make a video, and use the video as a platform to give them success. For example a music video could be made to increase publicity for a film. An example of an synergy music video, Gangsta, the official music video for a film Suicide Squad (2016) which sung by Kehlani. The music video contain scenes from the film. As this movie looks successful as it grossed over $300 million, this helped to increase sales of the song, the music video has now over 50 million views on YouTube.
As this video is currently being shown on YouTube, there’s advertisements in the beginning, this show it’s currently being monetized and this would give them synergy though the video as they would be associated with the video and hope to improve publicity.
The music video also helps to provide synergy for the artist who starred in it as a popular music video helps to expand their audience.
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Promotion of film
Often artist will write songs that are specifically for a film, the music videos for these songs then often feature scenes from the film. This is done to help increase the sales of the song and the movie together. When the audience watch the music video, they will see couple scenes from the film which make the viewers aware of the film, this may make them want to go and watch the film.
An example of a music video that aims to promote a film, Alicia Keys ~ It’s On Again ft. Kendrick Lamar. As you can see in the music video, it show bunch of clips/scenes from the movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Promote festivals
Music videos opens up new markets for the Artists and Record Companies to sell their songs by promoting their image and creating bigger fan base through other outlets such as YouTube/Twitter/Instagram/Facebook or collaborating with films/television show (synergy). This increase in outlets, which increases the amount of people who are likely to hear/see the song and buy it, therefore making it successful.
This music video is an example of a video that opened up an artist to a new market. Lose Yourself is a song by Eminem, a lead single soundtrack from 2002 motion picture 8 Mile. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003, making it the first ever rap song to have received this accolade.
Generates new market for Record Company
Selling an Image
Music videos are a way to help artists to sell their image, artists will often sell their image and looks to increase their income by attracting the target audience to appeal wider audience. They may want change their image because they want to stay relevant and keep up with the new audience today as the new music videos today are more powerful and wanted more than the song itself. We are now to the point where the music video become more important than the song.
Miley Cyrus is an example, she has changed her image dramatically to enlarge her audience (from innocent Disney star to provocative pop star), you can see two music videos below that she changed genre from Country, Rock and Pop to R&B and Hip-Hop. Not only she changed her genres, she changed her looks and attitude, this caused many people to dislike her new image as we all remember the new Miley as Hannah Montana/ Old Miley and she was innocent back then and wasn't provocative then as she is now. Many people thought of her as a role model to young girls as she was an huge Disney Channel star. Although she changed her character/image, she is still the same person as she was before, she is just growing up just like her audience as well. Since Miley changed her image, she have been getting publicity for her new image which help her sells her albums and songs.
When the music video We Can't Stop was released, it reached 10.7 million views in the first 24 hours, this broke the record for having the most views in that time-frame. The music video also broke another record after reaching 100 million views within thirty-seven days for being the faster music video to attain Vevo certification. Both records were broken by another music video of Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Ball. Both music videos have gone viral due to Miley Cyrus, who were once an innocent girl, changed her image into provocative pop star. This viral has helped her increase her income and attract her target audience.
Old Miley Cyrus
New Miley Cyrus
The purpose of a music video is to build an image for the music artists. They are promoted to emphasis the music artist. Another purpose of a music video is to sell the song and leaves people to remember it. It is to entertain people by showing off their talents. To sell the song it need to create a memorable visualization in able to increase its sale. There are bunch of different ways for artist to sell their song such as monetization. YouTube is a way to monetize music videos, once the video is eligible for monetization you will be able to earn money from it and get paid. Once it is monetized, you will start seeing ads before and/or in between the video. They’ll make roughly about $2 (£1.50) per 1,000 views. There are other distributions such as SoundCloud and Spotify etc.
An example, Wiz Khalifa - See You Again ft. Charlie Puth, it has over 2 billion views (2,055,713,949) on YouTube, which made over $4 million in revenue (2,000,000,000 ÷ 1000 x 2). This video gone viral as it is a tribute to the late Paul Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013 in Valencia, California. The song was commissioned for the soundtrack of the 2015 action film Furious 7, Paul Walker played a main role in six of the Fast & Furious' seven installments. See You Again was the best selling-song of 2015 worldwide.
Promotional for the artist
Music videos have become a key promotional tool for the artists as it help create an image for the artists. There are many ways to promote an artist, you can promote them through social media such as Sound Cloud, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube etc. It can allow people to hear the artist's song. There are others promotional ways such as Print-based media such as magazine, billboards and newspaper
This is especially important if the artist new to the industry, they will need to gain exposure as it will help them to promote through different platforms, this will make more money for the artist themselves and also the record company. Making the music video controversial could possibly get the public talking about this new artist.
Exposure and Expansion of the Artist
Exposure for any new or current artist is hugely important. Music Videos play a vital part in the exposure of an artist because it shows the audience the image of the artist. Star image is important because their image will portray their personality and style, and who they are, their individual uniqueness. What an artist wears, their attitude. Their music tell a story about them and help creates their unique/fake image. Their unique/fake image would help them gained more audience and revenue as some of their viewers may look up to the artists or relate to the artists.
Some music videos are designed solely for this purpose. They are often used for new and upcoming artists to promote themselves and get many people interested and talking about this new and upcoming artist. This also generates more money for the artist themselves and more importantly the record label. An example of this type of music video is Zayn ~ Pillowtalk.This was his debut solo single after he left One Direction which left fans around the world shocked and surprised back in 2015. This attracted a lot of attention as it is his debut music video after leaving his band of 5 years, this music video has got over 600 million views.
To give the audience a better understanding of the song
Often songs have a meaning. Music Videos are often used to develop the meaning behind the song and use a visualisation to create an image for the artist and give the audience better understanding of the song from a visual perspective and from a different outlet. The benefits of this is that the audience can relate to them and therefore they can relate to the song more. Example of this would be Selena Gomez - The Heart Wants What It Wants. In the lyrics, Selena was explaining her account of her relationship with Justin Bieber (although she doesn’t actually name him), and was seemingly justifying why she remained with him for so long. The music video demonstrates the lyric.
Product Placement
Product placement is used in almost all Entertainment outlets as a way to increase revenue. Product placement is selling and promoting products of the specific company in which are usually inserted into a music video, it's basically an advertising technique used by companies to promote their own products. Product placement is not only in music videos, they are also seen in TV, magazines, billboards, newspapers and Social Media.
Product placement in music videos are very popular, especially Beats by Dre's Headphone/Pill. Nearly all artist will use this technique within their videos as companies will pay a lot of money to see an promote their product to their audiences. Companies would like extremely popular artists to promote their product as it make the product more desirable to customers while watching the music video.
An example of this a music video, Little Mix ~ Black Magic. At 0:42, you could see two out of the four girls wearing Beats by Dre's Wireless Headphone. When one of the girls took the wireless headphone off and place it on the table (0:46), it changed camera shot to Extreme Close-Up onto the wireless headphone. This is example of promoting a product such as Beats by Dre. This music video has over 200 million views, many viewers may have like and brought the product because of the artists promoting them.
Promotion for Music and Album
Promotion of an artists music or album is hugely important for the success of that product, so the music video will need to have something that will be remembered by viewers/audience (viral etc.) so the viewers/audience will shared the music video with other people on all popular Social Media, this way will allow the artist to gain popularity and more fans and receive more revenue.
The video below is a good example of promoting your music and album. This video features music from G-Eazy's latest album When It's Dark Out. It contains different clips of his performances, making songs in the studio, behind-the-scenes footage etc. The artist is promoting his upcoming music and album through an album trailer.
The video below is a good example of promoting your music and album. This video features music from G-Eazy's latest album When It's Dark Out. It contains different clips of his performances, making songs in the studio, behind-the-scenes footage etc. The artist is promoting his upcoming music and album through an album trailer.
Synergy
Synergy is when two companies or product decide to work and combine together to make a video, and use the video as a platform to give them success. For example a music video could be made to increase publicity for a film. An example of an synergy music video, Gangsta, the official music video for a film Suicide Squad (2016) which sung by Kehlani. The music video contain scenes from the film. As this movie looks successful as it grossed over $300 million, this helped to increase sales of the song, the music video has now over 50 million views on YouTube.
As this video is currently being shown on YouTube, there’s advertisements in the beginning, this show it’s currently being monetized and this would give them synergy though the video as they would be associated with the video and hope to improve publicity.
The music video also helps to provide synergy for the artist who starred in it as a popular music video helps to expand their audience.
.
Promotion of film
Often artist will write songs that are specifically for a film, the music videos for these songs then often feature scenes from the film. This is done to help increase the sales of the song and the movie together. When the audience watch the music video, they will see couple scenes from the film which make the viewers aware of the film, this may make them want to go and watch the film.
An example of a music video that aims to promote a film, Alicia Keys ~ It’s On Again ft. Kendrick Lamar. As you can see in the music video, it show bunch of clips/scenes from the movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Promote festivals
Music videos are often used to promote other music related products. In the last decade Festivals and tours have become more important because it allow artists to gain popularity and promote themselves and get wider exposure which can help them getting a bigger fan base and receive more revenue. For example, The Wireless Festival is a music festival in England that takes place every year in London. They had big artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Kanye West, David Guetta etc. There will be artists you may never heard of or don't really listened to, this festival will allow them to promote their songs which will help them gain popularity and create bigger fan base.
For example, Bryson Tiller is an singer, songwriter and rapper. Some people may never heard of him as Bryson Tiller only started getting recognition last year (2015). He has won awards such as BET's Best New Artist and Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Festivals like this has helped Bryson Tiller to gain more popularity and bigger fan-base. He has almost the whole crowd singing, this may lead other people who haven't listened to Bryson Tiller yet to search up his songs and also become a fan (if they liked him).
Opens up new market
For example, Bryson Tiller is an singer, songwriter and rapper. Some people may never heard of him as Bryson Tiller only started getting recognition last year (2015). He has won awards such as BET's Best New Artist and Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Festivals like this has helped Bryson Tiller to gain more popularity and bigger fan-base. He has almost the whole crowd singing, this may lead other people who haven't listened to Bryson Tiller yet to search up his songs and also become a fan (if they liked him).
Opens up new market
Music videos opens up new markets for the Artists and Record Companies to sell their songs by promoting their image and creating bigger fan base through other outlets such as YouTube/Twitter/Instagram/Facebook or collaborating with films/television show (synergy). This increase in outlets, which increases the amount of people who are likely to hear/see the song and buy it, therefore making it successful.
This music video is an example of a video that opened up an artist to a new market. Lose Yourself is a song by Eminem, a lead single soundtrack from 2002 motion picture 8 Mile. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003, making it the first ever rap song to have received this accolade.
Generates new market for Record Company
With major record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. They will use music videos as an extension of income for the song. They do this by making the music video as widely accessible as possible on as many different outlets such as YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify etc. For example, posting music videos on YouTube will help promote the artist's music. Through monetisation, it will also make more money for the artist and their record label. As of today, social media has become a way to reach fans and market as the Internet is now a place to sell music.
Example: This music video below, Silento ~ Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), it has over 1 billion views which made over $2 million in revenue. This music video went viral due to popular dances of today. In the music video, there is a combination of two popular dances which mentioned in the title, Whip & Nae Nae. This music video is example of a way to sell a song (viral/trend).
Example: This music video below, Silento ~ Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), it has over 1 billion views which made over $2 million in revenue. This music video went viral due to popular dances of today. In the music video, there is a combination of two popular dances which mentioned in the title, Whip & Nae Nae. This music video is example of a way to sell a song (viral/trend).
Selling an Image
Music videos are a way to help artists to sell their image, artists will often sell their image and looks to increase their income by attracting the target audience to appeal wider audience. They may want change their image because they want to stay relevant and keep up with the new audience today as the new music videos today are more powerful and wanted more than the song itself. We are now to the point where the music video become more important than the song.
Miley Cyrus is an example, she has changed her image dramatically to enlarge her audience (from innocent Disney star to provocative pop star), you can see two music videos below that she changed genre from Country, Rock and Pop to R&B and Hip-Hop. Not only she changed her genres, she changed her looks and attitude, this caused many people to dislike her new image as we all remember the new Miley as Hannah Montana/ Old Miley and she was innocent back then and wasn't provocative then as she is now. Many people thought of her as a role model to young girls as she was an huge Disney Channel star. Although she changed her character/image, she is still the same person as she was before, she is just growing up just like her audience as well. Since Miley changed her image, she have been getting publicity for her new image which help her sells her albums and songs.
When the music video We Can't Stop was released, it reached 10.7 million views in the first 24 hours, this broke the record for having the most views in that time-frame. The music video also broke another record after reaching 100 million views within thirty-seven days for being the faster music video to attain Vevo certification. Both records were broken by another music video of Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Ball. Both music videos have gone viral due to Miley Cyrus, who were once an innocent girl, changed her image into provocative pop star. This viral has helped her increase her income and attract her target audience.
Old Miley Cyrus
New Miley Cyrus
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Task 2A: Hip-Hop Conventions
Location/Settings
In Chris Brown music video, you can see the whole music video is set in an abandoned graffiti car park. As this is an hip-hop music video, graffiti is often included as one of hip-hop's four elements alongside with rapping, b-boying (break-dancing) and DJ-ing. Nowadays, hip-hop music videos usually include artists performing in narrative setting such as clubs, parties, mansions, beach, luxurious foreign country etc. The general message nowadays in hip videos is let’s go out, go to a party, get drunk/high/whatever and have lots of sex.
In Chris Brown music video, you can see the whole music video is set in an abandoned graffiti car park. As this is an hip-hop music video, graffiti is often included as one of hip-hop's four elements alongside with rapping, b-boying (break-dancing) and DJ-ing. Nowadays, hip-hop music videos usually include artists performing in narrative setting such as clubs, parties, mansions, beach, luxurious foreign country etc. The general message nowadays in hip videos is let’s go out, go to a party, get drunk/high/whatever and have lots of sex.
Costumes
The majority of the time the artists were surrounded with a crowd of people wearing clothing that give them the look of ghetto/thug/street look etc. Clothing such as bagging clothing, low slung jean, trainers, tracksuit etc. This type of clothing is very common convention in Hop-Hop genre, it connotes a sense of 'crew/gang'. The baggy clothing is sort of old school nowadays, the clothing was the common convention of hip hop genre in the 90s. Two examples, N.W.A. ~ Straight Outta Compton and Kendrick Lamar ~ Alright.
The majority of the time the artists were surrounded with a crowd of people wearing clothing that give them the look of ghetto/thug/street look etc. Clothing such as bagging clothing, low slung jean, trainers, tracksuit etc. This type of clothing is very common convention in Hop-Hop genre, it connotes a sense of 'crew/gang'. The baggy clothing is sort of old school nowadays, the clothing was the common convention of hip hop genre in the 90s. Two examples, N.W.A. ~ Straight Outta Compton and Kendrick Lamar ~ Alright.
Props
Props such as flashy cars and designer brands are seen most hip-hop music videos, this is very common convention in hip-hop music videos. They use this to show off their 'wealthy' side, showing off expensive things signify their financial status etc. There's usually a lot of references in hip-hop music videos. For example, 50 Cent ~ Window Shopper, 50 Cent and his friends were rich enough to buy overpriced items, such as $400 cheeseburgers, and a $16 million yacht. You could also see flashy cars and couple stacks of money.
Camera
Camera
There is a lot of low angled camera shot being used in hip-hop music videos which is very common in the hip-hop industry. They used low-angled shot because it give the artist power and in control as they look down on the audience and the audience will feel to look up and respect them. Track away is another shot type used commonly in the hip-hop industry, it's when the camera is moving away from the subject while the subject is coming toward to the camera. This effect of this movement is similar to Low angle, Track away can creates the effect as if the camera operator is running away from the artist which make them look powerful, aggressive and dominant. There's always close ups in many hip-hop music videos which is another dominant camera shot used in hip-hop industry, it implies they’re important enough to have a frame to themselves. They do this in order to establish /sell the artist. For example, Jay-Z & Kanye West ~ Otis. In Chris Brown's music video, there is a long shot of the dance routine, Chris Brown is in the centre, which catches the eye and the audience's attention to the artist, this shows he is the main leader of the group. This long shot also showcase his dancing abilities which idolized by his target audience which will result more fame/publicity and bigger mass demographic.
Voyeurism
Throughout Chris Brown's music video, the female character roles were side-lined, although at 2:33 there is one girl who is dancing provocatively while being surrounded by males. This show voyeurism, this is very common in hop-hop music videos. The reason why they show voyeurism is because the main audience for hip hop is male, voyeurism in hip-hop music video ensures they keep viewers and attract new people into their audience. Men usually have all the power in hip-hop music videos. Women are usually shown as lust and interchangeable etc. Here is another good example of voyeurism in hip-hop videos (French Montana ~ No Shopping ft. Drake).
Editing
Usually in hip-hop music videos, the editing pace are usually fast, the cutting to the beat match the pace of the music. Cutting to the beat is when the images cut or transition on the beats or on significant beats in the music. This is usually used during performance scenes. They are used to engage with the viewers and to emphasize the lyrics, they're also used to create a sense of hyper-reality and a dynamic visual style. For example, A$AP ROCKY - F**kin' Problems ft. Drake, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar and Drake ~ Headlines.