Music Video

Music Video

Research

Whilst researching for my music video I have been focusing on different genres, this is due to the facts that i did my own independent research on what type of music people that are aged 30-49. 

When researching i asked a handful of people that are aged 30-49 to tell me their favourite music genre. Consequently, my results left me with two genres; R&B and soul music. This would be good as i personally enjoy the genres of music.

When researching music videos I started to watch my favourite music videos such as 'Flashing lights' by Kanye West and 'G.O.M.D' by JCole, to almost inspire me with my own video during the development.

 This narrowed my choice for a song as I then decided between two songs.

From revising for an artist I focused on alot of chill R&B such as Brent Faiyaz. Brent Faiyaz is an underground R&B and soul artist from Maryland, America. He is both a singer and record producer. He is signed to the label 'Lost Kids', in 2014. The song I have as an option is 'Stay down' off his debut album 'Sonder Son'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEwPUf37j4s

Lyrics

Your eyes, like the sunshine on my face

It's a good night, how it smells nice on my pillowcase

And I light all up when I see you walking by

I know that life ain't perfect but you make it alright

Oh, I see you coming

Got my heart jumping like Jordans

Play me like Spalding

Do it all for me

Girl, you're the vision of what I like

And I promise I'll be yours

Tell me your joys and your problems

I'll be more than a man for you

I'll be your friend

Call me, I'll be right away (I'll be

there, girl, stay right there, baby)

Tell me if you're gonna stay down (Will you stay down?)

I'll be waiting night and day (I'll be waiting night and day)

But only if you're gonna stay down (Stay down, stay down)

Your lips feel like sweet syrup on my skin

It feels real,

it's a great feelin' how you suck me in (Oh, you suck me in)

And I tossed all my fears to the wind when I touch your hand

And I know God must have really loved me to give me a chance

Oh, I see you coming

Got my heart jumping like Jordans

Play me like Spalding

Do it all for me

Girl, you're the vision of what I like

I promise I'll be yours

Tell me your joys and your problems

I'll be more than a man for you

I'll be your friend

Call me, I'll be right away (I'll be there, girl, stay right there)

Tell me if you're gonna stay down (Will you stay down?)

I'll be waiting night and day (I'll be waiting night and day)

But only if you're gonna stay down

Call me, I'll be right away

Tell me if you're gonna stay down

I'll be waiting night and day

But only if you're gonna stay down

my initial thoughts as to how to film this music video was to show the viewers the various perspectives, thoughts and feelings that this song evokes in me when listening to it. Instantly, when listening to this song, I found that it reminded me of one of my favourite music videos which is 'Flashing Lights' By Kanye west as it shows a clear narrative. I also enjoy watching the video because it gives a 90’s vibe for example, usher, Brandy, Boyz 2 men. Linking to the 90's feel, the age group that I intend my music video to be aimed at is 30 to 49 year olds, using my own research I have found that a lot of people have grew up around the90's where R&B music started to blossom. This was help engage the audience and give it a nostalgic feel. For example a generic example of a typical 90’s video is ‘Burn’ by Usher which at the time was iconic.

My second choice of song to pick for my music video is ‘sweet life’ by Frank Ocean. Frank Ocean is a Song writer, Singer, Producer and photographer. Ocean began his musical career as a ghost-writer, prior to joining hip hop collective Odd Future in 2010, and the following year, released Nostalgia, Ultra, his debut mixtape. The mixtape was a critical success, and generated the single "Novacane", which peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later certified platinum. Ocean subsequently secured a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings in 2012. Ocean released his debut studio album, Channel Orange, in July 2012; it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was soon certified platinum. The album received universal acclaim from critics, and won Ocean his first Grammy Award, for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The album contained the singles "Thinkin Bout You", "Pyramids", and "Sweet Life", with the former peaking inside the top 40 in the US and gaining him a nomination for Record of the Year at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

Lyrics;

The best song wasn't the single, but you weren't either

Livin' in Ladera Heights, the black Beverly Hills

Domesticated paradise, palm trees and pools

The water's blue, swallow the pill

Keepin' it surreal, whatever you like

Whatever feels good, whatever takes you mountain high

Keepin' it surreal, not sugar-free

My TV ain't HD, that's too real

Grapevine, mango, peaches, and limes, the sweet life

The sweet life, sweet life

Sweet life, sweet life

The sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet life

Sweet life, the sweet life

Sweetie pie

You've had a landscaper and a house keeper since you were born

The sunshine always kept you warm

So why see the world, when you got the beach

Don't know why see the world, when you got the beach

The sweet life

The best song wasn't the single, but you couldn't turn your radio down

Satellite need a receiver, can't seem to turn the signal fully off

Transmitting the waves

You're catching that breeze 'til you're dead in the grave

But you're keepin' it surreal, whatever you like

Whatever feels good, whatever takes you mountain high

Keepin' it surreal, not sugar-free, my tv ain't HD, that's too real

Grapevines, mango, peaches, and lime, a sweet life

A sweet life

A sweet life, yeah

A sweet life, a sweet life

A sweet life

Live and die in the life

You've had a landscaper and a house keeper since you were born, yeah

The sunshine always kept you warm

So why see the world, when you got the beach

Don't know why see the world, when you got the beach

And the water, is exactly what I wanted

It's everything I thought it would be (Thought it would be)

But this neighborhood is gettin' trippier every day

The neighborhood is goin' ape shit crazy

You've had a landscaper and a house keeper since you were born

The star shine always kept you warm

So why see the world, when you got the beach

Don't know why see the world, when you got the beach

The sweet life

The song instantly creates a narrative when listening to it. We can see how within the lines, ‘You've had a landscaper and a house keeper since you were born, yeah The sunshine always kept you warm ,So why see the world, when you got the beach,’ It tells a story of a girl that has had all the riches from birth asking for more in her life. When Frank Ocean says ‘why see the world when you got the beach,’ it can clearly state how he is questioning her ignorance and how she already has everything so why expand. When talking about ideas regarding my music video ideas, I can visual a setting of a viewpoint and nature but also include a clear narrative of a girl exploring beyond her restrictions. 

Media
New Techniques

Film Techniques - camera shots;
Extreme long shot - it is usually an exterior shot of the location of the production.
Long shot - This shot enables the audience to see the character from head to toe. (this shot allows the character to sustain an relationship between the character and the environment)
Mid shot - Provides of view of the character from the waist up. By using the mid shot it is enabling the audience to feel more familiar with the character.
Two shot - Its a shot with two characters in the frame. It expresses the relationship of each other, often used in TV chat shows.
Close up - This shot would include the characters head and shoulders. With very little background in the frame. This can be used to frame an object to the audience.
Point of view - The close up shot works as a reference to the point of view shot. As the audience sees the audience view point. The purpose of the shot is to engage the auidence with the characters motive.
Extreme close up - Draws the audience into the characters emotions.

Film techniques - Camera angles
A picture can be taken from a birds eye angle, a high angle, an eye-level angle, a low angle. There can be different lighting angles; Frontally lit and back lit.

A bird's eye angle is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene. This angle is often used as an establishing angle, along with an extreme long shot, to establish setting

A high angle is a camera angle that looks down upon a subject. A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character. The example above demonstrates to us the perspective or point of view of a vampire. As a viewer we can understand that the vampire feels powerful.

An eye-level angle puts the audience on an equal footing with the character/s. This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters.

A low angle is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responded feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character's point of view.

Bridging shot- A shot used to cover a jump in time or place or other discontinuity. Examples are falling calendar pages, railroad wheels, newspaper headlines and seasonal changes.

Dollying shot- A shot in which the camera moves toward or away from its subject while filming. Traditionally dolly shots are filmed from a camera dolly but the same motion may also be performed with a Steadicam, gimbal, etc. A dolly shot is generally described in terms of "dolling in" or "dolling out". Trucking in and out is also a common synonym.

Editing - The selection and organization of shots into a series, usually in the interest of creating larger cinematic units. Adding music is also a great way to make it more cinematic.

Angles

Camera angles refer to the tilt of the camera in relation to the scene and the characters. Unusual camera angles can emphasis an action sequence, disorientate the audience, and suggest the relationship between characters.