Louis Warwick's Evaluation

Our group devised a Music Video and supplementary products for the Indie song 'Lights and Music' by Cut Copy. Throughout the entirety of this project our group thought it was integral to maintain a certain image. This would help towards keeping continuity to a high standard; as well as making sure no shots seemed out of place or irrelevant. We tried to include stereotypical boy band elements within our music video, such as our devised dance routine and close-up miming into the camera. This was to establish our boy bands necessity to be linked with other, similar bands surrounding the indie music genre. It also helped that out chosen track had a rather rhythmical sound to it; inevitably dancing in the video seemed natural, as it is displaying the feel-good-factor that the artists would wish to get across in the viewing of the video. I feel that our product really compares with forms and conventions of real media products. By using Goodwin’s analysis of imagery and sound we can see that our video does indeed demonstrate characteristics of genre, our band’s indie clothing and style of dancing and general movement all linked to the genre of the song. Although the lyrics and visuals only related on a couple of occasions (during the walking at the beginning being one example) the music and visuals where constantly correlating. We had futuristic shadow effects during the more electronic music and a guitar appearing throughout the sounding of a guitar being played. All band members faces were captured within the close-ups and the four-way split screen image incorporated all band members individually whilst simultaneously retaining the groups boy band representation. This as well as the miming and dancing performed helped towards making our group in becoming relateable to current artists.
After looking back at our final, finished video we realised that there were several moments which could defiantly been improved upon. Had we filmed a wider range of locational shots we may not have been so hard pushed to include some of our weaker footage. Certain transitions from shot to shot were slightly too long and could have been interrupted with an entirely new shot. However, the pace throughout was consistent and the normality of an over-busy music video was not portrayed which, I believe, enhanced our video as it was easy to focus on the action taking place, each individual shot also gained greater significance which additionally worked to our advantage. In my opinion the day to night transition was one of our most powerful shots and was extremely effective, zooming in on the sun, only to zoom out and the audience is left staring down into a flashlight. At this point our mise-en-scene transformed into night time imagery and was the introduction for our boy band’s entry. The message that was connoted was that this boy band only comes out at night, to party.
Our boy band look needed to be established; hence keeping all of the band in similar costumes and including our iconic ‘sunglasses at night’ helped us create a unique image. We displayed a neon, partying persona which, in turn, related to the song ‘Lights and Music’, but also allowed us to use edgy effects, incorporating our new age boy band. Using devices such as filtered lighting allowed us to create a shadow effect which we used to recreate a nightclub esc feel during shots of dancing. These lighting effects continued into the creation of our digi pack, where we used outlining of rainbow coloured beams to boarder our textual info and band member faces. These coloured lines helped highlight key information on our digi pack, making it standout, which is inarguably what is required in such a competitive industry. With our shots all occurring at night with bright lighting emphasising our band during dance and miming shots, as well as the filtered lighting within the video, we thought to maintain a clear representation of our group as an artist it was vital to preserve these features within our poster and digi pack. The night time video needed to be incorporated within our digi pack; hence, we designed black backgrounds for all parts, as well as presenting rainbow lines which relates to the filtered lighting within our video. All of the following helped make sure that any theme or motif our band displayed would not look alienated from the rest of our products. Another group’s feedback on our ancillary tasks claimed they liked the vibrant colours on the digi pack and the silhouette of the guitar. The colour strips that lead from the front to the back show good continuity in addition to the group member’s faces being shown on the cover; this all is imperative in making the band distinguishable. They also thought the shooting star effect on the inside of the cover and the colourful stripes being used again were effective. Most probably due to the fact that this added feature was in keeping with the overall outer-worldly fashion in which we clearly designed the digi pack. They also approved of the colour stripes outlining the world, again, these related to the rainbow lines featured on the front and back of the digi pack. With all elements linking to one another our band has a particular image and brand in which we can move forward from and become a recognisable product.
We decided to scrap the majority of our footage, as it was shot during the daytime; this was due to the fact that it contradicted our initial idea of a partying boy band on an energised night out. The daylight shots didn’t seem to correlate with the darker, night time shooting; consequently this took away from our various differing locations we would have included had we incorporated both day and night filming. Although, I believe, we managed to include a range of camera angles within our final piece, the foremost example of this was during the dance routine. Some of our feedback included comments on the relevance of dancing in relation to the song, however, I believe the dance routine was a simple way of merging the group together, making them appear as one boy band rather than four individuals. Nevertheless, I feel our lip syncing could have been varied, as the same location was used to capture all group members miming. Possible lack of continuity could have been perceived as there was only one person singing the vocals to the entire track, whereas, our group decided to divide the miming between all band members in a boy band esc fashion.
Our group constantly added to our blog, keeping up with our progression. This planning was important to aid us with keeping up to date with our work, and as we had all suggestions up in writing it enabled us to merge ideas together, thus, creating the finest outcome to our work. Incorporating other professional products of posters and music video’s from current artists helped spark inspiration for ideas guiding us to create a proficient looking piece of work. Using software such as Photoshop and Final Cut allowed us to design a much more professional outcome to our finished products. Such resources can often overcomplicate tasks such as these; this may have been the case within our video, as certain effects which were used appeared as somewhat supplementary and possibly unneeded. We could have used the time we had to our advantage to enrich our video if we used the editing time allocated to film differing shots, although these shots would not have been dark enough, consequently appearing out of place. Finally uploading our work onto YouTube meant our video sat along side thousands of other recognisable artists; a place that, in my opinion, was well deserved.

TO DO LIST:

• Learn synchronized dance routine.
• Get feed-back on rough-cut.
  
• Finish final narrative shots (filming) to bring together the overall purpose of the video.
• Complete editing for the finished product.
• MOTIVATE STUART
  

Cut and Copy- analysis of their music video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khGPcAa8_YI

We found after viewing Cut and Copy's music video for their song 'Lights and Music' that it lacked a variation of ideas. The majority of the video are shots of the band playing with a larger reflection of them shinning on the background. It has good visual effects with the reflections well lighted with different coloured tints, however, it is all rather same-ish and possibly lacks some sort of narrative. After our initial ideas we have decided to film some extra footage of more abstract aspects to maintain audience attention, if needed.

Comments on T-48

Generally our points were quite positive and we put our opinions across as well as we could. One of our main comments was that it needed to be more visual with just notes marking on what they are talking about so that the reader doesn't get bored. I really think we have established this in our blog with is being extremely visual. One thing that we needed to include in our blog for the future was a location plan for our video.

These are some general ideas for what shots we would include.

Shot List (rough edition)

1. Long Shot - slow motion walk of the entire group, reminiscent of the famous Reservoir Dogs walk. Initial planning and general take on the style of our video suggest that we should dress in a stylish formal manner, preferably black suits.
2. Panning Close-up Shots - establishes characters involved within the video. Final shot finishes with lead singer, possible opportunity for visual effect to to define between the opening and the introduction shot of the girl which starts the loose narrative.
3. Long Shot - group walks past the girl.
4. Close-up Shot - showing the lead singers noticing of the girl by dropping glasses in order to take a better look.
5. Medium/Long shot - short synchronized dance routine with backs to a brick wall as a backdrop. could incorporate a high/low angle shot to create a variation of shots.
6. Close-up Shot - displaying the goldfish singing the backing in his fish bowl.
7. Long-shot - Cut back to the walking through the streets with another one or two move choreographed dance steps breaking up the walking.
8. Long shot/ Over the shoulder - follow the girl moving round a corner and out of vision, with her looking back hinting at her interest in the band. But disappearance displays her as the idyllic girl, always out of reach.
   
9. Long shot - Group arriving at the destination.
10. Close-up - Switch to band playing instruments. extreme close-ups could make playing of instruments appear more professional.
11. Other shots displaying further instrument playing.
12. Further shots yet to be decided.
    

Lyrics- ideas

Cut Copy Lyrics – Lights and Music

This is where we walk today
For your birthday (night out on the town, creating a celebration atmosphere)
Secrets that we held that day
Will be kept straight (events that occur will only be viewed by audiences of this music video, this creates exclusivity element, we will probably choose to create some kind of chaotic partying gag played on the main singer. Keeping all the action on the main singer establishes a relationship between him and the audience and gives viewers less work to only memories one face.)

All your friends have gone away
So let’s celebrate (more partying needed)
With holding hope open for the one
Making new way (abstract night out scenery focus on lighting, symbolic of the new way of lights and music)

Chorus
Lights and music
Are on my mind
Be my baby
One more time

Lights and music
Are on my mind
Be my baby
One more time

Fading will become of you
Seeing my face (all eyes on the female in the video a stranger passing by who catches the attention of the main singer)
Cold and crystal you can hide
But your tears race (as the girl walks on and round the corner as she turns in acknowledgment of the groups presence, looking impressed, but still proceeds around the corner and out of sight. )

I’ll be waiting by your time (slow motion scenes)
Put your dreams away
With holding hope, hoping for the one
Making new way

Chorus
Lights and music
Are on my mind
Be my baby
One more time

Lights and music
Are on my mind
Be my baby
One more time (final lyrics, conclusion with the girl that appears earlier in the video)

dvd album cover

Neon sound to the song is displayed through the rainbow lines flowing through towards the shinning outline of the guitar. The songs two elements, lights and music, are effectivly portrayed as the lines highlight the old fashioned street lamp and the guitar is the formost item within the cover. The dark bricks filling the background evokes a rougher feel to contrast with the obvious more modern factor created by the multi-coloured lines.

Lights and Music - DVD ALBUM COVER

Ideas behind our Music Video DVD Album Cover

The title features only two elements (Lights and Music) and as the lyrics are also about that it makes sense that the cover has to include some sort of lighting effect. If we had the capability to achieve such an effect we would have done a hologram cover that flickers as you move the CD cover. However, resources are limited, so we'll try a neon shine covering the cover from a top corner spreading out. In the opposite corner we'll incorporate the songs other feature: music, a range of instruments could be displayed or, more likely, just the main instrument with an outline glow the opposite colour to the light in the corner to gain a contrast in colours and to highlight the instrument, making it stand out more. The title would take a central position making it the main focus point of the cover and the first thing you draw your eyes to making the title memorable.
This may appear simplistic but the main focus points are all included, if it turns out to be too bland then we have the option of adding in the vocalist behind the title, maybe appearing as if he is holding it in place.
Ideas of colours are blues and yellows to maintain the feel of the music video of a night out (blue) roaming under the streetlights (yellow).

Ideas for a music video

Cut Copy, Lights and Music 

Exotic lights and strobe effects to produce vibrant atmosphere. Our rough storyline includes a guy on a night out, with flashing lights and loud music he encounters a female who keeps reappearing throughout the video. Music, lighting and love can encapsulated his mind and the whole evening emerges into one blur; this will enable us two skip from scene to scene and incorporate a more arbitrary feel apposed to a narrative, linear storyline.  

Possible work: Negative imagery (camera effect), Band performance, Goldfish mouth opening and closing to the harmony, wacky hair and clothes as everything about the song is slightly odd.

Vincent Vincent and the Villains, Cinema

Based in a cinema, dull atmosphere to create the persona of a man bored in his dead end job. Possible involvement of money and contrasts of rich and poor. As the song picks up tempo the video needs to gain more abstract elements, ideas include partying to the song in cinema settings or well-known cinema favourites popping up.