Research into a Music Video Director

Research - Production Log #4

After coming back from the holidays, First of all as a class we went through the exam and the grades we all achieved and what we need to achieve for A2 and get our potential grades. Also, we went through the examiner's report to see what areas they want us to improve and focus on and which areas they want to keep up to the standard top level.

The rest of the lesson consisted of conducting a research task. I decided to research on different music video directors which I thought was a very helpful task as I now has a rough vision of what I want my music video to be like.
There were few music directors who's work I really admired and got inspiration from. Anthony Mandler, Hype Williams, Jake Nava were few directors in my mind to research, eventually I chose Anthony as I looked through his work and liked his videos he has directed. In some of his music videos there are hidden messages featured which related to the aritst in someway.
However before choosing Anthony Mandler, I watched music videos directed by Jake Nava and Hype Williams and many more.

I chose 'Rihanna- Diamonds' as a music video to analyse to support my research on Anthony Mandler. I was also inspired by this certain music video as I liked the idea of a black and white music video. The performance idea of having a light on you while the rest of the surroundings are dark is also a good idea however I can adapt it by turning it into a silhouette.

Research into Exisiting Music Labels

Analysing Exisitng Student's Work

Targets - Production Log #3

This week, I completed an important task which will help me understand the conventions of music videos and how they work. While doing this task, I have thought about my own music video, I have an idea of having a mixture of narrative and performance; this is because I couldn’t make my mind up between having a narrative music video or a performance music video.  Furthermore, I started another task relating to my research. Currently I’m researching about existing music labels, and how they started out and which music artists are signed to them.

During the summer, I have a clear plan of what I am going to be doing. I am planning to get all my research tasks done and record my first draft of my music video. Before recording the first draft of my music video, I will be conducting some research by taking pictures of any potential location which I would be shooting my music video, also I will build up the idea research by looking into the costumes the actors will wear, hair and make-up and props that would potentially be part of my music video.

Over the break there will be few targets which I am going to set myself. One of them will be to finalise a song which I will use for my music video. I’ve already been finding songs which will be suitable for shooting. Few songs are on the top of my list and probably one of them will potentially be the song I want for my music video.
-Foxes – Holding into Heaven, Let go for tonight
-CLARE – my audacity
-Katy B – 5AM, crying for no reason
-Katy Perry – Unconditionally
-Ellie Goulding – Goodness Gracious
-Sia - Chandelier

The songs listed above are songs which have stood out for me and I believe all of them are potential and appropriate.

Furthermore, over the break I will like to get into the position where I am on the last stage of planning and have a rough vision of what my music video will be like.

Codes And Conventions of Music Videos

Research and skills - Production Log #2

This week I conducted research into the history of music video, this task helped me understand how music videos were made, how each decade differed with the type of music video how they have changed with the revolution of technology

This helps me in getting a rough the idea of what type of music video I would like, whether that's to follow the traditional way of a musical video or whether to copy a more popular type of style like narrative music video or green screen. 

In this project, the skills that I would need to bring will vary, at this as this is a music video I will need to bring in creativity and make something original or adapt an idea and add my own sense if creativity I to it.

The type of music I will choose will somehow affect my skills. I will need to be aware of the Mise-en-scene for example the awareness of the costumes, location, hair, make up and actors body and facial language. 

Skills which I have developed last year are technical, for example, being organised in which tasks have to be done, planning ahead to ensure I don't end up having to complete my work last minute, and also timekeeping. I also learnt how to negotiate well with the artists, I gave them clear instructions which they followed and got the shoot done efficiently.

For this project, I will need to keep up with the skills I've got from the previous projects and develop other skills such as using a new software (Adobe premiere) for editing shots and combining them to make an overall music video. I will need to improve my camera skills so that I become  confident in using it when it comes to shooting.