1st shoot

Today we did our first shoot at the Humber Bridge/Hessle Foreshore. At first, I didn't feel too confident using the camera as I had never really used one before, but I did a number of different test shots including close ups, medium shots, pans and handheld camera shots. For a first go I thought I did quite well and further on during the day I became more confident using it. The actors performed very well and created a romantic atmosphere, which I wanted. I have done a range of different camera shots today and I think my footage could be used in my final video. There were a few mistakes with the camera but we picked it back up and got on filming. We filmed them on the foreshore doing piggy backs, throwing stones into the river, holding hands walking and much more which referred to the storyboard. We filmed a fight with leaves in the wood, the leaves falling on the girl, them chasing eachother and much more which again, referred back to the storyboard. We also filmed the dining room scene which will be the openiong scene in the video where they will break out into the argument. I'm not sure that this will work as the actors couldn't seem to get into character too well but once I upload it onto the editing suite I will soon find out.

I hope to do two more shoots, at the park and in a living room which will done soon, but I feel I had a very productive day at the foreshore and I hope that my footage can be edited and used for my final video.

Final choice song lyrics

Bruno Mars- Just the way you are

Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she let me
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the sameS
o, don't even bother asking if you look ok
You know I'll say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you
The way you are, the way you are
Girl you're amazing, just the way you are

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are.
Yeah

My Idea

My initial idea for my music video was to do an all performance video to lively pop song, Lady Gaga's 'Bad romance'. I was going to use this idea with use of one female actor and five dancers. This was going to be set in a theatre based area with the dancers wearing all black leotards and leggings and the 'artist' wearing a red dress in order for her to stand out. I gathered up many ideas on this music video such as, the performance genre, costume, number of performers, predominant shot (medium long shot) and setting and props being used. However, I realised that this idea would not work for me due to time management and finding the right actors. I wouldn't of had time to choreograph a 2 minute peice of choreography which would be upto a high standard and I would not have enough dancers to make the video look realistic and professional, therefore, I scrapped this idea.

I then thought of creating a 'stereotypical couple in love' idea with creativity behind it, which is often used in slower pop music videos. I found the perfect actors to be used in my video, a male actor who will act as the singer wearing fashionable clothing and a pretty female who will also be wearing fashionable clothing but will look 'cute' to the audience to help create more of a connection. The locations I have chosen are the woods, a park, a foreshore, a bedroom and a lounge, these locations are all soft and 'good mood' locations. There will be elements of performance by the male actor, singing to the camera in a series of close ups and medium shots. We brainstormed a few ideas of how the locations could fit together to create a narrative structure. We decided to begin the music video with the male preparing a dinner for the female and instead of it being really happy they start to argue, and as she leaves angrily he goes straight to bed and it starts to go into his dream were he remembers some of the happy times they spent together. We will use soft focus to make the video more 'romantic' and special effects to emphasise the feeling of a 'dream'. When his dream is coming to an end we decided to create a 'summary' of previous shots getting faster like flashbacks. However, we chose to end the video with more of a twist as when he wakes up and looks at his pillow, she is not there and the audience would expect her to be because at this time they will not have realised that it was all a dream.


We both selected a few songs each and shared our ideas on each one.


These were the songs we thought about using:


Beyonce- Broken Hearted girl lyrics
You’re everything I thought you never were
And nothing like I thought you could’ve been
But still you live inside of me
So tell me how is that?
You’re the only one I wish I could forget
The only one I’d love enough to not forgive
And though you break my heart, you’re the only one
And though there are times when I hate you
Cause I can’t erase
The times that you hurt me and put tears on my face
And even now while I hate you
It pains me to sayI know I’ll be there at the end of the day

I don’t wanna be without you babe
I don’t want a broken heart
Don’t wanna take a breath with out you babe
I don’t wanna play that part
I know that I love you
But let me just say
I don’t want to love you in no kind of way no no
I don’t want a broken heart
And I don’t wanna play the broken-hearted girl...No...NoNo broken-hearted girl
I’m no broken-hearted girl

Something that I feel I need to say
But up to now I’ve always been afraid
That you would never come around
And still I want to put this out
You say you’ve got the most respect for me
But sometimes I feel you’re not deserving me
And still you’re in my heart
But you’re the only one and yes
There are times when I hate you
But I don’t complain
Cause I’ve been afraid that you would've walk away
Oh but now I don’t hate you
I’m happy to say
That I will be there at the end of the day

I don’t wanna be without you babe
I don’t want a broken heart
Don’t wanna take a breath with out you babe
I don’t wanna play that part
I know that I love you
But let me just say
I don’t want to love you in no kind of way no no
I don’t want a broken heart
And I don’t wanna play the broken-hearted girl...No…NoNo broken-hearted girl

Now I’m at a place I thought I’d never be…Oooo
I’m living in a world that’s all about you and me…yeah
Ain't gotta be afraid my broken heart is free
To spread my wings and fly away
Away With you yeah yeah yeah, ohh ohh ohh
I don’t wanna be without my baby
I don’t wanna a broken heart
Don’t want to take a breath with out my baby
I don’t wanna play that part
I know that I love you
But let me just sayI don’t want to love you in no kind of way..No..NoI don’t want a broken heart I don’t wanna play the broken-hearted girl..No..No..No broken-hearted girl
Broken-hearted girl No…no… No broken-hearted girl
No broken-hearted girl

I decided this song could be an option as it is a slow paced pop song but I took a closer look at the lyrics and I realised that the emphasis is more on the female with an unhappy mind set on her relationship, and this isn't what I wanted as I wanted the male to sing because hes a good actor and I wanted it to consist of happier scenes.

Alesha Dixon- Breathe Slow Lyrics
I’m running out of patience coz I can’t believe
What the hell I’m hearin’ (hearing, hearing)
And speaking of hell
It don’t compare to this heat that I am feeling
I love you too much It shows,
all my emotions go out of control

When I can hardly see from the tears that flow
Can’t forget to breathe slow count from one to ten
With my eyes closed
Coz ladies take it in And get comp oh oh oh sure
Before I lose it get comp oh oh oh sure
I am gonna breathe slow
Count from one to ten with my eyes closed
Coz ladies take it in And get comp oh oh oh sure
Ladies never lose comp oh oh oh sure

Not gonna lie or even try you’ve got my wheel spinning (spinning, spinning)
And I ain’t the one to shoot the gun,
‘coz that means you will be winning oh yeah
I love you too much it shows, all my emotions go out of control
Good for you bad for me
When I can hardly see from the tears that flow

Can’t forget to breathe slow
Count from one to ten with my eyes closed
I lose it get comp oh oh oh sure
I am gonna breathe slow count from one to ten
With my eyes closed coz ladies take it in And get comp oh oh oh sure
Ladies never lose comp oh oh oh sure

Somebody better hold me back
You’re lucky I know how to act(so lucky ain’t gonna attack)
I’m being calm and cool
But believe me you It’s taking everything to just breathe
Breathe, breathe

Can’t forget to breathe slow
Count from one to ten with my eyes closed
Coz ladies take it in and get comp oh oh oh sure
Before I lose it get comp oh oh oh sure
I am gonna breathe slow
Count from one to ten with my eyes closed
Coz ladies take it in and get comp oh oh oh sure
Ladies never lose comp oh oh oh sure
Uhhh uuuhhhcomp oh oh oh sure

I thought this song could be quite good to go with the video because its pop music but its slow paced and has a relevance to couples, however, it would be more angry issues than happy therefore i didn't think it would quite work how i wanted it to.

Bruno Mars- Just the way you are
Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she let me
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look ok
You know I'll say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you
The way you are, the way you are
Girl you're amazing, just the way you are

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Because you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are.
Yeah

I decided to use this song for my music video as its has a very romantic theme and its slightly more upbeat than the other two. I figured you could have more of a happy narrative running throughout this song where as the other two are more sad and upsetting.

Animatic

An animatic is a filmed, taped or computer-animated version of the storyboard that runs the same length as the finished film product. We took photographs of each picture from our 21 pages of storyboard, uploaded it onto the computer and edited it on Adobe Premier. We then uploaded our music onto the computer from a memory stick. However, when we uploaded the music onto the computer it wouldn't play, so we had to change the properties to mp3 in order for it to play successfully. Once we put the pictures with the music we realised that 2 shots at the beginning of the sequence were slightly out of time, therefore, we decided to make them longer in order for the lyrics of the song to match the mise-en-scene involved in the shots. We then saved the animatic and uploaded it onto blogger. I am pleased with the animatic as it really creates an clear idea of what the music video will look like and it has also made me aware that things may need to be changed in the real thing in case some shots don't give off the effect I wished for.

Conventions of the 'pop' music genre

Bruno Mars predominantly fits in with the pop music genre. Pop music being an abbreviation of ‘popular’ is understood to be commercially recorded music, often targeted towards a youth market and often reaching high chart positions. This genre of music is portrayed through music videos, mainly shown by use of editing, cinematography and mise-en-scene. Bruno Mars could also be seen as an R’n’B artist to some people as his video for ‘Just the way you are’ shows a variation between the conventions of pop music and R’n’B music videos. However, pop music is the main genre for this artist.

Pop music videos often consist of a lot of colour variation through use of the mise-en-scene, things such as the lighting, set, costume, hair and makeup and just generally the way the artist or characters are presented. For example, in popular artist ‘Katy Perry’s’ video for ‘Hot n Cold’ a lot of colour is used in the dancing section towards the end of the video. The lighting is bright to emphasise that it is day time and also to benefit the visibility of the dancers movements, the clothing the dancers are wearing show a lot of bright colours and ‘Katy’ wears bright yellow shorts, trainers and eye shadow which helps to attract the youth targeted audience. Also, the use of the yellow man prop placed at the back brings a sense of good and fun spirit to the pop video.

Pop videos usually consist of a narrative that runs through out. The type of narrative depends on the lyrics and type of song but a popular choice of narrative is a ‘teenage scenario’, for example, some sort of ‘crush’ or a love themed plot. An example of this convention being used is in the video for ‘Justin Bieber’s’ ‘Baby’ as he is trying to please a girl at the bowling alley and it ends up with them leaving together. This example also fits in with the younger generation of teenagers and tweenagers as its target audience as ‘Justin Bieber’ is a teenager himself and they will be able to relate to him and be inspired by him and the other teenage characters in the video.
Another convention of pop music videos are the use of dance routines with the band or artist included. This isn’t always the case, although in the more happy and upbeat music tracks it is quite common. For example, in ‘Alexandra Burkes’ music video for ‘Broken Heels’ she performs in a group dance routine with other girls behind her and her placed at the front singing. They are all wearing the provocative female equivalent of a rugby kit and are performing on a rugby pitch to give a fun vibe to the music video as well as an idea of ‘girl power’ relating to the lyrics of the song and targeting a predominant audience of teenage girls.

Performance narrative often occurs in music videos and a close up of the artists face to show their emotions and to emphasise themselves as the artist is a very popular convention in pop music videos. A close up is a very intimate camera shot and could make the audience feel closer to the artist. For example, in ‘Ke$has’ video for ‘TiK ToK’ she was a brand new artist being introduced into the music industry, therefore, a lot of close ups are used of her singing which really shows her ‘rebellious’ attitude towards life and it also shows her piercings indicating that she is a tough character.
Medium close ups and medium shots of the artist are also a very common of pop music videos as seen in many.

In most pop music videos a happy, fun and light hearted atmosphere runs throughout, depending on the mood of the song. For example, in the ‘Everybody in Love’ video by ‘JLS’ the atmosphere is very happy as they perform to cheering people on stage. Pop music videos usually have ‘happy’ or peaceful locations, such as, a beach, a home or their friend’s home for example. This is a common convention and is shown in ‘Rihanna’s’ video ‘If its lovin’ that you want’ when she is happily socialising with her friends on the beach.






Popular editing techniques used in this genre of music videos are jump cuts. Its purpose is to jump from a scene of the location to the artist to instruments and vice versa for example. Editing to the beat of the music is also very often used, for example, this is very clear in ‘Rihanna’s’ video for ‘Only Girl in the World’. Fade edits are also a common convention for pop music videos, an example of this is in the ‘Everybody in Love’ video by ‘JLS’, when the shot fades from the group dancing on stage to a close up of Aston singing.

‘Artificial lighting’ is the most common type of lighting used in pop videos. It helps to enhance the look of the band or artist by making them look younger or ‘ageless’. For example, in ‘Cheryl Coles’ video for ‘Fight for this Love’, artificial lighting to highlight her defined cheekbones and her perfect complexion whilst emphasising her eyes.

Costumes worn in pop music videos are personal to the artist but it shows off their fashion sense or their character, so it is important. This is evident in ‘Lady Gagas’ video for the song ‘Telephone’ as she wears a black and white striped PVC low cut dress with high shoulder pads, sunglasses, opaque tights and high heeled black shoes which is significant of the well known ‘robbers’ striped jumper. It shows the audience she has her own interpretation of fashion and that it is important to her.

Pop music videos have many different conventions which are very important and make it significant to this genre. The specificity of elements, such as, the artificial lighting and the close ups to emphasise the artist all add up to make a cleverly thought out music video which adapts to its relevant genre.

Storyboard

Lyrics Analysis