Narrative workshop (Andrew Goodwin)

'Music videos are simply an extension of the lyrics.' - Andrew Goodwin.

How could you prove/disprove this theory?

In some ways, this theory is very true. Quite often the song lyrics do tend to be similar to the music video. I therefore believe that in order to prove or disprove this theory, I would first need to look at the lyrics of a song without the video, and then look at the video without the song. This would allow me to analyse whether there is similarity between them or not.

What does it mean?

It means that music videos are somewhat unnecessary as they do not tell the viewer anything really essential about the song, only instead adding unnecessary extension. Andrew Goodwin therefore seems to be dismissing music videos as being quite unnecessary and pointless.

What is the main idea behind this?

Goodwin seems to believe that music videos are somewhat unnecessary as they do not add anything important or really different to the song.

How significant is this?

I find it to be significant to some extent. Some music videos do seem to just simply extend the lyrics, without providing anything new or important to the song. This will therefore be something that I will need to consider when making my own music video, to ensure that it is interesting.

What evidence can you already present for this?

One song that strongly fulfils this theory is Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, where the lyrics are very clearly extended through a film-like sequence.

Also, in the Taylor Swift song ‘You Belong With Me’, she is shown to be a girl who wants a boy to realise that ‘he belongs with her’, which does little more than expanding upon the pre-existing lyrics.

Do you agree with this? Explain your answer.

To an extent, I do agree with the statement. Some music videos such as the examples that I have highlighted above do exactly what Goodwin says, and seem to do little else than extend the lyrics. I also believe that this is more typical in some genres than others, as Pop follow this theory rather explicitly whereas other genres such as Indie tend to use more quirky and abstract videos, which perhaps follow a more metaphorical than literal route. The artists are also able to tell the story that they want and expand upon the lyrics through a video, as Stuart Hall would call a preferred reading. However, I also believe that sometimes music videos are really important. In Mcfly’s ‘Love is Easy’, the viewer is able to go on a ‘journey’ through the time that Mcfly had been together for, with just some elements that may perhaps reflect the lyrics. I overall do agree quite a lot with Goodwin’s statement but nevertheless believe music videos to be of the upmost importance.

I have learnt from this task that it is really important to consider theories when I am planning and making my music video, This will ensure that it is conventional, which will be an important factor for it to be a success.

Narrative Workshop.

I took part in a workshop where we initially created a lip sync video to the Taylor Swift song 'We Are Never Getting Back Together' in a group of three. This allowed us to learn the basics of lip syncing, and how it is better to actually sing the song and cut out the sound than just mouthing it, as it creates a more genuine feel. We attempted to use some of the photography techniques that we had previously used to create a really artistic and realistic looking music video. This was not entirely successful and some of our shots weren't excellent.



We then created a music video made up purely of narration. For this we were given a storyline of someone being followed by another person, and they slowly start to realise it. We interpreted this as a story where a jealous ex-boyfriend is trying to get back with his girlfriend, so stalks her. We believed that this would not only fit the storyline and the general theme of Jealousy, but also would fit with the song quite well too. We assigned these roles out, and then worked on making the most of our limited time and available locations, experiencing some difficulties at times.



We finally combined the lip sync video with the narrative task, to create a 'mini music video' where we could tell a story, alongside showing narration. This resulted in a video where we could show the best sections from both the lip sync task and the narrative video. Although the result was far from perfect, it enabled me to learn a lot more about the process of making a music video.

Lip sync task.

This is the video from the group that my group analysed.

Lip sync task from Briony96







Filming.

I learnt that it is really important to use a tripod in order to maintain a steady shot, as using a handheld effect can result in shaky footage. It is also really crucial to perform to a song that you like and know well, in order to create a realistic video as an outcome. Also, it is really important to film each section several times in case some of them are insufficient or of a poor quality.

Synching.

One method that is of the upmost importance is making the performer sing out loud, as this makes it more realistic, and easier to sync up during the editing stage. The performer also needs to learn and know the song lyrics, in order for the lip synching to link up. They also need to present an air of confidence, which will result in better footage.

Editing.

It is again really important to film each shot several times, to provide variety and options for the editing stage. Filming as much as possible will also provide options and variety to edit. Markers are also really important as they will enable me to sync the song up easier. I will also need to take into account the pace of the cut so that they work well with the song and aren't too slow/ quick.

Composition and framing.

I will need to refer to the techniques and apply them to my filming in order to ensure that m shots look professional. Consideration of mise en scene will also be really important, as I will need to ensure that there are not any unwanted things in shot. I will also need to treat the filming stage like I am taking a photo, so that I receive the best possible outcome as a result.

Performing.

In the lip sync task I learnt that confidence is key in creating a good and interesting performer. The performer will need again to know and like the song, so it looks more realistic. This will allow the lip synching to fit better as a result. They will also need to present confidence so that they look like a genuine musician/ artist.

Location.

In the lip sync task we found some difficulty in the lack of possible locations that there were available to us, but in creating my real music video, a wider range will be available to me. Therefore, consideration of the location will be key, as I will need to ensure that it fits with the genre of music that I choose. I will also need to again consider mise en scene in order to prevent having unwanted things in my shot.

Directing.

I will need to take the role of director seriously, and not be afraid to make changes whilst filming if it will provide a better outcome as a result. When filming, I will need to direct alongside other roles such as filming and sound control, so I will have to ensure that I can successfully fulfil all of these roles. Although the directing process was simpler during the lip sync task, I will have to consider that it won't be as easy when I am making my music video on my own.

Equipment.

Through the lip sync task I found some difficulty in using particular pieces of equipment. This resulted in some consequences, such as an out of focus shot. For my music video I will therefore have to ensure that I am familiar and comfortable with all of the equipment that I am using. I have already begun to consider this though, and I am taking part in a workshop where I will learn how to use certain piece of equipment and techniques more efficiently. I also know to ask for help from my teacher or a peer in order to ensure that I can use the equipment in the best way possible. 

Composition and framing.

Composition and Framing.

 

For this task I was given the title of twisted/straight. I initially found this to be quite a difficult title, and I was not at first very aware of techniques that I could use to try and make my images visually appealing and exciting. I nevertheless attempted to take a set of four photographs that fulfil my title. These can be seen below.

Before. 

 

We were then taught the six main techniques that we should/could attempt to use. These were symmetry, depth of field, framing, perspective, space and colour. I was presented with example photographs to help illustrate these techniques. I then went out to re-shoot two of my images, with the aim of following some of these techniques.

After. 

 

 

I took the first (top left) image with the primary aim of creating negative space through the rule of thirds. I wanted to present the ‘straight’ poles in the bottom left hand corner of the image to try and make it more visually appealing. This was more difficult than I expected, as the image was a lot darker than I would have wanted, and the poles do not stand out as much as I wanted them to.   

The second image that I took during the reshoot process was the last (bottom right) one out of my second set of four images.  I attempted to use the method of symmetry, by presenting the two poles symmetrically to each other. This did not result in the exact way that I wanted it to, but I do believe that the technique is still present. I also attempted to use colour to contrast the green of the poles with the green of the grass, which I believe looks quite effective. Although there is not a stark contrast (which the technique primarily does look for), there is a more subtle one.

 

I didn’t change the other two images (top right and bottom left) as I believe that they follow some of the techniques quite well already. The top right one seems to present an element of depth of field, although this could probably be improved.  I also really like the way in which I used perspective in order to take the shot from a high angle to create an interesting perspective. However, I do believe that it may have been more effective if I had used framing in order to make the viewer looks specifically at a point of interest and make the image more organised and focused.

 

For the bottom left image, I went against the technique of symmetry to present the trees as curving around. I think that this resulted in the image looking really visually appealing and interesting.

 

 

 

These are some images that I took at home, where I attempted to use the techniques that I had learnt.

 

 

 

 

 

Skills Review.

Research and planning.

Through AS level media studies, I have learnt the importance of effectively researching and planning the genre of which I am working within. With my partner I worked within the Gangster genre, whilst working with multiple different processes along the way.

Through the research stage, I began by looking deeply into the Gangster genre. The website ‘Prezi’ enabled me to create very visual mind maps where I presented research for the Gangster genre in an exploded format. I additionally used this website as a basis for multiple other processes of both research and planning, including research into the director Guy Richie. Another crucial website was ‘IMDB’, which I used as a foundation for my research into the genre. Although I had some pre-existing knowledge of using this website, this was really developed during the research and planning of my film opening.

One method that played a key role within my research was the work that I took in strongly understanding exactly who my target audience were. Initially I created a survey using the website ‘Survey Monkey’ to try and gain a rough idea of who my target audience would be, using ‘Slideshare’ to enable me to have an easy access to this information throughout the creation of my Gangster film opening. Using websites such as ‘Voki’ enabled me to recreate my prior research into a realistic representation of my target audience and what they would be like.

Throughout the stage of planning, my partner and I had to learn various new processes to work with. One of these included storyboarding, a method that I personally need to work on in order to improve it. We used the website ‘Photopeach’ to express this information effectively. Although this was a new process for the both of us, I found it to be a really effective one, where my work was well presented. Additionally, the experience of going on a ‘recce’ was one that was entirely new to me, and definitelya stage of which I need to work upon whilst producing my music video.

Using conventions from real media text.

Through my in depth research into the Gangster genre, which included its history and conventions, I was able to grasp a greater understanding of what the Gangster genre entails.

I also used the method of creating timelines to break down pre-existing Gangster film openings and analyse each process that is involved in it. This allowed me to learn the conventions that I needed to replicate whilst making my own film opening.

Creativity.

The website ‘Photopeach’ also provided a really creative way of presenting images that were extracted from real gangster films. This is definitely a stage that I will consider during the planning and research stages in particular of my film.

I also found that websites such as ‘Prezi’ really allowed me to express creativity and flair during the creation of my Gangster film opening, as I was able to really experiment with it and try out various new techniques. Although I found some initial difficulty in using this website due to my unfamiliarity with it, it began a very useful and key part of my work throughout my process of building a blog.

Alongside other websites and methods, I managed to add creativity into the way that I converted my notes into more visual and entertaining presentations. Although this was at times very difficult due to my lack of knowledge of the processes, I was able to learn how to use them, and work well with them.

Digital technology.

I was presented with difficulty and issues through my use of certain pieces of digital technology. As I was not use to working with many of the pieces of technology, I had to spend a lot of time familiarising myself with them before I could use them.

In particular, I found the camera very difficult to use, as my partner and I were the only people using them, so we could not ask our classmates for assistance in using it easily.

As I was quite unfamiliar with the Adobe editing programme, it was crucial for me to really learn how to use it in the best possible way. I particularly found experimenting to play a key role in doing this, as I needed to understand all of the individual components.

Post-production.

I found the post production stage to be perhaps the most difficult as it was the one that I knew the least about. I found it challenging to know which shots to include, and when to change shots. This is something that I know more for making my music video, and which will hopefully be expanded during my A2.

Although I had a pre-existing track to go over my Gangster film opening, this had to be edited in order for it to coincide with the opening.