Final brainstorm

We have only 4 weeks left until the shooting of our video therefore today we had a last brainstorm for our idea.
This is what we had at the end of the lesson:

1. neon lighting (have to confirm with Luke this idea because we'll need a special lighting for that)
2. lots of bulbs hanging on different height
3. room with mirrors and lights all around where the main action will take place
4. dark corner where will be a drummer and singer, there will be only one light behind them
5.  drums will have water on its cover therefore every time the drummer will play on them splashes of water will be shooted
6. dancers will have neon colored costumes and will perform a contemporary dance probably ballet

Altogether this idea was made up from different prospective and we have used different videos for inspiration.

The last thing which we need to do tomorrow is the choice of music. The genre was changed into indi-rock with long drums part somewhere in the middle so we can put the shot of drums.

Music video production talk

Today we had a talk by two women who are working in BBC. They introduced us several tips which we need to remember in music video production work.

 1.Budget >200k depending on how commercial (mainstream, pop) act is because of existing success and mainstream or niche appeal

2.Mainstream act eg. Golding- videos have to be safe, “appealing” to a wide audience, conservative, appropriate for the target audience

3.Large scale investment in production and distribution( including marketing) therefore label play safe to reduce the risk and maximize the profit depending on different audience groups and multiple territories.

4.For new acts video must “position them” which other acts are they similar to?

5.“The new so+so  or “this crossed with that”

6.Music video is the biggest marketing tool we have and it’s the single thing where they invest the biggest amount of money at

7.Visual style, there always had to be a theme ( any kind and the visual style which links to the theme)

Overall, it was very useful and we gained lots of new skills and knowledge which we can now use in production process.

Creative solution of the problem through art and Youtube videos

After brainstorming we we confused about our future project and didn’t know what to think about however we had talked to Matt and he gave us some useful ideas which we can then reinforce our future idea.

He said us to think more broadly and look up for things in the internet, especially in Youtube.

After a while we came up with some ideas and the location was chosen the studio. The main decoration would be lighting and also the neon colors on the walls. The music must be quiet but with electro tones and some lyrics. Also we will need some dancers who are going to move in more skeleton way.

The idea was introduced by Eden and she took the inspiration from the exhibition in Tate Modern, «Light Rooms» where the room even smaller than our studio is full of different colors lights and people are just walking inside it.

We also looked up in the internet and found some useful websites like http://petapixel.com/2012/08/20/topological-light-painting-photos-created-by-tracing-entire-rooms-with-one-led/ so that we can decorate greatly and do it properly.

Next week we have to finish planning and pick the song and afterwards start actively to cast, write time lines etc.

Another brainstorm

Over the evening we brainstormed some ideas and realized that the boy in a water tank can be easily replaced by a pole dancer.
The idea is based upon a story about a strip dancer who is depressed and annoyed by everything in her life. The concept was not supported by Phil because of the exam board conditions and therefore we decided to change the idea completely and started to think about new locations where we can film.

Here is the list:

1. Thorpe Park (boy/girls band)
2. Cemetery (punk rock/electro)
3. Park (indi rock)
4. Car park
5. Skate park ( punk rock, rock, indi, electro)
6. Studio (any genre)
7. London Eye (boy band)
8. Boat (trap)
9. School countine ( band)
10. Club (electro)

A search for the main prop

Today we analyzed the previous lesson idea and the main topic was the Water Tank which is the main location in our future video.
We understood all possibilities to find it and got the point that it will be impossible for us to built it.
Therefore, we started searching in the internet for it and tried to find any ways to rent it or to buy.

1. http://www.aquariums-manufacturing.co.uk/
2. http://www.justmarine.co.uk/
3. http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fish-tanks-404.html
4. http://www.mermaidmelissa.com/events/rent-our-large-aquariums-for-conventions-special-event-parties/

Three first websites are not useful for our project as the tank is too small and there is no point of getting one of them. We tried to imagine how it's going to look like and can it be possible to film only the face under water but then we decided that it will ruin our video. So we continued to search and found the last website which allows to rent but the small price a huge water tank but their stores are located in the USA.

Then we tried to look on different websites like https://props.universalstudios.com/ where we thought it could be possible to rent a tank however there is nothing which can suit our idea.

At the end of the lesson we decided that if this "water tank" idea can't be made we can't spent our time and therefore next day we need to brainstorm again.

Awolnation- "Sail". New music video idea

Today we continued to work on our "water tank" music video idea. Harry formed a new group of four people and we started to brainstorm ideas suitable for this clip.

First of all we decided to change the song, as "Waves" as Luke said can become boring after few seconds and the motive is too repetitive. However we left the genre of music and therefore we searched in the industry of electro music of 21 century.

I suggested the new song by Awolnation "Sail". The motive is quite interesting and also it can suit our "water tank" video by its meaning of lyrics but instead of phrase "slowly drifting" in "Waves", there is " Maybe I should cry for help Maybe I should kill myself...SAIL". This music has completely another narrative by how it sounds therefore we decided slightly to change the idea and during brainstorming we developed the concept of the "On stage water tank in front of the audience".

The main idea is taken from the movie "The Purge 2", the scene takes place in an old building where the auction takes place, LOTS ARE PEOPLE, and buyers are "GOLD PEOPLE" who are so violent that they spent huge amounts of money on these victims and then kill them". Therefore we reinforced this idea and made it suitable for our project. We made a concept of a room with sofas in a dark light where old gentlemen are sitting and smoking cigars while drinking cognac. In front of them a stage where the audience can see a water tank with a young guy inside it, it's not full of water yet...

Another shot will be a singer, who stays in the darkness and only his face is lighted.

The action will start only on the 1 min when the main evil gentleman with a dog on a chain comes to the water tank smoking his cigar and exhales in front of the young boy who screams at him through the glass.

There is an opposition between these two characters, they are on different sides of the real world.

Presentation to Luke and discussion of our ideas

Yesterday Harry and I worked on the Prezi which we presented today to our class, Phil and Luke.
Also Carla and Ned made their own Prezi on "Iron" and showed it. Here are our presentations :

The discussion with Luke was very helpful as he listened to us and then commented on each step we wanted to take in production of our video.

First of all, he rejected the idea of a party going in the house which was the main idea with covers the whole plot. Instead of this he recommended us to look up ij the internet different varians of the time spending and may be look at some exclusives.

Moreover, he got interested in our idea with a water tank and said that this, not the party must be in centre of attention of the audience. Therefore we ticked this idea and decided to look for the decions next day.

Also, he was not quite sure about the song which we chose and said that we can look for more expressive beats which will help us to develop our idea.

The third point which he made was regarding the cast and the area where it's going to be filmed. The water tank must be placed in a studio but first of all we neeed to rent/buy one so before starting planning our product he said that's important to find the solution with it.

Overall, he liked our idea and said that it only has to be cleaned and planned well as we won't get eniugh time if we won't be prepared for the shooting.

The second idea was presented by Ned and as Carla was not able to come over, the Prezi was not greatly presented to Luke. Howver, Phil liked the way Carla explained it to him earlier and therefore he allowed her to produce this idea.

Wookid VS Mr. Probz

In three days we finished our presentations and came in class to group around two main ideas and cooperate in 3 separate groups.
Personally I liked my idea however during these three days I fell in love with Ned's initial idea, the music video for My Chemical Romance song and Harry's idea on Mr. Probz remix.
During the same discussion part in our group with Carla, Harry and Ned, we pick two main ideas:

1. Woodkid- "Iron"
2. Mr. Probz- "Waves"

The first idea is Carla's. And this is the gothic type video which is completely different to all presented ideas in class and therefore it gained respect and enough interest to develop it. The second idea is Harry, he provided us with lots of pics and videos which made him think in this way to project this video.

These two ideas in our group are absolutely different to each other in terms of music, video plot and concept therefore we divided in two groups inside our group so then we can prepare better and present to other mates more developed idea.

Carla worked with Ned and I worked with Harry on his idea. The main reason for this segregation was the ability for each of us to add something interesting in the idea so it could become more top- flight.

Presentation of my initial ideas to the class

Yesterday was the Day X when we all presented our ideas to the class. I had only 2 ideas one of them I  didn't want to present as thу repetativeness is what I don't like about filming.

My best idea was based on Parov Stelar song "Clap your hands" and includes flashbacks to 1940's time in America, to the swing time.
The main theme is about two young teens who are separated on the floor because of their nationality but despite all rules they swing together and destroy the boarders on the dancefloor.

The second idea was based on "Salute" song by Little Mix and carries the female domination meaning therefore I put on my blog several pics from different music videos including Gaga's "Alejandro".

My first idea was greatly accepted by class however it's got an opinion that it may be difficult to film and the narrative seems to be like in "Hairspray" movie. The next comment was regarding the casting and the location of the dance hall where all the action would take place, therefore it needed more info provided by me which I thought I can get later. Moreover, the idea was nit very provocative and may not be supportive by other crew members as it has to be comfy to work on it for everyone. Regarding the cast, Phil asked me how and where I'm going to find actors. As we are studying in Art school I thought that probably all Theatre or Dance students may take a part in my video but he disagreed by saying that it would be a mess because we, as young producers and operators don't know how to cooperate with huge crowds of actors and therefore it may be not enough time for us to do this video in one day.  More comments you can see in the video which I took during discussions.

The second idea was supported by class however I'm not proud of it as I see it basic and not interested to film therefore I didn't ask questions and suggestions from my classmates and tried to make them not to pay attention to it.

Target audience research

Today we managed to watch several videos in class and work out the target audience for the current songs:

• "Blue" by Beyonce
• "Pursuit of happyness" by Kud Cudi'
• "When you are gone"by Avril Lavigne

Each of them is different genre and therefore the audince is completely diversive. The target audience of all Beyonce songs is female however this video is little bit variant from her old ones. In "Blue her look is more female, she's a mother not a pop diva. Despite the cozzy and hommy athmosphere of the video she still fits in it some bits of her dance which if fact is the main check point of every Beyonce's video.

The Kud Cudi video has variant target audience whcih includes young people mainly teenagers. The theme oа the movie is "sex, drugs, alcohol and party", to get lots of views he produced the song and made a video which represents the idea of the best party in the world.

In the third video the main topic is the idea of "love and parting" however comparing to previos two videos it's targeted at wide audience. The plot includes three different aged people who miss someone therefore the target audicnce is completely different from teenagers to middle aged people. 

The lesson was very useful in case of the fact that the target audience for all of these videos is young people our age therefore we were interested in analysing rates and ways gow the image of the star becomes interesting for us.

Referring to the theory of a star image by Richard Dyer the image of Kud Cudi is titally made up for his  fans and mass media. In all his videos, he, the 30 years old guy makes up the look of an young teen who spents all his time parting. In fact, the key audience of his songs are young people 15-20 years old who follow the modern music style and follow the fashion which also influences the star image and the singing style.
The Beyonce video was made up in completely differernt way compared to old ones like "Crazy in Love", ""Diva" or "Move your body". This image of mother and wife was built not long ago and with this change she attracted more people to her music. The key audience became wider and now it's not only femake teens but also middle-aged women.
"When you're gone" by Avril Lavigne is a cheezy, girly video which follow thу soundtrack and appers as the whole story of love. The audience is attracted by this story and experiences everything with actors. This song is untypicle for Avril Lavigne creations as her style is more punk-rock rebellios girl however the audience grows up and with the time her style is changing.