Question 4

Question 1

HOW DOES THE PRODUCTION USE/CHALLENGE/DEVELOP FORMS & CONVENTIONS 

We believe that our Music Video is a cross between narrative and performance. It follows a non-linear narrative storyline where you are drop into a sequence that has no real beginning. The performance side of the Music Video, is incorporated into to the narrative side, where the main character plays the lead singer. We believe that it demonstrates the band genre, because we didn't want to cut away from the storyline to the band performing as it would disrupt the music video. 

Three Kings Down are an alternative Rock band, the song My Air has a slow pace to it, so we believe a simple but effective narrative with a short performance in it would be very effective.

Image 1

We would consider our narrative a non-linear storyline as it is filmed in a way that does not have a beginning, but cuts straight into the hyper-real world of the living music box. And does not reveal a middle or a definitive ending. We have used a black and white filter throughout the music video to draw the attention away from the visual aspect of the footage but to enable the audience to connect to whats actually going on in the narrative. We have made the ballerina in colour to somewhat indicate her individuality and her disconnection from reality. We have placed the ballerina in a generic, stereotypical white tutu, firstly to make the character apparent and also to represent the connotations it brings, for example she appears innocent yet she is a figure of manipulation throughout the film, captivating the male character and enabling him to have her stuck in his head.

Image 2

The second screenshot is of a ballerina which is stuck in our main character mind. We used the Ballerina's dance sequence throughout our music video as cutaways, to clearly show that she playing and haunting his mind. The shot type was just a simple mid-shot and we added another one and just swap her around to create a mirror effect. We believed that this fitted really well with the music because of the slow beats and it created the feeling that she was inside his head. This challenges conventions of a music video, as women are normally used to be looked at in a male gaze, not dominating the main male character. 

Image 3

Screenshot number 3 is a 15 second shot, where the male character is following the camera, lip synching. We believe that incorporating this type of performance as introducing the character without disturbing the storyline. We chose the location, due to the band genre as hipster, we didn't want to follow the normal conventions, we wanted to represent the band as independent and with that we thought a suburban town would be great for that. The ballerina appears confident as she is dancing in confidence whereas you can see the sensitivity of the male character as he comes across perhaps as shy and lost in his own mind. 

Image 4
For this image we used the ballerina however we incorporated her into a polaroid, which she performed her sequence . This plays a part in the idea that she haunts and plays on his mind and imagination. Also the sequence of her dancing fits into the audio really well, due to the slow paced song and fits really effectively. The effect we used for the image above was going to be a green chroma key, however due to the fact that we black and white the whole music video, we just placed the dance sequence over the shot and fitted it to the polaroid and took the opacity down.

Image 5 
Image 5 shows a clear relationship between the lyrics and the visuals as it is actually the male character (lead singer) who is writing the lyrics in his notebook. We believe this was effective in portraying the band genre because it gives across the old way of piecing a song together and thats what the 'hipster' image all about.
This over the shoulder shot, is effective in the way that his on his own and represents and backs up the emotional male character that he plays. For mainstream genre conventions our music video challenges them in this image by he way we represented the male character sitting in a coffee house on his own. However it would conform to the genre of the song 'alternative rock' and the image of the target audience 'hipster'. 

Image 6
Again much like image 4, image 5 challenges mainstream genre conventions and conforms to the songs genre. Also this is reinforcing the theme of the song and how the ballerina haunts the main male character. In this shot, he has just realised that the ballerina in performing the sequence in the window. 

Image 7
This photo represents the sensitivity of the male character as he seems distraught about the coffee spilling on his notebook and spoiling his lyrics and drawings, he has an emotional attachment to the contents of the notebook as it is a visual documentation of the woman who captivates his mind. 

Image 8
In image 8 it shows the male character and ballerina wind up box, from a charity store. This chalenges mainstream conventions, as a charity store wouldn't be shown in a music video, as it would bring down the credibility of the artist.However for the song in ours, it fits really well as for the image of the band: rough,artistic and hipster this is of significance to their culture. 

Image 9
Image number 9, gives a clear indication that the location was in London. Which was effective as it links in with the costume of the male character. This just ties in altogether the image of the band as an unsigned, hipste/ alternative rock. 

Question 2

Website: Three Kings Down

Digipak Complete

Evaluation Question 3 - What have you learned audience feedback? UNFINISHED

Final Cut: Music Video Three Kings Down

Target Audience

Hipsters

I created this compilation, to make it clear to us who our target audience is and their stereotypical characteristics. Hipsters are our target audience, the video describes their fashion tastes, hobbies and stereotypical dress sense. This video will also highlight common interests within the hipster sub-culture and will help us to decide how to target them with our music video, digipack and website.

Day shoot 3

Website planning

I think that this post is important becuase I need to see what my website will be looking in my head. Also the more planning you do , the easier the first version will turn out , which then can be further improved. 

This brainstorm demonstrates our initial ideas for the website and what it shall include and how it will look aesthetically.

Target Audience

Initial Ideas

These are our intial thoughts for who are Target Audience is, we took into consideration the Gender, Subculture and how we can appeal to them with Image.

Planning for the Shoot: Script

I believe this an important part the final product that will be our Music Promo, as some of our shots take place in a cafe, we had to look for one. We had a number of cafes in mind, mainly independent ones as staying away from large branches such as Pret a Manger and Costa proved the most sensible idea as it would make getting the permission far easier. Obviously needing permission, we scripted a phone call, that would make the conversation quick and straight to the point.

Script

Intro: Where in the middle of Planning for our Music Video and was looking for a suitable Location.

Who:Were our filming a single singer.

Time:10 shots- An Hour Max: The shoots will consist of a male sitting in a cafe.

Time: Daylight

Target Audience

Final Cut Pro - Tests

Test Shots

Rachel Butcher

Actor: Rachel Butcher
Costume: White tutu, white tights, pointe shoes
Hair: Ballet bun
Make-up: Natural

(Need to take test shots of Bella)


These test shots of allow us to create and display the characters for our storyboard. They also enable us to have a visual list of the costume, hair and make-up that is to be used the same on every shoot to allow perfect continuity. They also allow us to see exactly what they will look like on camera and gets them used to being filmed and having their photos taken so they are not uncomfortable on the shoots. 

Shoot 2 12/12/13

When on shoot 12/12/13, we had a few problems with permission. We wanted to film opposite London Bridge so that we could use it in the background of our shot to create an establishing shot. We were questioned by local security to which we told them that we were A-Level Media Students filming for our coursewor. They allowed us to film for a time slot of 20 minutes free of charge and were told that if we wanted longer we would need to fill in forms and the sixth form involved. We stuck to our time limit and were able to film our footage with no problems.
The student card was used as proof of identity. They gave us a business card in case of need to contact the control centre.

Website Analysis

Foals

The Foals website is an great example of a professional looking page. On the main page just below, they've included links to different pages. A page for their new album Holy Fire. News page, which allows you to see what the band has been up to. A videos page which allows you to see live performances of the band on tour. A Merch and Music Store where you can buy either merchandise and music products directly from the website. 

 This little icon below are symbols for different social networking sites they have. Like Twitter, Facebook, Sound cloud, YouTube and Myspace.

 Tour Dates are important elements to have on your website as it will allow your followers to see when the band is next in town and will pay money to see them.

Shoot 1 - Friday 6th December

Our first half of the shoot proved successful and we are happy with the footage taken. We had a few problems but found ways to over come them such as the red flooring which we covered with black material, we had to decide on which space we were going to use for the shots to be more effective, which we decided would be the floor opposed to the stage. 

We then had a problem with the the lights and their batteries but soon overcome this by swapping them every so often to keep them working the way we needed them to. 

The previous dummy run of using the green screen and green ring seemed very helpful as it enabled us know how to use the equipment properly successfully use it in our real shoot with no problems. 

Below are the photos taken on shoot: 

Tom using the camera and checking shots were lined up using the rule of thirds and checking the lighting was correct for the type of shot we desired.

Rosie setting up the lights in order to create a silhouette by placing them behind the performer and lighting the front in the slightest to highlight some main features.

Our actress in her costume getting ready to be filmed. The camera is correctly set up for shooting and the lights positioned where necessary. 

Using the green screen to film our actress spinning as if in a music box. For this we using a turning exercise plate in order for her to keep still and positioned whilst Rosie laid on the floor and manually span her round slowly, which proved effective in what we wished it to look like. 

The feet of our actress on the turning board. 

Green Screen Demo Shoot

We decided to carry out a test shoot to understand the set up and editing process of using a green screen. We found that it took 40 minutes to set up the equipment so we learnt how much time was necessary on the real shoot on Friday 6th December. 
The equipment we need is to accomplish our shot:  

Green Screen
Camera
Extension Lead
Tripod
Lights
Battery (Camera & Lights)
Camera
Green Ring

We learnt how to set up both the green-screen and green-ring in the camera which will enable us to set up the equipment in a less time consuming way to save time on the real shoot. 

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