T1 | Wk 4 - Thurs - Fri Wk 5 - Planning for your Music Video (REJOICE)

Please watch the briefing video below and get on with your checklist for the week, it's a busy one! :)

This will be due NEXT WEEK FRIDAY so it will be a combination of class-work and homework.

1. Decide on an idea you're going to run with (pick a song  & a genre) 

2. Do a visual brainstorm with a few inspirational shots of what 'look and feel' you're wanting, ideas you're thinking of etc. Scan this and upload to your blog. This needs to look like a mood-board / vision- board and be very visually informing.

3. Film a PITCH for your music video (either via I-phone / camera). Upload this to your blog. (Pitch your film as though you were seeking investment for your project).

4. Audience research - Show your pitch to 10 people and gather initial feedback on the idea. Create a blog post that outlines the main thoughts about the idea from those who watched the pitch. 

Questions to ask (along these lines)

- What genre do they listen to most?

- What do they expect out of your genre when considering a music video for the music? (what conventions / elements do they expect to be included)?

- Why do they watch music videos (if at all)?

- How often do they watch / consume music video content? 

- What is their initial thoughts of your pitch and what critique (if any) do they have of your initial idea?

5. Create a CONCEPT and TREATMENT (using template documents provided) for your choice of music video. Upload this to your blog

6. Create a blog post that highlights some ideas for locations. You will want to include the following;

- photos/ stills from music videos whose look and feel is what you're using as inspiration

- a rationale behind your creative choices for location (remember to comment on location as a huge factor of mise-en-scene, perhaps how your location will influence your lighting options (is it set outside in natural light? Are you wanting shadows and artificial light? Are you wanting a bright 'sunny' day?)

- Options for your first, second and third choices of shooting locations. Put up photos, maps and a brief description of each location as well as pros and cons for each one. What may be a foreseeable hindrance (is it a public place with lots of people in the background? Is it subject to rain / weather? Would you need permission for specific buildings?)

7. Read through the Codes and Conventions research from last week. Include these in your concept and treatment, highlight codes and conventions you are choosing to use (or thinking of using) for your music video. Think about codes and conventions of your particular genre and then include some details and pictures for what you're planning on doing for the different technical elements that would all be the codes and conventions of your product.

Some A2 music videos for inspiration

 1. Arctic Monkeys - 505 (this got an A grade)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq4pRpUuEK0

2. Last I heard 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5jKLVXSV14

3. Team - Lorde (A grade) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y76JvDPNsX4

4. Sweater Weather 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVgfhV6L6fE

T1 | Wk 4 | Mon - Tues - REJOICE

Representation Assignment 

- Create a blog post labelled 'Representation Research'

- choose a group in society and analyse how they have been represented in particular music video genres.

- You may choose to look at something broad like 'women in hip-hop music videos ' , something like how a specific ethnic group/ race is portrayed or something more specific like love and romance in pop music videos. 

Action Plan

- Find newspaper, blog or journal articles that have been written in response to the portrayal of these groups in the media that will form research for your project.

- Analyse 5 music videos and provide examples that conform to or challenge stereotypes.

- Summarise your findings in a research presentation.

- Include at least one theorist and apply the media theory to your findings, commenting on and describing how it is relevant to your findings.   

T1 | Wk 4 | Monday - Pre-Production planning REJOICE

   Resources for pre-production - Concept + Treatment

Read through these websites / articles and use this as research towards planning your own media product.

 

1. Conventions to borrow or talk about using 

http://music--videos.weebly.com/styles-conventions-and-techniques

2. Styles of music videos 

https://music-video36.webnode.co.uk/types-of-music-videos/

3. Mood + Tone explained

https://kinnu.xyz/kinnuverse/culture/how-to-actually-watch-movies/film-tone/

REJOICE - Wk 1 - Genre Study

   Genre Studies 

Today is all about GENRE research! Watch the video then proceed to the tasks below;

This HOMEWORK IS DUE NEXT FRIDAY 7th FEB

PART A of Genre Research

Your task is to;

1. Read through this aryicle that explains different genres or types of MV's

https://media-studies.com/music-video-genre/

2. Watch the video below to start

2. Make notes into a blog post about what the genres are in this video and some characteristics of each

3. Choose 3 different music video genres and at least 2 music videos in each genre , embed clips of them from Youtube into your blog

4. Analyse technical/stylistic elements (filming, editing, mise-en-scene and sound) 

5. Present your findings in a presentation blog tool (Canva / SLideshare etc) 

6. Explain what your genre preference is for creating a music video and why

PART B of Genre Research  

Start looking into those 3 genres you discussed in part A and answering the following questions in a blog post;

Look at

-  what record labels tend to produce artists in those particular genres

- who is the target audience for those genres (what demograhic is mostly consuming that genre / downloading / watching on Youtube etc)

- How the brand / Artist represent themselves on album covers

- What cross-media-convergence opportunities have been utilised for those artists/ bands in those genres? (newspaper / magazine articles / front covers / TV interviews with celebrity shows / news media)? 

*** remember to reference blogs from last year for ideas on how to complete tasks. Please don't use any of the same content! It's just good for a guide. 

T1| Wk 3 - Thurs (due Wed Wk 4) Major Task Planning PITCH

 Today you guys are going to create a PITCH for your short film.

A pitch is a short, persuasive presentation that sells a film idea to producers by proving:

• The idea is clear

• The story is engaging

• The audience is defined

• The film is achievable

 

For A2 Media, it must show:

• Narrative understanding

• Genre conventions

• Audience targeting

• Industry awareness

• Practical production thinking

  
  

  Activity: DUE WED 

  
  

  Create a Pitch using the 8 step pitch structure below. Create a slideshow that will be presented as though you were pitching to potential investors, filmed and uploaded to your blog as a Youtube video.

  This can be a shared task but should have equal input for marking purposes, both in the planning and the presentation.

  You'll be marked on the following areas;

  1. Content

  - the actual idea 

  - clarity (clear, structured ideas) 

  - researched

  - creative rationale for choices 

  - feasibility (realistic) 

  - audience awareness is specific and justified

  
  

  2.  presentation 

  - clarity in communication of idea (articulate and concise)

  - professionalism

  - persuasive and confidence in communicating the idea

  - technological tools used in a sophisticated way

  - articulate 

  
  

  The 8-Step Pitch Structure

  Use this framework:

  1. Title & Logline (Hook)

  1–2 sentence summary

  It must include:

  • Protagonist

  • Goal

  • Obstacle

  • Stakes

  
  

  Example:

  When a shy teen accidentally livestreams her private diary, she must track down the hacker before her secrets destroy her reputation.

  2. Genre & Style

  You should answer:

  • What genre?

  • Hybrid genre?

  • Tone? (dark, comedic, surreal, realist?)

  • Visual style?

  Use references:

  • “Inspired by Black Mirror…”

  • “Shot in handheld realism like This Is England…”

  This shows media literacy which is essential for A2.

  ---

  3. Target Audience

  You must define:

  • Age range

  • Gender skew (if relevant)

  • Psychographics (values, interests)

  • Where it would be distributed (festival? YouTube? streaming?)

  Go beyond:
   “Teenagers”
  Rather  “16–21 urban audiences interested in social realism and mental health narratives”

  ---

  4. Narrative Outline (Beginning–Middle–End)

  Not the full script,  just:

  • Setup

  • Conflict

  • Climax

  • Resolution

  Keep it under 1 minute when spoken.

  5. Characters

  Brief description of:

  • Protagonist

  • Antagonist (or central conflict)

  • Key supporting role

  Focus on:

  • Motivation

  • Internal conflict

  • Representation

  6. Themes & Messages

  • What issues are explored?

  • Why does this matter now?

  • How does it reflect contemporary society?

    
    

  This is where theory can be integrated ( Todorov, Hall, etc.)

  7. Visual & Technical Approach

  Students should mention:

  • Cinematography style

  • Colour palette

  • Sound design

  • Editing pace

  • Locations

  • Budget awareness

  This proves production understanding.

  8. Why This Film? (The Sell)

  End with:

  • Why it’s original

  • Why audiences will care

  • Why it’s relevant today

  This is the persuasive close.

  
  

  
  

  Common Mistakes

  • Idea too big for a short film

  • No clear conflict

  • No target audience

  • Confusing genre

  • Overcomplicated plot

  • No clear ending

  Reminder;

  A short film is about one moment of change — not a whole life story.

Short Film examples for inspiration

Good example of a quirky comedy that uses humour to address a more sinister issue. Also interesting use of sound as there's minimal dialogue.

T1 | Wk 3 | Monday - Tues - Cinematography Challenge

Shot Meaning Workshop

Your scenario - someone is hiding something 

They must plan (using a storyboard) and record;

• 5 shots

• thinking about...

  Shot type

• Camera angle

• Movement

  
  

  Write a short paragraph answering the question; "What does each choice suggest about power or emotion?"