Today you're going to look into 2 media theorists. You're going to read up about the theories they presented, condense their thoughts into a presentation and then discuss how your music video relates to these 2 theories in all the different aspects.
- Steven Archer
- Andrew Goodwin
I hace included, below, a few examples of Slideshares and research assignments on these 2 theorists to get you started.
1. Today you are going to watch the following video clip and write down a list of notes, practical tips that you will implement in your filming/ editing process.
This can be a separate blog post.
- include the link embedded
- Write a few tips that you will include
2. Song Details
- In a separate blog post, include any existing information about the band / artist and the song that you've chosen. (when was it released? Who is the target audience? What music video already exists for this song?)
- Email the production company and request permission to use the song for educational purposes and upload a copy of the email / letter to your blog.
3. Once finished with that. Get on with REPRESENTATION homework, due for Fri.
This needs to be well researched and presented in a clear, articulate way. Make sure you are putting some really good time into this.
Please watch these videos. Embed them into a post on your blogs and write a couple of points of what you like / want to try or things you're noticing in the way they shot their videos.
Here's the notes straight from the Cambridge syllabus. Take a read through what sorts of topics and angles are needing to be addressed as you think about representation in your chosen genre and style of Music Video.
Representation
How the media construct the social world, the portrayal of ideas, individuals and groups, including:
the ways in which events, issues, individuals and social groups are represented through processes of selection and combination
the ways in which, through representation, versions of reality are mediated
the processes which lead media producers to make choices about how to represent events, issues, individuals
and social groups
the effect of social and cultural context on representations
how and why particular social groups, in a national and global context, may be under-represented or misrepresented
how representations convey values, attitudes and beliefs about the world and how these may be systematically reinforced across a wide range of media
how audiences respond to and interpret representations in the media
the effect of historical context on representations
how representations may invoke discourses and ideologies, and position audiences
how interpretations of representations reflect social, cultural and historical circumstances.
Please watch the briefing video below and get on with your checklist for the week, it's a busy one! :)
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. Plan a reccie to get location shots and include these in this blog post. Get some footage and photos of the types of shots you envision getting at these locations. Include in this post how you feel the reccie went and what you feel will work well verses what may be an issue.
(example of reccie footage with practise shots CLICK HERE)
4. Read through the Codes and Conventions handout for this week (refer to week 2's link). 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.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT (due Fri week 5)
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.
- Find articles that have been written in response to the portrayal of these groups in the media.
- Analyse 3 - 6 music videos and provide examples that confirm 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.