Update!

So recently I purchased a new camera,

So this is the Canon 6D mark II, the perks that attach itself to the camera are able to speak for themselves. This was the camera that I filmed with in order to create the video in one of my previous blog posts (qualitative data feedback). The lenses that I will you will vary as I have 3 lenses that I will use throughout my music video.

From the technology that is in this camera I have learnt that there is far more to photography than pointing and shooting. Even though I only brushed over the capabilities of the camera that I was using I learnt how to vary the settings in order to do various shots, to change the colour consistencies of the shots and to zoom within shots along with creating deep to shallow focus shots. These techniques have enabled me to create the media product that I am happy with and this is due to the technology that this Canon camera possess.The editing software that I will use used to produce the media product is Adobe Premier Pro. This software has brought the shots that I took to life, it has made the piece look like a professional music video. The benefits of the Adobe Premier Pro software are that its user friendly interface enabled me to edit very easily and efficiently. Whenever we came across a problem we would often search it in the help bar and the answer would be there. The computers themselves quickened the production process. This use of technology really progressed my media product, it is a clear example of how I have linked technologies and incorporated them into my media product which has had a positive effect.

These 3 lenses will be:

• The 24-70mm lens

• The 16-35mm lens

• The 85mm lens

These 3 lenses will be used for various different shots, as I take photographs and such other things in relation to my music video, I will point out which lenses that I will use in certain occasions.

The camera itself films at 1080p and 60 frames per second.

Furthermore, in terms of photography, the camera has a 26 megapixel sensor which will result in some well detailed photographs which will be used for my digipack.

Quantitative Data feedback analysis

In this blog I am going to discuss and present the feedback that I received in my questionnaire that I posted on surveymonkey.com. This link is the link to my questionnaire: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5339M7G .

I managed to receive 20 responses from my questionnaire.

 From this first question, I am able to see that although there are more males that females who answered this questionnaire, there are not that many more. I feel that 2 will not make much difference if any at all. Due to the significance of the next few questions however, I feel that this may sway my audience towards male dominated.

Question 2 informs me of how old everyone is, thankfully, the majority of the people who answered my questionnaire are of the age group that I aiming to impress with my music video and therefore the relevant age group have answered it. Beforehand, I thought that the majority of my audience would be between the ages of 14-30 based on the music videos that I textually analysed.

Question 3 lets me know what kind of music that the general public who are of tis age group what they like to listen to. Rap/Hip-Hop also happens to be the genre of which my song will be and therefore, this works out as it will appeal to a wide variety of people. Coinciding with the results from the previous question, I feel that this is very advantageous for me as it is what I was hoping for.

Although the results of this question weren't as it had hoped, music videos still rack up hundreds of millions of views. The reason for this in my opinion for the storyline that unfolds in some of them and maybe this doesn't appeal to some viewers and puts them off viewing music videos altogether. The idea is that music video promotes the song so potentially, the music video doesn't need to be seen due to the fact that the song may have already been heard.

Question 5 informs me that not only do the lyrics mean something in a song, but they like the ones that find it very fitting to merge the lyrics to something that will occur in the music video. The majority of rap/ Hip-Hop music is that the lyrics are very important as in the modern day, rappers aim to tell a story with every song that they create.

This question was developed upon in my focus group video but generally some of the candidates who answered this questionnaire commented on the fact that when the music video is more laid back and something relaxing to watch and to listen to there are more people who like to listen to it. This may occur though several ways such as the way that the characters look down the lens, the way they act on camera etc. However, I don't feel that this is beneficial for me as the song that I have chosen is very serious talking about modern day issues such as racism and victimisation.

Once again, this was developed upon in my focus group where the majority of if not all of the candidates like to see a storyline unfold because it gives them a reason to watch it. There are many people who like to watch a liver performance and I believe that is because they like to gain a feel for how the crowd acts and it can possibly grant them a sort of adrenaline rush or maybe cold chills down the back of their necks or some kind of feeling that they may not often feel. This is beneficial for me as my idea was to create a storyline which would be easy to follow.

Qualitative Audience Research

I will be conducting a Focus Group with 7 candidates. I will sit them all down, and film the whole process. Firstly I will ask them the following general questions about their likes and dislikes about the music industry:

1. What is you favourite music video at the moment and why? Is your favourability due to the artist or the actual video?

2. Do you think that the artist should be in the video?

3. Do you like to see a narrative/storyline within the music video?

4. Would you say that you are swayed by the songs played in the charts determining your favourite songs and artist/s?

5. What do you think is key in a music video?

6. Would you prefer to see a story in the video or someone lip singing the whole track? Afterwards, I will give them a copy of my treatment and give them an explanation of my whole idea and ask these next questions:

7. Firstly, Do you like the sound of this music video and would you watch it?

8. Is there anything you do not like or would change?

9. Do you think it is original and different to what is out there in the industry at the moment?

 

I have edited my video as all in one video and have done it this way in order to improve my editing skills, although the actual skills that I will need for my music video will be fast paced editing etc, I have felt that this is a good way in order to bring back and further the skills that I had beforehand.

So this is my video on my qualitative audience research, through the results the I received I believe that there may be some times where I am going to change the background, as Jack said once he read my treatment, "Maybe on the top of a sky scraper". So now what I am trying to do is change some of the scenes to make it seem a bit more different and bit more lively. Furthermore, as Reece said, I should also maybe try to incorporate some different raced people throughout the story. This will send the message that I'm trying to send even better, because instead of just trying to unite two types of races, I will actually be uniting many more than just two.

I have learnt many things and in the near future after I will have completed my first draft, I am going to come back and ask the same people what they think and if there is anything that I should change in order to improve it. Despite the treatment that I had my participants read, I feel that my storyline will change between now and then and therefore, I'm not sure it will be the same as what I described but I believe that it will follow more of the conventions and therefore it won't anything bad.

Music Promotion Platforms/ Convergence and Promotion

Synergy is the way in which different elements of a media conglomerate work together to promote linked products across different media.

Convergence is the form of combining different forms of media in order to make a single form of media such as computers or television.

Different forms of media have come together or have started to be come increasingly similar, one example of this is television and computers. Both are not actively used in marketing for the film industry. The internet now broadcasts trailers and music video much like regular television. However, rather than keeping to scheduling, the internet allows individuals to view music videos and film trailers of their own accord.

Promotion is a vital aspect of the music industry, without it there would not be any press or excitement over the product. Artist's and music groups are normally dependent on the internet and social media sites to help them to reveal and promote their products, this can also bring an anticipatory rise. Every artist, company and record label in this digital age needs a wide variety of social media accounts in order to stay current and keep up with the evolutionary technological based generation. Through things such as social media, artists gain around a million more listeners to their new music. Logic's record label (defjamrecordings) and Logic himself both have a social media accounts where their music is promoted. The ability to use things such as synergy and cross media convergence are also good ideas and offer some brilliant opportunities to gain a larger following and greater audience who are anticipating the release of the album.

   

Logic also has a biography in his social media profiles where he posts certain links to things that he would like to promote, for example, currently in his biography is the link to the music video of another song that he released at a later date in 2017. He also has 3.6 million followers whom have also boosted his listeners.

As previously posted in other blogs, he has also appeared on Rap genius whom have also boosted his listeners to the song. Currently on spotify (a music streaming site) the song has 50 million listens. Spotify and Genius, a lyric website has synergised to provide "Behind The Lyrics" information to every song. This information is available when you listen to the song and give the user an inside to what the artist was doing/thinking when they were writing the song.



























In today's digital age artists are having to expose their media texts on several platforms using marketing and advertising to create exposure for their products. Therefore gain views, buyers and publicity in order to reach success. Using cross-media convergence (the combining of two or more mediums) is vital in this industry to survive. For example, The singer releases a new song or album which is heard on the radio and sold online through Itunes or downloaded through Spotify.

The single is then made into music video. The song or artist themselves then promotes the single through a poster or magazine covers which can be printed or seen on social media. The album/single cover (also known as a Digipak) is made and can be used as the profile photo for the song on all sites, e.g. on Itunes/Spotify. Traditionally albums were sold as CD's which would have the digipack cover on it. These are just few of many ways in which the artist will promote their songs, music videos themselves are also another way in which artists promote their song. Furthermore another good way of marketing is to link the music video with the digipak and with the poster, this will be through momentous moments in the music video that need to be captivated through the art of photography.

This was Drake's thumbnail, digipak cover and music poster for drakes album "Views" which was released in 2016.

Effects that I would like to use throughout the music video

These special effects are some of the ones which I would like to use throughout my music video. I would like to use these to broaden my skills in the editing side of things. I also feel that if I was to use certain effects my music video would be able to flow better.

There are various times throughout the music video where I would like to use the slow motion effect, such as when the protagonist is in a silhouette shot and by the end of it, it goes back to normal speed and then shows the character falling to the floor, and after a smooth effect and a scene change, the music video continues.

Within this video there are multiple effects that I may use, however, I am not sure, things like the effect of double vision and so many more.

Although I will not be using this shot with a ship etc, this a transition that I would like to use when the lyrics are not relevant to what I will be using.




Another idea that i have come up with is to instead of having a dancing motion at the end of the music video, I would have thought to reverse everything and then show what would have happened if he did not go and rap these lyrics across London, however, I feel that London is better due to the very photogenic and amazing opportunities to include some amazing skyscrapers and establishing shots of London.

I'm not saying that some if any of these will be used, these are being embedded due to the vague idea which I have in my mind at this moment in time. I feel that any of these could be used and that all of them should be mentioned to you as they will create certain meaning that I will explain at a later date if I feel that I will take on the ideas which I have in my mind at this point.

Overall, I feel that the use of some of these transitions would benefit me in making the music video smoother because of the synchronous sound with the beat of the song I feel would make it much much smoother and therefore, I feel that this is beneficial.

My Storyboard

This is my storyboard, the reason for why I have done this is in order to give my audience an idea of what shots I am going to use with each stage of the film. This informs my audience which shot will be coming next and also what I have to film and how i have to edit it so that it all flows and links well with the song. Despite, the fact that I have shown my shots and what I should include, I feel that the mise en scene and the semiotics (signs and symbols) of the theory with Ferdinand De Saussure are also a major part of the music video as I feel that it plays a major part and is therefore a convention of music video.

Contacting the Record Label!!!!

This is the e-mail that I have sent to the record label which Logic works for, I have done this in order to gain access to the song and to not get my music video struck down for copyright reasons.

What Camera and Appliances am I using?

In this bog I will discuss what equipment that I am going to use throughout the production of my music video.

Canon 1300D (with 18-55mm lens attached)

EF-S 10-18mm f/4 5-5.6 IS STM Lens

I will also be using a gorilla tripod for the low angle shots and also be using a regular tripod.

This is the gorilla tripod or gorilla pod as it is more commonly known and how it will look with the camera built on top.

This is the generic tripod that ay be used at certain parts throughout the music video.

This is the microphone that I will be using for the sound at the start of the music video where the sound of the train plays a part in describing how boring the protagonist's life is.

These appliances will make my job incredibly easy along with the tools such as the warp stabiliser which will allow me to rectify any shaky shots that I make make throughout the process of filming.

Pitch Presentation

Pitch Presentation PDF by Andreas Nicodemou on Scribd

This is my presentation of which I based a pitch around. I had to do this pitch in front of my class. The video is coming soon to another blog post. As mentioned in another blog, the time that I am hoping to film is no longer between February and April, instead now, I am hoping to film over the Christmas holidays.

This is the video of me presenting my pitch.

Shooting Schedule

These images above are my shooting schedule, which describes how and when I am going to film everything, it also displays the date, who will be in every single scene and what I am choosing to film with. This so far goes into the best detail and explains everything better. This shooting schedule also allows me to go into detail about my idea which aids me in the development of it. Furthermore, the hardware also tells me what settings that I should have and also reminds me of what exposure and colour setting I should have on. It also tells me how I should divide the scenes of every segment of the music video.

Furthermore, by creating a shooting schedule I am now able to organise my cast and enable the equipment that I will be borrowing to be booked in advance. On the days of shooting there may be more equipment that I need however the schedule that I have created is in enough detail to have my initial ideas prepared for. With the time that has been allocated for shooting I should be able to complete the production however more production days can be implemented if they are needed. I now feel that I am organised enough to begin shooting my production. It also allows me to focus on the mise en scene and also the camera work and making sure that I have a fair amount of low angle shots which allows for more confidence to be shown in the musician. 

This filming schedule displays the dates as late December and early January, however, in my pitch presentation, it displays the target days as between February and March and this is now incorrect and I am now hoping to fil over the Christmas holidays. I do have a feeling that these plans will change due to several factors mainly concerning the weather and the capability to do these days generally.

Treatment - 2nd Draft

Logline

So the overall idea that I have for this music video is to in the end send the message of unity and that nobody, no ethnicity, neither any race is alone. The overall summary of the music video is that the protagonist is going to work in the morning on the train however, instead of doing so, he actually ends up preaching unity on the streets.

Plot

As mentioned perviously, there will be a medium shot which will turn into a medium close up shot of the protagonist leaning forward in his chair on the tube, as this is occurring, there will be the sound of the train speeding up and slowing down. As he does this, the protagonist will put his earphones in and the song will begin to play. Furthermore, as the beginning of the song plays it will show the protagonist getting up and leaving the tube.

As soon as he exits the train station there will be the beat change in the song and it will become more upbeat, this will coincide with the sun shining down at him and representing a more positive emotion. At this point there will mainly be long shots of the protagonist. As the song appears to become more upbeat the camera will orbit the protagonist and show to the audience how happy he truly is. After this, there will be a cut to the protagonist walking through his neighbourhood. As he is doing this, there will be people looking round at him, giving dirty looks and wondering what on earth is wrong with him. Furthermore, throughout this, there will be a cut back to medium long shots until the words 'black is beautiful, be black and proud'. After these words are said, there will be some cuts to some darker race people who will repeat the quoted lyrics.

In the end of the song, there will be a sort of dance sequence where there will be many differently cultured people who will surround the protagonist and will be dancing and happy around him.

Media Language

The first shot will be a medium shot of the protagonist leaning forward in his seat on the train. Within the same scene, there will be a medium close up shot of him which will show his real emotion and how he's feeling. At this time, the protagonist will put his earphones in and it remain a medium close up.

The next part will be a tracking long shot of the protagonist walking out of the station, this will be from behind/ the back of his head.

Once he exits the train station, there will be an orbiting shot of the protagonist as he is outside the train station looking to the sky.

As the beat comes in and music changes, there will be a smooth transition onto the protagonist in a medium close up walking towards the camera as the camera is moving away from him and he is saying the lyrics in the song.

The next part will be a silhouette as it says "I just want to be free" with the sun in the background as I feel like it represents freedom.

Generic Conventions