Task 12: Target Audience Research + Key Learning Points

Task 11: Director Research - Jake Nava + Key Learning Points

Jake Nava

"Jake Nava is a British director, best known for his work in music videos and TV commercials. 

- Nava graduated with a degree in film from the University of Westminster. After college, he began his career directing music videos and films for MTV Sports. He's created videos for various artists, including Britney Spears,Beyoncé, and Adele. Nava has also directed advertising campaigns for Armani, Puma, Bacardi, and more. In 2013, he directed three music videos for Beyoncé’s visual album (“Partition,” “Grown Woman,” and “Flawless”). 

-  In 2011, Nava's advertisement for Lucozade placed #10 on Campaign Magazine’s Top 10 TV & Cinema Ads. Entertainment Weekly named Nava the fifth best music video director of 2011 for his videos "Someone Like You" and "Monster". The Times placed Nava's video for Beyoncé, "Single Ladies", at #3 in The 25 Most Influential Music Videos of All Time. It won "Video of the Year" at the MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards and the BET Awards. In 2006, Nava directed an anti-gun campaign to reduce inner city gun crime in London. The video was highly successful, reaching over 90% of its target audience, and received three D&AD nominations." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Nava

What did you learn from this task?
I learnt;

• How to search for directors
• About what awards different directors have achieved
• About the type of music videos each director produces

Task 11: Inspiration (Zayn - PillowTalk)

I recently heard this song on the radio, and as I had listened to this song before, I thought I would take a look at the music video. I liked the way this music video a consistent theme throughout the duration of the clip, I also liked the way the video had included a negative filter and played around with the dark colour scheme throughout. Depending on my final song choice, I would like to try and incorporate a play on colour and saturation in order to make my music video more appealing towards the target audience but also to add a modern edge to my piece.

Furthermore, what I also really liked about this music video in particular is the extensive range of editing techniques included within the music piece. I liked the editing techniques included because they aren't usually what you would see in a standard music video. Moreover, my favourite editing technique incorporated is the telescope technique whilst Zayn in singing, I felt intrigued by the effect and also interested into whether I would be able to recreate a similar piece. I feel that this music video really drew me in as I was fascinated by the various editing pieces occurring within the video which made my want to continue watching in order to discover what else I could find and possibly recreate within my own music piece.

Another aspect of this music video that peaked my interest is the way that the an odd lyric appeared in order to link the music video and the lyrics together. It's almost asif the atmosphere had shifted throughout the music video as the first lyric that appears is "War Zone" near the beginning of the clip, which is followed by "Paradise" near the end of the clip. I feel asif the odd lyric that had been incorporated throughout drew my attention and encouraged me to listen to the lyrics and possibly relate to the message that Zayn is attempting to bring across through his song/music video. I think that the lyric(s) add an edge as well as a certain interest to a plain, yet simplistic shot.

 

Zayn - PillowTalk

Task 10: Record Company Research + Key Learning Points

Task 09: Digipak Analysis (Marina and the Diamonds - Froot) + Key Learning Points

What did you learn from this task?
I learnt how to;

• Identify the various conventions of a digipak
• Structure a digipak
• Create connections throughout the digipak 

Task 09: Digipak Analysis (Lana Del Rey - Born To Die)

Task 09: Digipak Analysis (Ellie Goulding - Halcyon)

Digipak Analysis: Ellie Goulding - Halcyon from visitor567

Task 09: Digipak Analysis (Bastille - Bad Blood)

Task 09: Digipak Analysis (Adele - 21)

Ideologies of The Music Industry

Music Video Brainstorm: The Sisters Of Mercy - This Corrosion

The Sisters Of Corrosion 
For this task, we had to listen to a soundtrack without seeing the video and write down what we thought of. 

Task 08: Music Video Analysis (The 1975 - The Sound) + Key Learning Pointa

What did you learn from this task?
I learnt how to;

• Identify the various conventions of a music video
• Portray an artist's star image throughout the music video
• Create a relationship between the music & visuals
• Create a relationship between the lyrics & visuals 

Task 08: Music Video Analysis (Noah Cyrus - Make Me (Cry) ft. Labrinth)

Task 08: Music Video Analysis (Lana Del Rey - Born To Die)

Music Video Analysis: Lana Del Rey - Born to Die from visitor567

Task 08: Music Video Analysis (Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.)

Task 08: Music Video Analysis (Twenty One Pilots - Heathens)

Task 07: Preliminary Photography - Negative + Key Learning Points

What did you learn from this task?
I learnt how to;

• Change camera settings, such as the aperture and ISO
• Use manual focus 

Task 07: Preliminary Photography - Positive

Task 06: Magazine Advert Analysis (Ellie Goulding) + Key Learning Points

What did you learn from this task?
I learnt how to;

• Identify the different conventions of a magazine advert
• What the typical main focus of a magazine advert is
• How to structure a magazine advert 

Task 06: Magazine Advert Analysis (Jessie J - Who You Are)

Task 06: Magazine Advert Analysis (Marina And The Diamonds - The Family Jewels)

Note: there are 5 red dots within this image. 

Task 06: Magazine Advert Analysis (Lana Del Rey - Born To Die)

Task 06: Magazine Advert Analysis (Adele - 21)

Task 05: Genre Research - Hip Hop Music + Key Learning Points

Hip Hop 

"Hip hop music, also called hip-hop or rap music, is a music genre formed in the United States in the 1970s that consists of a stylized rythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. It developed as part of hip hop culture, a subculture defined by four key elements:

- MCing/rapping

- DJing/scratching

- Break dancing

- Graffiti writing.

Other elements include sampling (or synthesis), and beatboxing. While often used to refer to rapping, "hip hop" more properly denotes the practice of the entire subculture. The term hiphop music is sometimes used synonymously with the term rap music, though rapping is not a required component of hip hop music; the genre may also incorporate other elements of hip hop culture, including DJing, turntablism, and scratching, beatboxing, and instrumental tracks. Hip hop as music and culture formed during the 1970s when block parties became increasingly popular in New York City, particularly among African American youth residing in the Bronx." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music

Artists (Examples)

Wiz Khalifa - See You Again ft. Charlie Puth

Drake - One Dance ft. Kyla $ Wizkid

Big Sean - Blessings ft. Drake & Kanye West 

Conventions of Hip Hop Music

- Conventional themes such as relationships, everyday struggles, gang culture and prejudice
- Loud
- Smooth/upbeat tempo
- Melodic
- Catchy chorus
- Energetic
- Steady beat

Conventions of Hip Hop Music Videos
- Close up shots and motifs
- References to looking/voyeurism
- Intertextuality
- Sports cars and big jewellery that makes a statement
- Exotic locations
- Usually portray the sexuality of women
- Usually dark colours and simple settings

What did you learn from this task?

I learnt;

• How to identify a music video through it's genre codes and conventions
• About the background knowledge for various music genres
• About the codes & conventions of a specific genre's music
• About the codes & conventions of a specific genre's music videos

Task 05: Genre Research - Pop Music

Pop

"Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the Western world during the 1950s and 1960s, deriving from rock and roll. The terms "popular music" and "pop music" are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular (and can include any style). Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other styles such as urban, dance, rock, Latin and country; nonetheless, there are core elements that define pop music. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure) as well as the common employment of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and hooks." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music

Artists (Examples)

Skrillex and Diplo - "Where Are U Now" ft. Justin Bieber

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River

Nicki Minaj - Starships

Conventions of Pop Music 

- High budget 
- Stereotypical characters 
- Usually 3-5 minutes of music 
- Link between lyrics and visuals 
- A narrative

Conventions of Pop Music Videos  
- Bright colours
- High key lighting
- lots of makeup and high-end fashion accessories 
- Tints and filters to boost colours
- Photoshopped artists 
- Lots of close up shots
- Dancing/partying 
- Narrative

Task 05: Genre Research - Indie Pop Music

Indie Pop

"Indie pop is a subgenre of alternative indie rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The style is inspired by punk's DIY ethic and related ideologies, and it generated a thriving fanzine, label, club and gig circuit. Indie pop differs from indie rock to the extent that it is more melodic, less abrasive, and relatively angst-free. Its substyles include chamber pop and twee pop. It does not just describe "pop" indie music, but also a subculture." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_pop

Artists (Examples)

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lorde - Royals

Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?

Conventions of Indie Pop Music

- Low budget

- Settings such as studios, cities and parks

- Sometimes a live performance

- A narrative to tell a story

- Props, costume and makeup

- Sometimes dialogue

- Lots of cuts, camera angles and movements

Conventions of Indie Pop Music Videos

- A performance

- Narrative

- Cameo

- Camera shots, movements and angles 

- Editing techniques

- Sound

- Mise-en scene, such as makeup

- Notions of stereotyping