Influential Shots

Site Map

Here is a picture of the site map I created. Although we are only required to make a home page this shows how the final website product would be used in the real media world. Showing where links of the website would go.

The links shown in the site map are what i believe to be the most relevant to a music website that targets at the same audience as us. For example the "Store" button. This is because indie kids often wear band merchandise and this is also a big revenue earner for bands and artist due to CD sales falling recently.

Risk Assessment

Website Analysis 2

Website Analysis 1

Conventions of a music video

Just like feature films there are forms and conventions for music videos. I have researched into these so that, as a group, we can use these to our advantage when creating our own music video. As well as this it will aid in my analysis of existing music videos. We did discuss these points as a group to help each other out as well.

As with films, particular genres of music have their own music video style and iconography, certain things such as setting, clothing and lighting are recognised symbols we expect to see. It is clear that music videos are used promotional material therefore it is often a demand for their to be close ups of these artists to make it clear who they are and promote them. Some artists develop their own star iconography, there is also likely to be a suggestion of voyeurism created in the video.

Lyrics

• As obvious as it might sound it is important to create a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.
• They help to establish a general feeling or mood or a sense of subject matter
• Key lines may play a part in the visuals but rarely will you get a literal response

Music

• the video will always make use of the tempo of the track to drive the editing
• also may emphasise particular sounds from the track by foregrounding certain instruments

Genre

• Some pieces of music are difficult to categorise and therefore the video needs to emphasise its distinctive features, being reflected in the mise-en-scene
• certain themes will be appropriate in certain genres which will also be reiterated in camera and editing styles

Camera Work

• How the camera is used, how it is sequenced will impact upon its meaning
• camera angles, movement and distance done well will give it the dynamic feel

Editing

• It is important that you film to edit-the most common editing styles being fast cut montage, which encourages repeated viewings
• slow-pace editing will have gentle transitions which help to establish the mood.
• digital effects such as layering and transparency can often be used to good effect
• narrative is often fragmentary

Video Analysis

Before analysing some videos i am going to highlight the codes and conventions of music videos. In most music videos there is a visual link between lyrics and visuals, with the visuals amplifying or contradicting them.

Each genre of music has a particular conventions which you wish to see in the video for example, rock music it is likely you shall see a performance video focusing on long hair and instruments rather than a narrative used for the video.

With a performance video it is expected to have a lot of close ups of the artist to create a connection with the audience. Whilst mixing with other shots creating a sense of voyeurism which is used in many music videos especially when women are used to promote dance music.

Voyeurism is definitely a theme our group intends to use.

You Me At Six - Kiss and Tell

The video takes form of a house party scene of an age range between 18 to 25. It is a typical scene you would expect to see with this genre of music with long hair and unruly people. It is, for the most part, a performance video.

The start of the video, before the lyrics begin, is shots of the possible aftermath of the party with food on the floor and an untidy room. These shots are in time with the music building anticipation to see the band, possibly recreating the feeling before seeing the band at a live show. These cuts are faster than the majority of the rest of the video when it focuses on the performance of the song. Just before the lyrics begin there are Polaroid pictures along the amp of the band with the band name written along the bottom. This is a simple and effective way of introducing the band. It also represents the amateur status of the band because they are not signed to a major record label.

The camera tilts down as the lyrics begin along with a sound effect of the song.This brings in to shot the band and the crowd of people at the party watching the band performing. Straight away the camera focuses on the lead singer. However, the lead singer does not take a lead with camera time. This is spread quite evenly throughout the band members. The camera angle starts at the back of the crowd above their heads instantly giving the video a voyeuristic feel which is used throughout the video. Another example of this voyeuristic feel is with the shot through the door way. As the sequence progresses we slowly move to close ups of each band member. The link between lyrics and visuals is clear in this video. We can see this when the lead singer says "skin" and "clothes" as he pulls his skin and shirt when he sings.

As the chorus approaches we get less shots of the performance and more of the party scene which is fragmented. This symbalises a party as people would typically be drinking alcohol and when looking back on the night would not remember it as it unfolded and instead remember different parts throughout the night. By fragmenting the shots it also helps create a stronger sense of a real party by showing different people each time and making it seem a large event.

Once the chorus is over we are taken straight back in to the performance room with a close up of the guitar which is the most stand out point of the song at that moment. Unlike the first verse which was primarily all performance based it is much more fragmented this time with shots of the party going on. This helps make a sense of time passing meaning the whole party is likely to fit in a video only 3 and half minutes long.

This follows through the second chorus where the pace is taken down after. This is done by the camera following the movement of a passing balloon and then focusing on a guitar. The following sequence is much more performance based and focuses on the playing of the instruments and vocals. With all the tricks being shown that would be shown at a live performance. The pace of this sequence picks up as the drums become stronger. The main focus of the montage is someone preparing to hit a piñata. This is clearly connected with a party and helps build up suspense as the audience can tell the song will drop for a climax to the song once piñata is smashed.

The remainder of the video leads up to the aftermath of the party. This is done by food being thrown around and less civilised things happening such as a motor bike in the kitchen. To end this sequence an egg is thrown on to the camera lens as the final drum beat is hit.

This leads us to the end of the video where we are taken outside of the party scene to watch fireworks and more extravagant events happening. This leads to the feeling of a good ending to a good night that the party goers would have had. This is montaged with shots of the band playing still with a feeling of a smaller crowd. This could be due to people being outside or people leaving the party.