I have chosen to do the song 'Young fire old flame' by Wretch 32 for my music video. (I have attached the link below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a9nK2ZZkVs
I have reached this decision due to the fact that this song has an ideal beat, previous to the other songs I was looking at. This is as it starts off slow and gets faster and faster as the song goes on. In this sense, I will be able to create a diverse music video with various elements to develop the effect and impact. Moreover, I believe this song will fit the type of cast, costume, location and themes that I discussed in my production power point.
As I have now chosen the song I wish to do, my aim for the next few weeks is to plan my actual music video. I aim to come up with a camera shot list and a storyboard in order to begin developing my original idea. As I am doing a music video I need to ensure that the image being put across links to the lyrics of the soundtrack and is in time as well as creating the right amount of tension I want.
For example, at the beginning of the track the beat is quite slow and so I may show some simple shots of a the sun going down over the location I wish to use and my main character looking out over a rooftop or in an underground tunnel. By doing this, I will be able to set the scene and tone of my music video for the audience watching before the tension builds up in the song as the beat and lyrics become faster and more emotional.
Moreover, some of my ideas for camera shots further into the song when it becomes faster is to switch very quickly between a fire burning, the main character and other cast members in their different settings of on a rooftop or underground tunnel. This will build suspense through the video and the fire will be a metaphor for how they are actually feeling while linking to the lyrics and actual name of the song.
In conclusion, by choosing the song for my music video I can now move on to actually planning what I want to do and developing my idea further. In this sense, I have moved much further along the pre-production line and can now begin thinking about the production stage and all the details I need to ensure are correct. From this, I will be able to create the certain type of impact and effect I aim my music video to have on the viewer.
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Friday, 23 September 2016
Song ideas
Although I have not yet picked the song for my music video, I have a variety of choices. The songs I have chosen all relate strongly to the rap/grime genre of music I am aiming for. They each display the dark, angry and an almost sadness to the teenage issues faced daily. Moreover, I have seen the same image and atmosphere created in these music video's as the image I am going for. In order to be able to achieve this atmosphere, I need to have a wide understanding and knowledge of how it is created in other music videos of the same style/genre. By looking at each of these music videos, I am able to achieve that.
First song: Off the record 2 by Yungen. (I have provided the link to the music video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLU90Rdmgeo&list=RDHLU90Rdmgeo#t=139
This music video uses several similar elements that I intend to use in my own music video. For example, the shots used in the underground tunnel from a long distance away effectively give of a tone of emptiness and isolation. Similarly, the shots used in the train station portray how the male character (Yungen) may want to escape from his reality although he can never really leave, as we can see by him never actually getting onto a train. Not only are the shots similar to what I want to incorporate in my own music video, but the costume and cast used also relate to my ideas. For example, the hoodie is worn by Yungen with the hood up so we cannot see his face at the beginning of the music video. This may express him having issues with identity and not knowing who he is supposed to be or who he wants to be. Although this song strongly relates to the ideas I want to express, I feel like it is too slow for the dark, angry atmosphere I wish to perceive. However, observing and looking at the elements used have aided in influencing further developments of my own.
Second song: Letter to Krept by Cadet. (I have provided the link to the music video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssZ109BK3v4
This music video also uses various components that I wish to express in my music video. For example, the shots of natural elements that are used to separate the male character (Cadet) from his own thoughts reflect in what I want to portray. For instance, the shot of the sea on the beach and the sunlight shining through the tree's in the woods. These shots effectively deepen the meaning of the song and gives the viewer an in insight into what Cadet may be thinking about. Similarly to the first song, the cast and costume relate to what I aim to use in my own music video. For example, the fact that Cadet is obviously a black male character, as I wanted to use a mixed race cast for my own characters. Moreover, the jewellery and hat he is wearing are all things I have thought about when choosing costumes for my cast. However, I will not be using this song as similarly to the first song, it is far too slow paced for the atmosphere I wish to go for. I would like a mix of a slow and faster-paced beat in order to mix these two atmospheres together.
Third song: Antwi by Wretch 32. (I have provided the link to the music video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDhyOtsCMGk
This music video depicts some of the main elements I aim to include in my own production. For example, the close up shots of the male character (Wretch 32) rapping the lyrics to the song are similar to my own ideas for how to get the full impact of the song across to the audience. I like the way that he is surrounded by darkness and all the viewer can focus on is the emotion he is portraying from his face and what the lyrics are saying. However, this is mainly what the music video consists of rather than the setting changing throughout to make it more diverse. I will aim to avoid this in my music video as I feel like a couple shifts in setting will deepen the effect and impact of the message attempting to be put across. I believe this will engage the viewer much more than just someone rapping/singing to a camera. However the director may have chosen to do this because it is quite a slow song, with the only diversity being when the beat drops and the lights in the music video turn to red. As I have said above, I wish for my song choice to be much faster than this example, therefore I will not be using this song.
In conclusion, although I am not choosing any of these songs, it has been very helpful to look at other options I may choose for my production as it gains a fuller understanding and knowledge of the style of music video that I am planning to make. Moreover, I can look into what components usually take place in a rap/grime genre music video and incorporate it into my own.
First song: Off the record 2 by Yungen. (I have provided the link to the music video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLU90Rdmgeo&list=RDHLU90Rdmgeo#t=139
This music video uses several similar elements that I intend to use in my own music video. For example, the shots used in the underground tunnel from a long distance away effectively give of a tone of emptiness and isolation. Similarly, the shots used in the train station portray how the male character (Yungen) may want to escape from his reality although he can never really leave, as we can see by him never actually getting onto a train. Not only are the shots similar to what I want to incorporate in my own music video, but the costume and cast used also relate to my ideas. For example, the hoodie is worn by Yungen with the hood up so we cannot see his face at the beginning of the music video. This may express him having issues with identity and not knowing who he is supposed to be or who he wants to be. Although this song strongly relates to the ideas I want to express, I feel like it is too slow for the dark, angry atmosphere I wish to perceive. However, observing and looking at the elements used have aided in influencing further developments of my own.
Second song: Letter to Krept by Cadet. (I have provided the link to the music video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssZ109BK3v4
This music video also uses various components that I wish to express in my music video. For example, the shots of natural elements that are used to separate the male character (Cadet) from his own thoughts reflect in what I want to portray. For instance, the shot of the sea on the beach and the sunlight shining through the tree's in the woods. These shots effectively deepen the meaning of the song and gives the viewer an in insight into what Cadet may be thinking about. Similarly to the first song, the cast and costume relate to what I aim to use in my own music video. For example, the fact that Cadet is obviously a black male character, as I wanted to use a mixed race cast for my own characters. Moreover, the jewellery and hat he is wearing are all things I have thought about when choosing costumes for my cast. However, I will not be using this song as similarly to the first song, it is far too slow paced for the atmosphere I wish to go for. I would like a mix of a slow and faster-paced beat in order to mix these two atmospheres together.
Third song: Antwi by Wretch 32. (I have provided the link to the music video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDhyOtsCMGk
This music video depicts some of the main elements I aim to include in my own production. For example, the close up shots of the male character (Wretch 32) rapping the lyrics to the song are similar to my own ideas for how to get the full impact of the song across to the audience. I like the way that he is surrounded by darkness and all the viewer can focus on is the emotion he is portraying from his face and what the lyrics are saying. However, this is mainly what the music video consists of rather than the setting changing throughout to make it more diverse. I will aim to avoid this in my music video as I feel like a couple shifts in setting will deepen the effect and impact of the message attempting to be put across. I believe this will engage the viewer much more than just someone rapping/singing to a camera. However the director may have chosen to do this because it is quite a slow song, with the only diversity being when the beat drops and the lights in the music video turn to red. As I have said above, I wish for my song choice to be much faster than this example, therefore I will not be using this song.
In conclusion, although I am not choosing any of these songs, it has been very helpful to look at other options I may choose for my production as it gains a fuller understanding and knowledge of the style of music video that I am planning to make. Moreover, I can look into what components usually take place in a rap/grime genre music video and incorporate it into my own.
Monday, 19 September 2016
Straight Outta Compton
One of my influences for the rap/grime/hip-hop genre of music I am going for in my music video comes from the film Straight Outta Compton. Straight Outta Compton is the debut studio album by American hip hop group NWA, released August 8, 1988 on group member Eazy-E's record label Ruthless Records. The album has been viewed as the prominent record of gangster rap with extreme profanity and violent lyrics. It has been considered to be one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop records by music writers and has had an enormous impact on the evolution of west coast hip-hop. The film depicts the career of the gangsta rap group NWA and mainly focus on members Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr Dre.
Even though my music video may not be based on one of NWA's songs, I believe it is important to recognise where hip-hop completely began. Also, I must be able to understand the influence that NWA has had on hip-hop/rap music in present time and how music nowadays may have developed from the 'Straight Outta Compton' album. At the time in the 1980's when the album was released, although all racist actions were now officially illegal, all racial prejudices still existed. Simply the sight of a young black man in a big hoodie meant that they were up to something illegal; mainly to do with drugs. Police in small towns such as Compton had official laws against racism, but these were actually barely enforced. As shown in the film, police would stop black men just for walking down the road and search them for drugs even when they had no proof or suspicion that they may have illegal substances on them.
These racial prejudices eventually grew black men in the area to become fed up and so the inspiration to express themselves through rap music led to the creation of the 'Straight Outta Compton' album. One of the most popular and controversial songs on the album was "F*** tha police" in which extremely violent and obscene language was used to express NWA's hate towards the police. At the time, negative views towards the police were not accepted in forms of music and the playing of "F*** tha police" was attempted to be stopped, although this was not successful and in fact only spurred NWA on.
By looking at Straight Outta Compton, I have built a much wider understanding of how hip-hop/rap music has been influenced and developed. And so, I can use this understanding and knowledge in order to create my own music video based upon this genre. In conclusion, I may also be able to bring in themes of where rap/hip-hop music began into present time music that is out now.
I have attached the link to the trailer of Straight Outta Compton below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsbWEF1Sju0
Even though my music video may not be based on one of NWA's songs, I believe it is important to recognise where hip-hop completely began. Also, I must be able to understand the influence that NWA has had on hip-hop/rap music in present time and how music nowadays may have developed from the 'Straight Outta Compton' album. At the time in the 1980's when the album was released, although all racist actions were now officially illegal, all racial prejudices still existed. Simply the sight of a young black man in a big hoodie meant that they were up to something illegal; mainly to do with drugs. Police in small towns such as Compton had official laws against racism, but these were actually barely enforced. As shown in the film, police would stop black men just for walking down the road and search them for drugs even when they had no proof or suspicion that they may have illegal substances on them.
These racial prejudices eventually grew black men in the area to become fed up and so the inspiration to express themselves through rap music led to the creation of the 'Straight Outta Compton' album. One of the most popular and controversial songs on the album was "F*** tha police" in which extremely violent and obscene language was used to express NWA's hate towards the police. At the time, negative views towards the police were not accepted in forms of music and the playing of "F*** tha police" was attempted to be stopped, although this was not successful and in fact only spurred NWA on.
By looking at Straight Outta Compton, I have built a much wider understanding of how hip-hop/rap music has been influenced and developed. And so, I can use this understanding and knowledge in order to create my own music video based upon this genre. In conclusion, I may also be able to bring in themes of where rap/hip-hop music began into present time music that is out now.
I have attached the link to the trailer of Straight Outta Compton below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsbWEF1Sju0
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Final production idea
For my final production I have decided to do a music video that revolves around the grime/rap genre. As part of my pre-production I have made a power point listing the genre/themes, song ideas, locations, cast, a mood board, and costume ideas. I have provided a link to this below:
To conclude, I have made this power point presentation in order to begin my understanding of the genre I wish to create my music video around. Moreover, it has helped me begin to think about what my music video will entail and what I need to organise before I begin my production.
To conclude, I have made this power point presentation in order to begin my understanding of the genre I wish to create my music video around. Moreover, it has helped me begin to think about what my music video will entail and what I need to organise before I begin my production.
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