T1 07 Last Night Music Video (Rough Cut)

Cinemascope crop lines

We have noticed that a lot of moden profession music videos us cinemascope crop lines

We are using it as it will make our video look a lot more professional and industry standard.

Before:

After:

Predictions to Rough Cut Feedback

Lip-synching:
We will most likely be told that we'll need to work on our lip-synching in certain scenes/ shots as some shots are a little off in either pace or rhythm.

More Shots:
We will need a larger variety of shots (camera angles etc), you can see why in our shot of the first chorus - as that remains the same shot for roughly 10 - 15 seconds which is a very long time to go without a necessary cut in music videos.

Filters/ Editing Techniques:
We have not displayed many editing techniques in our video so far, as by my count we have used a variety of cuts and one use of fade, thus we are going to need to test with filters to see how to get the best effect.

Editing Pro's + Cons

So far, editing the footage has had it's up's and down's. For positive we now know what we need in order to complete our video to satisfactory levels ( this includes performing various lyrics again in better locations or to obtain significantly better shots to look more professional). We have been able to look at our footage and see what worked and what did not, as seen on the left walking/ tracking shots did not work as well as
we had hoped due to undesirable wobbling from different directions, we also found various inconsistencies such as footage being difficult to examine in terms of where it is in the song (in some clips we wouldn't be able to hear what peter was saying etc) this made editing more difficult than predicted, another inconsistency was that some shots are too different than others to be used - this ranges from the camera being out of focus to some shots just simply not working with the song/ narrative. These are problems which will be fixed/ addressed when we film again on the 2nd of November.
At the same time as all these cons were found, many pro's were located such as dancing in between lyrics to keep consistency, we initially didn't think that this was going to be used/ would be good but they turned out to be some of the most convenient shots ever because they can be used as good fillers when specific footage does not exist or no lyrics are used in a specific scene (this dancing can be seen in the second screen shot - basically we want more dancing).

And the final issue that we found was occasional lip-synching issues - which can be fixed easily on the next filming day as we have noted down all lip synching and other mishaps in preparation for it.

Copyright issues e-mail

Music video auteur

Francis Lawrence

Partial list of directed songs; “Gone Till November”, Wyclef Jean (1997); “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”, Aerosmith (1998); “Fortunate”, Maxwell (1999); “Girl’s Best Friend”, Jay-Z (1999); “I’m A Slave 4 U”, Britney Spears (2001); “Cry Me A River”, Justin Timberlake feat. Timbaland (2003); “Bad Romance”, Lady Gaga (2009)
 (source; http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/08/the-15-most-accomplished-music-video-directors/francis-lawrence)

Similar camera angles in his music videos; medium shots with a focus on facial expression.

His RnB style music has futuristic noir elements to them, as shown in Cry Me a River & Pump It.

There's also an emphasis on effortless "flow." A trademark of his appears to be that the artists have to appear stationary some of the time, but any movement is incredibly smooth.

The characters are usually presented in a melodramatic on a large scale way. Sweeping opening scenes and quick editing between distances that aren't too far apart, make the videos appear more like a film.

To surmise; his signature styles appear to be a mix and match set of close-ups and art direction, with editing to fit the different genres. One size fits all with heavy adaptation.

Number of edits in a Professional music video

The music video the Addicted Pain by Alter Bridge uses 196 edits in 4 minutes 19 seconds of video
The edits are done between the band performing and old found footage, this is done to show as much as the band as possible without showing so much of them the audience gets bored. also at the solo 2:38 the pace of the cuts slows down and they mostly show Mark Tremonti the guitarist to put the focus on him.

Extra filming date

There are a couple of changes we need to make to the music video, with a couple of blanks to fill in. 

Out of lyrics to re-do;

"Pharrel say don't do it the same."

"Are ya happy girl?"

"Tellin' me to have a nice life."

"You're on your own."

"Imma do for me is right."

"Maybe I should take another glance."

"But for you my goal still remains."

-Multiple chorus shots

-Louder lip-syncing for editing purposes

-More movement

On the 2nd of November, we will go to our previous locations, and adapt what we film into our new version of the video.

Number of edits in mainstream music video

242 edits in OneRepublic - Counting Stars music video

There are a lot of cuts in this music video between the performance and the narrative aspect of the music video. This is done to keep the interest of the audience as well as try and fit in as much of the narrative as possible because there is a limited amount of time to fit in as much as possible. We will try and make sure our music video cuts frequently and doesn't have many shots which last more than a few seconds because it is conventional and will keep our audiences attention.

Filming notes

Throughout the day we had some good ideas for filming around Cambridge (we forgot  the shot-list but it still flowed well.) We started out near Cafe Nero in town centre;

-Verse shots with Cambridge alleyways

 +stationary and tracking shots

  +high angle camera style shots as an edit backup

-Verse & chorus shots on a connecting alley to accentuate happy feelings and a "poppy" atmosphere

 +good backdrop of terraced houses with one directional light for added effect

We then headed towards the Grand Arcade roof in order to film a sweeping background for the video

-grayscale buildings didn't help

+most of the buildings did, clear sunlight to help with the first half's daylight theme

(No roof pictures available)

Unfortunately the camera wasn't at max battery so we had to stop off at HMV in order to charge it.

Afterwards, Christ's Piece seemed like a good location in order to do a skit involving a cigar for the video, and the singer kicking leaves for dramatic effect.

+very successful multiple camera angles for the money/cigar skit 

 +autumnal worked better than raining for the latter half

Castle Hill nighttime shooting

+dribbly with slight advantage, gave enough of a rainy effect to be used in tandem with the songs themes

+umbrella usage for the video 

+tracking shots with backings of the hill

+nice sunset used as planned for the closing shots of the video

Peter's bedroom shots
+self filming that worked out with tripod usage
+shot of him getting up with multiple shots of day to day waking up scenarios to use for later editing

In summary;
-slightly stiff filming, but, +with multiple angles and locations
+over 100 clips
-over 100 clips
+every latter clip in a scene is usually the better clip, easy enough to sort through
+filming was on time with good coordination 

Influences

Potential influences for the music video

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2-1jyxn2uY

One influence for our style of music video is the David Beckham Sky advert. In the same way that he wakes up in a perfect attitude and goes about his day, so will our character. The 21st centuries model class is very easy to screw up in the wrong hands, however, it is very appealing when done correctly.

Much like the cigar adverts of old, modern cigar connotations are a stricter "club" of appreciation. Through this we mean that heavy sexualization can go hand in hand with certain human habits. These are accentuated through our music video in as much as we can achieve. Our character will have a cigar in his mouth because he has to fit a star persona.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsUsVbTj2AY

JT blows smoke through the air, standing as if sitting, next to Jay Z who is sitting as if standing.

They are comfortable with what's going on, and with a simple filter, the scene is given the vintage feeling they are trying to market.

Frank Sinatra years earlier, in a similar relaxed pose with a microphone, JT would have had to copy marketing techniques from musicians of that era.

In "Suit and Tie" and with a lot of older musicians, specifically those in blues, swing, RnB and the like, there is a heavy emphasis on nonchalant character.  In this way, regardless of where our character is in the scene, he will be unaware of the world around him, it revolves around him and the star persona and nothing else. 

Whereas in previous years, "R&B" style music would have focused on dance routines, then casual narrative, artists who want to present a certain version of R&B, have to present sexuality in their own way in order to make maximum profit. Vice is rife for the audience to enjoy, and therefore some aspects of the video have to try and indulge guilty pleasures for the audience. However, other than cigar and suit, a casual 90s style R&B blend will most likely be our direction, with focus on different camera angles, and the star conveying a narrative.

A 90s R&B "collage" and a contemporary R&B collage to show genre differences in the decades.                                                         

Star Persona

Justin Timberlake's materialistic side has sprouted a number of different generic star products such as colognes and watches. His life of luxury can therefore be conveyed through products aimed at the highest earners in his target audience.

In the RnB/Pop sphere, it's very important that JT keeps up appearances for all of his media lifestyle. In this way, he can sell his sexuality to his primarily female audience. He does this through his acting career, sponsorships, and his music video style.
In terms of empowerment, he can take different roles depending on the specific image he's trying to convey, for example, in Friends with Benefits  he manages to appeal to the sweeter side of the market, while in sexually provocative music videos, he can sell lust and luxury in the same package.

So, in this way, he can afford to take hiatuses from either side of his person. Entrepreneur, artist, and actor, can all feed into the star persona of money and class. Much like Jay-Z, who he often works with, star persona is everything in certain areas of the media industry.

Jay-Z, who's similar affluent attributes have garnered him an almost invincible status of mainstay, is very similar to Justin Timberlake in how he conducts his business. Cigars, chains, and suits, mixed in with mixed moral messages for every stage of his career, is how their money is mostly generated, all through how they conduct their personality traits.

We'll be able to convey the most relatable aspect of the star with our 3 products. Applying every conventional star trait to our digipak and video.

Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie (Official) ft. JAY Z Music Video Analysis

Analysis-

This shot represents Justin's wealth as whiskey in decanters is classed as a classy classy way of serving whiskey. This is used as a way of showing the convention of showing off the wealth.

This shot is effective as it spotlights him making him the center of attention and this is a convention of pop.

This shot is effective as its shows Justin Timberlake and backing dancers, this because the main performer leading a group of dancers is a convention of Pop, also the scene/setting/time period keeps changing through out as you can see from the screen shots we have taken of the mic:

The video has various shots of exposed females, this is a convention of both pop and R&B.

This shot is an intertextuality reference to a dance routine in the film singing in the rain and this is a convention pop to have references to other media text in the video.

Notes from the 10th October

Finished Mood Board and storyboard/shot list photographs.

Film date set as Saturday from 12:00 noon, Grafton Centre and around Cambridge.

Equipment & shot lists set for the several locations + props.

Mood Board

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River Music Video Analysis

Analysis- 

As soon as he starts singing it uses a close up, this is to sell the artist and to show who they are. It also  makes you connect more with the singer and makes you get more personal with the artist.

This shot frames Justin the in very center of the shot with the buildings around him this makes him a the center of attention which is a convention of Pop videos. This shot also sets the tone of the video which is quite dark and depressing.

This shot makes it more apparent that it's raining and re-enforces the depressing and dark theme running through this video. This shot also links in with the name and lyrics in the song as the songs called Cry me a River and the raining signifies this. 

This shot uses dark lighting and starts out defocused, this makes the singer feel very isolated and upset which is the tone of the song. 

Justin Timberlake - Mirrors Music Video Analysis

Analysis - 

The video to Mirrors is mostly narrative about a couple and the stuff they go through during their time together and there is very little performance from Justin Timberlake in the start

Justin Timberlake has a performance role in this video towards the end in a hall of mirrors which visualises the lyrics of the song being called Mirrors. he is also dancing which is a convention of the pop/ RnB Genre.

Justin Timberlake is also smartly dressed, which has become his image in recent years as he is wearing a formal coat, suit trousers and 2 tone shoes. This is used to sell the artist and stick to his star image.

Storyboards + Shot lists

Lyrics to Last Night and interpretation

I just want to enjoy my life
And show this world how to care
And nothing brings more joy to my life
Than knowing my girl will be there

Are ya happy girl?
(Huh?)
Knowing that you right near broke my heart in a piece or two
(Huh?)
Knowing that I would have walked across the ocean for you
Saying you're young and confused
Well that's a lame excuse
That's why the only one to blame is you for

Last night
Can't believe what I was hearing
Telling me to have a nice life
So tonight
I don't think I'll spare your feelings
You're on your own
I'ma do for me what's right

In your eyes a see a second chance
Maybe I should take another glance
But for now I'll wash my hands
Cause I love ya baby, love ya baby
Pharrell say don't do it the same
But I say ain't playing my games
But for you my soul still remains
Cause I love ya baby, love ya baby

Are ya happy girl?
(Huh?)
Knowing that you right near broke my heart in a piece or two
(Huh?)
Knowing that I would have walked across the ocean for you
Saying you're young and confused
Well that's a lame excuse
That's why the only one to blame is you for

Last night
Can't believe what I was hearing
Telling me to have a nice life
So tonight
I don't think I'll spare your feelings
You're on your own
I'ma do for me what's right

I hope you're thinking
(Remember girl, when I was your man)
I hope it sinks in
(If you don't understand, then you don't understand)
We're gonna stop dreaming
(The way I feel)
About you

Last night
Can't believe what I was hearing
Telling me to have a nice life
So tonight
I don't think I'll spare your feelings
You're on your own
I'ma do for me what's right

Last night
(Just-a last night)
Can't believe what I was hearing
(Just can't believe it baby)
Telling me to have a nice life
(Oh)
So tonight
(Yea)
I don't think I'll spare your feelings
You're on your own
I'ma do for me what's right
(Got something I wanna tell ya girl)

I hope you're thinking
(Tell me girl, when I was your man)
I hope it sinks in
(If you don't understand, then you don't understand)
Well I guess I'm gonna stop dreaming
(The way I feel)
About you
(Let me tell you one more time)

I hope you're thinking
(Tell me girl, when I was your man)
(My baby)
I hope it sinks in
(If you don't understand, then you don't understand)
(Yea yea yea yea)
Well I guess I'm gonna stop dreaming
(The way I feel)
About you

Oh baby
Yea yea yea yea
See I ain't gonna be the one
Ain't gonna play these games with you
But I still love you

Remember girl when I was your man
Ain't nothing gonna take that away
No no no no, no no-no

See I remember
In December
We were walking holding hands
And I was your man
Can't we just get back to that?
Baby?

The lyrics to this song are pretty straight forward and are obviously about a break up and showing that he is over her this is obvious with the use of lyrics such as "I don't think I'll spare your feelings,You're on your own, I'ma do for me what's right" which I think he is saying that she wants to get back with him but he doesn't think they should. for this the video 
in the first verse When he sings "Just want to Enjoy my Life, and show this world how to care" We can show this in the video as he is suiting up, and please with him self as he checks the small details of the suit.

Test footage 1 - Lip syncing test, handheld camera tracking and filters

With our test footage we wanted to test out lip syncing to see how easy it would be sync to the song. We also wanted to practice with some filters to try and improve the raw footage. We also tested walking backwards whole tracking the subject to see how easy it would be to keep the camera steady but keep up too speed.  Another shot we wanted to test out was the reflection shot, we just wanted to see if it was possible to pull it off without getting the camer in the shot.

Feedback of initial film shoot

From our initial film shot we think that it was very successful and we learnt that our planned shots will be doable and we think we fan do a good job and make something quite successful. However Peter will need to learn the lyrics and work on lip syncing to the song as the syncing was a bit off. We also need to work on successfully lighting the main subject.

Similar atrists in the same genre

'N Sync - Justin Timberlake used to be a part of 'N Sync so it's a good idea to analyse old work in which he was a part of.

The style of this music video is mainly a performance where the singers are lip syncing to the song while they dance or there tied up in strings. The video has a narrative element which is woven into the video. The artists are represented as being trendy at the time through the clothing there wearing and also the styles of the artists hair as it's gelled up.

Chris Brown - A artist who produces the same genre of music, however Chris Brown's music is more R&B than pop.

The style of this video is a performance where the singer is syncing to the song while driving or when he's in the club. There is also a dance routine in the video which breaks up the lip syncing segments.

Bruno Mars - Produces similar music to Justin

The music video is primarily Bruno Mars lip syncing to the song while the dancers in monkey costumes in sync with Bruno nodding there heads. This video is very simple as there are only 7 characters and the whole video takes place in one location which is a bedroom/apartment, this is a very simple yet effective video because it's simple but interesting to watch as it's different.

Analysis of past student work

13R1 Music Video - 2011

The use of split screens were very effective and made the visuals more interesting and engaging to the audience, the split screens were constantly changing and keeping the video from getting boring. However, there was a decent variety of shots used in each shot where there were multiple split screens but we think that there could of been a bit more variety.

This use of splits screen in this manner is very effective and as it presents a variation on the editing seen throughout the video, in subtext this suggests resolution which reflects what is happening in the narrative at this time.

This scene in our opinion wasn't very well executed as it's very obvious that she wasn't part of the shot and added in afterwards which take us out of the video. We think this was a very poor decision made by the group as why didn't they film her walking in the actual tunnel, another point is towards the end as she's fading out you can see the camera move which doesn't look very professional.

We also think that this scene could have been done better as you can see the woman's arm in the left hand pannel which doesn't look very good as the center pannel implies there is a gap between the scene on the left and the scene on the right however the fact that her arm is on the left just doesn't look very good.

Q1-21 Music Video - 2012

The music video was very good at utilising jump cuts on the beat of the music and this keeps the video interesting for the audience. The video also had a very good variety of different shots and didn't stick on one scene for very long before cutting away and also didn't repeat the same shot too many times.

However we thought that there were only a few camera angles on the drummer and everyone else performing seemed to get more variety of shots on them.

This shot was very effective and made a change from the other shots but the problem is that it was only used fir a couple of seconds and we think that they should of used this shot more as it's very effective as you get quite personal with the artist.

S1-15 Music Video - 2012

The lip syncing in this video is spot on and looks very professional, the editing on the beat is very well done and the video is very engaging to the audience as the quick cuts keep the attention of audiences. The black and white filter is conventional for gangster rap and suites the video very well.

The editing of the lyrics coming up on screen as the artist is singing them is a very good feature of the video and makes the video more interesting. The lyrics add another element to the shot and just makes it that little bit more diverse instead of just having the artist singing it. 

The performance mixed into the video is very well done and is actually very interesting to watch and feels like it fits in perfectly with the video.

The switching between these two shots when lip syncing just breaks up the video so it's not just him singing the cuts mix it up a little and are very effective.

We didn't think that this shot was that effective as the artist sticks out from the shot and looks a little out of place, to improve the scene we think they should have put something where the blank spaces are.

This was also a very good shot as it gives something for the audience too look at and the duplication split screen effect just makes it more interesting.

 

This scene for the opening wasn't the best choice in ouro pinion because it just look as if there messing around with the camera and not being serious