Storyboard and Animatic

For our video, we intend to mainly use a mix of Close Up and Medium Shots combined with quick cuts, which will be added during editing. By using fast cuts, it will conform to the media theorists as it will mimic the style of the high tempo music. By mainly using a mix of just medium and close up shots, it will allow us to clearly depict what is happening in both the narrative and performance sections. Although we are aiming to use have the majority of our footage filmed using either a close ups or medium shots, we will not discount the use of other variations. This will mean out video will not be too repetitive. Each Shot will last around two to three seconds to allow the footage to maintain a high tempo.

Organisational Timetable

Thursday 28th September
Begin filming narrative section

Friday 29th September
Continue filming narrative section

Saturday 30th September
Continue filming narrative section

Sunday 1st October
Continue filming narrative section

Monday 2nd October
Continue filming narrative section

Tuesday 3rd October
Continue filming narrative section

Wednesday 4th October
Finish filming narrative section

Thursday 5th October
Begin filming performance section

Friday 6th October
Continue filming performance section

Saturday 7th October
Continue filming performance section

Sunday 8th October
Continue filming performance section

Monday 9st October
Continue filming performance section

Tuesday 10th October
Continue filming performance section

Wednesday 11th October
Finish filming performance section

Questionnaire

(Circle answers appropriately)


Male Female


Age?

Under 16 17-25 26-45 46+


What is your favourite genre of music?

Pop Rock Metal Country

Indie Punk Dance R&B


What format do you use to watch music videos?

Television Internet DVDs



What type of music video do you find the most enjoyable?
(Select more than one if appropriate)

Narrative Concept Performance




What would entice you to watch a music video?

Song Band Story/Concept

Other (Please specify) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


How much time do you spend watching music videos?

1 hour or less per week 2-3 hours per week
More than 3 hours per week



Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.

September 2009

Andrew Goodwin's Theory

According to theorist Andrew Goodwin, all successful music videos must include six certain conventions. I will explore his theory, by analysing three music promos from the genre of metal. The videos I am analysing are ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’ by Iron Maiden, ‘Strong Arm of the Law’ by Saxon and Motörhead’s ‘One Track Mind’. I have chosen to look at these three cinematics because they will give me an insight into metal promotional videos. This will help me to gain understanding, which will support me in the creation of my own video.

The first convention Goodwin thinks Music video directors should observe, is that the music video demonstrates the particular genre characteristics. When watching my chosen videos, i noticed that all of them conformed to this ideology. An example present in all three videos is that each band member fits the stereotypical image to suit the metal genre.

Secondly, he believes that there should be a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals. Although both, ‘One Track Mind’ and ‘Strong Arm of the Law’ maintain performance footage from beginning to end, Iron Maiden’s 1984 release ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’ can be applied to Goodwin’s theory. An instance in this video is when the line “...Go to war again...” is sung by Bruce Dickinson the on screen visual is a gun, presenting a literal demonstration of the lyrics.

Goodwin goes on to suggest that the visuals must also relate to the music. Again all three videos match this theory. In particular Saxon’s ‘Strong Arm of the Law’ video, in which for each band member’s solo, the camera focuses on their skill. It is also noticeable that cuts and edits tend to be used in time with the song.

The fourth point Goodwin makes is that due to the high demand of the record label, lots of close ups of the artist will be used as well as frequent usage of band motifs. Once more each video I looked at observe at least one part of this suggestion. On Motörhead’s ‘One Track Mind’ video, the majority is filmed in a low close-up camera angle. Not only does this technique allow the audience to see more of the artist, but due to the fact that the camera is looking up at the band for most of the filmed sequences, it gives suggestion that the band is important. It’s almost as if you are watching the performance from the crowd. Although it does not appear in the ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’ video, I am aware that as Iron Maiden have grown in worldwide popularity, they include their mascot ‘Eddie’ in most of their more recent productions. This agrees with Goodwin’s usage of motifs idea.

The Next of Goodwin’s points are that there is a frequent reference to the notion of looking. In Iron Maiden’s video, this is shown in the narrative section, where one of the characters is watching workers through a monitor. Although the audience are not shown what is being looked at, in Saxon’s and Motörhead’s video both lead singers, Lemmy (Motörhead ) and Biff Byford (Saxon), stand on the edge of the stage and focus into where the crowd would be situated. On close inspection it appears that there may not have actually been a crowd present at the shooting of the videos, however by employing this technique, they have disguised this.

Finally, Goodwin suggests there should be intertextuality in the video. This features in the ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’ promo during the narrative, when an image of a goat flashes up on the screen. This goat references to the Goat of Mendes which is strongly associated with the devil. The Goat of Mendes, is thought to have originated back in the time of ancient Egypt and the theme for the artwork of the album ‘Powerslave’, which ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’ appears on is Ancient Egypt.

After analysing three music videos it would appear that Goodwin’s theory is upheld. There are elements of the theory that can be seen in all three videos. The Iron Maiden video features all six elements, while the other two feature five in each. The missing element in these two videos is intertextuality which would appear to be difficult to include in a live performance.






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPbqQOf41Qc - '2 Minutes to Midnight'

PowerPoint Pitch

Ace Of Spades

View more presentations from tomnufc32.

Planning Timetable

Thursday 10^th September
Create blogs
Choose song possibilities

Friday 11^th September

Finalise song choice
Initial ideas

Saturday 12^th September
Audience Research

Music video analysis

Sunday 13^th September
DVD cover analysis

Monday 14^th September
Begin PowerPoint

Advert analysis

Tuesday 15^th September
Continue/Finish PowerPoint

Wednesday 16^th September
Discuss character roles based on initial ideas
Write a rough outline for the narrative

Thursday 17^th September
Analyse videos by the same artist as the chosen song

Analyse videos from artists of the same genre as the chosen song

Friday 18^th September
Analyse lyrics to the chosen song

Pitch the PowerPoint

Saturday 19^th September
Analyse audience research

Sunday 20^th September
Begin storyborading ideas

Monday 21^st September
Music video theory

Tuesday 22^nd September
Continue storyboarding ideas

Wednesday 23^rd September
Analyse a Music video using the theories of Goodwin

Thursday 24^th September
Put together an animatic

Friday 25^th September
Create shooting timetable

Initial Ideas

Me and my group have decided to create a music video for Motörhead’s classic track ‘ Ace of Spades’.

Narrative

•During the intro of the song, the audience watch the main character heading to an unknown location. An establishing shot will be used to set the scene. This will be followed by the use of point of view and over the shoulder shots

•Throughout verses one and two, the narrative will focus on a poker game. In which the main character is seen to be losing. The footage will be edited to be black and white from the time the main character sits down at the table. This will be done to signify the beginning of a period of uncertainty.

•Throughout the solo we will include a stop frame technique. This will show the main character’s winnings increase and decrease around him/her.

•In the final verse, the main character will instigate a comeback. By the end of the song he/she will win the pot. During this verse, close ups and fast cuts will be integrated into the cinematic to build suspense.



Props, Costumes and lighting

For the narrative sequences -
• Formal outfits (, shirts and waistcoats, black trousers, black shoes and dresses)
• Poker chips, playing cards and poker table.
• Drinks Glasses.

For the performance
• Instruments (Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drum Kit, Microphone)
• Leather Jackets, Dark Jeans and boots.

•Artificial lighting will be used for both Narrative and Performance sections. This is will be done as it is easier to control and work with than natural light.