Prelim Task: Taylor Swift, You Belong With Me

Here is our remake of the first minute of the music video for Taylor Swifts song 'You Belong With Me'.

We've placed the original video in the bottom left corner, so viewers are able to see the similarity. 

Prelim Evaluation

1. Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you? 
 In my group I worked with Charlotte and Lara. We all had different tasks and roles within the group. We all planned together and took care of prop list and timeline and arrange costumes, and we all confirmed a song together/ myself and Charlotte acted, whilst Lara filmed. And then Charlotte and Lara edited it all together and tried to make sure the lip syncing was as accurate as possible whilst matching it to the song. We also tried our best to make sure every shot was the same as the original music video and tried to make sure they all lasted for the same amount of time. When editing this we was aware this task was very difficult as in some circumstances we didn't film for long enough. We all worked together to play around with the green screen as we found that each of us had different ideas to contribute to the group. 

2. How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use?
To plan our sequence we went through the first minute of the Taylor Swift- You belong with me music video and created a timeline including the lyrics in each shot, the props used and what happens in each shot. We analysed the setting and costumes so we could try and make ours as similar as possible. However, this was very hard due to the fact we had to do this in school so we were very limited on settings and props. We bought in our own costumes to ensure we looked as similar as Taylor does is each shot, but the setting for each shot was very hard to get as we didn't have a giant mirror nor a bed but we made sure it looked as similar as it could. Then, we kept looking back at the original video to get the same shots and the same actions to make it look as good as we could.

3.  What theories could you apply to the video you chose?
Goodwins theory can certainly be applied to the video that we chose. He claimed that each video illustrate using the video to explain the genre and the lyrics of the song. Our video is a typical high school year, girly song about romance so the video explains this and relates to the lyrics very well. 'She wears short skirts I wear t-shirts' and the video shows Taylor in casual clothes and the girl she is singing about in a short skirt and more dressed out. Goodwin also empathised how important star image is. In the video Taylor is dressed very 'cute' and causal which may appeal to many people as it gives her the likeability factor, it is more relateable for her younger fans as she is not dressed in skimpy outfits, and is a better role model to female artists who dance and dress very provocative. 

3. What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?
The technology we used is Adobe Premiere, camera and a tripod. We used the camera to film the shots, the tri pod to make all shots stable and not shake, and we used Adobe Premiere to edit all of the shots together and make it look like the real Taylor Swift music video.

4. What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?
When planning this video, we had to take into account all of the shot timings and make sure they all were there same in ours as they are in the original. When shooting, we had to take into consideration lip syncing, actions and make sure the lip syncing matches the song and we also had to take into consideration the angles of the shots. When editing, we had to take into consideration the things we had to add over the top of the shots. For example we had to add windows over the top of ours to make it look like the real thing as we did not have access to these type of windows in school. We also had to add a green screen for the bedroom background, as yet again we did not have access to a bedroom in school. So we created a bed out of curtains and tables. 

5. How successful was your music video copy? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently? What did others say about your production?
Overall i think parts of our music video was good, however it did not look very professional due to the lack of things we had access to. Therefore, what i would do differently is to film in a different setting, for example a typical teenage girls bedroom. Other people said our production was good overall, however they also said that it did not look very professional and looked amateur due to not having access to the right setting.

6. What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing your music video, do you think?
What I have learnt from this prelim task is that it takes a lot of planning and patience to get it right. You have to analyse the shots and the timings and costume to make sure everything is right. Also what I noticed is that differently to making a film opening, the shots have got to be fast pace and cut quickly to make it effectiv, as using long lasting shots can make the video slightly boring. Also, I have learnt that it is best to over film rather than film for just the time you want as it is almost certain that you are not going to have enough footage. Also, for making my real music video I have discovered that we have to have the actor/actress singing the whole song in one shot rather than just get them to sing the lyrics that are in that shot due to the fact the lip syncing does not match as well.

7. How does it compare with filming an opening to a film?
When shooting a film opening, it is a lot easier and less time has to go into the planning than for a music video. Although it takes a lot of time to decide what shots you are going to include from what angle and what the film opening is actually going to be about, when you have an idea of what you are doing you can film to the storyboard and get each shot how you imagine. However, when it comes to a music video we don't have an accurate description of how long each shot is going to last due to the fact all shots have to be short and fast pace for the video to become effective. Whereas for a film opening, long shots can be effective as you are telling a story.

8. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a group member?
I think my strengths as a group member is that I am open to give suggestions and willing to give extra time and work to achieve the highest standard outcome possible. I feel that my weaknesses are acting as i can't seem to show emotion when acting and tend to laugh a lot. 

9. Looking at the other group's videos which do you think were most successful and why?
The video I thought was the most successful was 'Who's laughing now'. This is because Emma was good at acting and was able to portray the image of a female artist. A lot of the camera angles and lip syncing was very similar to the original clip. Overall i thought this was the most significant video to the original. 

Timeline of history of music videos

1920's

 Bessie Smith - St. Louis Blues

1940's

Fantasia

1960's

The Beatles films

1970's

Queen

1980's

MTV

1990's

Spice Girls - Wannabe

2000's

Rihanna Jay-Z - Umbrella

2010's

Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

Prelim Props

Phone 

Card board and pen x2 

Book 

Glasses 

Mirror 

Top with writing (signed shirt)

Head band 

Denim jacket no sleeves

Pink top

Black eyeliner

Black jacket 

Checked shirt 

Bomber jacket

Tartan PJ bottoms

Hairbrush

Prelim Timeline

You're on the phone with your girlfriend—she's upset,            00:08- 00-11
She's going off about something that you said                      00:12- 00:15
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do.                        00:15-00:21

I'm in the room, it's a typical Tuesday night.                          00:23 – 00:26
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like.                   00:26- 00:30
and she'll never know your story like I do.                             00:30- 00:36

But she wears short skirts                                                  00:37: 00:39
I wear t-shirts                                                                  00:39- 00:42
She's cheer captain                                                          00:42- 00:43
And I'm on the bleachers                                                    00:43- 00:45
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find                 00:45- 00:47
that what you're looking for has been here the whole time.         00:47- 00:51

If you could see                                                                00:51 – 00:52
that I'm the one                                                                00:52 – 00:54 
who understands you.                                                        00:54 – 00:56
been here all along.                                                           00:56- 00:58
so, why can't you see—                                                      00:58 – 1:01
you belong with me,                                                           1:02- 1:05
you belong with me?                                                           1:05 -1:07

Essay on La La La - Naughty Boy

 

Naughty boy works in the genres R&B, UK garage, and hip hop. His music videos tend to be narrative. However in this particular clip it is a very abstract narrative. I had to watch the video repeatedly to get an idea on what the concept might mean. After reading the comments on the YouTube video I realised I wasn't the only one that didn't understand.

My interpretation was that the characters are being represented as the fictional characters from the film The Wizard of Oz. This being because within the first minute were introduced to a dog, the breed of it is known as 'the lion dog'. We then meet a man covered in grey make up and is wearing nothing other than the colour grey. This could be presenting him as the tin man. Another peculiar character is given to us dressed from head to toe in fabric. This is a similar look to the scarecrow. At 1:58 a man passes a heart to the tin man, this is similar but also contrasts to the old classic The Wizard of Oz as its the scarecrow that receives the heart. The four then begin their journey and follow a dirt track, similar to the yellow brick road. They then reach a worshipping figure in a cave, this could represent the wizard.

Using the theme of The Wizard of Oz, this will entice the generation that grew up around the era that the film was released, so they will be very familiar with the film and the story line. However, not only is the video based on the old childhood movie, but its also the atmosphere is very modern with the roads signs and cars etc. This then intrigues them to watch the whole video, meaning that they're listening to the whole song.

 

The first 10 seconds of the clip were given a tracking shot leading to a door which reveals a dark room. During this we hear a negative sound, this builds up the tension knowing that who or what we are going to see is bad.  This is something you'd typically see in a horror/thriller film, it gives the impression that its a point of view shot and a demon or negative spirit is entering. The tracking shot then leads to a man smoking alone in a dark room, we know that he plays the villain in this narrative, purely because of the build up to being introduced to him.

 

The second character we meet is a boy who is represented as innocent, purely because of his age. We then see another point of view shot, but this time its coming from the man. This could mean that the roles have swapped over and revealing that the demon has taken over the mans body which then causes him to shout at the boy. The boy then blocks his ears and sings the chorus 'La La La' this is obviously his way of blocking out the negative energy.

 

At 1:15 we see a group of ladies doing some sort of work out with their make up running. The boy sings 'La La La' again, this could be to release the negative energy from them. At 1:37 we see a reverse shot between the leading lady and the man covered in grey. This is very similar to the shot we saw of the man shouting at the boy. Exactly the same as the boy, the man in grey begins to sing 'La La La' this immediately makes us connect the two together and realise that the man in grey is also playing an innocent character.

 

When being introduced to the last character 'the scarecrow' he also sings 'La La La', this makes us associate him with the other two innocent characters. We then follow them on their journey, which makes us connect with them and give them sympathy.

At 2:50 there is a pan around which reveals an empty and lonely desert, this isolates the characters from the world. The director could be representing them as different and outcasts.

At the end, we see the boy singing to sculpture that they had travelled to see, this gives it a god like power as the boy is on his knees.

 

 

After watching this music video several times I was intrigued to find out the real story behind it so I researched it.

 I found out that the video was inspired by an old Bolivian legend which goes back to the 20th century about a young boy who was deaf fled from his abusive home. He then found a dog on his journey and became his closest friend and accompanied him on his journey. The boy lived rough for a while but then found that he had a special talent of helping people with their troubles through shouting. Legend believes that it was so loud that it blocked away the sound of the demon who was controlling these people. It was said that his shout was 'as loud as an earthquake and a tornado.' The demon was the lord of the underworld and was found in an old abandoned town where people would worship him. The boy then went to sacrifice himself to defeat the demon by shouting at him. He took his talent to an advantage knowing he is the only one able to stop him from causing trouble to everyone in the town. However, there were hints of The Wizard of Oz for viewers that were unfamiliar with the Bolivian legend. I think that using the two themes is good because it widens the target audience. For example legend lovers who know about the legend of Bolivia would find this music video intriguing. As well as the younger audience who are familiar with The Wizard of Oz.

 

 

AUDIENCE - why and how do you consume music?

How do you consume music?

When? do you have a daily music routine? Is some music more suitable at a certain time of day than another?
I usually listen to music when im walking somewhere or doing art work. The genre of music depends on what mood im in. I tend to play music on my speakers when im getting ready to go out.

Where? clubs, bedroom, gigs, car?
As well as listening to music in my bedroom, i always plug my head phones in on car journeys.

Who with? do you share your music or is it an individual experience?I tend to listen to the music on my own, however if me and my friends are getting ready to go out, we will listen to music on the speakers in my room.

How? radio, computer, ipod, tv, live, dancing, homework, getting ready ie doing other things - background wallpaper
I store all my music on my phone or ipod, but sometimes i just play the music channel on TV in the background when im doing my art work.

Why? What are the pleasures associated with music consumption? What does it offer the audience and what needs does it gratify?
I think that music has a lyrical connection with the audience, i prefer listening to music that has a meaning to me than something that doesnt. I also listen to music when im in a bad mood, and i rely on the lyrics and music itself to cheer me up.