The Killers NME Front cover

this was a front cover i made on pages with my friend. We did this as practice for when we make a cover for our albums cover for our music videos

Role Allocation

I am working as a individual so i will be an auteur.

An auteur theory was made in the 1950s and it reflects the directors personal creation vision. A famous auteur is the director James Whale from the early horror movies from the 1930s. He was famous for films such as Frankenstein, the old dark house and the invisible man. He was born in Dudley in 1889. He realized he had a passion for drama when he became a British officer in the army and was a prisoner of war. In the film Frankenstein he was very ahead of his times and it was one controversial scene in which the monster throws a young girl into the water and she drowns. This is bad now a days and to an audience in 1930 this was an outrage but this is what he wanted and he got his own way. He was brought back to do the bride of Frankenstein and wanted full control and a hidden gay background is evident in the film. He killed himself in 1957 by drowning himself.

The word auteur came about when a bunch of movie critics said that it is important for a film to reflect the directors vision. This was a reflection on film directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Howard hawks.

Filming

For the band parts it will be filmed in my garage. it will help give a authentic and realistic part of the video as most band play in their garages at first and helps give the band a close bond with each other in the video. The props i will use for this part is a guitar, bass and drum kit. The band are all dressed in a casual dress.

The part of the female will be shot outside the cinema in Sutton as this is were she will be waiting for Leroy who is late. She doesn't have any props and is just dressed casual

Leroy will have a variety of different locations. The first one will be in my house and bedroom where he will leave to go on the date. His second will be in the arbo part in Walsall. Next location is the shopping centre in Walsall when he is getting the flowers. Then he meets charlie in the cinema. Then he is going towards to the church though Sutton town centre then the last location is at the graveyard. The props used in this part are the flowers that Leroy is taking to the date. He is dressed casual as well as you think he is heading for a date. He also uses a mobile when he is looking at the text.

The Song

i choose this song as it worked well with the idea that i am going to be doing and this is one of my favorite songs off all time.

long live the cure!!!!!!!!!!

Casting

For the band i there will be:

Guitarist- Matt Cozens
Bassist- Charlotte Nightingale
Drummer- George Whitten

Girl-Charlie Pell
Boy-Leroy Lo

Leroy will be playing the part of the male who is late for a date and charlie is the female waiting for him. as the the video goes on we realise that leroy is late for more then a date and we realise at the end he is late for a funeral. The band is playing the performance part of the video and play the song though out

The Kooks music video analysis

The Kooks- Naive.

This song is a narrative based music video. The song was the one that really brought the band into the mainstream of the video is brilliant shot and edited and fits in so well with the lyrics used with in the song. Lead singer Luke Pritchard wrote the song when he was sixteen years old.

The opening shot is him coming down the stairs he has his hands in his pockets and generally doesn't look very happy about something. He then walks on to the road then into a building next door it seems that he is looking for someone but we are not sure who at this point.

There is lot of flashback and cuts in the next part of the video .It then flashes to him in his room with a young female. The first shot of her is her not looking very happy and she leaves the room. Then it flashes back to the singer entering a nightclub. He is looking around and then there is flashback to the bedroom where she is looking over at him wondering what i am doing in this relationship. Then back in the nightclub he is still looking for her. Then it has flashback off a fight and rift slowly starting to build up in the realtionship of him and the girl. Back in the club there is a shot of the girl from the room having a drink which means he is looking for her.

It then moves on a little and shows a part where is he is helping as she is puking up. Back in the club she is trying it on with different men as the singer is finding blonde girls and not finding the right one. While he is doing this she has led a man into the toilets for sex knowing that it will hurt the guy looking for her. When he finds her he doesn't say anything and moves on. In the end he is with his band mates and realising they are all he needs.

overall the video is about the guy having a one night stand with the girl and thinking its love but she has different ideas and doesn't want to get involved but still wants to hurt him. So the morale of it is don't let love take over you and nothing is perfect.

Final Proposal

For my coursework i will be doing a music video for the song boys don't cry by the cure.

My target audience would be for the age range of sixteen-thirty five years old. This is because the type of music that is being used in the video would be suited to older people in the target as when they were younger they would of heard the music of the cure and it would appeal to them and it would appeal to younger viewers as the video is modern and up to date with what people like to see in videos. But the music will also appeal to them as well as the cure as not a completely old band and are still a major influence on the music world in the modern era. I think because the video is a mix between of narrative and performance that the video would appeal to both males and females this is because the boys can relate to being late for the date and the rush of getting ready on time and the females would like to see the romantic link to the video. The video has a lot of fast paced shots with the boy and the girl but the band use more elongated shots which help keep up the tempo of the song going well.

The video would be shown on music videos such as 4 music, viva , MTV because it would be a current track and it would be appealing to the audience as they would be watching the channels to in the day and night. It will appeal to a range of audience and could be shown on the MTV classics or rock.

The video has a narrative/performance base to it. I choose to do this as i thought it would suit the genre of the band of the band and help keep with the code and conventions of the kind of video they use .It also has a twist at the end of the song. So though out the song the audience is thinking one thing then it changes at the end and the general light mood changes to something a bit more heavy. Overall the video will be done mainly on hand held cam as i will be doing a lot of tracking shots of when he is on his way to the date. But it will be filmed as though you are following him as well so you feel you are running with him. The shots of the band will be done on the tripod and have a range of close ups and medium shots. I will also have some establishing shots in the video as well. The music video has links to death and romance. This trend become very well known within the cure with their Gothic love songs that helped capture a more broader audience.

Questionnaire Results

1)Abstract-//
Performance-//
Narrative-///
Mixture-/////////

overall mixture was the most popular with a total of nine votes this is probably because people like to see a balance in different kinds of music videos as it keeps it interesting the audience and helps for different kinds of genres of music.

2) Same answer from last question people like to see a variety of videos for different kinds of music videos. This is good as for different genres of music you will find they use different kids of music videos so its shows the audience likes this variety.

3)Rock-///////
Pop-//
Dance-
Reggae-/
Indie-////
R&B-//
Ska-///
Other-// (Drum and Bass and the other was grunge)

The majority of the class preferred rock music to the rest of the other genres there is also a few for indie and ska which shows that people are still interested in listening to a range of different music then the more modern feel of music which is about more pop and drum and bass which seems to be so popular within the youth of today.

4)Internet-//////////
Tv-///////
Ipod-//
Other-
This is probably due to YouTube having a major influence on the way music is shown today. You can never fail to go on the Internet and view the latest video of your favorite band in today's society. The TV channels will also shows all the latest music videos as well its all about promotion and selling the song to the audience.

5)Often-///////
Sometimes-///////
Rarely-/

Following on from the last question because the audience wants to hear the song they will be curious to check it out on the Internet and watch the music video to the song as it is all part of the promotion.

6)Yes-/////
No-//////////

People don't really have a favorite music channel this is probably due to the fact they have a variety of different genres of music they like so will most likely have a few favorite channels.

7)
8)

9) Yes-////////////
No-///

10)

Questionnaire- The questions

Name Age Gender

1) Favorite type of video (Please Tick)

Abstract
Performance
Narrative
Mixture

2)Why do you like this particular type of music video?

3)Favorite Genre of Music?

Rock
Pop
Dance
Reggae
Indie
R&B
Ska
Other

4)Where do you usually watch music videos?

Internet
TV
Ipod
Other

5)How often do you watch music videos?

Often
Sometimes
Rarely

6) Do you have a favorite music channel on TV

Yes
No

7)What do you think makes a good music video?

8)Do you have a favorite music video? and what makes it your favorite ?

9) Do you like special effects in a music video?

Yes
No

10) Do you think a music video is important when a song has been released? If yes how does it help?

Short Film

As part of the coursework options we watched a short film by a film maker called Craig Devine. It is called "This is the Life".

The way it is filmed is very much the same as film director Shane Meadows produces his films very "kitchen sink drama" as it very serial and realistic. The filming has been done on a handheld camera because this gives it a more real life effect and it helps the audience interact with the characters better as we feel that we are with in the same room as them.




At the start there is a lot of close ups of the characters this is good as we get a feel of the different characters and then it also shows the emotions that they are feeling as it a school day so there is a lot of rushing around and shows how the characters are feeling at different points though the day. There is also sound bridge used in the start as well where while the action is still happening and the acoustic music is playing over them. Then the next part is a montage of the brother and sister. This part is very vital as it shows that the brother and sister have a very good relationship and this will become vital later on in the film when the dad returns. The music plays all the way though this scene because it is showing the time passing by.

When the dad comes back it has a long shot of the kids coming down the road it uses a long shot shows the estate they are living shows they are not richest people in the world. Then they notice that there dad is waiting outside for them. There is a lot of close ups in this scene this is too show the emotions of them being re-united. Then it skips to a part where they are eating it uses a LAS shot its almost like its the TV that is watching them.

The next scene is the dad picking up the son. He is a little bit late and says he forgot where it was. Then there is some hints that the dad has been away because he has been in prison. It has close-ups of a pack of roll ups which a symbol for prison. He goes away for a bit there is close up of the young lad waiting in the car he is messing round with the gadgets which shows that he might of been waiting on his own for a while. The next hint we get off prison is when the dad starts eating his food and he goes he can't remember the last time i had some crisps. The music used within the film is always showing how two characters bond. The dad and the son have the same music used for when he was with his sister and there is a variety on close ups and long shots used when the lad is driving his dads car.

Then the next scene uses a clever shot where the camera is placed behind the desk this looks really effective as it looks like we are talking to him from the other side. Then there is part where things are not going so well. It seems that the family are getting back on track with the bowling but then later on when the dad comes back from the pub drunk there is a big argument. This is when we see how close the brother and sister are when she comes in and they look after each other while the parents row. At the end it is all sorted again with the music coming which shows them bonding and like all the way though the film the music shows the good times.

Ideas for music video

The Cure- Boys don't cry

At the start of the video the bass and guitar are being strummed in time with the music then the drummer comes in and they start playing together. Then a guy wakes up in his bedroom and rushes over to look at his calender and he sees there is an important date on it and he hurries and leaves the house in a rush. It then cuts to a cinema where a young girl is waiting for someone. He cuts though the park and he sees a kids bike and steals it to get there faster the young lad who is short of a bike is now crying. The drummer from the start of the song sees this and he follows in pursuit off him.

Then he gets into the town and he runs towards the cinema where the girl is waiting. He runs past a flower stool and steals a bunch of flowers. The bassist from the start of the video sees it and then he follows in pursuit. The guy doesn't realise that he is being followed. It then cuts to the girl whos date has arrived and it is the guitarist from the start of the video.

The end is the guy running into the graveyard and putting the flowers down on someones grave in the background the band finish playing the song.

Johnny Cash-"Hurt" Music Video

This song is a cover by Nine Inch Nails. It is the last song he recorded before his death.

At the start of the video he is a semi-dark room which could mean that he feels his life is drawing to an end. He is sitting in quite a big chair which could show he feels he is almost like a king as its a throne looking chair. While he is in his chair he is showing some archive footage from his past it shows things like home movies and music videos. One of the first things shown in the footage is of the American flag. The close up on his face shows a lot of emotion and feeling as it is a thoughtful song and has a lot of emotion to it.

In the video there is a direct shot of his mom when he says the lines "Everyone i know goes away in the end". This shows that he misses a his mom a lot that is why the shot is used to show her picture. After this there is a lot of footage shown from his past with things like his performance in a prison. Then it shows some footage from his museum with the lyrics "my empire of dirt" this shows that his time is over as the big star and there is quite a powerful shot used on a broken award with a record inside of it shows that he is yesterday's news.

It then moves on the table with a huge banquet on it. This is showing even though he has a lot of stuff he now has no one to share it with anymore. Then there is a tribute to his wife who also died shortly after the making of this music video. Archive footage used with his wife. This is because she is one of the most important things in his life.

Then at the end the footage is getting faster and keeping up with the guitar and has powerful images with his past and links to Jesus being nailed to the cross.

The lyrics have a great influence on cash and the way he feels. The start when he is saying "I hurt myself today to see if i still feel the pain" this is a link to self harming cause he feels dead relation to being on drugs and that feeling of being empty when you take them. "the needle tears a hole the old familiar sting" this is another reference to drugs probably injecting heroin. "Try to kill it away but i remember everything" shows him trying to get away from reality. The first verse is almost his reflection on his past.

The chorus is then again showing his links to drugs with the line "what have i become my sweetest friend" but then is starts showing links to people he has lots and how he doesn't want fame anymore and that he is letting his fans down with the line i will make you hurt.

Verse two is showing how he feels now he has got older also has links to religion with the use of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore. He also knows he can't rewrite his past "full of broken thoughts i cannot repair".

The last chorus shows how if he could he would change his life and not become a singer.

Documentary Code and Conventions

It is key at the start of a documentary to capture the audience attention as quick as possible. There is many ways of doing this.

First of all you need to make the point of the documentary clear from the start in order for the audience to understand what it is going to be about. For example at the start of a documentary they will ask the question why are British teenage pregnancy on rise ? or why young adults drink lots of alcohol? It will probably show some footage of what the show is about and snippets off people that will be interviewed in the show. Also at the start of the show they might have some music they is relevant to the documentary(it must not override the voice over used).

Over codes and conventions:

Actuality- Filming real events as they are happening. This could be following soldiers fighting in the war or filming a storm stuff like that is hard though that is why archive footage is important.

Fly on the Wall- This is where you film people doing real in their lives e.g follow the average day of a solider see what happens in the day shows ups and downs.

Voice Overs- Used in most documentaries have one. It tells what it is about and gives us key info about the topic

Graphics- Usually use graphics with texts, maps, drawings, still photographs in the opening sequence.

Interviews- An expert interview with someone who has knowledge of your topic. This is vital as you need someone who can give a good side of the story instead of some average Joe of the street.

Vox Pops- This is a random interview with someone ordinary of the the street used with a mic and hand held cam.

Talking Head- A shot of someone talking to the camera as a presenter of the documentary.

Music- Critical for the opening sequence but should not dominate the voice over needs a clear balance.

Tyson Documentary

As part of the A2 media coursework we get three choices(documentary,music or short film). To help my understanding of the three i will be learning all the basic codes and conventions to the three so i don't make mistakes when i make my work.

In the lesson i watched the documentary on the the world famous boxer Mike Tyson. Watching it helped my understanding of how to make a decent start to a documentary.
It is also quite interesting as the character of Tyson is interesting because of his long and checkered career.

At the start of the film there is music used from the rocky films. This is used to reflect on the parallels between him and rocky as they were both boxers. In with the music the archive footage starts of his heavyweight fight against Trevor Berbick. This is effective because it is starting to build us into what the documentary will be about. Showing him at his best at the start is quite good as it draws the audience in as they will want to know more about what will happen though out the documentary.

The editing at the start is very good as well. The split screens show the tyson talking the voice over is mixed into a clever editing piece as it has personal touch with Tyson doing the voice over as it is about him so he is gonna give the his thought and reflect on his life. The editing with the spilt screen uses his face so with the voice over and his face looking directly into the camera which looks almost like he is looking at us like we are his opponent. This is a real good piece of editing as it is blending in past in at the same time.

The archive footage shown as well is brilliant. At the start it is showing him at the start of his major career but it also has footage from his hometown and pictures and videos from when he become a major influence on the boxing world.The graphics used for his name or in like a fire colour which shows his power in the world of boxing.