Individual Director of choice

Individual Director of choice 

The director, which I have chosen, is named Colin Tilley. He is a director from Berkeley, California who directs music videos as well as writes them and has worked with many well known music artists within the music industry such as: Wiz Khalifa, Chris Brown, Usher, Diddy, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Keri Hilson, Melanie Fiona and Justin Timberlake. Tilley has won many awards which include; Video of the year at BET Awards 2011 for Chris Brown’s Look at Me Now and for Justin Bieber’s Smile for Best Male Award 2011. Tilley was nominated for 2011 MTV VMA for best collaboration video, best hip-hop video and for best male video. 

I have chosen Collin Tilley because he is a common name which appears on the music videos I watch at home and on the internet. I think that he stands out from other music video directors because his name is always in large before the beginning of the track, I also think that he is really good at giving out the message of the songs, so that the audience can understand and connect with their music.I like the ways in which he enables for the messages of the songs to be provided to the audiences by using editing techniques to create out of the world graphics, the mise en scenes are always unique and sometimes original for the songs, I like the way he encourages as much viewing of the characters to implement the artists messages to their audiences.

Auteur - Jeff Vash

Jeff Vash is well known as a music video director, he has worked with many labels such as Universal Media Group (UMG), Soulection, Creative Asylum (design agency), Hollyrock Records, Symbols Recordings, Relief In Abstract Records and many more. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, he most commonly works in areas of video design & production, web design & development, graphic logos, promotional media, social networking management & production. Much of his work is inspired by Urban Street culture, Fashion Photography, and the human form. Primarily working with video and photography, he creates breathtaking visual pieces; his work is commonly described as “simple, well shot, creative and abstract.” His most famous and successful music video to date is "About You - XXYYXX" (The video shown below), with over 12 million views, this video is said to not only be the highlight of his work but also the video that made him as successful as he is today. 

A link to Vash's official website: http://iamvash.com/

The video above is one of our main influences for the type of themes and conventions we would like to include in our own music video. Of course our video will be for a different soundtrack and a different narrative but the techniques within this video have inspired some of our initial ideas for example:

• Slow motion video capture
• Smooth 'beat matching' editing style
• The creative use of smoke
• Flashing lights
• Masks to disguise characters and give them persona's
• A psychedelic/hypnotic style of video
• Repetitive use for multiple characters

Although our video video won't look anywhere near as professional as this example in terms of technique and effects due to us having no budget for our video production; this video still remains to be a perfect example of the "Liquid/Psychedelic" style of music we are working with for our video, so it only makes since to use the video itself as one of our main influences to inspire us when producing our own "Liquid" music video.

Story/ Ideas board

Story Board 

This is our board of potential ideas for both the mise en scene and for the particular shots we would like to include. We came up with the ideas for our potential shots to give unusual mise en scene to keep the audience interested. We are planning to use a variety of slow motion movements so that, with the music there is a sense of being in the moment, being able to capture every image of the world around us.

If we cannot to get the exact shots of what is displayed in the images then we will have to use and adapt to similar shots with similar ideas and camerashots.

(From left to right)
The first shot we would like to feature is a close up of the characters' faces as they slowly open their eyes, with a cut transition from all characters.

The second image is supposed to be an over the shoulder drawing shot of the character blowing rings of smoke.

The third image is a close up of water drops hitting the surface of water, having it shot in slow motion.

The fourth image is of a mid - close up of a female character blowing smoke out of her mouth, also played in slow motion.

The fifth image is of a character wearing a gas mask, walking past a group of people smoking, with a long/ mid shot, to give a weird and unusual mise en scene and the theme of breathing.

My role within my group (Baran Sevinc)

My role within my group has some variations, but mainly I think that I contribute mostly to the ideas with what we might include in our video, such as creating potential shots for the storyboard. I also contributed with the test shots for our physical shots, as I also may act in our music video.

Mise en Scene

Mise En Scene

For the mise en scene of our video we will have ourselves as the main characters and try to create an unusual story with the actions we do and what is actually viewed/ expected to be viewed as.

For our message in the video we are going to create an unusual character or protector in the forests, where the teenagers will be chilling, breaking, damaging the environment, as they are being watched/ followed by the protector. 

The costumes we are going to have will be consisting of our ordinary clothing, making us seem like an average stereotype of teenagers with similar fashion styles, which are: t-shirts, cardigans, long sleeves, shirts, jeans, trousers, trainers, sneakers and accessories like caps could be included to give out the urban theme. we may also have some additional pieces such as the mask on the protector character, to conceal part of his face and to be a questionable piece of equipment, such as a reference to The Dark Knight Rises, as Bane the antagonist wears the mask which is questioned in the film. 

The setting will take place in a park/ forested area including scenery of trees, paths, river/ water, mud, rain and nature. We would like to include themes of nature of how it is and how it is treated by humans. We are going to make the scenery look interesting by the camera angles we shoot, which will vary for the mise en scene and we will use a black and white filters to make it look more interesting. 

Location for filming

The location that we chose was a wood in Cambridge. It is called Lammas Land. We chose it because it has a river running through a wood that would help us get the affect that we needed. We plan to shoot it in black and white so it didn't matter if the wood was green or not at the time of filming. 

While we was filming in the forrest we found some really good spots for filming and we was able to get all the shots that we needed.

This map shows Cambridge and our location is marked by the red pin.

Boca-J - Artist Research

For our Music Video Project, we decided to use an artist that I know personally and have known him through my childhood and still see regularly in person today; Jake Ziegler, also known by his artist name "Boca-J". Boca-J is currently 17 years of age and has been producing music since the age of 14 experiencing with all sorts of genres such as Dubstep, House, Hip-hop, Liquid, Grime and more. Not only does he produce music but he also creates Mixes using DJ Vinyl Decks both for mixes online and live performances at certain music venues and house party's. He regularly plays at music venues weekly such as Fez Club, The Fountain, The Junction and more; below is an example of an online advertisement for Fez Club's "Jam Hot" Night's on Mondays, Boca-J's name is presented on the right hand side of the photo among a few other House artists and DJ's that would be performing on the same night and venue, these flyers are often posted through social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter but can also be found around Cambridge city to advertise the events.

Example of a flyer advertising Boca-J's name for a live set performance

The track we chose to use produced by Boca-J himself is called: Koreless - Lost In Tokyo (Boca-J Rework) The track itself is a synthesized based remix of the song "Koreless - Lost in Tokyo" with a more deep ambient/liquid focused genre. There is no music video for the soundtrack, only a piece of artwork (Which we are choosing to use for influence on our video) and the mp3 track itself hosted on Boca-J's SoundCloud Profile, here is the link below: 

Over the last two years, Boca-J's music has really developed into a more house/liquid synthesized based genre. However he is an artist very open to all sorts of genres, evidence is shown within his mixes since he includes multiple genres from House to Drum & Bass and even Dub; so as time progresses I believe Boca-J's genre of production will become a lot more refined into one genre or he may even choose too expand into even newer forms of music as he has done so before. Originally starting off by producing grime and Dubstep tracks, Boca-J has evolved into the newer styles of electronic music, below is a link to his SoundCloud Profile that hosts a small dose of his music that he has produced in the last two years or so and a few links to some of the venues he is well known for performing at:

• Boca-J SoundCloud Profile 
• http://www.junction.co.uk/
• http://www.thefountain.co.uk/
• http://www.cambridgefez.com/ 

Boca-J on set live at the Junction

My role and responsibility in the group

My role in this group as the director is to give ideas that contribute to the construction of our music video. I will be in the music video performing along with Baran and Theo. However, we are not planning on following a conventional video and have lip syncing in there because the song does not have any lyrics. But, we plan to make it a very powerful video to go with the powerful audio.

Because it is not a very well known artist there is no star persona, but we will try to create one based on ourselves.

The style of music that our chosen artist Bocca J is simular to is XXYYXX. It is a very deep, chilled out house tune. In a lot of the music videos for these deep house tunes they are very abstract in the way they are created and they will not follow the normal conventions of a music video.

This video by XXYYXX is the same style of music as Bocca J and the video is like how we want ours to be in the sense that it is very abstract and unusual.

Target Audience

Boca-J being the same age as myself and the others in the group, I believe his music and our music video focus's on teenagers and young adults mainly males. There are many factors that support this including the style and mood of the music. Being I believe within the liquid genre although could be argued to be a sub genre different types of music. The main factor which backs up my decision for target audience is the fact that this style of music is usually played in clubs and at raves, therefore the people which attend these are teenagers and young adults. Males and Females although mainly male. This audience will use other media like social networks such as twitter and facebook. Other media include magazines like vice and other fashion publications.
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Boca-J Confirmation E-mail

In order for use to use the track produced by my friend Boca-J (Jake Ziegler), We required conformation from the artist himself. So using my account on SoundCloud, I visited Boca-J's SoundCloud Profile to Email him through my SoundCloud Profile and request for his approval to confirm we could use his track "Lost In Tokyo Remix" for our Music Video Examination Project. Below is the screenshot of the Email I sent to Boca-J.

Influencing Styles

Editing Styles

Throughout the music genre which we are focusing on (Electro/Liquid) there seems to be a common convention of fast paced cuts and variation of shots, I believe this is to keep the audience focused as there are minimal vocals. The variation of editing styles including overlays, slow-motion, and fast paced cuts on the beat.

XXYYXX- About you

This video has influenced us using slow-monition and the use of smoke also props within mise-en-scene to make our video more interesting the the audience.


Chris Brown- Deuces

Within this video the use of silhouettes is very interesting framing the person within most shots

The establishment of this shot can be described with the elements of Chiaroscuro, as there is a bright background, the characters being infront of the light, forming silhouettes of them.

Wiz Khalifa – On My Level Ft. Too Short Music Video Anaysis

Wiz Khalifa – On My Level Ft. Too Short

In this video Wiz Khalifa’s iconography can be seen from two points: how it can be seen within the genre of hip hop and through the way he develops it himself.

Connotations of his iconography in this video can relate to the ordinary hip hop videos which usually show the star singing, dancing and doing what he/ she does according to the choreography and to what they do off the set.

The video consists of Khalifa smoking, dancing and enjoying himself in the club with various women and friends around him which is common in many hip hop videos produced by various artists.

The other form of Wiz Khalifa’s iconography can be seen by the way he sings, moves and by his consistent actions. An example of his common action is his form of smoking marijuana in his videos and chilling/ having a good time. This shows his attitude towards smoking the substance.

The video includes aspects of voyeurism as there are attractive women in the club dancing and eyeing the star, which can be said a voyeurism from both sides, but also to enhance the perception of Wiz Khalifa himself. The women in this video are seen to be enjoying themselves in the club and rather not being there to entertain the star.

Koreless Lost In Tokyo Influences

For our A2 music video project we have chosen a track which our friend has produced. Therefore we have  looked at simular music genres styles and moods to influence us within our own video. These have given us a wider understanding of the conventional videos and un-conventional.

Influences:

This video gave us the main idea to what we would like to produce. It fits in the same audio bracket that our music video will feature. It shows many slow motion shots with a very clear and crisp shots that add to the affect of it being memorable and powerful.

The way that this video was edited into black and white, this gave the impression of him being alone in the woods and that he was lost in a world of nothingness.

The audio really fits with this track because it is such an abstract and different track that confuses the audience and making them curious to what is happening or what will happen next.

Auteur theory

Chris Cunningham

''Chris Cunningham is a British music video film director and video artist. He was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1970 and grew up in Lakenheath, Suffolk.''




Aphex Twin - Come to Daddy Directed by Chris CunninghamSquarepusher - Come On My Selector Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me 





Chris Cunningham has a unique style used within his films and music videos, within my chosen video the intro Chris uses a variety of shots focusing on one object or person. This gives the audience an aspect of the scene much like an establishing shot. Also the video is very different to other videos and directors styles using masks to maybe show a deeper meaning to the song, these are my initial ideas from first watching the video. Chris has influenced myslef and the group and will be using ideas for our own music video.

-Location
-Slowmotion
-Wind
-Deep narrative
-Si-fi elements
-Electronics
-Dark Gloomy mood
-Lighting Styles

Music Video Analysis - Shot List:

Flight Facilities - Clair De Lune (feat. Christine Hoberg)

1. (0:00 - 0:09) - Mid-angle - Medium shot - Moves from left to right - Fade in from black - Introduces setting - Shows point of view movement of the car 
2. (0:09 - 0:17) - Mid-angle - Close up shot -Cross-fade Transition - Character eye level - Introduces character and the car 
3. (0:17 - 0:28) - Low angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - Tracking shot - synthesizer is introduced  - Lens flares synchronizes with the music
4. (0:28 - 0:31) - High angle - Close up shot - Cross-fade transition - Lighting synchronizes with the music subtly 
5. (0:31 - 0:35) - High angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - Vocals are introduced - Lighting synchronization theme continues
6. (0:35 - 0:40) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Reaction shot
7. (0:40 - 0:43) - High angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - Shows character dialogue through phone  
8. (0:43 - 0:46) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Vocals become louder - Introduces second female protagonist 
9. (0:46 - 0:52) - Close up shot - Cut transition - Camera pans along character's arms - Jump cut - Shows characters engaging in conversation 
10. (0:52 - 0:54) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition 
11. (0:54 - 0:57) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition 
12. (0:57 - 1:00) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Shows character's exit 
13. (1:00 - 1:05) - High angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Reaction shot
14. (1:05 - 1:09) - Low angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - Cross-fade transition - Tracking shot - Movement shows the characters are in a car -Lens flares synchronizes with music
15. (1:09 - 1:13) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Shows character driving 
16. (1:13 - 1:16) - Low angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - Cut to black - Tracking shot - Shows the progression of the car
17. (1:16 - 1:19) - Mid-angle - Medium shot - Fade in from black - Camera moves from right to left - Continues to show the movement of the car as though it's a recurring theme
18. (1:19 - 1:24) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Shows the car progressing from right to left
19. (1:24 - 1:30) - Close up shot - Cut transition - Tracking shot - Tracks the drink in Female #2's hand
20. (1:30 - 1:31) - High angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - First shot capturing both Female character's together  
21. (1:32 - 1:34) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Character's hand movement suggests she's nervous 
22. (1:34 - 1:38) - Mid-angle - Close up shot - Cut transition - Shows character lip syncing
23. (1:38 - 1:42) - Tracking shot - Close up shot - Cut transition - Tracks the ketchup in the girl's hands, showing they're having a meal together  
24. (1:42 - 1:45) - Medium shot - Cut Transition - Tracking shot - Show's characters eating together
25. (1:45 - 1:48) - Mid-angle - Close up Shot - Cut transition - Show's character's positive expressions
26. (1:48 - 1:50) - Mid-angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - Show's character conversing/bonding 
27. (1:50 - 1:52) - Mid-angle - Medium shot - Cut transition 
28. (1:52 - 1:54) - Mid-angle - Medium shot - Cut transitions - Show's characters walking off together
29. (1:54 - 1:55) - Low angle - Close up shot - Cut transitions - Shows female #2 stealing cigarettes, which changes her persona instantly
30. (1:55 - 1:57) - Mid-angle - Medium shot - Cut transition 
31. (1:57 - 2:00) - Mid-angle - Medium shot - Cut transition - Camera moves from left to right - Show's progression of the car as the characters "escape" the area 

Conclusion: 

After looking at the different shot and editing types within this music video, i've noticed there are a lot of techniques that the director seems to be fond of using more than once and uses them like a sort of recurring theme. For example: the lens flares and lights within this video are quite regularly captured to synchronise with the synthesised part of the soundtrack by changing form through motion or brightness   allowing for the video to easily match with the music.