filming day 1

The first day of filming consisted of taking mainly shots of Kirsty in the outfits and makeup and hair made up. The filming took place on Beresford Park in Hull and featured the sections of the actress around the trees and several close up shots. The field that we was on was quite flooded due to the recent rain weather we had been experiencing so I took advantage of it and took some shots of the trees that still consisted of rain water or droplets on the leaves. 

 

Website

 Banner at the top of website which opens when alerting the fans that they have arrived on the artists website.

This section of the website is where the artist will post and update their latest information onto their website for their target audience to read. By doing this it allows the audience to keep in touch with Benjamin Francis Leftwich so that they are update with all the latest information that he has for them to use meaning they can also interact with others and on other social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. This is also a section for the artist to allow the audience to find out where he will be playing next.

This section of the website is where the audience are able to purchase his merchandise allowing him to promote his music further (for example if his audience buy a tshirt it may encourage others who see the tshirt to listen to his music or buy one)  

Filming Schedule

14th December - Film the realisation scene at Oakroad Playing Fields and various other shots such as the ballerina scene.
16th December- Begin editing

January 12 -
Refilm any scenes that are needing to be refilmed, and film one of the innocence scenes

Two Step Flow - Lazarsfeld et al

Hyperdermic needle theory created which was not very effective.
Marketing product rather then music video
Acknowledges complex processess of communication.
Influenced by people rather then elite
opinion leader -passess on to individuals

Twitter-diffuse layer of opinion leaders- more corrected and more exposed to media then followers
Kony 2012- sidestep media talk to people directly
 Close attention to topics
Strengths
Audience are active - part of society
Weaknesses
More than two steps in flow of communication.
Lazarsfeld et al conducted first full scale investigation of effects of political mass communication.

Audiences did not respond to campaign as such but were more influenced by a person they knew or an opinion leader. Conception of a 'mass audience' was inadequate and misguided due to individuals having opinions towards a message.
Social influences had more of an effect, react to people we trust and know

5% changed voting behaviour as a result of media messages

message-understanding-opinion-respond


To allow my music video to relate to this theory I would have to find people who are quite influencial such as a celebritiy or someone who is quite high in social media to promote my music video and ancillary texts to others. By doing this, my product would get out to a mass audience rather then to only people I know. For this I could use social networking sites such as twitter and facebook to promote my product.

Audience Theory - Blumler and Katz (1974)

Uses And Gratifications Model

• Represented a change in thinking, as researchers began to describe the effects of the media from the point of view to audiences. 
• Looks at the motives of the people who use the media, asking why we watch the television programmes that we do, why we bother to read newspapers, why we find ourselves so compelled to keep up to date with out favourite soap. 

• Social and psychological origins which generate certain expectations about the mass media, leading to different patterns of media exposure which result in both the gratification of needs and in other (often unintended) consequences. This does assume an active audience making motivated choices. 

Underlying idea behind the model is that people are motivated by a desire to fulfil, or gratify certain needs. So rather then asking how the media uses us, the model asks how we use the media. The model is broken down into four different needs: 

1. Surveillance  
2. Personal Identify 
3. Personal Relationships with the media
4. Diversion 

Surveillance

• People feel better having the feeling that they know what is going on in the world around them. 
• Model is about awareness, we use the mass media to be more aware of the world, gratifying a desire for knowledge and security. 
• Associate to dominant messages of conforming via the dominant ideologies given in media texts. 

Personal Identity

• Subject of the media allows us to reaffirm the identity and positioning of ourselves within society. 
• The use of the media for forming personal identity can be seen in music videos/films. Pop stars can often become big role models, inspiring young children everywhere (which is why theres such an outcry when one of them does something wrong) 

Personal Relationships With The Media

Many people use the television as a form of companionship. This may seem sad but think about how many times you've watched the TV on your own, or with other people sitting in silence. The television is often quite an intimate experience, and by watching the same people on a regular basis we can often feel very close to them, as if we even know them. When presenters or characters in a soap die, those who have watched that person a lot often grieves for the character, as if they have lost a friend. 

The more we watch the same personalities the more we feel we get to know them. Reality TV shows such as big brother give us the inside.

Using The Media Within Relationships
We can sometimes use the media as a springboard to form and build upon relationships with real people.

• Having a favourite TV programme in common can oftern be the start of a conversation and can even make talking to strangers that much easier.
• Some studies suggest that some families use sitting around watching the television as a stimulus for conversation, talking to each other about the programme related anedotes while it is on.

Diversion

Describes whats commonly termed as escapism watching the television so we can forget about our own lives and problems for a while and think about something else. We watch music videos to take our mind off our everyday lives, we want to distract our self from the problems we are experiencing. We want to see that people experience the same feelings as we do.  

Criticism 

• Highly individualistic, taking into account only the individual psychological gratification derived from individual media use. Social context of the media use tends to be ignored. Overlooks the fact that some media use may have nothing to do with pursuit of gratification- it may be forced upon us for example. 

Relatively little attention paid to media content, researchers attending to why people use the media, but less to what meaning.

This theory would relate to my music video by as the target audience would be able to empathise with the actress in my music video and potentially relate to her. Also if my target audience are able to relate to her (because my music video would be based around them) it would be easy for my audience to create a relationship with my actress.

Drawn Album Covers Research

I like this image because it is very simple and effective but suggests that the man (who the drawing is of) is not allowed free speech. I like the lack of colour on the image making the image more effect. The use of the blue and yellow have connotations of peacefulness and contrast well with the black and white image of the man. 

The Foals Antidotes album is quite plain with the creamy background contrasting with the black and white boy with the splash of colour covering his mouth. 

Although, I do not think this image is a album art cover I think it would fit as it would contrast with other album arts on the market. I like the contrast of the really bright colourings that the girl is wearing which reminds me of a Artic setting. As the girl is in black and white and her clothing is bright it connotes that she is probably expressive through her clothing. 

I like this album art because it reminds me of the little boy Max from Where The Wild Things Are. I like the simplicity of the contrasting colours against the stand out boy in black. The album cover looks quite childlike and would be able to be achieved by a young child. By having the bold colourings and triangular shapes it would make the album quite eye catching and gives connotations of fun and happiness. 

Although I think this cover works it is quite chaotic but gives connotations of nature and freedom through the use of the flowers in the girls hair. By having the artists name or title of the album in the same style of the flowers that is surrounding the girl it gives a consistent style to the cover. The blue, white and brown colours give a warmth to the album and make the album cover that I feel looks quite overcrowded more peaceful and less chaotic. 

This is quite simplistic in the sense that the drawn image is only black and white. By having the four animals on the cover, it has connotations of strength and that they are majestic in the sense of their power combined.   

The

Costume

Different Make-up styles

When testing out make-up ideas for my actress, I took four photographs each with different make-up so I could find out which make-up I preferred the most for the shots. On the first photograph I used a bright pink lipstick but i felt that this looks quite childish and not very grungey. I then tried a darker pink but still felt it had innocence connotations.

Weather Forecast

As alot of my music video scenes are outdoors, I wanted to ensure that when considering the days filming that it would not rain otherwise it would be hard to film specific scenes. For this reason, I went on four different weather sites and searched for Kingston Upon Hulls weather, they all confirmed that it would be cloudly and light showers which means I would still be able to film the scenes needed.

Test Shots

 

Location Shots

 

 

The location shots I have taken are from Oakroad Playing Fields as it was more accessible to me and my actress because to get to the Humberbridge Country Park we would of had to arrange car travel and depending on the weather we may not of been able to film.

Narrative Theory - Todorov

Todorovs theory suggests that every narrative follows the structure that within a narrative there is always a protagonist and an antagonist where an issue or conflict occurs. Within my music video it features the typical boy meets girl boy breaks girls heart so we see the girl as he protagonist and the antagonist is the boy.

Todorov then implies that once we establish who the protagonist /antagonist is here will be a sort of disruption. Within my video the disruption will be when the girl realises that she is being used and she begins to develop darker within her character and is no longer innocent.

Todorovs theory then progresses to say that there is a quest taken - my actress regrets being with the boy and wants to 'restart' her night.

Finally the resolution within my music video is where the protagonist problem is solved. The actress blow so the candles and realises the mistakes her and the boy has made.

My narrative very much crosses over with Todorovs theory as it has the main steps that happen within the theory and my music video.

Inspiration For My Music Video

When looking at already existing music videos, I have found the indie folk band The Paper Kites who create music videos that are very natural and earthy allowing them to relate to the conventions of indie folk music. From this video I have looked at various cinematography and mise en scene  that I would like to use in my music video.

I like the use of this close up of this tin rusty can. The video looks quite dark but contrasts well with the females hand reaching out for the can. 

The long shot of the orangey-yellow sunset/sunrise is a typical convention of a indie folk music video and the tree fits in with the nature/natural theme.

Narrative Theory - Tessa Perkins (1979)

Tessa Perkins theory suggests that stereotyping is a complex process and involves a lot of assumptions that have to be challenged. 

Tessa Perkins assumes five main assumptions:

1. stereotypes are not always negative 
2. not always about minority groups or the less powerful 
3. they can be held about ones own group not rigid or unchanging not always false 
4. As society changes it is hard for stereotypes to change as they stick within society. 
5. Not all stereotypes are bad

This theory has been incorporated within my music video as the actress is assumed to be weak and vulnerable like women are so often to be seen and as the narrative progresses the audience understands why through her being heartbroken by the boy. Also as the girl is wearing white we can assume she is innocent and naive and conforms within society. This may give off negative connotations as usually women do not like to appear this way. 

 

One of the costume ideas although I would make sure that the heels are not used because they do not match but would match one of the other costumes my actress will wear.

Techniques I'm Considering Using

Several scenes throughout my music video, I would like to merge two or more of the shots I have got into one. From researching online, I have found that this particular technique is really easy to do so  to help my music video incorporate the technique effectively I have taken a couple of videos that I have taken in my spare time  and overlapped them together to see how the effect might work in my own music video.
 

Flower crown

After looking at already existing media products I have liked the idea of my actress wearing a flower crown as a hair accessory to connote her innocence and naïvety or to show her heart break after realising she has been used.

This means that I have had to research first what flower colours usually connote but also how to make them. To learn how to make them I looked on google search and then diy craft websites like Pinterest and polyvore. 

From this I then priced up how much the material would be to make the flower crown. 

Real flowers or fake flowers? 

When deciding how to make my flower crown I had to question whether or not I wanted to use real or fake flowers.This is due to the fact, once I began to film with the actress wearing the flower crown  they will both look differently to what they actually look like. For this reason I have made a table to say the benefits of making a real or a fake flower crown which will help me to finalise what to make my flower crown with before I purchase the materials needed.

I have found that there is more disadvantages for using real flowers then there is for using fake ones and for this reason I will use fake flowers to recreate the popular flower crown. My main reason for choosing to use fake flowers is that if I need to refilm any of my shots I will be able to use the same flower crown instead of remaking a real one which may not reflect the original. Also due to the fact the flowers may wilt quickly. 

Costume List

1. White lace dress 
2. Nude heels 
3. diamond hairband
4. purple and white flower crown
5. dark clothing (purple and black)
6. black heels
7. 
   

Audience Theory - Joseph Klapper (1960)

Joseph Klapper suggested that the media can only impact a audience (or be effective) once it has undertaken three stages:

1. Selective Exposure - This is were the audience can choose what media they want to be exposed to.
2. Selective Perception- The audience are the only ones who choose whether they want to accept the message being conveyed or not.
3. Retention- The audience then has to remember the message, the media have conveyed to them. Research has told us that audiences remember the things that they agree with and are more interested in.

For this theory to relate to my product, it will have to appeal to my target audience to ensure that they will be selectively exposed to my product. To relate to the second stage of Joseph Klappers theory selective perception, the audience will choose whether they want to accept or reject the message, which means the message of my music video must be clear and precise. For stage 3 to relate to my product (retention) my target audience has to remember the message being conveyed through the music video, so i need to ensure that the audience will agree or be able to relate to my product.

Artists Website Research

When comparing four indie folk artists, I have found that the males websites are very much music focused, not very often featuring the artist whereas the female artists are very much geared towards their image and the way they look. When making my website, I will take this in to consideration as my music video is written from a females perception so my website will have to follow conventions of existing website products.

 The contrast between the black and white photo and background really fit with the artists music which is quite melodic and haunting. This overall is a simple website layout which is quite effect as it allows the viewer to easily navigate to the pages they want. By only using the initials of the social networking site links, it relates back to the simplistic design. The large image also showing the artist looking away also gives connotations of loneliness and sadness.

Ben Howards website shows his tour information with the second largest text on the website. The large image dominates the majority of the website and also matches the album art.

I really like the style of this website with the moving banner featuring different tour dates and latest information about the artist. By having the artists name the largest text on the webpage it makes her stand out reinforcing that this is her website. The contrast between the black and white helps the viewer easily navigate around the website and the splash of blue gives a neutral feel to the website, targeting both genders.



The moving background has a peaceful effect on the watcher and looks as though it is a picture of the sky. By having this with the music playing in the background it allows the viewer to focus solely on the music. The simplistic layout with the navigation buttons at the centred top of the page blend in with the background so at times it is quite difficult to read the links.

Album Art Research

After researching album art, I have found various album art and disc designs from artists within the music genre I have chosen. The majority of album art features the artist on the album cover which allows the audience to associate with the artist as they will be most familiar with what the artist looks like. I have also concluded that the album cover and disc conventionally relate to one another usually themed with the main dominant colour or pattern of the disc.

I have also come to the conclusion that the disc art for the indie folk genres discs are quite plain with one distinctive colouring or housestyle which dominates the whole of the disc. Also the majority of the dics have the artists name and album title printed on the disc. This is usually used so that if the audience lost the album cover they would still be able  to recognise that it was the artists music.
I have also found that when searching for indie folk music I have disovered that a lot of the albums are very nature based including trees grass and neutral earthy colours such as browns and greens. I have also found that they frequently are quite basic in appearance and feature solely the artist. This may be to show that they are simplistic but effective but also display to the audience that they are solely for the music rather then self promoting. I have also found that a lot of the albums are hand drawn and either very colourful or basic and childlike. The connotations given from these cd covers is that the artist is very music orientated and that they want to use a fun 'quirky' approach to their music.

From conducting this research I have decided that for my promotional pack I would like to create a cd cover that is either hand drawn or quite neutral and a simple layout to help promote my artist and their music. I would also like to ensure that the artist is on the front cover of the cd cover as I think it would my CD stand out more as my target audience would be more familiar with the artist rather then the artists name and the title of the album.