Music Video Research // Narrative Theory in 'alt-J-Breezblocks' and 'Here We Go Magic-Hard To Be Close'

This is the music video for the song 'Breezeblocks' by British Alt-rock band Alt-J, which was released on 18 May 2012 on Infectious Music. They are a critically acclaimed band, having won the mercury prize in 2012 for their debut album 'An Awesome Wave', the BBC Radio 6 Music Album of the Year 2012 and 2013 Ivor Novello award, as well as receiving nominations for 3 Brit Awards. The video itself won a UK Music Video Award (UKMVA) for "Best Alternative Video" on 8 November 2012. In this post I will explore the narrative theory behind the music video, in order to gain a greater understanding of narrative conventions of the form and of the music video itself. As you will see, this music video sophisticatedly uses a range of narrative techniques and film language to add to audience appeal, and construct a very clever and creative representation. 

Music Video Research // The Use of Media Language in 'LCD Soundsystem-Daft Punk Is Playing At My House'

Before I continue to plan my music video proper (planning is already underway), I will have a little look at how generic conventions and media language are used, abused and explored in a real life media text.

LCD Soundsystem-'Daft Punk Is Playing At 

My House' (Director: Chris Cairns)

Music Video Planning // Completed Storyboard

Suede Storyboard by LarsosMedia

This is the completed storyboard I have produced for the music video I am making for the song 'Suede' by Vanilla as part of my A2 course. It has and will continue to be useful for my planning as it allows me to see exactly what kind of shots I am going to get, as well as any actors, locations, props etc. that I'll need to arrange for the shoot to be of highest quality. It also proves useful on set, removing the need to come up with shots on the spot, making the shoot more efficient, but also allowing you to put more thought into the shots themselves which improves greatly the overall quality of the video.

Extra-Curricular Work // World Service

As part of a recent project, I helped produce this short film, concerning the ways in which my home town of Norwich and the lives of its citizens are intrinsically linked with the rest of the world. This project was a smaller, personal project that arose from a participant in the BBC's World Service, where journalists from across the world spend a week with the BBC, and learn a little more about their style of journalism. One of the visiting journalists, a Jordanian man named Samer Sadoon had the basic idea for the film after hearing stories of Norwich's once mighty wool trade, which spanned the world, and was inspired to make the film. He spoke to me about his ideas and we came up with a plan of action. I shot the whole film, which was mainly shot in Norwich Cathedral, where the group was mainly based for the day. I got as many shots as I could, as aesthetically pleasing as I could and as relevant as I could. I feel that the shots were pretty good for the most part, although I was dissapointed with the instability of the shots. There was an issue with the stabiliser on the camera, meaning that many of the shots, had a shake that was either accentuated, or present when it shouldn't have been. Unfortunately, I was only with them fro one day, so was unable to get any more shots, or to edit or write the film, so these were done by other members of BBC Voices. Overall though I was impressed by the editors skill at managing to create a story with the shots I'd got that at least resembled the film Mr. Sadoon wanted to make.

Extra-Curricular Work // Introduction + BBC Voices

For the past 7-8 months, I have been working in BBC Voices, a local outreach division of BBC East, based in Norwich, itself a division of the World renowned BBC corporation. Whilst there, I have helped in the production of many films, taking part in the writing, directing, editing, shooting and distributing stages of their production. I will be posting the highlights of my continued work, quickly explaining the basic ideas and context surrounding them, how I have contributed to them and my thoughts and feelings on what I have created.

Music Video Planning // Planning Update: 18/09/2014

Fantastic News!

Although I had already begun to go ahead, my planning may continue as I have received a very lovely, very supportive email from the artist personally. It read:

"Hi Lars

Thanks for getting in touch, apologies for the slow reply. It sounds like an interesting project, I would be happy for you to use the track for it. 

There’s not really too much background info to the track, it’s built around a sample by a band called ‘Swade’ and I just wanted to make something that incorporated those 80s funk elements with a contemporary twist. I guess it’s the kind of track that could sound good when driving around at night.

No worries about money or anything like that, hope you manage to use it and feel free to send it to me if you do, would love to see it!

Cheers

Hugo / Vanilla"

This is a big step in the right direction for the music video as I know get on in the confidence that its use is allowed and with renewed enthusiasm in the knowledge that I have the seal of approval from the grandmaster behind the magnum opus that is my track. Onwards! (for the second time).

Music Video Planning // Final Song Choice REVISED (11/09/2014)

After evaluating all of my possible ideas and routes through the production of a music video and after lengthy discussion with my Media Studies tutor, I have finally decided on a song that I shall use for the production (for the second time). The song that I have decided to use is the Track 'Suede' by British hip-hop producer Vanilla. My reasons for changing my planning can be found here.



I felt that This track was the most appropriate choice for producing a music video as it was well produced, vibrant, uptempo and had several shifts in mood that would be appropriate for the idea I have had. In addition, it has the benefit of being a track by an unsigned British artist, meaning it fits the criteria for the course! I have now contacted the artist directly, explaining the project and asking for permission to use the track. 

The email asking for permission to use the track

I now feel very confident about the year and look forward to the planning and actualization of my vision and ideas!

Music Video // Revised Planning (04/09/14)

Following recent developments in relation to the projected production of the music video and its accompanying promotional material, I have decided to explore other options for this task. Once I have fully developed my new ideas, I will evaluate the possibilities and decide whether or not to go with my possible changes or to stick with my previous plans.

Before the start of my summer break, I was a part of a group with 2 other students and built my previous planning around collaboration with the rest of the group and their respective tastes, ideas and talents. Unfortunately, my two partners have chosen not to continue media studies into A2, leaving me to produce this piece on my own and without the collective skills and resources that made my original plan both so appealing and so easy to make. Without the help and support of the two other students, the plan could run into some issues, both in terms of quality and of time keeping, an important aspect of film-production. With these concepts in mind, I wish to realistically assess my options and hopefully come up with an idea for a music video that is more realistically achieveable with my available resources.

Luckily, I had already begun to form a separate concept in my head for a music video and its accompanying music video.

 

Music Video Planning // Final Song Choice

Following the research into possible artists, discussion with fellow members of the group and lastly my groups accepted song proposal to our tutor, I have finally decided on a track to be used for our final production! The song was explored previously in my other post where I evaluated difference choices and I've finally decided that 'Supercell' by the band Gallery Circus is the song I am going to use in the production of my music video and Digipak.

Case Study // Africa Shox (Chris Cunningham)

Leftield/Bambaataa - 'Afrika Shox'

(Director: Chris Cunningham)

'Afrika Shox' is a short music video directed by Chris Cunningham for the song of the same name by Electronica act Leftfield/Bambaataa. The song is a collaboration between British electronica act Leftfield and American Hip Hop artist Afrika Bambaataa, of 'Planet Rock' fame. 'Afrika Shox' is an IDM/Hip-Hop track with some world music influence and this is reflected in the video, directed by Chris Cunningham, a common collaborator with IDM stalwart Aphex Twin. 

Music Video Research // Andrew Goodwin's 6 Features of Music Videos

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.
   (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).    [this is also known as iconography]
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images.
   (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music.
   (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
6. There are often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).

Music Video Planning // Possible Unsigned Tracks

Before I could start planning any music videos, first I would need to find possible tracks and artists to make the videos for. In order to avoid any clashes with copyright that could potentially jeopardise it's production and to ensure that the band may be helped by the creation of promotional material, any tracks and artists would have to be unsigned and reasonably underground. After some research, I found these possibilities.

1.Vanilla

The first unsigned artist that I have been considering is an instrumental Hip-Hop Producer called Vanilla. They mainly make soul and funk inspired instrumentals which have considerable scope for the production of a music video, as they are well produced and engaging. One downside of this artist is the fact that they are anonymous, and will not be available to appear in a video. However this is not too much of an issue as identity is not massively important in the instrumental hip hop genre (with some exceptions of course).

All of the tracks are well produced, smooth and of a high quality, which is promising for the production of a high quality music video. The fact Vanilla's tracks mainly lack lyrics could be either a blessing or a curse as they neither provide inspiration for the video nor constrain possible themes and ideas. There are some tracks that have small vocal snippets, but are not fully developed lyrically. These may be the best to use as they provide some focal point and appeal more directly to the audience. Possible tracks include:

More after the Jump

Opening Titles

"Lars' Pretentious Media Blog 2: Blog Harder"

Directed By: Lars Ohrvik Stott

Produced By: Lars Ohrvik-Stott

Starring: Lars Ohrvik-Stott

Support From: Lars Ohrvik-Stott

Coming this September, the world of A2 media studies is about to get even more intelligent. From the craftsmen who bought you "Lars' Pretentious Media AS Work Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Blog" comes the epic, tear-jerking, blood pumping Blockbuster smash hit "Lars' pretentious Media Blog 2: Blog Harder". The same charming cast of characters return for the second time, where they encounter music videos, fight digi-paks and Learn about the mysterious British unsigned bands.

from the CNS Media group in association with Lars inc comes a new type of blog: "Lars' Pretentious Media Blog 2: Blog Harder"