Initial Discussion: Potential Female Character Role

Mania EP Launch

On the 10th December we attended the Your Illuminations EP Launch. Despite a schedule to film footage of the live performance on a high quality camera, we came across some complications. The venue would not allow us to film using our cameras due to complications with a breech of confidentiality and our rights as the audience within the venue. Due to a lack of understanding of the requirements necessary for us as audience participants, we were left to film on our phones.

Despite these complications, we were able to film a number of elements of the required footage that could potentially be utilised within the final piece and tampered with during post-production. Editing will allow for further development of quality and effect in order to become aesthetically fitting with the image of the band and our outlook of the final product.

As well as live footage, we planned to take any initial shots for our ancillary tasks. I took a number of pictures of the stage set up, the band members themselves and the crowd in order to consolidate the atmospheric element I wish to use specifically within the digipak element of  the task.

EP Launch: Advertisement and Release

Female Character: Challenging Stereotypes

Our female character is empowered, strong-willed and independent despite the stereotype regarding female reaction after a breakup. It isn't her that is weak, it is in fact the male character. We aimed to empower and go against stereotypes in order to aspire to fulfill the requirements of our target audience. It is common that throughout pop culture, it is the female portrayal that comes across as weak and vulnerable against the male character.

The understanding of the male gaze adheres to the female portrayal within a modern society. Young audience members within our target audience are victims of societies expectation of women, which is what we wish to conquer.

"Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at" - John Berger. 

Our character isn't the stereotypical innocent and virginal character seen throughout media texts. Propps understanding of narrative discusses the stereotypical 'damsel in distress' type character. However, the indie genre aims to challenge stereotypes through a unique and experimental way.

Talent Release Forms: Artist and Female Actor

Planning for Filming: 10/12/16

Research into Costume: Make-up

In order to initiate an understanding of the typical depiction of a female character within an indie/alternative music video, we decided to do some research into costume, starting specifically with make-up and the importance of simplicity and a natural look for the female character. 

Through research into existing products such as 'Robbers' by The 1975 and 'Snap Out of it' by Arctic Monkeys, we have ultimately begun to understand the way in which female characters are represented within the indie genre. We wish to mimic yet however, by also empowering females by portraying her as natural and innocent, yet also strong and independent asides from the involvement of a man. 

We also looked at female artists for inspiration of image such as 'Haim' and Ellie Rowsell, lead singer and guitarist from 'Wolf Alice' as well as more mainstream alternative artists such as Lana Del Rey, specifically to find inspiration for a make-up look to be used within the music video. 

Storyboards: Close Analysis of Narrative and Symbolism

Once we, as a group, had discussed our initial ideas we decided to create a draft storyboard that would allow us to focus our thoughts and create an in depth plan as to the direction we wished to take with our narrative.

We decided to focus our planning into three sections: narrative, specific symbolism and performance. Therefore, we all took a role that in turn allowed us to focus our thinking and specifically understand the requirements of each of us in terms of filming.

Permission Forms for Band and Audience

Within our music video we will be utilising clips filmed of the crowd and band on stage. Therefore, this requires audience and artist confirmation in order to go ahead. During the EP Launch we will be filming this footage, therefore, the audience must be made aware of this.




We have also created a consent form to go along with this, specifically targeted at audience members who will be filmed during the performance.

Ancillary Task Initial Ideas: Digipak

I collated a few ideas that I have determined will be my main focus for the digipak and incorporated them into research into existing prodcucts.

EP Launch: 10th December

'Your Illuminations' have produced an EP and are ahead of an launch event in Manchester. As a group we have been invited to attend this event in order to film the necessary footage required for the performance element of the piece. I also aim to take advantage of this opportunity and gain material that could be used in the ancillary task element of the task. I will collate images of the band individually and as a collective, behind the scenes and also in performance.

Character and Actor Profiles

   

Indie Digipak: What does it feature?

A digipak associated with the indie genre is one that utilises urban areas and simplistic settings in order to distinctly portray the image desired by the artist. It makes use of dark colours, potentially a slight use of colour to highlight a specific element of the image or create distinct contrast between two concepts within. Clothing is simplistic and fitting with the conventions of the genre.  

Ancillary Task: Digipak Moodboard

Live Performance Filming

I quite frequently attend gigs and concerts in a range of venues. I have a strong passion for live music and the atmosphere that comes along with that. In the week just gone, I attended Catfish and the Bottlemen at Victoria Warehouse. Evidently, I took the opportunity to film a number of clips on my phone in order to understand the requirements of live performance filming and the limitations that may come along with that.

Of course, due to the fact that I filmed on an iPhone, it wasn't the best possible quality of footage that would be required in my coursework. However, we aim to use two high quality cameras in order to get the necessary footage that we need.

Footage used of the live performance element of the music video will be played under a non-diegetic track of "Skin Tight", therefore issues of crowd disturbance and potentially poor quality sound will be avoided.

Lighting is susceptible to change which however, can be tampered with in post-production.

Ancillary Task: Research into Existing Magazine Covers

One of the ancillary tasks will focus on producing a magazine advert within a popular music text. Indie/ alternative rock magazines showcase a unique aesthetic which therefore is highly influential to inspire my ideas regarding this task. Although these images come from covers of magazines, it allows for me to understand the requirements regarding aesthetic and desired look within the indie genre which will evidently generate initial ideas for what I could potentially use.

EP Launch

'Your Illuminations' are ahead of an EP launch, whereby the song we are producing a video for will feature. The EP launch has been promoted on social media such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. This has therefore created hype within fans and supporters that will initiate popularity and knowing into the band. 

Due to our role of producing a music video for an upcoming track, it will allow us to support the band and in turn, them to support us in our studies. 

Initial ideas: Location

After discussing any initial ideas we may have, we decided to focus our ideas on location. This allowed us to understand the potential outcome of our music video. We categorised our ideas through location, such as: a house, the beach, a road; then this enabled us to depict what lyrics correlated to that and therefore what needed to filmed in that location.

The aim of this was to get a more distinct understanding of what we wanted out of our final storyboard, as well as defining our production schedule that we will go on to produce. We also discussed potential actors and the roles they would have to play in association with these locations and initial ideas.

Initial Ideas: Lyrics Analysis

After speaking with the band and deciding on using the song 'Skin Tight' from their upcoming EP, we decided to utilise our discussion time in depicting the focal points of the song and what symbols we could take from that. 

This allowed us to consolidate our ideas and is where the inspiration for the direct use of enigma codes stemmed from. Instead of using a simple linear narrative whereby a couple breaks up, we discussed using some sort of non-linear narrative that would take shape of a number of symbolical images such as a breaking glass, a tide, a single tear, just to name a few.  

We then went on to discuss these ideas with the band in order to ensure the direction we were taking was one that also suited their desires for the image of the video in correlation to the song and their image as artists. 

Analysis of Narrative in a Music Video: Robbers

The influence of this video came from the front man, Matty Healy, and his love  for the Quentin Tarantino film 'True Romance'. It depicts the idea that two people can meet and instantly fall in love. They become so infatuated with one another that it could eventually destroy them. The video is an ode to those relationships whereby it is all or nothing; love is all that matters. 

"Characters like Bonnie and Clyde always appealed to me as a teenager - couples so intoxicated with one another, actions fueled bu blind unconditional love" - Matty Healy speaking about the video

The ideas that we have brought together as a group have been influenced by the break up of a relationship. This video therefore allows for a clear understanding of how symbols and narrative can be utilised to portray lyrics and their intended meaning in a unique way. 

Production Schedule

Questionnaire Response: Survey Monkey

Slideshare survey money analysis from daniellefowles1

Production Schedule Draft

This is the initial ideas regarding when we will get together as a group and film the narration. However, we are yet to finalise actors and ideas regarding this therefore, this is custom to change over time once analysed.

Studio Visit: Recording the Song

We got invited to visit the studio to observe the stages of producing a song. Although we were behind the scenes it allowed us to see the initial production stages of the song. It allowed us to follow the stages leading up to the release of the song in the future. 

They set out a clear objective of what they wished to achieve and individually contributed to the outcome that they all brought together. Although it hasn't made it to final completion, it was a productive studio visit which allowed us to understand what is required to produce a high quality song. This also introduced the song we will use for our music video.

Leading on from this we will analyse the lyrics of the song and discuss ideas with the band of how we will portray within the music video and what initial ideas we can come up with collectively. 

Final Ideas

Video Analysis: Hey Scarlet by Your Illuminations

Artist Decision: Your Illuminations

Your Illuminations are a North Yorkshire based band who once functioned with three members until a fourth member joined in 2016 - Anthony. More so than alternative rock they come under the distinctive bracket of 'punk-rock' in some sense. Yet the connotations of this genre to the one we aimed to focus upon are widely similar and show a distinct focus on the music and the band members themselves alongside the effective use of narrative in order to display an image within the lyrics. 

With a number of tour dates under their belts they are in the prime stage of striving towards popularity. Their love of music drives their passion for success and aim to make use of local media students and mutual friends in order to create their aesthetic. 

'With a debut EP on the horizon and their eyes set firmly on the echelons of rock history, it seems the sky's the limit for Y.I'

Their effective use of social media such as Facebook and Instagram allow for them to build up their following and therefore encourages further interest to surround the band. Their aesthetic and desired image is distinctively shown throughout the images and videos they put out to their followers. This is a common convention of this type of genre as it allows for a unique image to be created without danger of cliche and somewhat unimaginative mainstream image. 

Group Discussion: Indie Artist Analysis

The three of us took responsibility for a band within the indie/alternative rock genre, these being: Two Door Cinema Club, The 1975 and The Courteeners. This gave us a wide rage of ideas regarding the aesthetic of bands within our chosen genre. Once we had individually researched our chosen bands, we brought these ideas together within a discussion. During this we looked at what we had produced and proceeded to compare the conventions and common aspects of the genre in order to bring about a specific image.

This helped to consolidate our knowledge about what we had found in relation to the indie genre. Ultimately, this research allows for us to strategically guide our research and begin to bring about our initial ideas for our own music video. A music video is usually guided by an artists style and image they wish to portray; therefore, it is important to understand each and every aspect of a band in order to draw a direct comparison within the indie genre.

Georgia took the role of looking at The 1975 and their branding, alongside the image they wish to portray.

Danielle also took a role in depicting the image of an indie/alternative band of a slightly more rock nature: Courteeners.

And finally, I decided to research Two Door Cinema Club.