Copyright

Though we are looking for a soundtrack for our music video, we must ensure to choose something which is not of copyright. Reasons for this is that contacting a non copyright artist will be allot easier to get hold of oppose to contacting an artist who has copyright over their music as this would mean we would have to get through to their record label and managers etc which is a time consuming procedure. Another reason is that we will be publishing our music video onto the internet when we’re done and by using non copyright music we will be able to do so, however if we published copyright music onto the internet we could face running into trouble with the artists record label if they discovered our music video.

Lip Sync Video Task

We was given the task to pick a soundtrack, film ourselves lip syncing to it, edit and produce a short music video of us lip syncing to that soundtrack. This task helped us learn to edit footage so that it matched the lyrics of the soundtrack in preparation for when we produce our actual music video. To edit this piece of filming we used new software we have this year called Final Cut Express, which offers many more effects and than last year’s iMovie software.

I think that our lip synch music video task was pretty good for our first attempt to lip synch and edit so that the lip synching and music were in line with each other. However there are some parts of the video where the lip synching was slightly off and we didn’t really use any fancy transitions or effects, which made our video very basic.

Research into Music Videos

What Do I Think is a Successful Music Video?

Justin Bieber - Baby ft. Ludacris
Being the most popular video on YouTube of all time and the first to break the 300 million views mark, this music video has a staggering over 330 million views and counting, it has only been uploaded for 7 months, since 19th February 2010 and has managed to outdo any other video on YouTube, taking in consideration that YouTube has been around now for 5-6 years, is a huge achievement. What I think makes this music video so successful is that Justin Beiber sings as well as a young Michael Jackson, the lyrics are pitched perfectly in reference to young love, which millions can relate to in some way or another. The song has a chorus that glides effortlessly into your head, so next time you hear this song on the radio, television or wherever you may be, the first thing you will remember is, Justin Bieber - Baby. "Baby" is a model for what pre-teen pop can be. It will instantly excite many young fans, and then it is likely to make parents smile when they hear it, too, and understand why Justin Bieber makes an outstanding musical role model for their children. In addition to his success is that this video is featuring a world known American rapper, Ludacris, which I think has helped raised this music videos profile.

Analysis on Previous Media Students Music Videos

(<< Sceenshot of the students music video)
The Moldy Peaches - Anyone Else But You is the soundtrack these students used for their music video. The costume they used, which was country styled clothing and location, which was on a farm matched the genre of the song perfectly. Though the music video did not consist of pure lip syncing; it contains enough for them not to lose any marks in that criteria, which I will take into consideration whilst making my music video. Some of the shots they took matched the lyrics of the song, for example when the lyric ‘my body’s swinging from side to side’ came on they had a shot of their feet swinging from side to side, again I will be taking this into consideration to help give me some ideas of the types of shots I could use. What makes this video different to the ones I have analyzed is that if these two are not a couple outside of this video then it is very convincing that they are. They also appear to be having fun whilst making this video, too, which just puts a smile on your face and works much better than when it appears that someone is not enjoying the experience of making their music video.


(<< Screenshot of the students music video)
Spread Love - Is the soundtrack these students used for their music video. During this video there was one great shot that really stuck to me, which was when one of the students was playing the guitar and there was an extreme close up along the strings of the guitar at an angle, which was very well executed and worked well with the genre of the song. However what didn’t work very well was the extreme close ups on the main singers teeth, he had bad teeth, but that’s not why I’m criticizing it, but more the case that when that shot comes on, I just can’t help but stare at the state of his teeth and that’s where my attention goes throughout. Another fault I picked up on was that the main singer wore his spectacles during the entire video, which doesn’t really help him create the rock and roll feel that the song brings, which is a point I have taken in account for when making my music video.

Analysis on Channel4 ‘The 100 Greatest Pop Videos’

I watched the whole video of Channel4 'The 100 Greatest Pop Videos'


Godley and Creme - Cry
This video features a sequence of morphing faces singing the song, a very simple music video but very interesting to watch. It has given an inspiration, which I could use in my music video, a sequence of morphing faces lip syncing the song, which i could achieve with the use of dissolve shots.



Eminem - Stan (Short Version) ft. Dido
This video tells a story and the video matches the lyrics throughout. it has given me an idea, which i could use in my music video, have shots, which helps tell story rather than a load of random meaningless shots, which could help keep the viewer more engaged and interested.

Brief & Music Promo Brief

Task
1) Produce a music promo video up to 5 mins, either working on your own or in a group of up to 4 members.
2) Produce a 'digipak' for release on DVD and a magazine advertisement for the DVD.


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G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media (50%)
- Music Video
- Magazine Advert
- DVD
- Blog

G325: Critical Perspectives in Media (50%)
- 2 hour exam
- Section A – 1 hour (2 Questions 1a+1b – 30 minutes each)
- Section B – 1 hour (Postmodernism)

Section A questions: To write about the whole (preliminary, thriller, music video & ancillary task) of your coursework with regard to 1 or 2 of:
- Creativity
- Digital technology
- Research & planning
- Post production
- Using conventions from real media texts
________________________________________________________________________

What is The Purpose of a Music Promo Video
1) Advertisement
2) Draws attention to the music / song
3) Illustrates the song
4) Appeals to a visual audience
5) Expresses an individual’s emotions
6) Tells a story
7) Markets an image
8) Promotes the artist / single / album
9) Persuades audience to buy CD/Download
10) Raises the audience awareness or profile of the artist/ group
11) To make an artistic statement e.g. talking Heads ‘Once in a lifetime’
12) Product placement e.g. Christine Aguilera (Not Myself Tonight)

How Do We Measure Success Criteria
1) Word of mouth
2) Number of hits on YouTube
3) Newspaper articles / TV reports
4) How many times shown on television
5) Amount of publicity
6) Downloads (legal / illegal)
7) Charts
8) CD sales

Music Websites I Will Be Looking At
www.unsigned.com
www.myspace.com

Last Word
1) Is it worth noting how there has been a massive switch in the importance of YouTube from television channels such as MTV
2) Most viewing of music videos now appears to be online

Hello