Location and Mise en scene

Intertextual references

Narrative Structure

Narrative structure 

Narrative techniques are used to structure my music video. The music video will be purely narrative, illustrating the lyrics of the song and creating representations and events that relate to the audience. We plan to include lots of different character types, to create diverse representations, which could relate to the audience. The costumes and mise en scene will construct different character types for each actor, such as the main character, mean girls, gangster, geek. For example the preppy character will be dressed in formal, preppy clothes, and have a friendly persona. The character types engage with the audience and structure the narrative, because their behaviour can illustrate the emotions of the song. 

The narrative structure will have a clear equilibrium, disequilibrium then a reconstructed equilibrium. This method will allow the audience to visualise the song, because the equilibrium can change with the dynamics in the song, and changes in intensity. This builds a story line, which is dramatic and entertaining, making it more memorable to the audience. To reinforce this narrative structure, we will include a crescendo in the music video, which builds the narrative to a climatic moment. 

Within the character types there will be binary opposites, to create more broad representations and to bring conflicts between characters. Enigma is a narrative technique that will engage the audience and will enhance the plot and shape the characters. The main character is enigmatic because her face is never seen in the video. This will be constructed through the camerawork, as the video will be shot from her point of view, therefore she is never seen and remains a mystery. 

The music video has an impressionist narrative as it will narrate the lyrics of the song, through the use of mise en scene and acting. The video will be set at a house party, therefore the scenes of drinking can relate to the lyrics. The song talks about addiction and heartbreak, it references alcohol and drug abuse. We intend to reference the lyric 'get into my bloodstream' throughout the video. For example through shots of people binge drinking, or shots of a couple in an argument, to portray emotional heartbreak and addiction.

The video will use a reverse in the narrative structure, to rebuild the equilibrium, and reverse the story line back to the beginning, therefore undoing the negative events and dramas. There will be no dialogue or script, because they are not typically used in music videos. However there will be an introduction, before the song starts, but we have chosen not to have dialogue because the silence builds up the suspense for the soundtrack, and keeps the audience interested. Ellipsis can be used, to speed up time, through the use of jump cuts. This matches the pace of cuts to the beat of the music, keeping the audience entertained.

The music video will have a multi-stranded narrative, where different storylines will be happening to different characters at the same time. This happens as the main character moves through the house party, from room to room, witnessing different situations, such as a couple arguing. It almost has a circular narrative, because all the scenes will be reversed back to the beginning, however it won't finish on the shot it started on, as it will be a new shot of the main character leaving the house.
This structure will bring the storyline back to an equilibrium, and the ending will be clear to the audience. The reverse technique and repeating of shots, to create a nostalgia and deconstruct the equilibrium, make up a non-linear narrative. The narrative is mainly in chronological order at the beginning, the reaches the climax of the song and starts to jump back and forth, in no time order. This is done to create flashbacks of shots which signify various dramas and meanings, such as shots of blood.

Andrew Goodwin states that there are three different categories for music videos, where they can connect back to the song itself. The first is illustration, where the concept of the video is based around the meaning of the song's lyrics. Amplification is the way music videos use both performance and narrative, whilst signifying connotations of the song's meanings. The third is disjuncture, where the music video is irrelevant to the content of the song and genre conventions, and make little sense, therefore creates abstract visuals.
Our video uses illustration, because it is based around a narrative, giving an impression of what the lyrics are about, so that the audience can visualise the song.

Another music video that uses the same illustration narrative is A-Ha 'take on me'. They use characters and plots to illustrate the lyrics, based on a romantic fantasy narrative. This works well because it creates a visual for the song, so the audience can understand the meanings and emotions the band were trying to portray, and represent them in the characters in their video. They use both live action and animation, to construct their fantasy theme and build a clear narrative.

First stage of group planning

Mind Maps

Characters...

No. of characters needed in each scene... 

 Mise en scene...

 Actors- characters...

Explanation of planning

In our group we planned out every aspect of our music video for the song 'bloodstream', ensuring we understand when and where we need to film, the actors we'll need, mise en scene appropriate to the genre and that it is relatable to the target audience. The individual tasks such as inter-textual references and choosing a song required a depth of research in order to generate my own ideas to move the music video forward. In a group we had many discussions on exactly what would happen in the video, firstly creating mind maps of characters, costumes, other similar media texts, mise en scene and actors. Then we wrote down the sequence of each shot/ scene and how it connects with the lyrics. This gave each of us a clear idea of what happens in the video so we could start the planning posts. We all collaborated on the mind map for initial ideas, so our visions would work together. We also did the storyboard together, shot by shot. After this we all had the same ideas and information so I put together the rest of the planning individually, so that I could get it done efficiently, using all the ideas we previously discussed and some of the images we shared.

For the mood board I found images to create a visual to explain the video. For selecting the actors I got photos of the actors, in costume, from the first shoot and explained the strengths and weaknesses. To plan the costumes I drew the main characters in their costumes with an explanation and characteristics. I also created a shooting schedule, using help from the rest of the group on when and where we would film and our list of props. We had a lot of dilemmas over the location of our music video, we knew it would be set in a house and we found a few possible locations, after trying one house we realised it wouldn't be possible to film there multiple days, therefore we chose one of our houses. Once this was decided I planned the location, summarising the good and bad points and how it would work in the shoot. We all came up with the inter-textual references we would use, from this I made a powerpoint on what we took from each media text to, inspire our video.The planning was successful as it was all necessary in the shoot, however we could have improved on preparing the equipment more, planning out the positions of the lighting and making sure we had enough actors for each day of shooting.

Mood Board

Shooting schedule

1st shoot: 27th October 2016

Order of filming...

1) beer pong scene. 

• Set in the dining room. 
• Equipment and props: plastic cups, ping pong balls, lighting, paper to blackout the windows, table, SLR camera, track slider, costumes. 
• Characters: 5, including mean girls and casual people.

2) Hallway scenes (shots of the watch, walking, opening doors)

• set in the hallway.
• Equipment and props: watch, costumes, main light, SLR, GoPro 
• Characters: Main character, background extras

3) Walking into the house

• set outside, front of the house.
• Equipment and props: Torch lights, costumes, SLR, track slider
• Characters: Main character

2nd shoot: 14th November 2016

Order of filming...

1) Kitchen scene.

• Set in the kitchen
• Equipment and props: Shot glasses, bottles and cans, plastic cups, fairy lights, balloons, costumes, GoPro, main light.
• Characters: 7, including main character, mean girls, preppy and others

2) walking into the house.

• Set in the hallway.
• Equipment and props: plastic cups, bottles, lighting, GoPro, SLR (for close ups), costumes.
• Characters 6, including main character, preppy character, mean girl etc.

3) Photo scene (leaving kitchen + 3 people take a selfie)

• Set in the hallway.
• Equipment and props: phone, GoPro, costumes
• Characters: 4, including mean girls, main character.

3rd shoot: 16th November 2016

Order of filming...

1) Bedroom scene (walking in and seeing someone passed out on the bed)

• Set in the bedroom.
• Equipment and props: wine bottle, fairy lights, balloons, GoPro, SLR.
• Characters: 2, main character and mean girl.

2) Extra shots outside, walking up to the house

• Set outside
• Equipment and props: Torch lights, SLR, track slider, costumes
• Characters: main character

3) Close up shots in the bedroom (of balloons and fairy lights)

• Set in the bedroom
• Equipment and props: Balloons, Lights, SLR
• No characters

4th shoot: 20th November 2016

Order of filming...

1) living room scene and dancing shots.

• Set in the living room.
• Equipment and props: plastic cups, bottles, fairy lights, GoPro, SLR, costumes.
• Characters: 6, including main character, preppy and mean girl.

2) Argument between the couple.

• Set on the stairs
• Equipment and props: GoPro, costumes.
• Characters: 3, main character and gay couple

3) Walking upstairs shot

• sent on stairs and landing
• Equipment and props: GoPro, main light, costumes.
• Characters: main character

4) Bathroom scene

• set in the bathroom.
• Equipment and Props: wine glasses, fake blood/ red food colouring, GoPro, SLR, costumes.
• Characters: 3, including main character and 2 people sat in the bath.

5) leaving the part scene.

• Set in the hallway downstairs.
• Equipment and props: Plastic cups, bottles, main light, costumes, GoPro
• Characters: 6, including main character

FLOOR PLANS

Downstairs

Upstairs

Storyboard

Initial storyboard ideas

Select actors

Costumes and Characters

Costumes & Characters

Our music video shows diversity and different representations by having a mix of various characters. I have drawn all their costumes to show the basis of their outfits, there will also be extras wearing casual clothes to be in the background of the party, then the key characters i've drawn will be involved in the narrative and significant scenes.

The American jock/cool guy character: His smart-casual costume reflects his sense of style and desire to impress. His characteristics make him up to be a player and a play boy, yet charismatic. His jacket, with the collar up connotes him as mysterious with a guard up that hides his true, caring persona.

The 'Preppy' character': His smart, preppy style reflects his personality as a geeky, kind and outgoing person who enjoys the party yet brings a mix to the diverse group of characters. He is a binary opposite to the jock character as the preppy boy is innocent and has individual tastes whereas the jock tries to fit in at the party and look cool as he is more self conscious about his popularity.

The femme fatal, popular character: Her red dress and high heels portray her as a femme fatal as the colour red connotes danger and sexualises her character, also the heels make her seductive. Her costume makes her up as the party girl; reckless and provocative. She is also outgoing and very involved in the party.

The 'Mean Girls' inspired character: Her costume is very girly and makes her look quite sweet and innocent, from the symbolic colours. However she can be manipulative to get what she wants and she seems fake; putting on a front to gain popularity. She is an unexpected protagonist at the party who becomes a victim to some of the negative scenes at the party.

The skater/ drug dealer character: To set the scene of a corrupt party and to link to the song's drug references, there is a drug dealer character. He is dressed like a skater to portray his ruff, lazy character and he is a young, working class teenager who deals drugs at parties to rebel and maintain their addiction. He is shown in a negative way to deter the audience from his lifestyle and characteristics, so we are being careful not to glorify drug use in our video.

Gangster character: His costume is dark and grungy. He is show as a gangster and has a professional vibe as a drug dealer as he is powerful yet morally corrupt. He is also a stereotypical gangster, based on intertextual references, including my own thriller opening.

The main character; She is enigmatic because her face is hidden in over the shoulder/ point of view shots as you are seeing the narrative from her perspective. You can see the other characters and each of their personas but hers isn't explored as she is an average character, who is individual from everyone else at the party, and experiences all the scenes there but isn't really involved.

The Pitch

Our music video follows an enigmatic girl going to a house party. She walks through the house and discovers different scenes in each room, illustrating the lyrics.

Lyrics

Prezi moodboard for chosen song

Evidence of contacting artist

Evidence of contacting artist to request permission to use their song for our music video:

Song possibilities (revised)

Song 1: Bloodstream- Firehorse 

Strengths-

• Perfect quality recording
• The lyrics are distinctive, therefore easy to work with and create a narrative.
• The genre is hybrid.. Electronic, pop
• The song has different chapters to give it variety and changes in intensity.
• It is very upbeat and has a distinct 4 4 beat 
• Each chapter in the song can create a different scene of narrative in the music video, such as a couple falling our or a drug addiction.

Weaknesses-

• The tone of the music doesn't vary much so the sense of emotion doesn't change often, between upbeat or downbeat. 

Song 2: Time machine

Strengths-

• There are various chapters in the music to make it more complex
• It has a broad genre to make create a more diverse sound
• It has clear, distinctive lyrics 
• The recording is good

Weaknesses-

• The beat isn't very distinct or catchy
• It doesn't include dynamic changes, for example to the pace and intensity.
• The tune and beat isn't as strong as the other songs, making it more challenging to come up with a plot to the music video.

Song 3: I don't claim benefits- Ego Honey

Strengths-

• Many changes in intensity, to complement the pace
• Good instrumental parts
• Satisfactory recording
• Easy genre to make a music video for (indie) because of it's many conventions.
• Distinct and repetitive beat 
• Clear lyrics that fit with the tone and suit the genre.

Weaknesses- 

• The genre isn't very hybrid as it only fits into indie
• It doesn't include many different sections

Spider diagram showing each songs' strengths in the factors shown

The song we have chosen for our music video is 'Bloodstream' by Firehorse. This song fitted clearly with the vision for our music video. It has A distinctive beat and electronic tune that makes it melodic and engaging.