Video Remake - Tings Tings - Thats Not My Name

Video Remake

Ting Tings

Thats Not My Name

Filming

I was tasked with remaking a music video by the Ting Tings 'Thats Not My Name'. This assignment would expoe the ingredients that went into the making of  a  persuasive music video. This exercise would also allow me to learn new techniques when using a camera and also allow me to learn and develop essential skills on Final Cut Pro. We first started by making sure we were familiar with the real music video and what shots they used and what angles they used to film the artist. We realized they used many close-ups for the singer and the extreme close-ups of the drummer to create an intimacy with the audience. We then needed to make sure that the singer knew all the words, in this case it was Lily Budd. When filming we first took an establish shot  from a medium range of the entire performance. We then started filming close-ups and also three different angles, one was a low-angle shot, another was a high-angle shot and finally a close-up shot of Lily from the side. Next we needed to film extreme close-up shots of the drummer (I myself was the drummer). We needed to get extreme close-ups of my feet using the bass drum and then a close-up of me using the main drum.This would enhance the effect of the rhythm. Once we filmed the singer and drummer separately we  needed to film them together to create a sense of harmony. We used a  a medium ranged shot to capture both actors. Once all the filming was done we imported the tapes onto the computer.

Using Final Cut Pro

Once all the clips were uploaded onto Final Cut I had to then cut all the clips into the appropriate sections and then drag those onto separate tracks. I then cut out the audio from each clip and aligned all the clips in-time with the real song. Doing this wold allow me to make cuts easier and more precisely. Once that was done I started to focus on the main part of the song which meant I left the intro and the parts with the drums out, so I could concentrate on the singer. Once those cuts were made I could easily fit the other pars around the singer.

The next step for me was to edit the parts where I wanted the drummer to show. So I chose the most appropriate parts of the song to add him. I made the correct sized cuts with the 'razor' tool and then dragged the clip onto the main track making sure I didn't overlap or leave a blank space in between. The entire time I had to make sure that the main track was in time with the music. Doing this exercise also opened my eyes to a new technique that made making cuts easier. I had to select four different camera angles and then insert them all into a 'Mix Selection' track and then as the song played I could manually select the angle I wanted to use and then those cuts would be applied automatically on my main track. Doing this made the entire process go faster and the cuts allowed to pick the best angle. Once that was done the ext step was to add effects. For this pop video I decided keeping it simple would have the best effect. I used three different video filters; Earthquake, Brightness & Contrast control and motion blur. The first filter I used was the Brightness & Contrast control and this was applied to the entire video. I decreased brightness and increased the contrast to give a 'filmy' look, it also allowed me to make a clearer separation between the actors and the background. 

The next filter I used was the Earthquake effect. I used this for the clips that had the drummer preforming to bring the video to life and give a more pop/rock effect. To give the best result I decreased the speed of the shake and also decreased the 'Mix' bar so that it doesn't look too strong.  The final filter I used was the 'Motion Blur' filter. I used this in the clip where I felt the singer didn't move much and in doing so it made the singer look like she is moving a little more and also gives a hyper-realistic look to the dance moves. For the best effect I decreased the blur but increased the drag to look hyper-real.

Doing this task allowed me to see what was required when making a performance video. I was able to gain extensive knowledge in using Final Cut Pro and I was also able to understand what more I need to do when it comes to making my final music video. When filming my final music video I would make sure that I film everything exactly in-time with the music. I would also make sure that the playback device I choose to use would go loud enough so that the performers can hear what parts they are playing too. A few prblems I encountered when filming and editing this preformance included not having a fully charged carry battery, so when I film my final video I need to make sure I have spare batteries. Aother major problem we had was the studio itself as it had alot of equipment lyng around and this took alot of our time to clear everything out of the filming frame.

Third Music Video Proposal

Third Initial Proposal - Butterfly Stone - Weight On My Shoulders

If I were to choose this song as my final proposal, I would consider image, type of video and the concept behind the video. I would want portray would be a 'troubled soul' image with the band projected in dark lighting as the song is a mix of indie/rock. The tone of music is laid back and the lyrics talks about having a burden or a 'weight on your shoulder'. I would want to make the music video a mix between a narrative and performance as i would the main character lip-syncing. The narrative would be about one character not being able to handle pressures in life and having a large burden and turns to alcohol and drugs the point of suicide. The set would be in a hotel room and the set would be filled with empty bottles and few empty pill containers. As the music reaches the climax the character would be ready to jump off the balcony of the hotel room. I would use a lot of close-up shots to make the video more personal and use as little light as possible to give a feeling of loss or depression.

Second Music Video Proposal

Second Initial Proposal - Siren - Sunrise

If this were to be me final idea I have to consider the image, type of video and the theme I would want to create. The song is about relationship problems and looking to a new future "Sunrise". The title gives us the impression that someone is moving on. To depict this in the video I would show clips of a couple in a relation having growing conflicts. The conflict will grow as the video progresses. I would also convey the idea of a 'Sunrise' by initially filming the band preforming at night with two large floodlight behind them creating a silhouette but towards the end of the song the band would be filmed as the sun is starting to rise. The video will be largely made up off performance shots but will have a narrative to keep the audience interested. I would want to give the band a post-modern 'emo' look with dark clothes to give them an indie/rock look. I would also portray them as an emotionally troubled group.

First Initial Music Video Proposal

First Initial Proposal - The Arrival - Turn the page

If this were to be my final choice, I would firstly have to think about different aspect I would want to convey. The image I want to create of the artist and the type of video (Performance, Narrative or Conceptual). The song is about a character not being able to move on from a past relationship is now questioning himself why. I would have a mix of performance, narrative and subtle conceptual ideas. The introduction could possibly start with a book as it relates directly to the song title, the book would open and the band could start preforming inside the book as if it has come to life. I would also have a side narrative of a male character 'trying' to have relationships with other different girls but not being able to move forward in a relationship. This would be shown for in all the verses and it would symbolize not being able to move on from his past relationship. The could either be the camera zooming out of the book as a page turns. I would want to create a rebellious yet formal image this would show them as ironic or contradictory as they would be wearing formal wear but in a rough and untidy manor. 

Known Music Video Analysis

Angels and Airwaves (AvA) - Video Analysis

 I am analysing this music video from a known band who already have an image so that I can  grow more familiar with techniques used to create a good music video. The genre that AvA come under is Neo-Space rock/ Alternative Rock. They have created a band image that casts them as something out of this world and all video and the style of music they make is on an 'epic' scale. They have a running theme of space, stars and planets in their videos but they also project themselves into a hyper-real and abstract world. Why do they promote this image? Well it's because they want to take their audience somewhere out of this world. They portray their music on a grand and universal scope showing that they are almost unreal or a band that is hyper-real; because of this image the audience expect to see something that takes them to an alternate reality.

Shot Analysis:

- The first shot introduces the topic of the song and sets the theme for the rest of the clip and also gives us an insight of what the song could be about.

- The head-on shot with the members walking towards the camera creates a link with well known shows like Star-trek, Stargate, Men in Black demonstrating intertextuality.

- The band is also often shot from a distance giving the viewer a sense of a grand space.

- The shot of the earth with a bright light behind keeps in time with the music and fades to white at the point of climax.

- The singer is in frnt of a bright light to create a silhouette which makes him look almost angelic. 

- A clip of the universe is regularly shown to give perspective and shows the band small compared to a vast space.

- Shots of the singer walking through large and bright landscapes allows the audience to make connection with space and earth.

- As the music slows down and the reverb of the song increases the band also start to move slowly as if floating in space.

- When the singer says 'life's waiting to begin' a pan shot of him in a bright and sunny location is related directly to the lyrics in a conceptual way as the a bright and vast landscape could symbolize life or hope.

- At 3:50 a clip of the universe zooming in could show a change of in the time-line and then that is backed up by the following clips of old wars that bring feelings of violence, despair, and pain.

- As the song starts to end the landscape he is standing in is starting to show the sun starting to set.

- The beginning of the music video shows the singer walking towards us but as the sun starts to set he is now walking away.

- The music video has a linear narrative. The final scene shows an abstract and hyper-real setting different plants in the background.