Drafting and Planning: Ms Simpson make up scene

Drafting and Planning: Teacher make up scene

This is a scene which I have recently filmed on Wednesday 16th December after school.  I have accidentaly stumbled on this photo opportunity as the subject pulled out some make up to prepare for being filmed. This struck me as very feminine ehaviour as women have this stigma to appar attractive no matter what. I have used this to my advantage as it allowed me to use very creative shots and props to enhance my message even further.

The over the shoulder shot is exciting and keeps the audience intersts up. Also the mirror is the main aspect of the frame which represents that women to bound to hiding the true selves. The subject is only at the side of the frame staring into the mirror to show her refelection as if she is realising that she is bound to that piece of make up.

There is no editing added, however, I am going to go with either a fast jump to move to the next scene to show the fast paces of womens lives.

This scene deffinitely breaks and challenges R&B music vieo conventions as there are no social messages in music videos and my vidoe is packed with meaningful social messages. The props I am using are not alike R&B music videos as typically expesive jewellery and watches and expensive cars and I use simple make up tools to show a more powerful message.

Research: Methods to shoot in low light

 Methods to shoot in low light

Low light in videos can lead to a lot of undesired effects such as grains in the video, under saturated images, low contrast and muddiness. Low light is tough to deal with but some techniques can significantly improve it.

I want to shoot a scene in a darker light to show the miserable effect that misogyny sets n society and mostly women. The scene which will have low key lighting is in the kitchen as the mother character is making sandwiches and putting on her nurse uniform.

Even though you are shooting in a dark space, it is feasible to add some light. Not too much so that the room isn't too bright and remains a bit darkened to give the best effect. Maybe turn on a small lamp to bounce some light around the frame and give characters and items a visible outline or representation. Maybe have characters stand closer to light or shoot when the sun isn't completely set. Just something to have some light in there.

An external light can help create a cleaner image on the face of the character or an object and add colour saturation.

The best thing to do when  shooting where there isn't a lot of light is to have as big of an aperture as possible. The aperture refers to the focus of the camera in the lens which lets light in. Having a bigger opening lets in more light and the video will look brighter despite being shot in a dark space.

Research: Different types of shots and when to use them

Different types of shots and when to use them

I plan to use a variety of shots to show certain aspects in my video but also to represent characters and items in the desired way. This can be done by manipulating shots to construct the perfect representation of my characters. As my music video will hold a social message, representation is crucial and so the shots have to used in a certain way so that the audience receives the correct and desired message.

Medium Close up - Recognised by having the bottom of the frame being between the shoulders and waist of the character and leaving some head room at the top. A medium close up is great to at creating a comfortable space for the audience as they are too close to the character but are close enough to see emotion on the characters face and hand gestures which are are important part of any communication. Perfect to use for normal scenes where charters are talking and minimal expression is seen.

Close up - The bottom of the frame is higher than medium close up and ends just below the shoulders whilst leaving some head room as well. Allows more emotion to be seen and is best used in emotional scenes when the audience has to be really involved with what is happening in the frame. What is also great about a close up is the ease with which light can be manipulated. There can be a light stand right outside the frame and the audience wouldn't even know, this allows to perfectly light a character or frame as you can be more precise with it. A close up draws more attention to the character or an item in the frame but it's not so close to make the audience uncomfortable.

Choker close up -  Finishes just below the lips and above the chin and starts just above the eyebrows. The audience is kept in a really uncomfortable position as the character is literally in their face. The character in the frame has to be instructed to keep still as any small or minimal movement makes a big change to the frame and ruins the effect and representation. Great for showing expressions of anger as if the character is actually talking to the audience and involves them in the video.

Extreme close up - Not to be used too often but when can be very effective. An extreme close up focuses really close up on one part of the face or item. Come sin very handy when you need to show something small and detailed. When the frame is a wide angle and the narrative brings attention to a small or detailed item, it is an effective method to use extreme close up so that the audience can see the item or facial expression clearly. Can add a lot of visual interest to a video and so it is a smart idea to use it an correct times.

Research Into Similar Products: Trumpets by Rizzle Kicks

Research Into Similar Products: Trumpets by Rizzle Kicks

This video by Rizzle Kicks is great to analyse and look for inspiration as it is pretty low budget as this song was released when they were new to the music industry. This video is very effective and most people do not realise it is low budget as props, location, shots and editing are so effective that this video looks professional and expensive.

At 0:17, the shot rotation keeps the viewers interest at peak as there is an unusual beginning to the video as the camera is slanted and the prop used is weirdly appealing as it is the artists in a boom box. The artists then pick up the boom box and we can see them double, this shot also has very effective lip sync.

The location change at 0:30 is very sudden, jump cut is used to cut straight from one location to the two artist being in a field of grass. They are also in the same position and they turn around to walk away from the camera as if nothing ever happened. This effect keeps the audience interested and forces them to keep watching to find out what happens.

The way the boom box is used is very effective as the linear narrative of the song is displayed through the actual plot and the two artists in the boom box.

At 1:57, there is a very comical chase scene after the dealer realised that he received monopoly money as payment. The props used make this scene hysterical and make it really enjoyable for the audience. The chase scene that follows is effective as it continuously keeps the audience satisfied and their attention is upheld, The use of post production is really effective as the chase becomes comical rather than scary and dangerous, therefore entertaining the audience.

There is literal acting out of what the lyrics say, increases the appealing nature of the video, and makes it a video that is of comedy genre. The scene follows quick shot rotation and helps to prevent audience tiredness.

The use of the trumpet as a prop is also a metaphor for the lyrics, as the trumpet represents drugs but as drugs are represented as a fun instrument and adding to the comical side of the video.

Organisation: Miss Kavanagh's scene

Organisation: Teacher Scene

My second scene includes a teacher in a classroom, this scene will be shot on Thursday 10th of Deember, in after school hourse. Shooting after school will minimise distractions and allow me to shoot the teacher in a manner that is desired. The scene will inlude the teacher sitting at their desk, and then writing some lyrics on the board, then putting warrior stripes in thier face. The teacher will be a female to reinforce the empowerment message that my video is aiming to send out. 

The mise en scene will include the teacher's costume, which will be appropiate and professional, which is typical for a teacher. The teacher will wear minimal make up to emphasise the lacking need for make up and covering up women's flaws in society. The teacher's clothes will be dark to show seriousness and also show the audience the lack of offence that the female teacher is taking from isogyny in the music indistry.

Some shots that I will use in this scene inlude mid cuts to show the teacher sitting at a desk, also close ups to attracte th eaudiences attention to the stripes on the teacher's face. The lighting will be mostly natural from windows and during some scenes such aswhen the teacher is at their desk, thelighting will be of high key to emphasize their importance to society. 

Research Into Similar Products: All Of the Lights by Kanye West

Research Into Similar Products: All Of the Lights by Kanye West

Mise-en-scene- This video contains the use of props, mostly police cars, to show that the African American community is associated with crime but also appeal to Kanye West's target audience. The setting and location seem to varies from black background to streets and an urban landscape, this music video mostly uses man made lighting, and there are also parts in the music video were scenes appear multicolored, some of the setting and props could have also been computer generated to create a drastic change of setting and attract the audience. Mise-en-scene could suggest that the artists are fashionable, it could also suggest that Kanye west is above the law as he is seen standing on top of a police vehicle. and therefore appealing to the audience as they can look up to him and be envious.

Editing- This music video starts with an intro, editing techniques which are present are straight cuts and jump cuts. In the actual video editing techniques which have been used include straight cuts, jump cuts, cross cutting, fast cutting and dissolve to portray an action filed video but also a more chilled out narrative at certain points in the film to adapt to what is happening in the frame. Camerawork and editing help construct a representation of the group as cool and fashionable as through editing we are able to see the group in many different ways, camera work captures the artist at many different shots to make them more appealing to the audience.

Organisation: Opportunity to shoot a scene

Organisation: Shooting a scene

One of the very scenes in my music video is a woman who is a mother ( I will use my mum for this character) and the footage follows her as she gets ready in the morning. She is a nurse and the footage shows her making sandwiches for her daughter and putting on her nurse uniform. My mum is perfect for this as she is a nurse and this role is very caring and nurturing in nature which is exactly what women are known and praised for. I wanted the character to be a nurse as the audience can be reminded of the best characteristics of a woman, which are mostly kindness and love.

The shooting of this scene will take place on the 5th of December 2015, which is a Saturday.

The scene will be shot in my kitchen, this is to pick at the stereotype that has been created over the years which limits women to just cook and clean for their husbands. I want to battle this stereotype by showing the mother playing the stereotype as she is really just taking care of her child and making them lunch. 

The shots that I will be using are mid shots to show the mother as she is putting on her nurse uniform and zoom ins to force the audience's attention to one specific and important object, event or person in the frame. 

The lighting will vary from natural bright to low key as I want to show the mother in different light to show her different emotions and the stereotypes that are being imposed on her at certain times in the video. Low key lighting will be used when the mother is sitting on the couch and next to her a lyric card is placed. The mother will have a certain emotion expressed on her face to show independence and confidence with her life, as if she doesn't care that all the stereotypes are proliferated by society as she is above them. 

Research Into Similar Products: Empire State of Mind

Research into Similar Products: Empire State of Mind

Mise-en-scene: this would include the setting/location New York City, props which are present in many scenes during the music video, the use of man made and ambient lighting and the various different outfit/costumes which have also been used throughout the music video. 

Editing: This music video uses fast cutting to quickly show the various scenes of New York City, this video also use straight cuts and jump cuts, this video also use a lot of fade ins and outs dissolve. Camera techniques: medium shots are mainly used in this video, close ups are also include and during the end of the video a wide/two shot is used to capture both artist. The techniques used here adhere to a typical music video of the same genre as this video contains a lot of editing as well as various shot of both artist.

Both artist are represented as highly knowledgeable about the City of New York, they both look highly fashionable, they are both represented as highly talented at what they do, JayZ and Alicia Keys .Mise-en-scene could suggest both artist patriotism of New York City, for example Jay Z wears Yankee hat. Camera and editing contribute to the already constructed representation of both artist as highly patriotic about New York City. For example the use of fast cutting to show a lot of scenes of new york as possible, this could also seen through the over head panning of the various sky scrapers in New York City.

Research Into Similar Products: Single Ladies by Beyonce

Research Into Similar Products: Single Ladies by Beyonce

This video only contains a performance by 3 women, the whole video shows Beyoncé and her back up dancers dancing for the whole video, the whole video is also in a black and white effect.

Mise-en-scene: the setting is just a white background, props used include the ring on Beyoncé finger a well as the robo-glove, the outfit used is a leotard and lighting was also used. The ring is a common convention as R&B artists do show off their "bling" however it is very minimal in this video which is unusual. The make up the women wear is also very extravagant which is a typical R&B convention as women are always seen in a very sexual way. The costumes are very minimal and show off the majority of the women's bodies. This follows typical R&B conventions as women are sexualised in R&B music videos are are regularly seen in tight or minimal clothing to appeal to the male target audience. 

Editing: this music video uses fade in, straight cuts and fast cutting near the end of the video. This matches the lyrics and the tone of the music as the song is very fast and fast editing and cuts matches the speed and lets the whole video flow nicely. 

Camera techniques: This video mainly use wide shots but also shows extreme close ups, close ups, medium close ups and medium shots to show the 3 characters as the dance, the different shows create visual appeal as the 3 attractive women are seen in different camera angles. This video also use a lot of zoom ins and outs as well as panning to show emotion and follow them as they dance. 

This video shows Beyonce in a powerful and dominant light as she is singing about taking control of her relationship and forcing the man to do as she wishes. However she doesn't challenge misogynistic conventions of R&B as she is dancing around in a tight body suit and mainly focuses on appealing to the male target audience.

Research Into Similar Products: Single Ladies

Research Into Similar Products: Single Ladies

This video only contains a performance type mode, the whole video show Beyoncé and her back up dancers dancing for the whole video. Mise-en-scene: the setting is just a white background, props used include the ring on Beyoncé finger a well as the robot glove, the outfit used is a leotard and lighting was also used. Editing: this music video uses fade in, straight cuts and fast cutting near the end of the video. Camera techniques: This video mainly use wide shots but also shows extreme close ups, close ups, medium close ups and medium shots. This video also use a three shot, this video also use a lot of zoom ins and outs as well as panning. The shot also only appear in black and white only. The techniques used subvert from a typical music video with a female from the same genre as the video contains only simple editing.

Beyoncé is represented as sexy through the choice of outfit which show of her legs, the robot glove could suggest she is strong or powerful, from the video we can tell that she is highly skilled at dancing as the video incorporates choreography .Mise-en-scene could suggest that Beyoncé is confident in her body as she can dance in a leotard. Camera and editing empathizes how skilled Beyoncé and her back up dancers are at dancing.For example camerawork has been use to capture the performers as they dance at different angles which could also be suggestive of how good of a dancer Beyoncé. Audiences may watch the video to enjoy the type of choreography being performed. Audience theories such as feminism could apply here as the outfits that have been used are a bit revealing. This video could attract a male gaze due to the fact that all women present in thevideo can be considered attractive.