Lip Sync Shoot

Today I will be filming the lip sync. I will film 3 versions. One front on and the other two from different sides. 
With me I will have a copy of the lyrics, the song itself, a green screen, camera and some lighting. 
For the visuals, I'm only filming them as very close up shots, so the only my actress' lips will be seen, for this, I have some dark lipstick, the same lipstick used in the other shots. 

Symbolic Details

For one of the parts to my narrative, I will need to represent some sort of witch craft symbol. One idea would be to go work with a pentagram

Aside from the pentagram, I have two other options as seen below. With the context of these I am not sure if they symbols do actually represent anything, but have frequently been used in TV shows surrounding witch craft.

The pentagram will be the best known symbol, however, the other two being more unknown may add more of an effect on the atmosphere of the video with the unknown symbols.

Edit So Far

This is the edit  I have so far. I still need to film the 'ritual' and 4 lip syncs. I have more footage than  can actually make use of so not all of the footage in on the timeline.

I have also now placed markers on the beat of the drums so I know where to cut the footage so it matches the beat.

Change of storyline:

For the narrative aspect of my music video, the initial video was for the lead to be chased by own sin in real time. However when shooting this scene, the atmosphere had to be creepy so I shot the scenes at around 5pm after sunset. This did not turn out well because it was too dark and there was very little street light and I could not use studio lights because I was outside so did not have access to a power supply.
Within the next few days I re-filmed the footage in day light at around 1pm. This shoot had the correct lighting and I could actually see my actress on screen. My plan was to then edit the footage to make it look like night in post production. However, after trying to edit the footage, I found the best I could do was make it more blue. This did not make it look like night. Rather than finding the perfect time to re-film, I have now changed the details slightly to show the lead chased by her own sin in her dream, possibly sleep paralysis. To further this, I will have to show some sort of ritual which has led to the state of sleep paralysis.

Here is what the 'dream' footage will now look like:

Fans Of The Supernatural

As mentioned my video will centre around witchcraft and the supernatural. This inspiration comes from the current rise of success of TV shows featuring such concepts; Buffy, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, The Secret Circle etc. 
There has also been an increase in the amount of people basing their music around the notion of witchcraft too - this all has had mixed responses.

This Screenshot shows a comment left on a song called 'Santified' - one of the other comments also refers to The Originals (one of the TV shows based around Witches, Vampires, Werewolves and hybrids of all 3).

In terms of Buffy, the character was 16 when the show started and it ran for 7 seasons leading Buffy to be 23 years old by the end. Due to the long run, the audiences grew up with the show, hence the reason for the age range of the TV show to be 16-34.
In terms of the other 3 shows; The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and The Secret circle, they are all linked and share, relatively the same audience. The Vampire Diaries was the first to air out of all 3 and was originally a book written by L.J Smith, the same author wrote the books The Secret Circle which led to that franchise being made into a TV show. Lastly, The Originals is a spin off of The Vampire Diaries portraying where it all began with the original family of Vampires, Witches and Werewolves.

Referring back to the screenshot - as you can tell, not everyone is impressed with the popularity of the supernatural, despite this, it continues to rise, especially with the coupled rise of New Religious Movements. The song this was left on, was by The Veronicas, whom I have heavily based my artist on.

Target Audience

 As seen on the previous post about the original artists fans; I have constructed my own target audience.

I have concluded on my target reach being between the ages 14 - 25. This is the general age range of fans of TV shows which portray elements of the supernatural.

Below I have a picture of a female and male - both, people I would target this product towards

 






















Both are between the ages of 14-25
The female is of Australian decent, now living in LA where there is a lot of commotion surrounding rituals, with many people leaving institutional religion to move onto the New Religious Movement of Spirituality - where magic and the use of crystals can be seen around many places and around many people. Prior to LA, she spent a few months in Nashville, where there is an increasing interest in voodoo and thematic magic.
 The male is younger than the female and is currently studying for his A - Levels, studying Philosophy, Business and English Literature; due to the rise of TV shows centred around the supernatural, he too, has a keen interest of entertainment from the concepts surrounding these TV shows. Although he is not necessarily of a NRM, he does have a keen interest.

Due to the genre and type of voice, I don't think my target audience would have a specific look or appearance - their interest in Paige Cavern would simply derive from common ground around the supernatural.

Audience Research

Which magazine would advertise the album/singer


- THEVERSION.CO.UK previously known as 'Celebritain' - large online information source for upcoming music and new music releases.



gigwise.com
First for Music News and Photos, Gig Tickets, Music Videos, Live Music Reviews, Album Reviews, Band Interviews and Comprehensive Festival Guide.

check original artists' demographic - Facebook/twitter

As can be seen here, the fan demographic for the original artist ranges from ages 18-24. Although this stat is not fully representive because not all fans or admires of the band will have liked the fan page and also not all fans have a Facebook account so they would not be able to like the page.

check sub-catergory on ITunes

The album the song is from lies under Alternative on ITunes.

Digi Pak Ideas

This is my initial  idea for the digi pak. With feedback received I will now change the theme to either fire or shadows, both of which feature in my music video. I may also use the same photo shoot with different filters when designing the digi pak or even the same photo with different filters. 

Gratification

Theory of uses and gratifications
media effect theory, believing and being engrossed in everything you read/see, and then acting in the way the news story is represented - assumes this happens and audiences are passive.
Active audience - more discerning, actively seek out media texts to have needs met or gratified

Watch news to be informed, for self-identity, perceived by others, or watch documentary out of interest.
To be entertained during free time - possibly to get away from real world? Social interaction, 'did you see when he/she...|| what's going to happen next?'

Sub-consciencous saying 'don't buy into mainstream, don't fall for it, support real music'

Copyright Notice

Dear Universal Island Records,

My name is Roshni Mepani and I am an A Level student at Park High Sixth Form in Stanmore.  I would like your permission to use a track by 'Florence and The Machine' from their album 'Ceremonials'.

The track I wish to use is 'Seven Devils, which is track 8 on the album released in 2011. With making use of this song I will be creating a music video, digipak and magazing advert for the release of the album.

These products will not be used for financial gain and the only people who will see the products are my Media class, teachers and the OCR exam board. The music video will be uploaded to YouTube where you be fully credited.

Yours Faithfully,

Roshni Mepani

Similar Songs

Evernescence


Adele



Birdy

 Marina and the Diamonds

If He Hollers Let Him Go - Chester Himes

This song was inspired by a line (I was dead when I woke up thing morning) in this book; below is a summary of the book.

'Written in the 1940s, this novel fictionalizes the experience of being black in America at a specific time in the country's history - the early days of its involvement in World War II. The experience of being at war nationally is mirrored on a smaller scale in the struggle of the book's central character, Robert Jones, as he attempts to wage a personal war against racism. Other themes explored by the narrative include the nature of freedom and, on both a literal and metaphorical level, the tension between darkness and lightness.
In the book's final chapter, Jones is visited in jail by the owner of the shipyard where he works, who tells him that Madge has decided to not press charges. Jones, in narration, reveals his belief that she told the truth of what happened but the company has decided to spin the circumstances in their favor and against his. A judge then tells Jones that to avoid prosecution on a charge of gun possession, he can join the army. Jones feels he has no choice but to agree.'

As the novel begins, Robert Jones recalls a series of dreams that caused him to wake in fear and foreboding, feelings that, as he reveals in narration, he wakes with more often than not these days. His fears, he writes, include fear of the war and of being forced into the army, fear of the racism around him, fear of being unable to realize his ambition of simply being a man. As he gets ready for work, commenting on how powerful he feels in his uniform, he flirts with his house mate Ella Mae, asking her if she ever feels scared. She doesn't answer and sends him off to his job at a shipyard, where he has been newly promoted to a position of responsibility and leadership.

That day at work, the dark skinned Jones has an encounter that changes his life - a woman, Madge, refuses to work for him because he's a "nigger". Realizing that her attitude originates in a combination of racist fear and racially defined lust, Jones loses his temper with her. This, in turn, leads him to confrontations with his supervisor, who expresses disappointment that Jones has betrayed the company's hopes in him (that he would be an example of how to conduct positive race relations) and then demotes him. Frustrated and angry, not to mention nearly murderous after an encounter with a hostile man, Jones leaves work early and struggles to sort out both his feelings and his intentions.

Meanwhile, Jones also struggles to define and secure his relationship with the paler skinned but still black Alice Harrison, whose parents have achieved a measure of social and economic success in the white world and who have convinced themselves that they are, in fact, leaders in the transition into a unified society. Jones struggles to accept both their perspective and the conditional nature of Alice's love; she says she will only stay with him if he apologizes to Madge and to his bosses. At first he refuses, but when she convinces him that happiness is indeed possible living and working within the boundaries of the racist system of segregation, he agrees to do as she says.

Back at work, Jones begins to make amends with Madge and his co-workers, but is manipulated into planning revenge on Madge by a white co-worker, who gives him Madge's address. That night when Jones visits her, he is put off by her eagerness to use him sexually and leaves her frustrated when he refuses to have sex with her. The next day, as he is continuing his efforts to behave the way his supervisors want him to, Jones has a random encounter with Madge, which results in her shouting out that she is being raped. He realizes that there's no way that anyone will believe his version of the story and tries to escape, deciding that if he's going to be put in jail he might as well be guilty of something. He takes his gun to go and kill the hostile white man. A chance encounter with some patrol police officers results in their discovery of the gun. Jones is recognized as wanted on the rape charge and jailed.' - Source: Spark Notes

Seven Deadly Sins

Florence Welch has said herself that when writing this song she was not thinking about the Seven Devils. She was in fact referring to a quote from a Chester Himes book called 'If He Hollers Let Him Go'. The quote is 'I was dead when I woke up this morning' - which can be heard in the chorus of the song.

When thinking about the narrative and theme of my music video, I wanted to base it around the seven devils:
- Lust
- Greed
- Gluttony
- Pride
- Envy
- Anger
- Sloth 

When being chased by her 'own sin' I think it would be good if she was chased by either pride or envy. Pride of the character having a good reputation to then drop that good name or envy in terms of envying and mourning who she once was - before turning into something that was internally killing her.

The Seven Deadly Sins have been used in many different films/plays. In terms of films there is the obvious 'SE7EN' where people who portray characteristics of those sins are brutally murdered. In terms of plays there is the less known 'Ashgirl' - a darker version of 'Cinderella' where she is influenced and spoken to by the different sins and characters represent certain sins.

Make - up inspiration

When originally thinking about Make - Up, black eye-shadow and winged eyeliner came to mind. However, I recently came across this picture of a tutorial by famed tattoo artist Kat Von D. This was created using make - up from her own make-up line. Out the two, I am more drawn to the second the look for my music video. For my lead actress I think I would change the blue to purple. I was originally thinking red but I felt the red brought on a more devilish feeling, where as the purple would bring out more of a mysterious look. Another reason for using the purple above the black is I will be making use of a purple crystal mineral in terms of a special stone which is used in some rituals.

This is another image from Kat Von D; here are other styles of eyeliner I may make use of as some of the styles are not your everyday eye lining styles and may suit the essence of the 'out there' video.

Fan made Music Video - Seven Devils

This is a fan made Music Video of the song I will be using for my music video. This video has been made up of interviews, other music video footage and photo's from promotional photoshoots. With this video, I really like the effect of slowing down the footage and making use of it in black and white. It really adds to the atmosphere of the music and lyrics and also Florence's theatrical voice. Some of the footage has also been reused but used in rewind to give off the effect of a narrative of flashbacks or faded memories.

Video Inspirations

 I analysed this music video in a previous post. I really like how the 'monster' is not seen right up until the end of the video. This is an idea I like for my video, such as not showing the lead actress' entire face until the end or only showing her in certain parts where she is for certain being chased by her own 'sin'



Here are a set of video's, the above is just one in the series. I really like how this video is shot and how it plays with the focus. Starting out with an out of focus shot which then comes into focus to clearly reveal the imagery. I may use this style in my music video for 'Seven Devils.' Perhaps when shooting for instrumental parts of the song such as the 22 second introduction. I may also make use of this style for the parts of the song with vocals too.

Director Research: David Fincher

David Fincher is an American Producer and Director, born in Denver Colorado.

David Fincher started as a film production assistant and quickly worked his way up the ladder. He was noticed by producers in LA after directing an advert for the American Cancer Society. Through this discovery, David Fincher continued to direct many adverts. Through directing adverts he soon found his path through directing Music Videos.

Shortly after, David Fincher had his directing debut with Alien 3 1992.

Below is a list of Music Video's David Fincher has been associated with.

Source: Wikipedia

Star Image Transformation: Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue is known as a household names theses days. She started out on a Saturday night TV show following in footsteps of her sister, Dannii Minogue. Kylie made her name through her role as Charlene Mitchell (later Robinson) on the Australian soap, Neighbours. The wedding of Scott and Charlene was and is the most watched wedding on a soap.

Below is a list of one song from each of Kylie's 12 albums.
Loco motion
never too late
better the devil you know
give me a little more time
Where is the feeling
breathe
spinning around
I cant get you outta my head
slow
in my arms
all the lovers
sexcerise

The video above is for the first song Kylie released. Here, Kylie is not framed with any sexual motive, prior to this, Kylie was always known as the actress off 'Neighbours' and had an innocent image as 'Charlene'. Due her previous star name as Charlene, her songs sold many copies and it's not as if her label had to change up her image to attract more people as she already had the booming fan-base. The two stills to the right show this. Kylie is seen having fun while teaching the dance 'loco motion' to a bunch of people .  She is seen in what seems like an American Diner enjoying herself with the Loco Motion. The second still shows Kylie in training wear, she's possibly in a rehearsal for the music video - leaning the Loco Motion or teaching it to some others. Loco Motion was released in 1988

This Song 'Better The Devil You Know' is from her third album. Many say this song and music video was the first glimpse of the 'New Kylie' she no longer had the 'girl next door' or 'Charlene' image. The two stills percieve Kylie as a sexy singer and also showcase the famous 'Kylie Hotpants'. From here on, Kylie's image changed completely as to did the ways in which she was marketed to the general public. The Kylie seen her was the start of the Kylie that is adored by thousands today!

This song was released in 2000 and furthers the image of the Sexy Kylie. This video is based in a club.

The two stills to the right have been taken from the above video for Kylie's song 'Sexcercise'. This is the video in which Kylie can be seen as the most sexualised out of all of her other videos.