10. Audience Research

I asked several people around our school what their opinions on music videos are. This is what i discovered:

QUESTIONS

1. Do you think that music video's make a difference to the song? If so, in a positive or negative way?

2.What music do you like and what makes you attracted to it?

3. What do you think makes a successful music video?

4. What do you think ruins a music video?

ANSWERS

1. I think that music videos do make a difference and in a good way. It makes the song appeal to a broader audience because some people who would not normally listen to the song might like the video and watch it.
2. I like folk music, but every genre appeals to me except for metal. Folk is fun and it makes you happy when you listen to it.
3. To make a music video good, there has to be a good idea behind it with planning and structure. Good editing also makes the video better, making it more interesting and surreal.
4. Music videos that are dull and that lack structure do not appeal to me. If they do not have a clever plan and idea then the video appears to not have a clear point and is not interesting.

1. No, I do not think that music videos make any difference. As for me it is the sound of the song and I normally hear the song many times before I get round to seeing the music video.
2. I like Indie, rock, alternative, and folk music. I like them because they are inspirational and appeal to me on a emotionally deep and meaningful level.
3. I like music video's that are set in nature. Such as woodlands, fields, and beaches.
4. Sexualized music videos are what puts me off. I believe that having girls in hardly any clothes deducts from feminism and takes us back to an age that is not in our present society but becomes normality because of these music video's.

9. Andrew Goodwin's Music Video theory

Here is a prezi on how Andrew Goodwin's Music Video Theory and my video plans relate:

Music Video Theory on Prezi

8. Mood Board

I created a moodboard on Prezi, including all the things I would like my video to contain...

Mood Board on Prezi

7. ANOTATIONS

1. The first screen shot is of a hand counting down the seconds to start with his fingers (five..four..three..two..one). In the background is a screen which is also counting down in sinc with the hand. There is a deep voice narrating this. I would like to use this idea in the opening of my scene.

2. The second screen shot has the effect of a filming camera, with a man holding the camera close to his face, as if making a video log. I like this idea as it personalises the video, showing that the person is directing the video directly at you. The man is also looking straight at the camera which connects the viewer.

3. I love the effect that has been used in this shot. I plan on using many different effects a like to this one in my video.

4. This is a comic book effect, I felt it fit into the traits of the Zef genre as it is brightly coloured.

5. This screen shot is a high angle shot but the rapper is looking up at the camera and directly in it. It is also filmed against a green screen which I like because it allowes you to focus on him giving you a message, as it is simple. His symbol is also on the floor and he is in a spotlight, this again helps you to focus on key things in the scene.

6. I chose this image as I was inspired by the animated background. I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that I wanted to add animation to my video and this I thought connected to the genre choice Zef.


7. I chose this because I like the idea of having a scene going on in the background and a person at the front engaging with the audience, as if he is in the audience too.


8. This screen shot is like karaoke. The lyrics are displayed on the screen and when they are rapped, Eminem puts at them. This is the same idea as 'Fast lane', a video I posted earlier.


9. The last shot is of the child in the music video as he holds up the CD and looks at it closely, almost as if he is showing us it. From our perspective the CD covers the whole screen and we see the boys face in the middle. I liked this as I thought it was visually interesting.

7. 9 shot grid.

This is a nine shot grid I made by selecting the nine key scenes from the music video for 'Without Me' by EMINEM.

6. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS 2

This video has its own conventions but does highly categorize under Zef. Die Antwoords 'Enter the Ninja' is set in the theme of all of Die Antwoords videos. The video starts off with an establishing shot of a plain room, filled with a bed, a stereo, and posters on the walls. A girl walks into our site and switches on the stereo, which starts off the music. A computerized sound starts and the girl puts down her school bag. Although she is an adult she is dressed in school uniform with her hair um in bunches. The room is black other than the minimalistic objects which create a bedroom feel. She collapses on her bed and the screen switches to black, a Ninja then moving in slow motion with a samurai sword to the slow music. The music then builds up until it breaks own to a fast beat and the screen flashes black and white, with doodles in the opposite colour on the walls. The rapper is a grown up man wearing only trousers which are also graffittied with doodles. His rapping is also a mixture of Afrikaans and English, apparent to most Zef music. Bling is also worn to show his 'coolness'. The mise-en-scene is mainly black and white and very patterned, for example the walls and the rappers clothes. The ongoing shots of the girl are low lighting and everything is dark and not very colourful. The cinematography is not very complicated as all the shots are either captured by a stand and the rapper moves around it or long shots, close ups, or mid shots. Continuity editing is used, including a strobe light effect and merging of scenes. 

6. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

This video starts off with a long shot of a man dressed in casual clothes, leaning against a brightly coloured burger shop. The second camera shot is a mid shot of the man again, he is smoking and his posture resembles a relaxed, 'cool' guy. The beat then starts and the first lyrics begin, stating his name, Jack Parrow. His music is a mixture of English and Afrikaans so many of his fans that are not from South Africa will not get the full rebellious, foul, impact of his music. Then there is a point of view shot of someone looking up at him in the front seat of a vehicle. This shows he is the main man in this situation as a high angle shot makes him appear to be in power. It shows the people sitting in the car taunting the man as he tries to write down their orders, it is then that we realise he is working at the Burger shop. A close up shows two of the girls in the car. They are dressed up, with bright lipstick and big hair. The whole scene had basic editing, with no special effects, this is apparent to most Zef music videos as even though they are famous, they maintain there simple lifestyle. The lighting is also simple, as the whole video is set in the bright sunny outdoors of South Africa, high key lighting is used throughout. The mise-en-scene is very stereotypical to the Zef side. Jack Parrows wardrobe is simple, he wears baggy shorts, trainers, normal trousers and hoodies. He also wears a lot of bling to show he is cool. He also wears his iconic item, an enlongated hat, making him stand out and giving the impression that he does not care what others think, he is individual and proud of it. He has many girls in his video, another trait of Zef and rap. They all are wearing colourful clothing with big sunglasses, the same style as him. Everything in this video is one style, tacki, colourful and common. Bright umbrellas and painted buildings, and chilled out individual dancing. Lots of cars are featured as well, as this is a common thing for rap videos, and because 'Zef' derives from an old Ford car. Throughout the video Jack Parrow stands up against people and shows off saying he is cooler, the title of the song being, Cooler as Ekke, which translates as slang for cooler as me.

5. PERMISSION

This is the email I sent to Die Antwoord asking their permission to use 'Enter The Ninja' for my coursework.

4. ZEF MUSIC identifying traits

ZEF is a South African genre of rap. The word 'Zef' meaning 'common but cool'. Zef music videos follow similar traits as other rap genres. 
These are just a few:

• A lot of bling.
• Close ups of faces, singing into the camera. Giving the effect of 'in your face'.
• Buildings and street corners of the poorer areas in South Africa.
• Bright and neon clothing. Ripped clothes, inappropriate or very 'out there, making a statement.
• Writing, graffiti, and symbols of Zef music or the artist.
• Other Zef musicians often feature in the videos.

4. Die Antwoord

Enter the Ninja is Die Antwoords first hit single, making the charts in the UK.

New Idea!!

Die Antwoord is a controversial rap group, referring to themselves as part of the genre 'Zef', a South African music style. They are new to the music industry and have many followers, as well as many haters. They are considered to many as, "..an insult to South Africa..". Although their music is rude and out there, it seems to have a catchy rythm and tune, and the more people are exposed to it the more it appeals to them.

ED SHEERAN

THE A TEAM

'The A Team' is a new song written by the new British artist Ed Sheeran.

I would love to use a song from the acoustic genre as well but haven't yet made up my mind. If I do not go with a rap track I would like to do a song by the newly famous artist Ed Sheeran.

'Fast Lane' - IDEAS

Fast Lane

The recent track Fast Lane, by Bad Meets Evil, a duo made up of famous rappers Eminem and Royca da 5'9. I love the effects that were used in this music video and wish to use this idea in my own. Using animation will be tricky such as the unicorn, but I definitely plan to display some if not most of the lyrics on the screen in different fonts,  moving in different ways.

FIRST IDEA

                                                                  EMINEM

I am thinking of using one of EMINEMs songs for my music video. I feel that rap music will be interesting to use and EMINEM is well known. This means that the audience will be very familiar with the music and this always helps.