We had to research into different music videos and analyse how they were made.
Girl/Boy Bands
The Wanted - All Time Low
Narrative:
They all sing in an abandoned warehouse, and they are all singing to the audience/ viewers.
Performace Style:
Each member takes it in turns to sing different parts of the song, stereotypically they lean up against a wall which it typical of any boy band.
Casting/Characters:
There are 5 members of the band and they all take part in singing. They are all typically dressed like boy band members would.
Mise-en-scene:
They are casually dressed as they are wearing jeans and everyday t-shirts. They light flares in the video to create different coloured lighting. The lighting that is used is artifical lighting as they are in an abandoned warehouse and there is hardly any natural lighting.
Animation/Technology:
The lights turn in the background of the video to focus on different parts of the warehouse. Smoke machines are used to create a mysterious feel. There are also exploding colours that consist of red and blue colours.
Editing in images & sound:
There is colourful exposure in the video and red lighting in the background from the flares that the band members light.
Camera Work
Slow motion is used to make the band members look 'cool'. Close ups are used of the band members faces when they are solo singing, and to see their facial expressions.The camera changes to focus on each of the members. Long and medium shots are used to show the band all together.
Saturdays - Up
Narrative:
Each of the members are standing on a platform each. They dance to the song and their dance moves match the beats in the song.
Performance Style:
They take it in turns to sing, and they also all sing together. They are all matching in their styles. They also have syncronised dancing so they are together as a band.
Casting/Characters:
There are five band members. They aren't any particular characters but they sing as themselves. They are all dressed as members of girl band would.
Mise-en-scene:
Their clothing is all matching and they all have microphones. They are all dressed the same but in different colours, as they all wear different coloured tights. Artifical lighting is used because they aren't outside.
Animation/Technology:
The platforms they are on move up and down and they also spin. A green screen is used on the background so that the audience can see stars and different images.
Editing in images & sounds:
The background changes colour to match the member who is singing at that time. There is lighting at the top of the screen so it shines down on the band members.
Camera Work
Slow and fast motion is used when the members are on the platforms and when they fall off them. The pace of the video speeds up when the members are dancing. Close ups are used when they are taking it in turns to sing. Long shots are used to show all of the members at one time.
Take That - The Flood
Narrative:
They are all rowing on a river which shows their competitive side as they want to win the race. They challenge normal conventions of younger boy bands because the members of take that are older.
Performance Style:
They all sing together in most of the video, but a few of the members sing solo parts of the song. They are older than normal boy bands.
Casting/Characters:
There are 5 band members and are part of a rowing team aiming to win a race, which shows that they are playing characters in their videos. They sing at the audience/viewers.
Mise-en-scene:
There is natural lighting as the video is recorded outside. The band members wear old fashioned posh clothing.
Animation/Technology:
In part of the video it goes into a black futuristic scene, which is spacelike. For this a green screen is used so that they could get that futuristic feel that is 'out of this world'.
Editing in images & Sound:
There is slow motion when the band members are rowing in the boat and are winning the race. There are different lighting effects used when it turns to futuristic.
Camera Work:
There are close ups of who ever is singing at the time, mainly Robbie Williams. There is a long shot to show all of the band members together at one time. There is a crane shot used to show the members rowing. It zooms out on the singers.
From this research, I have found out that most boy/girl bands have 5 members and they all take it in turns to sing different parts of the song. There is slow motion used in all of the videos to give more effect to the audience. The camera work on all of the videos is similar as it focuses on one of the solo singers and uses a long shot to show all of the band members at one time.
Folk Music
Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
Narrative:
They all sing as a group and dont have their own solo parts and they are not singing to an audience even though they perform on a stage.
Performance Style:
They perform on a stage and the rest of the room is empty as no one is watching them. They all play instruments and take part in contributing to the group
Casting/Characters:
There are 4 people in this group and they are all playing different instruments which are unique in their own way.
Mise-en-scene:
They are all wearing formal clothing as they are all in waistcoats and trousers. They are very old fashioned in how they look.
Animation/Technology:
The lighting goes off when the music does, to give the effect that the lighting is working with the sound. The type of lighting that is used varies at different parts of the video.
Editing in images & Sound:
There are flashing lights in the video and the music is very up tempo and fast. There are music cycles which shows the song is repetitive.
Camera Work:
Close ups are used of the instruments and the members of the groups faces. When the camera is up close to one of the members faces it goes quite dark.
Levellers - One Way
Narrative:
There is one person singing in this video and the other members are playing instruments and they are only occasionally seen.
Performance Style:
They are on a stage and their is a main singer and he sings at the audience. Orginal body language is used for a typical fork music video.
Casting/Characters:
There are different members of the band, but the main focus is on the main singer of the group.
Mise-en-scene:
They are all wearing old fashioned clothing. There are sign posts in the video that are all different but show the same thing. They all play typical folk music instruments too.
Animation/Technology:
There is a cartoon throughout the video which matching in what the group are singing about. There is cartoon footage of the band that is put into real life footage.
Editing in images & sound:
Archive footage is used in part of the video. There is graffiti in the background behind where the men are singing and playing their instruments. Fire is used in the video to give more effect on the audience.
Camera Work:
The camera focuses on the main singer and there are a lot of close ups of him. Vertical and horizonal tracking is used on the group. And there are tilts used and there are close ups of each of the instruments.
Seth Lakeman - Lady of the Night
Narrative:
There is one person singing alone and he is playing the violin.
Performance Style:
He is singing in the rain by himself playing a violin which is stereotypically a folk music instrument. He is in and abadoned room and the room is empty.
Casting/Characters:
There is one member in this video and he is singing as himself aiming himself at the audience/viewers.
Mise-en-scene:
He is wearing casual clothing and playing his violin. There is water to be seen everywhere and natural lighting is used as it comes through the gap in the roof of the building he is in.
Animation/Technology:
There is a spot light that focuses on Seth. In the video, there is also a point where the lighting flashes from light to dark when he stops playing the violin.
Editing in images & sound:
There is smoke seen to be coming off him when he finishing the song. There is seamless editing as the shots change quickly and a lot of the time.
Camera Work:
There is a close up of Seth's face and then his feet. There is also close ups on his instruments. The camera aldo jolts at times.
From this research, I have found out that in folk music videos they usually wear old fashioned clothing and all play instruments. They play old fashioned instruments such as violins and banjo's. There is always a close up of the instruments that are being played and they are sometimes singing on a stage to no audience.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Louis Theroux - Behind Bars
Louis Theroux - Behind Bars
He does different documentaries following people around. Behind Bars is a television documentary written and presented by Louis Theroux. It is about one of America's most notorious and oldest prison, San Quentin in northern California . He spends two weeks with the inmates of the prison. The film was produced and directed by Stuart Cabb. He meets and speaks to serial murderers, gang members, at risk inmates and guards. San Quentin was built in 1852 and suffers from over crowding, it has a population of 3,000 murderers, sexual predators and small time criminals. There are 20 people per room in the prison.
David silver was sentenced to 520 years in prison which is longer than Hannibal Lector. It could link to 'A Very British Gangster' with the story about the dogs head. There is an introduction and a voice over is used to show the audience to know what the programme is about and statistics are used such as how many criminals are in the prison, it also shows the daily routines of what happens in the prison whilst walking through. To introduce the title of the programme a shadowed person is used and a stop light. The spotlight could link to when escapists from prison get spotlights put on them.
There is an establishing shot to show the audience the prison, there is an extreme long shot to show that this is where all the action is going to happen within the documentary. There is a straight cut to Louis inside the prison. There is then a low angle shot on one of the inmates he is used to do an interview to show that hes not very important. There is quirky angelic music in the background which contradicts what music would normally be played to introduce a programme about a prison. The BBC logo suggests that this documentary is well educated and they have researched into the prison well. It also shows how well financed this documentary is. There is a montage of different images shown. There is another shocking bit of footage as Louis has to wear a bullet proof vest this builds tension and gives a sense of danger for the viewers.
He asks questions that the audience would want to know, he draws out the answers even if he knows them for the benefit of the viewer. The angle of the camera shows the scar on one of the guards face to show how dangerous his job is and what happens inside the prison. 23 hours out of 24 there is a lock down in the prison where the inmates are all locked behind bars. You cant see through the prison doors to look at the inmates therefore meaning that they cant see out either, they shout at the camera and try to get attention so they can get on TV.
He interviews the inmates by doing a hand held shot so that the camera can follow who ever is talking. Louis asks them questions about why they are in prison and what they have done. The cell rooms are extremely tidy and haven't got much stuff inside them all there is, is a bed and a shelf. Gangster music is used when the prisons are let out for 'yard time' which is their only moments let out of the cells. All races have different sections of the courtyard and are all separated from each other as they stay away from each other. There is a clear leader of the gangs but they're not allowed to say as they would be put in solitary confinement.
The inmates say that 'its too easy to do the time' suggesting that is easier to be in prison then to be part of the real world showing they think life is scary. The badger section of the prison is the worst section which contains 'level 4' inmates which are considered to be extremely dangerous and have done crimes such as murder. In this part of the prison the inmates cannot show weakness as other prisoners will be able to see it in them and take advantage of that.
There is a fade out at the end of the interview with one of the 'extremely dangerous' inmates.This could represent a new day or Louis going to another section of the prison. After they have lunch they go back to their cells for the rest of the day during 'lockdown'. They seem grateful that someone from the outside world has taken an interest in them as no one else really cares about them. As they are in prison for so long some of the inmates form relationships with other men.
David Silva's crime was torturing people with a gang therefore that is why he had so long in prison as the things he did to these people they would have to live with for the rest of their lives. He was 29 when he got convicted of this crime and is now 33. He was in a young offenders institute from the age of 11 till he was 22 then he went straight to prison. He would never leave prison and has 11 life sentences. He accepts all responsibility for what he did. He doesnt have to worry about the normal stresses of life when hes in prison which he says keeps him sane and helps him get through life being locked up.
Every new section of the documentary starts with an extreme long shot of the prison. The prison is mostly made up of gang drop outs. The guards get to know some of the inmates really well. There is a bible group in the prison who are extremely religious. They refuse to tell Louis what they were convicted for as they don't want people to know what they have done. One of the gay inmates thinks it easier to be openly homosexual in prison even if they do cause negative attention.
People that have been in prison for so long cant adapt to real life as they would find it hard to follow rules. One of the guards say that in the prison the inmates are somebody out in the world they are nobodies. On his last day in the prison Louis goes to see the prisoners that are getting out to start a 'new life' there are about 22 people going out. One of the guards says that about half of the people that get released go back into prison within a couple of months as they go back to their old ways. The inmates getting released say they are nervous to go back out into the world as they have been locked up for so many years. At the end of the documentary there is jazz music about the prison and it also fades out into credits.
He does different documentaries following people around. Behind Bars is a television documentary written and presented by Louis Theroux. It is about one of America's most notorious and oldest prison, San Quentin in northern California . He spends two weeks with the inmates of the prison. The film was produced and directed by Stuart Cabb. He meets and speaks to serial murderers, gang members, at risk inmates and guards. San Quentin was built in 1852 and suffers from over crowding, it has a population of 3,000 murderers, sexual predators and small time criminals. There are 20 people per room in the prison.
David silver was sentenced to 520 years in prison which is longer than Hannibal Lector. It could link to 'A Very British Gangster' with the story about the dogs head. There is an introduction and a voice over is used to show the audience to know what the programme is about and statistics are used such as how many criminals are in the prison, it also shows the daily routines of what happens in the prison whilst walking through. To introduce the title of the programme a shadowed person is used and a stop light. The spotlight could link to when escapists from prison get spotlights put on them.
There is an establishing shot to show the audience the prison, there is an extreme long shot to show that this is where all the action is going to happen within the documentary. There is a straight cut to Louis inside the prison. There is then a low angle shot on one of the inmates he is used to do an interview to show that hes not very important. There is quirky angelic music in the background which contradicts what music would normally be played to introduce a programme about a prison. The BBC logo suggests that this documentary is well educated and they have researched into the prison well. It also shows how well financed this documentary is. There is a montage of different images shown. There is another shocking bit of footage as Louis has to wear a bullet proof vest this builds tension and gives a sense of danger for the viewers.
He asks questions that the audience would want to know, he draws out the answers even if he knows them for the benefit of the viewer. The angle of the camera shows the scar on one of the guards face to show how dangerous his job is and what happens inside the prison. 23 hours out of 24 there is a lock down in the prison where the inmates are all locked behind bars. You cant see through the prison doors to look at the inmates therefore meaning that they cant see out either, they shout at the camera and try to get attention so they can get on TV.
He interviews the inmates by doing a hand held shot so that the camera can follow who ever is talking. Louis asks them questions about why they are in prison and what they have done. The cell rooms are extremely tidy and haven't got much stuff inside them all there is, is a bed and a shelf. Gangster music is used when the prisons are let out for 'yard time' which is their only moments let out of the cells. All races have different sections of the courtyard and are all separated from each other as they stay away from each other. There is a clear leader of the gangs but they're not allowed to say as they would be put in solitary confinement.
The inmates say that 'its too easy to do the time' suggesting that is easier to be in prison then to be part of the real world showing they think life is scary. The badger section of the prison is the worst section which contains 'level 4' inmates which are considered to be extremely dangerous and have done crimes such as murder. In this part of the prison the inmates cannot show weakness as other prisoners will be able to see it in them and take advantage of that.
There is a fade out at the end of the interview with one of the 'extremely dangerous' inmates.This could represent a new day or Louis going to another section of the prison. After they have lunch they go back to their cells for the rest of the day during 'lockdown'. They seem grateful that someone from the outside world has taken an interest in them as no one else really cares about them. As they are in prison for so long some of the inmates form relationships with other men.
David Silva's crime was torturing people with a gang therefore that is why he had so long in prison as the things he did to these people they would have to live with for the rest of their lives. He was 29 when he got convicted of this crime and is now 33. He was in a young offenders institute from the age of 11 till he was 22 then he went straight to prison. He would never leave prison and has 11 life sentences. He accepts all responsibility for what he did. He doesnt have to worry about the normal stresses of life when hes in prison which he says keeps him sane and helps him get through life being locked up.
Every new section of the documentary starts with an extreme long shot of the prison. The prison is mostly made up of gang drop outs. The guards get to know some of the inmates really well. There is a bible group in the prison who are extremely religious. They refuse to tell Louis what they were convicted for as they don't want people to know what they have done. One of the gay inmates thinks it easier to be openly homosexual in prison even if they do cause negative attention.
People that have been in prison for so long cant adapt to real life as they would find it hard to follow rules. One of the guards say that in the prison the inmates are somebody out in the world they are nobodies. On his last day in the prison Louis goes to see the prisoners that are getting out to start a 'new life' there are about 22 people going out. One of the guards says that about half of the people that get released go back into prison within a couple of months as they go back to their old ways. The inmates getting released say they are nervous to go back out into the world as they have been locked up for so many years. At the end of the documentary there is jazz music about the prison and it also fades out into credits.
Friday, 27 April 2012
A Very British Gangster
A Very British Gangster
A documentary film following Dominic Noonan who is head of one of Britain's most dangerous crime families. Directed by Donal MacIntyre and Produced by Dare Films. Dominic Noonan was spotted in the Manchester Riots wearing a suit and directing the riots in Oldham Street in 2011.
An establishing shot/extreme long shot is used to show Manchester at night showing the audience that bad things typically happen at night time. The conventions of a film is used in this documentary such as the titles. A sound bridge is used for Dominic Noonan. He is seen in the middle of the three men which shows that he's the protagonist/antagonist of the documentary. They are all seen to be wearing suits which is stereotypical of gangsters. Rap/gangster music is used when 'A very British Gangster' comes up which would usually stereotypically be used in gangster films when they are using places such as underpasses. The title looks like a projection on the bridge as they are throwing in big words on the screen.
Low angle shot shows that they have power and dominance over the viewer. Slow motion is used to make it more dramatic and make the gangsters look 'cool'. CCTV is used when they are walking up the stairs suggesting they're being watched by the police. He is dominate at the club and looks more like a bouncer. They cut away to Dominic's hands where he is wearing loads of jewellery which tell the audience that he gangster which is stereotypical, it also shows wealth and a 'Del Boy' thing to do it also shows power Uses simple titles to introduce the people in the documentary. A close up is used when Dominic Noonan starts to talk to the audience to show his facial expressions. Dominic is seen as a psycho as he say he chopped off a dogs head and put it on the table of a pub and threatened the people in there. Gangster music is used when the gangsters are walking. He is trying to give the impression that hes turned his back on a life of crime. He has spent nearly 22 years in different prisons out of 39.
The death of his brother brought a stand still to most of Manchester and publicised the family. The family of 14 got brought up in a two bedroom house and their mother set it on fire so she could get a bigger house. Archive footage is used from when the whole of Britain was searching for Noonan and to tell the audience what happened and why they were looking for him. A crane shot is used when he is driving off in his car.
A vary of different pictures and clips are used of Dominic Noonan and his gang the grainy picture suggests that they are newspaper articles which are used in a montage. The music was made famous from Pulp Fiction which is also about gangsters which links with this documentary. Black and white still photographs are used to show what the gangster have been doing. The camera is hand held when the camera man is following the gang. Actuality is used which is when something is film whilst it is actually happening.
Dominic Noonan is recorded standing outside a court. There was a 360 degree pan around Noonan when he was talking about his life to the audience. There is a zoom on his face so the camera goes into a close up to show Noonan's facial expressions. This documentary humanises Dominic and makes him more than just a gangster. The part of the documentary in the boxing club gives the audience an insight of his life as he is recorded from the back of the room, you find out how he become how he is. Dominic had a traumatic experience when he was 13 at boarding school where he got violently abused and raped by the people there. He caught the people years later and got revenge by physically beating them. Dominic is a religious man as he goes to catholic church every now and then.
Dominic and his brother are under constant surveillance. Desmond Noonan was stabbed twice on the streets of Manchester and died of his wounds before he arrived at the hospital. Whilst Dominic is arranging his brothers funeral he is interrupted by a death threat by other gangs in Manchester. Two high schools have closed because of the funeral of Desmond and a 100 local residences reportedly attended. Derek McDuffus who was a drug dealer from Manchester, was charged for a minimum of 15 years for Desmond's murder.
A documentary film following Dominic Noonan who is head of one of Britain's most dangerous crime families. Directed by Donal MacIntyre and Produced by Dare Films. Dominic Noonan was spotted in the Manchester Riots wearing a suit and directing the riots in Oldham Street in 2011.
An establishing shot/extreme long shot is used to show Manchester at night showing the audience that bad things typically happen at night time. The conventions of a film is used in this documentary such as the titles. A sound bridge is used for Dominic Noonan. He is seen in the middle of the three men which shows that he's the protagonist/antagonist of the documentary. They are all seen to be wearing suits which is stereotypical of gangsters. Rap/gangster music is used when 'A very British Gangster' comes up which would usually stereotypically be used in gangster films when they are using places such as underpasses. The title looks like a projection on the bridge as they are throwing in big words on the screen.
Low angle shot shows that they have power and dominance over the viewer. Slow motion is used to make it more dramatic and make the gangsters look 'cool'. CCTV is used when they are walking up the stairs suggesting they're being watched by the police. He is dominate at the club and looks more like a bouncer. They cut away to Dominic's hands where he is wearing loads of jewellery which tell the audience that he gangster which is stereotypical, it also shows wealth and a 'Del Boy' thing to do it also shows power Uses simple titles to introduce the people in the documentary. A close up is used when Dominic Noonan starts to talk to the audience to show his facial expressions. Dominic is seen as a psycho as he say he chopped off a dogs head and put it on the table of a pub and threatened the people in there. Gangster music is used when the gangsters are walking. He is trying to give the impression that hes turned his back on a life of crime. He has spent nearly 22 years in different prisons out of 39.
The death of his brother brought a stand still to most of Manchester and publicised the family. The family of 14 got brought up in a two bedroom house and their mother set it on fire so she could get a bigger house. Archive footage is used from when the whole of Britain was searching for Noonan and to tell the audience what happened and why they were looking for him. A crane shot is used when he is driving off in his car.
A vary of different pictures and clips are used of Dominic Noonan and his gang the grainy picture suggests that they are newspaper articles which are used in a montage. The music was made famous from Pulp Fiction which is also about gangsters which links with this documentary. Black and white still photographs are used to show what the gangster have been doing. The camera is hand held when the camera man is following the gang. Actuality is used which is when something is film whilst it is actually happening.
Dominic Noonan is recorded standing outside a court. There was a 360 degree pan around Noonan when he was talking about his life to the audience. There is a zoom on his face so the camera goes into a close up to show Noonan's facial expressions. This documentary humanises Dominic and makes him more than just a gangster. The part of the documentary in the boxing club gives the audience an insight of his life as he is recorded from the back of the room, you find out how he become how he is. Dominic had a traumatic experience when he was 13 at boarding school where he got violently abused and raped by the people there. He caught the people years later and got revenge by physically beating them. Dominic is a religious man as he goes to catholic church every now and then.
Dominic and his brother are under constant surveillance. Desmond Noonan was stabbed twice on the streets of Manchester and died of his wounds before he arrived at the hospital. Whilst Dominic is arranging his brothers funeral he is interrupted by a death threat by other gangs in Manchester. Two high schools have closed because of the funeral of Desmond and a 100 local residences reportedly attended. Derek McDuffus who was a drug dealer from Manchester, was charged for a minimum of 15 years for Desmond's murder.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
What is a documentary film?
Documentary Films
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record. A 'documentary film' was originally shot on film stock — the only medium available — but now includes video and digital productions that can be either direct-to-video, made as a television program or released for screening in cinemas. "Documentary" has been described as a "filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception" that is continually evolving and is without clear boundaries.
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record. A 'documentary film' was originally shot on film stock — the only medium available — but now includes video and digital productions that can be either direct-to-video, made as a television program or released for screening in cinemas. "Documentary" has been described as a "filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception" that is continually evolving and is without clear boundaries.
Research into Existing Products
Documentary:
Analyse the codes and conventions of a documentary film. You should comment on the following, along with any other points you feel are relevant:
1) What TV Channel it's broadcast on?
2) What is the Title of the Documentary?
3) What type of Documentary is it?
4) What Style of Documentary is it? Think in terms of:
6) What are the Messages and meanings behind the documentary - What is it trying to communicate to the audience?
Analyse the codes and conventions of a documentary film. You should comment on the following, along with any other points you feel are relevant:
1) What TV Channel it's broadcast on?
2) What is the Title of the Documentary?
3) What type of Documentary is it?
- Historical: The Rise and Fall of the Egyptian Empire
- Biographical: The Life of Sir Stanley Matthews
- Investigative: The truth behind the disappearance of Madeline McCann
- Artistic: The work of Van Gogh and The story of Mona Lisa
- Wildlife: The anatomy of the Blue Whale
- Political: The New Labour years
- Drama Documentaries: Margaret Thatcher
- Reality TV: The Kardashians and Peter Andre The Next Chapter
- Celebrity: David Beckham's new tattoo
- Scripted Reality: TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex)
4) What Style of Documentary is it? Think in terms of:
- Narrative Structure: Linear/Non-Linear (in order/not in order)
- Editing: Fast, slow, dissolves, fades, superimposing
- Voice-overs: Narration, register, tone, mode of address
- Archive Footage: Type, style, place, time-period
- Graphics: Pie charts, images
- Text: Captions, subtitles, banners
- Music: Songs, instrumental, ambient
6) What are the Messages and meanings behind the documentary - What is it trying to communicate to the audience?
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