Questionnaire

I have costructed a questionnaire for my friends to answer so that i can use the answers given in a constructive way that can help me in what i can do in my video recording to suit the audience. I have chosen my friends to answer these questions as they like the same styles of music and videos that i do so with the answers i can make my video to suit the audience of people like me and my friends. These are the questions i asked and within that are the most popular answers given by my friends that took part in the questionnaire.

Question 1: Performance, narrative or mixed music videos?
Answer 1: Mixed

Qustion 2: Colour or black and white?
Answer 2: Colour

Question 3: Fast, slow or mixed paced?
Answer 3: Mixed

Question 4: Indoor, outdoor or mixed?
Answer 4: Mixed

Question 5: Direct or in-direct representation to the lyrics?
Answer 5: In-direct

Question 6: Direct or in-direct representation to the song meaning?
Answer 6: Direct

Question 7: Band, solo or mixed performance?
Answer 7: Mixed

About The Song

Song:

 

Permission:

Song lyrics:
"Here's the weight of the world on my shoulders
Here's the weight of the world on my shoulders
On my shoulders

All alone I pierce the chain
And on and on the sting remains
And dying eyes consume me now
The voice inside screams out loud

I am focused on what I am after
The key to the next open chapter
Cause I found a way to steal the sun from the sky
Long live that day that I decided to fly from the inside

Every day a new deception
Pick your scene and take direction
And on and on I search to connect
But I don't wear a mask and I have no regrets

I am focused on what I am after
The key to the next open chapter
Cause I found a way to steal the sun from the sky
Long live that day that I decided to fly from the inside

I can't escape the pain
I can't control the rage
Sometimes I think that I'm gonna go insane
I'm not against what's right
I'm not for what's wrong
I'm just making my way and I'm gone

Here's the weight of the world on my shoulders

Cause I found a way to steal the sun from the sky
Long live that day that I decided to fly from the inside

That I decided to fly from the inside
That I decided to fly from the inside

Song Meaning:
Personally, I think this song is a summary of what the band is all about. As their band name (Shinedown) suggests, sometimes you shine, and sometimes you are down, and you don't know how to get throught it, but you do. Some of the most important lines in the sond are: "I found a way to steal the sun from the sky. Long live that day that I decided to fly from the inside." As when you "steal the sun from the sky", you are being yourself, you have your own thoughts, actions, and words and they are coming straight from your heart and soul and you are no one else but you. I think that the lyrics "I am focused on what I am after. The key to the next open chapter" are relatable to what i have also said above as it is all about being yourself and doing what you want to do and focusing on what it is you yourself want to say and do and have your own choices in life and not other peoples as it is your own life and no one elses as you are focused on what you want from yourself in the future and not what other people want for you.

With this song meaning and the lyrics of the song I can create shots and parts of the video that are related to the meaning of the song about being yourself and thinking what you want to think and doing what you want to do and not what other people tell you to think, say or do.

Mood board

Mind Map

30 Second video storyboard

Video

 Storyboard

 

 

 

With this story board, I now have a much better idea of how many different shots, shot types and edits go into just 30 seconds of a video of the style that I am looking to re-create within my own video. With this 30 second story board I also now know that for my video I will probably need a different shot around every second so I will probably end up with around 240 shots in my 3 minute 55 second long video if I stick to the idea of quick editing and lots of different shots.  

Album Digipak Analysis

"Yashin" - "We Created A Monster" - Outside

Yashin are a post-hardcore band where the whole band are from Glasgow in Scotland but then they replaced the vocalist (Michael Rice) with two separate vocalists who are Kevin Miles who does the screaming and any keyboard parts and is also from Glasgow. The second vocalist they got to replace the original singer is Harry Radford who is the clean vocalist and is from America. The band have five releases, the first two where EPs named "Pay To Play" in 2007 and "Miles Away But Getting Closer" in 2008. These two where done with Michael Rice. Following these two EPs, Michael was replaced by Harry and Kevin (as explained above) and then once the two new vocalists came in they recorded an album in 2010 named "Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them" which got them noticed by a lot of people and therefore gained them lots of new fans. Now two years on in early 2012, the band released another EP named "Revolution" which contains songs from the first two EPs but with new vocals from Harry and Kevin to make the songs their own and the EP also contains acoustic versions of songs from the first album. Finally, the band released a brand new album in late June of 2012 named "We Created A Monster" which was available of a certain site the band had put the album on for sale in different ways with all sorts of different bundles including the one I got which was: a signed version of the album with a Yashin wristband and my name in the "thanks" section in the booklet that is included with the album. This is the album you can above and below.

Firstly, looking at the front cover of the album, they have an image of a heart with a time bomb attached to it with veins coming out all over the place. this has been continued onto the back cover with the veins all  around the outside boarder the stay in keeping with the front of the album. With this album, they have kept it very simple with text by only including the band and album name on both the front cover and the spine of the album and then only other text on the outside of the album is the track listing on the back. Looking at the text they have used for the band name, they have created their own image for the band name Yashin which has also been used at the top of the spine to stay in keeping with the band logo rather than using normal typed text like they have for the album name and the track listing. With the  outside of the album they have kept it all simple and easy to read so that the main points of the album get across the potential buyer instantly so they know the band name, album name and song names.

"Yashin" - "We Created A Monster" - Inside

Now looking at the inside of the album the CD of the album on the right hand side has the same image of the heart that is on the front of the album. this is so that the band can keep the use familiar with the image of the album so that it is memorable. on the left there is a booklet containing the lyrics to all the songs on the album and added information and special thanks from the band them selves. with the same image on again but on the other side there is an image of the band. (which is the way I have it) this image of the band is to get the consumer or user familiar with the band and what they look like to keep them familiar so that they can be recognised to gain them more popularity.

"Bullet For My Valentine" - "Scream Aim Fire" - Outside

Bullet For My Valentine are a metal core band from Bridgend in Wales. The band currently have Four releases and are working on a fifth in Thailand now. The first of their releases was a self titled EP which they released in late 2004. Then in 2005, the released their debut album called "The Poison". then due to the lead vocalist (Matt Tuck) having medical problems with his vocals and his throat, it took them 3 years to record and release their second album "Scream Aim Fire" in 2008. and finally in 2010 the band released their third album named "Fever" and due to Matt Tuck having a side project of another band (Axe Wound) with some other friends who are also in different bands, then another album from Bullet For My Valentine is now anticipated around maybe late 2012 or in 2013. The album digipak I will be analysing is their third release and second album "Scream Aim Fire"
As you can see, this album has six faces instead of four like the album above and most albums you will see. The reason for this is because this particular CD is a special edition one with a bonus DVD which includes feature of the making of the album and other bits from the band. The reason for the six faces is so that the extra DVD and the CD can fit into the case without taking up two faces. On the outside front cover of this album there is an image of a castle, and then on outside back cover of the album there is an image of a stair case from within the castle which looks like it would be there as soon as you enter the front door of the castle that is shown on the front cover. This is done so that the album keeps the same setting so that it is not random pictures of slightly related locations. (this is also continued on the inside cover below with an image of the band inside the castle) Looking at the colours on this album, they are all consistant with the front cover of the album so that nothing within the album looks out of place. So all over the album there are constant dark colours such as black, grey and dark yellows. loking at the third face of the album, it is a plain black colour keeping consistant with the colour theme and thereis a dark image of the band logo (which includes the band name) and there is also the album name to keep the person lookiing at the album familiar with the band and album.

"Bullet For My Valentine" - "Scream Aim Fire" - Inside

Looking at this inside of the album, there are three faces which include two blank faces which are plain black with nothing on them. in these two faces with nothing on them, there is the CD inside one of them and the bonus DVD inside the other.

Album Advert Analysis

"Of Mice & Men" - "The Flood"

Of Mice & Men are an American metalcore band from Costa Mesa, California. The group was founded by Austin Carlile and Jaxin Hall during mid-2009 after Carlile's departure from Attack Attack!. The name of the band is derived from John Steinbeck's novel of the same title. The band techically have three releases, the first is their self titled album they released in 2010 and then following that, in 2011 they released an new album named "The Flood" and the third was released late July in 2012 which was a re-issue of their second album "The Flood" with an extra disc containing new tracks and a new and different track listing.

 

The advert above is a double page spread from "FRONT" magazine which includes lots of alternative/metal band information and other things. This particular advert advertises the new re-issue of "The Flood" by "Of Mice & Men". I think that this advert is very good due to qute a few different reasons. First of all, the first thing you see when you look at this advert is the band name. It is a very clear and readable font which is reconisable to fans of the band and also makes it eacy for people have not heard of the band before to become familiar with the band and maybe get them to listen to their music. Another thing about this advert is the way they have used the phrase "The Flood is coming again..." This is clever in different ways. First of all saying that "The Flood is coming" grabs the readers attention and makes them think about what it is suppost to mean in relation to the band and the music and then it says "again" which will thenm make the reader think even more about it and make them read on in the advert to find out what they mean by "The Flood is coming again" it is also clever using this phrase as it is a re-issue of the album "The Flood" so therefore the album is being re-released and "coming again". this will also get the fans of the band excited and interested as they will be familiar with the album and then seeing that it is "coming again" will make them read on to find out what the advert is talking about.

Another way in which this advert is constructed well is the way that it is clear in saying that the band are releasing a re-issue of their latest album, When it comes out and what it will look like with the image of the album cover on the bottom left hand side of the advert.

One more way in which this is a good adverty is that it also doubles up as an advert for their latest tour they are going to be doing which informs the reader on when and where they will be performing. This is clever that they have doubled up both the album and the tour advert as this will make the reader look at the band and then wonder what they sound like and then see the tour advert and then maybe think about going to see them perform to find out.

The layout of this advert is very well constructed aswell as they have put something to grab the readers attention at the top and in big writing and that gives the reader the first bit of information they will want to know about thet band (the name) then after they metion a new album re-release and then show what it will look like and then advertise their tour. this is good as the reader will find out what they need to know from the advert in the order they need to, to be able to understand it.

 

"Architects" - "Daybreaker"

Architects are a British metalcore band from Brighton, England, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Sam Carter, drummer Dan Searle and his twin brother, guitarist and keyboardist Tom Searle and Alex Dean on bass guitar. The band went through several name changes before they decided upon Architects. Their first name was Inharmonic, which was swiftly changed to Counting the Days. After a couple of years this was in turn changed to Architects. They have released five studio albums and one split ep with Dead Swans.

They released their debut album Nightmares in 2006 on In At The Deep End records. After their original vocalist, Matt Johnson, left Carter joined and made his first appearance on Architects second album Ruin released in 2007 through United By Fate records. In 2009 the band released Hollow Crown through their current record label Century Media. They then released their fourth album The Here And Now in 2011, which showed the band step in a more melodic "clean-cut post-hardcore" direction. Upon its release the album received critical acclaim but was panned by their fanbase. The next year Architects returned to their original style with their fifth album Daybreaker, with more politicised lyrics as opposed to the violent and comedic lyrics that can be heard throughout their older work. The album advert i will be anaylsing is for their latest release named "Daybreaker" 

The advert above is from the same issue of "FRONT" magazine as the advert for "Of Mice & Men" and is an advert for the new album that has been released by the band "Arcihtects" named "Daybreaker".
Decpite the simplicity of the advert, i do quite like it. It informs the reader on all they will need to know in just one image and four words. It does this by showing the name of the band: "Architects", then the album name: "Daybreaker", and then shows an image of the album to familiarise the reader of what the album looks like and then finally infiorms the reader that it is "out now" and avilable to be bought. This advert does the exact same job and informs the reader of the same information as the "Of Mice & Men" advert but this one does it in alot more of a simple way so that it is quicker for the reader to look at and then if they are familiar with the band they now know it is available to buy and then because of the simplicity of the album, it will keep the people who are un-familiar with the band curious of what the band sound like and because the advert informs the reader that the album is available for purchase so they might be so curious that they go out and buy the album to find out.

Overall, both albums are very clear and clever on what they are trying to give across to the reader but do them in different ways. "Architects" decided they will make it as simple as possible and inform everyone with what they need to know about the new album in four words and an image and "Of Mice & Men" did the exact same job with their advert but in a differnt way and added more information but also without giving away to much information to keep the reader curious. Therefore, both adverts do their job and advertise the albums to the audience/reaer to help persuade the reader to either buy the albums or get into their music so that they will become more popular and become more recognisable to the generl public.

Music Video Analysis

Bullet For My Valentine are a metal core band from Bridgend in Wales. The band currently have Four releases and are working on a fifth in Singapore now. The first of their releases was a self titled EP which they released in late 2004. Then in 2005, the released their debut album called "The Poison". then due to the main vocalist (Matt Tuck) having medical problems with his vocals and his throat, it took them 3 years to record and release their second album "Scream Aim Fire" in 2008. and finally in 2010 the band released their third album named "Fever" and due to Matt Tuck having a side project of another band (Axe Wound) with some other friends who are also in different bands, then another album from Bullet For My Valentine is not anticipated until maybe late 2012 or in 2013. The video I will be analysing is "Hearts Burst Into Fire" from their third release and second album "Scream Aim Fire"



Alter Bridge are an American rock band that were formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida. It consists of lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, all of whom are also members of Creed, alongside lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman of Slash's current solo project. Tremonti named the group after an actual bridge that used to be located in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, near his former home on Alter Road.
The band currently have three releases consisting of the first album named "One Day Remains" in 2004, the second album named "Blackbird" in 2007 and finally their latest release that they named "AB III" in 2010. The song i will be analysing is from their third album and is the second track named "Isolation"



Rise to Remain are a London based metal band. The band have made appearances at Download Festival, Sonisphere Festival and have extensively toured the UK and Europe. The band have released three EP's, the majority of which have been "viral" releases, via their Myspace. The band have been praised by magazines, such as Metal Hammer and Kerrang!, with the former releasing a scaled-down version of their first nationwide-release EP, "Bridges Will Burn". They have received radioplay through the likes of BBC Radio One and Total Rock, as well as having their music videos regularly rotated on Scuzz and Kerrang! TV. The band was voted "Best New Band" at the 2010 Metal Hammer "Golden God Awards", an award decided by 400,000 votes across the globe, and the 2010 Kerrang! Award for "Best British Newcomer". On 16 March 2011 they signed their first major recording contract with EMI records, which was accompanied by the launch of their website and a free single download entitled "The Serpent". Their debut album, City Of Vultures, was released on the 5th September 2011, nearly a year after they had started work on recording the album. It was produced by revered metal producer Colin Richardson and Carl Bown.
The video i will be analysing is the third song on their full length album "City Of Vultures" and is named "This Day Is Mine"

In these videos, the first few seconds and clips are images of the bands setting up and getting prepared for a performance and then once the song properly kicks in, they show clips of the bands performing at a show/gig they have just been shown setting up for in the first few seconds/clips. Within these videos, they include lots of different clips of the bands performing in lots of different angles and shots including close ups, long shots, two shots, mid shots, groups shots and lots of other different shot types. They all include a lot of differnt shot types due to having loads of cameras set up everywhere in the stadium/gig that are no noticable by the other cameras so that they are able to get this wide veriety of shots to keep the videos less repetitive and more interesting. and keeping with the theme of the videos, they have shown the setting up, then the performances and then at the end of the songs, they have shown themselves thanking the crowd for their support and them walking off stage etc. So they have all kept with a kind of story line of coming to perform, setting up, performing to the crowd and then leaving. In this video, they also include a lot of mini home made clips/videos that show the life style of the band while they are on tour including clips of them with fans, getting tattoos, practicing, exploring the different places they go to while on tour, them with friends/girlfriends and all other different personal/home made clips.
These music videos are relevent as i am thinking about doing one just like these, that will show a band consisting of me, and some friends setting up to play a song together, then perform it to the camera and then show us leaving the room just like these videos show. I also like the idea of putting the whole video in black and white for either the whole video like Bullet For My Valentine do or just put the home made clips as black and white like the other two videos by Rise To Remain and Alter Bridge.

History Of Music Videos

A music video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. Although the origins of music videos date back much further, they came into prominence in the 1980s, when MTV based their format around the medium. Prior to the 1980s, these works were described by various terms including "illustrated song", "filmed insert", "promotional (promo) film", "promotional clip" or "film clip".
Music videos use a wide range of styles of film making techniques, including animation, live action filming, documentaries, and non-narrative approaches such as abstract film. Some music videos blend different styles, such as animation and live action. Many music videos do not interpret images from the song's lyrics, making it less literal than expected. Other music videos may be without a set concept, being merely a filmed version of the song's live performance.

The song "Bohemian Rhapsody" by "Queen" is considered to be the first music video ever created. this is the video below

Music Video Director - Scott Hansen

Scott Hansen

In 2000 Scott suffered a Highschool career ending football injury. His american football dreams withered away as Scott was looking to attend ECU in the Fall of 2000. On his back for 7 months with his leg in a machine Scott turned to what he knew best. Art. For years Scott had been drawing comics and paintings. After a year of drawing non stop, he applied to Savannah College of Art & Design, receiving a half scholarship for his skill in drawing and painting. 
Scott then later pursued interests to become either a comic book artist for Marvel one day or to work at KNBFX in La making monsters. Three years later on Scott's senior year he was looking to graduate with a degree in Motion Graphics when 5 months before graduation he decided to change his major at the last minute. Working with his roomate Rob Vose, Scott got a huge life turning interest, film. He helped Rob make a short film and was so enthralled by the process that he quickly changed his major to Broadcast Design.
After his graduation, Scott returned back to his native Virginia Beach and quickly experimented in many short film techniques and joined New Dominion Pictures as a creature fx artist for the Discovery Channel Show "A Haunting". Working full time at Home Depot and at nights on the TV show Scott trained and watched other professionals and took notes on how to do everything he could.
New Dominion then closed down due to the show being cancelled. Taking the money he earned there he was able to buy his first camera and shoot his first music video. Being in a band in college he knew music was his calling. Not playing it but filming it. He then decided to pursue being a music video director.

4 years later Scott has had over 65 music videos on MTV, BET and CMT.
In 2008 Scott's video for Carnifex was the runner up for Metal video of the year losing to Slipknot and Disturbed.
In 2009 Scott's video for A Day To Remember set a record for the longest run time on MTV2 and VH1 for 8 months on the countdown.
Also in 2009 Scott got hired to direct the infamous Willie Nelson.
In 2010 Scott's short for BOYZ was honored with best comedy by the Las Vegas film festival.
In 2011 Scott and his wife Elisa Meri (www.elismeri.com) moved to Sherman Oaks to play with the big boys.
in 2012 Scott is set to make the jump to feature films with two films already set. Follow as we climb to new heights in 2012.


Here are a few of the videos that Scott has directed.

A Day To Remember - "The Downfall Of Us All"

Vampires Everywhere! - "Imortal Love"

We Came As Romans - "To Plant A Seed"

Music Video Director - Robby Starbuck

Robby Starbuck


Robby Starbuck is an American Music video director from Los Angeles, California. In 2010 he was named to OC METRO's Top 40 under 40.

Artists that have worked and been directed by Robby Starbuck include: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Yellowcard, Escape The Fate, Smashing Pumpkins, Jeffree Star and Asking Alexandria.


Starbuck owns his own production company "RSM" He is also signed there as well. In 2011 Robby was nominated in two categories for the "Much Music Video Awards" (MMVA) for his work directing Metric "Stadium Love". In 2011 Robby's video for OTEP "Fists Fall" won an online poll for best video with a message on "MTV.com" for the VMA's.The first Music Video shot on the RED Epic Camera was directed by Starbuck for The Smashing Pumpkins. On February 27th, 2012 it was announced that his company RSM expanded to representing 15 directors including himself.

Below are a few videos that Starbuck has directed and are very influentual in rock/metal music today.

Asking Alexandria - "A Prophecy"

Escape The Fate - "Gorgeous Nightmare"

Falling In Reverse - "The Drug In Me Is You"

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Below is Robby Starbuck's filmography which will give a very good indecation of what type of artists he works with.

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Year	Artist	Song Title
in production	Black Veil Brides	"untitled DVD" (DVD) Unreleased
2008	Dance Gavin Dance	Me & Zoloft Get Along Just Fine
2008	A Skylit Drive	This Isn't the End
2008	A Static Lullaby	Toxic
2008	A Skylit Drive	I'm Not A Thief, I'm A Treasure Hunter
2008	Breathe Carolina	Diamonds
2008	A Skylit Drive	Knights of the Round
2009	Broadway feat. Craig Owens	The Same Thing We Do Everyday Pinky
2009	And Then There Were None	Reinventing Robert Cohn
2009	Silverstein	Vices
2009	Millionaires	Just Got Paid Let's Get Laid
2009	Quietdrive	Jessica
2009	Asking Alexandria	The Final Episode
2009	Agraceful	The Great I Am
2009	And Then There Were None	Thank The Watchmaker
2009	Impending Doom	More Than Conquerors
2010	Living Sacrifice	Rules Of Engagement
2010	KillMatriarch	Monotone
2010	Silverstein	Decade (DVD)
2010	Jonny Craig	Children of Divorce
2010	Jonny Craig	I Still Feel Her Part III
2010	Millionaires	Stay The Night
2010	Pierce the Veil	Caraphernelia
2010	Mother/Father	Order
2010	Metric	Stadium Love
2010	August Burns Red	Mariana's Trench
2010	Asking Alexandria	A Prophecy
2010	A Skylit Drive	Let Go Of the Wires (DVD)
2010	Chiodos	Illuminaudio album teasers
2010	I See Stars	What This Means To Me
2010	BOTDF	Believe
2010	Silverstein	American Dream
2010	Fight Fair	Pop Rocks
2010	Jamie's Elsewhere	Giants Among Common Men
2010	The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus	Choke
2010	The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus	Don't Hate
2010	The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus	Hell or Highwater
2010	The Dangerous Summer	Where I Want To Be
2010	Quietdrive	Way Out
2010	Seasons After	Cry Little Sister
2011	Times of Grace	Strength in Numbers
2011	Falling In Reverse	The Drug In Me Is You
2011	Ian Carey feat Snoop Dogg	Last Night
2011	Escape The Fate	Gorgeous Nightmare
2011	Millionaires	Party Like A Millionaire
2011	Smashing Pumpkins	Owata
2011	Silverstein	The Artist
2011	The Sounds	Something To Die For
2011	The Sounds	Dance With The Devil
2012	Jon Mclaughlin	Summer Is Over (feat. Sara Bareilles
2012	Blessed By A Broken Heart	Forever & Rockin All Night
2012	Demon Hunter	My Destiny
2012	Machine Gun Kelly	See My Tears
2012	Jeffree Star	Prom Night!

Prelim Task

Final Preliminary Task



For our preliminary task we were all put into groups made by our teacher. I was in a group with Ebony and Charlotte. Once we got started on working on our preliminary task, we all had different ideas that we put into it which also came out in the final edit. For example, one of the ideas either Ebony or Charlotte had was to do the cheesy spin around the camera cutting between the two people as if they were holding hands and spinning around with eachother. With this idea we had Charlotte and Ebony do this by both of them sitting on either end of a double seated spinny chair at a park near the college/school and when one films the other holds onto either side of the camera and they both spin together to make it look like they are holding hands and spinning with eachother. This is in the video at: 1:54 until 2:03 cutting between the two of them during that shot, reverse shot. One of the ideas i had for the video was that during the chorus, we should have signs either saying what the lyrics are or what they represent. So during the chorus at: 0:44 until 0:50 and also at 1:07 until 1:14 we had signs with a pig onit representing the "Babe" and words saying "I", "Got" and "You" so that during the chorus it would say "Babe, i got you babe" in time with the lyrics of the song. One thing that we decided on as a group was costume and that it would be that all of us would have a dark bottom half on and a light top half of clothing, so i wore a Grey jumper and dark jeans, Ebony wore black tights and shorts with a light blue top on and Charlotte wore Black Leggings with a light blue top on aswell.

30 Second Clip

Artist: Asking Alexandria
Song: Closure
Album: Reckless & Relentless
Director: "Thunder Down Country"