Sunday, 29 September 2013

Two Tasks This Week...

This week's tasks are twofold:

Blog task no 1)


Design a Mood Board using words and images of your song's vid (that your group will be constructing - NOT a mood board for the original vid of the song).

Use either ppt, prezi, scribd, whatever!  You could even MAKE a collage on a big piece of paper - I don't care - if you do this though, obviously, I want a pic or vid of this on your blog...

Include:

• Photographs: PRIMARY and SECONDARY images of locations
• Costume, Fashion, Props, Instruments
• Themes
• Symbols and connotations
• Inspiration from other music videos
Use KEY WORDS in your comments: mise-en-scene, atmosphere, settings of music videos, links between visuals and lyrics, representation, genre, audience etc...
FOR EXAMPLE
 
These images convey a gloomy, melancholy feel representing the feelings of confusion and feeling lost, music artists such as Coldplay tend to use mysterious backgrounds for the music videos and CD covers for songs such as Violet Hill where scenes of a violet grey sky are used throughout linking to the lyrics.
The graveyard represents death but could also symbolise emotions…
 










Here's Megan's Mood Board from last year, in the form of a prezi, to give you some ideas:



And blog task no 2)

In order to make a music video of a song that's not yours, you must 'ask the artist's permission'.  The exam board doesn't expect a reply, but you have to prove that you asked.  You don't need to do one each - one per group, and then shared, will be fine.

So:

  1. Write your email
  2. Print screen and get it on your blog
  3. Comment on why you've sent the email


It could go like this:
  • Dear - 
  • Our names are - 
  • We are studying - (explain the course)
  • Explain what this project involves -
  • Request to use their song -
  • Tell them you have no intent to sell your video, once made
  • Assure them there won't be any copyright issues as it will solely be used for an educational purpose
  • Please contact if any concerns



Date of both tasks due on your blogs by, but you don't have to wait until, (Athena):  Fri 4th October



Sunday, 22 September 2013

For Friday's lesson - Fri 27th September





THIS WEEK’S TASK
ü  Archive your THREE potential songs for your music video “Idea 1…Idea 2…Idea 3” and upload the videos to your blogs
ü  Blog AT LEAST  3 reasons FOR and AGAINST making a video for each song. (Good points vs Bad points)
ü  THEN upload the LYRICS ONLY to your chosen song
Blog About:
A) Reasons why you’ve selected this song and discarded other ideas.
B) Initial concept ideas for your video: locations / themes / shot types / ‘angle: feminism/political message’ / performance or concept video / lighting / links to lyrics etc…

Remember you need a combination of text, images, videos, links to other websites / Twitter etc. on your blog

WORD VERIFICATION!!

WILL YOU PLEASE ALL SET YOUR WORD VERIFICATIONS...

LIKE I ASKED YOU - A LOT OF TIMES!!!!

I can't post on the majority of your blogs - and I'm sick of writing a comment out, go to publish it and then it asks for verification.. sort it out!



Sunday, 15 September 2013

Orange Is The New Black

The two articles I was on about on Friday...



Kevin Spacey: James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture


Just seen this advert...



On tv, there was a bit with shoes - not replicated in this ad off YTube.. dammit!  Anyway, one set of shoes stood still and didn't change, but the shoes standing next to them changed loads - brilliant!

Maybe some ideas for yours?

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

"Star" Research Project



Star Image: Artist Research Project



What makes a star a star?

The star, as well as the music video, is a media text: both can be ‘read’ and analysed. 

“A star is an image constructed (as any other aspect of fiction is) from a range of materials – eg advertising and magazines, as well as films and music.” Richard Dyer

TOP TIP: start collecting theory on music videos and audience - you will need this for your A2 exam!


Your project is to research into how a star’s image changes over time.
§  Choose a ‘big’ name artist
§  Choose an artist from your chosen genre

            STAR IMAGE RESEARCH PROJECT: How do record companies 
      c        construct a star's image??

           Upload all your research under a 'research and planning' label on your blog. Areas to cover are:

a)      Which star (from your genre) have you chosen to research? Mention time period and genre
b)      Debut single / album and image. Provide textual evidence of early star image (video / print / website). Who are their fan base? How do they appeal to their audience (fans)?
c)      How have they changed and why? How do they maintain / grow their fan base? Textual evidence of changing star image (include video).
d)      Any press coverage / media manipulation / product endorsement / controversy / appearances on talk shows etc.?
e)      Summarise the changing image of your star (refer to a range of changing characteristics)


           EXT: any intertextuality?
           Robbie Williams’ Millennium à James Bond
           Madonna à Marilyn Monroe
           J-Lo /Geri Halliwell à Fashdance

                   Key Terminology to use in your Research Project
§  Record company
§  Product endorsement
§  Star image
§  Richard Dyer (theorists)
§  Audience appeal
§  Representation
§  Colour symbolism
§  Intertextuality
§  Media Manipulation
§  Generic conventions (eg female artists always…)

        
          Deadline for the completion of this project on your blogs:

                                   Friday 27th September


Blog Task for Friday


You're presenting your songs to us all on Friday, so before that, make sure you've completed the following tasks on your blog.  This will ensure that you don't just stand up there and waffle...

1. As a group, decide which genre you’re going to produce a music video for and upload 3 music videos within that genre. Comment on why you've chosen this genre (and reasons for not choosing others).

2. Conduct some research about your artists:
a)      Which record label does the artiste/ band belong to? Is that an independent or major label?
b)      What was the name of their last album?
c)       Do you think they are designed to have mass appeal (are they pop) or more elite, underground  fans?

3.  Create a montage of images/spider diagram/prezi for each artist/ band. Comment on how they represent themselves and how this may appeal to their target audience: see below for elements you need to include on your montage..



REMEMBER: your blog is your A2 COURSEWORK. Add a post every 2 - 3 days.Upload all your genre research under your ‘research and planning’ label

This is what the moderator pulled you up on from last year's blogs - not enough evidence of your 'journey' - don't make the same mistake again...