Character Casting

ELLIE BUNCE- MAIN CHARACTER
I have chosen my sister as I think she fits the character I am looking for. Her long blonde hair reflects her purity which contrasts to her actions. She doesn't have the usual features of someone who would go off the rails therefore I feel she is a good actress to show contrast to this and that this kind of situation can happen to anyone.  Ellie also has experience in Drama and has been an extra in many big films therefore her acting experience us adequate for my casting. It is also practical for my to use her as living in the same house means i can access her easily if there are any problems within my filming or editing.




NEIL BUNCE- FATHER FIGURE

I have chosen my Dad due to practicality for my production as it is hard to cast an adult member flexibly. Neil has acting experience after taking part in a film many years ago showing he w
ill be ale to take part in the small section that he is featured in. Neil is also a good choice as due to being the father of the girl in the music video it is important for similar features which are already prevalent due to the relation

Props

The use of props is important within any piece of medial. This will help portay key themes within my music video:
- Two main props within my music video will be the use of alcohol and drugs as it helps portray youths in a negative way as its a key driver for young people going off the roads within society. This also sticks with my idea of the representation of youth collectively.
Alcohol: I will use old beer bottles and spirits replacing the liquid for a more safe option such as water or apple juice. My character will be shown drinking or within reach of them.

Drugs: I will subsidise real drugs for unharmful substances. I will show the use of 'Ecstasy' through sugar crushed into lines and unspecified drugs as tablets such as paracetamol. My actor will not swallow them to avoid health issues.

Final Ideas for Costume

Main character:
I have chosen a combination of a crop top, wet look leggings, converse and a large green coat.
The crop top together with the leggings gives her a 'slutty' look as it is revealing. This look is the same throughout the video suggesting the consequence of her going out and partying means it continues for days. This is common within drink and drug use as many people tend to loose track of time and go days and days without sobering up. The coat will be worn within outside scenes as I feel that it shows her only comfort when she is out in the cold, it also hints that her Dad still cares as he leaves it out for her to have.

Father figure:
I have chosen the father to wear upper class clothing consisting of a shirt, V neck pullover and cream trousers. I feel like the hint of the upper-class will contrast to the Daughters lifestyle revealing her as the true tearaway from the family

Final decision for Locations

Heyford Park

Heyford Park is a good location for my music video as due to being an ex army base it is derelict. I believe this environment will make my character look lonely and vulnerable, exxagerating the characters drunken state.The isolation of the environment will also reflect the characters feelings creating empathy from the audience. It is also within easy access of my house (2miles) meaning I can easily get there to do any reshots after the editing period.

Home environment

I have chosen a home location as it is a good place to show the father and daughters relationship as this is where they are present together. This location will show the girls lack of respect for her family due to the state she is in here. I have chosen to use my own home because it is practical and easy to get to. If there are any problems within my filming or editing i can easily re-film.

Dream Casting

Main character: Jaimie Winston

Ideally I would like to use Jaimie Winston as my main character. Winston has featured in films such as 'Kidulthood' (2006)and 'Adulthood' (2008) demonstrating herself with the ability to act as a teasr away. Within these films she has drank, taken drugs and got pregnant therefore I feel she would be effective in my music video.

Father Figure: Mark Harmon

Ideally I would like to use Mark Harmon as my father figure as in 'Freaky Friday' (2006) he adopts the role of a Dad effectively. Mark Harmon also has a posh look to him reflecting on the lifestyle my character would of had growing up.

Dream Locations

London estate
I feel this would be a good location for the scenes in which the music is softer. It is very direlict here and the houses are in poorer condition. This will reflect her circumstance of depression. London is very hard to access and to get permission to film there.

House Party-
A house party feauturing strobes and flashing lights would help represent the drunk state the main character is in. During the drops and the chorus in the songs the scenes would need to be fast moving. I will look rounf potential housesd for the use of this. Ideally i would like a run down house but it may be hard to find somewhere like that willing to have party scenes. However, this may be tricky due to finding a house for it to be hosted in

Posh Home environment-
The begining of my track is much slower than the rest of the song. Here I will feuture her home life detrioating as a consequence of her actions.We will see her in the hall way (for when shes removed from her home life.) I would like the home settings to be grand and welcoming to help contrast to what the girl has turned into. The rich house would be effective as it will contrast to her character showing her as a true tearaway.
Streets-
The streets would reflect how alone she is and the seeking for thrill.

Fish eye lens effect

Putting It All Together

Step 1:
Pop the lens out of the glasses. Apologize to grandma if she sees you doing this with her favorite pair of glasses.
Step 2:
Tear off two pieces of electrical or masking tape long enough to fit around your glasses’ lens, then stick ‘em onto the top and bottom edge of it.
Step 3:
With the tape ready for action, carefully put your newfangled fisheye lens over your camera’s lens, the same way the eyeglass lens normally would be in its frame.
Step 4:
With the tape, secure everything down so that the eyeglass lens ain’t budgin’ from your camera’s lens.
There ya are!

Shot inspiration

Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal helps show elements of a 'crazy' lifestyle simular to what I hope to portray in my own music video.
at 41 seconds and 1.34 min we see the use of a fisheye lens. This helps show a delusion look on life therefore inspiring me to use the same camera technique to help show the characters deviation from a socail norm.

Within my music video I hope to use the fisheye lens to show scenes of partying, i hope by using a disorted lens it shows the influence of drugs etc.

Themes of time

By looking at other alternative videos i have felt a sense of time. I feel this should be a main theme within my music video as time going on have caused her to have a breakdown.

Alt J- Breezeblocks helps show time by having the whole video in reverse, this makes you consider what happens in the begining to have such a tragic ending.

As my character worsened in her state I hope to do some reverse shots to make the audience consider time and what it would be like if she didnt go off the rails. I particularly liked the 'smashing bottle' reverse clip, I felt this gave a sense of ruining.

I would like to do something simular the character ruining herself, whether this be drinking or the use of drugs. A reverse shot of her taking drugs may be effective to differ from the original

I will also in cooperate bath scenes throughout showing what she has done cannot be turned back. These clips will be shown throughout keeping the audience engaged to know whats happened to her

In cooperating 'flashbacks' through the use of home videos will also help distinguish the characters change to herself now. By doing this the audience will be able to reflect on her life now in comparison to what it was.

Medias representation of Youth

This is EnglandClick to watch trailer 'This is England' is a film produced in 2006 by Shane Meadows focusing on skinheads growing up within the 80's. Here Shaun a young boy adopts the ways of other members of the group causing havoc to occur within the group. 'This is England' percieves youth to be portrayed in a negative light due to the activities they get up to. I wanted to inccoperate ideas of medias perception of youth within my music video, exploring the conept further through music rather than just TV and Film.

Misfits
Click to watch an episode
'Misfits' is a programme featured on channel 4 exploring the lives of five ASBO teenagers who come together to under go community service. This programme sheds a negative light on youth as it focuses on the tearaways who have all commited a crime. The characters experience a storm in which they get super powers, with these powers they fight the distrubing happens within the programme. Again, I wanted to explore the perception of youth in the media by using these characters to make my own.

Analysis of 'Skins' character Mini

 Mini

Skins is a popular tv series inspired by the ideas of youths going off the
rails, each character gets a different episode focused on them. My inspiration on the show is a character called Mini, whose parents have split and she now lives with her mum and her boyfriend. I believe this is the trigger of her downfall; these consists of getting drunk and high on a regular basis, getting pregnant and lastly sleeping with alot of boys.
Mini's representation is skins is the idea of a popular pretty
contrasting on what you would expect from her lifestyle.

Typical traits of Mini:
 -blonde long hair
-blue eyes
-popular
-parents seperation
-drug and alcohol abuse
-smokes
-love for dub step music
-constant getting into trouble


I would like to use a character simular in both looks and personality with the character of Mini due to her brilliant representation of prettiness oposing expectations and the key idea of judging someone from your looks.
Her antics during the skins episodes are also inspiring in terms of going off the rails. The idea of there being a specific trigger to her antics I like a lot, so I am going to use this as inspiration for my music video.

Click here to watch an Minis skins episode

Analysis of 'Skins' Series 6-Episode 5

This mid shot shows Minnie's friends to be getting drunk on the cocktails supplied by Minnie's father. They do not enjoy the drinks yet continue to drink them showing their aim is just to get drunk rather than have a civilized drink. This shot is effective as it establishes their situation highlighting their out casting outfits/looks from the rest.

This close up over the should shot shows Minnie getting angry at her friends for showing up. This shows she is aware of their behavior and knows from their past times it wont go well, especially with free drinks supplied. This shot is effective as it shows Minnie's facial expression so we are aware of how shes feeling.

This long shot shows Minnie in 'sexual contact' with one of her                 Fathers colleagues showing her intermate self despite being pregnant with another persons baby. This perceives youth in a negative light as sleeping around tends to be negative trait and stability is key in a baby's life and it does not look like she can offer this. The dark lighting creates a negative atmosphere showing that it may not have the best outcome.

After this encounter we see Minnie get upset by the whole situation. Her friends 'gatecrashing' and her encounter with the her Dads colleagues causes her to become overwhelmed on top of being pregnant. Similarly this shot portrays darkness reflecting the situation.

Media's representation of Youth

Media in TV Dramas, Films and music videos tend to reflect youth in a negative way. This is due to the entertainment it provides and highlights issues that are a problem within society. However, this is inaccurate to say that youth are all like this and this representation gives youngsters a collective identity of negative.

Theorists say:
Gramsci- A political thinker and is interested in the way Hegemony takes place because of media, causing all of society to think one view of a huge group.
Acland: believed that this media representation of anti-social youth reinforces this hegemony
Hebdidge: In interested in youth subcultures and believes that youth are represented in having fun or trouble
Gerbner: believes the repetitive nature of television influences how people see the world, therefore the portrayal of youth reinforces ideas. This is referred to as the cultivation theory.

I felt that I would use these ideas and theorist within my music video reflecting the medias representation as I could help explain through media why youths sometimes deteriorate. The influence of drink and drugs in my music video will help explain her situation and why she is how she is. This highlights a current issue within society.

Presentation- pitching idea

Here is my production pitch to help everyone within my class to give constructive critism
http://www.scribd.com/doc/106551662/Production-Pitch

Storyline

The storyline of my music video I hope to achieve is...

1. Through my music video I want to show the girl in 4 different story lines.
- Childhood
- Getting drunk and drugged
- Chucked out
- Living in a council estate alone
- Drowning herself due to her circumstances.

All these situations will be put through my music video giving an overwhelming sense to the audience.

Favourited elements in Electro/Dark/Storytelling Tracks

Ideas for final product

Typical conventions

Costume: Teenagers tend to listen to tracks like Chase and Status at parties or festivals. This therefore means the clothing needs to relate to the audience. Casual clothing (e.g jeans and a top) would represent a normal situation however with this sort of track the character is prehaps having a bad day and has resulted to drinking conotating going off the rails. With this track you could also show a hung over sort of state from the night before so could wear clothing such as a party dress but have mud on knees and make up down face.
Lighting: Due to the track being a partylike song, lighting effects such as strobes could be involved. Strobes are also a useful technique to represent to the audience how the actors are feeling in a drunk or drugged state. It is also likely to be dark as the lyrics reflect going into a low time of yourlife.
Actors: My anaylis of Skins shows what audience I aiming my track at. Those who enjoy getting drunk, doing drugs and off the rails as entertaining to watch. Therefore my actors would reflect this.
Movement: Due to the music being based around someone going off the rails I want the camera to reflect how the actor is feeling. This means there will be elements of furantic moving and calm depressing screens. eg. when shes drunk the camera will be wobbly, and when shes on a low the camera will be still.
Props: Elements of drug use and excessive drinking are portrayed throughout the song therefore bottles and pills will feature widely. the song is about loosing things therefore there will be little props as she has nothing about her any more other than the dependance in drink and dugs.
Setting: There will be many different settings in which my character is featured. Blocks of council flats ihn oxford is a key location for my video due to them being very derilict and isolated relfecting her own feelings. My character will also feature happy as there will be flashbacks of her childhood at home. She will also feature at home when we see the brink of her collapse in life when she argues with her parents causing them to kick her out.


Symbolism
Throughout my video I would like connotations of depression and feeling down to be jotted throughout the video.
Taps: sucicide- drowning himself,
Water: symbolises freedom, something that she wants to feel.
Toys: a happy childhood.
Dark lighting; reflect her mood
Flashbacks: contrast to her life now
Rewinding of clips: Wants to go back how her life was
Flashing lights: Drugged.
Smashing glass: life shattered before eyes. (close up shot)
Red: Anger

Persmission for 'Let you go' Soundtrack

To use the track 'Let You Go' I must get permission from the record label to use it, this is to avoid copyright issues.

I was then instructed to complete a 'educational synch request form' Click Here to view 

Let You Go anaylis

I feel that Plan B's videos are rather deep and they draw you into the characters minds. As Plan B collaborated with Chase and Status (pieces) I came across the most story-telling dark music video.

Analysis of Storytelling Music Videos

After finding out results from my questionaire i found that the type of music vieo that is most prefered is the storytelling convention. I think it is key for the song to reflect the lyrics said by the artist, helping draw the audience in and understand the song a lot further.
I feel the best artist to look at for deep meaningful storyline are Plan B's videos...
Deepest shame
She Said
Stay too Long
Love goes Down

I am going to analyse further one of his tracks 'The Recluse'

Within Plan B's video 'The Recluse' he tells the story of the down fall of a man who lived a glamorous lifestyle full of parties and women to living in prison thanks to how he achieved his glamorous lifestyle.

Close ups: Wee see alot of close ups of the character during the depressing scenes. This helps to show the importance and significant in the item in the shot. e.g drugs- the dependence he has on them, expression-show he is low.

Establishing shots: The long distant shots help to show the situation in which the character has got himself into. There is a direct juxtaposition between his luxurious life and his prison life style this helps to emphasise the self pity he is drowning in. A key theme in these shots is the use of water, in luxurious settings there is a pool however, in the prison he refuses to wash. Water is a connotation of freedom so therefore this shows he has lost all freedom in the prison.

Over the shoulder shot: We see an over the shoulder shot when the Plan B goes to shoot those who are at his house. This piece of action is key as we can see the shooting is why he is in jail. The over the shoulder shot is effective as it can portray the situation from Plan B's point of view showing to the audience he is a dominating threatening character.

TV Drama 'Skins'

WATCH SKINS- (29mins) Skins is a TV programme featuring on Channel 4. There has been 7 series all exploring the characters deterioration through their youth years.
This programme highlights the collective identity of youth portrayed by the media

During this episode Minnie gets pregnant and attends a party her father organised  This party contrasts with the youths normal locations but the involvement of her friends causes havoc to occur.

Results for Audience research

From these results I can conclude I will be doing a dramatised storytelling music video to the elector genre.

Audience research questionnaire

I am trying to get a wide audience to find out what people look for in a music video and what is most appealing. The link has been posted on my Facebook, Twitter and Blogger...

Please click on the link to complete my questionnaire on music videos:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8GDXXPR

Facebook and Twitter screenshots

Focus on Electro Genre

Electro is my personal favourite genre and I believe the music videos out there all tell a story well for this genre. I believe a message and story should be told through a music video as it gets viewers more gripped to the artist and helps relate to them. I am also a fan of visually editing every day situations so the viewer knows how the character within the video is feeling.
Here are some of my favourite electro music videos at the moment:
Owl City- Fireflies
Alt-J - Breezeblocks
Chase and Status- Let you go ft Mali
The Chemical Brothers- Hey Boy Hey Girl

Audience research and conventions of Alternative Genre

Genre: Alternative
Artist: Elbow
Date of Release: 2008
Type of Music video: Repetitive imagery
Record Label: Island Records
YouTube views: 1,139,324

I have chosen Elbows, 'One Day Like This,' as the track has recently come back into the charts after recently featuring in London 2012 closing ceremony.

Typical conventions

• Key focus is put upon the man holding the 'Condos now selling' sign.
• Condos are small apartment like flats which are in high demand in suburban areas and are often sold out before they are even finished.
• The location is set in a suburban area which is key in relation to the sign.
• It is also quite gloomy, this contrasts to the happiness the man holding the sign is showing.
• The green traffic light also helps represent how free the man is.
• Although condos are in high demand the man does not seem to care and enjoys dancing around with the sign, showing to the audience you do not need to be held down by anything.
• The main character also rides the sign like a horse, I believe this shows he is in control.
• It looks like the shot is someone watching him showing perhaps admiration.
• The music video represents freedom.

Audience

•  I believe the audience for this music video would be teenagers up to 40's due to the market that Elbow aim at. They have been around for a long time however their music is very contemporary
• Musical people will feature in Elbows audience due to the range of instruments played in the track (violin,drums and piano included)
• Both men and women will listen to this track due to lyrics being something everyone can relate to (having a good day)
• Those feeling low may look for this track due to the inspiration of the lyrics and powerfulness of the song.

Audience research and comventions of Electro Genre

Genre: Electro
Artist: Red Light
Date of Release: 2012
Type of Music Video: Real life visually edited
Record Label: Lavolta Records
YouTube views:1,088,991

I have chosen to focus of Red Lights Lost in Your Love as it is currently the summer song of dance festivals and currently features as number one in the iTunes Electro charts.

Typical Conventions

• There is a focus on eyes rolling around in the beginings, this suggests the audience are possible drunks/ uncoordinated listening to the track.
• Many flashing lights, featuring in red, blue and pink. These are typicle strobe lighting suggesting its a party track.
• Close ups of the singer, putting focus on her.
• The video is heavily edited over suggesting a dream-like state.
• There are siluoettes dancing, this encourages you to dance.
• The clips are rewind backwards or are fast forwarded making the video up beat.

Audience

• The age range out be 18-26 as a 'drunk' state is featured over the video
• Those who enjoy dancing
• A Hobby of theirs may be to go clubbing at the weekend as the use of strobes are featured here.
• Both girls and boys will like this track as dance music is not preferred by a gender.
• Those in love can relate to the song, 'Lost in your love' as this suggests they are besotted by someone

Audience research and conventions of R'n'B genre

Genre: RnB
Artist: Ne-Yo
Date of release: 2006
Type of music video: Narrative based
Record Label: Def Jam Records
YouTube views: 54,611,779

I have chosen to focus on Ne-Yo's song, 'So Sick,' as my exemplar for RnB music video due to the fact it became number one when it was released and the YouTube views are very high suggesting the audience enjoy both the song, and music video.

Typical conventions

• I believe the location is significant due to the fact its set in a ski resort, somewhere you would holiday/go when well off, this suggests a wealthy character.
• The costume Ne-Yo wears consisting on a think fur jacket, this shows the indulgence in which RnB singers tend to represent.
• The coldness of the outdoors is also contrasted to the indoors with the fire, I believe this shows how he is feeling. The warmth from when he was in love, to the coldness of being alone he now feels.
• We also see Ne-Yos memories featured as slow motion flashbacks, this helps show the importance of what he has lost.
• In the memories the girl is also featured in close ups with a shallow focus on her face, this shows how much she meant to him.

Audience

• I believe teenagers to young adults would be viewers of this music video due to the fact this age group is more likely to suffer heartbreak, therefore they can relate lyrically.
• I think both male and females will view this video as males will see Ne-Yo as an icon and females will see him as a heart throb. 
• The audience may also be those who have experienced a holiday romance as they are in a foreign environment and used to be in love.
• Those with an expensive taste in clothing/ want expensive clothes may also watch this video as the clothing they wear is indulgent therefore the audience can relate to this.

Audience research and conventions of Pop Genre

Genre: Pop
Artist: Rita Ora
Date of Release: 2012
Type of Music video: Representation of the artist (Party goer)
Record Label: Roc Nation
YouTube views:15,678,847

I have chosen Rita Ora, How we do (Party) as my pop video as it was recently number one and she is an upcoming artist signed by the famous Jay Z.

Typical conventions:

• The song is fast and up beat- something that would be played at a party, therefore the video is set at one.
• Rita Ora is the main focus of the video, she is featured centrally in each clip.
• Her costume is glamorous and revealing making her an icon
• There are many close ups showing off her looks and her having fun.
• Lots of panning shots, establishing the situation of a party.
• The camera also moves around lots, as if the shot is dancing
• During the verses the pace slows down helping focus on the lyrics.
• UV lighting shows the party life

Audience

• Those who enjoy pop music 
• I believe the viewers will be teenage boys and girls. The girls looking as her as an icon, and boys looking as her in a more attraction manner.
• Teenage boys and girls are likely to go to parties therefore can relate to the video.
• The audience may also like fashion as Rita Ora is very fashionable and unique so therefore may follow her trends.
• May have a hobby of dancing as the song is very arrhythmic and can therefore be choreographed to.

Audience research and conventions of Rock Genre

Genre: Rock
Artist: The Killers
Date of release: 2004
Type of music video: Story telling
Record Label: Def Jam Records
YouTube views: 49,642,726

I have chosen to focus on The Killers for my rock audience research due this track being no.1 on rock songs  featuring on iTunes.


 Typical Conventions:

• Unique/old fashion costumes
• The Killers play in the background as if watching the story
• Many close ups of lead singers face showing emotion and passion for song (he was Mr Brightside)
• The song is about the loss of a girl. Close ups portray her importance to the singer.
• The song is fast pace, however when the guitars kick in (pace increases) we see more action.
• Reference to the past through flashbacks, showing what they had.
• Fantastical set up
• In the end the guy doesn't get the girl showing what the whole song is based on.

Audience

• Those who enjoy Rock music or possible love ballads.
• A listener may have possibly suffered break-up therefore can relate to the video.
• 14+ would listen to this music, as they will be able to relate to the lyrics and all age groups above this tend to enjoy the killers.
• Boys/Males will tend to like this music as the artist is a man
• Possibly read comics as they are fantastical like the video.
• Guitar players may also be a fan due to the instruments used in the track.

Genres of music videos

Rock
Pop
Electro
R 'N' B
Alternative

I am going to focus on several genres to look at the audience and how they would respond to the videos differently.

Music Video Brief

I feel that this brief fits me best as I have a love for music and enjoyed creating a story for opening sequence. I hope to tell the story of a song I enjoy to get a reaction from the audience. I thoroughly enjoyed editing therefore I feel this brief I can experiment with it a lot more as music videos dont necessarily have to be realistic. I will now need to find a music track in which is believe tells a story so it is easier to interpret.

Briefs compare and contrast

There are many briefs to choose from for the A2 coursework. There are 3 in which draw my attention. These are a music video, documentary and a radio play.

Promotion package for a music video

This brief consists of album artwork, a promotion poster and the music video itself. You can use any track with the permission of the artist to tell the story in which you believe the lyrics say to you and an audience. this brief is good for those with a creative drive and a love of music.

Extract for a TV documentary

I am fan of Cherry Healeys documentations which makes me want to do this project. The project can be based on your own opinions or something you wish to find out. This brief is good for someone who has a variety of opinions and wants to explore them further however, must want to take into account other arguments.

Extract for a radio play

An example of a radio play is something like 'The Archers' featured on radio 4. This is good for those less keen on doing something visually however wants to portray an interactive piece of media. I am keen on this as I liked storyboarding in AS level.

Stepping from AS to A2

From the development of 'Hidden,' I learnt many techniques and skills along the way. From the creation of a storyboard itself to the editing of the clip. Through A2 level my interpretation of how media was made completely changed. This was due to the experience of putting together a piece of media myself. My opening sequence 'Hidden' is a short video of the beginning of a film or, the epitome of my research. To begin with I at looked a similar products (other opening sequences) to find the conventions in which helped portray their genre. Conventions included, setting, costume, characters, lighting, soundtrack, shots, props etc.
After a poll on my blog I found that horror was the most preferred genre by those who visited my page. I was delighted by the result,as from looking at all genres I found that horror films had similar conventions in each film, meaning it would be easy to research and interpret.
From my research of horror films I was able to make a storyboard for my project, following similar ideas from what I had seen. In the end the story line was based on a young innocent girl walking her dog and hears a babies cries and a women's scream and goes to investigate however, is unaware someone/thing is watching her. The opening sequence was meant to give little away however, raise suspicion and get viewers on the end of their seats. We filmed for several days and edited right up to the deadline.
Storyboarding and filming helped me to understand the concept of shots and the flow of a story however, editing made this a lot more effective. Here we put in sounds, changed lighting and matched each clip perfectly. Editing early on meant we were able to add any missing shots/ clips that didn't fit.
The process of learning about this type of media will hopefully lead my A2 project to be even better and be unafraid to experiment with more ideas.