Shots/Cuts

The use of shots within our music video is key to us producing one of the highest quality. We must broadcast a variety of shots and different cuts to give the video a professional feel, we are going to firstly do a storyboard for our video which will give us an insight into what shots and cuts we would like to perform. There are many shots and cuts available to us and below is a list of the basics:

Long Shot: The camera is placed at a distance from the subject so that the setting rather than a character is emphasised. This is used to establish the place where the action will take place.

Medium Shot: framing a person from just above the top of the head to around their navel or midsection.

Close Up: Close-ups are one of the standard shots used regularly with medium shots and long shots. Close-ups display the most detail as it is focused purely on the subject.

Extreme Close Up: This shot allows for more detail than a close up shots as more detail is shown.

Up Shot (Low Angle): This shot gives the object higher status by making it seem larger and as if they are above us, as if they are looking down on us giving them power.

High Angled Shot: This is taken from above the subject to lower the status and give a sense of vulnerability.

Tracking Shot: This is where the camera is mounted onto a dolly and wheeled along a track to keep the camera in line with the moving scene.

Cross Cutting: Cross cutting is an editing technique where the action flicks between two scenes to create an effect; the usual effect being tension and fear, a lot of horror movies use this technique.

Jump Cut: This is a type of cut where two sequential shots of the same object is taken but varied only slightly to make the camera seem confused.

Establishing Shot: This is a shot which is usually shown at the start of a new scene to show the new location of the sequence.

As previously stated these are only the basics and we hope to use a much wider range of both cuts and shots within our music video.

Discussion on Final Track

The decision on the track for the final video was between two songs, Rivers Cuomo & B.O.B (Magic) and also Red Hot Chilli Peppers (Can’t Stop). We discussed as a group which song we would prefer to do and the majority voted for Magic. This song is upbeat and fast which will allow for some quick cutting and a variety off camera angles and movements to be used. It is a relatively new song which can hold us back but I believe it is a good track to use. Below is the track itself.

Using Final Cut.

To edit our music video we used the Final Cut Express Software, this was new software to me and took some time getting used to it. We as a group read through the instructions provided and began to edit. There were some difficulties, for example getting the track in the right position but other than that everything went well. We used effective shots and a variety of effects from the software to give our video an edge. However we tried many effects some were ineffective which gives us good indication not to use them in the future. Although we are working as a team on the editing side of tings one member used it more than the others but all of us know how to use the software and what it does. Final Cut Express is very effective and will allow us to make a Music Video of the highest quality in the near future.

The Fall In the CD Market.

Over the past 2 decades, the CD market has fallen and isn't going to stop anytime soon this has been mainly due to innovation and growth in other areas.
Itunes has revolutionised the way we gain our music, there are a lot of other applications similar to this, and some used for illegal downloading,but this leads the pack. Itunes allows you to access the itunes store, which is a simple, cheap easy way to purchase music, videos and films. This all comes at a much lower price than CD's and makes it easier for people to upload songs onto their ipods and mp3 players, which in today's society is seen as a necessity. This is a key reason why the CD market sales has fallen dramatically. In the past few years the CD market has tried to deal with this problem by decreasing the prices in singles and albums, By around 42% which shows how desperate the market is, we can see constant sales in places like HMV.
We can also look at the Phenomenon that is Youtube. This website allows people to listen to music for free, signed artists, unknown talents and many more fill this website and you can always find what your looking for. In recent years there has even been people discovered via posting their musical talents on Youtube, like for example Justin Bieber who is now a global superstar. This website has called a downfall in CD sales because people do not need CD's, they just play a song from there computer, simple, easy and can explore and search through a wide range of music and have freedom that they wouldnt have when buying an album that has the artist or the same genre of music.

Star Image

I have picked Rhianna for two reasons, one because our final song is of a similar genre to Rhianna, RnB and also, Rhiannas Image has changed throughout the years, adapting as her career was blossoming so there is a lot to look at within her image.
From her clean cut, wholesome look she began with she has now developed a fearless, strong powerful image, very daring and unique. She has now even been compared to Lady Gaga and has been quoted admiring Gagas “Bold fearless image”
If we looked at her style within her first hit single video, Pon De Replay, she wore jeans and a short top,very simple, young and fresh, and also had long brown hair. Then if we look over 3 years on, In her latest song Only Girl in the world she wears daring outfits, corset tops, and shorts with a lot of flesh on show, and bold red hair. Another Key part of Rhiannas Image is her hairstyles, which change very often. It is a key way Rhianna Updates her style, and doesn’t become boring.
She has been involved in a violent relationship and at a point her whole media coverage was based on negative points of Rhiannas life, and her style has changed in a huge way since this, and this could be one the ways Rhianna has been trying to make positive changes in her life since then, making a whole new era for herself, moving on.