Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Purpose of music videos
History of Music Videos
Before music videos then were pop promos which was a short film to promote the artists songs. One of the earliest pop promos was made by The Animals, House Of Rising Sun in 1964. The colour clip was filmed in a studio with a built set and an edited sequence of tracking shots, closeups and longshots. In the 60s The Beatles were one of the biggest artists around that time. In 1966 they made to colour promos were Rain and Paperback writer. In 1967 the colour promotional clips for Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane directed by Peter Goldman. It took the promotional film format to a new level. They used techniques including reversed film and slow motion, dramatic lighting, unusual camera angles and colour filtering added in post-production. During late 1972–73 David Bowie featured in a series of promotional films directed by pop photographer Mick Rock who worked extensively with Bowie in this period. These clips are important landmarks in the development of the music video genre in the 1970s, and they are also notable because they were made by a professional photographer rather than an established film or TV director, and because Mick Rock was given total creative control over the clips. Mick Rock directed and edited four clips, all originally shot on 16 mm colour film, to promote four consecutive David Bowie singles John I’m Only Dancing (May 1972), The Jean Genie (Nov1972) Space Oddity (Dec 1972) Life On Mars (1973). British TV programme Top of the Pops started playing music videos in the late 70s. Therefore a good video would increase a song's sales as viewers hoped to see it again the following week. In 1975, the band Queen ordered Bruce Gowers to make a promo video for there new single Bohemian Rhapsody to show it on Top of the Pops this is also notable for being entirely shot and edited on videotape. In the 80s MTV was the first music video channel. Airing “Video Killed The Radio Star” starting the channel. With this new outlet for material, the music video would, by the mid-1980s, grow to play a central role in popular music marketing. Many important acts of this period, most notably Adam and the Ants and Madonna owed a great deal of their success to the skillful construction and seductive appeal of their videos. Two key innovations in the development of the modern music video were the development of relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use video recording and editing equipment, and the development of a number of related effects. In 1983, the most successful and influential music video of all time was released—the nearly 14-minute-long video for Michael Jackson song “Thriller”. The video set new standards for production, having cost US$500,000 to film. That video, along with earlier videos by Michael Jackson for his songs Billie Jean and Beat It, also was instrumental in getting music videos by African American artists played on MTV; earlier, such videos were rare because MTV initially conceived itself as a rock-music-oriented channel.
Promotion
Part of the reason for music videos is to promote the artists and their songs. Music videos can make an visual representation of an piece of music. Its a further opportunity for the tracks to be heard. Also a way to promote a particular artists or tracks to illustrate three or four tracks from an album.
Extensions of the income
Extensions of the income is to keep the artists in the public eye for months after the release of albums and singles so the public see the videos it could make them buy singles and albums so theres more income from selling albums. Which can help recoup some of the costs for the production of recording the music initially.
Outlets
Outlets that the music videos can be played on are TV like MTV, and everytime the songs get played the artists some kind of income. People that are on the internet access the videos by youtube, vodpod and videocure. Other outlets that can play music videos are CDs, DVDs, artists websites and phones that can play them. Which will promote the band again on everytime there on.
Links to TV or TV synergy
Another way of promting the singer/band is on TV or films. Songs from artists that are played in films can sometimes have clips of the film in they music videos.
Examples of songs in films:
Aerosmith-I dont want to miss a thing(Armageddon)
Berlin-Take My Breath Away(Top Gun)
Harold Faltermeyer-Axel F( Beverly Hills Cop)
They are examples of songs and films doing better because of the song being in the film and film clips being in the music video.
The song by Aerosmith in Armageddon was number four in the charts before the film and then the film came out the song went to number for four weeks. Also the song by Berlin in Top Gun was first in th3e charts at 159 and went right to 20 once the film was released.
Before music videos then were pop promos which was a short film to promote the artists songs. One of the earliest pop promos was made by The Animals, House Of Rising Sun in 1964. The colour clip was filmed in a studio with a built set and an edited sequence of tracking shots, closeups and longshots. In the 60s The Beatles were one of the biggest artists around that time. In 1966 they made to colour promos were Rain and Paperback writer. In 1967 the colour promotional clips for Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane directed by Peter Goldman. It took the promotional film format to a new level. They used techniques including reversed film and slow motion, dramatic lighting, unusual camera angles and colour filtering added in post-production. During late 1972–73 David Bowie featured in a series of promotional films directed by pop photographer Mick Rock who worked extensively with Bowie in this period. These clips are important landmarks in the development of the music video genre in the 1970s, and they are also notable because they were made by a professional photographer rather than an established film or TV director, and because Mick Rock was given total creative control over the clips. Mick Rock directed and edited four clips, all originally shot on 16 mm colour film, to promote four consecutive David Bowie singles John I’m Only Dancing (May 1972), The Jean Genie (Nov1972) Space Oddity (Dec 1972) Life On Mars (1973). British TV programme Top of the Pops started playing music videos in the late 70s. Therefore a good video would increase a song's sales as viewers hoped to see it again the following week. In 1975, the band Queen ordered Bruce Gowers to make a promo video for there new single Bohemian Rhapsody to show it on Top of the Pops this is also notable for being entirely shot and edited on videotape. In the 80s MTV was the first music video channel. Airing “Video Killed The Radio Star” starting the channel. With this new outlet for material, the music video would, by the mid-1980s, grow to play a central role in popular music marketing. Many important acts of this period, most notably Adam and the Ants and Madonna owed a great deal of their success to the skillful construction and seductive appeal of their videos. Two key innovations in the development of the modern music video were the development of relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use video recording and editing equipment, and the development of a number of related effects. In 1983, the most successful and influential music video of all time was released—the nearly 14-minute-long video for Michael Jackson song “Thriller”. The video set new standards for production, having cost US$500,000 to film. That video, along with earlier videos by Michael Jackson for his songs Billie Jean and Beat It, also was instrumental in getting music videos by African American artists played on MTV; earlier, such videos were rare because MTV initially conceived itself as a rock-music-oriented channel.
Promotion
Part of the reason for music videos is to promote the artists and their songs. Music videos can make an visual representation of an piece of music. Its a further opportunity for the tracks to be heard. Also a way to promote a particular artists or tracks to illustrate three or four tracks from an album.
Extensions of the income
Extensions of the income is to keep the artists in the public eye for months after the release of albums and singles so the public see the videos it could make them buy singles and albums so theres more income from selling albums. Which can help recoup some of the costs for the production of recording the music initially.
Outlets
Outlets that the music videos can be played on are TV like MTV, and everytime the songs get played the artists some kind of income. People that are on the internet access the videos by youtube, vodpod and videocure. Other outlets that can play music videos are CDs, DVDs, artists websites and phones that can play them. Which will promote the band again on everytime there on.
Links to TV or TV synergy
Another way of promting the singer/band is on TV or films. Songs from artists that are played in films can sometimes have clips of the film in they music videos.
Examples of songs in films:
Aerosmith-I dont want to miss a thing(Armageddon)
Berlin-Take My Breath Away(Top Gun)
Harold Faltermeyer-Axel F( Beverly Hills Cop)
They are examples of songs and films doing better because of the song being in the film and film clips being in the music video.
The song by Aerosmith in Armageddon was number four in the charts before the film and then the film came out the song went to number for four weeks. Also the song by Berlin in Top Gun was first in th3e charts at 159 and went right to 20 once the film was released.
Contemporary music video reseacrh
Coldplay-Trouble
The music video for this song was directed by Sophie Muller which was the music video director that I research about. She directed the original European version and not the US version. The record producer was Ken Nelson.It is a wild west themed music video which was filmed in a ranch in Newhall, California. It features the lead singer Chris Martin tied to a chair with ropes as a prisoner.The release date of this song was 6th June.
The location of the video is outside a ranch which you can't see to much because its at night and theys not really any lighting to see. The location is dark the whole way through because of being at night which you think that there was a lot of lighting on the video but there isn't to add to the effect of being on your own.The location stays the same the whole way through of him sitting on a chair. The people that are acting are all the members of coldplay and some extras in the background. 0.25 there is a car that keeps circling him on the chair to make it look like he's being watched. The car is circling him all the way through the video. The props that are in the video are just the chair and the rope in the middle of the ranch. They have a close up of his hands tried up in rope to the chair, which was the the first shot you see as soon as it starts. That close up shows that it may be a big part in the narrative in the video.
The lighting on Chris Martin is be hide him at 0.30 make his outline of his face and its like a big spotlight as it goes on. Also at about 1.00 a light goes right along the back on the baterne with people watching him and you can't see them without the light. The spotlight on his tied up hands at 3.03 showing him trying to get out which is the only bit that has been lit up so that's the main focus on him trying to get out. Most of the is dark with just the spotlights in there.
The camerawork in the video is mainly showing Chris Martin with all different types of shots like close ups, wide and medium close ups. The shots are quite long as its quite a slow song there is long pans of the cameras.When the camera is on Chris Martin there is a lot of movement in the cameras. There are a lot of close ups to his face which shows his emotion. There is also that the camera angles when on Martin it is on a low angle which makes look weak.
The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals is that there is someone in trouble from the visuals is that someone being tied up who can't go out which you can from the video. The narrative look like they is someone in trouble which is what the songs called, so its quite a strong relationship between them.
This is a very narrative based music video. The narrative of the video is that they are characteristics from title 'trouble' with ropes tied to chair sitting outside. The target audience of the music video is kind of everyone theys not really any type of people its aimed at apart from people who like Coldplay. The music video promotes the image of the band not very I think because you don't see half of the band and quite dark video with not being able to see much. It also makes them look like
Meet Me Halfway
The music video was directed by Ben Mor who also directed "I Gotta Feeling". He said "This is a very different type of video'Boom Boom Pow' was very futuristic and 'I Gotta Feeling' had a party vibe, but this is more artistic video. It's very arty".
The production company of the video are Little Minx @ Black Dog Films and the producer was Dawn Rose.
The video features the members in different parts of the Solar System.
The video opens on a road in the middle of a desert panning up to the cosmic sky which shifts to scenes of each of the members singing in different locations of space. Fergie lies in the middle of a lush, green jungle, which was later comparised with the Pandora environment then levitates on a desert planet in nomadic clothing, will.i.am rides an elephant on a moon of Jupiter, and the other ones glides around the Sun in a spacesuit. Also someone else from the band takes out a map and will.i.am uses a compass to search for a path to the other members.
The video is about the band members being in space and each member of the band in different areas of planet that there on in space for some looks like a forest, desert thing and an mountain sort of thing. The props that are being used are plants in one the locations and theres also a elephant in an other location, overall there isn't many props in the video but there is some different clothes that they are wearing. One of the band members is wearing a space suit which sticks to the space theme but the other members are wearing thing that are not to the space theme. One of the other members is wearing is in a suit with some metal things on him on a elephant. The location of each band member doesn't really change so the location doesn't which is a bit boring. The lighting of the whole set that they are has been lit quite well and theres not much of a change in the lighting in the video. The lighting is bright of the whole location apart from the background which was dark because of it was space.In the background of space there are effects of stars and stuff like that with different colour lighting like blue and pink. The camera is moving pretty much all the time in the video which helps the pace of the video and feels like your following them in some shots. there hardly ever a time when the camera is fixed. Also the shots are changing quickly which helps the pace even more. The shot sizes are not just one type of shot there is a lot of different shots like close ups, wide and long shots are examples of what there is in the video. On a couple of the close ups its showing something important to do with the narrative like at 3.42.
The relationship between the the lyrics and the visuals are good because of the two of the members meet each other at the end of the video. as the song is called meet me halfway The relationship between the music visuals is that the the music with the video quite well as in the pace of the music goes well with the speed of the shots changing.
The characteristics of the genre of song that are seen in this video. The genre is an R&B sort of genre you would normally people dancing, clothes of the R&B style a lot of the these things are in this videos.
There is a lot of special effects in this music video and there are pretty much all the background of the video is all special effects like the planets in the background and space with the stars.
In the video there is a lot more performance based video with band members who are singing the song and moving around performing. There is also a concept of the band members being in space and them being in different parts of space. And there is a bit of narrative in the music video of the male and female that end up together by walking up to a mirror thing from the different parts of space 4.18. The whole video of them trying is tying to get one of each other. Overall there is narrative, concept and performance in this music video not just one of them but mainly performance.
Purposes of research
Research is an important part for finding out background information about work that is going be done and help to find out and understand about the subject that is being researching.
Secondary research is when you find research that is already been found by someone else as being on the internet or a book. Secondary research is research that is already out there. On the internet you have to be careful because of it can be not right because any one can make a web page but also the internet can be up to date. Other examples of secondary research are journals, magazines and government stats.
Primary research are done by your self and your can be targeted to find answers to specific questions. It is a little more time consuming and in voles careful preparation can obviously be more focused to answer very specific answers. Also with primary research examples of questionnaires, surveys and feedback from groups.
Music video director research
Sophie Muller is a British music video director who was born in London 0n 31 January 1962 but spent most of her earlyer years living on Isle of Man. She returned to London to attend Central St Martins and gaining an Foundation Diploma in Art. She went to the Royal College of Art to study for her Masters in Film and Television. She has won the J Walter Thompson Prize for creativity.
She has directed over a hundred music videos and has been a longtime collaborator with acts like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics. Her work with Annie Lennox won her a Grammy for the Diva video album. She also picked up an MTV Video Music Award for "Why" and was also Grammy nominated for the Eurythmics' Savage video album.Muller has directed seven No Doubt videos and six solo videos for Gwen Stefani & seven Sophie Ellis Bextor videos including Murder on the Dancefloor, Catch You.After her first videos for Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics, Sophie has since grown to be one of most prominent pop music video directors in the world.
Muller states that her only ambition is to continue directing to her own high standards and to never grow bored. In 2004, she directed the socially aware video for Sarah McLachlan's "World on Fire", where all but $15 of the entire $150,000 video budget was donated to charities. Recently, she has directed videos for Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Shakira, Mika and the critically acclaimed comeback video for the Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice".
Her trademark style in most of her videos usually has a singer or a band inside a dim, isolated room.Sophie Muller’s videos often have a rough, raw edge and a sense of spontaneity, along with an often-surreal use of color, juxtaposing bright, otherworldly primaries against backgrounds. However, she has the concept of sticking with a look avoiding storyboards and always trying to come up with a fresh approach.
She said to MVW that ‘I don’t do story boards, because if I do one, I can’t be bothered to do the video anymore–its like I have already done it. To me, making videos is really exciting and creative, but if I know what I am going to do, it’s not interesting to me. I like to go into it not quite knowing what is going to happen; then everything is fresh and exciting. Every musician you work with is different, and the way they look at themselves and their work is different. I look at that artist and think, ‘You’re different; what can I do with you that I have not done before?’
One of most important thing that the audience like the music video and whether it gets watched by the audiences. Here are some quotes that I found on YouTube.
Blur - Song 2
r4y3nzzz-love the drum
The viewer has watched the music video and has seen something they like in it. Its a positive reaction from the viewer about the video.
Godzilla3200-Yeah great video great music!
The viewer likes the song and the video doesn't say why but they like the video. They must like what Sophie Muller has done in this video.
Mika - Grace Kelly
MissBreeLynn-I love this song. and the video. they look like they're having so much fun. :)
They are liking the video because of the fun they look like they are having fun in the video.
PaigeOfTheSound-That looks like one kick-ass party!!!
They are liking the party side of the video.
Reviews of her music videos of Amazon about her videos that she directed for Eurythmics here's a review of her work.
"OK, so the videos are all from the 80s, when the music videos were still evolving. Yet Eurythmics did some great ones, simple yet effective."Love Is A Stranger" is a delight, with Annie disguising herself in fur and wigs for the first time. "Who's That Girl" where she goes as far as kissing herself (as a man - see to believe), "Miracle Of Love", which still touches everyone who was not too young when it came out".
Another review from Amazon,
"No complaints as regards the musical content of this DVD, but some groups are far more valuable for their music than for their videoclip worth. Eurythmics is one such band, with little to gaze at visually but Annie Lennox's beautifully sculptured face - while all the time marvelling at her voice".
She has directed over a hundred music videos and has been a longtime collaborator with acts like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics. Her work with Annie Lennox won her a Grammy for the Diva video album. She also picked up an MTV Video Music Award for "Why" and was also Grammy nominated for the Eurythmics' Savage video album.Muller has directed seven No Doubt videos and six solo videos for Gwen Stefani & seven Sophie Ellis Bextor videos including Murder on the Dancefloor, Catch You.After her first videos for Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics, Sophie has since grown to be one of most prominent pop music video directors in the world.
Muller states that her only ambition is to continue directing to her own high standards and to never grow bored. In 2004, she directed the socially aware video for Sarah McLachlan's "World on Fire", where all but $15 of the entire $150,000 video budget was donated to charities. Recently, she has directed videos for Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Shakira, Mika and the critically acclaimed comeback video for the Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice".
Her trademark style in most of her videos usually has a singer or a band inside a dim, isolated room.Sophie Muller’s videos often have a rough, raw edge and a sense of spontaneity, along with an often-surreal use of color, juxtaposing bright, otherworldly primaries against backgrounds. However, she has the concept of sticking with a look avoiding storyboards and always trying to come up with a fresh approach.
She said to MVW that ‘I don’t do story boards, because if I do one, I can’t be bothered to do the video anymore–its like I have already done it. To me, making videos is really exciting and creative, but if I know what I am going to do, it’s not interesting to me. I like to go into it not quite knowing what is going to happen; then everything is fresh and exciting. Every musician you work with is different, and the way they look at themselves and their work is different. I look at that artist and think, ‘You’re different; what can I do with you that I have not done before?’
One of most important thing that the audience like the music video and whether it gets watched by the audiences. Here are some quotes that I found on YouTube.
Blur - Song 2
r4y3nzzz-love the drum
The viewer has watched the music video and has seen something they like in it. Its a positive reaction from the viewer about the video.
Godzilla3200-Yeah great video great music!
The viewer likes the song and the video doesn't say why but they like the video. They must like what Sophie Muller has done in this video.
Mika - Grace Kelly
MissBreeLynn-I love this song. and the video. they look like they're having so much fun. :)
They are liking the video because of the fun they look like they are having fun in the video.
PaigeOfTheSound-That looks like one kick-ass party!!!
They are liking the party side of the video.
Reviews of her music videos of Amazon about her videos that she directed for Eurythmics here's a review of her work.
"OK, so the videos are all from the 80s, when the music videos were still evolving. Yet Eurythmics did some great ones, simple yet effective."Love Is A Stranger" is a delight, with Annie disguising herself in fur and wigs for the first time. "Who's That Girl" where she goes as far as kissing herself (as a man - see to believe), "Miracle Of Love", which still touches everyone who was not too young when it came out".
Another review from Amazon,
"No complaints as regards the musical content of this DVD, but some groups are far more valuable for their music than for their videoclip worth. Eurythmics is one such band, with little to gaze at visually but Annie Lennox's beautifully sculptured face - while all the time marvelling at her voice".
Biblography
http://www.mvdbase.com/tech.php?last=Muller&first=Sophie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Muller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdhBYGDJ8n0
http://oilfactory.com/director/13-Sophie-Muller
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.videocure.com/
http://www.mvwire.com/2002/02/11/music-video-director-sophie-muller/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B0000507OS/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Muller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdhBYGDJ8n0
http://oilfactory.com/director/13-Sophie-Muller
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.videocure.com/
http://www.mvwire.com/2002/02/11/music-video-director-sophie-muller/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B0000507OS/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
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