Treatment

Treatment for Music Video A2 on Prezi

Track and Lyrics

"Return to Zero" Baker/Doyle (2009)

The time has come, the time has come
To open up our eyes
The tide has turned, the war is won
So dry those diamond eyes
Show me the world so far below
Hold me, never let me go

The time has come, the time has come
To open up our eyes
The tide has turned, the war is won
So dry those diamond eyes
Show me the world so far below me
Hold me, never let me go

Oh I can never get enough of you and the things that you do Oh I can never get enough of you and the things that you do From satellites to oceans wide The infinite return to zero

The time has come, the time has come
To open up our eyes
The tide has turned, the war is won
So dry those diamond eyes
From satellites to oceans wide
The infinite return to zero Return to Zero by smilney

Research on This Modern Life and Track

I have chosen to create a music video for 'Return to Zero' by This Modern Life. Their a Indie/Rock unsigned band from Nottingham and have been together since March 2009 'from the ashes of a number of bands'. Two of the members of this band are Science teachers at the school I go to and have performed at school events I have been to where they have played brilliant covers of popular songs but they play most of their own songs such as 'Alone in December' and 'Colour of Blood'. The band consists of 4 members:  Scott Doyle (Lead vocals & guitarist) Neil Baker (lead guitarist) Adam Vaughan (Bass) Nicole Lyons (Drums). 

Their Influences:  

Groups such as The Cure, Editors, Bluetones, The Smiths, Radiohead, Stone Roses and singer/songwriters such as Dylan, Neil Finn and Bruce Springsteen. 

'This Modern Life are about Life, Love and Loss' and this style is conveyed in most of their songs. I received a description from Neil Baker about 'Return to Zero' and what it is about: 

Neil Baker:

"Return to Zero is a love song (probably the only happy song we’ve written!) It’s about after being alone for a while and finding that ‘special someone’" 

Permission: 

Hey sir and sir 

I am doing A2 Media where I have to create a music video for a track I have to select and Mr Turner has told me that some of This Modern Life songs are available to use for this. I would really love to use one of your songs but I was emailing you to make sure that was okay, plus I need your permission so I can put it on my blog.

I can’t decide which song to use yet as I love all 3 that we have been given as choices but I will have to decide this week. However if you have a preference for one of the 3 songs that you want to promote more I can do that for you.

Reply: 

Hey Sam, that’d be brilliant!!

We’ve actually recorded 2 new songs over the summer (rockier ones) that you could select from as well. I will send them for you to listen to.

Mr B 

Even though the new songs mentioned are really good, I have decided on 'Return to Zero' because of the story behind it and the meaning I can put into the video. Like Neil Baker said, it's a one happier song that they have wrote and this is perfect for my idea; a slow, rock/indie song that isn't too depressing to listen to. 

 This is a picture from their websites promoting 'Return to Zero', showing the lyrics of the chorus on ripped pieces of paper. This idea could be contributed within the video and this is something I'll ask the band about when I meet with them.

This Modern Life Websites:  

http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Modern-Life/170848122326

http://www.myspace.com/thismodernlife
http://thismodernlifeblog.wordpress.com/
http://www.last.fm/music/This+Modern+Life
 

Questionnaire/Results and Graphs

These are the questions I have used to create my survey which I made on www.surverymonkey.com which I then posted on my social network sites for more public view on what I need to know to make my music video appeal well.

1.       What is your gender?
2.       What type of genre of music do you like to listen to?
3.       What do you like about music videos?
4.       Do you prefer, Narrative or Performance or a bit of both in a Music Video?
5.       For a music video, what is the best pace for it?
6.       Do you prefer videos to be in colour or Black and white or a bit of both?
7.       Do you buy music magazines?
8.       If so do you take interest in new CD adverts within these magazines?
9.       For a CD cover/digipak, what do you prefer to see?
10.   What attracts you to buying a CD?

1. I didn't ask the question 'What is your age?' in my survey because I sent out this to people my age and the music I am using for this project is aimed at younger audience from mid/late teens- mid/late twenties. More females commented on my survey which could stereotypically change my results in terms of more results for more narrative and stories rather than performance. This is important to look out for as I have to make sure that all audiences that support 'This Modern Life' like the ideas that I'm going to put forward for the video.

2. As a part of my survey I used multiple choice questions so the people who answered weren't restricted to one answer and also this would give me a much more representative sample to go from. From this most people enjoy POP, however the song I'm using is rock/indie and indie was the 3rd highest result in this so I aim to make a video that appeals to these audiences as well as other audiences who likes pop.

 

 Most people who answered my survey said that it wasn't the video itself that appealed to them but mainly just the band that was performing, meaning that some type of performance will probably be filmed for my video (I was going to take this idea of both narrative and performance on anyway). Surprisingly a lot of people also said that they enjoy the costumes that the band/artist wear within a video. To appeal to an audience for the track I want to use, I will have to think more carefully than 'normal clothes'. Even though I'll probably be using an indie/rock band, the costume will have to be specific in a way to make sure that aspect of 'star image' is there that appeals to the audience but which is also comfortable for the band/artist.

 

 4. From this question in my survey it shows that people prefer to have both performance and narrative within a music video. This was my original thought anyway for the type of video I would like to produce because I like the story telling aspect of a music video and for the song. However not many people liked the idea of a music video that is just narrative so a significant amount of both performance and narrative will be used.

 6. This was a question that I needed to know because it was one that I needed others to have an opinion on also. Most people said either a bit of both black and white and also colour and also that it depends on the type of music genre being used. After looking at these results it shows that in my video I will use both black and white and colour editing. Even though editing doesn't seem important to a story line, it creates mood, emotion and meaning across in a not so obvious way. 

9. As a part of my media project I have to make products to go along with the video and I have chosen to create a magazine advert and a digipak. This question was aimed at the digipak and the style of the front cover. It shows that most people find a unique image of the band or artist as a front cover much more eye catching than a regular close up and even an artistic background. I think it definitely says from these results that some sort of band image is needed for a front cover to grab attention or even to create a theme for the album.

Research on Digipak

Digipaks typically consist of a 'gatefold' (book-style) paperboard capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies. These are also mainly used for the beginning of an artist or groups career to promote them into the music industry. CD and DVD are normally found in these digipaks to let audiences not only listen to the artist but see their debut video maybe or live performances on the DVD. However I will be producing a CD digipak for the artist I will be creating a music video for.

These are a few examples of CD digipaks that I'm using as influences for the style of my own digipak. I want to use the artist in my video and for a digipak, normally a picture of the artist or group is used to promote the look and style. A picture on the front normally indicate what type of genre or style the artist or group adopts and this is what I want to acheive for my own digipak to promote the artist or bands look as well as the music.

Research and Analysis of Digipaks on Prezi

Research into Magazine Adverts

Research and Analysis on Magazine CD Adverts on Prezi

Research into famous Music Video Director/s

John Landis- 'Michael Jacksons Thriller'

John David Landis was born on the 3rd August 1950 and is an American film director, actor, screenwriter and producer however he is known for his comedies, horror films and music videos with Michael Jackson. When Landis was living in London, he was approached by Michael Jackson to make a video for his son 'Thriller'. "Thriller" forever changed the music industry, MTV and the concept of music videos; it has won many awards. Also a bit later Landis directed a second video for Jackson, "Black or White"

"Thriller" was made into a very successful music video, known also independently as "Michael Jacksons Thriller". This whole video is 14 minutes and is longer than the song itself however this ties together with the narrative of the whole video featuring Jackson himself with actress Ola Ray as its setting is inspired a lot by horror films of the 1950s. In the video's most iconic scene, Jackson leads other actors costumed as zombies in a choreographed dance routine and even to this day this routine is still learnt and performed professionally. Though it got criticism for its violent imagery, the video was extremely popular and received high critical acclaim, being nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards in 1984 and winning three. In 2009 it was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, and was the first music video ever selected.

Francis Lawrence- 'Bad Romance' -Lady GaGa

Francis "Frank The Rat" Lawrence was born on March 26th 1970 in Vienna and is an American music video and film director. He is best known for directing the films 'I Am Legend' and 'Water For Elephants' and music videos such as Justin Timberlakes 'Rock Your Body', Jennifer Lopezs 'Jenny From The Block' and many more including Lady GaGas 'Bad Romance'. Also Lawrence has directed many commercials such as Disneyland, Coca Cola and Bacardi. From the vast collection of artists he has worked with it shows he can work to an performing artists look and style rather than his own ideas and interpretations.

The Bad Romance music video features Gaga inside a surreal white bathhouse where she gets kidnapped by a group of supermodels who drug her and sell her to the Russian Mafia. The music video ends with Gaga killing the man who bought her. The video received positive responses for its artistic treatment and visual imagery; critics complimented its provocative and symbolic plot. It was nominated for ten awards at the 2010 MTV Video Music awards eventually winning seven of those, including the Video of the Year. The video also won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video. This became one of Lawrences best known work for its originality and creativity.

Shot by shot analysis- 'Mine' by Taylor Swift

From this shot by shot anaysis and comparing it to 'A Team' I have learnt that a lot more transitions, cuts and different angles are used. This is to make it look professional and flow a lot better. You can tell from this video that is very professional and a large production company has been a big part in the development of it. I have also learnt from this music video that depending on the tempo of the song used, it effects the length of cuts and types of transitions; if shots and transitions don't work well and doesn't flow with the music then it could lose the connection from an audience.

Shot number	Shot type	Shot length	Description	Edit to next shot
1	MS	6sec	S walks into a wooded house/café, 2 people in the bottom right of the shot, she sits down on the table to her right as she walks in.	Straight
2	OTS	2sec	S looks over to a couple who are arguing at another table	White quick, fade /Flash back effect
3	MS	1sec	Flash back, to an older couple who are arguing in a kitchen setting.	Straight
4	CU	3sec	Young girl (could be a representative of S when she was young) standing at the door watching them, sad expression.	Straight
5	OTS	1sec	Shows the young girl watching the 2 older people argue (parents?)	Straight
6	CU	2sec	Young girl running away behind her from the door and the arguing.	White quick fade/Flash back effect
7	MS	1sec	S sitting at the table, rolling eyes after watching the arguing couple.	Straight
8	LS	3sec	S in a forest, singing her lyrics as photos of her life are hanging from the branches with string.	Straight
9	CU	1sec	Of S in the forest as she sings her lyrics	Straight
10	LS	2sec	Scene in a café as the waiter looks at a group of girls giggling at a table then comes over to S for her order.	Straight
11	CU	3sec	Of the male as he looks up from his notes and looks at S	Straight
12	CU	2sec	S looks up at the waiter, eyes meet.	Straight
13	CU	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
14	CU	2sec	Male looking at S, looking shy	Straight
15	CU	1sec	S looking at the male, eye contact, perhaps showing a love interest.	Straight
16	CU	3secs	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
17	LS	1sec	Pictures hanging by string from branches, see the forest plants too, some pictures out of focus.	Straight
18	MS CU?	1sec	Of two of the pictures, one is out of focus, however the other one is of the male and S, which establishes their relationship.	Straight
19	MS	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics, with photos in the background again.	Straight
20	CU	1sec	Some pictures hanging, the one of the both of them again is focused on.	Straight
21	LS	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics, holding a picture and looking at it	Straight
22	LA	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics, looks towards the camera over her shoulder	Straight
23	CU	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics, tilts head back.	Straight
24	LS	2sec	In the café again and they’re conversing, see a group of girls on another table.	Straight
25	MS	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics, standing between the hanging photos	Straight
26	CU	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
27	LS then ZOOM OUT	3sec	In the café again, zooms out to show others in the café	Straight
28	MS	2sec	S and male sitting face to face on a beach, he holds her legs and they both laugh and smile.	Straight
29	MCU	2sec	S and M waking together, sea behind them, she looks up at him.	Straight
30	LS	1sec	Puts his arm round S as they walk down a beach front, sea and some scenery behind them	Straight
31	LS	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
32	CU/ HA	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
33	LS	3sec	S and Male holding hands, playing around and S laughs at him being crazy	Straight
34	LS	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
35	MS	2sec	Sitting on the beach together, he grabs her round the waist and she laughs and giggles.	White fade
36	MS	1sec	Sitting together with the sea, behind them, he holds her chin, about to kiss.	Straight
37	LS	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos on string still.	Straight
38	MS slight HA	1sec	S sitting on a sofa with the male lying down with his head on her knee, faces up.	Straight
39	MCU then tilts to the male	3sec	S and male still on the sofa, tilts when she looks down at him on her knee, she strokes his hair.	Straight
40	HA	3sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos on string still.	Straight
41	LS	4sec	Taking from the inside of the window where you see S and male carrying boxes with the sea behind them	Straight
42	LA LS	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos on string still.	Straight
43	CU	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos on string still.	White fade
44	LS	1sec	S unpacking boxes in a bare room	Straight
45	OTS, CU	1sec	S looking at an old picture, from when she was younger?	Right Sweep cut
46	CU	1sec	Of the young girl (s) in focus whilst her parents argue	Straight
47	Mixture in one shot, 2S, CU, ZOOM etc	6sec	Both S and male unpacking boxes, finding things and smiling	Straight
48	HA	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos on string still.	Straight
49	CU	3sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos on string still.	Straight
50	MCU	3sec	S holding her arms out and male hugs her	Straight
51	LS	2sec	Silhouette of male and S dancing in their new flat/house?	Straight
52	LA	1sec	S spinning around in forest singing lyrics.	Straight
53	MCU	1sec	S looking at photos in the forest	Straight
54	CU	4secs	S in forest singing lyrics with photos on string still.	Straight
55	LS	2sec	S spinning in the forest as a picture of her is in the shot, out of focus	White fade
56	CU	2sec	Side of males cheek and S face as she has her arms around his neck. Talking	Straight
57	LS to ZOOM	2sec	Very close together, near the window (snowy outside?) heads together, then zoom to shoulders up.	Straight
58	MCU	2sec	Standing together facing the same way, s infront with arms around his neck, he goes to kiss her on the cheek, outside.	Straight
59	CU	1sec	S as a child watching argument again, exact shot as before	Straight
60	CU	1sec	S as a child, side of her head as the parents arguing in background out of focus	Straight
61	CU	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
62	LS HA	3sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
63	LS 2S	1sec	Both of them on a little rowing boat, see little islands and house in the background. Tell her to look over her shoulder	Straight
64	CU	1sec	S looks confused and looks over her shoulder	Straight
65	MCU 2S	1sec	Male gets ring box out of pocket as S turns her head	Straight
66	ECU	2sec	Male hand opening the box  of engagement ring	Straight
67	CU	1sec	S turns back around and looks down	Straight
68	MS 2S	1sec	S with hand over her mouth in shock as she looks at the male	Straight
69	Tilt MCU	1sec	Males face waiting for her to reply, smiles.	Straight
70	LS 2S	2sec	S nodding her head as she embraces the male.	Straight
71	ECU	2sec	Male putting the ring on S finger	Straight
72	LS pan?	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
73	LS/MS	3sec	Embracing/kisses on the boat	Straight
74	CU	3sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
75	2S	2sec	Both of them in the kitchen, dressed as if they have come home from work or event?	Straight
76	2S	2sec	Two of them closer and arguing/shouting at each other	White fade effect
77	2S	2sec	Arguing continues	Straight
78	MCU	2sec	Side of males head and S shouting at him and getting angry and upset	Straight
79	CU	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
80	LS	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
81	2S slight ZOOM out	4sec	Getting really aggressive, shouting in each others faces	White fade
82	LA	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
83	2S / MS	2sec	S walks out of the shot from arguing	Straight
84	Tracking LS	3sec	Running outside to get away from the arguing, dark, crying.	White fade/flashback
85	MS	2sec	Young S running out of a house	White fade/Flashback
86	MCU	2sec	S in the dark, stopped running, crying	Straight
87	CU	3sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
88	MCU	0.5sec	Back to flashback where parents arguing again MCU of dad	Straight
89	MCU	0.5sec	MCU of mother arguing	Straight
90	CU	2sec	Young S watching the arguing then turning her head, parents out of focus.	White fade/swipe effect
91	2S	3sec	Male gently grabs S wrist apologetically but  in the dark, S faces the other way	Straight
92	LS	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
93	MCU	3sec	Male holding S head up as she cries, tries to give eye contact	Straight
94	OTS CU	2sec	Male talking to crying S, looking at her	Straight
95	MCU	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics, holding a picture up of the male and her	Straight
96	CU	1sec	Both of them looking into each others eyes, stops crying	White fade/swipe
97	LS	1sec	FB: Camera behind them walking along the beach front	White fade
98	MS	2sec	FB: Both of them, kisses on the beach	Straight
99	2S MCU	2sec	Both of them in dark, him holding her neck gently	White fade/swipe
100	CU	2sec	Both of them looking at each other, male playing with her hair	Straight
101	LS	1sec	Picking up boxes, red car in the shot with scenery in the b/g	Straight
102	MS	2sec	Male holding box near the red car, pans to S holding boxes too	Straight
103	MS	1sec	Carrying boxes up steps to a house	Straight
104	MCU	4sec	Silhouette of both dancing and embracing	Straight
105	CU	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics	Straight
106	LS HA	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Really fast white fade
107	MS	2sec	Both of them, as bride and groom, very happy, people around them	Straight
108	LS	1sec	S walking through a door with a baby, male holds door open	Straight
109	MCU	2sec	Male smiling as he holds the baby infront of him and gives eye contact	Straight
110	MS/LS	2sec	S and a young boy sitting on her lap with a story, in a young childs bedroom.	Straight
111	CU	1sec	CU of the shot above, very smiley	Straight
112	LS	1sec	S standing at a window, with her hand of her stomach (pregnant) watching male in the garden playing football with another child	Straight
113	LS then slight ZOOM	3sec	At one of the childs 4th birthday parties, lots of children and friends, S and male (mum and dad) next to him. Male kisses him on cheek.	Straight
114	HA	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
115	LS slight tilt up	3sec	Two young boys bouncing on a the parents bed (S and male) laughing	Straight
116	MCU	1sec	The boys messing around	Straight
117	LA	2sec	S and one of the boys giggling	Straight
118	LS	1sec	All for of them, holding hands on the beach	Straight
119	LS	1sec	Both boys standing on a rock near the sea, waving.	Straight
120	MS	1sec	Splashing around in the sea as a family	Straight
121	CU	1sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	Straight
122	LS	2sec	S smiling and having fun as the male splashes her, boys laugh	Straight
123	ELS	1sec	Family running in the shallow water, scenery behind them	Straight
124	MS	2sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos	White fade/Swipe
125	LS slight ZOOM IN	2sec	Back in café, like the beginning of video	Straight
126	CU HA	5sec	S in forest singing lyrics with photos then goes out of focus, end of video	Black Fade out