Props List - Draft - Old

I have created a props list draft from my storyboard.

I have looked at the lyrics and the visuals I want to create and have then written up the props I believe I will need. 

I will be creating a finalised props list after getting feedback from my peers.

Analysis of Chosen Song (Forget Me Now)

Using my storyboard I have matched up my lyrics and visuals as I have learnt from research that having linking lyrics and visuals helps to make a more effective and successful music promo.

Storyboard: Lyric and Visual Links (Forget Me Now) - Old

I have drawn up a storyboard that focuses on how the lyrics and visuals will link together within my music promo. I have done this because it helps to show how the music promo links to the song or where the concept of the video came from.

Brainstorming Ideas - Continuous Shot

For my final music promo, I wanted to try and film a continuous video or a video that looked as though it was filmed in one go. To do this I researched different music videos that have done this, for example the band OK Go are renowned for filming their videos in one shot.

From my research on these types of music videos I have learnt that these videos take a lot of planning and choreography for them to work effectively. 
I also refined my initial concept to instead make a video that looked like it was done in one shot, this can be achieved by having people moving in front of the camera//something to 'distract' the camera//moving the camera quickly so that in editing the different scenes can be edited together to look seamless.

Initial Music Video Ideas (Forget Me Now) - Old

I made a small draft of my original idea for my music promo, it is very basic as I have not yet finalised my ideas.

Continuous Shot Music Videos

Some music videos are done in one continuous shot or are made to look like it has been filmed in one go. 
These types of videos tend to be concept based to allow more creativity when creating the video.

Many videos are made to look like they have been filmed once, this can be done by having the camera move faster, turn to the side and back or have someone walk in front of it, allowing the next part of the video to be editing in after. An example of this would be in Panic! At The Disco's music promo for 'Emperors New Clothes'




The band OK Go are known for making their music videos in one shot, the camera follows the band around like a routine. This is an effective way of creating a music promo as it leaves the audience wondering how they did it and make them watch it again. 

By 'distracting' the camera it makes transitions easier as people can get ready for the next part of the shot without being seen, making the video look seamless.

I have studied these types of music videos because I want to attempt to creative a similar style music video for my final product.

What I Have Learnt From My Research

I have learnt many things from my research, such as the codes and conventions of a music video, which help to create an effective music promo.

- There are different 'codes and conventions' that need to be followed depending on what type of music promo is being made; concept//performance//narrative.

- Many of the music promos made for the genre, alternative rock//pop-punk//pop-rock//rock are concept videos, allowing a creative video to come from certain lyrics within the track instead of following a narrative.

- Mise en Scene plays a big part for making music promos as costume, make up and props//lighting//location all help to create a music video and to tell a story to the audience.

YouTube is 'not paying enough' to British musicians

A Newsbeat music reporter has written an article about how YouTube has not being paying British musicians enough.
This has shown how music videos are not just promotional videos but also a product in themselves as so much revenue is made from these videos than before.

The music industry is changing and evolving with the new media, such as YouTube and the way that young people watch and receive music. Music is most widely seen and heard via the internet, YouTube being the biggest supplier as artists release their music on the streaming website either as just audio tracks, lyric videos or music promos. 
However with the evolution of how we access music, music videos are no longer just promotional videos they bring in huge amounts of revenue for artists, as their videos get more views the more money an artist is payed.

YouTube is such an accessible platform that it is not only already established artists using the site to share their music but up and coming unsigned artists.


BBC Newsbeat Article

Fueled By Ramen - Record Label

Fueled By Ramen are an American record label, it was founded in 1996, in Gainesville, Florida by John Janice who later met Vinnie Fiorello and helped make Fueled By Ramen a reality. However the record label is now based in New York City. The label is owed by Warner Music Group with distribution from one of the companies many labels; Atlantic Records.

Fueled By Ramen has become more as a brand along with a record label, for a growing community that has embraced what the label stands for.
The Fueled By Ramen record label signs various artists who's music genre is a range of, pop-punk, alternative rock and pop-rock to name a few.
They currently have 17 sign artists/bands, which include bands such as; Panic! At The Disco, Against The Current, Twenty One Pilots and Paramore.


DCD2 Records is another record label that is much like Fueled By Ramen in the artists that it signs. The record label was originally founded by Pete Wentz and was an imprint of Fueled By Ramen.

Website Homepage Analysis || Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots homepage immediately introduces the band to the viewer with a picture of Tyler and Josh. There is synergy across the website and digipak for their latest album, the same use of colours and patterns that can be seen in the digipack.

The design of the homepage is very simplistic leaving space for the patterns and colours that symbolise the band. This makes the bands image clear to the viewer and may make the viewer more interested due to the creativity of the homepage.

Everything is big and bold, the writing, pictures, links. The plain black background makes everything else on the page stand out, the bright red writing and white border pictures. The simplicity of the homepage carries on throughout the page making the website feel easy to look at as it is not busy.

The band also have other information such as their tour dates, social media links and their mailing sign up. On every 'O' they use the 'Ø' which they use in their band name logo, this makes them stand out and this synergy is carried out through the webpage as each 'O' is 'Ø'. 
This will also make the band more identifiable to a viewer if the see 'Ø' they will think of the band Twenty One Pilots.

Digipak Analysis || Twenty One Pilots - Blurryface

The digipak for Twenty One Pilots album Blurryface shows the synergy across the whole product. The front and back cover and the CD design all follow a similar layout and colour scheme.

The colours used on this digipak can be linked to the idea of rebellion and fighting back against the norm. This comes across in the bands music as well, as Tyler's lyrics speak of how they have had to fight for their place in the music industry.

The typeface that has been used is very simplistic much like the the typeface on New Politics album cover, the font is clear with bigger spaces making it easy to read. This adds to the urban and edgy feel of the album digipak and fits with the alternative genre.

The black, white and red colour scheme is very similar to other bands within the same genre, alternative. Bands such as New Politics and Panic! At The Disco, this may be because alternative is not as popular genre in the eyes of the music industry so these bands have had to work hard to get their music noticed and to not conform to the standards of the music industry.

The panels inside of the digipak the same colour schemes are followed, black, red and white. The borders also use the patterns that are found in the circles in the front cover, this makes the whole digipak feel like it is one whole product along with the music on the CD.

Music Promo Analysis || Twenty One Pilots - Lane Boy

Twenty One Pilots is an American duo, Tyler Joseph; lead vocalist and keyboardist and Josh Dun; drummer, originating from Columbus, Ohio. They formed in 2009 original consisting Tyler Joseph and former members, Nick Thomas and Chris Salih who left in 2011.

Twenty One Pilots released two albums before being signed, 'Twenty One Pilots' in 2009 and 'Vessel' in 2011.

Record Label
Twenty One Pilots was signed to Fueled By Ramen in 2012 after releasing their two previous albums unsigned.
Fuelled By Ramen is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, it was founded in 1996 by John Janick and later Vinnie Fiorello.

Lyrics
They say, "Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy,"
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway,
But will they be alive tomorrow?

They think this thing is a highway
If it was our way
We'd have a tempo change every other time change
'Cause our minds change on what we think is good
I wasn't raised in the hood,
But I know a thing or two about pain and darkness
If it wasn't for this music, I don't know how I would've fought this
Regardless,
All these songs I'm hearing are so heartless
Don't trust a perfect person and don't trust a song that's flawless
Honest,
There's a few songs on this record that feel common
I'm in constant confrontation with what I want and what is poppin'
In the industry
It seems to me
That singles on the radio are currency
My creativity's only free when I'm playin' shows

They say, "Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy,"
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway,
But will they be alive tomorrow?
Will they be alive tomorrow?

I'm sorry if that question I asked last
Scared you a bit like a hazmat
In a gas mask
If you ask Zack
He's my brother, he likes when I rap fast
But let's back track,
Back to this
Who would you live and die for on that list?
But the problem is
There's another list that exists and no one really wants to think about this
Forget sanity,
Forget salary,
Forget vanity,
My morality
If you get in between someone I love and me
You're gonna feel the heat of my cavalry
All these songs I'm hearing are so heartless
Don't trust a perfect person and don't trust a song that's flawless

They say, "Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy,"
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway,
But will they be alive tomorrow?
They say, "Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy,"
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway,
But will they be alive tomorrow?

Will they be alive tomorrow?
(Will they be alive tomorrow?)

They say, "Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy,"
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway,
But will they be alive tomorrow?
They say, "Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy,"
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway,
But will they be alive tomorrow?

Lyrics and Visuals
The lyrics 'Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy' can be seen in the visuals of the music video, the concept part of the video is all shot with Tyler walking/dancing down a lane with to characters behind him, which may represent something.
The characters behind Tyler are wearing gas masks this may have come from the lyrics 
'In a gas mask'.
In the first part of the song Tyler says 'My creativity's only free when I'm playin' shows' this may have inspired the performance element of this video as he lets his creativity out in his show.

Music and Visuals

The music links to the visuals this is shown especially at the end of the music promo as the pace of the track picks up the cuts between scenes become faster and the performance on stage becomes more erratic as Tyler runs and jumps around the stage along with the strobe lighting.

Narrative/Concept/Performance
This music promo for Twenty One Pilots 'Lane Boy' is a concept and performance music video. The concept of this video stems from the chorus lyrics 'They say,
"Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy,"//But we go where we want to//They think this thing is a highway, highway,//But will they be alive tomorrow?' as they come from the bands experience within the music industry and how people have told them to stick to the rules.
There is a small amount of choreographed movements within the concept part of the music promo, where Tyler and the characters behind him drop to the floor when the beat of the music cuts out.
The video does not only have concept elements but performance parts that show Josh on the drums from a concert. The end of the video is all performance, this gives viewers an idea of what a Twenty One Pilots concert would be like and they got the audience involved in the video.
Mise en Scene
Location
Two locations have been used for this music promo, the first being a dirt track at night. This setting fits with the dark undertones of the music and the message that the song is trying to get across. They are walking down a lane 'Stay in your lane, boy, lane boy'.

Costume and Makeup Props

Costumes and make up have been used within this music promo, there are two characters/dancers wearing white overalls and a gas mask, these characters could be seen to represent different things for example, fame and success. By making sure that the characters don't have any human features apart from their body shape it can help the audience to see them as a representation.
Tyler and Josh wear make up during their shows to add to their performances, Josh has red eyes whilst Tyler has a black neck and hands.


Lighting
Lighting used in the performance part of the video has used as strobe lights which change to the beat of the music, this makes the video feel moe alive and shows the quick pace of the song and video.
The lighting is also used to focus on Tyler and the characters behind him, the lights illuminate Tyler's face and black clothes against the dark of the night.

Camera Work and Editing

There are various close ups of Tyler and Josh throughout the video. The camera stays in front of Tyler as he walks down the lane, changing how far in front it is, but always focusing on him. This draws the audiences attention to Tyler whilst the white costumes the other two behind him are wearing also capture the audiences eyes as the white contrasts with the night.

In editing the end of the video has quick cuts from the concept shots to the performance, the fast cuts fits in with the beat of the music as the pace quickens near the end of the track.

Focus Group
"The transitions between the performance and concept parts of the video are really good and fit together well" - Alex 16

"I liked being able to see their concert and to have the view that the band have over the crowd." - Izzy 17

"The fast past shots on stage and the cuts to different clips contrast well with the fast music. It makes it more enjoyable to watch and it links better." - Dan 18

Digipak Analysis || Panic! At The Disco - Death Of A Bachelor

The front panel of Panic! At The Disco's digipak dark and bright at the same time, the darkness coming from the background picture itself of Brendon in his back garden and the brightness coming from the illustrations drawn over the top to make the once basic picture very exciting.                       The illustrations link to many of the songs from the album such as 'Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time' which Brendon sings about many of the things that occur at parties and about being drunk. So the madness of what is happening in the illustrations may be alluding to that, like something that is remembered after a night out.

The 'Panic! At The Disco' typeface has changed for this album once again, the logo changes with each album too suit the style of music on the album more. The logo changing tells the listener that they are about to listen to an entirely new Panic! sound. 

The back cover of the album is similar to the front as it is dark but bright at the same time. The plain black background with bright coloured writing for the track list along with an illustration of a cut off plug. The copyright and other information os down the bottom of the cover this means that the viewers eyes are drawn to the track list and illustrations first before they glance down further.     There is synergy between the typeface as the track list is written in the same typeface as the logo.

The first and second panel display a drawing of Brendon Urie and the tracks with their lyrics. Synergy is continued within the digipak as the lyrics to each of the songs are displayed on a black background, with the titles in a bright red making them stand out between the white lyrics. The minimalistic drawing of Brendon uses the same colours, black, white and red, but also contrasts lyrics which are on a black background and the drawing on a white background. This makes the drawing stand out more and the viewers eyes will be drawn to the picture before the lyrics as it is bigger and bolder. 

The third and forth panels are almost identical to the first and second as they follow the same style with a small change to the layout, with the drawing on the right instead of the left. The viewers eyes are still pulled to the drawings before the lyrics, as the picture is the same but with drawings over it. This links back to the front panel where an ordinary picture is drawn over. On this picture devil like features have been drawn over Brendon's face along with what could be seen as dripping blood, this is synergistic with the video for 'Emperor's New Clothes' where Brendon transforms into the devil.

The fifth and sixth panels are in a different layout as there is no drawing of Brendon and the lyrics stop on the very left of the fifth panel leaving room for other things, such as drawings and a thank you note. The picture once again draws in the viewer as it stands out between the small writing. On the sixth panel all the credits are listed, with the track titles once again in red making them stand out between the white writing.

The back panel is a plain black with the same picture of Brendon as before but it is washed over in red, through the digipak Brendon's picture transforms, linking to the album itself as he is changing 'Death of a Bachelor'.

The synergy continues onto the CD design where the drawing of a plug and socket are shown, this could be symbolism of how the listener is about to plug into the album. 

The typeface is the same of the band name and title of the album, and are in bright yellow writing capturing the audiences attention along with the image. There is copyright information at the very bottom of the CD which is very compact meaning that the viewer is unlikely to look at it and instead the picture, band and title.

Music Promo Genre - Alternative Rock

Against The Current's genre of music has been labeled as pop rock/pop punk, however in an interview with Fuse the band stated that they feel it's hard to put a certain genre to their music. They've said that they come under different genres; their song 'Gravity' being more pop, 'Fireproof' more rock and 'Talk' more pop punk.

The alternative genre has become a wide genre accepting variations of the type of music. This has meant that more music and bands now fall into the alternative genre.

Music Promo Analysis || Panic! At The Disco - Emperor's New Clothes

Panic! At The Disco is an American rock band that formed in 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bands current members are, vocalist Brendon Urie along with his touring band, bassist Dallon Weekes, guitarist Kenneth Harris and drummer Dan Powlovich. 

The band has changed members over time as two of the original members, Ryan Ross and John Walker left after the album Pretty Odd and Spencer Smith left after their album Too Weird To Live Too Rare To Die.

Record Label
Panic! At The Disco are signed to DCD2 records which was originally named DecayDance records, founded by Pete Wentz, bassist of Fall Out Boy.  Panic! At The Disco was the first band to be signed to the label and has gone on to sign many other artist like the band. The label was relaunched in 2014 when the label changed it's name, keeping acts that were already signed to it. New Politics and Lolo were the first artists to be signed under the new name.

Lyrics
Welcome to the end of eras
Ice has melted back to life
Done my time and served my sentence
Dress me up and watch me die
If it feels good, tastes good
It must be mine
Dynasty decapitated
You just might see a ghost tonight

And if you don't know, now you know

I'm taking back the crown
I'm all dressed up and naked
I see what's mine and take it
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
Oh, yeah
The crown...
So close I can taste it
I see what's mine and take it
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
Oh, yeah

Sycophants on velvet sofas
Lavish mansions, vintage wine
I am so much more than royal
Snatch your chain and mace your eyes
If it feels good, tastes good
It must be mine
Heroes always get remembered
But you know legends never die

And if you don't know, now you know

I'm taking back the crown
I'm all dressed up and naked
I see what's mine and take it
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
Oh, yeah
The crown
So close I can taste it
I see what's mine and take it
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
Oh, yeah

Mortal kings are ruling castles
Welcome to my world of fun
Liars settle into sockets
Flip the switch and watch them run

Oh, yeah, oh
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
I'm taking back, back, taking back, back
The crown
I'm all dressed up and naked
I see what's mine and take it
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
Oh, yeah
The crown
So close I can taste it
I see what's mine and take it
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
Oh, yeah

(Finders keepers, losers weepers)
(Finders keepers, losers weepers)

Lyrics and Visuals

There are a number of links between the lyrics and visuals, for example the chorus, 
''I'm taking back, back, taking back, back//The crown//I'm all dressed up and naked//I see what's mine and take it'. This links to the visuals of Brendon transforming into the devil, like he is 'taking back' the crown of the devil.
Also the lyrics 'Finders keepers, losers weepers' may be referencing to how Brendon has 'found' the position of devil and taken it and the lyrics 'I see what's mine and take it' reinforce this idea.
On the line 'I'm all dressed up and naked' Brendon rips his shirt off allowing the audience to see how he is transforming into the devil, as his skin gradually turns from normal to a blue stone colour.

Music and Visuals
This visuals in this video are all very sharp and precise, this fits perfectly with the fast paced music, especially the start of the track and the fast camera movements alone with Brendon's actions, it hooks the audience. 
The quick movements and general fast pace causes the person watch to go back and watch it again, repeating this action to make sure they didn't miss out on anything. The video keeps you interested with its quick changing of scenes and Brendon's transformation.



Narrative/Performance/Concept
'Emperor's New Clothes' is a concept and performance based music promo, it is also a continuation from the video for 'This Is Gospel', the audience get to see what happens to him after he escapes from his inner battles.
The concept of the video is that Brendon has fallen into hell and is now becoming the devil. This concept may have come from the lyrics of the song such as 'I'm taking back the crown' after his struggle he is taking the crown of the under world.


Mise en Scene
Location
The location would have been a set/studio, by using a studio or set it allows range of effects to be used. For example at the start of the video Brendon is shown to be falling, this could either have been filmed in front of a green screen or a black screen, then in editing they could edit the footage to make it look as though he is falling, that would have been harder to achieve on a location.
Using a studio also means that any set desired can be created, so for this video they wanted it to look as though Brendon was maybe in a graveyard or maybe hell.
Costume and Make Up // Props

Costume and make up was very important in this music promo as Brendon is shown to transform into the devil throughout the video. Without the costume and make up this video would be no where near as affective. The transformation keeps the audience intrigued as they don't know what's happening at the beginning of the video, so they keep watching. This also keeps people rematching the video to see if they missed anything.
Lighting
the lighting in the video is used to recreate lightning, the flashing lights at the start of the video illuminate the black setting and a creature which the audience cannot fully see. This leaves clues of what is too come in the video and keeps audiences watching to find out.

Camera Work and Editing
This music promo was filmed with the music speed up so that in editing when the footage was played back at real time the movements would look sharper and more demon like. The fast paced movements also work well with the music as it changes. 
There are various close ups of Brendon when he is singing, but also long shots of him to show him changing. The camera is constantly moving around him, confusing the audience as they are trying to understand what is happening to him, this keeps them watching and re-watching.  
Editing has been used to take the video that was filmed with the music sped up to match it back to the music that is playing normally.


Focus Group
"The editing for this video is good, I liked how Brendon's movements looked really fast they make and the changing of him looks seamless" - Alex 16

"I liked how the camera is constantly moving and how it circles around him, giving you a 360 view of him as he is changing. It makes it different from seeing it from one angle" - Izzy 17