M1: Justification of Content

ALEX MALLINSON Media Studies Year 12 Justification of Content: Target Audience and Music Video My chosen music video and song is ‘All for us’ by Labrynth, a song that is used in the popular show, ‘Euphoria’, a song and music video used as a symbolic reference and message to the dangers of drug abuse and its fatal consequences. The music video will depict a teenage girl struggling with addiction, the message demonstrating how this has an effect on herself, her family, friends and ultimately physical and mental health. The genre of the song is hip hop/grime/electronica, however I want to produce a more melancholic, darker toned music video, an aesthetic that I feel will fit well with the meaning of the narrative and song. The sombre and gloomy mood will be portrayed through dimly lit lighting (contrasted with bright neon lighting when the character is portrayed to be on drugs), melancholic settings such as graveyards, lonesome streets and cold bedrooms. My music video is suitable with the theme/message of the original song/music video as both depict drug abuse at its height; both videos having a target audience of male and female teenage millennials (13-20), within the demographic of the lower to middle class, an age group/stereotypical demographic that may indulge/experiment with drugs, ultimately the message conveys to the audience of the dangers and consequences of drugs. I can be sure the target audience I have identified is correct by looking on ‘YouGov’ of the original music video as well as artist. Moreover, the shots/editing and camera movements will mirror the original music video and how it is presented in the show, ‘Euphoria’, using a range of long/medium shots, extreme/close ups, cowboy shots, establishing/wide shots. I will use camera movements such as a dolly, pan, hand held shooting, tilt, zoom, pedestal and truck; as well I will use animation on the footage when editing, creating graphic designs that make references to the music videos visuals and song and use quick smash cuts, cuts and possibly wipes. The content I wish to produce is aimed at young teeners struggling with drug abuse or mental health issues, the industry I am working in I feel needs more representation of this audience through media, as social media now is our worlds way of communicating, this could help create relatability or create help lines from the music video that my target audience could benefit from. Video Format I will present my music video on a MP4 video format, using a high-quality file of 1080p resolution as well as export this as a 1080p HD file. I will be providing the client a high-quality music video, using a 25fps camera as well as a tripod. The duration of the music video will fit into 3 minutes and 10-15 seconds, within this time I will display a narrative showcasing my character and her struggles with drug abuse, as the music video is only a short period I will need to use quick match cuts when editing so I can tell a well thought out and compelling narrative in a short period of time. Audience pleasure When thinking about audience pleasure the factor of identifying with a character, the pleasure of being able to relate to a character because they are similar to you or have issues they can relate to, also being the reason why as a creator I have chosen a specific target audience. To create identification with the audience the character will be depicted within the same age group as my target audience, as well as the actress being a young girl, I will want to meet the male target audience relatability through making the character more masculine and wear baggy/less feminine fashion. Furthermore, I will also think about Schadenfreude, the audience being able to feel the characters pain and being able to relate to emotional events of the music video. Moreover, the audience also gains pleasure from the observation/surveillance of the character, watching something dramatic without the consequences of real life dilemmas. As well as this, there will also be a narrative resolution of the music video, the emotional purging done by the audience from the emotive narrative and song, will leave them with a refreshed feeling from the dramatic story. Genre/Media Codes & Conventions The main ongoing theme and narrative of my music video will revolve around subjects of drug abuse, consequences on the abuse of drugs & alcohol, and difficulty within mental health as a teenager; this I feel will work well with my target audience as may be a relatable aspect towards them. The setting of my music video will change from cold and lonesome bedroom scenes, streets at night and graveyards, all of which portray a melancholic tone that fit the mood of the music video. More on this, the mood of the music video will pursue a melancholic, dark and depressing genre, thus fitting the visuals and lyrics of the song and original video as well as using significant props of fake drugs and cigarettes to again show this. When looking on media codes and conventions I have researched the cause and effect of the message of the music video, applying a serious message of the consequences of drug abuse, allowing the audience to think about their own actions in life. The symbolic codes I will use include drugs, being a demonstration of the teenage protagonist’s struggle in life, these props a clear symbol within life of a person’s struggles, using this as an escape from the world’s problems. Other scenes such as the character slouched on a couch, struggling to get out of bed, crying scenes, wondering streets at night, rugged and uncared for fashion, all again demonstrate symbolic codes towards the audience of the characters mood. The colour I will use in my music video will consist of neon bright lights contrasted with dark, eerie atmospheres creating symbolism behind the characters mood, the dominant colours being neon purple contrasted with greys and blacks. In brighter lit lighting the character may be depicted to be on drugs, although not meant to be a contributor to drugs being positive but to showcase the feeling of their effects, on the other hand, darkened scenes depict the character to be in a depression, the unlit atmosphere reflecting the protagonists mood. When looking at technical codes, the camera will nearly always be seen using a dolly movement, moving away from the character, symbolising the audience not wanting to be in the shoes of the protagonist due to her situation as well as the positioning of the camera nearly always looking directly at the main character, making it clear she is the protagonist of the narrative. The two types of techniques used to contrast meaning in the codes and conventions of music videos are technical and symbolic. The technical side is the equipment can portray meaning; how camera angles, shots, sounds, editing styles and the genre can be used in a way to convey a particular meaning in the song and consequently in the music video. To demonstrate this I will use a high quality camera, a tripod, back up batteries, a physical copy of my script and storyboard and plastic coloured lighting sheets when creating dramatic shots. Within symbolism there is more of involvement of mise-en-scene, such as facial expressions, body language and beyond what you can see. To demonstrate this I will plan out all of the protagonist body language and facial expressions in a storyboard, leading from one shot to the next, this will allow me to easily understand what my actress will be doing and how they will look. Moreover, in my P1 Proposal, I created a layout of what fashion the protagonist will wear, bringing this with me when filming will give me and accurate insight on how to style my character.

P1 Feedback

P2: Script for Music Video

P1 Proposal

 

Camera Movement

 Camera Movement

Camera movement is a filmmaking technique that causes a change in frame or perspective through the movement of the camera. Camera movement allows cinematographers and directors to shift the audience's view without cutting. Specific types of camera movements in film also can create a psychological and emotional effect on the audience. These effects can be used to make a film more immersive and engaging.

Static -A static shot has no camera movement at all. It is achieved by locking a camera to a fixed-position typically with a tripod. The stability of a static shot makes it non-distracting. This makes it one of the best camera movements for shot reverse dialogue, precise composition, or showcasing an actors’ performance.

Pan -The camera directs a camera horizontally left or right. The pan camera movement is typically achieved with a tripod head, but can also be done handheld or with a stabilizer.

Pans are often motivated by a character’s actions. They can also be used to reveal new information to the audience.

Tilt - Camera Tilts are just like pans, only vertical. Tilt camera movements direct a camera upward or downward. Camera tilts can be used to give a character dominance in a shot or to reveal new information to the audience. Tilts enable filmmakers to capture the verticality of a film in moments of awe and spectacle.

Push in -A push-in moves the camera closer to a subject typically with a dolly camera movement. Push-ins can draw the audience's attention toward a specific detail. Filmmakers also push-in toward characters to try and infer what is occurring internally. This can be a reaction, thought process, or internal conflict.

Pull out -The camera pull out is the exact opposite of the push in. A pull out is a smooth camera movement that moves the camera further away from a subject. This movement causes the subject to grow smaller while simultaneously revealing their surroundings.

Zoom -Although zooms are technically not a camera movement they do create movement within the image. Zooms change the focal length of a camera lens to either zoom in (magnify) or zoom out (de-magnify) the size of a subject in the frame. 

Dolly Zoom -One of the more heavy-handed camera movements is the dolly zoom. A dolly zoom is achieved by dollying the camera away from or toward a subject while simultaneously zooming in the other direction. Dolly zooms are an incredibly intentional camera movement because they have such a specific effect.

Roll -The camera roll is a rotational camera movement that rotates the camera over its side on its long axis. Rolls can be dizzying and unnatural. For this reason, filmmakers use it to disorient the audience or create uneasiness. It’s specific effect makes it a very intentional camera movement that should only be used when wanting to elicit a discomfort in the audience.

Tracking Shot -A tracking shot is any shot that physically moves the camera through the scene for an extended amount of time. Tracking camera movement often follows a traveling subject, though they can be used to simply show off the scene. Check out our breakdown of the best tips to shooting better tracking shots.

Arc Shot -The arc shot orbits the camera around a subject in an arc pattern. Arc shots are typically used to add energy to a shot in which characters have minimal actions. 

Angles

 Angles

Shot #1 - Low Angle

In cinematography, a low-angle shot, is a shot from a camera angle positioned low on the vertical axis, anywhere below the eye line, looking up. Sometimes, it is even directly below the subject's feet. Psychologically, the effect of the low-angle shot is that it makes the subject look strong and powerful.

Shot #2 - High Angle

A high-angle shot is a cinematic technique where the camera looks down on the subject from a high angle and the point of focus often gets "swallowed up". ... In film, they can make the scene more dramatic. If there is a person at high elevation who is talking to someone below them, this shot is often used.

Shot #3 - Dutch Angle

The Dutch angle, also known as Dutch tilt, canted angle, or oblique angle, is a type of camera shot which involves setting the camera at an angle on its roll axis so that the shot is composed with vertical lines at an angle to the side of the frame, or so that the horizon line of the shot is not parallel with the bottom of the camera frame.

Shot #4 - Overhead Shot

An overhead shot is when the camera is placed directly above the subject. It's somewhere around a 90-degree angle above the scene taking place. Overhead shots are also called a bird view, bird's eye view, or elevated shot. Its placement is somewhat near the action, differing from the aerial shot.

Shot #5 - Eye Level

An eye level shot refers to when the level of your camera is placed at the same height as the eyes of the characters in your frame. An eye level camera angle does not require the viewer to see the eyes of the actor, nor does the actor need to look directly into the camera for a shot to be considered eye level.

Shot #6 - Shoulder Level

In film or television, an over the shoulder shot is when the camera is positioned behind one character and facing another, so the shoulder and back off the one character are facing the audience. Over Batman's shoulder.

Shot #7 - Hip Level

A Cowboy shot is when your camera is roughly waist-high. Hip level shots are often useful when one subject is seated while the other stands.

Shot #8 - Knee Level

This is when your camera height is about as low as your subject’s knees. They can emphasize a character’s superiority if paired with a low angle. It's not as extreme as a ground level shot but it gets the same feeling across. These are ideal when you want to focus on characters walking.

Shot #9 - Ground Level

A ground level shot is when your camera’s height is on ground level with your subject. This camera angle is used a lot to feature a character walking without revealing their face, but it can help to make the viewer more active and use the actor's performance to build an idea. 

Hollywood Composition

 Hollywood Composition

Shot #1

For this shot as a group we chose to use an over the shoulder shot, demonstrating the first and secondary characters in shot - we included this to showcase the two characters talking and not have to cut back and forth to each characters face. This also gave us ability to see the body language and facial expressions of both characters interacting with each other; also allowing us to follow the 180 degree rule where the camera stays on one side of the characters, helping the audience keep track of who is speaking. This shot was edited to fit the next scene. We could have improved this by having the camera higher upwards, only showing the shoulder and to blur out the secondary characters shoulder as well to emphasise/gain more attention on the first character. We followed the rule of thirds within this shot and gave headspace for each character, enabling it to look clean and not cramped, making the audience uncomfortable. There is a good use of white balance in this shot, allowing the face of the characters be shown clearly. We sequenced this clearly leading to the next shot to create a flow to the narrative

Shot #2

The camera angle we used is a over the shoulder shot, again to show the two characters dialogue without switching back and forth between the two. This also gave us ability to see the body language and facial expressions of both characters interacting with each other; also allowing us to follow the 180 degree rule where the camera stays on one side of the characters, helping the audience keep track of who is speaking. I feel the composition could have improved by allowing the first character (male) to have enough headspace in the shot - the angle makes the shot look crowded and uncomfortable and would make the audience notice the strangeness. We could have improved this by making sure the shot wasn't blurred and each feature of the characters were in focus. Moreover, I feel we could have improved the white balance as some aspects of the colour come across as grey and muted, as well as the background light overtaking some of the shot.

Shot #3

This worms eye view full body shot showcased a character coming up a set of stairs, we chose to make the camera angle lower to show the characters footsteps walking as well as using the two railing like arrows, making the eye lead to the characters face. We could have improved this by giving the character more head room to move as the shot comes across as uncomfortable and cramped. Within this we followed the rule of thirds and kept the character central in the screen. I feel the white balance has worked well as the colour and lighting are clear in this shot. the shot is also sequenced to be in time with the next.

Shot #4

I think this shot worked extremely well as the lighting, composition and white balance all worked harmoniously together. The shot we used was again a worms eye view of the character moving, following her feet as she walks. When the character left the screen it transitioned to the next shot following this movement. However, when editing this shot we had to reverse the footage as it didn't fit the 180 degree rule.

Shot #5

For this shot we used a medium shot to showcase the character walking, the camera walking backwards and character walking forwards in a dolly shot to create an illusion. We included this to finalise where the character was going. Although fro this shot we didn't use enough head space and so the shot can be seen to look cramped. I feel the white balance worked well in this shot and no over powering light leaked into the shot.