REBEL - TUG MC "STILL ERE" - BIGGA AKA JO LUCKY ON DA BEAT "REBEL PRODUC...

First Scene story board

Poppy

Time Plan

Today i need to start planning when i am going to film which sections. There are four different sections that i need to film separately, they are (in order of filming);

• Footage from Stapleton Road
• Filming in Meadow Vale - (panning shot around the park and around the main area and Shev's bench)
• Bus journey around Bristol and up Park street
• Footage taken from outside the job centre

Tommorow i am going to film the first section which is Stapleton road. I am going to do this by using my friends car to do so.

Final Logo and Company Name

This is our final logo. I think that this looks a million times better because it now blends in well being the header at the top of my blog. Also i thought afterwards that when making the CD case it would be easier to blend the logo onto black that to blend a white background.

I really like how now the text stands out in front of the black background. I also think that it represents a bit of a graffiti style and once again fits into the conventions of the Grime genre.

Company Name and Logo

We have given the company name alot of thought and we thought that 'Stone Productions' would work well because this is the name of the unofficial producers who initially recorded the track. I think that a graffiti style logo for the company would work well because it would tie in with the street theme that is going to be very strong throughout the project.

This is our initial idea for a logo. I chose the font because i think it doesn't look boring and also it has a bit of an edge to it which is what i wanted to create. I think that using black as the colour of the font may cause other people to think that its boring, but if i used yellow or any other colour then it would not fit the conventions of the grime genre. When i think of grime i think of dark colours (black in-particular).

Grime; Genre and Conventions

Griiime and genre

Analysis of Grime and Genre

This video was made by some amateur artists from the Bristol area. He is not a signed artist as you can see from the video.

This video has been made on an extremely low budget with all of the filming being Guerilla style. Throughout the track there are only long shots and mid shots. They also show a few still images of certain areas, but the point that i am trying to make is that the genre of music that i am doing is not commercial what so ever. There is very little money in the grime industry unless the artists become signed. There is fierce competition within the Grime industry because there are so many boys and men that with to make it somewhere with their Grime tracks. Although underground music like Dubstep is slowly becoming more commercialized, Grime tracks such as the one i am making a video for, are not very commercial yet but i would think that this would happen in the near future. This is due to certain Grime artists who started off small but are now signed to record labels or doing it independently. For most people this would be a risky business but there is a massive potential market for Grime tracks that i personally think we will see more of in the future.

28th September

During this lesson me and my partner have planned the beginning of the video using story boards and also listed a few of the places that we plan to film.

We have decided that the video that we produce should initially show a day in the life of the persona. This will include:

A bus journey through Stapleton road in Easton, On this bus journey we will record all of out footage using the point of view shot. For this part of the recording we will not be using George as we can make it look like it is him but really it is not. This is due to the fact that we wish to do all the filming of George in one day and keep it local. Also his availability is limited.

Whilst on the bus journey we will get off on Stapleton road and film a few low angle shots of high rise flats and also a few shots of the graffiti in the park on Stapleton road.
Afterwards we will be going up Park street in town to record again some point of view shots looking specifically at maybe students and also significant buildings, like Universities and also College green. This is to show his aspirations of what he wants to be one day.

We also want to set up a camera outside the job centre up Kingswood High street. I think this would work well because he talks about the claiming benefits in the song. With this part of the filming, we wish to set up the camera for a period of time (i.e 1 hour) and then speed up the recording and reduce it to a few seconds of footage. This will then be edited into the video at selected parts.

We also wish to record some prostitutes at work, hanging around corners to show the true realities of the streets. I want this video to show the harsh realities of street life because nobody else would put this sort of footage into a music video. I want people to listen to the words, watch the video and understand what goes on in day to day life for those people less fortunate than others.
Most music videos are full of people flashing their cash and basically saying 'look at me, look at me' but i want this video to show how life really is and not the fakeness that is commercial music and videos.

STONE PRODUCTIONS EL-NINO (TOUCH THE SKY VIDEO)

This is the track that we have decided to make a video to. As you can see the producer has already made a video to the song. I feel that it can be massively improved and have narrative to go with it.

We have chosen this song because i feel that in some way it has depth and when listening to it i can picture what i imagine the video to look like. This makes it alot easier when it comes to planning because i already have a rough idea of what i would like to see in the video i produce. I also want my video to portray a strong message to the audience and leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Devlin - Community Outcast (OFFICIAL VIDEO - HQ)

Video Analysis 4 - 'Devlin - Community Outcast'

This track has alot of meaning which is clearly portrayed through the lyrics. Devlin is trying to give a voice to those who are forgotten about such as single mums, elderly people and homeless people. The track itself is all about how the Government has let down those who live in 'the slums'. He is giving them a voice telling people about the harsh realities that is being brought up on the streets.
There are very obvious conventions within this video, such as the mis en scene used. The clothes that are worn are clearly his own clothes as they are a Nike round neck jumper and jeans. These are stereotypical conventions of the grime industry. The video is shot in his home town of Dagenham in the UK. I think this works well because the song is about showing the streets for what they are doing to people and what better way to show it than to shoot the video on the streets.
One of the shots that i noticed in the video was the point of view shot at 1.47. The camera is looking at what Devlin can see and then the guy coming towards the camera barges past and then the camera cuts to Devlin again. I think this works well and would hope to use this is my music video as i think that it represents how people are on the streets and that they don't care.
Throughout this video, still images have been edited into it when the track says something that needs to be emphasized. For example at 1.49 in the track the lyrics are;
'I represent single mums,
all alone on there own trying to put food in the mouth of her two sons
and the fathers gone
Theres no cash flow, lack of income.
But thats just the way it is
She counts 15 needles
pushing her pram on the way to the lift
This is where Brown says its safe to raise kids.'
Images of a pram, a woman with a baby and a toddler and also a writ of car. These images are there to inforce deeper meaning to the lyrics which i think is very effective.

Most of this video is of Devlin rapping to the camera but there are also lots of other shots of people that enforce meaning to the lyrics, I dont think that they thought alot about mis en scene in this video because it doesnt appear that people are carefully selected to go into the video. I think that they just wanted to shoot on the streets and not stage anything so that it was as realistic as possible. Devlin does mime most of the lyrics throughout the song but i think that this works well.

The narrative in the song is strong but the video shows no real story. The audience for this song would be people who can relate to the music who were also raised on the streets.

Video Analysis 3 - 'Skepta - Rescue Me'

This track is about Skepta moving away from the stereo type of 'Grime' and trying to make it in the charts and earn the real money with tracks that sale. He's saying that his boys have no love for him anymore and that he feels trapped in the lime light and doesn't know what to do. This song is all about him growing as a person and leaving the streets behind for a better quality of life. This video shows his entrapment and really tells a stroy. He says:
"And they say ive changed, I say im making a change,

I left the road, made a brand new lane,

Still i get no thank you, no round of applause,

So i keep on driving, im upset but i keep on smiling,

And when i get knocked down i get back on my two feet and i keep on fighting,

I sacrifice still privacy so i can live my dream what a irony,

Cus now my reality is far from the place i would like to be,"

Here he talks about how nobody has said well done or thankyou for his success but still he'll do it and keep his head high and hope that its worth it in the end.

I think with a track like this, the video can express alot of what the track itself is about. It tells a deep story which can communicate with the audience. The mis en scene has been thought about in alot of depth for this, the setting is in a mental institution which he wants to break free of because thats how it feels for him. I think the straight jacket works really well because hes got it on and he kind of contradicts himself because he says he wants to break free but you see him still rapping all the same in the straight jacket, basically conveying a message that nothing will hold him back!

There were lots of people involved in this video because it had to be a busy setting with lots of extra people to make it seem realistic.
There were a variety of shots used within this video such as alot of close ups of his face which were there to show the audience his expressions. The editing techniques that stood out for me were the fast cuts to different shots which came where the dubstep beat dropped in and also when Skepta is running during the chorus and the shot freezes and fades which i thought was a great effect to keep the video in sync with the track. There were also blurred effects added to some shots which i thought represented maybe his confusion.

Another aspect that i noticed was that he mimes some of the lyrics and this is then cut with shots of the surroundings and what else is going on at the same time as he is rapping.

The last thing that i would say stood out for me is when the writing is on the white board behind him and he is rapping infront of it. I think this is him reflecting on his thoughts and what he is rapping about.

'Skepta - Rescue Me'

Video analysis 2 - 'Ghetts - Sing for Me'

What i percieve this song to be about is that Ghetto is talking about having control over women in the form of them singing his tracks and them doing it for him. There is more to the track but this is clear because the video is different to every video ive seen. This is because the woman raps most of the lyrics of the song. A person never sings a song on a track of the other sex because that doesnt fit well. This video i think has a secret message about a males control over a female and it being shown to others so therefore it is being glorified. The video itself does not tell a story it just represents the words (sometimes). The shots with all the vinyls on the floor is a key use of great planned mis en scene. I think although it has no direct relevance to the track itself i think it works well. Also this video seems quite ammature and when he mimes it is out of time and doesnt look professional.

The video has been shot all in a studio not using any real life footage. Also props such as the diamond microphone have been placed there for a purpose.
The miming cuts from the woman to Ghetto on different parts of the track so its almost like a battle but within the same track.
There were simple shots use within this track like extreme close ups of eyes and face, long shots and mid shots. Also there was a low angle mid shot when he put on his sunglasses which i think worked well because the camera panned up his body as he put them on creating a create camera effect! I did not see a story being conveyed within the video it was more of just a performance of the song to the camera.

I think that the audience to this track would be 16 - 25 year olds with a passion for the streets.

"Ghetts - Sing for Me"

Analysis 1

In this video the costumes that are worn are just everyday clothes. Nothing abnormal. Examples of clothes worn are hoodies, jeans and trainers. The setting for this video is in a house and because the song is quite slow, which is represented in the title, the shot transitions are quite slow with not many flashing images. The setting is supposed to look like it is the main singers house so it looks like it is not set up. Videos such as these are usually made to seem 'real'. On the streets if you are not 'real' then your nobody, your fake. The shots used at 1.13 (time in the video) is where he is looking into a mirror. An over the shoulder shot is used so that the audience can see the singers point of view. This is almost like the singer is reflecting on himself through looking in the mirror. Also lots of shots are taken from different angles to show the same position but from different angles. I think that this is good because it shows him from many different directions. This video impaticular keeps flashing back to the scene where he is looking in the mirror. This breaks up the video and keeps it interesting.

I have noticed that Giggs only mimes certain lyrics from the song and key moments. For example, heres a set of lyrics from the start of the song, "They talk about they wanna cut crime down and do suttin posotive so they fly down" this is to emphasise these lyrics to the audience and get the message of the song across.

Over the chorus of the song the video sort of sticks to the same image and jumps. This edit is to slow down the shot transitions and make the music fit to the video.
The Audience for this song are people, mostly men aged 15 - 24. The reality of this is that most people who do listen to this music, are out on the streets alot and can relate to the situations conveyed within the music. This is then creating a fan base because the people within your fan base agree with your views and opinions expressed within the music.

Video Analysis 1 - "Giggs ft The Streets - Slow Songs"

15th July 2010

During this lesson i have watched a few A2 music videos from other people on youtube. Some of them were amazing including the one i have featured ontop of this post. I think today has taught me that the initial story line can be not that good but the shots used and the way they edit can make alot of difference to the quality of the final piece. I like the way the featured video above uses different editing techniques to make the whole video appear alot more professional. I was shocked because i thought it was the actual music video from Justin Timberlake. There were a few not very good ones this was mostly because they held shots for too long and it became boring. Quick moving videos are good because they keep you interested in watching the video as well as listening to the song.

6th July 2010

During todays lesson we learned about different camera movements that could be used, different shot types and also enhancing our technical creativity. We started by the whole class putting our selves on a line with the beginning of the line marked 'basic creativity' to 'directors standard'. I put myself at the start of the line with minimal creativity. We were given cards with scenarios on them and when asked what i would put in my film about the scenario i was given i just simply described what would happen, not what shots would be used to create dramatic impact and so on and so forth. We then got into groups of people who we wouldn't usually work with and i think this helps because it takes you out of your comfort zone and you have to put your ideas into what you do.

We made a Video on the theme of suspicion and we only had about 5 minutes to plan and then 10-15 minutes to film. It came out quite well because we had thought about different shot types such as over the shoulder shot, low angle long shot and a hand held cam movement. We thought about the effect of each camera angle and shot so that it was relevant to creating effect within the video. I think that this lesson helped because it made me think about the different aspects that make up a short video and that every shot and camera angle helps to add dramatic effect to the video. At the end of the lesson i thought that i had come quite a long way from the start and it made me think about things in more depth.

Review of AS project

During my practical work last year i had many different strengths and weaknesses. In the beginning of the project i struggled a lot with thinking about different ideas about what i was going to do in my project. It took me a while, but after thinking about what i enjoyed and what i was interested in i came to the conclusion of a Dubstep / Drum and Bass genre because this is the music that i listen to and this would keep me interested in the project because it was something i enjoy. This approach worked because i think i achieved an A grade over all which is good!

I also struggled with using Photoshop in the beginning but after a few lessons of close working with my teacher i quickly became very confident on Photoshop and people were asking me how to use it! I used Photoshop to do basic things such as cropping and resizing which then led on to more complex things such as using the mask tool to take away certain parts of images and also the main thing i did, creating my final magazine pages. I found it easy to sort out the composition of the pages on Photoshop because it was so easy to move things about until they were exactly how i wanted them. I think this is going to be a very similar experience when it comes to me editing my footage on the computer. At the moment i don't have any knowledge of using the editing machines but I'm sure after a few lessons working closely with others who do understand them, I'm sure i will pick it up quickly.

Another aspect of the course that i struggled with was probably staying focussed and not getting distracted by others around me. This year i have no choice but to do well because there aren't any of my close friends in my lessons this year so i can stay focussed.

Last year, i think that i worked well on my own although it was alot of work. This is why this year i have decided to work in a pair and not a group any larger. I think that if i were to work in a group then this would also distract me and although it is a larger work load i think it will force me to work harder and achieve me full potential.

Also last year i thought that i was good at creating shots and keeping what i wanted in the frames. I think this was good practice for this year because this year i really have to think about what i put in the shots, the camera angles and camera movements. All of these are key to achieving high grades in this course.

Also i thought that my research was good last year and i would hope to continue with such fine research this year. I think that having strong foundations for a project really helps with the development of the project it's self. This year i will get all of my research into Genre's and different conventions done early so therefore i have a good understanding of what is needed in my music video. Also this year i would like to be more visual in the way that i present my development stages on my blog. I will probably incorporate lots of videos and mini slide shows so that my blog in interactive with its audience and not dull. By doing this, it is also showing that i can be creative and will gain extra marks overall.