Construction - Reflection - Week 7 Reflection Part 2

Since this week we were breaking up for the christmas holidays there wasn't much we could do except film however we had no intention of starting to film because we were focused on completing the coursework first and because some members were not in the country over the holidays therefore it wasn't possible.

Construction - Reflection - Week 7 Reflection Part 1

Construction - Reflection - Week 6 Reflection Part 2

This is our week 6 reflections podcast.

Construction - Reflection - Week 6 Reflection Part 1

Again today we were not able to take pictures of Daniel (Usher) as he had called in ill. So we decided that we could not wait for him to come in a finish the CD cover. So because of that we decided to take the initiative to do it ourselves, also it wasn't that hard for us as Remi also studies Graphic Design, so he is also up to date on how to use photo shop to a professional standard. While Remi was getting on with the CD cover, Vilson and i got on with the website, which included uploading pictures of myself (R.Kelly), and tweaking the biography of both artists.

Construction - Reflection - Week 5 Reflection Part 2

Today we took a few pictures of myself (R.Kelly) so that our audiences are aware of how he looks. Unfortunately this lesson was not as productive as we would have hoped for, as we were not able to take pictures of Daniel who is playing Usher, also adding to that Daniel has been a main guy in creating the album cover, so today when we had a look at it we Remi,Vilson, and I  were a tad confused as he had made quite a few changes that we were not up to date with. So because of that we will only be able to complete this task on Friday.

Construction - Reflection - Week 5 Reflection Part 1

This week we made a lot of progress on our album cover and webpage, we had to change templates for the webpage as we thought that the previous template wasn't professional or appealing therefore we went for a more plain look as we stick to the 'less is more' saying. We however could only go so far on the webpage as some sections can not be finished, such as the gallery, until we have filmed and taken photos. Our album cover has also gone through a long process of tweaking and changing, as we have changed the design and the colours used, we became more familiar with photoshop and therefore the quality of our album cover is to a high standard.

Construction - Reflection - Week 4 Reflection Part 2

These are the reflections on this week (4), tis is the progress from the last post.

Construction - Reflection - Week 4 Reflection Part 1

This week we have began to assemble all the images and try and begin with the project, we decide to have two people working on the website and then two people working on the four sided album cover. we will soon be picking our double and then start with the work, hopefully next lesson.

Construction - Reflection - Week 3 Reflection Part 2

Construction - Reflection - Week 3 Reflection Part 1

During this week we ran into some communication problems due to several reasons. One such problem was that we couldn't decide as a group on many ideas for the cd album cover, we had many different ideas and they were quite polarised. We also had to spread out the work load and assign tasks to each member and had to make important plans about filming date however we came to the conclusion that we would want to finish all our coursework before we start filming. Other than that everything went smoothly and there were not many hicks that slowed or progress.

Construction - Reflection - Week 2 Reflection Part 1

This week we created a step by step tutorial on how we created a radio spot. We decided to show this via a online programme named Prezzi. As we used this programme last year we already understood how to use it, and because of that we had barely any difficulties. Although as we are now doing a A2 course we wanted the presentation to look a bit more professional. We were pleased that this presentation did not take long to complete as we were very organised; by that while actually doing the radio spot we were taking print screens so that it would be easier for us to explain how to use this software to others, but at the same time it would easier for people to understand how to use it.

Construction - Reflection - Week 2 Reflection Part 2

Today we completed the presentation on the step by step tutorial of the radio spot. Although we were unable to complete much work after as i was told to leave the class due to an argument with my teacher, and the work that had to be finished was reliant upon myself completing it, as i was the only one who fully understood what to do. Followed by that Fridays lesson had to be cancelled due to our teacher not being in, and normally we would not need a teacher to continue with work, but this session he was going to explain to us what our next blogs needed to be about. So due to this it may mean we will fall back on our work.

Construction - Reflection - Week 1 Reflection Part 2

This is our reflection on how we think our DJ radio spot went.

Construction - Reflection - Week 1 Reflection Part 1

In our first week we have just been introduced to a new software 'garageband' which we will be creating a radio spot on. With this software we will be aiming to create a radio podcast that is to a professional standard introducing our artists new single. During this process we ran into some difficulties along the way such as team communication, we could not agree on what effects, sounds and even the name and call letters for our radio spot however we finally found what we were looking for and we all agreed to the final product of our radio spot. We also had to experiment with the new program, 'Garage Band' this took a lot of time and effort to find our sound and to become comfortable in using the programme.

Construction - Radio Spot Prezi

Create a radio spot using GarageBand on Prezi

Construction - Survey Monkey

Here i'm showing the survey monkey i created, as a group we decided to create a survey with the following questions as our aim was to find how well we interpreted the video, and if our target audience enjoyed our music video.

Construction - Creation Of Radio Podcast

This is a step by step prezi of the creation of the garage band.

Construction - How To Create The Album Covers

This is a Prezi that was created to explain how the albums where created, The Photoshop Tutorial.

Planning - Organisation Within The Group

As a group to keep organised we had to make a calendar which worked around each others schedules as members of the group had part-time jobs to sustain and some members had sporting activities that they attended every week so that day was un available to film or get together to do work.  

Decision making
Decision making was a big factor in this whole project, we had troubles getting to a final decision, but we got to the end by doing some simple things. we all sat down as a group steam rolling what we had to do. We made a calendar and stuck to it as much as we could. this really helped with decision making as on our calendar we stated what we were doing on that perticular day.

Last year we struggled to keep organised and doing this for the second year we can clearly see the importance now. We made a calendar last year but the calendar lacked detail which made it difficult to know exactly what to do on those specific days. this then wasted a lot of time which led to cramming things in which wasn't good for the group.

Planning - Media Text Analysing

This cd cover hints at subtle messages, it shows the artist, Usher, on the cover with a computer generated image (CGI) as the background. This background conists of artistic images of water, and exotic plants, this can also be seen to show the artistic side of the artist as the background seems to run onto Ushers neck. Its tattoos of lips on his neck and this can hint at previous relationships or sexual encounters he has had in the past and therefore foreshadows songs on his album. The font shows the title of the single and the album with his name, the font also looks unprofessional and more like ushers handwriting, giving a more personal feel to his album rather than being very distant and impersonal. This in turn brings life to the album making it seem like he has a close connection with the songs in this album and therefore giving a glimpse of what the album has to offer. This image of one night stands and a hard persona is further implied through ushers image of himself, here he has kept his facial hair and this can also imply another side that fans have not seen, a rugged, hard, playboy figure.

Planning - Calendar

  We created a calendar so that we would be able to stay organised and stay on top of things. It also stopped us from double booking for example before we created the calendar they were days when we wanted to film, but when it came to the day we would realise that someone in the group was busy that day. Which wasted a lot of time. 

  We also made the calendar open to everyone i the group so when someone new they would be busy one day, the could write it in the calendar to keep everyone in the group updated.

  Here is a screen shots of our calendar, which shows days when we were filming in GREEN, and days when members of the group were busy so we would be unable to film in BLUE. 

Here is a screen shot of what one of the days includes. In this shot you are able to see what is happening this particular day, the venue,what Fred needs to wear that day, and then what time it starts and finishes.

Planning - Lyrics used as a narrative

These are the lyrics to our song, this is used to guide the narrative of the music video, this was our guidelines of the music video which helped us create the narrative and complete the story. It also played a vital part within the editing as, the three paragraphs in the lyrics is split through different scenes.
Here below are the lyrics of the music video.

"Same Girl"

[R. Kelly]
Yo Ush..
[Usher]
What up Kells
[R. Kelly]
Wanna introduce you to this girl. Think I really love this girl.
[Usher]
Yeah...
[R. Kelly]
Man she's so fine.
[Usher]
Straight up dog...
[R. Kelly]
She stands about 5'4", Coca Cola, red bone
[Usher]
Damn...
[R. Kelly]
She drives a black Durango
License plate say Angel
Tattoo on her ankle
Plus she's making pesos.
Gotta crib on Peachtree,
Right on 17th street
And I call her Te Te.
[Usher]
Wait a minute hold on dog. Do she got a kid? [Yep]
She loves some waffle house? [Yep]
Do she got a beauty mark on the left side of her mouth? [Man]
Went to Georgia Tech? [Yep]
Works for TBS? [Yep]
Man I can't believe this shit. Damn!
[R. Kelly]
Tell me what's wrong dog what the hell you damnin' 'bout?
I'm your homie so just say what's on your mind.
[Usher]
Man I didn't know that you were talkin' 'bout her.
[R. Kelly]
So man you telling me you know her?
[Usher]
Do I know her? Like a pastor know his word.

[Chorus]
We messing with the same girl, the same girl.
[R. Kelly]
How could the love of my life and my potential wife be the same girl?
[Usher]
Man I can't believe that we've been messing with the same girl, the same girl.
[R. Kelly]
Thought she's someone I could trust
But she's been doubling up with us.
U, K, man we been messing with same girl.

[Usher]
See I met her at this party in ATLANTA!
[R. Kelly]
Well I met her at this party in CHICAGO!
[Usher]
She came right up to me giving me conversation.
I said, "Do you gotta a man?"
She said, "No," with no hesitation.
[R. Kelly]
Well, it must be a music thing 'cause she said the same to me.
At party all in my face while I'm laughing and buying her drinks
[Usher]
She whispered in my ear and said, "Can you take me home?"
[R. Kelly]
ME TOO! Man she was in the shower singing that same song
[Usher]
Is that true?
[R. Kelly]
And I thought it was true confessions when she said, "I love you."
[Usher]
Man I thought her body was calling when she said, "I want you."
Look I even got some pictures on my phone.
[R. Kelly]
Look at there. There she is with some boy shirts on.

[Chorus]
She's the apple of my eye and my potential wife.
Man I just can't believe that we've been messing around with the same damn girl.
Thought she was someone I could trust
But she's been doubling up with both of us.
U, K man we been messing with the same girl.

[Usher]
Said she got me on a ring tone
[R. Kelly]
Are you talking about the pink phone?
[Usher]
Uh uh the blue one
[R. Kelly]
Man she told me that was turned off.
[Usher]
It's obvious that she's been playing us, playing us.
[R. Kelly]
'Cause constantly she's been lying to us, lying to us.
[Usher]
Don't like the way that she's been going 'bout it, going 'bout it.
Kells what you think that we should do about it, do about it?
[R. Kelly]
Call her up at her home.
She won't know that I'm on the phone.
[Usher]
Yeah man that's the way.
[R. Kelly]
Homie we about to bust this trick.
Man just tell her to meet up with you
And I'm going to show up too
[Usher]
And she won't know what to do.
[R. Kelly]
We'll be standing there singing.

[Same Girl fade]

Planning - Target Audience - Interviews

Planning - StoryBoard

This is the sketches that have been drawn to briefly portray what the music videos contains and some of the special affects that will be used, also there are scenes that will be shown in the music video.

This is going to be one of the scenes of which r-kelly receives a call from usher, it will be a close up shot first then. 

Then a close up of ushers name whilst he's calling, Extreme Close-up

This is scene is going to be produced in a split screen of which R-Kelly is being called from ushers phone this going to be portrayed in a extreme close-up shot.

this scene is going to be part of the music video, of where the girl gets introduced buh at first we only get a glimpse of her foot, other wise known as effect (Fragmentation) 

When Usher comes out of the car we are first going to get a glimpse of his foot other wise known as an effect (fragmentation) 

this is going to be a long shot, of the car that is pulling and parking. 

before the car is seen coming is going portrayed in a close up shot of the cars rims. 

the second car will be driving and then will pulling up behind the first one car, this will also be portrayed in a long shot 

this scene will finally set the scene and start another section of the music video. 

Planning - BrainStorm

As a group we got together and created 4 brain storms, of what we will be including in the music video, our main aims where to discover and understand what will be included in;

• Props
• Setting 
• Characters 
• Motifs 

Below are all the answer that we came up with. 

Planning - Music Video Proposal

Two artists are sitting down at a table in a high classed resturants, one looks at his phone, it is ringing and it shows the call is from his friend (the other artist). They converse about a girl that one artist has met and then the other talks about his own girl and they both exchange thier views on thier own girls. They come to the conclusion it is possibly the same girl they are talking about/seeing.
They then decide to meet up at a warehouse. We then see both of them get into their luxury cars and drive away at speed whilst singing the chorus, images of both artists having a good time with the girl are being shown. We are then shown different shots of the artist whilst they are driving showing their emotions.

Once arriving at the warehouse, both Usher and R.Kelly decide to call the girl they have both fallen for to come and meet up at the warehouse. Whilst the artist is on the phone, the screen splits into two showing the girl on the other end of the phone. After the phone call they continue to sing, the artist are then interrupted as the camera then swings round to a flashy car that is arriving. A beautiful girl dressed in red gets out the car, and the expressions of the artists you can see that they are not pleased, but then the camera shows the car that the girl came out of again, and shows the other door open with a another beautiful girl in black getting out of the car. The artist then seem shocked as they realise that the girl they have fallen for is a twin.....

In our video we will be creating controversy, the actual video of Usher's duet with R.Kelly 'same girl', is with black artists and one way controversy will be present is through one of our artists being white. Common motifs such as fragmentation shots of the body, intertextuality, impossible sequences, sexual objectification and commodification/materialism will be present in the music video as this will enhance our music video and make it to a high quality product. This will also show that we have wide knowledge of these motifs and the tools to incorporate various motifs in our videos enhancing the music video e.g. we can show commodification in the video by using props such as cars, jewellery etc.
 

Planning - Reflection On Research

Through our findings and research we have ascertained what we have to include and keep out of our music video. We have found that most of the fans of our artists, Usher and R.Kelly, consist of females therefore we will take into account what they prefer in music videos. We can include themes of love that appeal to girls in the narrative and dial down the sexual content of the video meaning there wouldn't be girls being sexually objectified etc, and this information has been confirmed by our interviewees of our main target age group 18-2. This can also benefit us giving us ideas on what we can include that is relevant and current to this age group such as university life or having a job, this is what most young people go through and therefore this will appeal to them

We can also include shots of certain websites in our music video that can promote and at the same time stick with the idea that these 18-24 year olds use Facebook regularly and as seen through our demographic research most of the artists fans use Facebook and like their music pages. This research will contribute to our final product as it will be the basis of our music video guiding us in what we have to include and cut out. Music metric has been our main source of research and it has provided crucial information that is essential to our music video succeeding., stats and number ranks where the artist is currently at all help and inform us in what needs to be done to make this a commercial success.

Planning - R.Kelly Fan Demographics - Age Distribution

Age Distribution

This blog post is on the demographics of age distribution. This screen shot on the age distribution on R.Kelly shows that 18-24 year olds listen to this artist more than any other age groups. From this as a music industry we are able to see that we will have to include 18-24 year olds in our video, as well as including things that will attract this age group such as showing university life, designer brands.

Planning - R.Kelly Fan Demographics - Gender Distribution

Gender Distribution

This blog post is on the gender distribution on the artist R.Kelly. From this screen shot it shows us that 60% of females listen/follow R.kelly which obviously tells us as a music industry that more females than males listen to R.Kelly. This proving to us that we have to include more things that will appeal to females, such as handsome men, expensive items; such as cars, clothing.

Planning - R.Kelly Fan Demographics - Music Metric Rank

This Demographic shows us how high R.Kelly is considered to be ranked. R.Kelly is currently ranked 256th as of today in the world. this is very good considering how many artist there are in the world and the range of genres there are out there. It also shows how much his rank has gone up from yesterday which is also usefull as it gives us confidence that our artist will be a big hit.

Planning - R.Kelly Fan Demographiocs - Social Media

 The fan demographics tells us that the fans use the internet and social networkintg sites  such as facebook, myspace to follow and listen their favourite artists. according to www.musicmetric.com people follow/interact with Rkellty the most on facebook 1.7m and the least on youtube 40.4k. From these demographics we understand to promote our artist more on facebook.

Planning - Usher Fan Demographics - Music Metric Rank

This demographic shows us how high in the ranks usher is. It shows us that he is the 45th most popular artist on the internet moving up to this spot from 47th yesterday. This shows that he is current, consistent and still popular and shows that his popularity is increasing due to his rise in ranks, and this helps his credibility making it easy for him to get signed as he is very successful and his rising popularity can produce contracts from different labels to sign him on and oppurtunities.

Planning - Ushers Fan Demogrpahics - Social Media

This fan demographic tells us that most of ushers fan's use social networking sites such as facebook, myspace, twitter and the most popular one being facebook. Facebook has the highest amount of likes of usher and his music with 33.2 million whereas twitter being the second most popular has only 5.2 million. These demographics can help us target and locate where most of his fans are and therefore we can promote him and his music video on facebook to cater to a bigger fan population.

Planning - Usher Fan Demographics - Gender Distribution

Gender Distribution of Ushers Products

Genders distribution shows the results between male and female. by the results we can see that a very large amount of females are mainly more attracted to ushers products, so by this we can understand that our videos needs to include more aspect which attract more females, such as handsome guys, flash cars, money etc 

Planning - Usher Fan Demographics - Age Distribution

Age Distrbituion  - Usher's Demographics 

Age distribution of ushers products (music videos, singles, albums etc), by this we can see that the main age that follows usher is 18-24 year olds. Which indicates that the music video the we have selected, will have to include aspects of the 18-24 years old lifestyle e.g. like university life, young adults transforming into mature adults etc. 

Planning - Advertising The Survey - Facebook

In order to get a better understanding of our target audience i have decide to upload the survey on everyone's facebook page within the group, in order to make the survey easier to access. As we have asked them a variety of questions about music genres, artist, music video etc

Here is an example of it being posted on Daniels Facebook page

Planning - Survey Monkey Summary

This screenshot shows the survey monkey we have created. It consists of questions ranging from multiple choice questions to comments/ essay questions where the person taking the survey can express their feelings and opinions on the matter in detail. These questions focused on the type of
 music people listen to and how often and also included questions to do with music videos and what they prefer in these videos.

Planning - Survey Monkey Questionnaire

This is a survey monkey questionnaire asking various questions about music and music videos. Click here to take survey

Planning - Common Motifs In Music Videos

This short presentation shows and describes the motifs commonly used in music videos and what they mean and are. These are widely accepted as the basis for most videos however there not always used.

Common Motifs In Music Videos from TheSaintsA2

Planning - Video Analysis Presentation

Madonaa video analysis from TheSaintsA2

Planning - Music Video Techniques Research, PREZi

Planning - Controversy

Controversy has played a big part in artists music videos resulting in success. This can be used in a music video to promote and expand their music to wider audiences, their widespread success can be due to either positive or negative promotion as long as it exposes the artist and creates a buzz. This is usually conveyed through music videos for the purpose of promotion. In the future however music videos might be less controversial as there isn't much that the public hasn't been exposed to and therefore artist would have a tougher time creating controversy among the audience.




We have chosen to analyse Kanye Wests - Power music video as this has been one of the most recent controversial music videos. Since in western pop culture there has been an increasing interest in conspiracies and the illuminati and the artist, Kanye, has used this to his advantage to gain greater publicity and spark controversy in his music as his video shows and hints at satanic symbols and symbols commonly used by the illuminati making people talk about and take an interest in his video and sparking up controversial themes and topics in modern pop culture.

Planning - MTV - Music Video's First Published

1st August 1921 - was the date that MTV (Music Television) was broadcasted on cable TV in america, the first few images on MTV was the apollo 18 launch video to when they landed on the moon and had put a flag up of the MTV logo. However The first ever music video that was broadcasted on MTV was at 12:01 a.m and the first video was The Buggles: Video killed the Radio Star. There was a specific that was made for just the MTV launch.

After a couple of years MTV, was so overhyped and was one of the most watched TV channels on earth, MTV began so rich and powerful and began to combine a buy other well known channels such as, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and to get attract more viewers MTV added more channels such as MTV Base, MTV 1-6 etc, the technique that MTV used was synergy (combine with other TV companies to become more powerful) which resulted to immediate success. 

Planning - Hip Hop

Some of the earlier hip hop videos were by a group named Run DMC. In 1990 it started to turn into rap. Videos started having a lot more swearing, and representing women as sexual objects. A lot of the lyrics were around the subject of drugs and violence. It was normally showing black americans talking about being proud growing up in the 'ghetto'. Having a contraversal images or videos has proven to be more profitable.

Snoop Dogg- Gin and Juice

This video is contraversal as its promoting drugs and drinking

Planning - Music Videos History1970's

The 1970' s it was very controversial as glam rock came out. glam rock promoted homosexuality and this created arguments and problems within the era. Bands that were on the top of the charts started to use glam rock styled videos which made their music even more popular. bands also used them to keep their fans happy and occupied while they were away on tour. as glam rock pushed the boundaries of sexuality they also started to use special effects which was new and exciting.



This video by david bowie is very controversial as he is dressed as a women and wearing makeup.

Planning - Music Video History 1960's

In the 1960's, the most controversial things that happened at that time was the Vietnam War and Peace Movement was going on during the time, as the there was a separation between people, as people where being forced to fight in the war, there where people that decide to disagree with fighting so the peace movement and hippies began to come into play, so the music industry exploited the controversy and began to make music video that where drug, war and peace influenced such as the beetles - eleanor rigby, which contained scenes that where related to drugs. Also promo videos where also introduced, which promoted albums in a short video cli.

Planning - Music Videos History 1950's

In the 1950, Scopitones where created, they were very similar to a jukebox.
The Scopitones was created in the early 1950's. This was the year where  sexual scenes that where being promoted, which coincides with the generation. Then weak Narratives began to develop.




















This year was also controversial because this was the year that women got the right to vote, which the music video exploited and created videos which where related to the women right.

Planning - Music Video History 1920's

In the 1920's the real early ages of the modern day music videos began. They were very basic by combining a silent movie or film clip with the soundtrack playing at the same time. These early forms of music videos were called Soundies.




 This is a 1920's soundie. The music is played over the top of a scene from a film.

Planning - Aspects Of Music Videos

Music videos are generally a visual interpretation of a song from the artist. Music videos are normally short round about 3-5 minutes long. 

If the song is longer then there are often compressed.
There are many reasons for this; firstly psychological and economical this means that....... It is also so that music video channels are able to play as many songs in the shortest amount of time possible, as the more songs they put up of different artist they will gain more money out of it. 

It also avoids tune outs. It has been proven that it takes 3-5 seconds for human beings to change the channel if they believe that it is boring.
Music has developed as television is essentially a free method of entertainment. You are also able to do many things while listening to music, there is no actual reason for us to have to pay attention to what is going on in the video.

As a group we believe that music videos that due to the length of the video being so short, we have no time to properly develop characters, instead what we are receiving is a persona. ( A persona is......)
When music videos tell a story there is usually a narrative which is being told. There are able to this by having multiple clips being shot and edited together.

Planning - Introduction PodCast

Planning - Description Of Brief

This year we have been contacted by a new upcoming artist, who has gave us a job to produce a variety of promotional products, the products that we have to make are;
a music video,
a cd,
a website
and document the entire project on a blog with focuses on planning, constructions and evaluation of the projects using a variety of media methods and softwares