Tuesday 5 October 2010

Past Student Music Video


The use of the mis scene scene is well used to illustrate, for example there was a close up shot of the part of the piano, I could denote that the hammer is hitting the strings, which synchronise with the music because the music opens with a piano playing. However, when the music starts to build up (more dramatic), the piano was not a good idea because it doesn't fit in to the rock genre genre. At the same time with the location of were it is filmed, was not suitable, especially with the indoor shoot because it looks as if it's filmed in school or at home. (Lazy mis en scene)

I think that the forest location was pretty good because the gives a sort of eerie vibe, like in those horror films with the haunted castle, which fit's well with the rock genre because a gothical type of image would suit best for a rock artist. However, I think that the lightings could be lower key because in most rock music video that I have watched, usually have dingy lights/dull lightings (Dark Locations) or even set in black and white (sepia mode). Ie: The Gazette, Night Mare, 12012, Golden Bomber etc. Which is conventional in most rock music video.

This music video also lacks originality and creativity because in most parts of the music video is very repetitive, for example I could denote her falling down and running throughout the whole music video, which doesn't show any sense of creativity and that it is important that a music video must include some sort of theory, for example is it conceptual, narrative or performance.
Overall, I think that this music video has failed to explore the theory.

I think that this music video is challenging the codes and conventions of a rock genre music video, for example in this music video we could only see her, which suggests that she is a solo artist. In most rock genre music video's we conventionally see that there is a band group performing together. Which also means that most rock music video's are conventionally performance base. It also challenges the codes and conventions of a music video because it is more conventional to have a male vocal lead in a rock band, but in this music video we focus on female artist, which challenges the typical gender representation in a music video.

The costume of the artist, demonstrates the kind of gothical star persona, for example the long black dress makes the character of the artist seems mysterious and that the colour is associated with being dark, which conforms to the conventions of a rock genre. In addition, she is a white race so that also conforms to the conventions of a rock star persona because it is very uncommon to have other race in a rock band (East Asians are exceptional), for example Black races often stereo typed as being a hip hop artist.

In conclusion, the level of the music video would be a level 1 because it lacks creativity with mis en scene, cinematography, performances and editing.








I-Stop Motion production



This is a experiment with I-Stop Motion, with play dough characters.

I think that the I-Stop Motion technique is quite simple but it requires a lot of patience to do, for example when filming the movement of the we would have to stop each time and them film, with the anime it program.

The advantages of using this program is that it is very simple and easy to use. All you need to do is to connect a fire wire to a cam recorder to the computer and you could freely adjust the shots and movements, instead of using the built in web cam to film from the computer. After filming you could also edit the film on i Movie HD.

When taking the shots of the movement, make sure that you have 2 or 3 shots of the same position so that the you could slow down the motion of the play dough dolls. You would have to make sure that when filming from the previous shot that the dolls are in the same position from the last shot so that it looks more natural.

What went well during the process of the I-Stop Motion?

I think that it went well with the motion because in most areas the movement of the dolls were quite natural, in addition I think that the sound effects were a success ie: the voice overs because it fitted in with the characters personality.

It was also a success because the all the voice overs were only done by three people but all voices sounded all different and unique.

What went bad in the during the process of the I-Stop Motion?

During the process of the filming the camera occasionally turns off and that the camera angle changes quite often, which effects the position of the dolls.

Monday 4 October 2010

Star Persona Study

The Gazette MV: Shiver



The music video demonstrates their star persona, for example the music is in mono colour/sepia mode, which signifies that the band is quite gothical like their visual kei style/look. This conforms to the generic conventions of the heavy metal genre because the use of sepia mode makes the music video serious and horror like, which also fits into their star persona.

The Mise en Scene is also used to represent the genre, for example the location is set in a remote area, which fit's into the horror theme and it illustrates the concept 'Shiver'.
At the same time the music video makes reference to the anime 'Kuroshitsuji' meaning 'Black Butler', which is about a demon who becomes a butler of a young boy, named Ciel but in return he must sell his soul to the demon. The anime is made up of different genres, such as horror, Supernatural, fantasy, which relates to the music video of making the audience feel 'Shiver' down their spine. This also helps to appeal to more audiences and build a wider fan base ie: People that read the manga, watch the anime.

The editing pace of the pace is quite fast, which matches the fast tempo of the music, this represents the star persona of the band because the the fast pace insinuate that they are very energetic, wild, upbeat, which conforms to the rock genre.


This is a poster to advertise their new album 'Shiver'. As you can see the idea of them cross promoting the artist is quite successful because they all carry the same star persona across/through all media promotion, which makes it recognisable for the audiences. For example the use of black and white again is linked to the music video and it also implies to the audiences that their music is just like the name of the album 'Shiver', which makes it quite gothical and horrorish just like their star persona.

Their star persona is also represented through mise en scene, for example their facial expressions displays a serious expression, which signifies to the audiences that their music is serious. At the same time the faces are kind of covered by shadows makes their persona more mysterious and attractive to female audiences.

Their visual image of their fashion sense also help to build a unique star persona, for example the visual kei style is a unusual look but it is a mainstream fashion style in Asia, which means that their music would appeal to a mass audience.

The use of the typography is used to represent the their star persona, for example 'Shiver', is in bold typography which signifies that the band group members stands out just like the letters and at the same time the typography is in white which stand out against the black background, which makes it ghastly.
Cover01.jpg image by varumo555

This is the album cover for 'Shiver', as you can see the similarities between the poster, which spreads their image across so that audience recognise them. The typography 'the Gazette', looks gothical which is a convention to a heavy metal genre. It also helps to represent the artists/band image as being quite gothical. The images of the artists are displayed/positioned on the top, across the album, so that the audience would focus more on the image (hot spot).


This shows the similar use of typography, which makes references to the anime.


This is a image of the anime, as you can see the theme of black and white is also linked and the similar style of costume is evidence of the reference to the manga and where the style is deprived from.

Sunday 3 October 2010

I-Stop Motion Analysis



The music video of 'Her Morning Elegance', opens with a high angle shot of a women lying in bed. In the high angle shot I could denote white blanket and white costume, which signify simplicity so that the audiences focus more on the women. The mis en scene/location is also simple so that also draws the attention towards the women. In addition, the bright lighting and the white colour explores the elegant theme just as the music name.

The mis en scene also represents the classical genre, for example I could denote a violin pass by when the violin plays in the music, which shows that this music video is illustrating. This conforms to the music genre because a violin is a tradition instrument that plays in a classical music. At the same time this formulates the elegant theme because the violin makes a elegant sound.

The music is slow pace, which matches the movement of the performance (I-stop motion). The slow movement demonstrates the elegant theme, this shows that the music video is conceptual.
And that it captures the movement of people being slow in the morning, which is a representation of daily life.