Welcome

Hello, im Samuel Boden and welcome to my A2 coursework blog!

Please start at the last page of this site as it is the closest to the beginning of my course and work your way to this here front page. If you wish to see the individual sections rather than chronological order, there should be a tag selection to the right of this post.

 I hope you enjoy browsing the work iv done over this past year.

Main task- Music video progression

Here are the notes I made as I progressed throughout my A2 course on each stage in  chronological order hope you enjoy seeing the steady progress:

Note 1 - Filming test
Note 2 - Filming in town
Note 3 - Editing first scenes
Note 4 - Filming at school, Queen's park and town (continued)
Note 5 - Editing 2
Note 6 - Filming at abandoned warehouse and school
Note 7 - Editing final scenes

Main task- CD cover design and ancillaries

Main task- location shots

This first shot was of the abandoned warehouse building that took a minor place in our music video and a major role in our AS Thriller we figured it was an appropriate setting due to its run down appearance as it linked perfectly to the poor man narrative of our music video and as its a familiar location we know the layout of the area well so this works in our advantage for more efficient filming.

                                               Second was the bandstand in chesterfield town park behind the old leisure centre "Queens Park" Here we took multiple shots for stop motion and 20 short second shots, we used this location due to its graffiti riddled interior which suited our theme.

 Here we shot a large majority of our chorus's especially towards the end of the video being easily accessible and complete with a derelict "rough" look. 

Further down this alley is also where the balaclava and bottle scenes took place.

Here is where the main chorus scene and the jump scene took place chose specifically because of the graffiti to give it the needed run down look. 

Finally is outside the Chesterfield Weatherspoons used during the "fired scene".

I did also additionally film at my house although I would not want to release and image of it to the internet to public access for safety reasons.

Music video analysis- Question 3

Question 3 - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

Evaluation- Survey results

Here are the results of the survey I had 10 participants take to discover the results and analyse in my media video analysis. More in depth study will be done in Question 3.

Click here: http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/interests/survey-results-13676238?vk=9uCgwu59mE

Evaluation- Audience survey

I created an online survey on the programme "SurveyMonkey" to assess and analyse the view points of more than my peers. Although less detailed than that of the interview it still provides useful information on the aspect of my music video to others and how close it is to the ideal concept I believe we portrayed. If their are similarities between our answers that accurately show our view of our own work it shows we have achieved what we wanted others to perceive of our work. However if the results were to differ from our own then this would show that it does not sum up as we thought to potential viewer and that will be analysed in depth to understand a more generalised view although reductive in some ways as it will be the largest agreed results for each question that will be compared not the minority.

Here is the link to view our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5JZ69GF

And here are our response to the survey as the videos developers:

Age group: We aimed for teenagers so 16-20.
Music genre: We believed indie as it is too slow for rap and follows indie conventions.
Feel of the video: Personally we designed the video to feel conflicting due to its cheerful beat but         controverting lyrics and visuals.
Morals of the narrative: Idealistically we believed the narrative should show how the characters make   the wrong choices because they are young so either answer 2 or 3.
Best aspect: The editing and narrative were the most in depth areas of our video overall.
Worst aspect: The lip syncing as its noticeable in some area's where editing became difficult due to the fast pace.
Represented issues: Although to us a combination of authority money and youth I believe the most prominent was that of youth although authority is a close second as they can overlay with each other.

Halls reception theory links perfectly to this as he states media texts are polysemic in which meaning the views seen vary on individuals however by doing this I can find how most people would interpret the text as a popular or commonplace approach. He states it is a "negotiation between video producer and audience" to decide hopefully by doing this survey I can look further into my audience and my media's interpretation.The only issue would be examiner bias as I may have created questions and answers leaning to my perspective although I realised this and tried by best to prevent it.

Results and an analysis on them will be posted when acquired.

Main task- Music video influences

One of the main influences for ideas and designs was that of the "All american rejects" hit single "move along" which featured fast cutaway editing of the lead vocalist Tyson Ritter singing stationary while each few frames begins alternating clothes. This was the main idea that sparked to our music video due to its connection to the lyrics "living my life in second hand clothes, which implies he only ever wears second hand clothes. To incorporate build on this pattern the band used we inserted the idea of alternating clothes in existing ideas for scenes except reacting the scene 2-4 times in different costumes then cutting them together such as the jump scene. Next we thought how clothes can define the image of a character so for lyrics involving specific character traits i.e. "too rich" "too poor" we dressed in both shoddy scruffy clothing with other poor associated props or dressed smart and pristine. And finally lead to the concept of money and its struggles which became one of the narratives angles to develop around.

Music video analysis- Question 4

Expand for easier use of the small text at the right hand side of the presentation.

Music video analysis- Question 2

Main task- Peer evaluation interview

This is a peer evaluation of our media project of a music video if you’ve seen the video you can skip to 3:26 where the interview on our music video takes place in this short clip, if not seen please look through our blog and take a look.

Thankyou for participating in our evaluation.

Music video analysis- Question 1

Question 1 - In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In relation to media theories Goodwins codes and conventions to music video shown in relation to the context of comparison between our music video and other current media of the same format we have displayed that our visuals contradict the music style as the beat is carefree while the visuals are majoritively gloomy adhering to his code of music visual relations. While in a sense the code of visual style and iconography is also displayed due to the house style throughout the CD and ancillaries as well as the tv static a signature effect we use.

Main task- Website

Here is our official site we created for our ancillary task:


                                                        http://drymedia.weebly.com/

Main task/Preliminary- Copyright email

This email will be sent to that of the artist and hopefully their record company to await approval for the production of our music video. A copy of said email is noted below:

Dear Sir/Madam, 


I am writing to you to request the use of the music track to "Sign on" by Rat Boy for my A2 Media Studies coursework production. 


Our task in mind is to make a music video to an existing song. We found this song to suit our needs perfectly although we do not wish to infringe on any copyright issues nor continue the project without consent from the original artist's or there managers/company. The song will be for non-profit educational purposes and only used for the purpose of educational assessment and will be transformative in that no copyrighted material (other than the song) will feature in the final music video. Furthermore, it will be clearly labelled as a production for this purpose and that we do not poses ownership of the song. We will place a link to the original song by the artist in the description below once embedded onto YouTube  


I hope that this request will be viewed by yourselves as fair and proper use under existing copyright guidelines. If you have any further questions regarding its purpose, please contact my teacher at welchch@tuptonhall.derbyshire.sch.uk 

Thank you for your time,

yours sincerely,          Samuel Boden 

Main task- Full CD digipack

Here is the fully completed digipack created by me and Brantley Steer. Featuring a front and back cover, inlay as well as an 8 page booklet and a disk cover design.

CD digipack image files

 

 

 

 

 

Main task- Final product

Main task- Contributor release form

By axcepting and signing this form i herby understand and accept the potential use and viewing of the footage by the public and its possible use to be put on social media for educational purposesfor the individuals in the group as part of there course of A level media.



Signed .....................

Main task- Risk assesment

For our A2 media project there were certain procedures we did tht could be harmful if done incorrectly these are the location of the abandoned warehouse we shot a few scenes in for some of the chorus's of the song where some scenes were located inside an abandoned derelict building however we proceeded to film lyric mouthing scenes and 3 alternate ones of faux violence and general audio filling scenes such as where we danced. These tasks in such an area were all meticulously planned and decided for the safest way of accomplishment and all shots indoors were done in the safest establishment of the location where we have previously filmed in our AS as it was structurally sound although victim to vandalism we also had authorisation. Our other location of the Chesterfield town area was predominantly located in safe publicly used areas with no structural or locational issues only risks of general harm such as tripping during the jump scene or during the scene where I am "thrown" out the house. Besides this there are no predictable occurrences that may have happened and our entire footage was conducted accordingly with care. This is to ensure and promise the safety of our group to examiners and tutors alike.

Research- music video director's and their methods

Spike Jonze, a critically acclaimed music video director who was responsible for designing some of  the most memorable and well known songs music video such as "oh so quiet" by Byorg and known for his collaborations with artists like Fat boy slim "Praise you", Daft punk and Kanye West. Through working with  these such people he gained star status and due to his specialisation of music video directing and creating he is able to shape the very image of a song through its visuals and intern affect how the audience view the song or even the artist, If done incorrectly it can damage profits of the single or in extreme cases the artist themselves. 

Most directors of music videos have to strive for controversy as this is the most often used tool in media as it arouses intrigue from the audience and others in the industry raising awareness, Jonze was no exception in "praise me" the entire video was a shoddily hand recorded video of incapable dancers performing in a market hall. Which for a professional music video caused quite the commotion in the media world upon its release.

Directors like janze often cause this sense of controversy through breaking socially excepted norms a more recent video would be one made by a well known rap artist however the entire video was that of pornographic material, however to this extent  it becomes too controversial to be accepted into the mainstream so finding the right balance is the main key. This information may prove useful for my own music video as it allows me to understand that a directors influence greatly shapes the music's viewpoint to its audience and that by adding controversy through relating my music video to a fragile but serious subject i can make the video seem more drawing .