Planning: Lyric analysis and storyboarding/ flat-plans

 

Planning: Key codes and Conventions

 From my research I have recognised the following codes and conventions of indie/rock bands websites and love song videos:

1- consistent colour scheme and theme throughout

2- performance footage motifs

3- lights ie arcade or that of reflecting stage lights

4 - tour dates in typical indie venues ie Brixton

5 - many cuts in time with music

6 - intertextual links to other bands, usually ones they take inspiration from, or well known movies 

7- lyrics reflect visuals 

8- strobe lighting 

9-many websites are single page with an extended feature page - this is often the store but in mine it will be a feature on the latest single

10-often have 'film strip' effect 

I will use these as inspiration for my coursework, to enable me to fulfil the brief via sticking to the genre conventions and creating an almost seamless link between my website and those of other universal artists. 

Photoshoot Camera Practice

 For my website background, I used the photoshoot opportunity in class in order to capture my glitter. I learnt how to use and handle a Digital SLR camera. Here is my first shot where I was trying to focus the lens and balance the zoom:

These were the shots I ended up with, including the focus and zoom balanced with the correct lighting:

Additional Research

 I have been looking at a few more indie band websites to see which elements I would like to include aside from that of my other textual analyses. 

When designing my website, I realised it was missing something. - Having looked at a few more websites I realised I needed a band logo in the header to fill it out but also to act as a link to my home page from my other linked page, rather than a button. I have taken inspiration from the Wolf Alice website with this design:

I have then also looked further at the presentation of my album covers and have managed to include a similar effect to that of the Catfish and the Bottlemen website, where the albums flip covers when the mouse hovers over. This has enabled me to show off my photoshop and design skills in terms of creativity and consistency of brand image:

Inhaler have also just dropped the music video for their latest single 'It won't always be like this' of which combines animation with colours popping at certain points, lip syncing, band footage both live and of showing their fun sides and some clever intertextuality. It prompted me to think about the use of intertextuality in my video and how I could incorporate it as such. They used signs to incorporate lyrics adhering to Goodwin's theory, and also band t-shirts of which I will be trying to also incorporate in mine. 

 

Experimenting With Camera

 I have used multiple shot types and angles with different detachable lenses as practice for my music video. I edited the shots together in the style of a music video for 'T-Shirt Weather' by an indie band called Circa Waves. The theme of the video - a summery day out - reflects the tone of the song and the theme of brightness and fun. This is even more prominent during the time it was filmed due to covid. 

I have experimented with depth of field and different camera lenses; including a wide angle and zoom lens to create different focus points and a stark contrast between establishing and extreme close up shots. I used Southchurch Park, Southend seafront, Adventure Golf and Old Leigh to gain a variety of locations all of which are similar yet presenting a flexible attitude to filming. 

I have used a variety of shots, including tracking shots to reflect the pace of the music, extreme close ups to create enigma and long shots to set the context. 

The fast paced editing reflects the pace of the song and also demonstrates my ability to edit according to Andrew Goodwin's Music Video Theory, as the music reflects the visuals. 

Generic Research: Textual Analysis 3 - Inhaler 'My Honest Face' Music Video

 

Generic Research: Textual Analysis 2 - Catfish and the Bottlemen Website

Catfish and the Bottlemen are an indie/rock band who target the same demographic as my brief (16-25). They are signed to Island Records, which is a sub label of Universal, and mirror the genre of music that I am using in my video and website.