Showing posts with label Music video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music video. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Monday, 25 June 2012
What to avoid when creating a music video?
In class we watched and discussed what must be avoided in a music video, here are the main things we came up with.
Repetition : Music video's are all about entertainment, which means the audience like surprises. People don't want to see the same thing repeated, they want to be introduced to new things and ideas. Some repetition isn't so bad, but not when there are shots or points constantly being repeated every so often that it suddenly becomes annoying.
Bad choice of Song: When creating a music video, it's always good to choose a song with a catchy beat and rhythm. It shouldn't be too slow and boring, or too fast so that it's almost impossible to lip sync to. It's a good idea to choose a song with interesting lyrics and a interesting tune, but at the same time the words are clear, and easy to mimic to.
Bad Performance : A good performance is what makes a music video stand out. If the performance doesn't look good or fit with the music, or if the artist isn't confident enough and is messing about, they wont get as many viewers. The performance should always look like it's meant to be there, meant to be put into the music video, meant to sell the artist/band.
A fully narrative music video: When it comes to a music video, it shouldn't be boring. Save the fully narrative for the film industry, music video has a totally different approach to its audience. You want some independent time for the artist to be able to express their confidence and for them to sell themselves.
Off time lip syncing: A music looks and feels really unprofessional when the singer isn't in time with the singing. When the person doesn't look like he/she is singing, it makes them look really stupid.The lip syncing should always be in time of the music and lyrics, the singer shouldn't look like they're not the original singer of the song. Also, the expression the singer pulls when they're singing is important, but not as important as making the lip syncing on time. If the lip syncing is off time, it pretty much ruins the whole promotion idea, and will only just put the viewer off.
Sticking to the rules : When I was watching the last years A2 music videos, I noticed that not many people took risks and it was all quite on a satisfactory level. Only a few of them came up with creative,unique ideas which allowed them to play about with the rules, they weren't simple and boring and their music video looked as if they planned outside the box. When watching the previous A2 music videos, I thought that some of them didn't have much planning, as well as I thought some of them were afraid to make a mistake so kept it as realistic as possible.
Too many locations: In a music video it is better to avoid too many locations, as it is very easy to get confused, however in film it's more understandable. It's usually not the location you use, it's often how you use it in music video, for example it depends on the performance as well. So locations can be limited in music video, as long as the performance is outstanding. A few locations are fine when it comes to making a music video, because sometimes there needs to be a location for the narrative. But music video creators need to be more confident and shouldn't be afraid to use less locations, and focus on the performance.
Unconvincing cast : When you're watching a music video the main thing people focus on is the singer/star. If the person in front of the camera doesn't look as pleasing as the music, the audience aren't going to believe they're the one singing. Many people watch music video's and expect the main singer to stand out , also it's better to watch if the singer is charismatic and believable as the character they are playing on screen.
Sticking to the rules, time order editing:
Music video's are made very differently to film. When making a music video the editing is much more important, and there aren't really any rules to it. A good music video will be edited with a lot more shots of the artist/band, and shouldn't be in time order. Even if the music video is fully narrative, there still shouldn't be a exact time order of events happening. Music video's are supposed to engage the audience and be catchy. You're not just telling a story, you're creating a piece of visual artwork that can be seen various times. However, film isn't as spontaneous, it actually needs to be edited in a certain,realistic way. There is no realistic style of editing for a music video, otherwise that would make them boring. The editing needs to be able to involve synaethesia, and sell the song. There can never be too much shots or close-ups of the artists face/body, and in fact it's best to get many performing shots in the editing. Music video shouldn't be a story, it is something the audience wants to be able to remember and want to see more than just once. It is best to avoid continuity editing and to use more fragmented shots.
Sticking to the rules : When I was watching the last years A2 music videos, I noticed that not many people took risks and it was all quite on a satisfactory level. Only a few of them came up with creative,unique ideas which allowed them to play about with the rules, they weren't simple and boring and their music video looked as if they planned outside the box. When watching the previous A2 music videos, I thought that some of them didn't have much planning, as well as I thought some of them were afraid to make a mistake so kept it as realistic as possible.
Too many locations: In a music video it is better to avoid too many locations, as it is very easy to get confused, however in film it's more understandable. It's usually not the location you use, it's often how you use it in music video, for example it depends on the performance as well. So locations can be limited in music video, as long as the performance is outstanding. A few locations are fine when it comes to making a music video, because sometimes there needs to be a location for the narrative. But music video creators need to be more confident and shouldn't be afraid to use less locations, and focus on the performance.
Unconvincing cast : When you're watching a music video the main thing people focus on is the singer/star. If the person in front of the camera doesn't look as pleasing as the music, the audience aren't going to believe they're the one singing. Many people watch music video's and expect the main singer to stand out , also it's better to watch if the singer is charismatic and believable as the character they are playing on screen.
Sticking to the rules, time order editing:
Music video's are made very differently to film. When making a music video the editing is much more important, and there aren't really any rules to it. A good music video will be edited with a lot more shots of the artist/band, and shouldn't be in time order. Even if the music video is fully narrative, there still shouldn't be a exact time order of events happening. Music video's are supposed to engage the audience and be catchy. You're not just telling a story, you're creating a piece of visual artwork that can be seen various times. However, film isn't as spontaneous, it actually needs to be edited in a certain,realistic way. There is no realistic style of editing for a music video, otherwise that would make them boring. The editing needs to be able to involve synaethesia, and sell the song. There can never be too much shots or close-ups of the artists face/body, and in fact it's best to get many performing shots in the editing. Music video shouldn't be a story, it is something the audience wants to be able to remember and want to see more than just once. It is best to avoid continuity editing and to use more fragmented shots.
Things to think about when creating a music video
Special effects: In music video special effects can make a music video look ten times better. As long as they're placed in the right place at the right time and are appropriate, they can make a big improvement and help pleasure the audience. When special effects are used in music videos it tends to add more meaning to the music video. It also helps the music video look more mainstream and clever.
synaesthesia: This is matching the music to the visuals. Also it requires all the human senses, ears,mouth,nose,and eyes. It is important to think about human senses and the best way to connect to them when making a music video. It is good to base a music video around synaesthesia.
Matching editing: In music video it is important for the editing to match on time with the music. The editing should have a meaning, and should go with the music rhythm and beats. If the music video isn't well edited, the less professional it looks, and it would only end up looking rushed.
Choreography : Sometimes, but not always, it's nice to have some sort of dance like performance throughout a music video. You often find the more popular music video's have particular dances, movement, or a sequence of steps/movement. This can help grab the audiences attention if done successfully. People like not knowing what to expect, and also people like watching clever performances and dance routines.
Interesting studio or location: When I was evaluating last years music videos, I came across one major issue. Like 13E11's choice of locations didn't seem to go very well with the music, and looked too dull. However, 13B6's group had a variety of locations, but also with different lighting which went along effectively with each parts of the narrative. It is important to choose locations which go along with the story/performance of the music video. 13B6's dance location, with the black background, and the colorful lights went really well, and made it stand out from the others.
It doesn't exactly matter how many locations, just as long as the location you use compliments the rest of the music video.
Instruments: Sometimes instruments can make a music video's look more professional, they don't exactly have to be used to make a successful music video, though. It depends on the genre of the music video, for example rock video's usually have instruments in the music video, which fits really well with the band, and there rocking performance. But occasionally instruments are just a extra prop to help promote the particular music video, sometimes they're not needed.
Good performer: Also from watching the last years work, I decided how crucial a good performer is for any type of music video. The performer is always the main person in the music video, therefore the audience aren't going to take their eyes off the performer. This is why, a good performer is so important for a good music video. Without a good performer, no one would want to watch a music video, since the performer will be all they can pretty much stare at throughout the entire music video.
Clever mis-en-scene: Mis-en-scene is just as crucial as a good performer, without both the less successful a music video is likely to be. You could have a good performer, but they might not be dressed in the best possible clothes, or might not be using the best props for the characters to stand out. It's important to use mis-en-scene that will make the characters/actors/actresses stand out in the music video.
Direct address: When the performer takes no notice of the camera in-front of them, it makes the audience feel slightly left out. If the star isn't focusing on the screen, it makes the audience feel like they're not experienced, and so they will see the music video as unprofessional. From watching last years music videos, and just other music videos in general, it made me realize
how much better it looks when the performer makes a lot of eye contact at the screen.
Camerawork.: Camera work is a key element in any media product, like films, music videos etc.
The camera work should be done very carefully. In a music video, there are no rules of where to put the camera, it's all quite spontaneous. It's important to make sure you move the camera about as much as possible, and that you are free with it, only just because this means not following the rules- which is what a music video tends to do.
synaesthesia: This is matching the music to the visuals. Also it requires all the human senses, ears,mouth,nose,and eyes. It is important to think about human senses and the best way to connect to them when making a music video. It is good to base a music video around synaesthesia.
Matching editing: In music video it is important for the editing to match on time with the music. The editing should have a meaning, and should go with the music rhythm and beats. If the music video isn't well edited, the less professional it looks, and it would only end up looking rushed.
Choreography : Sometimes, but not always, it's nice to have some sort of dance like performance throughout a music video. You often find the more popular music video's have particular dances, movement, or a sequence of steps/movement. This can help grab the audiences attention if done successfully. People like not knowing what to expect, and also people like watching clever performances and dance routines.
Interesting studio or location: When I was evaluating last years music videos, I came across one major issue. Like 13E11's choice of locations didn't seem to go very well with the music, and looked too dull. However, 13B6's group had a variety of locations, but also with different lighting which went along effectively with each parts of the narrative. It is important to choose locations which go along with the story/performance of the music video. 13B6's dance location, with the black background, and the colorful lights went really well, and made it stand out from the others.
It doesn't exactly matter how many locations, just as long as the location you use compliments the rest of the music video.
Instruments: Sometimes instruments can make a music video's look more professional, they don't exactly have to be used to make a successful music video, though. It depends on the genre of the music video, for example rock video's usually have instruments in the music video, which fits really well with the band, and there rocking performance. But occasionally instruments are just a extra prop to help promote the particular music video, sometimes they're not needed.
Good performer: Also from watching the last years work, I decided how crucial a good performer is for any type of music video. The performer is always the main person in the music video, therefore the audience aren't going to take their eyes off the performer. This is why, a good performer is so important for a good music video. Without a good performer, no one would want to watch a music video, since the performer will be all they can pretty much stare at throughout the entire music video.
Clever mis-en-scene: Mis-en-scene is just as crucial as a good performer, without both the less successful a music video is likely to be. You could have a good performer, but they might not be dressed in the best possible clothes, or might not be using the best props for the characters to stand out. It's important to use mis-en-scene that will make the characters/actors/actresses stand out in the music video.
Direct address: When the performer takes no notice of the camera in-front of them, it makes the audience feel slightly left out. If the star isn't focusing on the screen, it makes the audience feel like they're not experienced, and so they will see the music video as unprofessional. From watching last years music videos, and just other music videos in general, it made me realize
how much better it looks when the performer makes a lot of eye contact at the screen.
Camerawork.: Camera work is a key element in any media product, like films, music videos etc.
The camera work should be done very carefully. In a music video, there are no rules of where to put the camera, it's all quite spontaneous. It's important to make sure you move the camera about as much as possible, and that you are free with it, only just because this means not following the rules- which is what a music video tends to do.
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