Similar shots between the two video's...
1. Signs
The main inspiration in which we gained from this video is...
-The cutting rate of the video, being random as to keep the audience interested. Varying between fast cutting rates and slow dreamy shots. One fast cutting sequence in particular is the sign shots at 26 secs of the video. Here is a still image of one of the shots.
- We also gained the inspiration of using strong British cultural codes from the 'Isles' video, although we approached it in a different way, the isles video is set in a urban area where as ours is focusing more on nature, with a mix of urban locations. Props such as the flags act as signifiers of Ben's Cultural background and the singer song writer feel in which they connote.
- British cultural codes in particular in which we used in our video to follow the conventions of the genre are the flag shot, the flag on bike shots, typical British countryside as well as a typical British seaside town, Brighton.
- In addition to this we found the mask shots used in the 'Isles' video very interesting therefore Incorporated them into our video, this is very conventional of the indie genre and promotes the singer song writer image in which Ben Howard has.
- Throughout our video we used three different animal masks making direct links to the real nature shots, the rabbit mask is the most prominent as positioned with the female character although works as a link between the different locations.
- The masks act as a signer of the grief that the local village people feel connoting the fact that they are so consumed by grief and shock that they are un accessible.
Other video's which inspired our creative process are...
Ben Howard's Keep your head up music video, in particular the colour wash used giving it an Autumn feel using warm oranges and browns which we have also tried to re create in our video. The nature shots in the woods used in the video also gave us some inspiration when focusing on specific shots and angles in our video. Watching this video gave us a deeper insight into Ben Howards star image and allowed us to ensure that as well as conforming to the forms and conventions on the genre we conformed to the conventions of Ben Howard as an artist.
Our naturalistic shots such as the deer shots, horse shots and tree/ woods shots are very conventional to the genre although vary's from other videos in which we watched making it original whilst drawing in on conventions of the genre. These nature shots signifies Ben's background and the singer song writer category in which he conformers to. They also connote the idea of freedom when running, and hold direct links to the girl shots for example the horse blinking.
The orange colour wash used throughout our video is similar to that which is used in parts of the keep your head up video, this gives the footage a warm and Autumn feel which is conventional to that created by the indie/ folk genre. The use of colour also acts as a signifier of the feeling of warmth created in the video. Through the love between the couple and the surrounding village people.
Following the Forms and conventions of the genre through camera work...
- Throughout the video we used very simple camera techniques in order to be conventional of the genre, most indie/ folk music is singer song writer based thus does not have a high end budget to use of special effects or camera work.
- The main focus of our camera work was to create visually pleasing shots using techniques such as the rule of thirds and a variety of shots for example LS, CU, MS, MCU, birds eye and worms eye.
- To ensure we had a wide variety of interesting shots we ensured we filmed a lot of footage from a variety of angles and distances, this enabled us to be very picky when editing to get the best standard of film possible.
- We also gained a lot of inspiration when out filming as we filmed in external locations therefore were never 100% sure of what to expect, this gave us the chance to be more created and find original and interesting shots.
Editing and meaning of our filming.
- The edit of our footage is very conventional to the genre, montage shots and a quick cutting rate are used in most of the videos in which i watched in my research.
- The variety of cutting rates works well to cut to the beat of the track as well as to keep the audience entertained and signifying key aspects of the video for example the slowed cutting rates to create a dreamy feel when the girl is in the shot. The cut also connotes the fast pace of life and acts as a signifier of the girls past memories.
- The quick cutting rate, on the signs for example is used as a signifier of flashback of the girls life, linking our footage together in order to keep continuity and create meaning withing the narrative.
- The colour used in our editing is also very conventional of the genre, the slight orange colour wash to create a Autumn and warm feel is very prominent in the indie/ folk music videos i have watched as it anchors the feel of naturalistic shots used in the videos.
- The dissolve effect in which we used on one of two transitions signifies the link between the male character and the female character to create a more emotional effect on the audience. This is very conventional of love narrative music videos.
Mise en scene and conventions of indie/ folk genre
- The locations used in our video were a key part of creating meaning, the strong British cultural codes created through our locations for example, Brighton, a typical British sea side town, the British countryside and harbour give a sense of accessibility to the audience being predominantly a British audience.
- The locations also create meaning of the narrative, showing a variety of locations is representative of the places in which the girl has been in her life. This signifies the journey in which she has been on and memories in which she has. The deer shots for example connote her wanting to run away and become free thus leading to her committing suicide.
- The church is a key signifier of the video, the girl is in a wedding dress and running connoting she is running away from commitment, the church is at first shown in a positive light connoting happiness then as she runs we are shown the grave yard connoting her death, the key narrative of the video.
- The tree location also acts as a signifier of her committing suicide being the key focus point in the video without being overtly obvious that she is hanging herself.
- The props used in our video were a key aspect of creating meaning, the masks in particular were a key focus point throughout the video creating a sense of the unknown and lack of emotion. Again signifying the reactions of those around the girl connoting their love for her and representing her as a well liked, decent person.
- The lanterns act as a signifier of being free and being hung on the tree anchors the narrative of her hanging herself from that tree. This acts as a strong visual signifier to the audience as lots of connotations to do with a sense of relief, freedom and aloneness can be taken from the lanterns.
- The tea light holder with love hearts on is representative of the love in the relationship between the couple and acts along side the married couple hay bales and Brighton pier married couple in order to show their love through memories.
- The non verbal language used in the video also creates strong meaning, the masked characters show no emotion therefore are very concealed, connoting their reaction after death.
- The male character and female character show very sad emotions showing both depression and sadness of loss. Their non verbal language acts as a signifier of these emotions allowing the audience to empathise with them and connoting the narrative of the video.
- This is juxtaposed to the shot of the happy couple of the pier reading the news paper showing what her life was like before. The couple are sitting close reading the newspaper together which signifies how comfortable they feel around each other and how close they are as a couple. The fact that they are smiling connotes that they are happy together as couples should be.
- The final shot of both the male and female character are both very arresting to the audience. Her tear and him turning and walking away are very representative of the end of their relationship and walking away from each other, i think that this leaves a Very strong impact with the audience, making our video successful. The fact that he is turning his back to the camera signifies him turning away from her and trying to let go of his loss. Her tear on the other hand connotes her sadness and acts as a signifier of the release that her death gave to her. The image of a tear running down her cheek is also an indexical sign connoting sorrow allowing the audience to get a strong feeling and understanding of her emotions.
Conventional representation of social groups and genre
- I think that our video conforms to representations of social groups, the female is represented as being the victim and vulnerable. She is also shown to be crying therefore being typically represented as emotional as most women are portrayed.
- The male character is also conventional in that she is the victim although he does not hold all masculine traits as does show some emotions which would not be seen as a typical masculine trait.
- The narrative of the video is conventional to that of social groups in terms of costume, location and actions. The characters are white MC and are wearing costumes conventional of their status. The locations are also representative of their class and ethnicity showing typically British culture codes.
- In terms of genre, i think that our video is very conventional to that of the indie/ folk genre, it follows all the typical aspects such as orange colour washes, naturalistic feel, nature shots, wildlife shots and British cultural codes as well as having a love narrative.
- I think that our video has some aspects of postmodernism for example, the mask shots, the British cultural codes and the fairground shots which is conventional to the indie genre in which we were aiming to create.
- Although other aspects of our video such as the nature shots of the deer's, horses and owl would not be seen as very postmodern, this then is more conventional to that of the folk genre, meaning we meet conventions for both genre's thus reaching our genre brief.
- In terms of our editing style i think that our video is postmodern, the use of montage and narrative based with no band shots and little artist shots is a very postmodern style to create. This is conventional of our indie genre for difference and the folk genre for being a very singer song writer feel.
- The use of coding systems in the print work relates both visual and linguistic signs to each other for example the juxtaposition of the bold font, positioned with the pretty nature pictures. This makes the font stand out and signifies the masculine side to Ben as well as drawing in on the singer song writer feel that Ben creates. The formula of these signs also constructs signifiers within the print work such as the photograph of the artist from behind connoting his down to earth persona.
- Social myths represented in our video and print work draw on the idea of women being more vulnerable and reinforces the idea of the woman being the victim. Although, the video does challenge some conventions of the myth as she is a victim due to herself not due to a male character. Another myth reinforced in the video is that of depression leading to someone trying to escape thus committing suicide. The video does challenge the myth of the male being strong and dominant as Ben is represented as being very sad and weak due to the death of the one he loves.
-Mythical meanings endowed in the video are authenticity, the locations play a key role of this connoting strong British cultural codes. As well as femininity represented through costume, the white dress, emotions for example the girls tear. As well as vulnerability represented through her being the one to commit suicide.
-Goodwins theory of the links between lyrics and visuals is very relevant to our video. Throughout the whole of the track there are strong visual links to the lyrics for example, the rope swinging when references to rope, the heart and rose when reference to love and hearts, the image of the mask when the lyrics say lost souls here. The images in the video reinforce what the lyrics say making it easier to read for the audience. There are also links between the music and visuals in that the footage is cut to the track.
- The video also conforms to Goodwins theory in the genre traits, images in our video are depicted as certain traits of the genre making it conventional to the genre.
- In conclusion despite being 'alternative' our print work and music video are quite conventional in their form mainly through the links between the lyrics and the visuals thus making it conventional to Goodwins theory.
- Indexical signs in the video are also another postmodernist theory from a Marxist perspective, viewers of our print work and video are able to construct an identity though consumption. Consuming Ben Howard's star personal creates a vary down to earth image which would appeal to people who are interested in nature, British culture and singer song writer artists. 'Bignell' would write that the video and print work would appeal to their ideologically valued qualities thus creating a fan base. For this reason we needed to ensure that our video contains indexial signs in order to appeal to the audiences individual tastes, allowing them to represent themselves through the media.
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