Evaluation Question 1

Media from Anna Soukal

Evaluation Question 3: What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Media Q 3 from Anna Soukal

Evaluation Question 4: What technologies have I used in the construction of my research, planning, production and evaluation?

Evaluation Question 2: How effective is the combination of your main production and ancillary text?

Poster: Final

Here is the final version of my print productions poster which was illustrated then combined digitally.

Digipak: Final

Here is the final version of my digipak for the print production. I illustrated the images then uploaded them onto the computer for finishing touches.

Audience Profile

In order to effectively target a specific audience I created a profile in which I could use to tie my productions to the genre.

Digipak: First Draft

In this post I develop ideas from my initial ideas concerning my digipak, evaluating suggestions made on colour, font, image and layout. I, therefore, may decisions on these and complete the first

Digipak: Initial Ideas

After evaluating digipak's from artists and bands of a similar genre of the band I used, I started to comprise ideas including fonts, illustrations, colours and positioning of my own digipak.

Storyboard

Here I created a basic outline of my video with specific camera angles, lighting, editing and repeat shots I wish to use in my piece. 

Digipack: Moodboard

Here I evaluate artwork from artists and bands within the genre of my band to gain inspiration into the direction I wish to take for my own digipack designs.

Music Video: Final Cut

Shooting Schedule: Updated Concept

Initial Concept: Updated Concept

My new idea includes a protagonist struggling to master drumming in order to get into a music school. Most of the action will take place in a music room whilst the young male protagonist is practising. Other shots will include cut away to how his dedication affects his relationships.

Various camera angles and movements will be used to hold the interest of the viewer when drumming in order to keep the video dynamic and exciting. I will employ various close-ups of the protagonist to promote empathy and emphasise the tension. Quick cuts will be used when the music beat increases to represent the rise in frustration and tension between the relationship, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience as the protagonist recalls the relationship and experiences these emotions himself.

Much like my original idea, my video will be influenced by another video by the band themselves called ‘Ripped Jeans’ which also shares similarities with the protagonist’s lack of movement, emphasising the dedication of the protagonist as he is seen practising at numerous times. Other influences include the film ‘Whiplash’ which also presents the deterioration of a relationship due to dedication to drumming. I also wish to implement a similar mise-en-scene as this film which is easily distinguishable through cool tones and worn instruments. This emphasises the characters position and reveals his need to escape his position to a better future. Influences from other music videos include ‘L'exquisite Douleur’ by Being As An Ocean which employ the aesthetic and movement I wish to create. Other influences include ‘Hardest Button To Button’ by The White Stripes which also focuses on the drummer as a command for the edit, moving or cutting when they hit the drum. Another film in which I will draw influence is ‘Elephant’ which employs long uncut tracking shots and panning out with the natural lighting which provides extreme realism.

Annotated Lyrics: Updated Concept

Here are updated annotations to the lyrics for my chosen song, I have identified how themes already noted and some new can be referenced in my video. Some already identified themes include; time, repetition, feeling alone. Newly identified themes in light of my new concept include; rigid structure to the protagonist's actions, a sense of success and achievement at the climax of the song. Identify key moments and themes in the lyrics to my song can help to promote ideas and develop the pace or timing of my video through specific identifiers in the lyrics.

Mood Board: Updated Concept

Due to my concept for my music video changing, I decided to create another mood board to brainstorm potential themes for my video. This mood board helped to establish my mise-en-scene, character development and some key action moments in my piece. I have also noted down to key ideas with the visual aid to remind myself of the direction and progression of my video. My initial idea evolves around a protagonists struggle and dedication to mastering a piece of music in hope to further his education in the subject via a scholarship. I have also included images from the film Whiplash, an inspiration to my music video in order to relate the aspects I wish to reference.

How does Bjork's 'Bachelorette' use hypodigetic narrative to feed into the meaning of the video?

Toderov's theory suggests a specific structure to music videos, implying this is needed for an audience to respond to. He suggests there are three acts; the first is an equilibrium where all is in balance, something then disturbs that balance to produce a disequilibrium in the second act and in this act there will be a struggle to acquire balance. Moving on the action to the third act, the struggle will be resolved and a new equilibrium created. I will therefore evaluate how Bjork takes aspects from this and other narrative theories in order to shape and affect meaning.

Bjorks 'Bachelorette', to connote her brand, uses a non-conventional hypodigetic structure. The Chinese box narrative which involves telling a story within another, shapes meaning by progressing the story and then bringing the audience back to the beginning again. This sense of repetition will engage the audience, constantly readdressing where they are in the narrative. This uncomfortable confusion challenges the conventions of narrative and distances the audience from the constrictions of this, allowing focus on the decline of the protagonist with each new start. Going further as the narrative reverts back to the beginning scene which gives the audience a sense of stationary and suggests nothing has been achieved. Challenging Toderov's idea of a three act process of narrative in which a struggle is resolved and all parties are better off, telling the audience that reality does not conform to this structure. Constructing the meaning as a look at reality in the face of struggle and failure. 

The narrative structure of this video uses a hypodigetic narrative to critique the 'superficial, self-serving' entertainment industry. With each story within another, the detachment from the previous increases. Until the first section, reality, begins to decline with the representation of the publisher. Until fully subverted by therefore becoming a tree which of course is a non-sentient object allowing the audience to take meaning. The decline in structure and aesthetic in each progression is metaphorical of the downfall of the protagonist caused by the 'self-serving' entertainment industry. Furthermore, emphasise the superficiality of said industry by displaying distorted versions of the truth within each section. This suggests the industry is so far removed from reality, as is the truth from what is displayed with each section, therefore leaving it emotionless with the ability to operate solely 'self-serving' in tern resulting in the remorseless downfall of the protagonist. Emphasised with the circular narrative as shes is reverted back to where she began, pushed out by the industry.

The video uses an abstract narrative to entice an audience which is expose quite freely to a complex and experimental forms of narrative structures through today's media climate. Poni Hoax's 'Antibodies' is just another example of media's increasing use of complex and original narrative structures. One reason for this may be the need to engage an audience whom has the ability to access a wider narrative pool than that of just ten years ago.Therefore, the increasing trend to step away from Toderov's classic structure is important in the battle entertain an increasingly informed audience. 

Narrative in Music Videos: Theories of Narrative

Initial Concept

My initial concept includes a young protagonist sitting in an ordinary living room on the sofa. Once sat, they do not move for the entirety of the video however focus shall mainly be on them. The video commences as the background will experience numerous time fluctuation, revealing activity in the room around the protagonist when movement is sped or slowed.

The audience will experience the events as the protagonist does but are firmly placed as a participant or onlooker, giving the familiar sense of voyeurism experienced in music videos.

  

Some influences for this video includes another video by the band themselves called ‘Ripped Jeans’ which also shares similarities with the protagonist’s lack of movement compared with the hyper movement of the background. I also drew influence from aesthetic, the use of distortion of time and the interchange of speed of a shot through video such as; ‘Gods Whisper’ by Raury and ‘Lampshades on Fire’ by Modest Mouse. Also drawing influence through the simplicity and delicate movement of ‘Hallow Talk’ by The Choir of Young Believers.

      
  

Initial Concept Map

In order to organise my ideas and help to clearly plan my idea shot for shot later in my storyboard, i map out each significant change of scene or event according to location in the song. this will also prove useful during the shoot as can be used to cue what part of the song all the events take place.