Further Informing our Final Piece

So far we have in great detail analysed numerous music videos of the Pop-punk genre and a few more Grunge styled videos as well. By doing this we have inevitably came up with a few conclusions in which have informed our planning for our final piece, here are some of the eye-catching elements of many videos that have informed us greatly and we would like to include:

•  The Pretender (Foo Fighters) - There is a unique colour effect used in this video without the use of any artificial overlays, the floor, set, props, instruments, and lights are all white with a black trim (the black trim is used to contrast the white and highlight detail). The use of this monochromatic style means that the atmosphere appears crisp and void of colour, this means that the only two colours present (the red background and Dave Grohl's skin tone) are emphasised. This was a very unique style similar to the effect used in Sin City, it draws attention to certain elements of the video especially the lonely isolated atmosphere and lighting and shadow effects which was the greatest influence we took from this video. Close ups full of emotion are also common throughout this video as it tries to create an emotive response in the viewer. A battle scene involving a line of charging riot police in full riot gear is shown, this highlights the importance of costume and actors within a music video and how it affects the atmosphere. The burst of red flooding the environment similar to that in American Idiot is also a unique effect that we wish to emulate with our final piece, it adds a dynamic nature to the video and enhances the narrative, this could possibly be emulated with the use of the vibrations from an amplifier. Live performance is essential, narrative is included sometimes but is primarily focused around the live performance of the band. These concepts have influenced our thinking tremendously and therefore have caused use to alter and inform our ideas for this final piece, these elements will in turn help us appeal to the desired audience through the use of interesting and unique cuts and transitions typical of these codes and conventions.

•  Savior (Rise Against) - the video opens with a very unique Punk style, it begins with a red flare bursting out of the dark background, this creates a contrast of colour which may be a very aesthetically pleasing method of introducing our music video, possibly with the lens flare from a strong light source as opposed to a flare. Colour again in this first scene is limited to a dark background and one single source of colour and light. The location similarly is again abandoned and isolated. The next scene features a shaky cam emulating the movement of a bus to heighten the element of the narrative and giving it a sense of realism but as with many Punk videos is contrasted with a sense of exaggeration or essentially some unnatural aspects such as the costume design of the actor wearing the teddy bear suit. This is addressed further with a close up of the bears face again this choice of camera technique is very common of the punk genre. Again the band is seen primarily doing live performance with a dynamic narrative interweaved in between the various cuts. The cuts are rarely static and nearly always in constant motion with the use of tracking shots, zooms and reverse zooms, this is used to further emphasise the energetic nature of the music. We wish to use numerous of these mentioned elements in our video to further increase the dynamic and aesthetically pleasing nature of the video and appeal more to our target audience by essentially making the video more ''interesting''.

•  Misery Business (Paramore) - The video begins by showing a live performance of the band playing in a confined room with black walls and the words ''Riot'' written in white, this technique causes the album of the same name to be further promoted, we may wish to emulate this as a result. The band is dressed in very exaggerated and colourful attire, their clothing is bright, unusual and eye-catching again to contrast the isolated and confined background. The beginning of the video uses numerous short cuts with swift cuts, this combined with the bands energetic movements creates a fast paced narrative opening and makes everything seem more epic and grand in dynamic. The video cuts throughout between the bands live performance (which was established first creating a sense that this is the main focus of the video). The narrative throughout is again humorous and relatable yet is portrayed in an unnatural and realistic manner, typical of the punk genre. The shot types throughout appear to try to capture the attention of several demographics by having flashing cuts to the legs of a group of cheerleaders in an attempt to interest typically male teenagers, wide shots of the band, tracking shots as characters walk down the hall, zooms and reverse zooms to draw attention to certain characters or musical instruments. The cameras movement resembles the the bands movements in being in constant motion creating a sense of urgency and close ups are used to further display the actors emotions and emphasise them as a result. Mid shots, over the shoulder shots and two shots are used to suggest that characters on screen are conversing. One shot that we are very interested in recreating is when the lead singer grabs the camera and shakes it lightly, this emotive action and interaction with the camera emulates interaction with the audience by breaking the third wall essentially. We would greatly like these elements to inform our final outcome, especially the isolated background, costume and energetic shot types.

•  Smooth Criminal - Cover (Alien Ant Farm) - This again similarly to All the small things by Blink-182 is a parody esque video of a song cover originally performed by Michael Jackson.

•  American Idiot (GreenDay) - The Video opens with framed far shot of the subject and lead singer, the rule of two thirds is obeyed here as musical and tech equipment is shown closer to the screen. On the right side of the screen a rendered camera perspective is visible also, this is used to convey that he is on set, he is being recorded through not only the camera with which we a re viewing him but also through the lens of this camera and studio equipment swell, this gives a certain sense of realism and surrealism to the video. This technique of opening with a framed shot showing studio equipment surrounding the subject(s) and the desolate environment to set the isolated atmosphere instantly seems fairly typical of the genre and also aesthetically pleasing. The attire of the band is also common of the codes and conventions of the genre, black dress shirt, jeans with a 'fleur' of red colour, this combination of dark and vibrant tones creates a stark contrast which works in correlation with the set design and lyrics of the song. Swift cuts occur throughout the video switching back and forth from the rendered screen on the piece of equipment which initially while being shown with static styled effects displays the bands logo and album artwork - the Grenade heart. Other cuts show a reverse zoom from the camera, a low mid shot of the singer and his guitar, blurred and out of frame shots and others to create a sense of almost rebellion - they communicate a sense that the video appears almost anti-professional (through the use of these unique techniques) (yet they are performed and edited on the contrary). Another unique technique used in the video is the rotating drum kit, which is used in correlation with the eccentric and exaggerated movements and facial expressions of the member. The makeup of the band members especially the lead singer (eye-liner) is on show and is especially visible during the close ups of the audiences face. certain effects are prevalent throughout such as flashes, blurs and many unique transactions. As stated in earlier posts, the technique used in the exploding background, with the green liquid flooding the environent is a technique we also wish to emulate.