Our Project Blog

This blog is our groups area for planning and research for our project, it is in chronological order from the first things we completed through to the last, which is navigated by hitting the older posts link when the page is completed. We welcome you to the blog and hope it is a pleasant experience,

Existing Media Analysis

Here are our analysis from each of us in the group, analysing different music videos, music DVD covers and adverts. Here we see what works and what doesn't from videos which we are interested in to take inspiration for our own video. From this analysis we will have a good idea of what different shots, lighting effects and other techiniques will work and suit us best.

Richard Tubman:

Video 1: Keep Movin On – Vinnie Paz ft. Shara Worden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXlPd0H1MU

I have selected this video to analyze because it is in the hip hop genre that I would love to make a video for. And again further into the underground hip hop scene. This is type of video which is a strong narrative base and also has the right mood for an effective video to be created. First of all I will start with the performance elements of the song. All of the performance is done on a black screen in the back ground at around the medium/close up shot range. The camera is active constantly zooming in and out of his face not to make the shots static and uninteresting. He is not wearing the typical costume you’d expect a rapper to wear. And that’s a strong point in this song is that it is not a typical mainstream rap/hip hop song. It is something deeper and different to that product. The costume he wears could also convey that he is serious in this song as apposed to other songs by the artist which contains him wearing street clothes. He is rapping for a purpose and this is conveyed through his suit jacket and hat, showing that he is not just rapping about the streets and the generic rap product. There are also close up female performances which add effect to the song. They also use a filter on the video; they add a sepia tone onto the video and increase the brightness on the performers. This adds good effect as the light on them is showing the good side of them and the good that they stand for while rapping this song. There is a variety of shots in the narrative parts of the song. A lot of them are long shots and close ups however. The whole narrative part except from the flashbacks of his earlier life tend to nearly all is in slow motion, which adds effect to the actions of the narrative. How he loses his job and house, the emotion is given greater effect when it is slowed, and it is the opposite of the usual hip hop editing given to videos but in this instance it works. The target audience for this video would be people who have been following the underground hip hop scene, especially Jedi Mind Tricks; this is the type of audience not bothered by the mainstream rap scene and look for something different and meaningful. But the audience for this song is greater than this as well however as this is the first video of his debut solo album so it will be released to a greater spectrum of people allowing other rap followers to get into the underground scene.

Video 2: Ill Bill – Society is brainwashed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjNmGsQ16Vg

This video again comes from the underground hip hop scene. The mood in this video is darker and more sinister than the previous one due to the subject matter. This is a performance video as it has no real narrative video to support the performance, just different clips of random political and religious clips which society is supposedly getting brainwashed with. The performance shots in this video are very dark. The lighting is very yellowish on his face and body and around him it is hard to see anything. He is always sitting in the same place also; there is no variation in the backgrounds or locations like in the last video where it was just against one backdrop. Nearly all the shots that are taken are medium shots and the angles change regularly to keep the shots looking active and interesting. Again this is a change from the mainstream rap scene as it is a song which is talking about something deeper than what the subject in the mainstream rap talk about. These are deep political issues being thrown at you in a dark song to make you understand better. The TV screens which are around him while he is performing adds effect because it shows in an exaggerated manner the things that people get brainwashed by, and he shows that he is not bothered by these things, its more showing you what you are being brainwashed with and telling you why. The target audience once again is the followers of underground hip hop but also the mainstream is targeted with this video as well as he is appealing to the general society and explaining why people are being brainwashed. These people would pay attention to this song and be interested, wanting to listen to more of his songs to understand why he’d make a song like that.

Video 3: Wu-tang clan – Protect your neck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCZrz8siv4Q

This video is a more traditional rap song/video. The genre is no longer underground hip hop and has moved onto west-coast hip hop. Which is more mainstream as the Wu-tang clan are more famous than the previous two artists I have looked at. This video is entirely performance but it does deliver great effect because it is filmed in their hood of New York, the camera quality is gritty, the camera is always moving even though most of the angles are mid shots. The rappers are very active when they rap with hand actions and moving about. They also have angry/intimidating facial expressions which could convey threat they are trying to send a message to the music scene to say we are here as this song introduces the Wu-tang clan, with their own lyrical introductions and the text introductions. A lot of the performance is filmed in black in white as well to add to the effect of the location they are in. Showing that they come from a rough area which has been exaggerated by excluding all colour from the scenes. They are also surrounded by a lot of other people, which would be perceived as being in their posse. There is a substantial amount of people around them which shows that they have a big posse and are a powerful group not to be messed with. The target audience for this video would be mainly at the time fellow people in their area and scene where they are trying to make a statement. But also they are aiming for the mainstream audience; to set this song out a long side other popular rap songs at the time would be a something different. While the mainstream rap at that time was east-coast gangster rap, this bring a new element of faster lyrical skill along side the gangster rap and contrasts with it and makes thw Wu-tang clan stand out.

DVD cover 1: Wu-tang clan – Legend of the Wu-tang, the videos

This is the first DVD I have looked at and it is of the Wu-Tang clan, it is not so much an album realised by them in their active stage but a greatest hits type album. The prominent thing on the cover is the logo which takes over just over half the cover. The logo is an important part of the Wu-tang clan as it shows the element of their shaolin style which they imply into their instrumentals and lyrics. Their logo has the essence of a Chinese emblem while also making a W. The text on the cover is simplistic and the font is not anything out of the ordinary. It is simply easy to read. There are no pictures of any of the rappers on the cover either. This maybe because it might become convoluted as there are 9 rappers in the Wu-Tang or that they are just trying to keep the cover simplistic. Either way this cover is effective and gritty due to the stone type background which the cover has, with the logo bevelled out from the rest of the background to stand out.


DVD cover 2: Dr dre – Up in smoke tour

This is the next DVD cover I looked at which is of Dr. dre’s up in smoke tour. This is different to the last cover because it is a live gig compared to a album cover so the cover is a lot more active. With various shots of the performance dotted on the cover. There are pictures of the rappers this time around and they all look intimidating on the cover. The fonts are also more adventurous than the last cover, using grittier fonts which fit with the title of the tour. The text changes colour from white to green to fit the title of the tour also and it also fits from dr dres previous album cover which has green text on it also. There is a small description on the back which introduces the DVD and then there is a large track list, followed by the bonuses and the disclaimers. All of the usual DVD logos are on the back excluding the parental advisory logo, which needs to be on the front to warn people before they even pick up the DVD that this will contain explicit language.

DVD 3: Eminem – Live in New York City

This DVD cover incorporates a different style to the others I have seen. It is no longer dark and gritty but this one is bright and full of colour. It appears that there is an eruption coming from eminem and this could be suggesting the energy that he gives off during his concerts. This cover is dissimilar to the to dr dre’s live cover as there are little pictures on the cover, and the back is full of text, probably more than is needed for the back of a live performance cover. This cover looks like it has been manufactured for more than just a rap audience; the first reason for this is the lack of a parental advisory logo. This suggests that eminems songs will be censored. Making the songs appeal then to a younger audience because there is no fear of profanities throughout the DVD. Another reason for this is because of the bright colours. It is unusual for rap to be advertised with bright colours, this is done to catch more people attention to the DVD and give it more of a pop type feel to it, even though it is keeping a heavy rap theme on the cover. This is a cover I am less likely to take inspiration off for one of my own.

Advert 1: Wu-tang clan - Wu Tang Forever

This is a poster for one of the Wu-Tang clan albums, Wu tang forever. It is different from the previous Wu-tang items that I have looked at because it was released later than the others, so this design looks more modern than the rest of them. The text is less gritty. This could be to appeal to a wider audience. As people already know what they are about so they can make their campaign more appealing to the eye and allow other people to get into it as well. The logo is once again a prominent feature on the advert. The motif of the globe behind it is a good implication of how big they intend to be and what there aims are. The main title font is similar to the ones on the DVD cover. Another thing to note is that this time they have included the pictures of the rappers in it. It works well and they are in dark lighting conditions which is a common rap trait which I have noted, which gives them the intimidating, street effect.

Advert 2: Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

This advert is dissimilar to the eminem DVD cover that I have analysed. This style of advert is a lot more street than the DVD cover. The picture is the main feature on the advert with eminem taking the centre. He is dressed in baggy trousers and a large coat with a hat stereotypical of a rapper and gangster rappers. Behind him further exaggerates the gangster rapper side by including a low rider, which is a typical vehicle in the west coast hoods. The font that is used for eminem is the same font which he has always used for that title, keeping consistency throughout. The font underneath is quite sketchy and cartoon-ish, this fits with eminems lyrical style, as he has jokes in his songs and doesn’t always release the most serious songs.

Advert 3: 2pac - Trapped

This is an advert for 2pacs debut album. This is sticking with the west coast gangster rap genre. The feature that stuck out to me the most the 2pac logo, the black background on the logo takes the shape of a gun which is a typical weapon used in the west coast ghettos. The main picture is very gritty and shows how children who live in these areas can not have freedom from the life which they live. This mood is brought on even more because the poster is in black and white, making the poster darker. The font on trapped works well and so does the font on the logo. There is a small chunk of information in the corner unlike the other two adverts which I find useful because people have more information about the album as the other two may leave people confused.

Eminem - Stan (VIDEO ANALYSIS)

This is a rather dark music video. It follows the violent obsessive Eminem fan Stan. He keeps writing letters to Eminem and doesn’t get any replies for one reason or another and Stan ultimately becomes suicidal and kills himself and his girlfriend. The character of Stan comes off as creepy and unbelievably devoted and this persona is helped created through the darkness of it all. The lighting makes everything dark and gives the feel of the house and basement being a bleak depressing setting. This video has strong narrative but at the same time has a clever performance which is fitted in with him reading his own letters and messages out loud. This is good because it makes the character not seem like Eminem. Stan is portrayed as just any typical guy whose obsession has gone too far. The audience see him as relatable and at the same time not. Overall the video has a very charismatic and scary feel to it. It makes the audience feel constant sorrow for the character. I want to get a feeling similar to this in the music video me and my group produce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSLZFdqwh7E

Tupac - Ghetto Gospel (VIDEO ANALYSIS)

The premise of the video is that it re-enacts the last day of Tupacs life before he was murdered by drive-by. With this being the theme, the video is understandably 100% narrative (mainly because performance would be impossible seeing as Tupac is dead). The setting of the video is done quite well, making the neighbourhood seem bleak and yet vast and wonderful. The performances from some of the cast is brilliant at making tension between different social groups darker than they could or could not be. It sets the tone for the rest of the video’s occurrences. The locations were well-picked as well. The church which, linking to the theme of death and murder, symbolises afterlife. The murder itself is done in quite a good way suited to the song as well, the location of the diner and the subtle rolling up alongside him and the even more subtle way of censoring the gunfire, replacing it with a shot of the car on the opposite side and the flash of gunfire. It gets the audience on the edge of their seat through the power of suggestion. Speaking of “power of suggestion” the mise-en-scene is good in this video as well. The exchanging of cash doesn’t actually explain what the money was owed for or why it’s being exchanged in the first place. The audience will assume that it is something seedy and ganster-esque. The costuming as well to make them all look gangster with baggy clothes and jewellery, we immediately recognise these characters as being intimidating people partaking in illegal activities. At the beginning of the video there is a short segment of Tupac lying dead in the road and his wife or girlfriend or mother approaches his body, weeping. The diegetic sound in this segment before the music begins is moving and upsetting and gets the audience feeling sympathetic for both her and Tupac. This would be great for portraying loss in my music video project, or to build character and narrative. The camera shots and angles are well done too. There are a lot of close-ups on characters to show reaction or emotion, it fits the video well due to the subject manner and the grief that needs to be portrayed to give a convincing performance. The establishing shot of the city was very good as well, although I feel that the raised arms and smile by Tupac was a bit cliché. This lessened his tough guy front and somewhat ruined the view and effect of the establishing shot. The video ends with a quote and a picture of Tupac. This is done to perhaps teach a lesson or moral to anyone watching, to convince people not to go down the route that Tupac went down in his lifetime. This gives the video a rather poignant message and an educational value. The influences of people with such cultural significance as famous rappers are rather strong, so it makes the video all the more saddening that the subject matter is very much real. I shall try and give off the same impression on my groups project if our subject matter turns “ugly”, which, knowing the rap genre, it most likely will. This video is a great reference point for the gritty style of rap video, showcasing the consequences of a life of crime. The acting is great, the mise-en-scene and camera work is spot on and it leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. The video epitomises gangster and will no doubt help my group recreate the same background and feel of this video. The locations as well are great inspiration for where we shall ultimately film our video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxR4AweLeXE

Good Life - Kanye West (VIDEO ANALYSIS)

This video is very different to the others I’ve analysed. This video is 100% performance. The entire focus of the video is Kanye and T-Pain, but instead of props, scenery or narrative they opted for a style which incorporates graffiti/doodle style visuals surrounding them. The way these doodles work is that they follow the lyrics, visually representing whatever is being rapped about at the time. This is done almost exactly to what the lyrics are, even at times just spelling out the lyrics. This is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time because on one hand it’s showing entertaining and exciting visuals that get people to know all the lyrics and sing along as opposed to just liking a song for its beat. It’s a bad thing though that the video becomes a bit empty and without content. In an overly critical perspective one could say that the video has nothing to offer if the visuals do nothing. But I feel that the animations and art carry the whole video throughout, making it entertaining and exciting. I like the use of colour in this video, very vibrant and matches the style of the song itself. As a result, theres very little mise-en-scene throughout, but one thing that they use is a pair of sunglasses with additional animations in the frames. I think this a good fit for the songs theme. The song itself is about how good life has gotten now that Kanye is an established name in hip-hop and the sunglasses symbolise what he is seeing now that he has prestige and fame. This would be a great thing to attribute into my own video, the concept of seeing things through someone’s eyes. The sound in this video is pretty much just the audio from the original song, which is fine, except some of the censoring is awful. It takes some of the fun out of the song when there’s a massive blur over things. Some of the swearing as well is censored by deepening the voices and reversing them at times. There was also a lot of times when swearing was replaced with just silence. It breaks up the rhythm of the song and makes some of the animations make little sense. When I come to making my video I want to make sure that the song I pick doesn’t have swearing in it or inappropriate props such as drugs or pornography. The lighting and filters in the video are minimalistic due to the main focus being the animated graffiti. They use a black and white filter on Kanye, T-Pain and the model in the video. This is to emphasise the graffiti because like I said they were the main focus. The editing is rather limited because of the graffiti as well. The shots and camera angles throughout would often be fixed full body shots of Kanye rapping while all the animation goes on around him. I feel that despite how well everything fits together in this video and how well the intended final result of this video is hit dead on that it isn’t entirely relevant to the genre of rap. Rap videos are generally edgy or gritty and show despair or roughness. I feel I can incorporate certain things about this video into my own project but unfortunately a lot of it I don’t feel I can apply. Although, if I were to make a light-hearted music video with a light subject then I would definitely take a lot of inspiration from this video. It’s eccentric illustrations and performance make it an enjoyable and enticing video to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEKEjpTzB0Q

Eminem Psycho Killer (DVD COVER ANALYSIS)

This is a DVD cover that seems to be glamorising violence. The dominant image on the front is Eminem holding a massive knife and with a hockey mask near him. As rappers base their appearance and mannerisms around intimidation, and in this merit Eminem has definitely achieved it. The image seems to be trying hard to mimic the stereotypical serial killer in an attempt to either scare or entice you, it manages to entice me but it seems a bit corny at the same time, but something tells me that’s meant to be intentional. One thing that bothers me about this DVD is how packed it is on the back. It’s a good thing that the DVD has a lot of tracks it means good value for money but visually it looks ugly and crammed. Maybe if they laid out the tracks in a different format such as a block of text. This way it would not only make the text look a lot better but also free up a lot of space for additional images, because the back of this DVD cover doesn’t have any images from the videos in the DVD. Overall this is a good looking DVD cover on the front but it becomes a bit empty looking on the back, not to mention too cramped. Although I really like the choice of colour throughout this DVD cover, I will need to replicate it in my groups DVD cover.

n.W.a (DVD COVER ANALYSIS)

This is a rather interested DVD cover. Very different from any I’ve seen. This is purely because whereas other rap DVD covers feature the main rappers getting right into the camera with hand gestures, whereas this video has absolutely no one on it. The main image of the DVD cover is a car. This isn’t very good for people who don’t know he nWa are. The car doesn’t really give away anything about nWa so it’s inappropriate for the cover image. There are also absolutely no images of the DVD on the back of the DVD either. The design of it completely isolates new fans by giving them no information about the DVD whatsoever. Positives about this video are that it has a very violent, rap based colour scheme. The black to show darkness and the red to resemble blood, being the style of nWas rap. It also has a very practical layout for the song list. The white text stands out very well and it’s all positioned to one side in order to fit a large image on the back. The image of the car is really cool as well, with the bling in the window. I believe the main image should still be the members of nWa but as far as the photography goes the picture of the car is crystal clear. Overall I think this DVD cover let’s itself down with the lack of group members. It really needs them to make the cover make more sense. It does well to hold its own without them as well with a great layout and colour scheme but to stop it from being a great DVD cover it left the group out which is the entire of appeal of the nWa name.