Questionnaire Results - Joshua Manley 9645

When constructing this preliminary research I took into consideration the quantity of people that I should gather research from. I decided to gain 40 respondents who answered 14 questions, allowing me to produce both qualitative and quantitive data. Asking a large amount of people ensured that we got a varied response from male and females and also people from a variety of ages. I decided to gain feedback from respondents which fell between 16-25 years old the most as they are my targeted audience.

From this question it was evident that a lot of our respondents found that their favourite music genre was Indie/Alternative. This finding was very encouraging as our soundtrack comes under this genre.

Due to the fact that 82% of my respondents deemed that listening to music is an immersive experience. Therefore implying that the majority of the sample believe that song itself and video work accordingly together. This cooperated with the fact that 95% of the respondents also felt that music videos enhance the overall experience, suggesting that the audio and video are equally important. Therefore I will ensure that we produce a product which compliments the audio as much as possible. 

In the response above I discovered that the respondents felt that a hybrid video type is more compelling with 21 votes. This was very intriguing for me as it was very helping in aiding me when deciding what type of video I shall create, as now I know what the people want.

After discovering that the respondents felt that a hybrid is the best music video type I felt that I had to know their opinion on what would make the best hybrid. 35/40 of the respondents felt that narrative was an important aspect of a music video and also 60% of the respondents also felt that the performance element was also important. After discovering this and taking it into account, i have decided to attempt to create a hybrid of a performance and narrative type.

The fact that the most popular rating of the importance of the story line being 9/10, closely followed by 8 and 10/10, corresponds to the respondents showing a lot of preference in the narrative video type. Therefore when planning the production of my product I will ensure that the story line is interesting and entertaining as I now know that that is what the audiences are looking for. 

As this graph illustrates, our feedback suggests that the sample in which I asked  felt that the location of a music video is seemingly important as no one voted for anything below 6/10. The most popular rating was 8/10 which enhances the importance of  location, therefore we will put a lot of research and planning into the location of our product. 

As 75% of the feedback favouring the importance of intellectual content in a music video I will ensure that when creating my product, I illustrate a meaning and purpose and also perhaps contain a message.

This was a very relative question to ask the respondents as some of our initial ideas contain explicit content, including nudity. Due to our thought that nudity could perhaps connote themes of freedom and purity, it was important to see what others thought. As the results show, the majority of the respondents stated that they felt comfortable with viewing nudity. However, due to a few people feeling uncomfortable with experiencing this we will ensure that we keep the explicit content minimal.

Music Video Questionnaire - Joshua Manley 9645 and Kieran Panchal 9652

1. What is your gender

Male              Female

2. What is your age?

Under 15    16-20    21-25   26-30   31-35   36-40  41+

3.What is your favourite music video genre?

pop   rock  rap/hip hop  indie/alternative   other

4. Do you feel you listening to music a immersive experience?

5. What is you favourite type of music video?

Performance    Narrative   Concept   Hybrid

6. What is your favourite music video and why?

7. Within narrative music videos do you feel it is important to emotionally connect with the  character?

8. On a scale from 1-10 how important is the location in a music video?

9. On a scale from 1-10 how important is it to have a storyline within a music video and why?

10. Do you think it is significant to include performance aspects within a music video?

yes   no

11. Do you feel that it is important for a music video to contain intellectual content/hidden or ambiguous meaning?

12. On a scale from 1-10 how important is it for a music video to contain enigma code?

13. Would you feel comfortable with watching a music video which contained nudity?

Types of music videos - Joshua Manley 9645

Narrative Based Video
This type of video is a video which mainly consists of a story line/plot can perhaps relate and connect with the lyrics/meaning and genre of the song. This is very effective in making engagement with the audience and can make the feel a particular emotion or mindset in association to the song. These videos tend to be used for songs that feature in films and the video will tend to consist of parts of the film in the video.



There are also three types of sub-categories of a narrative video:
Illustration - this is where the narrative in the music video very closely reflects the lyrical content of the song.
Amplification - The narrative may be slightly influenced by the lyrical content however it uses different themes to compliment the song's 'feeling'.
Disjuncture - this is where the narrative holds very little relationship to the song and it quite arbitrary meaning random.


Performance Based Video
This type of video is based on the artist(s) performing the song on camera or even performing at a concert. This technique is very effective in creating a very energetic account and could be more interesting for the audience to watch. The usually never have any sort of narrative whatsoever and just purely record the raw performance. These are considerably popular within rock artists and work very well with recording a bands performance.




Concept Based Video
These videos tend to be very unique as they are usually based around one idea and could be considered a metaphor. Conceptual videos do not tell a story in linear fashion, but rather create a mood, a feeling to be evoked in the experience of viewing - Firth,1998

Thematic concept - based around a theme, which normally depends on the genre.
Symbolic concept - there is often lots of symbols to build up a meaning, lots of montage of clips and images, lighting is often used to suggest a mood, pace to represent emotions and meanings, pictures often support and contradict lyrical meanings.

Final Music Video Idea - Extended plot/Treatment - Joshua Manley 9645 and Kieran Panchal 9652

In a desolate and empty post-apocalyptic world, a lifeless vagrant male finds himself in a large empty space - a place where he can escape from his deteriorating life situation to play music. He is set up with his companion (his Australian Shepherd Dog – a dog known for its versatility, trainability and loyalty. In the camp, a teepee-style tent is surrounded by a circle of rocks, and other basic survival equipment. A variety of close up shots are used, showing details in the environment whilst establishing shots show it as a whole. A drone will be used to provide an aerial view of the setting. There are long, continuous shots, which could last up to 20 seconds.

As the music begins to fade in the pace of editing will be very slow, as the character begins to emerge from his sleep and walk into the centre of the camp carrying out his usual morning routine. The character’s dog is also present in the camp, being left to roam. Shallow depth of field shots are used frequently here, allowing the audience to get a solid grasp of the character and dog, and also providing a sense of open space. 

Following this sequence, the character walks to a location just outside of his camp and begins to assemble a drum kit, which is in a pile. This is a long process, but will be cut down to the most significant parts of the assembly. Crossfades will signify the sense of time change. After this, he sits down on his stool behind the kit and begins to prepare himself to drum. Other than his pet, drumming is the only thing that the character has left in his life, due to his presence in a post-apocalyptic world where nobody else exists. In this sequence, there will be many extreme close ups, detailing the technicalities of the task.

As the drums are introduced in the track, the character becomes active. The drumming starts slow and he drums in time to it, getting into the swing of the build up and becoming more full of life and energetic as he drums. There is a long build up section, where a variety of close-up sequences (as influenced by Whiplash – 2014). The climax is dramatic, and flares arise from behind increasing the passionate tone and anthemic aesthetic. Slow motions are used to hyperbolise his expressions. In the climax the camera will reposition to show a stand-out long shot, showing the performance as a whole at its peak, whilst encapsulating the environment in the frame. We can see his passion for playing as he sweats and bleeds, letting nothing prevent him from continuing. This is the disequilibrium period.

Eventually the drumming sequence comes to an end where the subject remains still in on his stool, breathing heavily with a sense of relief and satisfaction in his expression (CU). Once he has regained stamina, he reaches for cigarette and lights it up – beginning to whistle (diegetically) to the melody of Festival. As the character smokes, the smoke is followed. The pace slows again, taking the narrative back to a restored equilibrium.

Film Trailer Ideas - Joshua Manley 9645

Illness
If I was to create a romance of drama I feel that this would enable me to make connections with the audience due to the deep and intense subject of matter. I would show either a young or elderly character to be the victim of a terrible disease. Showing some of their darkest hours but also illustrating all the good in their life despite their illness. The positives would overshadow the negatives but the audience would notice both as they will connect with the character and relate to their emotions. I could potentially include a romance in the trailer between the victim and a partner which perhaps introduces the good in their life but also showing the struggles. The intense themes and atmosphere created would allow attachments and emotional connections to be made. I could potentially show a lot of influence through The Fault In Our Stars and The Theory Of Everything as they also has a similar storyline and meaning.




War
If I was to create a movie trailer I would be interested in creating something surrounding the concept of war. The subject of war would provide me many opportunities to make my product very dramatic and action packed. The location of the trailer would on switch between two locations. One being the war camp showing the soldiers daily routines and the other being a forest where they would be on a stealth mission and mustn't be identified. Costume and makeup would be very influential in contributing to the war atmosphere. I would need several soldier uniforms including props such as guns and other military equipment. Also I would need to make the characters appear dirty or have face paint for camouflage and in other cases have cuts and blood to show injuries. The pace would start of slow to correspond to their mission but then would slowly build up and become chaotic in order to attract and appeal to the audience.


Adventure/Horror
For this idea I thought about having it set in a rural location or even an abandoned urban area, something which is isolated, I could even use both. The abandoned place would be a homeless mans home and one day he would begin to explore a forest. The camera would seem as something is watching him. I would then use two dogs which look like wolves (husky or Alsatian Malamute) to make it seem like they are following him and tracking him. I would make them look dirty and make it look like they have blood on them. As the homeless man continues adventuring he would come across and abandoned hut in the woods and without knowing, is trespassing. The trailer would show clips of him being kidnapped/tortured and also show him attempting to escape and would end with him shouting for help.


Why is discounted the option of producing a trailer
There was a part of me which found the prospect of producing a film trailer rather appealing, as they don't have to actually contain a consistent plot, they can include various clips which can appear somewhat disconnected. Also film trailers can be very dramatic and full of action which I also found interesting. However, eventually I chose not to proceed with creating a film trailer. This is because want to make an emotional connection with the audience and make them connect with the characters, and a lot of trailers are just dramatic and exciting in order to attract the audience. Also I want to produce a product which has a sense of structure, plot, meaning/message and a concept.

Advertising Video Ideas - Joshua Manley 9645

Energy drink 
In this advert I would use a GoPro and attach it to various parts of the actors body whilst performing various sports. It would begin with the actor drinking the drink and getting the energy to do sports. The advert would need to seem continuous and have smooth transitions between changing of sports. For example, the actor would be playing football and the ball goes out for a throw in, they then bend over and pick up the ball and as they stand up they are taking a line out whilst playing rugby. Then the next transition could be the actor diving to score a try and then finds themselves diving into a swimming pool. Other than GoPro shots, also a lot of short/quick shots and close ups would be used to increase the pass of the advert. It would end with the actor drinking the energy drink.

Food
For a food advert I would use a lot of close ups and extreme close ups of food being sliced, diced, grated, chopped, boiled, cooked etc. showing the eventual process making of a meal. I would also speed a lot of the shots up and also slowing a lot of footage down. I would also attempt to get a lot of unique shots inspired by other adverts such as putting a GoPro in a cheese grater and also in bubbling water. The advert would end with a normal speed shot of the final product of the cooking with a hand adding the last few touches to it.

Health and Hygiene
In this advert I would constantly video a pair of hands showing what they do and touch throughout the course of the day, following them as the get local transport, go to work, eat and do activities. I would mostly use a GoPro to do this, speeding up it up she the hands aren't doing anything but slowing it down when they touch something convenient to the message of the video which is to always clean your hands. I could potentially use a voice over talking about people not realising what they touch throughout the day and the importance of cleaning their hands.
This would be similar to a chewing gum advert she they show what your mouth goes through throughout a day.


Why I discounted these Ideas
Despite adverts having the potential to be very successful as they can come across mysterious to the audience and make the audience think about the matter and engages them. I feel that I prefer to provide a more direct approach, supplying the audience with a certain feel to the product rather than letting them decide the meaning behind it.
I eventually chose not to advance with advertising as I felt that out of all the briefs, it was hardest to create deep, emotional and intellectual content. Adverts do create messages but they have to be very well produced to make strong connections with the audience, at least with the ideas that i have come up with.

Music Video Ideas - Joshua Manley 9645

Song: Festival - Sigur Rós

Synopsis

• Setting: Large, empty, industrial room/warehouse, set in a desolate (post-apocalyptic?) world
• Character: Male, 20, ragged/dirty aesthetic, weak/skinny 
• Mise-en-scene: Low key lighting, general gritty feel, Colour grade: tungstens/oranges
• Props: Drum kit, cigarettes 
• Get cleaner as he plays

General plot: 

In a desolate and empty post-apocalyptic world, a lifeless vagrant male finds himself in a large industrial warehouse - a place where he can escape from his life situation to play music. As the music begins to fade in the pace of editing will be very slow, as the character begins to explore the location/ walk into the centre of the room (drone shots)/ long slow tracking/dolly shots establishing location. 

In the centre is his drum kit, he sits down and begins to prepare himself to drum - the only thing that keeps him going. The music starts slow and he drums in time to it, getting into the swing of the build up and becoming more full of life and energetic as he drums. As the music builds up and reaches its climax, so does he, and we can see his passion for playing as he sweats and bleeds, destroying his kit and letting nothing prevent him from continuing.

Song: Collider - Jon Hopkins

Synopsis

• Setting: Boxing ring/ urban street location
• Character: Two large sweaty males, heavy make up - scarring/contact lenses/teeth grills/ piercings/ hooded
• Mise-en-scene: Very dark, intense beam lighting
• Props: Blood, Boxing gloves

Two large men hooded men (shadowed faces) walk into an open low-lit industrial, before entering a boxing ring together from either end. There are lots of cuts to black, and the pace of editing starts fast, with the lots of interesting extreme close up shots being shown on screen. As the music continues at a slower pace, the two meet in the middle of the ring,  looking into each others eyes and growling. As the beat kicks in, the men remove their hoods, exposing their faces and begin to fight, becoming more aggressive as the music tempo increases.

The majority of the fight scene will be in slow motion, with long circling camera movements and interesting extreme close ups being used frequently throughout, showing their worn faces in particular detail. At the end of the scene when one of the contender is knocked to the ground there will be a long zoom out from the man on the floor coming back into the darkness of the room by as far as possible.

Song: To build a home - Cinematic Orchestra 

Synopsis

• Setting: Abandoned, rural, derelict building
• Character: Young Female, scruffy, dirty white/tanned leotard
• Mise en scene: relatively bright lighting, potentially a couple of spotlights
• Props: bag which actress carries, ballet shoes/costume

As the video/track begins the female is introduced as being naked and vulnerable. She begins exploring the derelict area looking very timid and weak, the audience would see her feet walking and how dirty and cut they are. As the vocals are initiated in the soundtrack she comes across a room with a bag, with a dirty leotard and shoes laid on top, in the centre. She continues to investigate the bag and eventually puts on the leotard and shoes. As the beat and vocals kick in more she begins to dance and show signs of confidence. As the track progresses she gets more and more confident and eventually performs to her best ability. The message of the video would be that without the leotard the girl appears very vulnerable and timid whereas with it, she is confident and powerful, illustrating the importance of music and ballet in her life as for her it is a form of escapism.

At the start of the video the camera will focus only on the girls head-shoulders and also her feet. However as the video progresses full body shots will be used to show her performance as well as some continuous shots. The camera would also follow her movements considerably low to the ground and also move in a circular motion around her. As the performance comes to a close the pace of the editing does accordingly and she slows down and comes to a halt. She is exhausted and gradually undresses and begins to leave premises.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Joshua Manley 9645

Genre
- Adventure, Comedy, Drama, romance

Sort of Trailer
 - Official full length trailer

Where will it be shown
 - Youtube, Cinema

What is the target audience
- Family film, PG

Key Genre elements
 - Plot, Location,

Key Selling Points
- Ben Stiller actor/director, 20th Century Fox, High Production Value

Does it establish the genre, mood and expectations of the film -
yes its establishes genre through the elements mentioned above
mood/expectations - soundtrack, inspiring location, props eg helicopter, pace of editing

Synopsis
The audience is introduced to the main character (Middle ages man, business professional),  and immediately learn that he is seeking a romantic relationship with another main character through the use of a dating website. This then provides the audience with some preliminary knowledge on the main character, and additionally establishes the hybrid genre. The plot appears to be set in an urban environment which creates a sense or normality/reality.