Planning: Shot List

A shot list is an important and useful part of the planning stage.  By creating a shot list, I will know what shots I need when I go to film, allowing me to save time when I'm at my locations. This is important if I hire out a location or equipment for a certain amount of time.
I can also give my actors a copy of the shot list, so they know what they need to be doing in each shot. I will include a range of different columns, which show different information. Here are what I plan to include:

• Type of shot- This will remind me what sort of shot I planned when I'm at location. Although I will only put one shot on my Shot List, I will probably take a range when filming to ensure that I have alternatives if it doesn't have the effect I wanted it too when editing.
• Actor- This will show me exactly who I need in each shot. However, when looking at my Animatic, my main actor will be in almost all of my shots, so this column might not be that useful.
• Location- This will be useful if I am filming at multiple locations, as I can clearly see what shots I need at each location. This will allow me to save time, and not have to repeatedly think about what shots I need.
• Description- This column will include one or two sentences on what happens in each shot. This will be useful to me, as I can check what is needed for each shot. It will also be useful for my actor(s) as they know what they need to be doing in each scene.

My Shot List

Shots Key:

ES- Establishing Shot

CU- Close Up

OTS- Over the Shoulder

MS- Mid Shot

Here is my finished Shot List. The shot list will allow me to stay organised when I am filming, and quickly see what shots I need at each location. I also included the timing of when each shot will play to help me when it comes to the Post-Production Stage. However, I may not stick exactly to my shot list if the shots don't have the effect I intended for them to have. 

Planning: Props

Props are a crucial part of any type of film. They allow the audience to instantly get an idea on a characters personality and interests, and are very important when telling a story. Because my music video includes both Narrative and Performance, I will more than likely have quite a few props. There are multiple things I must consider when choosing the right prop:

• Price- Obviously, the prop must be affordable for my use. Because of this, I must carefully consider all of the options and take the price into account
• Appearance- The prop must suit the mood of my music video. From my lyric analysis, I found that my chosen song is about the end of a relationship. Therefore, I imagine my chosen props to be darkly coloured.
• Ease of transport- The props I use must be able to be transported to my filming locations. If the prop is too big, then I may struggle to get it to where I am filming. I must keep this in mind when choosing props.

Prop 1- Picture of a couple

Because my chosen song is about the end of a relationship, my planned music video includes the main actor looking at a photo of his past relationship, then ripping it up, representing his anger and regret. Therefore, I will need to find a suitable picture to feature in my music video, and find another actor to help take this photo.  I plan to just import this photo to my computer, then print it out. This is due to paper being easy to tear and is also very affordable. Additionally, because I want more than one take of each shot to ensure that I do not have to re-film, using paper means that I can print multiple copies of the photo without it being too expensive.

Prop 2- Guitar

The next prop I plan to use is a guitar for the performance parts of my music video. My plan includes the main actor to be playing the guitar, and lip-syncing to the song, shown at 0:49 in my animatic. However, I must consider multiple factors when choosing the guitar. First, it must be suitably coloured for my music video. I plan for the guitar to be either dark red, dark blue or black, as these colours represent the sadness and anger that the singer is experiencing. The guitar must also be affordable, so I decided to research some options.

My first option was a Yamaha guitar. Although the colour of the guitar is suitable, it will cost me over £100 which is way over my budget. I expected this, as a decent guitar isn't cheap.

My second option was a LAG guitar although the guitar is cheaper, it is still much more expensive than I planned to spend. However, the colour of the guitar is exactly what I planned to use.

Having researched into different guitars, I found that it will be way too expensive to buy. Therefore, I am planning to borrow a guitar from a friend. This means that I will not have to spend anywhere near as much money as buying a new guitar.

Prop 3- Drum Kit

I also plan to use a drum kit in my video, to support the performance element of my music video. Because my chosen artist, Biffy Clyro, is a band, I felt that I needed more than one performer in my music video. I plan for the drum kit to be a similar colour to the guitar. It appears first at 58 seconds through my animatic. Although the drum kit may be large, I think that using a car provides a good method of transportation. I then researched the price of a drum kit.

The first drum kit I found was a Tiger Kit. I felt that the colours were suitable for my music video. However, even though it was one of the cheapest kits I found, it is still way over my budget. Also, it is a junior kit, which may make my video look unprofessional and would be uncomfortable for the actor to play.

The next kit I found was a Herald kit. It is a similar colour and would be suitable to use in my music video. However, it is still too expensive and I am not willing to pay that much.

Luckily, I own my own drum kit which I feel is suitable for usage in my music video. It is dark red, which is a suitable colour as it connotes the emotions the singer is experiencing. Although it is large and has multiple, separate drums and cymbals, I feel that a car would still be able to transport it to the location I choose. 

Research and Planning Self Assessment

In my opinion, my blog is good. I feel that I have posted sufficient and detailed evidence of the different methods of research and planning I have carried out. I think that I have met deadlines and my work is to a good standard. However, I think that some of my posts can be improved. For example, one of my posts for the Existing Music Video research is weaker than my others.

I also think that the range of digital technologies I have used is wide. For example, I used Prezi to present my pitch for my music video. I have also used GIFS, images and embedded videos to support my research and planning.

My next steps will be to complete the planning of my music video. I intend to keep these posts to the same or better standard than what I have already posted, as this will allow me to get into the higher marks for my blog.

Planning: Costume

Costumes can have a very influential impact on how the audience receive and react to a music video. They can help portray a characters personality, interests and mood. Because of this, I must plan the costumes I want my actors to wear in my music video very carefully. I have made a criteria on what costume my actors will wear:

• It must fit the mood of the song-  Because my chosen song, Biblical, is about an ended relationship, I want my actors to wear dark colours. This will also fit with the dark lighting I will feature in my music video.
• Relatable to the target audience- The costume must be similar to what my target audience will wear. Biffy Clyro are a rock band, so I will have to further research into what the audience wears.
• Must be affordable- Because I have a low budget, the costume must be reasonably cheap. This means that I must consider multiple options on costumes.

I then used Google Images to find some images on what types of clothing Biffy Clyro, my chosen band, tend to wear. I put the images I found into a collage.

Here are the options I am considering:

Costume 1- Denim Jacket

The first costume I considered is a denim jacket. This is because I found denim jackets to be a common piece of clothing when looking at images of Biffy Clyro. Additionally, denim isn't a bright or outstanding colour, which fits the intended mood and message of my music video. I searched different clothing websites to find an average price for a denim jacket.

I found that the average price is around £20-£30. In my opinion, this is a reasonable price, but I want to compare it with my other options before making a decision.

Costume 2- Short Sleeve Shirt

A short sleeve shirt was another popular piece of clothing I found when looking at pictures of Biffy Clyro. This is a good option, as it is likely that my chosen actor will already own one. However, I still decided to research the price range, incase he doesn't.

I think that this is a more affordable option. It may also be more comfortable for the actor to perform in. However, I must be careful of the colour of the shirt, as it must be suitable to portray the meaning of the song in my video. For example, a dark red or black shirt will be effective, as the song is about a break-up in a relationship.

Costume 3- Sleeveless Shirt

Not only were sleeveless shirts popular in Biffy Clyro music videos, but also in the other rock music videos I researched into as well. This makes it a strong option for what costume I choose to feature in my music video. I found some suitable sleeveless shirts online.

I think that these sleeveless shirts are very suitable, as they are dark coloured and popular in my target audience. However, my problem is that my actor may be slightly uncomfortable performing in one, and will weaken his acting.

Whatever option I use, I will pair it with black skinny jeans. This is because they are very popular in rock music fans, and will make my video more appealing and relatable to them. Also, black skinny jeans are sold in almost all mens clothing shops, so I will not have a problem getting them. It is also likely that my chosen actor will already own a pair.

Research: Green Screen Practise

Using footage of a student lip syncing to Adele's Rolling in the Deep, I practised editing and chroma keying using Premiere Pro. Firstly, I imported both the original music video and the footage of Ellie lip syncing into Premiere Pro.

I then placed both the original music video and the soundtrack onto my timeline, and the green screen footage on the layer above. This meant that when I removed the green background, Ellie would be placed over the original music video.






I then used the Eight Point Garbage Matte to crop most of the green screen footage. This helped reduce the amount of different shades of green in the video, meaning that there will be less imperfections in the finished clip. However, I had to be careful that I did not crop out any of Ellie's movements, as it would make parts of her disappear.




I then used the Ultra Key feature to remove the green screen background. The pipette tool allowed me to select the green background, and Premiere Pro then removed any similar colours it could identify. This meant that Ellie now appeared to be in the original music video.








Because the green screen was creased when filming the lip syncing, there appears to be slight mistakes in the edited version. However, if I decide to use green screening in my music video, then I will make sure that the green screen isn't creased and is carefully ironed.

Planning: Camera Equipment

There is a wide range of cameras available to me to use when filming my music video. In my opinion, it is crucial that I choose the right camera to film with, as I want my video to look professional and aesthetically appealing. For example, the camera must be able to film in a high enough frame rate, as the performance parts of my music video will include lots of movement. It must also be able to film in a high enough quality in the darker scenes of my production. Because of this, I tested out some of my options to help me make my choice.

Camera 1- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

My first option was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200. I researched the specifiations of the camera, and found a table which can be found here. 

This camera allows me to film in 1920 x 1080 pixels, which means that my recorded footage will be high definition. It can also record Motion for up to 100 minutes, which is plenty of time for me to use. It also offers a slow motion feature, which I may decide to use for some parts of the performance element in my music video. I decided to test out the slow motion feature to evaluate it's quality.

Here is the footage I filmed when practising using the Slow-Motion feature on the Panasonic camera. This means that if I want to use some slow-motion shots when creating my music video, then I know how to film it. It also gave me an idea on the quality of the footage filmed on the camera.
Clearly, the 200fps VGA footage is much darker and a different resolution than the 100fps footage. I am unsure of the reason for this, as I recorded the different shots one after the other, without changing any settings on the camera. Because of this, I will most likely use the 100fps HD MP4 mode if I decide to use slow-motion in my final product.

Camera 2- Canon EOS 1100D

Another camera available to me is the Canon EOS 1100D. This camera allows me to film in HD, at 25 or 30 Frames per Second. Although the Panasonic camera can film in up to 240 FPS, the Canon will still allow me to capture smooth footage to use in my music video. To get an idea on how the footage filmed by the Canon looked, I searched for some YouTube videos that demonstrated the camera in use.

Although this video only shows still shots, I feel that the Canon's quality is good enough for me to use in my music video. I think that that although the Panasonic films in a higher frame rate, the quality of the Canon is better.

Camera 3- Nikon D3200

The third camera available to me is the Nikon D3200. This camera also allows me to film in Full HD (1080p). This is important, as I want my music video to look as professional as possible. I then searched for a YouTube video of the Nikon in use, to compare the quality to my other options.

In conclusion, I think that the Canon camera offers me the best quality. Although the other cameras record in a higher Frame Rate, I think that 30fps is sufficient for what I want to use. The quality of the Canon's recording is very good, and will allow me to make an aesthetically appealing video,

Planning: Filming Locations

Choosing the right location is a crucial part of creating any type of media production. If the location is too loud, busy or doesn't have the right lighting, then the production will not have the intended effect on the audience. Because of this, I have to be very sure that my chosen location is the right one. When choosing, I will take these factors into account:

• Suitability- If, for example, the location is very light and full of bright colours, then it will not have the intended effect on my target audience, and will not illustrate the meaning of the song. Also, if the location is too busy, then it will be very difficult and awkward to film.
• Availability- The location must be available for me to film in. Obviously, if the location is busy, then I won't be able to film there. To overcome this problem, I will be organised when planning my filming schedule.
• Distance- The locations must be reasonably close for me to film in, due to travel costs and time issues. If it takes a long while to travel to the location, then I will have less time to film and possibly will have to travel on multiple days. Additionally, if I need to get the right lighting or weather when filming, then travelling a long distance may create problems, as the weather can quickly change.

Location 1 - Harvester Forest

The first possible location I have considered is the Harvester Forest. The reason I have chosen this location is because it is quiet, and hardly any people visit it regularly. This is perfect for the narrative part of my music video, as I require an isolated location to amplify the characters loneliness. My main character will be sitting down in the empty field, looking into the distance and lip-syncing with the song.

The only problem I can imagine with this location is that it is near a main road, shown by the screenshot of Google Maps. This means that there might be unplanned noise. However, because I will edit my chosen song over the video, it means that I can mute the diegetic sound.

I think that this location is suitable, as it is in walking distance so timing won't be a problem. It's also rarely busy, so filming will be easy, with little distractions or interruptions. Additionally, because it isn't owned by anyone, I do not have to contact anyone to organise filming times.

Location 2- Zombie Hut, Corby

My second location is the Zombie Hut in Corby. I plan to use this location for the performance shots in my music video. The band will be performing on stage, playing their instruments and the singer will lip-sync to the song.

I think this location is suitable, as the technology there allows me to control the lighting in the room when I film. This means that I can create a suitable mood that amplifies the singers emotions and portrays the meaning of the song. The stage also creates a great setting, as everyone associates stages with performance and music. From my music video research, I found that stages are a common location in rock music videos.

The only problem is that because the Zombie Hut is a popular location, it may be hard to organise a filming schedule when both the location and my chosen actors are available. Also, because of the  performance, I will have to find a way to transport large props like guitar amps and a drum kit.

Location 3- Bedroom

An alternative location for the performance shots of my music video is a bedroom. Although it may not be as convincing as a real stage, it creates a sense of originality and is relatable for small bands who still practise at home. Also, it illustrates the singers emotions, as he is excluding himself from the outside world and is hiding away in his own room.

I think that this location is suitable, as it requires no travelling or transporting props. Also, there will be no issues with availability of the location. The only problem will be controlling the lighting in the bedroom, so I will have to carefully plan what time of day I will film.

Planning: Audience Feedback

I then showed my Animatic to a range of people in my target audience. I asked them a few questions on how they felt about my plan for my music video. By getting feedback from my target audience, I could change parts of my music video to make it more appealing. By asking multiple people, I could also see what the majority of people expect from a music video and try to include that in my production.

One person said that "Your music video captures the meaning of the song well. However, for the performance shots to be effective, you must make sure my actors are good, as it will need to seem believable". To overcome this, I will ensure my actor auditions are thorough, to make sure I select the right person. I will ask the candidates to film a 30 second audition, of them lip-syncing to my chosen song. This will allow me to assess their suitability to use in my final piece.

Another person said "I like the concept of your video. However, I think it will be very difficult to get the correct lighting without professional equipment." Therefore, I will have to carefully plan how I am going to get the right level of lighting. For the narrative shots, I will most likely use natural lighting as they are set outside. However, the performance shots will be harder to get the right exposure as they are set inside.

Planning: Storyboarding and Animatic

To help the planning for my music video, I created an Animatic. This involved me planning what my finished production will look like. The way I did this was by first writing the lyrics to my chosen song out on a long strip of paper. I then got multiple cards and created quick sketches of each shot I imagined. I also included a note on each card on what will happen in that shot, any camera movements, and the time stamp at when it will play. I then organised the cards alongside the strip of paper, into a timeline.

 When I finished this, I scanned each card and imported them to Premiere Pro, along with an MP3 file of my chosen song. I then used Premiere Pro to edit together an animatic, which involved my sketches in a slideshow alongside my chosen song, cutting in sync with the beat of the song. This gives a rough idea on what my final production will look like.

Here are some of my sketches, along with the MP3 file, I scanned and imported to my computer.

I then imported the files into Premiere Pro, ready for me to edit together.

Next, I ordered the sketches into a sequence. I synchronised the cuts to the beat of the song. Because I made a note of the timestamp at which each shot would start when creating the cards, I found this process was quick.



Here is my finished animatic:

Not only did creating an animatic give me a better visualisation of what my final production would look like, but it gave me more practise in using Premiere Pro. It reminded me on how to import and organise clips into a Premiere Pro sequence.  I also gained practise in cutting to the beat of the song, and how much more comfortable it feels when watching it.

Planning: Edit Practise

Here is a video that I created on Adobe Premiere Pro. The reason for this was to remind me on how to edit. By doing this, I remembered the different features and effects that Adobe Premiere Pro offers when editing. I found a lot of features that will be useful when I come to edit my final video.

Planning: Music Video Pitch for Biffy Clyro's 'Biblical'

To further my planning, I used Prezi to create a pitch for my current ideas for my music video. I will then present this pitch to a selected group comprised of members of my target audience. By doing this, I would get a better understanding on what the audience liked and disliked about my vision, which would help me create a better and more effective video.

Planning: Creating An Online Mood Board

I collected pictures associated with my chosen band and song, and used GoMoodBoard to create a Mood Board. This is a collage of pictures, which would help me in identifying key features to the band and their music, which would help me with my music video. I found that live performances were a key part of Biffy Clyro's appeal, as when I Googled Biffy Clyro, it came up with mostly images of them performing.

I also included pictures of Twitter's logo and a Rock Sound Magazine, as Biffy Clyro's target audience tend to use these types of Media to keep up with news on the band.

Click here to see my Mood Board

Here is a small screenshot of my mood board. I added pictures of all 3 band members performing live, due to it being one of Biffy Clyro's main appeals. This is also shown by the Reading and Leeds festival logo.

My Chosen Song

Research: Lyric Analysis of Biblical // Biffy Clyro

To give me a better understanding on the meaning of my chosen song I found the lyrics of Biblical online. I copied them into a Word document and analysed them without the accompanying music. By doing this, I got a feel for the mood of the song, without being influenced by the music. This will benefit me when I create my own music video, as I now know what message the artist is trying to convey in the song. Here is what I found when researching the lyrics: 

The interpretation I found, is that the singer has recently experienced a break up in a relationship. The song starts with the lyrics 'Baby if you could would you go back to the start?'. This suggests to me that Simon Neil, the lead singer of Biffy Clyro, is experiencing regret. The next line, 'Take any fresh steps of watch it all fall apart again' shows that something has failed, which I think is a relationship.

The last line in the 2nd verse says 'All that glitters ain't gold'. In my opinion, this supports the point that something hasn't gone as planned. It suggests that although the relationship looked like it would work, it hasn't.

The first line in the chorus is 'You gave me Magical, I gave you Wonderful'. This shows that once, the relationship was working well, and that both of the couple cared for each other. However, the next line, 'Cut the Invisible Cord', suggests that they have now broken up. I think that the 'invisible cord' is the connection they had as a couple, and that it has now been 'cut'.

Later on in the song, a line says 'Instead we might not make it to the end'.  This supports my point that the relationship never worked out. It implies that there was a plan for the couple, but it didn't reach the end.

Near the end of the song, the line 'Baby how can you walk away?' is repeated 8 times. This implies that the female has ended the relationship, and has 'walked away'. The fact that it is repeated 8 times exaggerated how hurt the singer is by this.

The final two lines are repeats of the two lines that opened the song. To me, this suggests that the lead singer is reminiscing on past events, most likely to do with the relationship. Overall, the lyric analysis shows that the song is quite negative, as the song is based around the feelings after a break-up.


I then used a website called WordItOut to create a word map of the lyrics to Biblical. This showed me what the most frequently used words in the song were. From the word map, you can see that the two most frequently used words are 'Wonderful' and 'Magical'. This suggests that the song is cheerful and based around happy emotions. However, the word 'fall apart' feature quite often, which implies a completely contrasting meaning. I think this will be good for creating a music video, as you can have two contrasting sets of shots. For example, one could feature fast editing and bright colours, while the other will be dark and slow, with not much camera movement.

Research: Who Are The Target Audience For My Artist?

Peter is 21 and lives in Leicester. He studies Music at University, as it is his biggest passion. He is very interested in the Music Industry and how it works. Peter tries to listen to Music at every possible opportunity. He listens to music on his iPhone when working, or when travelling. Because Peter plays Guitar, he listens to music with interesting and complex guitar riffs so he can learn them and play along.
Peter loves the atmosphere and feeling of live concerts. He also loves sharing new artists he has found with his friendship group, who share the same music interests as him. Because of this, he is the first out of his friends to suggest booking tickets. Peter's favourite genre of music is rock, as he loves the upbeat feel and the reactions of crowds at gigs. His favourite bands include Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters and Nirvana.

To try and fulfill his passion for music, Peter plays guitar in a band. Although he finds time a problem, he tries to meet and play with his band every weekend. When not playing with his band, Peter likes to relax and watch interviews with his favourite bands on YouTube. From these interviews, he gains knowledge on what the band is up to in the current time, and any important dates. Although he doesn't post much himself, Peter also uses Social Media sites like Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with his favourite bands and what they're up too.

Peter mainly buys CD's to listen to his music, as he thinks digital downloads are destroying the music industry. However, he also sometimes uses Spotify to listen to his music, as he finds the playlist creation feature useful, so he can store all his favourite songs in one place. He also loves the Spotify Radio feature, as he loves discovering new and upcoming artists, which he can share with his friends. To assist with this, he reads music magazines like NME and Rock Sound, which also help him to discover new music. 

Research Into Existing Music Video: Biffy Clyro / Black Chandelier

The existing music video I decided to research into further was Black Chandelier by the band Biffy Clyro. I chose this video, as Biffy Clyro are the band I have chosen to create my own music video for. By researching further into their existing video, I could find a few conventions that I could potentially use when producing my own.

 

The video begins with still, establishing shots to show the audience where the video is set. These shots last for around 12 seconds, with only quiet, natural sounds accompanying them. The first thing that I noticed, was that the location was very dark, with only very basic colours constructing the landscape. In my opinion, this is a convention that is common in a lot of rock/indie music videos, which is why I will keep this idea in mind when creating my own video. 

After the introduction, the song starts to play. The first lyrics are 'Drip, drip, drip, drip'. The next sequence of shots are of what appears to be black tar dripping off of musical equipment, like a speaker and a microphone, which illustrates the lyrics of the song. The use of close ups also shows the importance of the instruments and equipment to the band and their music. This is common in most rock music videos, as a lot of them feature the band playing instruments and performing. Again, the image features only basic colours.

A shadow is shown running towards the camera. The fact that the audience does not see who the shadow belongs to creates a mystery. It causes the consumer to wonder who the shadow belongs to, and what their role is in the music video. In my opinion, this is a very effective technique to keep the audiences attention. 


A few shots later shows a large group of these mysterious figures, jumping over railings and running towards the tower on which the band is performing. The characters seem to have an urgency about them, creating the feeling that they have somewhere they want to get to. Again, this helps create a sense of mystery and curiosity within the audience, making them want to watch on.




Throughout the music video, close-ups show the singer performing. This is one of the features stated in Andrew Goodwin's book, Dancing in the Distraction Family, and is a very common shot in music videos of this genre. This relates to my last point, that the band performing is the most important feature in the video. This is common in all rock music videos, as the majority of the video is the artist or band performing. This also promotes the bands live shows, as the video may make the consumer want to watch the band perform live more. Additionally, you can see that the singer isn't wearing a shirt. This also links to their live shows, as the band do not wear shirts when performing. 

Overall, I think that this is a very good music video. There are multiple conventions used that are common in lots of videos from this genre, like the dark colours and the amount of shots featuring the band performing. I think that these conventions are very effective, as they make the consumer want to carry on watching. I also think that it gives the audience a strong feel for who Biffy Clyro are as a band. The fact that Simon Neil, the lead singer, is looking sweaty and the band aren't wearing shirts suggests that the band would give a very strong and exciting live performance.

Research Into Existing Music Video: Don Broco / Actors

Another rock music I researched into further was the video for Actors by Don Broco. I chose this video, as Don Broco are of a similar genre to my chosen artist, Biffy Clyro. Additionally, it features both performance and narrative, which I plan to feature in my video. Because of this, I could gain ideas that I could potentially use in my video.

The video begins with mid-shots of the band preparing for a performance. This is shown by the props used, like a microphone and clapper board. These shots last for about 6 seconds, and set the scene for the rest of the video. Also, the song does not start playing until around 6 seconds. I found this common in the videos I watched, as there is often a short introduction in most of them. Additionally, mid shots are a common type of camera shot in Rock Music Videos. I will keep this in mind when planning for my own music video. 

The next sequence of shots feature the band performing. It uses fast paced editing and quick camera movements, like tilts, to represent the intensity and speed of the song. This technique is effective, as it engages the audience in the video, and gets them excited. This is also common in the videos I researched into, as rock music is often upbeat and exciting.

At around 0:55, the video cuts to a different location, which appears to be a room backstage. It shows the band members arguing and not getting on. For example, one member of the band has his ear flicked. This contrasts with the previous shots, which show the band performing together in sync. This represents the message of the song, that some people are sometimes not what they appear to be like. This links back to the title of the song, 'Actors'. 

Another technique used is that the backgrounds of the different shots alternate between black and white. In my opinion, this represents how people can often have two different personalities and can change in different situations, as black and white are contrasting colours.



Research into Existing Music Video: Foo Fighters / Best of You

I then decided to research the music video for the song Best Of You by Foo Fighters. The reason I chose this song is because Foo Fighters' music is a similar genre and has a similar audience to Biffy Clyro's, which would allow me to identify any similar conventions used. This would help me in the planning stage of my Music Video, as I could use some of the common conventions.

The first shot in the Music Video is a Close-Up on Dave Grohl, the lead singer in Foo Fighters, singing into a microphone. This is one of the features stated in Andrew Goodwin's book, Dancing in the Distraction Factory.  This type of shot shows emphasis on the band performing, which can help make the video more relatable and immersive. Additionally, the shot is much longer than other shots in the video. This is because none of the other instruments are playing, and it is quite a calm part of the song.

Another common camera shot in rock music videos is a mid shot. This was used in the 'Best of You' video, showing the band performing. This makes for an effective shot, as it emphasises on the performance and how energetic the band are when performing. Additionally, you can only see the bands silhouettes, creating a sense of mystery.






A difference between this video and 'Black Chandelier', the last video I researched, is that the 'Best of You' video features a lot of disjuncture. For example, a short shot lasting about 2 seconds shows just a small child in the sea. This relates in no way to the music video. This clip doesn't make a lot of sense, but can also create a whole different interpretation of the song's meaning.





In conclusion, I think that this music video is good, but I prefer the video for Biffy Clyro's 'Black Chandelier'. In my opinion, disjuncture can sometimes create confusion or damage the meaning of the song. Additionally, the music video didn't feature any narrative shots. I think that narration is very effective in music videos, as people want to watch on to see how the story ends.
However, researching this video has been beneficial. I have managed to find some common conventions in both music videos. For example, both feature the band performing. Close Ups and Mid-shots are also the most common type of shot. This will help me when I come to making my own music-video, as I now know what people are expecting so see in a rock-music video.

Research: Detailed Research into Chosen Artist (Biffy Clyro)

Biffy Clyro are a 3-piece rock band from Kilmarnock in Scotland. The band consists of:

• Simon Neil (Guitar, Lead Vocals)
• James Johnston (Bass, Vocals)
• Ben Johnston (Drums, Vocals)

Biffy Clyro are currently signed to 14th Floor Records, who they signed to in 2006. The band have released six studio albums:

• Blackened Sky (2002)
• Vertigo of Bliss (2003)
• Infinity Land (2004)
• Puzzle (2006)
• Only Revolutions (2009)
• Opposites (2013)

Puzzle, Only Revolutions and Opposites reached the Top 5 in the UK Album Charts, and Opposites earned the band their first Number 1 Album.

Their album Only Revolutions, which was released in 2009, reached number 3 in the UK Chart and went gold within days of release. Later in 2010, it reached platinum and received a Mercury Music Prize nomination. One of the singles from this album, Many of Horror, was covered by X-Factor 2010 winner Matt Cardle, and became the UK's number 1 Christmas single in 2010.

Biffy Clyro have done 7 tours, mainly to promote their albums on release. Their latest tour, the Opposites Tour, took place from 2012-2014. This was to help promote the album Opposites, which explains the name of the tour. They toured all around Europe, visiting countries like Belgium, Holland and Germany. During that time, they also supported Muse on a few occasions. 

Biffy Clyro currently have 102,103 subscribers on their YouTube Channel, where they release songs from their new albums, and official music videos. They also have 225k followers on their Twitter Feed, which they use to promote new content and live shows.

Reviewers are often linking Biffy Clyro's sound to bands like Foo Fighters and Nirvana. The band say that their biggest influences are bands like Queens of the Stone Age and Weezer.

Here is an interview with Biffy Clyro, where they talk about their latest album; Opposites:

The album I have chosen to research into further is Biffy's latest album, Opposites. The band revealed via the NME that they would release two studio albums in 2012. The Land at the End of Our Toes and The Sand at the Core of Our Bones would make up the album Opposites.

On 30th July 2012, the band announced on Twitter that a new single called "Stingin' Belle" would be premiered in the UK on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show the next day, and that the music video for the song would be available from 9pm for 12 hours to members of the band's Official Fan Club.

On Sunday 3rd February 2013, Opposites topped the UK Albums Charts, giving Biffy Clyro their first number one album.