Research And Planning

Research

by Abhinav Shankar on 18th March 2023

1. Music Video Research - Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne

I was given the task of watching Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi music video for your media studies class and to analyze it thoroughly so I could perhaps take inspiration for my music video. I had  noticed a number of elements that contributed to the music video's success. Some of these elements include the use of color, camera angles, lighting, and editing techniques to create a visually compelling and emotionally engaging story.

One of the most prominent elements of the Sk8er Boi music video is its use of bright and bold colors. From Avril's bright pink hair to the neon green background, the video is full of eye-catching hues that help to draw the viewer's attention and create a sense of energy and excitement.

Another important aspect of the Sk8er Boi video is its use of camera angles and movement. The video features a number of dynamic shots, including close-ups of Avril's face and body as well as sweeping shots of the skaters in action. These camera movements help to create a sense of motion and excitement, and help to keep the viewer engaged and interested in what's happening on screen.

In addition to its use of color and camera angles, the Sk8er Boi video also features some clever editing techniques. For example, the video uses quick cuts and jump cuts to create a sense of frenetic energy and urgency, particularly during the skateboarding scenes. The video also features some clever visual effects, such as the use of split-screen to show multiple characters at once, which helps to create a sense of interconnectedness and unity among the different characters in the video.

Overall, I learnt many things from watching the Sk8er Boi music video that I could apply to my own music video projects. Some of these include the importance of using color to create a visually engaging experience, the use of camera angles and movement to create a sense of motion and excitement, and the importance of editing techniques to create a cohesive and emotionally resonant story.



2. Music Video Research - Just - Radiohead

Researching Radiohead's "Just" music video can be an interesting task, as it is a thought-provoking and visually stunning piece of work. To begin with, one can start by watching the video multiple times to gain a comprehensive understanding of the scenes and visuals.

The video, directed by Jamie Thraves, features a man lying on the ground with a bullet hole in his chest. The band members are seen looking at him, and they are soon joined by a group of curious onlookers. However, as the video progresses, it becomes clear that the man on the ground is not dead but has instead refused to reveal the reason behind his decision to lie down.

One of the most striking aspects of the "Just" music video is the lack of audible dialogue. The man lying on the ground tries to communicate with the band members and the onlookers, but the subtitles are the only means of understanding his words. This technique allows the viewer to focus more on the visuals and the emotions conveyed through the facial expressions and body language of the characters.

Analyzing the subtitles in the video can reveal a lot about the themes and messages conveyed. For instance, the man on the ground repeatedly says, "You do it to yourself, you do, and that's what really hurts." This line could be interpreted as a commentary on the self-destructive tendencies of human beings or as a criticism of society's tendency to blame external factors for personal problems.

Another aspect of the video that is worth analyzing is the use of symbolism. The bullet hole in the man's chest could represent emotional pain or trauma, and the fact that he refuses to speak could be seen as a metaphor for the difficulty of expressing one's emotions. The band members looking at him but not offering any help could be seen as a critique of the apathy and indifference of society towards those in need.

In conclusion, researching and analyzing Radiohead's "Just" music video can be a rewarding exercise that provides insights into the themes and messages conveyed through the use of symbolism, visuals, and subtitles. The lack of audible dialogue in the video adds an extra layer of complexity and encourages viewers to pay closer attention to the emotions and expressions conveyed through the visuals.




3. Music Video Research - Clairo - Pretty Girl

Clairo's "Pretty Girl" music video is a visually striking and unique piece of art. The video features the artist singing and dancing in various locations while subtitles appear on the screen, commenting on the lyrics and providing additional context to the song's message.

One of the most interesting aspects of the video is the use of the subtitles. They provide a layer of meaning and depth to the lyrics, making them more accessible and relatable to viewers. The subtitles also add a humorous element to the video, with witty and tongue-in-cheek comments that poke fun at the societal pressures placed on women to conform to a certain standard of beauty.

Throughout the video, Clairo presents herself as an ordinary girl who doesn't fit into the traditional mold of what society considers "pretty." She sings about feeling insecure and inadequate, but ultimately comes to the realization that she doesn't need to conform to anyone else's standards to be happy with herself.

The video's aesthetic is also worth noting, with its retro-inspired visuals and quirky set pieces. The use of bright, pastel colors and vintage props gives the video a playful and nostalgic feel that perfectly complements the song's upbeat melody.

As for how I was inspired by this video for my own music video, there are a few key takeaways. Firstly, the use of subtitles is a unique and effective way to add an extra layer of meaning to the lyrics. It's also worth considering incorporating humor into your video, as Clairo does, to make it more engaging and relatable to viewers.

Additionally, the video's use of bright, playful visuals was a source of inspiration for my own music video. 




Planning

General Plan

I had originally planned on doing a music video on Everlong by Foo Fighters which was a narrative as well as a performance type music video where the story would follow a boy being able to play a guitar who's disconnected from reality. However our budget was short and most of the locations we planned on were already booked or unavailable hence we had to scrap the whole plan entirely.

Then in later December after having a talk with my group members, Mohammad Arham and Rudra Goyal. We had come up with a new plan of filming a music video with a group of teenagers enjoying their last year together by going out to different locations, goofing around and having fun together. After going through a various catalogue of songs we had finally decided on What Once Was by Her's. We decided to play all the teenagers ourselves and had Ayaan Ahmed help us out as the camera man for shots we all 3 were involved. He would also be playing the 4th friend in the group aka the one who's filming majority of the music video so we all could look back to it as fond memories.



Location - Planning

We had already planned out the locations we were set to film in. The likes of which were an arcade, a food court, school, a bowling center, a gaming café, the metro, expo city and the beach.

Music Video Title - Planning

We didn't want to stray away from the song by giving our music video another title hence we just named it after the song. I had made the logo myself however we used two different variations for both the title sequence as well as the posters.

 



Shooting Schedule - Planning

Our shooting schedule was pretty complicated as there were many locations to film in and we didn't have many days besides the weekend where we all were guaranteed to show up for the filming. We made it work however and had written down a schedule which can be seen below.

Jan 23rd - School

Jan 28th - Arcade and Food Court

Jan 29th - Bowling Centre and Gaming Café

Feb 11th - Beach

Feb 13th - Expo City

Feb 17th - Metro


Equipment - Planning

Camera, Tripod, GoPro



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