Media Course Work

Media coursework

Music video link- https://youtu.be/K6whPsl6AoQ

Website link- https://jackw2003.wixsite.com/my-site

Mood board

Love story by Taylor swift

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXzVF3XeS8M

Initial research

Initial research

Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania on the 13th of December 1989. Her family sold their farm there to move to Tennessee near Nashville to pursue a career in singing which turned out to be extremely successful where she is now worth an estimated $365 million. Currently, she is 31 and has two kids called Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray.

My initial research of Love story is that the song was released on September 12th 2008. This song is a staple to music and is a classic which is very well known all around the world with over 603 million views just on YouTube (not including streams on apple music or Spotify). This song is about her making the Shakespeare phenomenon (Romeo and Juliet) and give it a happy ending instead of it being a sad tragedy story. Taylor Swift shared with Los Angeles Times that she loved the story and changed the ending to make it the best love story ever. Taylor Swift shared this "I thought, why can’t you make it a happy ending and put a key change in the song and turn it into a marriage proposal?” This is key to the research because I am going to involve marriage in my video.  

Analysis

Love Story Background information- Love story is a story about a young free woman who falls deeply in love with a man, referred to multiple times as Romeo. The romance of "Romeo and Juliet" which is actually Taylor Swift and a male is all about how she loves a man and her family doesn't want her to. She has said that she was compelled by this story. To me, this is made obvious by the level of passion portrayed throughout the video. Throughout the song, and as previously mentioned, she keeps saying she wants to be with Romeo but her parents don't want her to be, therefore signifying an heir of manipulation from the parent's side. The whole song and video shows the story and does significantly seem like it has been copied from the romance/tragedy Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare with the only difference being the ending where they get married. The video even emulates the scene in which Romeo (the male actor) throws pebbles at Juliet's (Taylor Swifts) window, once again exercising an homage to the classical love story.

This music video was executed perfectly, whether that be by showing cohesion between lyrics and visuals, putting a contemporary twist on classic tales or simply shooting in a way that the storytelling is obvious and digestible to the viewer; us. The different shots used and the fact that the music video links perfectly with the lyrics is exceptional. In my music video I would like my video to link with some parts of the video with a twist, that being an older male and female that are in love. This will be done to break social norms as well as my atrist representation a younger genre. Which isn't really done in the Taylor Swift video. Therefore, I want to be breaking stereotypes to show that love can be found at any age and any couples are represented as well as younger audience showing what, a topic that is at the forefront of societal discussion currently.

At the beginning of my video, I want to include the start of a time-lapse of a rose growing and all throughout it cuts to it growing and then right at the end of the video after the marriage takes place, I want the rose to have fully blossomed, this will engage with the viewer and metaphorically portray the progression of love from beginning to full fruition by the time the video is finished. I then want there to be different camera shots throughout the video like close-ups, most notably lip-syncing, to show the synergy between lyrics and visuals, similar to what I have learned from the Taylor Swift video as previously mentioned.

I also want to include different shots like low-angle shots. This is where the audience looks up at the actor to show power and role in the video. I will use this when Romeo is throwing's stones at Juliet's window, to exercise the feeling of helplessness from Romeo towards Juliet. I may try to include a birds-eye view if possible when they get married, this will provide a contrasting shot to the previous low-angles, and will again show the progression of their relationship and that the viewers are now 'elevated' by the time they have publically declared their love for one and other. Extreme close-ups will be done when lip-syncing. I will include a down shot when Romeo is throwing stones to add a different angle and perspective, showing the difference in roles of both Romeo and Juliet. Establishing shot as an extreme long shot to set the scene and establish a setting. Throughout the music video, there will be medium shots to get them to be emotionally involved, potentially with a slow zoom to draw the viewer in and maximise the level of interest throughout. I will also use an over-the-shoulder shot to show the lyrics are being said. An example being the lyrics when she says "flashback." 

I will edit the music video using different techniques and effectively break up the story to make it flow as smoothly as possible. I will use fading at points throughout the video to go back to the rose growing to resemble their loving starting and then slowly growing as their relationship grows bigger and stronger. Hard cuts will be effective for scenes such as the stones being thrown at the window, to quickly visualise both character's perspectives. Plus, the subtle and cohesive use of typography to open and close the video.

 

I will also need to think about lighting. In 'Love story' it is very bright and very open. I may try and add parts within the video to be darker when Juliet says they can't be together to show it's a sad moment within the story, to try and tell the story to the viewer as blatantly as possible. Then I will want it to be very bright when they get married so it symbolises positive, happiness and joy where as darkness illustrates pessimism as well as sorrow. 

 

Jackson 5- I want you back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Q80mk7bxE

Initial Research

Jackson 5 was a pop band which involved the Jackson family. The main star of the shoes was Michael Jackson who went onto great things. despite allegations he was known to have a horrible childhood due to his dad wanting to be successful and make money. Therefore Michael missed out on many child opportunities because his dad would need him  to perform with the other family members to make money. The widely recognised pop band was created in Gary, Indiana in the USA. The group was formed in 1964 and ended in 1989.

Analysis

On YouTube, the Jackson 5 classic, I want you back is a recording of the Jackson' just simply in a hall standing and singing. There is no actual music video there is only just them standing therefore there is not much too analyse. They are standing all in a line as a powerful 5 formation.

1 minute 39  seconds - "Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground. Following the girl, I didn't even want around, Tell me now, oh baby, all I need is one more chance."

Within the first line we can see that in the lyrics he is crying. This could mean he is reminiscing over the great memories he made with her. Although Michael Jackson the star of the show is singing these lyrics, I don't believe it is about him as he is still of a young age therefore he hasn't had these experiences yet maybe meaning it is about someone else within the Jackson family who has an emotional attachment or real experience. 

Grenade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6iYWJxHqs

Analysis

Grenade by Bruno Mars is a very high level form of production compared too the simplicity off the Jackson 5 I want you back. Grenade is a very great high quality music video. It has many different scenes and props therefore costing a lot for production. You can see that it is expensive and high quality from all the different camera shots we can get a feel and a representation of how he feels. This is portrayed through camera shots and editing. The skill of there editing was very high priced and so was the camera quality.

Bruno Mars right at the start of the music is in a dark place. I cant work out whether this is done on purpose because he is talking about how he loved someone and but doesn’t have them or just fine because he is in a dark place mentally. This dark room is representing what he is feeling. Dark represents loneliness, sadness and possible death. Hopelessness is also shown but later on this changes and he is in a very bright and open space showing that he has changed mentally. He was depressed at first due to the break up and wanting her back but gradually he felt better over time.

“Throw my had on a blade for you”

“I would jump in front of a train for you”

“I would do anything for you”

All of the following lines in the music video all are confessing his love for the girl. He loves her so much he would put his life on the line for her.