Saturday 10 October 2009

An Introduction to Music Videos.

Prior to the 80's the term 'Music Video' was rarely used, and these short films that accompany a complete piece of music were described as a 'Promo Film' or 'Film Clip'. The rise of MTV helped to bring Music Video's into the mainstream, and the first video aired on this network was (fittingly) 'Video Killed The Radiostar' by the Buggles.


MTV soon began 24 hour broadcasts of music videos, and with this rise in public attention artists began to use videos as an essential promotional tool.
Many acts of this era took full advantage of the boom in the new mainstream music videos including Madonna, Adam and the Ants, Duran Duran, and Michael Jackson. Across this period, directors and musicians began to explore the style and genre, using more advanced effects in their videos, adding a storyline or plot to the music video, some videos were even made in a non-representational form, in which the musical artist was not shown. For example, David Mallet's video for David Bowie and Queen's 'Under Pressure'



Over the following decade, Music Videos progressed in leaps and bounds and in 1992, MTV began listing directors with the artist, reflecting the fact that music videos had increasingly become an auteur's medium. Directors such as Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze, all got their exposure around this time; bringing a unique vision and style to the videos they directed.

After the continual rise in the power and status of the music video, to this day artists utilise the benefits of this type of visual promotion and a way for directors to showcase their talents and creative ideas.

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Skills Audit

- Develop skills in Recce reports:
I.e- Notes on lighting in the location, possible noise sources, health and safety implications, transportation of people and equipment, permission to film etc.
Before filming starts, going to look properly around the location and noting down important details will ensure filming goes to plan and stays on schedule if things are planned thoroughly.

- Focus on lighting skills:
I.e- Consider the time of day and therefore the light conditions, and continue monitoring lighting whilst filming.
I have little to no experience of lighting equipment and therefore need to practise and hone these skills before the final production of my music video.

- Keep notes of shots and takes that have been filmed:
This will avoid confusion, and allow the most efficient use of time on location, whereby everyone knows what needs to be done and where.

- Titles and Transition:
I.e- Use moving titles creatively, and place transitions, other than cuts, sparingly and appropriately.

- Learn to put music from a CD onto my video:
I.e- Using the program CDEX to transfer the music over my video.