Practice Ideas

We practiced the idea of changing the colour of the artists lips on each 'oh' and then practiced inside and outside to see how different shots would work and how they would look. Here is a short video of each practice idea.

In this video, you can here the actor singing along to the song. In our actual music video this wont happen, but we didn't feel it was necessary to play the track over the top of these clips as these are just practices to get an idea of how the video will look, not how it will sound.

Practice idea 1: Our first idea was too use a mixture of different bright colours on the artists lips, and then edit the shots so that on each beat of the 'oh' of the song, the colour of the lips would change. When we edited the shots together, it didn't look as effective as we thought it would. The cuts wern't smooth as the artist moved slightly in each shot. It was also a lot harder to edit than we thought it would be and was also very time consuming.We decided not to use this in our music video because it didnt look proffessional.

Practice idea 2: The second idea was to film the artist indoors. This meant that we could control the lighting in the shot, and also stop different weather conditions from spoiling the shots. We liked the second idea and thought it looked very effective. But because the song we are using is very upbeat and about the summer, we both had pictured the video as being filmed outside. We didn't think that the song would suit being filmed indoors.

Practice idea 3: The third practice shot was outdoors. This helped to give us an idea of what the shots would look like. The natural daylight fitted nicely with the style of the song. Before we could film the music video, we had to ensure that the white balance on the camera was correct as in the practice shots, the artist is 'glowing'.

Actor Profiles

Here is a picture of the actor I will use in my music video. As you can see, she is a young, fashionable girl. She is part of the target audience of our text, and we thought that it would be a good idea to have the lead singer of the song within the same group as the target audience. This will help and encourage the target audience to engage in the text and want to watch it as the artist is similar to them. The type of clothes that the actor wears is mainstream fashion which is the type of style that would be expected to be worn in a pop music video. The style is also similar to what the target audience would wear, which will also help them to relate to the music video.

As I am working in a pair to create the music video, this actor is actually the other person in my group. We thought that by using her in our text would be more practical as the location that we want to film in, is in a place that we will need to travel too which would limit the amount of people that could be in the video. As she has been involved in the development of our idea and concept of the music video, by using her as our actor, she will understand exactly how we both want the shots to look.

There are only going to be two actors in our music video: The lead singer, and the ex-boyfriend. The actor that we will use as the ex boyfriend, is a good looking, fashionable young guy. This fits to the typical conventions of a music video, the textual analysis I did on Eliza Doolittle - Rollerblades had a good looking tanned young guy as the boyfriend. The actor also is within the same age range as the target audience, which will again help them to relate to our music video.

First Music Video Storyboard

To be able to understand fully and create a clear image in my mind of what I want to happen in my music video, I decided to make a storyboard. The storyboard was just a quick way of making my ideas clear, I will later create a timeline where I will go into more detail of what shots I want at what time in the song. The storyboard does not have every shot that I want to use in my music video, I made it just to help me create a clear idea of the sort and type of shots that I wanted.

After making my storyboard, I needed to upload it as a film to vimeo so that I could put it on this blog. If I had just taken a picture of the A3 sheet, then the detail of what type of shot I had written at the top would not be seen. I decided to use Stop Motion ProV7, where I used a webcam to take pictures of each individual shot on the storyboard.

The basic idea for our music video, is to show happy flashbacks/memories of a relationship that the lead singer was once in. The artist will be in real time, in a woodland area with photos of the relationship surrounding her. She will look at one of these images and then the flashback will begin. I think this idea reflects the lyrics of the song well as the lyrics are in a happy and positive tone about a past relationship.

Audience Targeting

To make sure that my music video reaches the target audience, I need to clearly identify in my mind who the target audience is. To do this, I decided to look on Diana Vicker's fan site, twitter and facebook page to try to get an idea of the type of people that follow and like Diana's music.

After looking on all these sites a discovered that the majority of Diana's fans are young females aged between 13 and 25. The majority of her followers on twitter and facebook are females so therefore I must target my music video at this gender. I would think that the majority of her fan base are females because she could be seen as a role model to many young girls. As she was only 17 years old when she shot to fame by auditioning for the X factor in 2008 and released her first album only a year later at 18 year olds. Many of her fans will see her as an inspirational figure as she was so young but had achieved so much.

As Diana Vicker's music and style is very quirky and fun, it is likely that the target audience will also be quirky and fun. The music video I create will need to be a bit quirky and upbeat to help fit in with this trait of the target audience. Diana's music is also slightly romantic so I think the target audience would probably like the idea of a 'fairy tale' ending and romance. The song I am using in my music video has a sense of romance and happiness in it, so it is important for me to reflect this tone within my music video.

Target Audience:

• Female
• 13-25 years old
• Any social economical class
• Quirky
• Fashionable
• Romantic

All the things that I have identified about the target audience in this research I will try to satisfy them with my music video. I will use a young pretty female as the lead singer as the audience will be able to identify with her. I will also make sure that the boy I use in the video is attractive so that I will entice the audience. I will keep the video upbeat and happy, and keep the theme as quite romantic. The two actors that I use will be wearing fashionable clothing, so the audience can identify and relate to the video.

From doing this piece of research, I have learnt the exact type of person I am aiming my music video at. I have learnt that the target audience are females that are quirky and fashionable. This will effect the text that I make as I will ensure that the video is suitable for this type of person. I will do this by having the artist wearing fashionable clothing and acting in a quirky and fun way. This will let the target audience relate to the artist, meaning they are more likely to want to watch the video and buy the artists music.

Heart Animation

At the beginning of our music video, we decided that it would be a good idea to create a small animation clip of multi-coloured hearts. The first 4 lines of the song go 'oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh' and we thought that if we had a new heart enter the animation on each 'oh' that this would look effective.

To make this animation we took a series of still photos on a digital camera of the hearts entering and leaving the page. We then uploaded the photos onto Coral (the editing software) and edited the photos turning it into an animation.

After creating this short animation, we were not happy with how it turned out. We thought that it looked unproffessional and tacky. We realised we needed to change and come up with a better idea to ensure our music video would be effective.

Research on Meaning of Lyrics

As I wasn't completely sure on the meaning ot these lyrics, I decided to research this. I posted the question on an online forum site called video maker, where people reguarly ask questions for an educational purpose. I asked for some advice on the meaning of the lyrics and I gained both some helpful and unhelpful responses. I found out that the song is basically down to how an individual interprets it, but I also was told how it was about an easy-going  and laid-back relationship.

Here is a link to the site that I postest my question on: http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/help-with-the-meaning-of-lyrics.



Diana Vickers, Jumping into Rivers Lyrics Analysis

ho oh oh oh oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh
ooh ooh ooh ooh


This is the first sang words of the song, which helps the audience to identify what type of song it is before listening to the actual story/lyrics. It creates the effect of a happy, positive and upbeat song through a light, cheery tone.

Back of the scooter
I cut your waist
We rode away into the night
Were reality breaks

These lyrics identify the initial story line of Diana (the singer) with a boyfriend or love interest. The last line says "were reality breaks", giving the idea that the couple are riding on the scooter, away from reality. This gives the sense of "riding off into the sunset" e.g. a happy ending.

I look at you
and take a picture with my hands
Not much to do oh oh oh
Sit and laugh away at things

The relationship that Diana is singing about is portrayed to be a happy and fun relationship. Its as if threre is no problems or worries when they are together, and they can just "sit and laugh away at things" without a care in the world.

We're on the run
We're still jumping in and
We're on the run
We're still jumping into rivers
Into rivers oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh
Into rivers oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh

This is the chorus, and this puts an emphasis on the upbeat and happy tone of the song. The idea of "jumping into rivers" normally makes the audience think of the summer, when its hot and everybody is having fun and messing around. It keeps the emphasis on the laid-back and happy tone of the song.

There's no fight,
and there's no challenges with you.
Just a night
The gray cent sunshine right on queue

This verse proves what the audience already thinks about the relationship. "There's no fight, and there's no challenges with you" shows how there are no troubles in the relationship; they are just having fun and are very easy going about their relationship.

Down inside,
Though we don't need anything, or need anyone or any place
Just the sun
Just the sun

This also suggests that the relationship is in the summer, giving the impression of a "summer romance". These lyrics are saying how nothing matters when the sun is there, emphasising the "summer romance" that won't necessarily last.

We're on the run
We're still jumping in and
We're on the run
We're still jumping into rivers
Into rivers oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh
Into rivers oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh

Everything's changing colour
So everything seems so perfect
We won't know each other tomorrow
Then every day's been worth it.. oh oh oh

I think this verse is vital in understanding and identifying what this song is about. Diana says how "everything seems so perfect" but "we won't know each other tomorrow". This leads the audience to believe and confirm that their first thoughts on the relationship being a summer romance. As she says "we won't know each other tomorrow then every day's been worth it", gives the impression that she know the romance will come to an end, but she doesnt need to be sad about it because the summer is over and she has the memories of having a good time and having a good summer.

We're on the run
We're still jumping in and
We're on the run
We're still jumping into rivers
Into rivers oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh
Into rivers oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh
ho oh oh oh oh oh oh
ooh ooh ooh ooh

Overall, I believe that this song is about a summer romance that Diana had. She understands that she will not see this boy again, but can be happy about the situation because of the memories she has with him. The song is upbeat all the way through, confirming Diana's view and opinion on the situtation, she is not upset, but happy and pleased with the memories she has of him and the relationship.

By analysing and understanding the lyrics of this song, it has allowed me to start to develop and storyboard some ideas for my music video. After doing some audience research I have realised it is important to have a link between the video and the lyrics and therefore I think it is important for me to create a music video based on a light-hearted relationship between a boy and a girl.

Audience Research - Online Survey Results

Here are some of the results from the online survey that I posted.

As you can see from the chart, 6 people out of 7 think it is important for a music video to have a story linking to the lyrics. I have decided from this research that my music video must relate to the lyrics and tell some sort of story.

A: Yes             B: No              C: I don’t think it matters

On question 7, the results were split. People did not necessarily think it was vital for a music video to feature the artist/band singing the lyrics of the song. In my music video I think I will feature the artist singing as this will keep to the typical conventions of a pop music video.

I have taken into account all the results from the online survey, and in my music video I will ensure that I use bright colours in the costume/mise-en-scene/props because it is important to listen to the audience research I have received. I think that by using bright colours will confirm to the audience that the video is for a pop song rather than an indie or R&B song.

Audience Research - Online Survey

For my second piece of audience research I decided to created an online survey. I made sure that I kept the questions simple and tried to keep the survey as short as possible. I decided to do the survey online as it was an easier way of getting more of a response. I emailed the link of the survey to many people I knew within the target audience, and I uploaded it onto a social network site so that people I did not know could also have their input.

Audience Research

Here is my first piece of audience research. I wrote on a forum asking what would be expected to see in a pop music video and what people liked/disliked in pop music videos.

I found the replies that I got very helpful, and that most people prefer to watch a “story based” video than watch a video of just the band/artist performing without any narrative or story line.

I will apply what I have learnt from this piece of research by making sure that my music video consists of both the artist performing and a narrative. This should create a happy medium so that the target audience is happy with the mixture of the two.

Textual Analysis - Lenka Webpage

This is the homepage to Lenka’s official website. I have chosen to analyse this website as Lenka creates similar music to Diana Vickers. The site has a girly and upbeat feel. The background is a deep pink, with slight twangs of red. Lenka’s name is written out in a modern/futuristic font in different colours. There is a slight “electrified” feel to the homepage with the white spikes which create the feel of electricity. Underneath the title, are 6 different links to different pages on the site: “Latest”, “Media”, “Shows”, “Forum”, “Shop”, “Info”. These links are in the same 4 different colours that are used in the title which show continuity. The image of Lenka on the homepage is a simple, close up picture which helps the audience to immediately identify with the artist. Featured on the rest of the homepage is: a direct link to Lenka’s daily blog where the audience can see the latest three posts/updates about the artist, a music video of Lenka’s latest released song, a link to more photographs of Lenka, and links to her Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube page where the audience can “like” or “follow” her.

This is Lenka’s “Photo’s” page, where as you can see, the main image has changed. This helps to keep the audience interested and helps them to identify which page they are viewing.

Lenka’s photo page has two different sections: “Official Photos” and “Fan Photos”. The fan photo’s option allows members that have signed up to the website to upload their own pictures of Lenka from recent concerts/tours. I think that this is a very clever idea as it allows the audience/members to feel involved in the website and within Lenka’s fan base.

This is the “Latest” Page, where, as you can see is similar to a personal diary. Lenka personally writes entries to notify her fans on what she is up too. This allows her to upload her own personal photos that she wishes to share with her fans when telling them about something she has done that day. This helps to keep a close relationship between Lenka and her fans.

When I create my website homepage, I will try to encourage the audience to feel as if they have a close relationship with the artist. I will do this in a similar way to Lenka, through keeping an ‘online diary’ where the artist can regularly update the audience on what they are doing. I also like how Lenka has allowed fan’s to upload their own pictures onto the site, also allowing them to feel close to the artist which I believe is very important in creating a successful artist. I will also do some things slightly differently to Lenka’s website. I think I will use brighter and more vibrant colours as to get the attention of the audience straight away. Although the colours used on Lenka’s site are bright, I would use more of the “rainbow” colours to create a slightly happier and fast paced mood to the site.

Textual Analysis - Album Covers

Eliza Doolittle is an artist that creates similar music to Diana Vickers (the artists who song I want to use in the music video). Her album cover is very brightly coloured with famous landmarks being taken over by “her world”. Eliza is seen holding on to a large tower that looks as if she is pulling it to an angle. Her leg is around the famous London gherkin building and the floor she is stood on has stone henge and other landmarks surrounding it. This is to imply her takeover of the world. Other parts of “her world” are surrounding the landmarks, including and ice-cream that has been splattered across the London gherkin. I have also noticed that the all the landmarks and part of the normal world are in black and white and Eliza’s entire world that seems to be taking over the normal world are in bright random colours.

This is the back cover to Eliza Doolittle’s album. This isn’t a conventional back cover as the track titles are all in different fonts. The style of the different fonts continues from the front cover keeping continuity between the two covers. An image of Eliza in the middle, with the titles surrounding her goes against the normal conventions. This represents Eliza as unique and different. The usual conventions of a pop artists back cover, has a close up of the artists and the track list is written down either the left or right hand side.

Olly Murs - Conventional     Leona Lewis - Conventional

Marina and the Diamonds – Unconventional



The photo that is used on Eliza’s back cover is a long shot, showing Eliza’s individual fashion sense. The photo can also be argued to fit into Laura Mulvey’s male gaze theory. Eliza is wearing shorts exposing her long legs; this could be argued to be a sexualisation of Eliza through the ‘male gaze’.

Through the front and back cover of this album, Eliza has been represented in many different ways. The front cover shows her as being dominant as her world is taking over our world. The audience also see her child like attitude through the different parts of her world that our shown e.g. ice cream, toy aeroplane. The back cover then goes on to represent her slightly differently. Eliza is shown as a sex symbol through the positioning and dominance of her image and her costume. The way Eliza is posed in the image helps to show her flirtatious side and helps to give Eliza a unique identity.

On the album cover that I create, I will use Laura Mulvey’s male gaze theory, and use an image similar to Eliza Doolittle’s, with a girl with a short dress on. I think I should stick to this theory as it will help me to create a conventional looking image. I also like the unconventional track list covers like Eliza Doolittle’s and Marina and the Diamonds. In my album cover’s track list I will try to be less conventional helping to emphasise the artist I am using as modern and cutting edge.

From doing this piece of research I now have many ideas of what I want on my album cover. I think it is important for the type of artist I am making the album digipak for that some of what I do is very conventional. This is important as although challenging the conventions is a good thing, I do not want to confuse the target audience into thinking that the artist is something she is not. I think I will do a conventional front cover, using a close up image of the artist, but may create a slightly less conventional back cover.