Lip-Sync Exercise

What did you do to prepare?

To prepare towards this lip sync we printed out the lyrics three nights before the shoot. Therefore our group members knew the lyrics during the day of the shoot making it easier for people to lip sync towards the song. Our group was also told to bring some costumes into the set therefore we all decided to go for the casual and original style look (despite me bringing in a morph suit). Despite our costumes being plane we attempted to attract the audience through our excitement and dance move.

What did you do in the studio?

As we entered the set we were impressed with the set given to us. There was  main locations that were used one of which was a rock wall that had a track for the camera to do dolly's. The second location The last location was a plane green screen that allowed us to place images behind however due to time constrains we were unable to.
was a couch with funky light ceilings behind while we were using a tripod with a Canon 5D mark III with a Carl Zeiss 16-35mm to illustrate a clear mid shot.

What did you learn?

We learn t some of the roles available within the shoot. One was a Floor Manager whom was seen to be talking care of everyone on the set, making sure everyone is ready to film at the same time and more (basically taking care of everything on the floor). The other two was a Director and a camera man whom basically directs the shot for the actors while illustrating the directors idea towards the cameraman to see if its doable. There is also someone whom takes charge of playing the Music when everyone is ready and last but not least the actors whom act.

What did you do in suite, what steps did you take to cut the video?

One of the methods I learn t to edit a music video is through placing all the video content halfway through the song (after we placed the music to match the lip sync) then we just dragged the clip onto the part of the song and cut the bits that aren't necessary. We also learnt to end the cut the scene towards the beat to making it more visually impressive.

What did you learn about editing a music video?

That editing plays a huge role within music videos genre match the genre i.e pop has very quick cuts jumping into random scenes. When editing the music video you have to sync the video clip with the play back that has a time code. You do this in order to sync the Song with the actors lips making it easier to edit further on. 

Did you make any mistakes on the day? How could you shoot or cut the video more effectively next time?

One of the things I should have done when I was directing the scene on the sofa was that I should make the actors do a different emotion or movement for every shot. As for music videos of the Genre Pop it should be different and random. In terms of acting I should have made my lip movements bigger to make it more clear (especially for a music video).

Wix vs Wordpress

Set Up

 When creating a site for WordPress you must go through a simple yet long process (1 to 5 step progress). This involves writing down the site address and your email/password. It only enables you account if activate your account, which may be seen as a waste of time (however necessary).

Wix

However for Wix they are seen to be very simple and straight forward. As they give a lot of options to create an account i.e through facebook, google or with you email.

In conclusion I personally don't find this a problem as everyone that uses a computer knows how to set up an account. However Wix is seen to have a simpler system.

Themes

The layout of the theme available for WordPress is very nice and simple however there are a lot of paid themes available to help make some themes more exclusive and original (in a way). From what I have seen the themes are all very different however it is very limited to personalized themes compared to Wix. As the only option available to customize a themes are titles and some pictures making it seem very limited.

In the other hand Wix has a lot of many free and available theme's used for different purposes. For example there are websites for business, music and more. This layout in itself helps make it more seem more organized an specific towards the idea for the website.

In conclusion due towards layout it makes it easier to find specific themes compared to WordPress. However from my research WordPress has 1,700 free available themes while Wix has hundreds.

Software

 The layout of the software is seen to be very simple and doesn't require a lot of thought making it seem more user friendly. Thus making it seem more easy to learn and get use to using the software. As I feel Wix target audience is towards inexperienced website designers due towards their simplicity. This however can be seen quite negative as it can be seen as slightly unprofessional. 

As for WordPress it has very impressive and professional layout towards their program. However I feel in order to execute a brilliant website it may require some IT skills set to program the website around (making it seem more professional).

Overall I prefer the use of WordPress as it seems more professional especially as professionals prefer the use of WordPress over other software

	Pro’s	Con’s
WordPress	·         There is a huge community compared towards all the blogging/content management systems WordPress has the biggest community. Having over 1,700 free available  themes on WordPress and over 24,000 plugin. Plus if there is any problems there are a lot answers solved (30,000 questions and 43,000 answers). ·         There are no set up or design fees making it very easy and simple for everyone to learn how to using WordPress ·         Simple and easy to use (similar towards blogger)	·         It’s hard to customize themes (visual design) . Meaning it won’t be original as it’s hard to customize themes in WordPress. ·         There are only limited amount of plugins/widgets available within WordPress making it less customizable when in use
Wix	·         It’s super customisable allowing your themes chosen to seem unique and original ·         It has a very simple layout allowing people without prior knowledge to simply build a website	·         Wix has a longer load times for both editors and people previewing it, therefore cause the editor and visitor to be more patient ·         There are some themes which seem to have glitches causing them to be inefficient i.e. my frined try loading between pages however the pictures didn’t change to he ended up changing the theme.

My Website using Wix

http://alexandergoh3.wix.com/pharrellwilliams

Album Artwork Analysis

My Website Analysis

How I have applied Richard Dyer star theory into this Website

Richard Dyer stated 'A start is a image not a real person that is constructed (as any other aspect of fiction is) out of a range of materials (eg advertising, magazine etc as well as films(music'.

One of Dy first theories are that starts are a construction for example Miley Cyrus first started out as Hannah Montana but then as the target audience started to age she started changing her personality suiting the older target audience. Therefore for Kygo I'm illustrating him as a start whom is still overwhelmed by the fact he is famous. This will appeal toward the majority of his target audience. Thus making him constructed by the media (fans, pictures).

From Richard Dyers start theory I have constructed Kygo's website into a youthful, fun and inspiriting towards the audience. Therefore I have linked his website with Facebook,Twitter, Sound cloud and Instagram, which is seen to be popular within the current youth system as they are all using social media.This helps Kygo fans keep up with all the latest trends, news, styles and gossip helping Kygo gain higher publicity as the it makes Kygo seem as if he is simultaneously present and absent at the same time.Thus making Kygo seem more or an icon figure as his philosophy revolves around his fans, therefore within the sites opening picture it illustrates Kygo standing above all of the audience however instead of him looking at this camera he is looking at the fans thus conveying he cares more about the music and fans rather than his publicity/fame.

My Website using WORDPRESS

www.kygohouse.wordpress.com

I have made this website through the use of word press

Website for Bands

 What is the point of a website and homepage?

The use of a website allows the audience to become updated with all the latest content linking their online store and upcoming concerts. Also due to the advances in the internet (technical convergence) it allows people to get updated for free without having them to go out and buy a magazine allowing them to stay current and constantly reach their audience all the time. The use of a homepage allows the audience to straight away understand the first glimpse of the band, illustrating their personality of the band i.e if band taking a selfie conveys how fun and lively they are as people. Normally the only people that are going to visit the bands homepage it will make it seem as if they are talking directly towards you(the fans)

What does a band/artists home page need to have?

A Bands homepage need to replicate the target audience likes using typical conventions to portray this. For Example if a pop band has a website they should use typical conventions of a pop band i.e having a colourful background in order to attract a younger demographic (their target audience). The use of this could be to illustrate how the band is similar with the fans liking similar things.

The website includes forums to allow the fans to interact with each other. There is also dates given towards fans when the concerts are occurring and a store for the souvenirs and merchandise for the band.

1.Who would visit the these websites?  Try to think of the audience’s age gender and interests. 

The contrast between both these bands is that they are both reaching towards two different target audiences.

Alt – J website lay out is seen to be very basic with artistic splats of paint either side of the screen. The use of simple layout allows the audience to focus more towards the centre of the screen of the title plus this follows the ethos of the band being simple and creative. The use of links underneath the title allows the fans to find them on other platforms such as Spotify and twitter. The link help to promote their live events or to gain publicity as they are trying to reach a larger target audience.

ACDC website is seen to be more complicated with more funky art design’s. The use of impressive art works helps to impress the target audience. The website links the fans with any relevant information as it uses Richard Dyer ‘Start theory’ where you have to know everything but nothing of the band making them more of a star. However AC/DC don’t use new media technology to promote the band as they represent the classic.

2.What conventions have they used? Both technical and symbolic?

The website itself can be can be seen as artistic  giving very simplistic options such as buying tickets or releasing dates for their new  tours.

Their album ‘this is all yours’ helps to convey specific ideologies of their band as the album is only visible if you scroll all the way down the screen thus representing Alt J as someone whom is happy with the amount of fans and followers he has. The use of symbolic theme helps to promote the band album cover, which may have a deeper meaning. As their previous album follows a simple yet beautiful colour scheme therefore Alt J uses the same colour scheme, as he knows the target audience would enjoy them.  The use of a light colour scheme helps help’s to convey a simplistic and relaxing type of genre of towards the fans.

The website for AC/DC can be seen as a typical classic rock band website. Illustrating the bands past tours showing the number of attendances they had.

The use of a dark colour scheme helps to convey the bands ethos, being a real rock and roll band. The fact that there isn’t any advertisement of their band album helps to convey that they are so huge and popular that they don’t even need to promote their album.

3.What is the overall message/ideology the site is trying to express?

Alt J is attempting to express that he just enjoys the art of music. That he doesn’t want to be fazed by stardom however he may be construction by the institution in order to target a niche audience. As Alt – J fans enjoy the simplistic yet artistic appeal towards the band album. Asfor AC/DC just have very dark and historic conventions to convey the success of the band.

Goodwin Theory - Amplification

When the images amplify the lyrics as a narrative may be used to convey a deeper meaning that could be picked up from he lyrics alone. I.e The artist may become different characters (fictional)



When I was researching what is the hidden message behind the music video was:

'The theme of the video is a portrayal of modern-day Jerusalem. Lady Gaga plays Mary Magdalene, leading into the town where Jesus is. Beginning with the motorcycle scene, she is happy riding with the Jesus- the man with the crucifix crown (representing good/heaven.)Then Judas( the man with black sunglasses) comes along and seduces her into the dark/satanic side.

As the dancing scene begins, she at first pushes Judas down but he keeps coming towards her. Jesus saves her (the crowd scene) and she follows him. Though from here, she tries to fight temptation and begins sinning by falling for Judas. As she points the lipstick gun towards him ( the irony being that guns are usually dangerous weapons & meant to destroy, but instead only portudes an harmless lipstick), she cannot bring herself to harm him/destroy her love for Judas. As a result, she sinks down in agony from distraught after smearing lipstick on his face.
The scenes then switch between her standing by the ocean waves & sitting in the tub middle of Jesus [good] & Judas[evil]. She is choosing which side she will serve. Her decision is made as she choose to cling to the leg of Jesus later on-Jesus is my virtue, but Judas is the demon I cling to. She gives herself to the good, and Jesus forgives her. But because she had sinned by giving in to Judas earlier on, she is punished as she stands in her white dress and falls to the ground being stoned to death. This suggests that just because one shows repent or remorse, doesn't mean their wrong actions won't result in consequences.'

Here we see Lady Gaga wearing bright color to portray her as being the an icon using Richard Dyer Star theory to make her stand out form the rest. This is exemplified through the use of black and white coloring in the music video. The Music video helps to explain that the bikers are Lady Gaga's disciples.

Here again Lady Gaga brings religious connotations within the music video through the use of Lady Gaga costume of her wearing a christian cross on her bra. Linking towards the title of the music video 'Judas'.

Here the lyrics conveys how she is in love with Judas and the music video helps to convey how they are conflicting with each other meaning what Lady Gaga is doing is wrong but yet it feeling good.

Goodwin Theory - Illustration

 This is when video tells the story of the lyrics. Dance is often used to express the feeling/mood in the song



I had researched to what is a thrift shop and it's a shop that sells second hand clothing. In the Music video Macklemore isn't buying regular outfits for life/the norm, he buys costumes as people in the thrift shop can only afford to buy the ridiculous costumes that no one wants.

Click here for more info about the song

Even the opening sequence illustrates the title of the song as you see everyone wearing the ridiculous costumes that you can buy within a thrift shop. There Macklemore illustrates the jist of the song in the opening


 The first part of the lyrics macklemore says 'walk up in the club' and it is literally macklemore walking into a club. Therefore this follows Goodwin theory as the music video uses the singer both as a narrator and as a character.


This again in the lyrics it says that 'R Kelly's sheets smell like piss but it was 99 cent' and it again illustrates R Kelly with a sheet around him smiling.

In the lyrics macklemore says 'imma take it grandpa style' meaning he gonna wear cloths that are fashionable in the past' then the music video clearly illustrating a granddad wearing old unfasionable clothing.

Goodwin Theory - Disjunction

- When there is little connection between the lyrics and music video or even contradicts with it

 

I have been researching to try and find what was the hidden message behind the song was and it fair to say there isn't one. The best response I found was:

'she clearly said the song's name is "yes". but it doesn't have a deep meaning, its just party rock, what u hear is what u get'

One example of this is that the song is called 'Yes' and non of the lyrics implies a deeper meaning or even mentions anything about a broom cup. The only link between the title and the song is that they have Yes saying on the costume.





When the team gets wins a point LMFAO just start to repeat Yes the party rocking.... Which has no real links towards the lyrics making it a completely random music video.

Andrew Goodwin - Narrative Theory

Andrew Goodwin feels that traditional narrative analyses (using such ideas as Todorov) don't apply towards pop music videos.
Some of the reasons why there is different narrative structures are : 

• pops music videos are inspired by the song
• Pop singers use singers both as a narrator and a character
• Singers often break the 4th wall while looking at the camera

Illustration - This is when video tells the story of the lyrics. Dance is often used to express the feeling/mood in the song


Amplication - When the images amplify the lyrics as a narrative may be used to convey a deeper meaning that could be picked up from he lyrics alone. I.e The artist may become different characters (fictional)


Disjunction - When there is little connection between the lyrics and music video or even contradicts with it.
 

Video Explains Goodwins theory

Textual Analysis of Madonna's 'Like a Prayer'

Music Campaigns

Different Genres of Music