CREATIVE AND MEDIA PRODUCTION
LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMA
Research Techniques and Music Video Production
Unit 3 LO1; LO2; LO3
Unit 29 LO1; LO2; LO3; LO4
Sarah Wilson & Adam Jones
Date Issued: 25th January 2016
Final Deadline: 25th March 2016
Aim and purpose In this unit you will research the purpose, styles and conventions of music video using multiple research methods. You will then develop, plan and produce a music video.
Unit introduction There are many opportunities for the application of music video production techniques in the media industries. Besides the established outlets of TV music channels, marketing and promotion within the popular music industry and direct DVD sales, there are also websites of new and emerging artists, Myspace and YouTube, phone downloads, and VJing in music venues, at concerts and at festivals. Music videos provide the ideal opportunity for experimenting with visual moving imagery allowing learners to use their creative imagination to the maximum and to apply technical skills, which have been developed in other units. The study of established styles and conventions of the music video is a starting point, as learners need to understand what has already been done in order to develop their own ideas. They can then experiment with techniques to create music videos, which might reflect their own musical interests or they might work for a band or artist to create a music video for a ‘live’ brief. They will also be able to enhance and further develop the transferable skills of video production, in particular the post-production techniques of editing and effects application, with the potential for advanced techniques such as mixing digital or stop-frame animation with live footage, chroma key and matte effects. Learners will develop the creative knowledge needed to entertain and engage the target audience, to potentially consider the requirements of a client and fulfil the promotional purpose of the product. The development of creative concepts and the skills needed to apply them are readily transferable to many other genres including advertising, drama and computer game design.
Guidance: Create Tabs on website Unit 3 and unit 29 Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Referencing: Please make sure all research is referenced – any work being plagiarised will fail http://www.wikihow.com/Cite-a-Website - Guidance can be found here
U3 LO1: Understand the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries
Deadline: 25th March 2016
LO Aim: Comprehensively explain the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly
Task Description
Being able to research effectively is a key skill that will stay with you for life. In this unit you will learn why research is important and how to complete it in-depth and thoroughly.
You will look at variety of research methods and how each one can be used to find out different information. Primary and secondary methods will form the basis of your research and you will look at what techniques fall under each category.
This task will be set as an independent project to do away from class
Task 1
As The Princes Trust is backing this project they would like you to demonstrate your ability to not only apply research methods but know why it is important in such a competitive market. During the week of the presentations you will be asked to complete independent study (after an initial lecture) either in the library, SLC or workshop room. You will need to produce a handbook for the Princes Trust website on the purpose of research& in the creative media industry (The music video industry in particular)
During the week of the presentations you will be expected to carry out independent research on 'The importance of Research'. Work your way through the checklist provided to ensure you meet all necessary requirements.
U3 LO2 & LO3: Be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques & be able to present results of research
U29 LO1& LO2: Understand the purpose of music videos & understand the styles, conventions, and techniques of music videos
Deadline: 12th February 2016
U3 LO Aim: Comprehensively explain the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly.
U29 LO Aim: Comprehensively explain the purpose, styles, conventions and techniques of music videos with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly
Task Description
For you to make a music video to a professional standard, first you must understand the many different styles they come in and how they work!
Music videos are an excellent form of promotion for artists and with the ability to now watch them ‘on-demand’ with websites such as YouTube and Vevo, having a good video has become even more important.
You will look at the development of music videos and how their importance has changed. How they are made and consumed has changed enormously in a short space of time. A saturated market makes having a memorable music video essential to achieving success in the charts and can often be the sole reason people purchase a song.
Through extensive primary and secondary research, you will detail a history of music videos and the techniques that are used within them.
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Task 1:
Purpose of the Music Video’ and ‘Conventions and styles of the Music video’ will be presented to the panel in the form of a written report or presentation. In order to pass this round you are required to use a variety of RESEARCH METHODS to show your understanding of the purpose of Music
Video and their conventions. You will attend a number of workshops in order to gain a basic understanding of the
Music Video industry and then you will be asked to present a detailed and professional report or presentation to the panel. The presentation / report MUST cover everything from the checklist below and you should ensure your work contains images and / or videos that reflect your research. In order to produce this work you must also demonstrate your research by
carrying out the following:
Secondary Research
In the form of quantitative research (CD sales / YouTube hits); qualitative research (responses to news coverage, attitudes to video via internet searches)
Primary Research
Quantitative (questionnaires) Qualitative Research (Focus Group on people opinions) and using your own observation through research
Ensure EVERYTHING from the 2 checklists on Weebly are covered within your report and support with as many examples as possible.
U29 LO3: Be able to originate and plan a music video production for a specific music track
Deadline: 4th March 2016
LO Aim: Originate and plan a music video production for a specific music track to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations
Task Description
For this learning objective, you are required to fully plan your music video. The usual planning and preparation is needed including storyboards, location recces and props lists – however in this unit, you have a greater scope to be creative!
Why not consider using the green screen for some graphics behind your ‘artist’ or even placing them in a far away city! You have a world of possibilities in this unit and you can really push your creativity to the max.
Are you going to lip-sync? A choreographed dance routine? Make your music video look as professional as possible – remember that it needs to be authentic.
All of your decisions should be supported through your research. This will help to ensure you are always addressing the correct target audience, potentially making your music video as successful as possible.
Task 1
Audience Research
Create a survey using www.surveymonkey.com – this survey should research the target audience of the original video. Email your survey to the students in the class and upload your results to Weebly.
If you are changing the video to suit a new target audience then you must show research on your new audience.
- Audience classification - Buying patterns - Product / media preferences -
Task 2
Market Research
Using secondary research and your own self-generated opinion upload and discuss the following
- What / who is your closest competition? - Where can this video be placed in the market?
(Pop / R & B/ Metal etc.) - Compare to others of the same style in the market.
Task 3
Production Research
Using primary research (going to locations / having auditions) and secondary research upload and
discuss the following
- Talent (proof of auditions to play the role in the video)
- Location recces - Content – Why will the content work/be
successful? - Placement – YouTube / CD’s and why –
compare to others - Equipment and facilities you will need
Task 4
Treatment
Collate all of the above information into a treatment detailing why you have chosen to make your video in this way. Use your research to support your decisions and refer to as many examples of successes AND failures.
Task 5
Pre-Production
You should now be in a position to plan your music video to a professional standard. Your pre-production should include the following
- Your performers style - Your performers image
- Video Style - Storyboard
- Props List - Production Schedule
- Script – lyrics written out, camera movements, angles and continuity notes attached
- Your interpretation of the lyrics - Clearances – you should email the
record company of your chosen artist to ask permission to use the song. (you do not
require a response) - Risk Assessment
- Call Sheet - Found footage
U29 LO4: Be able to work to complete production of a music video.
Deadline: 25th March 2016
LO Aim: Work to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards to complete production of a music video, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Task Description
Finally! It’s time to film and edit your music video.
The extensive planning you have completed prior to this should make this the easy part. Try to stick to your schedule, as closely as possible organisation is a key skill!
You have plenty of time to film and edit your work, but remember it is better to have too much footage rather than too little.
The best music videos tend to have more than 50 shots per minute so it cuts to the beat of the song. Can you replicate this technique?
Experiment further in the editing stage – are there any effects that could improve your video and make it seem more professional?
But above all…have fun with it!
Task 1
Music Video
You have 2 weeks to film and edit your music video to a professional standard. BE CREATIVE!! Your video will be judged on the following
- Camera angles / movement - Cutting to the beat - Narrative and visual style - Lighting - SFX - Use of studio green screen - Use of location - Sound - Lip syncing / miming (if used) - Mise-en-scene
Resources
Textbooks
Baylis P, Freedman A, Procter N et al – BTEC Level 3 National Creative Media Production, Student Book
Austerlitz S – Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video from the ‘Beatles’ to the ‘White Stripes’
Ayeroff J, Reiss S, Feineman N, Stipe M – Thirty Frames Per Second: The Visionary Art of the Music Video
Chater K – Research for Media Production, 2nd Edition
Cleve B – Film Production Management
Evans R – Practical DV Film Making
Flint M – A User’s Guide to Copyright
Forests G – Produce and Promote Your Music Video
Hanson M – Reinventing Music Video: Next-generation Directors, their Inspiration and Work
Kindem G and Musberger G – Introduction to Media Production: From Analog to Digital, 2nd Edition
Laybourne K – The Animation Book: A Complete Guide to Animated Filmmaking
Lord P, Park N and Sibley B – Creating 3-D Animation: The Aardman Book of Filmmaking
Millerson G and Owens J – Video Production Handbook
Roberts-Breslin J – Making Media: Foundations of Sound and Image Production
Schwartz L – Making Music Videos: Everything You Need to Know from the Best in the Business
Small R – Production Safety for Film, Television and Video
Thompson R – Grammar of the Edit
Vineyard J – Setting up Your Shots