Storyboard

Below is the storyboard for my film opening broken up into scenes 1-6. Scene 6 does not have an example shot as the scene only contains on screen titles. The example shots are either hand drawn or sourced images that should only be seen as approximate images but are a good representation of the planned shot.

Planning the narrative

In my music video, my narrative will follow a man who will be present alone in a  room and will be singing towards the camera. The man will be dressed in a hospital gown and be bald (inferring cancer or some illness). There will be inference to him being ex-military, having suffered wounds from that career (hence the clothing). The female lyrics will be matched with positive imagery whereas negative imagery will be present when the male sings. This will represent the man as potentially dangerous and even potentially with evil intention whereas the female voice represents innocence and the beauty of life.

The video will begin with the man singing towards the camera and to the environment around him. The video will then change to exterior locations when the female sings and then back to darker imagery of cars when the male sings again. After that when the female sings, the imagery will show positive imagery again showing how the male has changed.

Carrying generally negative tones, the narrative also follows quite a dark narrative but with a somewhat positive ending of the change in the man.

Planning timetable

After having completed my research into music videos as a whole and then looked specifically at Synthpop, I now feel that I understand how to create a music video that is both unique but also keeps to the characteristics and features of Synthpop music videos. I will now begin planning my music video and will begin to timetable my deadlines.

Proposed by my teacher are the following deadlines:
October 3 2016- Media Research Deadline (General and Synthpop music videos)
November 7 2016- Media Planning Deadline (Storyboard and all pre-production)
November 9-10 2016- Media Main Task (Principal photography and then editing)
November 11 2016- Main task (draft) finished
November 14 2016- Start ancillaries
November 18 2016- Ancillaries and main task finished
November 21 2016- Media Finished Task Submitted

At my current point of finishing my research by September 14 2016, I am ahead of schedule by 2/3 of a month which will allow me longer to work on and finish my project.

What have I done to improve my blog?

In my last post, I identified that I needed to make some improvements to my blog.
Firstly, I needed to increase the use of IT in my blog. Below are some examples of when I have done this and which blog this was done on:

• Addition of an mp4. example to increase ICT use and break up the post "Communication Through Eyes".
• Prezi added to "Nightcall-lyrics" to show which lyrics are placed into each scene.
• Inclusion of a Youtube video to my music video analysis of Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble".
• Bubbl.us added to my blog "choosing a project" to show the different options of projects
• Slideshare on my blog FOSMV: Mise en Scene/costume/hair/make-up
• Youtube video example on my post about editing in Snythpop music videos.

I have also added more example and images to blogs to better analyze different Synthpop music videos. Additionally, I have clarified my blog about the tone of Synthpop music videos with more descriptive adjectives than just "dark" to describe the tone. I have also added more information (such as the post on audience and editing techniques) and examples to some posts about the features of Synthpop music videos as well as other details (on posts about performance space).

What is lacking from my blog?

After completing my research, I have peer and self evaluating and reviewed my blog. Some improvements were noticed that can be made to improve my blog. I received 14/20 marks with me being held back on receiving more marks based on the reasons below:

• A need to include more images/examples with attached analysis in my research of Synthpop music videos. 
• A need to include a wider range of media and IT devices in my project to break up more lengthy posts.   
• A clarified sense of the tone of Synthpop music videos.
• A clarification of why I am using long takes in my music video and examples of this in Synthpop music videos.

Follow up: Audience research for Synthpop music videos

Previous research

After reviewing my last questionnaire that I completed for my research into audiences opinions regarding Synthpop music videos, I found some issues that I needed to resolve before beginning planning of my project. These issues were;

• A small sample size
• A lack of specificity in some questions
• A lack of examples of Synthpop music videos given to allow audiences to answer
• Closed questions forcing participants to answer questions even if they have no opinion on the matter
• A level of confusion experienced by the participants in general when answering the questionnaire

I believe the main cause of these issues are that the genre of Synthpop is quite a niche music genre that tests individuals limited knowledge when questioned about it. I feel that I can use the previous results as a good indication of the answers but need to do some more extensive research to have more conclusive results.

Follow up research

For my next piece of research, I have decided to do a more interactive style research to identify the conventions of Synthpop music videos. I have shown 3 individuals who are all present in the room at the time) Synthpop music videos (below). I have asked each individual to take notes on each music video and generally what they notice/features of the video. I gave them some prompts to consider such as props, narratives, characters and music. My intention is to see a correlation between the music videos to see if any similar characteristics came up that allow me to identify conventions of the genre.


Each individual noted down the features that they noticed and I have collated together the three notes from each person per video to make up my final results. Each participant was given instructions to allow the other speakers an opportunity to freely share their interpretation without being discouraged or interrupted at all.


To prevent a misrepresentation of results, I have not told them specifically what I am looking for and have only prompted them to point out features in each music video and then I will draw the similarities between the videos from the responses.
I have addressed the issues of the last piece of research by allowing more freedom with the participants to openly speak and discuss about the music videos where they spoke about the features of each one (allowing me to draw conclusions and subsequent conventions between music videos in the genre).
I was unable to sort the issue of the small sample size but I feel that this new mean of questioning works in favor of the results but not having an overwhelming number of people.
.

80s Style

 Odd Look by Kavinsky

Protovision by Kavinsky

Lone Digger by Caravan Palace

Harder Better Faster by Daft Punk

Modern

 Habits (Stay High) by Tove Lo

Royals by Lorde

Below is a transcribed questioning of one of the showing of the music video 'Odd Look' with the 3 individual's responses.


Key
S= Samuel: Leading discussion
H= Harry: (Male, student, older teenager)- participant
ST= Samantha: (Female, young adult)- participant
J= Jacob: (Male, young teenager)- participant
. 

S: So I'd like you to have a look at the following music video called Odd Look. This is made by an artist called Kavinsky 

H: Mmmmm

S: Heard of him?

H: I think so...yeah

S: Ok...great...so we'll have a look at this music video...It's the genre of Synthpop...Does anyone...sort of know what that is?

ST: The one from.. from the questionnaire?

S: Yeah... from the questionnaire

ST: Oh...Ok
S: Jacob...do you know?
J: Yeah

S: Great...So we'll have a look at this music video first and then have a look at some other Synthpop music videos...I want you to tell me what you notice about the video....you can take notes and I'll pause it if you want me to...just any details about the video that you notice at all
All: Ok

S: So just watch the video and take notes...make sure to put the title at the top so you know which vid-

H:What's the name again?

S: Odd Look

ST: Who's that by?

S: Kavisnky... Jacob it's K-A-V-I-N-S-K-Y...got it?
J: Yeah I have it

S: Ok...I'm going to start now

(Shows video)

S: Ok so take as long as you need to make notes and just let me know when you are done...no rush

H: Ok, I'm done

S: Great...fantastic...how's everyone else doing?
J: I'm done
ST: Just a mom...ent...ok done
S: Great...so could you just tell me what you saw...noticed in the video...

H: Well, it's kinda dark story...the main guy I think is kind of like God or something...um...it feels very like it has an old style
S: 80s sorta?
H: YES! 80s...sorry...I couldn't remember what it was
(More responses given and next video shown)
S: So what I think we'll do is take in all your notes for this video and I'll give out some more for the next one...just say if anyone needs a break at all

Results

Overall, I saw variances in terms of responses. There were however, some correlation between the conventions identified in 80s style music videos and modern music videos as well as similar conventions in both. Here are the conventions that I concluded for the Synthpop music videos taken from these responses.

• 80s style generally had darker tone, narratives and lyrics that dealt with death and similarily negative topics whereas modern was the same but dealt with more social issues.
• Felt that the characters in the videos were generally split by gender (men= mysterious/odd character/god like) (female= damsel in distress, innocent and vulnerable)
• Felt that the sexualization of women was limited and not overly explicit but occasionally present.
• Participants mentioned the male lead more often in these but made reference to the female character (felt that the videos did have the male lead the video but that he did not always completely dominate it).
• Participants were generally able to understand and keep up with what was happening as the videos were not overly fast paced but neither too slow or 'boring'.
• Participants noticed a level of violence in the music videos that they felt was quite unique for these videos.
• They felt that they were like 'mini-stories' that were quite character focused/based.
• There was effects present in them that were either animation or effects added in post on live action.

Audience research for Synthpop music videos

As well as my other research into general and Synthpop music videos, I will also complete some audience research in the form of a questionnaire. I have specifically set out to questions those who are aware,watch/listen to and/or are fans the genre of Synthpop and its related music videos. These people need to be able to answer questions about Synthpop and give their honest opinions.

To find these individuals, I sent out a control question. The applicants who answered yes (As opposed to the answer 'No' or 'Don't Know') and deemed to be aware of Synthpop by myself were then questioned fully. The control question is:

Then I asked each individual (8 people in total) 10 related questions about Sythpop. I have placed the question, results and my response to each question below.

1. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should include dark lyrics?

From this I can see that most people believe that Synthpop music videos should include dark lyrics (as many do). For the song "Nightcall" that I am using for my project, the lyrics are not overly dark but do include a level of psychoanalysis in the line "There's something inside you. It's hard to explain" as the female character studies the male character. This could be inferred as potentially a dark lyric.


2. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should include a dark tone or 'feel' to them?
From this I can see that most people believe that Synthpop music videos should include a dark tone (as many do). For the song "Nightcall", the tone is quite dark and serious with its 'punchy' electronic backing and low auto tuned male voice.

3. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should be quite short in length (3-4 minutes) or longer (5-6 minutes and over)?

From this I can see that most people believe that Synthpop music videos should be quite short in length that is between 3-4 minutes. The original length of "Nightcall" is 4 minutes 15 seconds. Without the long outro, the song is about 3 minutes 40 seconds. I could also instead of cutting the outro off, cut out some of the lyrics but this will be decided at a later date. I feel that this also keeps in with the length of other Synthpop music videos such as "Protovision" (3 minutes 8 seconds) and "Harder Better Stronger Faster" (3 minutes 42 seconds).

4. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should include a male lead/female lead or a split between the two?

From this I can see that most people  are split between whether Synthpop music videos should have mostly male or female leads. Primarily, Synthpop music videos have male leads except there are exceptions such as in Daft Punk's "Harder Better Faster Stronger" where there are both female and male leads. In Kavinsky's "Odd Look", there is a female character who stars quite prominently in the video. For Nightcall and my project, there are both a female and a male singer that share the song and (in terms of my music video) will both lead my project.

5. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should include strong or minimal sexualization of women?

From this I can see that most people believe that Synthpop music videos should have small amounts of sexualization of women in them. This happens in Kavinsky's "Odd Look" with a sexually suggestive shot of the waitress but this is subtle and not overtly sexual. In my project, I will also have very minor amounts of sexualization of women yet nothing extreme.




6. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should include mysterious characters?

From this I can see that most people believe that Synthpop music videos should include mysterious characters. In Kavinsky's videos, his character is extremely mysterious and is a man of no words which further adds to the mystery about the character. In my project, my character is mysterious as the causes of his deformities and issues are unclear as well as his relationship with the female and how that came to be.

7. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should be fast paced or slow and steady?

From this I can see that most people believe that Synthpop music videos should be slow paced but a good majority of people also said that it should be fast paced. Synthpop music videos are generally in the middle with confident paces that are not rushed. This is the case with the Synthpop song "Nightcall" that is not overly fast or slow paced.





8. Do you feel that Synthpop music videos generally should include the subject of death?

From this I can see that most people believe that Synthpop music videos should include the subject of death. This is present in certain Synthpop music videos such as Kavinsky's "Odd Look" but is not a major narrative element of the video. In my project, I plan to have inference to the subject of death but (like with other Synthpop music videos) will not overly focus on it.

9. Watch the following music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uee_mcxvrw
Do you feel that a black and white style (like the one used in this video) would be appropriate in a Synthpop music video?

Most people felt that it would be appropriate in a Synthpop music video and so I will consider this style and design in my project.







10. Read the following blog post for the song Nightcall for a music video proposition idea:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=77105270259351241#editor/target=post;postID=8345043584214121383;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=12;src=postname
How likely are you to want to watch this music video if this idea was turned into a music video?

It seems that all those questionned would want to watch this idea if turned into a music video which makes me confident in my idea.