Semiotics within our music video

Although we all looked into what semiotics are, we needed to look at how we are going to use semiotics within our music video. Therefore on behalf of the group Laura carried out some research on the matter.

Music Video Conventions.

Conventions are a set of generally accepted norms or criteria within a piece of media.

All types of media carry there own set of conventions, therefore music videos obviously have their own. We researched music video conventions and below are the most common and universal. We need to know what the conventions are so we can look into which conventions to follow, and which to break to make our music video more post-modern.

• Lyrics: establish a general feeling/mood/sense of subject rather than a meaningMusic: tempo often drives the editing.
• Genre: might be reflected in types of mise-en-scene, themes, performance, camera and editing styles.
• Editing: the most common form is fast-cut montage, rendering many of the images impossible to grasp on first viewing, so ensuring multiple viewing. Often enhancing the editing are digital effects, which play with the original images to offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience.

Andrew Goodwin's Theory· Visuals either illustrate, amplify or contradict the lyrics and music· Genres often have their own music style/iconography· Close-ups should always be included· Intertextual references are also popular

Semiotics with Music Videos.

Semiotics is the study of signs and meanings. 3 areas of study are :

1. The sign – the picture, object, sound.
2. The system into which signs are organised.
3. The culture within which these signs operate.

Semeotics are important for all media. Theefore I have researched how semiotics are important within a music video.

Music videos stripped of sound should still be able to portray the musics genre by signs within the video. The signs including location, lighting, camera angles, colours and mise-en-scene. Different music genres follow different routes within their videos, for example: a more indie genre would tell more of a story where as within pop music the video would be more of a performance with bright colours and choreographed routines. Another way semiotics can be used is in the culture within these signs operate. If the video was set in a dark location, with dark mise-en-scene and wardrope this could signify a sad tone to the song. Therefore semiotics are important for the audience to gain more knowledge of the song; genre, beat, atmosphere.

Useful Websites.

http://getaheadocrmedia.blogspot.com/

Above is a useful website which has information about our coursework, therefore it can help us with any queries and keep us on track. The website was created by OCR.

http://www.virtualmediastudies.com/

Another useful website above contains information about media techniques and examples which futher more can helps us when we're stuck or unsure. This can help to guide us to producing high quality work.

Storyboard

By constructing a story board it will enable us to be extremely organised when filming. We will know exactly what frame we want with what camera angle and what precise order. This will make our video to the best standard as we are organised and planning what should work together. If we were to just 'wing' it we may find we have missed bits out, or things didn't work well together when edited along side each other.

Camera Angles

Mid-shot: This shot shows a bigger picture of what is going on, but without involving too much of the background. Being closer facial expressions can help express emotion within the shot. This shot is an effective shot to use to focus on a band member.

Long-shot: A long shot is mainly used to distinguish location. It shows you the location and what is going on within it, mise-en-scene and props, so an idea of plot can start to become clear. This shot may not be necessary that many times within our video as it is primarily just to set the scene. However it can be used a couple of times to do so.

Extreme close-up: This show deletes most of the surroundings out of the picture to focus on one thing. This shot would be used to bring attention to something and impact it to the audience.

Close-up shot: A close shot makes the viewer be able to see clearer more details. Within this shot we are able to see the guitar playing in more detail and facial expressions. These will all help to give off a tone within the frame.










High-canted angle: This shot makes the person(so standing within the frame look shorter and inferior. However this is not effective within a performance as the band are the most important thing. This type of shot may be used in a film on a protagonist to make him/her feel small next to the antagonist, showing the antagonist at this point has the control.

Low-canted angle: This shot makes a person(s) look bigger and more powerful. This is the opposite effect to a high-canted angle. I think this works as it makes the audience feel like they are looking up at the artist/band as they would do if the artist/band were performing live on stage. However it does take away some of the detail in the frame but this could just be a lighting issue.

Camera Angles!

By Thursday we plan to film an Artist singing, simply so we can play around with different camera angles. By doing this it will help to generate ideas, see what looks effective and expand our skills within operating the camera. We cannot use the original band as they are not available.

Band Questionnaire Analysis

The following link takes us to the answers the band gave to the questionnaire we provided them with. The answers help give us a understanding of how to make the music video to suit them and their needs. Also helps within beginning to give us ideas for the video!