Health & Safety Production Assessment

 

From doing the review for the health and safety production assessment, i gathered that there won't be much danger because of the locations which i will be using. The most dangrous prop what i am using is the car and with elle driving it, i will have to be careful to distract her while driving and not get too close with the camera. The chance of injury throughout the whole production is low as i will be checking everything to make sure it is safe and the people who i am using are not likley to mess around. I will be careful using the wires when they are outside incase anybody around or the anyone part of the production team don't get hurt.



Mise-En-Scene, Prop List and Costumes

Prop List:

• Need a car - scene when the girl is leaning on it and drives off. 
• Need a fish and chip shop - When the couple of having something to eat.
• Chips from the shop - For when they are in the food shop.
• Christmas lights to decorate resturant.
• Pictures of them both - Go on a wall for when she is looking at them
• A room for the pictures
• Mobile phones - when he texts her.
• Food for the picnic
• Picnic blanket.

Costumes:

• Wooly hats - possibly red. 
• Girl - Wearing a coloured dress with tights and flat shoes with a black leather jacket, hair is down. Make up to be natural, not a lot. wearing a scarf
• Boy - Jeans and checkered top with a deinem jacket, wearing smart trainers. 
• Boy who causes conflict - Wearing black top, with a black leather jacket and dark coloured jeans and trainers. 
• Both wearing gloves. 

Mise-En-Scene:

• Amusements with the penny machines and a grabber game. 
• See the sea front from the doors of the amusements. 
• Chip shop with chairs and has quite a few people in it. 
• Phone, with the background a picture of them both. 
• Loads of pictures of them two as a couple stuck on a wall. 
• Resturaunt

Location of Music Video

One of my Locations is a restaurant called Cactus Jacks in Beverley. I have wrote a letter asking permission if i can use it in my music video. It contains -

Jodee Evans

Wyke Sixth Form College

Bicknell Avenue

HU5 4NT

01482346347

28^th November 2013

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Jodee Evans and I am studying Media Studies A2 at Wyke College and my task for my advanced production portfolio is to create a music video.

I am writing to ask your permission to use the premises of Cactus Jacks in Beverley as part of my music video.

I would like to shoot a scene in your restaurant since you have your Christmas decorations up and this will go well within my video.

Would I be able to use it on Tuesday 4^th December 2013? I will only be able to use it on one night.

Please sign below if you are able to grant permission:

If you require any further information regarding this task, please contact Tim Anderson, the head of Media Studies at the above address.

Many thanks

----------------------

Yours sincerely

Jodee Evans

 

 

 

 

My second location will be based in Bridlington. I will be shooting in a local fish and chip shop, the amusements that are facing the sea front, and the sea front where people walk by. The pictures below are the fish and chips shops that i might be using. With these i need to think about the other people i am including in my music video because this scene is where the conflict happens.



 

 

The next pictures are the amusements which i will be using, i need them to be facing onto the sea front as it leads into other shot.

 

 



 

Lastly this is the sea front which i want in my shot and this is also based in Bridlington. I want it to look quiet in the area and prefrably the weather would be sunny but winter - like.

 

 

 



Theorists (Media Representation)

Binary Opposites:
Levi Strauss 1958.
He believed that we understand words not solely based on their meaning they directly contain, but we understand by the meaning opposites and what they reflect. Binary opposites are normally seen a narrative which can be used in any type of media. They are used a lot in films to create good plots and are frequently used in music video's so it links in with the lyrics which might be about someone. Strauss' links with the audiences' ideological views of how we feel we should percieve things.
E.G Hero and a Villain. (Antagonist and Protagonist).
Binary opposites lead into a climax for the narrative and gives a understanding of the text. Although it has recently been challenged as there isnt a clear antagonist and protagonist.
Levi Strauss' theory is represented in my media because the binary opposites is used when there is conflict with in my narrative, and we assume from a female's prespective that it is the males fault for going into a mood. But it also refers to the ideological views of a normal love story.


Feminism:
Laura Mulvey 1975.
She looks at how the audience view people who are presented in the media. She came up with something called the 'Male gaze' this is how men see women who are represented as 'sexy' since they don't have much clothing on. It focus's mainly on the curves of the female body. It also refers to women as objects rather than people. Female views also view this through the male eyes because that is how they are shown because they are shown to an audience from a hetrosexual male. For an example: Miley Cyrus used to precieved as a young innocent girl and her new appreance is seen as a male gaze because of the movements and the video's she has most recently brought out. The camera uses particular movements to percieve women in a idealistic view. Some women would disagree but others may feel liberated.
Summarising the women is displayed for the male gaze to provide pleasure in a sexual way. (Voyeurism)
Mulvey's theory doesn't apply a lot to my music video, apart from when they guy who causes the conflict looks her up and down, this could be seen as the male gaze because he only looks at what he wants to see. This also refers to the camera movements as it will show what he is looking at.


Ways of seeing:
John Berger 1972.
He claims that the representations of men and women in visual culture entice different gazes. He states: "Men act women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves been looked at."
The woman is usually posed in a way to please the viewer, he gaze is meant to entice the viewer. Women are constantly being surveyed, not only by men but by other women and themselves.
I personally think that it is very similar to the previous theorist Laura Mulvey as it refers to a viewing of women. It represents my music video the same way which the previous one did.


Stereotyping:
Tessa Perkins 1979.
Stereotyping is not a simple process and contains a number of assumptions that can be challenged. She identified 5 assumptions:
-Stereotypes are not always negative.
-They are not always about minority groups or the less powerful
-They can be held about one's own group.
-They are not rigid or unchanging.
-They are not always false.
Perkins says that stereotyping is not a simple process. Sometimes they are not true but are still assumed upon people. As society changes it's hard for stereotypes to change as they stick in society. Not all stereotypes are bad, not all good and we categorise ourselves.
Stereotypically you expect some aggressive fight when there is conflict in my music video, but i want to challange this and only have the arguement between the people who are in a relationship.


Representation:
Richard Dyer 1983.
He studies the representation in media generalls and looked at how media texts represent themselves to society and an audience. He closely studied the ideological and historical significance of film stars, but also looked at media in general.
Questions which are considered when studying representations in general:
-What sense of the world is it making?
-What does it imply? is it typical of the world or deviant (unusual/different)?
-Who is it speaking to? For whom? To whom?
-What does it represent to us and why? How do we respond to the representation?
Representation enables us to understand a media text. It allows us to be able to categorise the ideology of the text to give us meaning. Without representations, texts would me meaningless and wouldn't have messages.
The representation in my music video is meant to show a common love story, refering to the conflict that happens since it does in every relationship. It gives people chance to relate to this as it might happen in their relationship. Representations help us to understand stereotypes (Perkins) who implied audience is initially directed at (Berger) and gain understanding of narrative by having an existing assumption of what will happen (Strauss).


Ideology:
Tim O'Sullivan et al 1998.
Refers to a set of ideas which produces a partial and selective view of reality. Ideology involves widely held ideas or beliefs which are seeen as 'common sense' and become accepted by society. Ideology helps us to make judgements about the world and the different views people have within it.
It can be argued, one mechanism by which a ruling group tries to deceive and control the ruled. Ideology implies that a powerful group can choose how and what messages are leaked to the media and what the society take in. Because of ideology we have ideas about the world that we live in. Because the media is so powerful it can control what and how ideas are portrayed to an audience/consumer. The more powerful you are in society the more control you have over how messages are given to an audience.
Ideology in my music video is to expect a perfect love story, and when the couple fight then this is the message which is portrayed to the audience because they can relate to something similar that might have happened to them. It is very similar to Dyers theory.


Marxism:
Karl Marx 1818-1883.
"How culture is constructed in a way that enables the groups holding the power to have maximum control with the minimum of conflict. His theory looks at how society is built in 'classes' and argues that lower classes cannot better themselves and that upper class people are the powerful and control ideological views put to society.
He states that power was held by a minority group known as the 'elite' or  'bourgeoisie' he said that these people have access to capital and because of this they could use their money and power to heep within their group to make more wealth. Majority of the population (us) the 'mass' or 'proletariat' had their labour to help them make a living. Marx stated because if this industrialisation the elite were the only ones who has access to means of production. The fact that elite help the money and the power it meant that the mass were dependant on the elite, the elite took advantage of this power and to maximise their own profits and accountability they need to get as much labour for as little money as possible. Basically the rich are the powerful and have lots of money and the rest of us work for the rich to be able to earn a living, we have to accept their role in society. They use us to make money, if we don't do it we have no role/purpose.


Hypodermic Needle Theory:
This theory is based on how the audience take in certain things. It can cause people to have an interpretation on things because of what they heard in the media. The word 'needle' is what is reinforced by. The audience have things injected to them which makes the have stereotypical views on the music industry, and others. A example would be the use of social networking sites such as twitter. Recently Miley Cyrus brought out a music video 'wrecking ball' which caused people to either like or dislike it. And majority of views which was broadcasted on Twitter was negative therefore would cause other people to have negative views on this video too. A second example would also be how artists manage to get more views on YouTube and people buying their albums more, if I friend recommends a song for you to listen too then you are more likely to listen and enjoy it. Which leads you into buying the product. 

Conventions Of Form

Overall music video's are based between abstract or they have a narrative in them but every music video includes the four key elements and these are; cinematography which is the camera angles, camera movement and framing that can be used, mise en scene what certain props are seen regularly, sound and editing.

Cinematography - Camera shots which are normally used in romantic films is close ups, in a close up we expect to see the couple of something that can represent love and see some people's reaction. The close up can see every emotion which a person is feeling but it can also be used when a singer is singing directly into the camera for the music video. Another shot which is used a lot is an establishing shot, this is so we can see where the narrative of the video might be taking place or it is to show the audience the place and what the surroundings might be. Thirdly, a medium shot is used frequently as it can show both the characters and the surroundings, it also gives the opportunity for the audience to spot if anything else might be in a shot. For example: If there was an argument and the person who they were arguing over was in between them in the shot, it would represent that he is getting in the middle of them. Other camera shots can add atmosphere to the video. A hand held camera would add the effect of running or being scared. The cinematography is very important when they are wanting to track of follow the singer or somebody in the video, but it is just important as you can add tilts, pans etc. Which will make it obvious if they are wanting to focus on objects or people. The cinematography used in Taylor Swift - White Horse because they have flash backs of the couple when they were together, i also liked the fact that they have close up of them two when they were together, this is what i will be using in my music video quite a bit.

Mise-En-Scene - The conventions of mise en scenes is vital with in any music video, as it can help people understand what is going on in the music video whether it it abstract or narrative. But also it reinforces everything that you might want to promote. As an example; If you were shooting a music video about a family and a family home, you would expect to see pictures of the whole family in the back ground, maybe see toys from the little children or other objects which you would link to a common family home. Secondly you would need the mise en scene would include the costume, if there was a antagonist and a protagonist, you would need to see the antagonist in coloured clothing which suggests evil (for the antagonist) so they would have red and black clothing, but other colours could mean that there is something more to hide about the person. For the protagonist you would see them in white clothing as that means they are pure and most probably in the right. I like the narrative in this music video - Taylor Swift - Mine. The Mise en scene are similar what i would like in mine, it has a love story which seems pretty normal but that is what i am going for.

Sound & Editing- With in the music video the one thing that is noticeable is the song what will be played over the footage. This song will refer to the music video alot if it is a narrative. The lyrics which are played will be acted out on the video. The editing will be linked in with the sound too as they work well together. If the song was slower then you would expect to see slower edits and the shot maybe lasting for longer, where as if the song was more upbeat you would have faster edits and they would be on for a shorter amount of time. Editing can add an effect on the music video itself because you can add affects too. As an example you could make the scene's in black and white which would maybe suggest that it is old fashioned or wanting to make it look scary. Going back to the sound, in my music i want it to be Diegetic music because it is a narrative video therefore it will match what is happening. My plan with the sound is to have the sound of the amusements, so the penny machines and other people in the background etc.

Conventions of a indi music video -
The conventions of an Indi genre is that you expect to see narrative music video rather then a abstract. The cinematography tends to be a medium shot within shots, but again there will be close up shot as there will be a lot of meaning in the video. I think the edits tend to be slower and the scene will be longer too to go well with the song. Lastly i would expect the mise en scene to be similar. Meaning clothing, i want the two main characters to have the same dress sense, therefore they are a similar couple. 

Cast

I e-mailed people who i wanted in my music video, there will be two main characters and one person who will be in a couple of shoots. i have one person who will be helping me with the lighting and difficult framing if its needed.

(pictures need to be uploaded) 

Elle Thresh - Main girl character who is in a relationship with a guy.

Tim Ellis - Main Boy who is in relationship.

Jamie Cording - Guy who causes conflict in relationship 

Katie Smith - Helping with lighting and framing when i need help, possibly helping with sound too.

 

 



Story Board for my music video:

I have finally decided on my final story line for my music video. It starts of in amusements and we hear all the penny machines ticking away and the music which comes along with it. After a couple of seconds we hear the beginning of the song which starts of as an instrumental. While this is playing we see the girl run off to play another game which is the grabber. From the shot being that, a side track is used to view the sea front and the lyrics begin to come in then. After that it goes into shots of them being loved up, then shortly after the conflict begins. This follows on to when both characters are depressed and at the end the guy builds a lit up picnic which soon turns into a playful food fight.