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Song Choice (Open To Offers)

Given the specifications given from the band to make a video that is:

• Representative of the band
• contains a narrative
• performance element
• a variety of footage and shot types.

I feel that the best song to write the storyboard, animatic and music video for would either be 'Eyes Like Lightening' or 'Jack Daniel' from their current EP 'Call It What You Will' as they have the most up tempo and emotive lyrics that lend them selves to story lines. How ever I am aware that the band is currently going to be heading into the studio this july to record a new album and they have expressed an interest in making a video to go along with the debut album.

Only the acoustic versions of these song are currently on youtube but to access the original versions online visit: http://www.opentooffersuk.com/music.html

Open To Offers Research

Influences

After speaking with the band, and agreeing to film an interview (which will be posted in the next two weeks), I asked them what their influences and ideas would be for there first music video. James Lovatt (lead vocals) said that a combination of a narrative story line along with a performance element would be what the band would be after. My own suggestion was to also include a montage of part the bands lives, such as parties, gigs and recording that could break up the story line.

I also decided to research the bands influences and interests such as bands like Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, The Kooks, The Enemy and The Libertines, and I plan on asking the band to identify any conventions they wish to include from any of these bands and any conventions they would like to disregard or break in their music Video.

 The Kooks - 'Naive'

One part of this video that both me and the band identified as a success full part of the video was the 'strobe' lighting from the stage that was slowed down to look like a dull flicker. I suggested that this would make the performance shots look more powerful and emotive if the combination of a strobe light and slow motion were used.

Another convention that is used in this video and most other videos is that the whole band are included in the video, in almost cameo appearances, and the band felt that this would help convey the identity of the band and it's members.

The Libertines - 'Don't Look Back Into the Sun'

This video contain the performance elements that Open to Offers desired to really sell the band and showcase the quality of their live performances.

Similarly to the Kooks video Don't look back into the sun contains strobing and heavy use of lights to make the video more visually stimulating.

The performance shots are broken up by cut away shots to a guerilla style filming of the band in their 'every day life'. Shots like these where the band members look directly to camera make the video look more personal, as if the video is addressing the viewer directly.

Very fast cuts are used in this video, which may not be a necessary convention to include as the tempo of most of the bands music is not as fast as this song.

Foo Fighters Research

'No Way Back'

This video is an example of the some of the conventions the foo fighters have decided to include and exclude such as the performance side of their music videos which in this case is the main focus. Other conventions they have decided to exclude are the use of consumes and the narrative side of their videos. This video is more about the life an times of the band as they are on tour performing and meeting new people. I feel a video similar to this would be hard to achieve as so much of the footage was taken while on tour and anything that I could recreate would look sub par compared with the crowd sizes and the production value of the live performances. However if i were to do a video like this for a local band if could be a different effect could be achieve while trying to stick to the conventions of these types of Foo Fighter videos.

Foo Fighters Research

'Long Road To Ruin'

A convention that i have identified is that in nearly all of there videos the band members are dressing in comical costume such as the ones seen in 'Long Road to Ruin', 'Everlong', 'Low' and Learn to Fly' The costumes always relate to the narrative of the video and help to both amuse and attract the viewer. 

The attention to detail in alot of the foo fighters videos help to make the video more surreal and create this alternative reality in which the whole band appear as one or several different characters each. This convention of elaborate Mise-en-scene, costume and props, will have to be recreated if viewers are to recognize the video as a foo fighters video.

The band also have the convention of using shot of instruments and whole band shots. One of the things that people associate most with the foo fighters is the quality of their live performances and including part these performances really helps to show the bands identity and talent.

Band and song choice (Over View)

Open To Offers

Open to Offers are a band based in Portishead made up of a group of my peers. The band's sound is similar to the likes of The Kooks, The Enemy, The Pigeon detectives and The Libertines. Research into these band's music videos and identifying the conventions of these videos, as well as consulting with the band members about what there preferences for themes and conventions to include in the video.

James Lovatt

Role in Band: Vocals

Kit Lavis 

Role in Band: Lead Guitar

Henry Sergent

Role in the Band: Rhythm Guitar

Matt Lazenby

Role in Band: Drums

                                                                     The Black Keys

The Black keys can be described as southern, blues, rock, and alternative. The band have a range of music videos ranging from low budget videos film in their home town akron ohio, to high production value videos with more complex concepts.

Dan Auerbach

Role in Band:

Patrick Carney

Role in the Band:

The Foo Fighters

The Foo fighters are a an alternative rock band formed in the 90's and the typical foo fighters music videos includes alot of dressing up and in drag. Similarly this band have videos that vary drastically in production value and camera quality. One convention that i have already identified from the foo fighters videos is that they always contain the whole band playing specific role and also playing instruments.

Dave Grohl

Role in Videos: Dave Grohl is nearly always the main character in their videos (Walk, Long road to ruin, Low, Everlong) and Dave also plays a character in the videos, be it in drag in the video long road to ruin or as a punk in the video Everlong. The band often direct there own videos so dave sometimes takes on the role of director and plays a key part in creating their videos.

Representation: The role that dave plays in these videos make him out to be very animated and fun.

Position in band: Rhythm guitar, Lead vocals

Chris Shifflet

Role in Videos:

Position in band: Lead Guitar

Nate Mendal

Role in Videos: Nate is generally a supporting actor to the main characters played by Dave. In 'learn to fly' Dave Grohl plays almost every character except for a few characters played by Nate and the rest of the band. In the song 'Everlong' Nate plays the evil character which isn't necessarily a convention, but more of a variation of the roles in the videos.

Position in band: Bass Guitar, one of the original members of the band Nate, has a large influence in the way the band is run, in terms of the musical direction of the band.

Taylor Hawkins

Role in Videos:

Position in band: Drums, Backing Vocals

Where are music videos found?

Audience: 16-34
Content: Music Videos, Sitcoms, Cartoons and Comedy
Distribution: Free view television (0.3% share of the viewing figures)
Originally launched in germany and now is one of the prominent mediums for music videos.

MTV is a similar channel to VIVA, and also has the same target audience, and it promotes the most recent music and includes interviews from a wide range of artists. This channel promotes music from pop and rock. It also has it's own website. This music channel has the same target audience that my music video will. 

Audience: 16-25
Content: Music Videos, Quiz shows, Illusion shows
Distribution: Free View television, website (o.3% of the viewing figures)
With the slogan 'Music and then some!' the 4Music brand is known for music programming on both Channel 4 and E4, so it has equity with its target audience of 16- to 34-year-olds. It launched with a bang with exclusive footage from the V Festival, where it increased brand awareness through sponsorship.

Audience: All ages
Content: Music Videos
Distribution: Online, applications
Vevo is a part of website YouTube where viewers can watch the official music videos from there favorite artists. Vevo offers a unique playlist and favorites feature where you can set up a queue of your favorite songs.

Audience: All ages
Content: User generated
Distribution: Online, Application
YouTube offers users the ability to upload there own copies of music videos, offer feedback and set up playlists of videos. YouTube also offers many other videos other than music videos and it is an incredibly popular website with 72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every miniute