Enigma Update #4

Enigma: Detailed Shot List

Me and Becky spent roughly two hours sorting out shots, camera angles and timings. We came up with a rough guide and I have typed it up into a neat table online. Next to sort out is the lights. 

The shot list is what we have roughly pictured in our heads. 

More Work on Angles in extended post

Enigma: Further Planning

Me and Becky spent just over an hour working on the visuals of the video to the song, as the song played we imaged shots and who it transition to. 

In the second hour, me and Becky looked up powder paint. We went to see Miss Lee, in art as she has some. She gave us the Epso catalogue, so we could buy paint without paying VAT. We went to the finance offer, who then took our paper signed by Miss Webb (Media) to allow us to spend money from the media's budget. We will pay the media department for what we owe. 

1950's Teddy Boys

Teddy Boys

Teddy boys were recognised for their Edwardian dress e.g. 'Teddy'. They experiment with 'dandy' fashion and appearences and practices as an antidote to Poverty (Fywell 1963). They listen to American Rock and Roll music, musicians such as James Dean and Elvis Presley (Brak 1985). They both use narcissim and dandyism at the same time.

Teddy boys are assoicaited with violences derived from a 'butch' dandyism, which sought to protest working class mascunlinity. They were apparently worse in the winter as there was a lack of jobs and lack of access of places to go. In the Evening Argus article they are said to be this way, because they lack religious beliefs, which puts them in the darkness.

In previous articles they were described as 'teenage terrorists' to create a public scare in articles. In the article Get Rid of Them, they were described as 'very nauseating specimens of English youth,' and  'They are an awful disgrace to Brighton'.

In the articles aggressive language is used to exaggerate the behaviour of the group. The other party involved in are described as minor and small, suggesting the Teddy Boys are big brutes, but are at the bottom of the authority ladder. The Teddy Boys are easy to point the blame at in the media, because they have this reputation.




Link to Site

 

 

Enigma Update #3

Enigma: Lyrics Annotations

After the meeting today (Saturday 21st September) I got the lyrics from James, and I annotated the lyrics into my interpretation. Ryan texted me saying that the day all the band can film is on the 27th of October. So that has become the filming day. 

Enigma: Lyrics "Enigma"

Enigma

Verse:

Do you believe life is full of surprises?

A present knocking at your door,

But if you keep your heart strong,

You can rise above it all...

Chorus:

Love is a crossword,

Like an Enigma made with words,

We're all searching for the answer

In this big wide universe,

Moments working out what went wrong,

When you couldn't find the time to realise.

Verse 2:

Have you find the harder you try,

The harder you seem to fall,

But if you lift yourself up,

You can fight the world..

Chorus:

Love is a crossword,

Like an Enigma made with words,

We're all searching for the answer

In this big wide universe,

Moments working out what went wrong,

When you couldn't find the time to realise.

Bridge/Solo

Chorus:

Chorus:

Love is a crossword,

Like an Enigma made with words,

We're all searching for the answer..

In this big wide universe,

Moments working out what went wrong,

When you couldn't find the time to realise.

End.

Enigma: Music Video Breakdown

While listening to the song over and over, I thought about possible angles and other notes that I had envisioned for the video. I have constructed a table of my general ideas at different points in the song.

Time	Focus Shots	Other Notes
0-20	Focus mainly on guitar. Solemn Expression of band	Start off with one main light. Dimly lit. Animation: Tapping of feet
21-30	Focus on lead singer, static shots
31-34	Full shot of band, environmental shot	As music builds up more light variation
34-36	Drummer, close up of playing. Back view circle formation	Different colours or flickering effect with a white light.
37-1:00	Change of angle on different of different band members
1:01 – 1:12	Guitar
1:13 – 1:23	Bassist and Singer
1:24 – 1:45	Singer Close-up
1:46 – 1:58	Guitarist, extreme close up, odd shots	Guitar riff @ 1:46 – 2:40, all lights should be on. Casting a big shadow.
1:59 – 2:03	Cut to singer with long note hold
2:04 – 2:32	Guitarist riff, brightly lit, full focus on finger work	Slow down the pace of the transitions between shots.
2:33 – 2:43	All shot	At riff end, go back to quick cuts.
2:44 – 2:51	Drummer, guitarist and bassist transitions	Animation: Head bang
2:51 – 3:05	All, Fast/quick shots. Cuts to each members then all
3:06 – 3:09	Confetti Cannon? Band static and motionless. Fade to black as lights turn off.

Engima: Exploring Similar Videos - Nickelback

Nickelback - This Means War While Becky was absent I researched videos which had similar locations. This Means War by Nickelback has similar ideas to what we have about having a primarily performance based music video. Nickelbacks video was filmed all in one take, where they just rocked out and went mental while the camera caught it on film.

The key elements is the lighting and the camera angles. This proved to me cruicial, because for our video not to get boring we need as many camera angles as possible and fast cuts to make it entertaining. Lighting also helped with a dramatic atmosphere to the song, along with the video. The effects they added in also was interesting, the use of shaking and bright orange flashes. Also the zoom in and out of the camera to emphasis of the drum beat, was very effective. It emphasised the aggression in the song, as if you were being attacked. The lights were two major lights in the video, giving a lot of shadow and darkness, which was useful as it contrasted with the light.

Continued...



Analyse

The opening of the music video are mainly extreme close ups, with a aged effect layered. The shots only last a couple of seconds before switching. This follows the fast pace beat of the music.

The extreme shot of the foot was particularly inspired for my music video, I really like how, despite it being short, gives it variety and the other shots which focuses above the torso.     

The wide shots show the band in a diamond formation. Were they are situated is balanced out and the one spotlight brings attention to the centre of the diamond, putting light on each band member. The lighting, clothing and colours are all very dark and relates to the song which is essentially a hate song, emphasising on anger. The lack of colour sets the atmosphere of the rest of the video.  

The pans and tracking shots are fast paced and do blur. The focus of the shots go in and out a lot, but it works with the video. It could be symbolic suggesting that the band are out of control and angry. The concept of being 'blinded with rage'  


The pace of the edit is in 3's which follows the drumbeat, allowing it to flow successfully on to the next track. The shots focus on all the band, not anyone in particular. 

Effects -
There is evidence of a type of earthquake effect, which makes the shots shake. This emphasises how loud they are playing, because when music is loud enough the amps move etc. Commonly seen in cartoons.
Colours - A bright orange/yellow light is inserted for a spilt second, which contrasts with the large amount of black and grey. It add colour, but the colour is reminiscent of fire - fire has connotations  of the emotion anger. The yellow contrasts with the black and gives the illusion of a heat sensor camera or a negative effect.  

Reepham Raider Promotional Video [Late upload to blog]

Made at the end of the last school year with Chris and Tom. We were to create a promotional video for the local Dodge ball team. We went on a 80's action montage. 

Video Analysis: Je Suis Seul by Eskemo

I picked this video in particular for its unusual choice of animation. It is as it is was drawn and certain features reminded me of the song "Take on me" by Aha. The opening shot, establishes where the video is taking place. The colours are very simplistic with a soft focus, which implies the story will be steadily played out over the music. 

A tracking shot is pulled to the main character of the narrative in the music video. The shot heavily focuses on the picture frame of the two people as it slowly pulls over to the male character. 'We' as an audience can identify he is the man in the photo and he has a girlfriend.

The main character is identified when he is given an extreme close up. The light is behind him, suggesting he is facing the darkness (metaphorically). His features look sketched.   

The main character looks at his partner. Something is clearly wrong, but it isn't made obvious at first. Although we can guess from the lyrics

"Sorti d'un rêve éphémère
elle m'est apparu irréelle
comme un ange tomber du ciel" Which translates as..
"Out of a fleeting dream
it appeared to me unreal
like an angel falling from the sky"

The imaginary become relative to the lyrics when he is sucked through the bed. Suggesting it is a dream. The animation becomes lined and blurred as he falls. Emphasising the vertical drop. 

The video is very dependent on the lyrics, despite it having a clear narrative. Her memory is shown as her being half drawn in, suggesting she is not real unlike him, or the idea that his memory of her is fragmented and being lost.  

"Come haunted my thoughts
I feel her every caress
and dream of it by my side"

The character then follows her to the door. The open door reveals the sky, suggesting he is dreaming. Sky and clouds in dream usually mean peace and freedom of that person, however, because it is windy and dark inside it signifies unrest, or frustration.  

The bands album cover is put on the wall as if it is a poster, this is clever, because it allows the band to self-publicise and still continue with the stories narrative.   

 

I picked out these to shots, because it reminded me a lot of the "Take on Me" video. As the character panics and tries to reject the bad memories he becomes sketchy and turns black and white. This memory of the girl fades and his outline becomes steps she is running repeatedly. Her features are no gone and only her silhouette remains. This implies the sad idea that he is losing her in some form. This is the favourite part of the video, because it is very creative, by showing emotion and trouble through the use of colours. The repetition emphasises panic of the character and a struggle, causing him to replay it in his mind. 



 

The music starts to fade and the camera spirals out to an aerial shot of the girl in the ambulance who then later dies. The spiral out highlights her leaving him, by getting further away. The colours are darker which allows the emergency lights to be more effective to create a bigger impact on the ending of the story, which relates to the song title "Je Suis Seul" = "I am alone" 

Official Video



Enigma: Email to Marc, Cinema City

I emailed Marc from Cinema City, about using a possible space to hold a meeting with the band members about our ideas. 

 

Enigma: Meeting

Enigma: Video Similarities & Location

Music Video comparison: Shots                  

I researched other music videos with a similar location to what the band have now specified. First and Foremost music video is set in an abandoned warehouse so there are similarities. Click here to see the video

The light is a key element as it sets the atmosphere and contrasts with the dark mood. The crane/high angle shot over the drummer is really good, which I would like to use in my music video.    

The picture to the left is what we are able to use. We can clear it and dress it up to suit what our video wants to portray and express. 

Technology House, 
6 Rhombus Park, 
Diamond Road, 
Norwich, 
NR6 6NN