Task Six – Produce a music video

Passion Pit - Take a Walk

Storyboard Animatic - Task Five Pre-Production Planning

Task Five - Pre-Production Planning

Proposal Prepared by Jack Fox

I will be producing a music video to the song 'Take a Walk' by Passion Pit. The band's genre is indietronica and the song is very upbeat. Indietronica is a fusion of the styles rock, pop, electronica, and indie. The song is about taking a walk and moving around. To mirror this action, we have decided to base the video on the idea of travelling. As the song is very upbeat and has a clear bass drum it should be easier to edit to the beat; we have decided to have the singer walk towards the camera in a straight line whilst the background changed on certain beats. The walking towards to camera will only happen in the chorus though, and when the verses are sung the background will change but the singer will stand in the same spot.

Production Schedule Part One Programme Title: Music Video - Take a Walk Client: Passion Pit Writer: Jack Fox Date: 05/02/14
Date Programme started: 05/02/14 Proposal started: 05/02/14 Agreement from client: 13/02/14 Storyboard to be started by: 15/02/14 Production to be started by: 25/02/14 Post-Production to be started by: 20/04/14 Rough-cut to be supplied to client  by: 25/04/14 To be agreed with client by: 27/04/14 Final Version to be completed by: 05/05/14	Date Completed: 05/02/14 Completed: 05/02/14 Completed: 13/02/14 Completed: 15/02/14 Completed: 27/02/14 Completed: 24/04/14 Completed: 29/04/14 Completed: 27/04/14 Completed: 08/05/14

Production Schedule Location Visit Sheet Programme Title: Music Video - Take a Walk Client: Passion Pit Writer: Jack Fox Producer: Jack Fox Director: Jack Fox Date: 05/02/14

We will be visiting various locations as the scenery plays a key part within the music video. We are looking for scenes with symmetrical backgrounds as the singer has to be walking towards the camera directly down the middle. If the background is not symmetrical then the singer will look out of place. Locations that we could visit to record this video would be: London: London Bridge St Pauls Cathedral Buckingham Palace Piccadilly Circus Trafalgar Square Access to location via: London:  London Underground Buses

Health and Safety Issues to note: London: Trains can be dangerous Dangerous driving in London Poor weather could be unsuitable to film in Can be dangerous in certain areas at night time

Potential Filming Problems : May not be allowed to record on certain property Weather could cause the filming to be unsafe Batteries could run out of charge whilst filming People interfering whilst we are trying to film Cars in the road where we will be standing

Additional Notes: London:

Production Schedule Call Sheet Programme Title: Music Video - Take a Walk Client: Passion Pit Writer: Jack Fox Date: 05/02/14

CREW Camera: Canon EOS 600D Production Assistant: Daniel Cole Transport: Jack Fox/Daniel Cole Props: Jack Fox/Daniel Cole

Meeting at: Location Venue: House (Jack Fox's) CALL DATE: Starting date - 25/02/14 CALL TIME: 10 AM Transport: Car (Daniel Cole) and/or trains/buses INSTRUCTIONS: Meet promptly at times arranged. We will be recording throughout many different days so the times/dates will vary. All cast members will be notified well in advance.

Actors: Daniel Cole Make – up: N/A Wardrobe: Casual clothing throughout, although some shots will require certain attire Location Catering: We will need to visit clothing shops before hand to purchase items Notes: We will also need to purchase props whilst we are out shopping

Production Schedule Cast and Crew Contact Details Programme Title: Music Video - Take a Walk Client: Passion Pit Writer: Jack Fox Date: 05/02/14
Name/Role	Mobile Telephone Number	Home Telephone Number
Daniel Cole (actor) Jack Fox (camera operator)	07423 324 329 07564 955 393	02045 223 1943 02044 356 5347

Contingency Plan Name: Jack Fox Production: Music Video - Take a Walk

Potential problems and how to overcome these problems: There could be many potential problems throughout the recording of this music video although I feel that they can easily be overcome. An example of a potential problem would be getting 'lost' within London. If we are looking for somewhere in particular and cannot find it, then this will be a problem as it will put us behind schedule. Ways to overcome this, though, would be to plan well ahead and ask for any directions if we do find ourselves off course. Another problem could be the battery for the camera running out. A way to make sure this does not happen would be to make sure the battery is fully charged and bring the spare battery for the camera. Also, I would take the charger so that I could ask to charge the drained battery at a shop/restaurant. If, in case it rains, we feel that it is unsafe to film then we will cancel filming and resume another day. We can always check in advance what the weather will be like though to make sure there is no chance of poor weather.

Risk Assessment

Group Members: Location:

Hazard	Person(s) at Risk	Likelihood of Hazard 1 – Extremely Unlikely 5 – Extremely Likely	Severity of Hazard Outcomes 1 – Very Low Risk 5 – Very High Risk	Risk Level (Likelihood + Severity) 2	Measures to Take to Manage Risk	Risk Managed? Y/N
Trains	Jack Fox Daniel Cole	2	5	7	Make sure we stand behind the yellow line
Poor weather	Jack Fox	3	1	4	Do not use the camera if it end up wet
Motorists	Jack Fox Daniel Cole	3	3	6	Look when crossing road, use crossings
Dangerous areas	Jack Fox Daniel Cole	2	3	5	Make sure to stay in well lit areas

Contacts

Emergency Service: 999
Robert Clack School: 020 8270 4222

Production Budget
Item	Cost
Clothing Props                                                  Travel Accomodation Food/Drink	£0 £5 £40 £0 £10
Total Production Budget	£55

Costumes and Props

Character Name: Daniel Cole
Costume: Variety of clothing that was previously purchased so we  didn't need to buy any new clothes to wear.	Props:  Variety of props that we already had or made including items such as a wedding doll, tin can, phones, banana, flowers, cardboard sign amongst others.

Task Four – Analyse the Track

The lyrics shown below are for the song I have chosen to create a music video for titled 'Take a Walk'. The song runs for a total of 4 minutes and 24 seconds. It is an upbeat song although this seems to juxtapose with the lyrics.

Below I have analysed the lyrics and annotated my thoughts on what these lyrics mean. From the lyrics, I gather that same parts of the song are about happiness, other parts about sadness. It starts off talking about "all these kinds of places" which gives the idea about travelling and moving around.

The line "make it seem like it's been ages" shows that not a lot of time has actually passed but the amount of places seen makes it seem as though it has been a long time. The lyrics then go on to say how the singer "was outside that station, selling light and white carnations" which shows he was trying to get by, by selling flowers to the public. He then says "you were still alone, my wife and I" which shows that even though they are in a relationship they feel parted. He goes on to say how he sees his family rarely and because of all the above stress he goes and takes a walk. 

The singer then talks about losing money although reminds himself that "times could be much worse". He is trying to stay positive. He complains about his "money lacking" and his wife will "never flaunt around an empty purse". Not only is he poor, he feels bad that his wife too has no money. We then find out he is a father as he says "I watch my little children" and he doesn't want them to "never feel my strife". 

He goes on to say that he has made bad investments and is now losing more money. He talks in past tense about how he "had a lifestyle of fun". He wants to go home and "make love like we're young" which shows that he is now getting old. He ends up "down on both bad knees" which shows he is pleading although he is "too much a coward to admit when I'm in need".

To help all of the problems above, he takes a walk. 

Passion Pit - Take a Walk Lyrics

Task Three – Analyse the Artist

Passion Pit




Passion Pit are an American band formed in 2007. The style of Passion Pit is said to be Indietronica. This is a fusion of the styles rock, pop, electronica, and indie. The instruments used by the band are keyboard, guitar, bass, and synthesiser. The band had originally started as a one-man project by the lead singer Michael Angelakos. He produced an EP titled 'Chunk of Change' for his girlfriend for valentines day. A band was then formed to perform these songs live which later became Passion Pit. This is why some of the songs seem to be romantic expressions.

The band's image is not very eccentric although it is not boring either; as a group they all seem to wear different clothing although it doesn't look odd. An example would be in the image below where they are all wearing different styles of clothing but they look good together. The way that they dress links to their music as they are an indie band. This means that they are independent and have a sort of 'do it yourself' attitude, so they chose what they want to wear.

The band's music is very consistent and relates to their overall style. They are really colourful and individual. The website for the band links to their style as it is very 'indie'. The website is very interactive and includes many photographs with filters and vivid colours. This is very 'space-like' with the blurred background filters, which is mimicking of the band's music. They use synthesisers which make them sound very futuristic. 

Task Two – Understand the Styles and Conventions of Music Videos

Different Styles of Music Video

There are many different styles that a music video can be created in. Some styles these videos can be include narrative based, impressionist, surrealist, pastiche, parody, homage, and intertextual. In this post I will explain these styles and include examples of where/why they have been used for certain music videos.

Narrative Based

A music video that is narrative based will use a performance as a way to tell a story. The performance seen on screen will link to the lyrics of the song and will usually cut between shots of the story and the band playing the song. These videos are used to show that the song has a story and is not just about the music, but the meaning the lyrics have. An example of a narrative based music video is November Rain by Guns N' Roses. The video starts showing someone taking pills before they go to sleep; this is the start of the story. This shot then cuts to the band performing the song, and then back to shots of the story. 

Guns N' Roses - November Rain

Impressionist 

An impressionist music video would include various shots to make the viewer/s feel a certain way. This style could either help narrate the story or be used just for entertainment purposes. The shots used can include various different aspects, such as people, locations, objects, and anything to give the video an abstract feel. An example of an impressionist video I have used is for the song Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye. The video is very abstract and a man is seen standing by a decorative wall in which he is covered in paint to blend in. It's very much like abstract art within the music video. A woman then comes into shot that is also painted but her paint is taken off which means they are now different and someone that he used to know. This is illustrative of the lyrics.  

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

Surrealist

A surrealist music video will include anything out of the ordinary and that is dream-like. The video could be abstract and not actually relate to the lyrics. Surreal music videos are usually influenced by a dream or imagination which is why what you see in the videos is something you only can imagine. An example of a surrealist music video is Don't Come Around Here No More by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers which has its own take on Alice In Wonderland. The music video for this song is based upon the fantasy novel and the images seen within the video match that of the book/film.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More

Pastiche

A pastiche music video is a style that sets out to imitate the style of another artist's work. It is not intended to makes fun of the work, but to celebrate the style it is aiming to imitate. It does so in a respectful way instead of mocking the style. An example I have decided to use of a pastiche music video is Candyman by Christina Aguilera. This music video is based upon a 1940s World War II theme. She is seen singing with three different hair colours (brown, red, blonde) which is a tribute to the trip The Andrews Sisters. The costumes they are wearing also mimic that of what would have been worn in the 1940s. The style of music, jazz/blues/swing, is also the same as what would have been around at that time. 

Christina Aguilera - Candyman

Parody

A parody music video is one that sets out to ridicule and mock another style of work. Parody music videos can mimic both the song and/or the video of the style they are looking at. An example of an artist I have found that sets out to create parodies of music video is the artist Weird Al Yankovic. This artist created the song White and Nerdy which is a parody of the song Ridin Dirty by Chamillionaire. The music mimics the song as well as the video. The 
parody version of the song sets out to mimic everything the original song stands for. The original song shows 'gangsters' going about their business, with the parody showing a nerd rapping about his life.

Homage

A homage music video is a music video that sets out to honour another media text. It does not try to mimic it like a parody, but to respect it. An example I have decided to use is the music video for Digital Love by Daft Punk. The video is a homage to anime, as the video consists of japanese animation throughout. This video would be a homage to anime as characters can be seen within the video that people recognise. The music matches the visuals as it sounds very futuristic and robotic, which is what the sound track to an anime sounds like.


Daft Punk - Digital Love

Intertextual

Intertextual references are used within music videos which is when the media references another media text. Many music videos use television programmes or films as a starting point to creating a music video. This can either be created by copying the style of the media text they are looking at, or in a parody style. An example I have used to show intertextuality within a music video is the song Roar by Katy Perry. The intro to the music video references Indiana Jones as it has the same text. An actor is then seen who resembles Indiana Jones. The rest of the video is then set to reference Tarzan as she can be seen wearing a similar outfit and swinging from vines in trees.

Katy Perry - Roar