In the following images I have demonstrated how my music video has met the codes an conventions of a professional music video of the indie genre. I have used two different music videos to compare my music video too, both by the same band: Catfish And The Bottlemen. This band is extremely popular, especially within the UK - getting millions of views per video. Therefore, not only are they the ideal band to take inspiration from because they help me meet my brief of appealing to a UK target audience (since The Stoops are Sheffield based), but they are also very stereo-typically conventional to the indie genre in regards to costumes and overall denotation (very dark and 'edgy'), making them an ideal influence for my music video.
In the image above, you can see that I have took a screenshot from both my own music video (right) and a screenshot from 'Soundcheck' by Catfish And The Bottlemen (left), which has just below 6 million views. You can clearly see that each image denotes an insert shot of an electric guitar with someone playing it, helping connote that the video is of the indie genre since we associate instruments with 'bands' who now stereo-typically, primarily represent the indie genre. Therefore, showing that I have included the correct codes in order to make my video conventional to the indie genre. Secondly, you can see that both screenshots are extremely similar in regards to the way they're denoted, showing that I have clearly and professionally filmed an exceptional insert shot. Both screenshots are also very cool toned, decreased in saturation and highly contrasted . This is because we associate darkness with feeling upset or tired, both factoring in to depression, which is a dominant subject matters in the indie genre. Again showing that I have met realistic conventions of a real indie music video.
In the second image, denoted above, you can once again see my music video (right) being compared to the same song 'Soundcheck' by Catfish and The Bottlemen (left). Here you can see two medium shots, each shot is taken from the left and at a slightly low angle. The use of a low angle helps connote that the lead singer is tough as we see them from higher up, making them look more powerful. Helping connote to the audience that the video is of the indie genre as we typically associate indie / rock band members with being edgy, intimidating and strong / powerful. You can clearly see that I have taken the medium shot from the right distance and aesthetically positioned the lead singer in the centre of the shot, in order to reflect a professional, realistic music video. This is reinforced through the fact that both screenshots look identical in regards to the positioning of the main singer. Demonstrating that I have followed the correct codes and conventions in order to make my music video appear both professional and of the indie genre.
The image above denotes my music video (left) being compared to a different Catfish and The Bottlemen song named 'Kathleen' (right). Here you can clearly see that I have filmed using a wide shot in order to establish both the drummer and the drumming kit. Since, instruments such as drums strongly connote that a band or audio visual promo is of the indie genre as drums are primarily associated with being used to create music of the rock and indie genre when in a band. Therefore I wanted to show the drums in the scene in order to ensure that I'm constantly reinforcing the genre of the music video throughout the video. It's clear that this denotation is conventional to music videos of the indie genre since Catfish's music video, and many others that I have been looking into, also show the drummer denoted from an establishing, wide angle. I also think that it's both important and conventional to have the drums denoted being played to the beat i order to reinforce the beat and keep the viewer interested, since the beat is arguably the most important element of a song.
In the image above you can see two screenshots, again to the same previous song 'Kathleen' by Catfish and The Bottlemen (right) compared with my music video (left). Here I've used an wide shot to establish the lead singer, lead guitarist and pianist with the drummer in the background showing all of their instruments in order to reinforce they're an indie band. Since, we typically associate an electronic guitar and drums with rock / indie music, helping my music video meet the conventions of a really indie music video, since Catfish's video also demonstrates the same visuals which gives a clear 'indie' connotation' I found that it was very hard to get scenes where the drummer was able to be denoted with the rest of the band, and consequently became frustrated with this. However, the set up and positioning of the band is conventional to a standard band 'practice' which is reinforced through the fact that you also can't see the drummer in Catfish's music video when a shot taken directly from the front is denoted. Therefore showing that I have followed the codes and conventions of a typical indie music video as the positioning of the band reinforces the genre.
In order to ensure that the drummer was denoted enough throughout the music video I includes many individually focused clips on him and also use panning camera movement so that he could be seen between other band members. The use of a wide angle also allows the viewer to clearly denote the costumes worn by the band members, which consist of classic skinny jeans, a snap-back and denim jackets - clothes of this denotation are stereo-typically associated with 'alternative' people, who are known to listen to the indie / rock genre often, therefore this shot type and clothing also helps the music video fit conventions of the indie genre, this denotation is also demonstrated in Catfish's video, showing that our video reflects professionalism and realism.
Catfish and The Bottlemen's music video 'Kathleen' includes 'echo' visual effects throughout it's entirety, this is where you can see two sets of a person that denote 1 or 2 seconds apart. This particular effect is especially associated with the indie genre due to the fact that it's stereotypes that fans of the indie genre are known for doing drugs or being into the sort of scene associated with them. Therefore, this effect appeals to these stereotypical fans as it represents a 'trip' or vision that you'd see on drugs. Making it convention to the indie genre, it also simply seems distorted and connotes uncertainty which are elements associated with indie genre as they're seen as 'edgy' and opposing from everyday mainstream denotations and pop music, which indie is the opposite of. My music video, shown on the left, also uses this effect - helping my music video fit the codes and conventions fit the indie genre. During editing I also colour graded my music video by enhancing both the cool tones within the shadows of my video and warm tones within the highlights of my music video, which is also seen in Catfish's music video with the old-school 3D blue and red denotation, again adding an element of distortion and edginess to the video,
No comments:
Post a Comment