Matt's Evaluation Question 1

First screenshot

First screenshot – Music to visuals

The first screenshot is a snippet from one of our performance shots. In the shot the lead singer is shown alongside band members performing the song in time with the music, so as to look in sync.

This sort of shot is typical of many music videos of indie rock bands and many other artists and bands. The use of performance in a music video allows the viewer to see the band’s musical talent, their charisma and personalities up close.

The emotions of the lead singer can be effectively shown through performance shots and in this said shot the lead singer is looking deep into the camera and engaging with the viewer in this manner. This is to both show his inner pain that is portrayed throughout the video and to connect with the viewer who will most likely be a fan.

This can also be a great way of representing the band as they seem talented, very indie and different. This is one of the main features of many indie rock bands and it is something that record label would definitely want to see from an indie rock band’s music video. This type of shot can be seen in the music videos of bands such as Blur, the Foo Fighters and The Arctic Monkeys. This therefore shows that our video conforms to the indie rock genre in this aspect.

Our use of this convention also links to one of Goodwin’s rules, which is that there s a relationship between the music and the visuals.

Second screenshot – Relationship of lyrics to narrative/visuals

In my second screenshot you can clearly see birds flying in the sky. This is used when the line, “I could always fly, I could always fly, bitter the birds that fly” is said.

Second screenshot

This is done to clearly show the link between that line and the feeling of freedom. The birds flying are a symbol of freedom that the lead singer does not have.

The use of a link such as this is very common in many indie rock music videos and many music videos in general. Videos from the likes of Imagine Dragons use features such as this as simple visuals to lyrics linkages such as this help the audience make connections much more easily. This again shows how we are using a convention of the indie rock genre.

Our use of this convention also links to one of Goodwin’s rules, being that there is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals.

Third screenshot – Setting/location

The third screenshot I am going to focus on is one that shows the lead singer alone in a field.

Third screenshot

This particular shot makes use of the gloomy and foggy surroundings and really emphasises the feeling that the lead singer is very alone. The dreary and dismal tone is one that is set throughout all of the narrative sections, especially on the field.

The gloomy feeling is a common one in many indie rock music videos, but the use of an isolated rural setting is not. The field was something that we wanted to utilise, as it was something very different to what is usually seen in an indie rock video. Most indie rock videos are in urban areas, our one on the other hand mainly focuses in a more rural setting. For example, Blur’s music video for Parklife is based in an urban setting.

Our use of a rural setting therefore challenges a certain convention of the genre.

Fourth screenshot – Lighting

Fourth screenshot

In this screenshot we can see the band shown performing the song in what seems to be a studio. The use of minimal lighting and the dark surroundings and mise-en-scene combines to create an eerie feeling that is very common in many indie rock music videos.

The lighting focuses on the centre, where the band is stood so that the rest of the room is drowned out in darkness. This makes the audience focus on the band and them performing, which reinforces the concentration to the lyrics and visuals and also the subconscious thoughts about them being talented musicians.

As this is very common in many indie rock music videos, we can say that we are once more using a convention of the genre to our advantage. One such example of a band that uses this in their video is Blur. They use a similar setting and style in their music video for Song 2.

Fifth screenshot – Representation of the band + record label expectations

In my sixth screenshot the band is shown together performing the song. This is used to show the band as a talented group, which is something that record labels would want to be shown in a band’s music video. The use of lots of close-ups and extreme close-ups, in sections like this force the viewer to focus on the band members and their instruments, which links the two together for them subconsciously.

Fifth screenshot

One other band that uses features such as this in their music videos are the Foo Fighters. In their video for Something From Nothing, there are plenty of shots that focus on the band performing the song in order to force the viewer to focus on them. This also again shows them as a very talented group, which is something that record labels of indie rock bands demand.

Our use of this in our music video shows that we are using a certain convention of the genre to our advantage. Our use of this convention also links to Goodwin’s rules, one of which being that the record label that the artist/band is signed to tend to have a set of demands. They often want lots of close-ups on the artist/band and a certain recurring style across all of their work.

Sixth screenshot - Mise-en-scene

Sixth screenshot

For my sixth screenshot I’m showing 3 members of the band pictured in the studio again, but this time focusing on the mise-en-scene.

The five key areas of mise-en-scene are:

Settings and props

Costume

Facial expressions and body language

Lighting

And the…

Positioning of characters and props

The use of the studio for this shot links them with the idea of being a talented band. Studios are places that people with talent commonly perform in and the band are shown in this screenshot as being in a studio by the instruments, lights on the ceiling, the curtains and the use of previous shots in the music video. This sort of studio setting is something that Blur have used, as I have said previously, in their music video for Song 2.

The use of dark and simple costumes that have no recognised label is something that we wanted to incorporate throughout our music video. The screenshot I have chosen shows three of the band members, all wearing black, which fits in with the style we are trying to show. All members of the band are coordinated together to show cohesion as a unit and to show a sort of togetherness. The use of dark, unlabelled clothing is something that is featured in many indie rock bands’ music videos. One such example is the Arctic Monkeys’ video for why’d you Only Call me When You’re High? In this the main character is shown throughout wearing dark, almost mysterious clothing just like we have. This shows that we are conforming to this convention within the indie rock genre.

In the screenshot the facial expressions of some of the band members can also be seen, and even their body language. The body language shown in the screenshot shows them performing, but not staying still and instead getting into the music. When performing, artists need to show rhythm and tempo as a person standing stock-still doesn’t give off a good impression of himself or herself or the music. This is something that a record label would be keen to see band members incorporate in their music videos as it represents them as a high energy, enthusiastic and young band. One other band that incorporates these high-energy performance shots are the Foo Fighters. In their videos for The Pretender, Something From Nothing, Best of You, All My Life, Monkey Wrench and Times Like These the Foo Fighters incorporate lots of shots showing the band performing much like in our video.

In terms of lighting, the screenshot shows that the spotlight is being focused on the band with the rest of the room being almost entirely blacked out. This is so that the viewer focuses on the band whilst they are performing and shows them as the centrepiece of the music video. Another indie rock music video that incorporates this sort of lighting is in the song, Good Days Bad Days by the Kaiser Chiefs.

The positioning of the band members is key in this shot, as the lead singer must be shown in the centre as the main focus point. In this screenshot the leader guitarist, lead singer and drummer can be seen performing. Positioning shows cohesion and the fact that the lead singer is at the front, as the focal point shows him to the viewer as the most important member. This can bee seen in almost any music video, as the lead singer is 99% of the time the main focus point. In terms of props, the instruments are the only props and they are all positioned with each band member, naturally.

Seventh screenshot – Camerawork and editing

Seventh screenshot

The screenshot I have chosen for camerawork and editing is one that shows the lead singer and his alter ego together on screen at the same time. The shot shows him and two versions of his alter ego either side to show him as being followed and watched. The use of it as a long shot shows him as isolated in the field with fog in the background to add to the melancholy mood of the setting.

This sort of shot isn’t too common in the indie rock genre, and neither is the use of special effects in this way. Indie rock music videos tend to be pure and without too many frills almost. Our use of special effects in this way and the use of a long shot challenges what many indie rock music videos incorporate.

Eighth screenshot – Genre of music and how it is defined

Eighth screenshot

Indie rock is defined by being different and alternative. Not conforming to the norm and standing out to a niche is something that the indie rock scene prides itself in. In our video we decided not to include any labels on our clothing to avoid the mainstream brands. We decided against featuring any other characters other than the band and the lead singer’s alter ego to keep the video pure and different to what is usually available these days.

In many indie rock music videos the lighting, cinematography and editing is usually low-key and has a specific style to it. The screenshot I have chosen shows the lead guitarist performing and representing the band much like is many other indie rock music videos. The style of clothing we chose is also important as it is laid back and minimalistic, much like in songs by the Arctic Monkeys and The 1975.

In this respect, we are conforming to the styles of many other indie rock music videos so as to appeal to a very specific audience.

Ninth screenshot - Influence of other music videos etc.

Ninth screenshot

For our music video, when coming up with ideas I drew influence from the Foo Fighters, Nirvana, The Arctic Monkeys and The 1975. One such example of a direct influence was the use of an extreme close-up of the lead singer when he was performing. The shot of the mouth only is drawn from the Foo Fighters music video for the song Best of You. I saw this as a very effective shot for our genre as it showed musical talent and a high-energy style.

Another direct influence was the costumes from The 1975. In their music videos they usually appear wearing very dark, brand less clothing that links with the indie rock genre.

One final influence was the use of lots of performance shots and close-ups of the instruments being played. I took this directly from Nirvana’s Smell Like Teen Spirit. Although it is a grunge rock song I took influence from it as it showed the great musical talent of the band and forced the viewer to focus on them performing.