The 4 blog posts below this one haven't been marked/looked at yet:
1. Music videos over the decades
2. Visual Identity Components
3. Music Video
4. Visual Identity and portfolio website Links
I'm just letting you know so you don't dock marks for missing blog posts.
Thursday 28 January 2016
Monday 25 January 2016
Music Videos Over the Decades
1. Summarizing your thoughts, opinions and inspiration from the 9 videos you watched.
Michael Jackson - Thriller
I liked thriller a lot because aside from music videos with good stories, I like videos with great choreographed dances. The video has a bit of both, and has a unique theme to it that matches the song.
a-Ha - Take On Me
I enjoyed Take On Me for its special effects. Considering the stage that special effects were at in the '80s, this video was exceptional. It would have been interesting enough for the video to use the sketch effect the entire time, but to have it seamlessly switch between live-action and the special effects was what made it superb.
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
One technique I like a lot is stop motion because a lot of cool things can be done with it. This music video proved all the possibilities of working with stop motion, such as when Peter Gabriel was pretending to be on a roller coaster as the chalkboard behind him changed angles, and his hair "blew in the wind" using hair gel. What makes stop motion unique from video is that still objects can be brought to life by moving them in between each picture being taken.
The Beastie Boys - Sabotage
I don't like the Beastie Boys that much, but I think the song went well with the video, even though this type of music didn't exist in the '70s yet. The video was very loose and gritty, and also played out all of the classic scenes you would see in old cop movies, which was satisfying in a way.
The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
This music video was pretty trippy, and I love cool special effects. I could tell while watching it how much coordination and planning it took to make it seamless and natural.
Jungle - Julia
This video was not in the list, but I brought it up because it is too good to ignore. I am usually not patient when I watch music videos, and just skip ahead to get to the point, but this one I was engaged right from the beginning. I mentioned earlier that I like videos with great dance routines, and this one I felt really intertwined itself with the music. The dancing is very tight, and I liked the dramatic lighting and fighting style of dancing a lot.
OK Go - End Love
I like the music video for Here it Goes Again, but OK Go has a lot of great music videos. I chose End Love instead because while the treadmill routine is amusing, the band executed the stop motion technique in a way that exploited its full potential.
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity
I had my doubts when the video first started, and expected it to be another boring dance video, but I ended up liking this one a lot. The dancing was smooth and tight, and the moving walls/floor added an exciting touch as the dancer moved around the moving furniture.
Foster the People - Houdini
This probably my favourite music video of all time, which is why I was disappointed to see it wasn't in the lists of top 30 music videos. I really liked the story in the video, and the special effects and cinematography overall were crisp and to-the-point.
2. Which ones do you consider works of art in their own right? and Why? Note: The first video - Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" was exhibited in New York's Museum of Modern Art.
The most artistic video in my opinion is Julia by Jungle. While all of the other videos are intriguing, amusing, and mind-blowing, this one was the most expressive. The silent dancing to the music generated an energy and mood that I rarely feel when watching a music video, because unlike videos where people dance to either show off their bodies or dance moves, this one focused on the dance rather than the dancers.
3. Also, comment on the types of changes you noticed through the decades. (Lighting, editing, sophistication, pace etc.)
I noticed some obvious technical changes in music videos over the decades. Firstly, the quality of the resolution has increased as camera technology improved. The special effects have also gotten better. For example, the video for Once in a Lifetime has primitive effects compared to what exists today. Even several years later, an improvement is already seen in Take On Me with the sketch effect mixed with live-action. If you compare the green screen effect used in Once in a Lifetime to Houdini, the improvement is obvious. Another change I noticed that wasn't demonstrated in the lists of music videos I saw was the length and pacing. When music videos came out they more often than not jumped into the song without much introduction, and ended with the song. I noticed that is becoming popular in music videos to focus on the story a lot, and have long introductions and conclusions. I don't think modern music videos have more, better stories to them than old ones, but they certainly focus on the story more than the music, while it was the other way back then. For example, Kanye West made a 30 minute music video called "Runaway" with multiple songs in the short film. Another common thing done in modern music videos is to have sound effects throughout the video, and even parts where the music stops in the middle for dialogue to happen. Not even 20 years ago, the audio in a music video was simply the song without pauses or extra sounds put in.
4. How does the Arcade Fire video compare to the earlier decades?
Considering the fact that the internet didn't even exist when music videos first came out, the Arcade Fire video is rocket science in comparison. Green screens were the latest technology at one point, and would have put people in awe the same way it did when "We Used to Wait" came out. This video is complex, the way it takes the information you give it (location on Google Earth) and incorporates it into the video, and opens and closes windows automatically as the song plays, followed by the part when you type in a message to your past self. Although this will be normal in the future, I find it intriguing how as the person turns around in circles, the street view turns as well, or how it shows the person running on the ground in the aerial view of the neighbourhood you grew up in. If music videos continue to take this course, I will want to watch them all the time.
5. What's next in music videos in your opinion?
Music videos have come a long way, but I think they still have room for improvement. However, I don't think the improvement should be in the technology, but the creators of the videos. I feel that a lot of music videos, especially ones today, don't have much direction. Many music videos now are basically singers doing promiscuous dancing/singing in different locations wearing different outfits, and the video is made up of cuts to those different shots. Even when there is a story, it's usually pretty basic, and even then still has those slow motion shots to show off how attractive the performers are. The one commodity that all of the videos I listed have is they all have direction. Even if there isn't a story being directly told, there is a clear rising action, climax, and falling action. All of these videos have interesting imagery as well, whether it was the dance moves, special effects, or simply the overall look of the shoot (colour balance, pace, acting).
In the future I hope artists take advantage of what can be done with technology, or get creative with the stories in the videos. Either way, I think all music videos should be engaging right from the start, and have a clear direction.
1. Comment on the pacing, artistic style, lighting and artistic intent/meaning.
I think this video hit all the points technically and artistically. There was a lot of camera movement that helped make shots dynamic, including truck, pan, tilt, and zoom. If the shots were taken in a static position (no camera movement) it would have made the video look more like a home video than a professional production. I also liked the colouration of the sets and filter on the camera: for example, the red and gold in the background at 0:28, or the platinum white instruments and outfits with the saturated blue stage lights at 2:43. The special effects were also very satisfying to the eye. I liked how at 1:49 the shot starts with all the people in the green screen suits holding the performers, and then when the video starts they disappear, and it looks like the band is alive and playing their instruments. Another touch I liked was the slow motion to realtime transition that happens throughout the video, such as at 1:56. As for the story, I thought it was unique and well-developed, with the problem in the beginning, and how everything came together in the end, finishing the video with a shot of the crew partying around the dead band members.
2. How does this video visually express the emotional theme of the music?
The video goes well with the music. Despite the dark humour, it is a positive, energetic video that matches the mood of the music. I am not sure if this is a coincidence, but I like how the song is called Houdini, and at 1:50 the green screen people disappear just as the lead singer says "sometimes I wanna disappear." The video uses lots of popping colours and cool special effects that I think match the colour of the song, so to speak. The song is tight with an electric touch, and the visuals match it well.
Michael Jackson - Thriller
I liked thriller a lot because aside from music videos with good stories, I like videos with great choreographed dances. The video has a bit of both, and has a unique theme to it that matches the song.
a-Ha - Take On Me
I enjoyed Take On Me for its special effects. Considering the stage that special effects were at in the '80s, this video was exceptional. It would have been interesting enough for the video to use the sketch effect the entire time, but to have it seamlessly switch between live-action and the special effects was what made it superb.
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
One technique I like a lot is stop motion because a lot of cool things can be done with it. This music video proved all the possibilities of working with stop motion, such as when Peter Gabriel was pretending to be on a roller coaster as the chalkboard behind him changed angles, and his hair "blew in the wind" using hair gel. What makes stop motion unique from video is that still objects can be brought to life by moving them in between each picture being taken.
The Beastie Boys - Sabotage
I don't like the Beastie Boys that much, but I think the song went well with the video, even though this type of music didn't exist in the '70s yet. The video was very loose and gritty, and also played out all of the classic scenes you would see in old cop movies, which was satisfying in a way.
The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
This music video was pretty trippy, and I love cool special effects. I could tell while watching it how much coordination and planning it took to make it seamless and natural.
Jungle - Julia
This video was not in the list, but I brought it up because it is too good to ignore. I am usually not patient when I watch music videos, and just skip ahead to get to the point, but this one I was engaged right from the beginning. I mentioned earlier that I like videos with great dance routines, and this one I felt really intertwined itself with the music. The dancing is very tight, and I liked the dramatic lighting and fighting style of dancing a lot.
OK Go - End Love
I like the music video for Here it Goes Again, but OK Go has a lot of great music videos. I chose End Love instead because while the treadmill routine is amusing, the band executed the stop motion technique in a way that exploited its full potential.
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity
I had my doubts when the video first started, and expected it to be another boring dance video, but I ended up liking this one a lot. The dancing was smooth and tight, and the moving walls/floor added an exciting touch as the dancer moved around the moving furniture.
Foster the People - Houdini
This probably my favourite music video of all time, which is why I was disappointed to see it wasn't in the lists of top 30 music videos. I really liked the story in the video, and the special effects and cinematography overall were crisp and to-the-point.
2. Which ones do you consider works of art in their own right? and Why? Note: The first video - Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" was exhibited in New York's Museum of Modern Art.
The most artistic video in my opinion is Julia by Jungle. While all of the other videos are intriguing, amusing, and mind-blowing, this one was the most expressive. The silent dancing to the music generated an energy and mood that I rarely feel when watching a music video, because unlike videos where people dance to either show off their bodies or dance moves, this one focused on the dance rather than the dancers.
3. Also, comment on the types of changes you noticed through the decades. (Lighting, editing, sophistication, pace etc.)
I noticed some obvious technical changes in music videos over the decades. Firstly, the quality of the resolution has increased as camera technology improved. The special effects have also gotten better. For example, the video for Once in a Lifetime has primitive effects compared to what exists today. Even several years later, an improvement is already seen in Take On Me with the sketch effect mixed with live-action. If you compare the green screen effect used in Once in a Lifetime to Houdini, the improvement is obvious. Another change I noticed that wasn't demonstrated in the lists of music videos I saw was the length and pacing. When music videos came out they more often than not jumped into the song without much introduction, and ended with the song. I noticed that is becoming popular in music videos to focus on the story a lot, and have long introductions and conclusions. I don't think modern music videos have more, better stories to them than old ones, but they certainly focus on the story more than the music, while it was the other way back then. For example, Kanye West made a 30 minute music video called "Runaway" with multiple songs in the short film. Another common thing done in modern music videos is to have sound effects throughout the video, and even parts where the music stops in the middle for dialogue to happen. Not even 20 years ago, the audio in a music video was simply the song without pauses or extra sounds put in.
4. How does the Arcade Fire video compare to the earlier decades?
Considering the fact that the internet didn't even exist when music videos first came out, the Arcade Fire video is rocket science in comparison. Green screens were the latest technology at one point, and would have put people in awe the same way it did when "We Used to Wait" came out. This video is complex, the way it takes the information you give it (location on Google Earth) and incorporates it into the video, and opens and closes windows automatically as the song plays, followed by the part when you type in a message to your past self. Although this will be normal in the future, I find it intriguing how as the person turns around in circles, the street view turns as well, or how it shows the person running on the ground in the aerial view of the neighbourhood you grew up in. If music videos continue to take this course, I will want to watch them all the time.
5. What's next in music videos in your opinion?
Music videos have come a long way, but I think they still have room for improvement. However, I don't think the improvement should be in the technology, but the creators of the videos. I feel that a lot of music videos, especially ones today, don't have much direction. Many music videos now are basically singers doing promiscuous dancing/singing in different locations wearing different outfits, and the video is made up of cuts to those different shots. Even when there is a story, it's usually pretty basic, and even then still has those slow motion shots to show off how attractive the performers are. The one commodity that all of the videos I listed have is they all have direction. Even if there isn't a story being directly told, there is a clear rising action, climax, and falling action. All of these videos have interesting imagery as well, whether it was the dance moves, special effects, or simply the overall look of the shoot (colour balance, pace, acting).
In the future I hope artists take advantage of what can be done with technology, or get creative with the stories in the videos. Either way, I think all music videos should be engaging right from the start, and have a clear direction.
1. Comment on the pacing, artistic style, lighting and artistic intent/meaning.
I think this video hit all the points technically and artistically. There was a lot of camera movement that helped make shots dynamic, including truck, pan, tilt, and zoom. If the shots were taken in a static position (no camera movement) it would have made the video look more like a home video than a professional production. I also liked the colouration of the sets and filter on the camera: for example, the red and gold in the background at 0:28, or the platinum white instruments and outfits with the saturated blue stage lights at 2:43. The special effects were also very satisfying to the eye. I liked how at 1:49 the shot starts with all the people in the green screen suits holding the performers, and then when the video starts they disappear, and it looks like the band is alive and playing their instruments. Another touch I liked was the slow motion to realtime transition that happens throughout the video, such as at 1:56. As for the story, I thought it was unique and well-developed, with the problem in the beginning, and how everything came together in the end, finishing the video with a shot of the crew partying around the dead band members.
The video goes well with the music. Despite the dark humour, it is a positive, energetic video that matches the mood of the music. I am not sure if this is a coincidence, but I like how the song is called Houdini, and at 1:50 the green screen people disappear just as the lead singer says "sometimes I wanna disappear." The video uses lots of popping colours and cool special effects that I think match the colour of the song, so to speak. The song is tight with an electric touch, and the visuals match it well.
Visual Identity: Finished Components
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| Business Card |
 |
| Envelope |
 |
| Flyer |
 |
| Logo |
 |
| Custom USB with free sample library |
Sunday 24 January 2016
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