Video Ideas

For our video idea, my group discussed that we wanted to do something outside the box in which we decided that filming with a drone would be a great idea. In the past helicopters were predominantly used due to their versatility over a fixed winged plane. However, you still needed a lot of time to prepare onsite and numerous staff to manage the process and ensure a safe operation. A drone is much smaller and is a 'one man job' meaning it is easy to set up can be up and flying in around 5 minutes, assuming all site surveys and risk assessments have been completed. 

They are also very versatile as they can fly from only a few centimetres of the ground to 400 feet in the air as one long continuous shot, whilst panning and framing a chosen subject. Drones can fly from inside a room and out through a window or door, creating a very unique shot. With zero emissions, using battery-powered drones is an environmentally friendlier alternative that helicopters meaning whilst capturing these shots we wont be harming anything.

The ideas I suggested were that we can create amazing establishing shots of the city during the evening , when the sun is setting, which would perfectly suit the song of Jessie J "Sweet Talker". As the song is quite slow, having a shot of the city creates a calm atmosphere that would not only add meaning to the video but would be visually pleasing to the rest of the audience keeping them engaged.  

Case Study Rihanna Work

Synopsis 
Performance and narrative video of Rihanna and Drake singing for their problematic relationship with each other.

Themes
 One theme presented in this video is love " You took my heart on my sleeve for decoration You mistaken my love I brought for you for foundation" Even though it isn't really obvious in the video as the video overshadows the lyrics, it is evident through the lyrics that is about love.

 .There is also a cultural theme in this video as it predominantly consists of Bajan cultural norms such as smoking marijuana , provocative dancing between other people, partying late hours of the night. 

.There is also a feeling of patriotism within the video as Rihanna decided to focus on her heritage as the very center of this piece in which she looks like she's in her comfort zone as she also incorporates Caribbean lexis "When u ah guh Learn learn learn learn learn learn Mi nuh cyar if him" to suit well with no only her theme but her choice of fashion.

 .Like in 'Papi' there is also a theme of unrequited love evident in the first verse where Rihanna tells the story of falling for someone who takes advantage of her vulnerability and gives her nothing in return, " I believed all of your dreams, adoration You took my heart and my keys and my patience You took my heart on my sleeve for decoration You mistaken my love I brought for you for foundation All that I wanted from you was to give me something that I never had"

. Towards the end of Drakes verse he finishes off by saying that talking "face to face"would clear up a lot of issues in the relationship while patience is important ,"We just need to slow the motion " , so is communication meaning both must work in tandem so things can work. ("Work work")

  mise en scene
 To begin with, the colours really added to the environment. The dress Rihanna was wearing was divided into Rastafarian colours, which we usually associate with the likes of Bob Marley. Then, there was the lighting and wall colours, which had the same theme of yellow, green, and red. While subtle, it added to the overall ambiance of the video, and really made it clear that this video was a cultural celebration. Then, there's the fact that almost all of the dances that the partygoers were seen doing in the music video were actually dances that are commonly done at parties across the Caribbean. The food that was being prepared in one shot was jerk chicken, a Caribbean delicacy. On top of that, all of the people in the video were people of colour, people of the culture.

Ideas for my own music video
For my music video i will draw inspiration from the party scenes where the camera goes in slow motion which captures the essence and the vibes throughout the party. The slow motion effect is also effective as it highlights and marks keys moments which adds to the concept of the video as a whole. The slow motion could also be implied as an imitation of when someone has been drinking and the environment around them seems to be going at a slower rate. I am very fond about using this idea for my music video as it brings an element of fun and engagement for the audience. I also like the lighting used for this video as its quite dim but not too dim where artists faces are unidentifiable. the lighting , for me, adds a sense of intimacy because everyone is crowded next to each other .

Case Study - Jennifer Lopez Papi

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Synopsis 
Performance and conceptual based video of Jennifer Lopez singing about her being in a dysfunctional  helping relationship as she is a codependent wife or girlfriend to her 'Papi'.

Themes
the main theme in this song is love and some elements of it being unrequited " My rock is shining bright
Even if he ain't by my side" This could possibly have two meanings , one of which could be her being an independent women in which she lives her life without her 'papi' being her main priority , or it could imply her being an individual but longing for her companion to be by her side.  

.Another theme is female empowerment evident in the lyrics "Now all my super ladies
I got my baby
If you got your baby, baby". The use of the premodifying adjective "super, reinforces female superiority towards men as she refers to them as " baby" which can be implied as a belittling statement. Her target audience here are females who have a 'papi', meaning significant other, and that they should dance for them "Dance for your papi". This line also has an underlying sexual connotation as people in relationships use the phrase "to dance for your man " meaning to dance in a sexually provocative way for your significant way. 

.There is also a theme of 'oblivious love' where numerous amount of men are chasing after her and would would go extra lengths just to get her approval however you could say , there are also elements of faithfulness as despite the hundreds of men chasing after her she sticks to her one true love , 'papi' " I'll make sure everybody knows"  

mise en scene

The video starts off like a scene of a movie where Jennifer walks into the establishing shot in her apartment asking for her mail. The camera then switches to a slightly over the shoulder , mid shot focused on her phone with a picture of her and her significant other. This shot helps the audience to establish the male in the photo to be 'Papi'. As most of her target audience would know Jennifer's career background aside form singing also involves acting in rom-coms movies, she draws these romantic-comedic elements into her music videos as it would be something that her target audience is familiar with.

After that scene it lets the audience know its the next morning by having it stated at the bottom left of a panning , establishing shot of the early hours of New York City , then to different establishing shots of the NYC. It goes back to the same location of the previous scene where Jennifer is coming out of the apartment lobby looking glowing with a cute , nude two piece playsuit with nude heels, natural makeup and loose curls. The tracking shot signifies her importance for the rest of the video but has a fast cutaway to a mid shot of male stranger at the back who looks once then again as he fully acknowledges Jennifer's presence , it then cuts away again to Jennifer exiting the hallway where the lights are really dim and can only see her silhouette. This scene could connote that she is finally stepping out into the 'light' or the phrase ' light at the end of the tunnel' in this sense meaning that herself an an individual is coming away from a dark place and stepping into a brighter future without her 'Papi'. 

Ideas for my own video
For my own video some of my inspiration will be from this video in terms of camera angles and shots. I really love the use of the establishing shot which to a degree adds to the story as a whole and is a great way to start a music video. I also like the fun , energetic vibe from the video and the way it keeps you engaged with the fast cutting rates and the ambient lighting which i would like to apply to the music video 

Case Study - Eve Tambourine

Synopsis

Performance based music video of Eve singing about women's self confidence.

Themes presented in the video 
-- In this song , Eve predominantly talks about women's empowerment and solidarity evident in the lyrics " So they be watching while we wiggle around
Look at them drooling, ni**as ain't used to dis sound" referring that the men are 'drooling' over the women because they are shaking their 'tambourines' , the metaphor used for a females behind. 

-- Theres also another theme of women coming to the defence of black men to the larger society        "ni**as ain't used to dis sound

 I keep em moving, all ma ladies put ya hands in the air". Eve is trying to put across that    black women shouldn't care about what black men say about them and how they put them  down but to "put ya hands in the air" meaning to just do you and be true yourself.

-- In a less direct way , a theme of friendship is also implied visually in the video as Eve      portrays herself as a women of affluence with female maids and cooks serving her.  Throughout the video images are primarily focused on Eve by herself with jewels , clothing  and cars, However at the end of the video Eve is pictured at a party where the same that  were portrayed as her maids in the beginning are now shown as her friends who are now    dancing and talking around her. 

Camera Angles & Shots

.The cutting rate is in sync with the song which has a normal paced tempo.

.There is a high angle close up shot (direct address) of Eve which is effect because it acknowledges the presence of the audience and makes the video more intimate . 

. There are frequent establishing shots which assists the audience to understand the location . This shot also helps to strengthen the visual aspects of the video as is consists of primary and complementary colours. 

. A hand-held approach is used throughout the video but ever so slightly. This somewhat imitates they movement of real human eyes because we process images by looking at the whole surrounding so this added effect makes the video more engaging despite all the intense colours imbedded. 

Ideas for my music video

I love the visual aspect to this video which I would like to translate into my own video. It is also fun and has consecutive cutting rates which would keep the audience entertained. Despite this video being released 7 years ago, there is a timeless essence attached to it due to the fun , vibrant concept.