Unit 18- Cinematography -D2

D2

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Editing Style

I have chosen a particular editing stye. I wanted it to have not a lot of editing with transition but more like a jumps cut style where i have a montage of clips just playing one after another. I liked this style and it looked similar to other professional music videos. This is also the style of what a dance video would look like a lot of different clips maybe also repeated to get that montage of clips effect. all i had to do for this editing style is make sure my clips are cut the the right length and so it looks smooth when they jump to each clip. I also needed to make sure it was in an order that i liked, i needed clips to be placed where they are not the same as one another. It looks a lot more effect when it comes to having all different clips jumping to one after another to get the montage look. 

This was a very simple process and so i did add some transitions to make sure that some of the clips transitions smoother or a bit more interesting than it being the same all the way through. The transitions were a fade into black which is done automatically when you place the transition setting over the clip that is needing the transition. These work well in so many different types of media such as film and more and so i knew when i was adding a few of these they would be effective to make my piece look a lot smoother and a bit more interesting.

I also did a different type of editing towards the end were i added another layer of my offline edit on, and cut the clips that i wanted layering again with a razor tool. I then placed all the layering clips over the area that i wanted them to be on. Then for each clip i changed the opacity down to around 25% to 45% depending on the clips because the colours needed to stand out but still look effective. I then got rid of the clips i didn't need and checked to make sure it looked good and blended in with the other clips. This is how i created that part of the editing towards the end to give it a little something different and so it wasn't so boring all the way through. It isn't all boring because the content is fun and always something different however, the edit was very effective and it added something different to the montage style.    

Roland Barthes

Roland Barthes theory is the narrative codes, these are five different codes that weave together to create a story. The codes are hermeneutic, proairetic codes, semantic, symbolic and cultural codes. They all have different meanings and an importance in different medias. 

When a writer deliberately withholds information from the audience to leave a plot point unexplained, they are using a hermeneutic code. This means we are left to form our own different interpretations on the story, which may lead to questions and cliff hangers along the way. Proairetic codes are plot points which are caused by previous events and lead to other actions. Writers create a pleasing sort of tension by making the audience wonder how the event will be resolved. This is like when two good superhero's are fighting each other, we don't know who will win because they are both good and usually one is bad, this leaves the audience questioning again. Semantic codes, these signs carried connotations beyond their basic definition and gave the reader a little more insight to the characters, setting and plot. This is such as the place a character may lives will determine what type of character he may be. A simple school boy lives in a small house with one parent showing his simple humble live he may live. These types of codes come from comics or books and are now being seen in film and more. Barthes suggested symbolic codes are a “battle” between contrasting signs. For example, the words “hot” and “cold” could be two very different semantic codes. However, when they are placed together in a story, the binary opposites help emphasise the difference between whatever characters or setting are being represented. These cultural codes include historical, social, psychological or literary references.

I don't think there is any of these codes specifically that i have used in this theory. I have used different theories but i don't think that i have used anything relating to this. Nothing in my music video is this significant to tell a story. My music video shows more about meaning instead of a story. These codes would be good in a music video that allows there to be meaning and story line however i don't see that in my video. My video is more about getting up and dancing enjoying the upbeat song and having a boogie. Whereas some songs are a bit more emotional and have a deepening story line to them which is why i think that Roland Barthes codes are a lot more important for those types of videos than what i have created. That doesn't take away meaning from my music video though, because it is very lively and upbeat it still shows joy and happiness in music and dance. 

Compare

I thought that these shots to me look similar, my shot is a slow motion shot that shows power, togetherness and beauty. It also sets the scene, shows you what’s coming up. It’s very professional and it is a montage of these types of clips. This is very similar to mine and I feel like they both show that convention of a music video. The shots are showing meaning while being entertaining. The professional video has lighting that is very powerful and it shows the audience who is important in the shot, it is showing the main subject is glowing suggesting she’s the main character. The makeup and costume matches with the style of the music video, it is bold and fun. This doesn’t just link in with the style of the lighting and costumes but it also matches the powerful fun song/ style. This is what I have done with my music video. I have linked the style of the song with the style I’m filming in. Please don’t stop the music suggests the songs never stop the partying is forever and have the best time. That is what I have done with my music video. The dancing never stops the singing is forever and it’s a disco until the music stops. The lighting in my shot show that style like the professional shot is showing that’s to come. Also the editing style is a montage like style and this is what I have incorporated into my music video. This shows the link to my music video and a professional style. I have used these as inspiration to make sure I follow the right codes and conventions of a professional music video. 

I picked this shot due to the codes and conventions of music videos. The camera angles is what I wanted to talk about and the lighting. The lighting is again different it’s more dulling and that changes the mood of the professional shot. It is very moody and it shows little highlights of her face, this is a close up shot and is very personal. This gives the audience a bit of an intense connection. I think that’s important because it shows the audience can listen and understand the lyrics. If someone is talking to you from afar are they going to listen intensely or are they not going to understand you. However, if you are close then someone is mor likely to be invested and listen. This is why I have done the same. Using close up shots are a lot more connecting to the audience and is very personal. I like that meaning and connection and so that’s why I used this angle and lighting. To create meaning, connection and mood. That is a part of a music video and that’s what I needed in mine to make it a music video.

This shot is something a bit more different it’s about performance. Depending on the type of music video a few of them involve dancing and a performance. This doesn’t always have to be in a music video however, it is in mine and the professional one that I picked. The performances are both upbeat, they are fun and enjoyable to watch. Each music video has different lighting which matches the style of music video. One is very colourful and disco like. Whereas one is relating to a specific theme which is rain and city like and so that’s the lighting involved. This is how you can link the codes and conventions of a music video with a performance also being involved. You can add a dance in but if it doesn’t match the style then it won’t look like a part of a music video. This is why researching is at best and seeing what works with styles and songs. These performances also create meaning and relation to songs, this is what I like about the link with my music video and a professional one.

Summary

I needed to reach a type of cinematic atmosphere and look to my music video. I think i have done this by adding a few different types of editing and filming techniques. I have used various cameras angles and shots that provide not only depth but a personal connection too. I have also used many different types of editing techniques such as jump cuts, montage stye, transitions and opaque layers. These are created a unique look to my music video, it makes it interesting and has a different outlook to it. I have also followed codes and conventions of a music video to make sure i have linked the style of music video to the content that is involved in my video. Not only have i done all of those but i have created meaning in my music video too and that brings a different style of atmosphere to it and i think that has made my music video as fun and successful. I have enjoyed making this music video and i believe that it looks like a great piece. Next time you may film on a different type of camera (DSLR) to try and improve the overall visual look of my footage. Though my phone gave me the intended output the customization of settings was limited and for further improvements a DSLR may suit my work better. I will try using something different to film, i think that i will get a bit of a more customisable settings through a camera and that i can adjust things on the camera instead of the settings. Using my phone did work and it was good practically however, to improve the footage further next time i would like to try using a camera. Another thing I would look at adjusting is the aspect ratio on some of my footage due to how i filmed it as some of the dancing clips have a black border at the top and bottom of the screen wasting the usage of my space. In future I will consider the framing when filming to make sure I use all space effectively or adjust this in the edit possibly croping it to fill the screen, but I would need to make sure I am not cropping anything relevant out to fit this.