My group and I have decided to create a film opening in the genre of Indie. Here is my research into the codes and conventions that are used used in the openings of texts from this genre.
Typical conventions from the indie genre usually include:
Mis-en-scene:
- warm colors
- casual clothing
- no crazy editings
- no expensive props
Camera:
-long shots
-medium shots
-close shots
-static and random shots
Edit:
-quick cuts
-montages
Sound:
- non diegetifc of the music itself
In-depth (2)
#1 Bilal Indrajaya - Niscaya
Produced by: the organism
Distributed by: -
Genre / Sub genre:
- Indie
What conventions does it conform to?
- The convention I see from this video is that its low budget. Indie genre music is produced in a low budget, hence they wont be able to afford fancy effects or equipments such as extra lighting or a cinema camera. This can be seen from the lighting, they mostly used natural lighting. However this is a good way to capture the actor's emotions within the scenes as it makes it more genuine and natural.
- Another convention it has is that there is minimal editing in the scenes. Unlike pop music, heavy on effects and fancy transitions, indie songs use little editing. Such as in this music video where they order the scenes in a chronological order, since the song has a narrative.
What conventions does it subvert?
- This is a general convention for a music video, most music videos does not have credits however this music video does have end credits in the ending. I believe this is a way that the producers want to market the people in the making and the studios mentioned, this is because people who are in the indie genre are usually not very famous. This is a way for the producers to increase their customer base and reach a wider range of audience.
- Another convention it subverted is that there is no performance such as a singer or actor singing the actual song or a band playing the song. I think this is a unique way of the artist trying to differentiate themselves from other music videos. The focus on the narrative allows a more emotional focus towards the audience, it helps the audience feel more connected towards the actors and the song itself. To me , this makes it more enjoyable to watch as it feels more artistic and creative.
What representations are there? (people/places/events)
-Indonesian people ( using Indonesian actors)
- Nature ( filmed outside showing natural elements such as trees)
- People in relationships
- Romance
What technical elements are used to give meaning to the representations?
Camera:
- Long shot of the male actor sitting alone in a forest connotes a feeling of isolation and loneliness. This could foreshadow the upcoming things that are going to happen within the music video. I like this part since it gives a small teaser on what s going to happen making me curious and hooked on to it. This also forces the audience to watch the whole music video to properly decode the meaning in the beginning.
- What i noticed was that most of the shots was static . Probably because the producer wanted to highlight the emotions of the video such as the sadness and etc.
- There were multiple medium shots as well such as when the male actor was alone in the campfire. This intensifies the emotion as it highlights more towards his face making it the centre of attention for the audience.
- I like the medium shot of when the couple was hugging each other when watching a movie. Blocking the projector and creating a shadow behind them. It could represent the big connection between them.
- There were also multiple close up shots such as when the male actor was trying to take a picture of the female actor this could show that he wants to hold a memory of them together. This highlights the moment between them.
Sound:
- non diegetic sound of the indonesian song to target indonesian people
Mis-en-scene:
- The way the music video represents Indonesian people is by using Indonesian actors. The whole music video was acted out by Indonesian actors only. Since the song's lyrics is in Indonesian, I believe this will give a deeper effect towards the emotions shown in the actors as their Indonesian, it will show how Indonesian people react to the situation demonstrated in the scenes. Maybe the way the couple in the music video spend time together, such as going to a villa,
- The campire scene in the video could show comfort and a deep connection between the two actors. This sets the emotional atmosphere to match with the lyric's message ( something to do with breaking up). As well the fire could connote the spark in the relationship as followed after a long shot of both of them sitting together behind the campire, theres happy moments between them such as laughing and smiling .
- As well the actors can be seen using the color red and black. The color red could connote the male actor's intense feelings as seen by a long shot of him sitting down in a chair feeling emotionless. While the color black worn by the female actor could connot a feeling of melancoly or sadness as she's seen behind the male actor in the same shot. This could show how they are slowly drifting away from each other.
- Yellow lighting of fire makes the scenes more dramatic and emotional ( such as the scene when they were hugging behind the campire)
- the firework sticks being lit up shows how their relationship is slowly fading, as it gets nearer to the end it can be seen that starting from the top the spark starts to get closer to the edge meaning it will run out soon. Matched with the scenes, it connotes that their relationship is coming to an end as towards the end the female actor starts to appear less and there were more individual scenes where the actors were alone.
- The overall setting is in a forest, trees and anything related to nature usually has something to do with tranquility. Though in this music video it can be shown to show isolation. When the guy is sitting down on the chair in the middle of the forest, the tall trees and the plants around him , making him appear more vulnerable or exposed.
-Warm tone to give enhance the emotional effect. The greenish tone gives out a comfortable and inviting atmosphere towards the audience. Combined with the other scenes, it connotes a special bond between the actors as if its replaying some sort of memory or quality moments in their relationship.
Edit:
- cuts were used to show the storytelling , it was structured in a chronological order to make it easier for us the audience to derive the message. Which ishow they start to drift away from each other as the video reaches the end.
#2 Jordan Susanto - Senopati In The Rain, 2024
Produced by: I couldn't find the company
Distributed by: I couldn't find the company
Genre / Sub genre:
+ Romance
What conventions does it conform to?
- It has performance , showing the artist playing the instruments such as the guitar and piano. I think this increases the engagement with the audience as it looks like the artist is playing right infront of the audience like a live performance.
- Low budgeted since they didn't do a lot of acting and the camera movement and shots did not seem professional it looks more of a handheld footage. Though I think this is because the artist or producer wanted to make it seem natural and realistic , making it more authentic.
What conventions does it subvert?
+ The video has subtittles , conventions of these music videos is that it does not come with lyrics of the music on the music video. I think this is a good idea since the video doesn't really show a lot of storytelling or a plot, having subtittles is another way that could keep the audience engaged. This is a good idea for me and my group if we dont have the budget, keeping the audience entertained is important. Hence having subtittles will keep them entertained as it allows them to sing along, making it more convinient instead of finding the lyrics by itself.
What representations are there? (people/places/events)
+ Indonesian people ( Jakarta specifically since the song mentions jakarta and it seemed like the shooting was in Jakarta as well )
What technical elements are used to give meaning to the representations?
Camera:
+ Multiple long shots and medium shots of the artist playing the instruments such as the piano and
guitar.
+ Handheld camera shots such as the long shot of the artist and his friends were used to make the music video feel more authentic. Since it filters how people typically record events or daily activities.
+ Long shots of the artist and his friends hanging out and having fun with each other. This could help develop the mood, capturing their facial expressions and them being a group. The song has a positive atmosphere so this could enhance that effect.
+ Long shots of the urban city at night were used , this was to display the setting of the music video. Since its casual and public, it looks like the artist or producer is trying to convey that anybody can have the same vibe or atmosphere as him. It reflects people's daily lifes which makes it seem more personal to us as the audience .
Mise-en-scene:
+ Use of casual clothing , therefore producer wants the audience to focus more on the expressions such as how he is enjoying playing the intrsuments and singing.
+ Background is his own studio, this also could show authenticity as it shows how the whole music is being developed.
+ Aligning witht he positive wibe the artist is trying to convey, warm color furniture is used in the background for the music videos. The colors red and brown can evoke a feeling of comfort and warm making it more inviting for us the audience to watch the music video.
+ It was also shot at night time which allows the producer or artist to use the lights from street lamps or car lights to make the video seem more soft, emphasizing the affection between the people within the video
Sound:
+ Only the non diegetic sound of the music playing in the background, lyrics include a city of Indonesia which is Jakarta, to target Indonesian people
Edit:
+ Montages and quick cuts of people having time together builds up the energy that the song has.
+ Split screen of the artist playing an instrument and singing at the same time makes the video more dynamic. It also shows the complexity of making the song, allowing us the audience to give more appreciation.
General research(6)
#1 Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine, 2023
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
- female audience, ages 17 above, since the actor in the video is a girl I think this would target mostly to female audience .
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
- What I would like to use from the music video is probably the tone and colors of the video. The song has a slow pace and the blueish tone in the video complements the song. It enhances the feeling of sadness and tranquility. I as the audience could feel the emotions as well .
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
- The overall concept of the music video seems very complicated to do, the mis-en-scene doesnt seem budget friendly for a student like me ( the many chairs stacking up). To me it is quite difficult as well to derive a connection between the lyrics and the video.
#2 d4vd - Here With Me, 2023
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
- People who are in romantic relationships. The video shows loads of mis-en-scene related to love such as hugging and spending moments with a signficant other .
- People the ages of 17+ like teens both to male and female, since the actors seems young and occasations such the one in the video . Though it could also target the older ages such as 50+ as the music video uses someone of that age looking back through memory.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
- I liked the concept of the video, the mis-en-scene really alligns with the lyrics such as their bright colored clothing while having fun time at the beach. The song is mostly about love and watching the music video with romantic scenes sets the right mood for listening the song. It was mostly montages of random camera movement which made it seem more natural and personal. Something me as a student could do as its easy without having any special effects or expensive props.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
- Probably the parts where all the mis-en-scene darkens ( black clothing, night time and etc) , this is when everything turns upside down. The concept is a bit too much for something like us students to do, especially at night time where most of us would probably be unavailable. The use of the blindfold is a bit too much and the glowing effect in the hand ( difficult to edit ).
#3 Reality Club - Anything You Want 2022
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
- People the ages of 17+ for both females and males. The music video also shows a couple so probably people who are in a realationship .
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
- A part I like about the video is the performance especially for the vocalist, the way she sings the song with the facial expressions makes the video more energetic as If I was watching a live performance. This is something doable for a student like me as lip-syncing the song would be quite difficult as we wont know the expressions or feelings of an actual singer. Therefore this video could help us make it happen.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
- The concept of the couples having a romantic time confuses me as well as the overall green color tone makes it look mysterious ( which to me doesn't fit well with the song ).
- There was too much performance, not enough screen time for the actors making the plot confusing. I think if there was less performance and added more scenes for the acting, the video wouldve developed a better meaning .
#4 Pete Yorn - Real Good Love, 2024
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
- People the ages of 15+ for both females and males. The video only shows multiple pictures so I think it could target a wider range of audience ( not very niche )
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
- Its very low budgeted since the music video only uses picture to picture. Even though its simple, its something me and my group can apply to the project.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
- Its not very engaging, even though all the pictures are different it becomes repetitive. It lacks diversity of content making us as the audience probably lose interest in watching as nothing will hook on to our attention. So I will try to avoid this and not use as many pictures and present it in a more engaging way .
#5 BabyJake - "Don't Hurt Me So Bad!", 2024
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
- People the ages of 18+ for both females and males. The video only shows the artist performing and singing the song so it can target a wider range of audience.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
- The camera angel is very unique its somewhat using like a fisheye lens combined with a longshot of the artist playing the piano. Eventhough I wont necessarily use this idea it will remind me to be creative with the music video as the way the producer has done this makes it unique .
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
- Its boring as its just the same thing over and over. So I would try to avoid doing the same thing over and over
#6 Joji - Die For You 2023
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
- People the ages of 18+ for both females and males. The video only shows clips of various activities such as lighting fireworks and cycling
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
- This could be used as a last resort plan if any of our shooting plans dont work, this could be an alternative as videos used in this video weren't involving the artist .
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
- I dont really understand the correlation between the videos and the song itself, it seemed very random and out of place. I wouldn't use this as my main Idea.
This research was the most influencial for me. Before this project, I have not watched any kind of music video, therefore starting this project made me worried since I dont have an idea on what a music video is like. This research has given me a heads up on what to possbily imagine in our music video. Especially in the detailed research where I had to analyse its key elements. By analysing the camera angles , sound and etc we are able to streamline our plan for the music video idea. Such as whether we are trying to confirm or subvert the convention of the genre. A problem I had while doing this research was again time management, since I was tasked to do 2 detailed and 6 mini ones. Because Im not used to analysing a music video, I had to rewatch it multiple times. So a solution I had while doing this is to do it slowly step by step so whenever I have free time I will continue doing this blogpost. Though in the future I would like to do more research if I do ever have another project since getting more ideas is better rather than being stuck and having no idea on what to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment