Narrative theories which I applied to my music video

Tim O'Sullivan argues all media texts tell a story
Media texts offer a way of telling stories about ourselves - stories of us as a culture

He also argues that narratives have a common structure such as an establishment of the theme, the development of the problem and finally an increase of tension.

This relates to my media video as it does tell a story and my story shows the empowerment of women in our era and culture...
My video begins with the establishment of the theme of heartbreak as my protagonist leaves the male heartbroken in the church, then the problem develops as she moves on to her next target and leaves Jacko in the middle of the night leading to an increase of tension.

TERMINOLOGY
- NARRATIVE: THE STRUCTURE OF A STORY
- DIEGESIS: THE FICTIONAL SPACE AND TIME IMPLIED BY THE NARRATIVE - THE WORLD IN WHICH THE STORY TAKES PLACE

Pam Cook 1985 argues standard narrative structure should have a linarity of cause and effect with overall enigma
A high degree of narrative closure
A fictional world that contains verisimiltude

This could also relate to my music video since it does have cause an effect e.g. the marriage falling apart and then Jamie's depression. There is an overall enigma as there is a myster of whether to homewrecker will be caught or get away with it.
My video also has a high degree of closure since it ends on a cliff hanger: who will she move on to next? Will she ever be caught? I think it does contain realistic features of space and time.

Kate Domaillie suggested that stories could be fitted into one of eight stereotypes

Candide - the indomitable hero who cannot be put down e.g. Rocky
Circe: the innocent and the victim, the spide and the fly
Orpheus: the loss of something personal

This related to my music video since the Candide could be my unscated homewrecker. The Circes could be the innocent men who get their hearts broken and Orpheus, loss of something personal is the loss of love.










 

Analysis of MUSIC Video 3

Video statistics

Views and discovery

13,732,920

Views

Key discovery events

A

First referral from YouTube search:it's my life

7 Dec 2009 - 334,699 views

B

First referral from YouTube search:its my life

7 Dec 2009 - 433,567 views

C

First referral from related video:No Doubt - Just A Girl

7 Dec 2009 - 478,125 views

D

First referral from YouTube search:no doubt its my life

7 Dec 2009 - 783,974 views

E

First referral from YouTube search:no doubt

7 Dec 2009 - 844,432 views

F

First referral from related video:No Doubt - Don't Speak

7 Dec 2009 - 1,476,286 views

G

First view from a mobile device

16 Dec 2010 - 530,031 views

H

First referral from related video

31 Oct 2011 - 488,850 views

Show more events Show less events

Engagement

8,587 Comments	0 Favourites
48,677 Likes	675 Dislikes

Audience

Top locations

United States

Mexico

Argentina

Top demographics

Female, 13-17 years

Male, 45-54 years

Male, 35-44 years

FROM THIS I CAN SEE THAT IT IS CLEAR THE THEME OF FEMALE EMPOWERMENT IS POPULAR WITHIN MY TARGET AUDIENCE 16+. IT IS ALSO CLEAR IT IS LIKED BY THE MAJORITY.

Analysis.

The 1930s-style music video was directed by David LaChapelle. We can tell it is a 1930's style with the use of font at the beginnig that is commonly asociated with this era.


NARRATIVE
In the song's music video, Gwen Stefani portrays a black widow (a venemous female), who is put on trial and sentenced to die for the murders of three men she knew, who are portrayed by the other members of the band. The first victim (played by Tom Dumont) dies when Stefani laces his dinner with rat poison, the second victim (Tony Kanal) dies when Stefani runs him down with her car, and the third victim (a house painter played by Adrian Young) is electrocuted in a bathtub after Stefani tosses her electric hairdryer into the tub.

In between the death scenes are scenes of Stefani in court and being dragged to the gas chamber where she is executed. The video ends with the three murder victims in the afterlife, laughing and watching her televised execution. This is an interesting storyline that is dynamic and eyecatching. I like the way the main story is seperated with the court scene intervals.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

PERFORMANCE OF ARTIST

MISE-EN-SCENE

SUCCESS
The music video was moderately successful on video chart programs. On MTV's Total Request Live, it reached number seven in November 2003 and was on the countdown as late as January 2004. The video peaked at number eight on MuchMusic's Countdown and remained on the program through March 2004. At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, "It's My Life" won the awards for Best Group Video and Best Pop Video. It also received nominations for Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction

Bedroom scenes and Reaction scenes draft 1

FIRST DRAFT OF WEDDING SCENE

 I think my video has gone well so far, however I understand that it is far from perfect.

•DETAILED account of the techniques used in the editing process – eg adding markers to the timeline and cutting their shots to the beat of the song to show their technical proficiency

Editing - A typical week

DAY 1

On day one I uploaded my tape onto the editing machienes and named some of my 156 shots! It was a long process to decide which ones to consider and it took ages to get my tape onto the editing machiebes... this was the disadvantage of recording onto tape.

DAY 2

On day 2 I put together some of my wedding scene which took 2 hours. in the 3rd hour I made alterations so all my film was continuous. Next I named the shots for the bedroom scene.

DAY 3

On day 3 I again swapped a lot round on the wedding scene and made my film go with the beat of the song as well as telling an accurate stroy. I the put all the shots in order for the bedroom scene and I had to slow down, cut shots downs and use the razor tool.

DAY 4

On day 4 I added special effects on to my clip to make the bedroom scene look like it was night which took forever to experiment with the effects as there were loads to choose from

DAY 5

On day 5 I decided to change all of my bedroom scene effects as it looked like a spy camera previously.

DAY 6

On day 6 I noticed that the effects I had put on my music video gave it a white border round the edge which I did not like after one hour I realised how to get rid of this. I also slowed down some of my clips as they did not look realistic for example - the bag packing and when Meg opens her eye.

Dance Rehearsals Video

Here is a music video to show how my music video dance is progressing:

 

Date scene - Rescheduled

I did not have time to film the date scene as planned since Rob had to go back to Newcastle at 2:00 and I had not asked if I could film in my chosen location yet therefore I will now film it between the 14th and 19th of December since this is when Rob is next in the area. This is not a huge problem since his part is at the very end.

AFC ENTERTAINMENT - LIGHTING FOR DANCE

I posted on a social networking site if somebody could do lighting for my dance part of my music video and got a reply from AFC Entertainment a local company who supply lighting and sound for discos etc...
This is absolutely fantastic as I know AFC Entertainment are a great company that I can rely upon to do a fantastic job after attending rock challenge competitions, parties and theatre productions that have used their services before! I'm very grateful and excited about this!

Here is their website : http://afcentertainment.webs.com

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

AFC Entertainment mainly specialise in mobile discos and effects lighting hire, however we also have experience in P.A. system hire and stage lighting systems suitable for presentations or events such as open mic nights and sporting competitions, from small scale rigs consisting of a few dimmers to a larger system including moving lights and strobe effects.

We offer affordable equipment hire and full systems hire including experienced operators to ensure your event runs smoothly.

SERVICES THEY OFFER:

We started out providing mobile DJ service with a small sized sound system with only a few effects lights. We now have a larger system suituble for many venues and a wider range of lighting equipment to complement all style of events.

Dry Hire Equipment:

Full P.A. Systems

Stage Monitors

Dimming Generic Lighting

Intelligent Moving Lighting Fixtures

Disco And Effects Lighting

Fog and Smoke machines

Mobile disco package including all effects lighting, fog machine, sound system and DJ

Presentations package including full sound system, multiple wired or wireless microphones, experienced operator (optional CD player for background music)

Musical events package including stage lighting, full sound system, capabilities to amplify instruments, vocalist microphones, dual disk CD player and sound desk operator. (optional smoke machine)

Stage Lighting Package specification for this package can be taylored to fit your requirements and your budget. Anything from basic generic lighting to rigs involving moving fixtures, strobe and smoke effects. With this package you would also have the services of a Lighting designer, who would be able work with you to come up with different effects to compliment your event, and lighting operator to manage the control of the lighting equipment, ensuring everything runs as smoothly as possible.

PICTURES:

PREVIOUS CLIENTS:

• SL Recording used our 600 watt P.A.System and mixer for a live music performance from Lincon Durham at Molescroft Village hall.

• Kingston Upon Hull Swimming Club have used our 2 speaker P.A. System for their annual open competition 2 years running

• Ennerdale Leisure Centre have used our 4 speaker system for medium scale presentations to the public

• Cherry Burton Primary School also used our P.A. System for their Quiz nights

• Beverley Rugby Club have used our Mobile DJ rig for an 18th birthday party

• Longcroft School have used AFC Entertainment's Disco rig on numerous occasions for lower school parties and events

Pictures taken to perhaps put in picture frame girlfriend replaced by home wrecker

All photos were edited on iPhoto to make them look more professional. I took these photos to perhaps use in my idea of having the picture replaced in a photo frame to show that the male's relationship has broken down and because of my protagonist going after him (being a homewrecker)

I took a variety of photos:

Replacement 1

I thought the picnic bench was a romantic setting for a couple to sit at

Replacement 2

I thought this photo could read as if the girls have both moved in to Jacko's flat with him. The body language in the photos was to show they are a couple.

Replacement 3

Again the tree setting is romanctic

Bedroom Scene TEST SHOTS and PHOTOS

Bedroom Scene TEST SHOTS and PHOTOS

TEST SHOT: of bedroom scene

Jacko: getting ready for role

Testing out lipstick on mirror

Test shot of bedroom 2

Meg 

I added the blanket to the bed to make it look more luxury

Testing out lipstick to see if it would stain on mirror and which colour would come out better

Practicing hairstyles to see which looked more seductive and realistic as if she had been sleeping

Test shot of bedroom 2

Test shot of bedroom 3

Meg and Jacko getting ready for filming

Meg and Jacko getting ready for filming 2

Another test shot

Test shot - Error as you could see me in mirror!

Test shot of mirror scene

Test shot of mirror scene - tried to get shot of Meg looking into mirror with her reflection and Jacko in the background

I wrote down the latin phrase on paper and placed it where it would be out of shot so Meg could remember it whilst writing it on mirror

Dancing, 1 2 3 Rehearsals and Make up and Hair ideas

Shots of Rehearsals

Rehearsal 1 (with Kat, Sam and Meg together)

Rehearsal 2

Rehearsal 3

Dress Rehearsal  (only in bedroom, real dance will be filmed on stage)

MAKE UP

Green to match ivy - sparkle to make them stand out

(probably will use this idea)

Golden dusty eyeshadow (probably will use this too as base)

This was to makemy dancers stand out but I do not think it looks as effective as the green

Darker eyeshadow to show the darkside of the my main character 

Experimenting to create a different look like a goddess (Helen of Troy was deified)

practice of snake drawing (Helen of Troy was often associated with snakes)

HAIR WILL BE DOWN FOR DANCERS TO LOOK SEDUCTIVE BUT UP FOR MEG SO HER HEADBAND CAN STAND OUT AS WELL AS HER MAKE UP PATTERNS ON HER FACE