Media A-Level Production: October 2012

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Comparisons - Frank Turner, Laura Marling and Jake Bugg

In this blog post I am going to look at other Indie Folk artists/bands music video's. I am going to look at what sort of setting they have used for their own music video. I am going to look at artists such as Jake Bugg, Frank Turner and Laura Marling.

Laura Marling - A creature I don't know

This video above is a song called 'A creature I don't know' by Indie Folk artist Laura Marling. This video is a very similar style to how we want our music video. The opening shot is of a line of trees in a park with the sun coming through creating a naturalistic look. In our music video we aim to film sunrise in the morning in a field; we think that this matches with the style of Indie Folk music because of the country style therefore using the countryside and the oustide will link strongly with Mumford and Sons as it does with this video by Laura Marling. We thing using the sunrise will show a strong sense of lighting in our music video; a bright and cheerful atmosphere. This music video also shows the artist using her guitar; something that we wish to incorporate in our video too, with the guitar there is also the use of Bass guitars and Cellos. In this video there is a strong use of the rule of thirds; the use of paths, trees and the outer landscape. The beginning of the video shows Laura Marling standing on the path in the midst of perfect symmetery with the lines of the path either side and the trees. As well as this the camera mainly focuses on the face in the '2nd third' where Laura Marling is stood. The are around her is so sparce the only focus is Laura Marling; the blank face on her look gives such a big meaning of simplicity, blankness and sombre. The shot of the buildings also show a strong ruleof thirds that can easily be cut into 3 different parts. As well as this there is also a strong focus pull from the background to Laura Marling where the camera zooms in on her guitar. The positioning of the camera where Laura Marling is is another link to the rule of thirds as she is in the third on the right. The lighting on her face is also quite pinnocle as in the background it's black whereas on her face it looks like sun is shining on, her blonde hair emphisies this and looks like amongst half of her face where she is in a shadow. Through out the video there is strong use of rule of thirds showing her face on either side of the shot; furthermore there are a lot of long shots of buildings again clearly showing lines linking in with rule of thirds.

Above is the music video for Indie Rock artist Jake Bugg - Lightning bolt. This is another very similar artist to Mumford & Sons; this music video is very grainy and has the old filming effect with the black lines across it. It's in black & white and colour and seems very indie and vintage. The artist himself is shown with his guitar in a small town, something completely opposite to the setting that we want for our video. A lot of the shots are very out of focus and look like they're filmed with a handheld camera. There are a few shots in the video showing shots of vinyls, this links with old, retro music therefore links in with Jake Bugg's style. The use of Black & White and colour could be showing a link between a new artist with a style of old music. The tempo of this song is very fast with a very clearand fast guitar, this also shows in the shots of the music video moving very quickly cut to cut. The camera like I said before is handheld and looks like they're filming it while riding a bike travelling. Like the Laura Marling video Jake Bugg is seen walking down an alleyway with the use of lines, focusing on Jake Bugg with the lines of symmetery down the side. There is again many shot of buildings showing rules of thirds. Through out the video it shows different forms of travel; bus, car, bike and train this could mean that this is a journey, as well as this the title of the song 'Lightining Bolt' people use this phrase to describe something as fast, this could link in with the speed of the video and the shots.

The above video is Frank Turner - If I ever stray; Frank Turner is a Folk artist, again similar to Mumford & Sons. This music video starts off with off focus shots of grass blowing in the wind, the video setting is in an open beach surrounded by cliffs. The video seems very naturalistic, the artist is seen with his guitar over his shoulder whilst he is looking seemingly into the distance. The style of Frank Turner's music is very similar to Mumford & Sons and again the location links strongly with the genre of the music. In the video there is a castle in the background, this could link in with old ruins and traditional folk music. The general look of the video is miserable and dark, sometimes country music can sound quite moody and sad and therefore maybe this music video links in with that stereotype. This video is so simple but so effective, with long shots of the beach it could mean simplicity, plain, emptiness. The way the artist drags the chair has a strong reference to a Viking leader King Canute when he famously dragged his throne to the shore and ordered the waves not to break on his land; this could be a similar message that Frank Turner is trying to send. The music video seems very emotional and thoughtful with shots of the landscape and slow movements.

Hannah Culley

A crisis in production

We have had an issue with the setting of our Music video; we were hoping to film in a local barn courtesy of a friend however they told us today that we aren't allowed to. So we are now left without a setting however, as we thought about the possibilities of aother setting we thought of the bandstand in the Town Gardens in Swindon. This would be a perfect setting because it is urrounded by greenery, trees and is a traditional and old setting. Below is a picture of the bandstand we intend to use.

As it is a park we had to contact the council to ask for permission to use the bandstand; I phoned the Park manager and spoke to him regarding him what we intend to do and asked if we would be allowed to use it. The answer was yes and he asked me to send him an email to confirm this along with information of what we intend to do.

This is a copy of the email I sent Mr Hambidge; I told him that we intend to film a maximum of 5 hours a day, when, what we intend to do and the details of the video. In conclusion to this this will be the new setting of our music video.

Hannah Culley

Monday 15 October 2012

Digipak Analysis; Johnny Flynn - A Larum

This is my digipak analysis of Johnny Flynn's album - A Larum. Johnny Flynn is a Indie Folk artist that works closely with Mumford & Sons. Below is a video of a Mumford and Sons and Johnny Flynn collaboration. This digipak cover shows a very authentic, hand drawn and vintage style; this is something that we wish to incorporate in our own digipak for our single.

Mumofrd & Sons and Johnny Flynn