costume for the `Geek`

The geek glasses here will help the audience recognise that he is a geek. They may also symbolise that he is a shy character, hiding behind his big glasses. He is the character with the main focus on him. The narrative follows him in his transformation from shy geek, to confident popular kid.

We want the hair to be curly/frizzy. Again this will help the audience recognise that he is a geek. This will change towards the end of the song as his image transforms.

Here are some effects that we may use for the video

The style of clothing, smart casual, is the costume we will be using for the band members

The effect here uses an outline and contrast effect, the image looks more defined.

The image here uses a paintbrush effect to make the image look as though it has been drawn or sketched. This may work for the beginning as the narrative may start of with the `Geek` characters drawing the band, then the pictures sort of become reality.

This image uses a gravel effect. It is a good effect as it doesn't distort the image too much. This is only an idea though and we may find when editing that it doesn't fit with the rest of the video.

Some setting ideas and other pictures

Colour ideas-

Common colours we see thought out our images are black, red, gold and occasionally silver. I looked at the old style theater posters by Vaudeville, and eventually found a modern poster based on this style which fits in with our colour scheme perfectly. As you can see it is a rather dark poster with a small joke. it has the main colours of black and red but has various dark er golds and yellowish colours. i also added some effects on the picture using Adobe photoshop which works rather well. I used the spot healing brush tool to adjust a variety of things such as the font and used the poster edges tool to make the poster bolder.

(original to the right, adjusted one on the left.)

Mood Board: Some ideas that surround our video, font, images etc and other ideas such as costume that are all indie rock style.

Mise-en-scene

Props which we will need for the music video include stereotypical thinks which are connected to the Rock genre, such as the electric and base guitars,drums and also the microphone, which our band will need. To keep with the bands usual costume we will need to dress our "band" in Mutemaths style. For example, the suits they wear, skinny ties but also wearing converse shows. We will also need to use a large stage and/or club to film in which we would be able to also use lights over the band.

For costume design we are going to try and keep it to Mutemaths style as possible. Their style is based on the Teddy boy style of clothing where young men would wear clothes inspired by the styles of the Edwardian period. The style started in London in the 1950s and rapidly spread across the UK, soon becoming strongly associated with American rock and roll. To modernise this style, bands such as Mutemath, have added and taken away from the "Teddy" style. For instance they sometimes wear "drainpipe" trousers and the brogues shoes, but sometimes replace them with skinny jeans and converse style trainers to add the essence of the punk genre, as well as the 50s rock n roll.

Mutemath Moodboard

Mutemath Genre Characteristics

New wave – The new wave was originated and introduced in 1976 in Great Britain by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren as an alternative label for what was also being called `Punk`. The term referred to Avant-garde French New wave film movements of the 1960s. The label of the New Wave was soon picked up by British punk frenzies such as `Sniffin Glue` and then soon after, the professional music press. For a period of time in 1976 and 1977 the two terms were interchangeable. But by the end of 1977, the term `New Wave` had replaced `Punk` as the definition for new underground music in the UK and had emerged as a movement in its own rights by 1979, incorporating aspects of mod subculture, electronic music, disco and punk. During the 1980s, the US’s New Wave became a catch-all term that applied to new British style music acts and in particular, general synth pop acts. The 1990s and 2000s has seen rivals and a number of acts that have been influenced by a variety of New Wave styles. The regional scenes of New Wave are Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, UK, US and Yugoslavia.

Electronic Rock – Electronic rock is also commonly known as electro-rock, digital rock or synth-rock. It is the combination of electronic music with traditional rock music. The main idea of development of Electronic Rock would be the utilisation of new digital technologies in the recording, writing and live production of rock music. The main cultural origins of Electronic Rock are mid 1990s New York and Manchester.

Christian Rock – Christian Rock is a form of rock music played by bands whose members are Christians. The lyrics are largely based on matters concerned with the concept of Christian faith. The Christian Rock genre is most popular in the US, although world wide popularity is common with some bands.

Psychedelic Rock – Psychedelic Rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic cultures. It is also influenced by attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering of psychedelic drugs. Among British and US garage and folk rock bands during the mid 1960s was when psychedelic rock emerged. It bridged the transformation from early blues based rock to progressive rock, art rock, experimental pop, hard rock and eventually heavy metal. The culture origins of Psychedelic Rock are the mid 1960s UK and US.

Post Rock – Post Rock is the genre of alternative rock. It is characterised by the use of musical instruments that are commonly associated with rock music but using rhythms, harmonies, melodies, timbre and chord progression that is not normally associated with that of rock traditions. Although Post Rock is rooted in the Indie or Underground scenes of the 1980s and 90s, the style often bears little familiarity musically with that of Indie Rock. The mainstream popularity of Post Rock has been limited highest in the early 000s, but has steadily been increasing since 2006. The cultural origins of this style of music is late 1980s early 90s in Canada, the US and the UK. The regional scenes of the Post Rock genre are Montreal, Iceland, Chicago, Louisville and Glasgow.-]

By Charlotte :)

Some thoughts of the video.

♪http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry6GAwDCI2I - Spotlight music video.
Some pictures from the video, very much performance based not much of a narrative. Quite a random theme that appeals to audience, weird things going on in the back of the car. Quite Indie clothing and the band are completly performing to the camera i.e. audience. The edits fit the beat of the song which is quite fast and there is a MCL of the boot of the car so you can see the whole band as play and get their instruments. In our video we are going to have a strong narrative throughout that fits with the lyrics unlike the video at the moment which only fits in with the music and the beat. This type of video shows how something can be made in a small budget and doesnt have to have loads included in it to be appealing depending on the audience, obviously if it was can R+B audience this would be very different and have a massive budget.



By Gina and Charlotte

Some typical pictures of MuteMath: By Gina

MuteMath Official website analysis.

♪The website features all the typical things a normal band website would include. Mutemath has the logo along the top so its the first thing the audience will see.
♪Its colour scheme is mostly green and natural colours. That feature on the album cover, EP and other mechanise.
♪There are links to other pages about Muetmath like FaceBook and MySpace. Which let the audience have easy access to other promotional parts of the band.
♪The whole website is designed to inform fans and appeal to any potential fans.
♪It also features a blog which lets fans know exactly what the band is doing and makes them feel as if they are a special fan to the band makes the page feel more personal.
♪Something that makes it different is that Fans can order DVDs, CDs and posters etc. From all over the world.

Queens' Bohemian Rhapsody has a lot of ideas, which we would be able to use for our Mutemath video, "Spotlight". For instance, the video starts with the four members of Queen standing all in black with a grayish/white background. It then goes all black and spotlights shine from above to reveal each members face and shoulders. It then cuts to the band in white suits, making the video partly performance based. It shows the lead singer with the bass guitarist in the background, and when there is a guitar solo it cuts to the lead guitarist.After about two minutes two and a half in then goes back to the over the head spot light of the band. Within this part of the clip there are many singular shots of each member and just as many of the group. This would work for our video as there are four members of Mutemath and also consists of a lead singer, bass guitarist, electric guitarist and drummer. At the end of the video it goes back to the performance narrative and the band finishes the song.

Lyrics for Mutemaths "Spotlight"

Into = 0.25
(Ahh ahh, ahh ahh) =0.37

You got a whole lot left to say now = 0.41

You knocked all your wind out = 0.47

You just tried too hard and you froze = 0.55

I know, I know = 1.01

What to say, what to say = 1.07

Just take the fall = 1.11

You're one of us = 1.14

The spotlight is on = 1.16

(Ahh ahh) = 1.21

Oh the spotlight is on, oh = 1.28

You know the one thing you're fighting to hold=1.33

Will be the one thing you've got to let go = 1.40

And when you feel the wall cannot be burned = 1.44

You're gonna die to try what can't be done = 1.47

Gonna stay stay out but you don't care = 1.51

Now is there nothing like the inside of you anywhere = 1.54

Oh just take the fall = 1.58

You're one of us = 2.02

The spotlight is on = 2.05

(Ahh ahh) = 2.08

Oh the spotlight is on, yeah it's on = 2.15

gap = 2.28

Because everyone would rather watch you fall= 2.33
And we all are, yeah = 2.37

And we all are, yeah = 2.39

Just take a fall = 2.42
You're one of us = 2.46

The spotlight is on = 2.49

(Ahh ahh) = 2.51

Oh the spotlight is on = 2.54

(Just take the fall) = 2.58

Now you're one of us = 3.00
Now you're, now you're, now you're, now you're one of us = 3.06

Now you're, now you're, now you're one of us = 3.11

Oh the spotlight is on = 3.13

(Ahh ahh) = 3.20

By Charlotte and Gina:)

Alternative rock, new wave, electro rock, Christian rock, psychedelic rock and post rock with ambient vocals

Similar artists: The Black Ghosts, People in Planes, Stereophonics, Anberlin, Amber Pacific, Friendly Fires, Incubus, Paramore.

Target audience: People who like “pop” rock music. Not too heavy, feel good uplifting music. Probably Teenage, young adult audience due to the new wave feel. Both female and male orientated due to the lyrics that can appeal to everyone. As they were featured on the Twilight soundtrack they also appeal to people who are fans of that.

By Gina

MuteMath:

A Grammy Award nominated American rock band from New Orleans that formed in 2003. Their music consists of many elements such as alternative rock, new wave, electro rock, Christian rock, psychedelic rock, and post-rock with ambient vocals. The group consists of Paul Meany on Rhodes piano, bass, keytar, keyboards, samples, vocals, and more recently, guitar; Darren King on drums, samples, and programming; Greg Hill on guitar, piano, vocals, and sometimes using his floor pedals as an instrument; and Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas on bass guitar, upright bass, and bass drum.
How they formed - They started out though in 2001 as a long distance collaboration between Paul Meany in New Orleans Louisiana and Darren King in Springfield Missouri. They had previously known each other from Meany’s previous Christian Group `Earthsuit`. They began by King sending Meany demo CDs, Meany was impressed and with permission from King added some of his own ideas to the CDs. Darren King then moved to New Orleans to replace the drummer of Earthsuit which eventually ended and both Darren King and Paul Meany started out as the bad `Math`. Guitarist Greg Hill then joined the band and soon after they decided to leave their current manager and go on a new venture and do things on their own. After hearing that `Math` was already being used as a name for another band, they changed their band name to `Mute Math`. They used Social Networking sites like My Space to spread word of their group. Their music consists of many elements. Each element has its own history and background.

By Charlotte

Imogen Heap - say goodnight and go video analysis. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9athUdhH40

Genre Characteristics: Electronica, Alternative, Indie, Pop, Rock, Ambient. Quite quirky costume that matches, hair style. Weird props that are influenced by the electronic parts of the song. Lots of LS, MLS, MCUs and CUs of the artist herself performing to the song and the lyrics. Quite girly lyrics and backdrop, appeals to female audience.


Relationship between lyrics + visuals: Quite childish, starts off as black and white, story about a love story but has modern lyrics. "Why do you have to be so cute?" actually singing it to someone. "You’re taking everything off" her hand gestures show clothes coming off. "Flicking through the TV, relaxed and reclining and you think your alone" she’s in the TV as she is talking to him, he’s not alone cause she’s still talking to him. "Come stay with me" little dolls of her and the man she loves dancing in a miniature house. She stops and he winds her up like a doll, wants to hear what she has to say. Quite realistic "but then the heating may be down again" showing a cute storyline but then the money side comes in to it.


Relationship between music and visuals: music quite slow to begin with, edits and shots reflect this, so does her acting as it gets faster her hand gestures get faster. And panning and zoom also gets faster and slower parts of the song.

Close ups Etc. + image motifs: lots of CUs of her miming the lyrics and acting to them showing how she feels * closing eyes etc. CUs of the various toys and fading into the middle part of the song between the toys, little house and other strange things makes it seem like a dream world. Image motifs, its imogen heaps motif to have mad hair, strange costume as this fits to her type of music. Always has strange backdrops (headlock video completely white background) Juxtaposition between the backdrop of the dirty room, looks quite horrible and the fairy lights, candles and costume. In the little dolls house it has imogen heap and the guy she likes in the house in a replica of the room she’s in herself.

Notion of looking: Man looking through his TV at her. Not really male gaze as this would contradict the lyrics of being an innocent child like love story. POV shots of the ECU of toys makes it feel quite intimidating and like your actually there.
Notion of looking into the dolls house.

Intertextual references: reminds me of Cinderella and other such childish love stories. But a modern twist to it. Juxtaposition again between the dress/ costume whole mise-en-scene compared to the modern lyrics.

P.B., N.B., and C.B.: Performance and narrative based. As she is very much performing in front of a camera, she’s always performing while telling the story (narrative) the story is between her and the man she loves who she is performing to through the TV.
By Gina

The lyrics and timings for "Closing In" by Imogen Heap.
Intro = 0.17
I can't wait = 0.21
To be with you = 0.24
No I just can't sit still, = 0.28
Are we there yet? = 0.33
Takes me back,(x3) = 0.37
I remember = 0.41
Such a magical place = 0.46
It was all you... = 0.51
Closing in = 0.54
I hope that you make it = 0.59
Closing in = 1.02
I hope that you find your way = 1.09
(gap = 1.25)
Frame by frame, = 1.29
Red speed ahead = 1.34
A city dissolving, = 1.38
The threat of your love in the headlights = 1.42
Is it safe now? = 1.45
Will your arms be open? = 1.50
I just have to kiss you, = 1.53
Try and stop me = 1.58
Closing in = 2.01
I hope that you make it = 2.06
Closing in = 2.11
I hope that you find your way = 2.16
Closing in = 2.19
It’s all that I want in the whole world = 2.24
Closing in = 2.27
Please be there, please be there = 2.32
What are you like? = 2.37
Where did you get to? = 2.41
No word no nothing = 2.45
You didn't hold me, for any longer = 2.51
Did you walk for the fear of love? = 2.55
Or don't you believe enough? = 2.59
Well I'll cover both of us = 3.02
You can leave that to me! = 3.08
(gap= 3.41)
Closing in = 3.42
I hope that you make it = 3.47
Closing in = 3.50
I hope that you find your way = 3.58
Closing in...closing in... = 4.09
Gap = 4.42
By Gina and Charlotte:)

Electronica, Alternative, Indie, Pop, Rock, Ambient
Similar artists: Zoe Keating, Jon Hopkins, Kate, A Final Frenzy, Florence and the Machine. Target audience: according to the website, albums and other merchandise, she appeals to teenagers, young adults but mainly females. We can tell this also by the lyrics as she mainly sings about relationships from the female’s point of view. The technical parts of the songs (the electronic sounds) appeal to a modern audience who like the type of music. She is also part of the MySpace and other such communication website scene, which lets her appeal to a wider audience. For example she has a lot of friends on her MySpace which mean she can promote to all sorts of audiences.

Imogen Heap:
Imogen Heap (born 9 December 1977 in the London Borough of Havering) is a Grammy nominated English singer and songwriter from Romford, Havering. She is known for her work as part of Frou Frou and for her 2006 solo record Speak for yourself, which she wrote, produced and mixed. In 2006, Heap was nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has produced three solo albums, the latest of which is 2009's Ellipse which was an immediate North American chart success. She first started out in a band called Frou Frou. But she wasn’t really part of the band, her live performances were classed as unmissable and her profile grew. Critics commented on how her voice sounded the same in the performances, with the help of piano she perform the songs she had written for the first album. Her music was then featured on the popular program The O.C. and then released on the soundtrack her fan base increased.