Animatics

video analysis

this is the video for lilly allens alfie last year. we have chosen to analyse this video because we think it is very effective in certain areas. the main focus of the video is the character of the brother, as this is what the song is about it is very fitting. when videos focus around the lyrics it is very easy for them to get too focused n that and become to bogged down in little things. this video, however pulls it off by putting in performance based cutaways throughout the video rather than staying focused on the brother the entire time. these shots are in a variety of situations keeping the video interesting and not too narrative based. the use of different shots also break up the video, stpopping it from becoming monotonous. i particularly liked the point of view shot from behind the tray which was a very different shot from the rest and was very interesting in the way that they used it. the fast paced editing works well with the beat of the song and the characters are very appropriate. the only thing we would change is a couple of the shots which arn't very flattering on the singer and maybe there was a little too uch prformance in rqandom backdrops like the forest.

performance based in two tone

although some videos feature a simple storyline and it can work well if done in the right way, we feel this song is much better suited to a more performance based video, dancing and movement fitting with the rise and fall of the rythmn of the song. we think if done correctly will suit it much better as a storyline can sometimes bog down a video, making it too complicated. putting in lots of cuts mixed with a lot of movement will keep the video interesting and alive without getting too involved in the lyrics or a deeper meaning. We also think this performance based video will be incredible if based a lot in black in white but still in colour. this will enable us to use flashes of colour at key moments of the song if we choose to and they will really stand out. two tone will also click with the hint of rock that features in the song and the eerie feel of it.

Goodwin's music video analysis

Pre-analysis of our view of the video.

1. The generical characterists are that of a performance-based video, with no real storyline. We think the creation of a small story is not necessary and the song best fits with our ideas of subtle movements down a minimal-lit alley to begin with following onto more "crazier" dance moves when with a microphone.

2/3. We make connections to the lyrics by pictoral visuals: the song makes frequent references to speakers and music with the artist shouting "turn it up" so we film us with amps. The song progresses to a rocky chorus therefore we think we should keep the mental image of chicks singing through mics and swinging their hair by actually carrying out these actions. We havnt gone for something that is totally different to what we think our song would suit: ie. a video at a sunny beach!

4. Close ups are a great way of providing a mixture of specific effective shots from a close perspective thus allowing the viewer to zoom in to the beauty (ha yes!) of the artists singing. They will look good in contrast to the long and medium shots of us walking down the alley and us stood with the microphone.

5. We make consistant references to the notion of looking not only when miming but also in cut shots: artists leaning against a wall with close up of faces, extreme close up of eyes with extended eyelashes etc.

6. We make intertextual references to numerous music videos, imparticular Robots in Disguise themselves taking parts from their own videos. I'm sure we can steal something from films as well!!

Intertextual references

The videos below represent the titles "Robots in Disguis" reffer to in their lyrics:

"Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie:



'Curl', 'Grazes' - Sneaker Pimps
'Pretty Vacant' - Sex Pistols
'Teaches of Peaches' - Peaches
'Delia's Gone', 'I Walk The Line' - Johnny Cash
'I'll Keep It With Mine' - Bob Dylan
'Birdland' - Patti Smith
'Clouds' - Hole
'Sous Le Soleil Exactement' - Serge Gainsbourg
'Sunshine Superman' - Donovan
'I Want You' - ? (Dylan or Gaye or...)
'Ghosts' - Japan
'Some Velvet Morning' - Nancy Sinatra
'Paper Wings' - Gillian Welch
'Virginia Avenue' - Tom Waits
'Laura' - Frank Sinatra
'Summer's Almost Over' - Cheryl Wheeler
'A Night Like This' - The Cure
'Strange Fruit' - Billie Holiday
'Hatful Of Hollow' - The Smiths
'Boys', 'Voodoo' - Robots In Disguise

LYRICS

I woke up weak today and needing your voice
Crawled into the speakers and turned up the volume
Felt so sick today but cured by your noise
My head in the speakers is drowning out volumes

In "Ashes To Ashes" I'm falling falling
In "Ashes To Ashes" I'm losing losing
In "Curl" and "Grazes" I'm feeling feeling
In "Curl" and "Grazes" I'm losing losing

Turn it up turn it up turn it up turn it up
Turn it up turn it up turn it up turn it up
Turn me on

I dress up bright tonight and needing the beat
Dance into the speakers and max up the volume
Feel so high tonight and moved by my feet
My heart in the speakers is loving the volume

In "Pretty Vacant" I'm jumping jumping
In "Pretty Vacant" I'm moving moving
In "Teaches Of Peaches" I'm speeding speeding
In "Teaches Of Peaches" I'm moving moving

Turn it up turn it up turn it up turn it up
Turn it up turn it up turn it up turn it up
Turn me on

In "Delia's Gone" "I'll Keep It With Mine" "Birdland" "Clouds"
In "Sous Le Soleil Exactement" "Sunshine Superman" "I Want You" "Ghosts"
In "Some Velvet Morning" "Paper Wings" "Virginia Avenue" "Laura"
In "Summer's Almost Over" "I Walk the Line" "A Night Like This" "Strange Fruit"

In "Hatful Of Hollow" I'm diving diving
In "Hatful Of Hollow" I'm screaming screaming
In "Boys" and "Voodoo" I'm living living
In "Boys" and "Voodoo" I'm screaming screaming

Turn it up turn it up turn it up turn it up
Turn it up turn it up turn it up turn it up
Turn me on!

More pictures of our ideas

The actual band

Robots in disguise are actually an electro band and are very focused on this electro image. Althought this works very well for them we are very determined to do are own thing and steer clear of the electro/ over the top style in aim of being original/individual and throwing a new light on the song.

these images show the band in promo shots, how they want to be percieved. i love their individual look and think it would be awful to try and replicate it. we are certain that we will keep in mind robots in disguise original video, and, although be inspired by it keep to a completely different design which we hope will be just as good only in completely different way.

heels and sexiness

at certain points in the song we think it will ibe effective to includes shots of the feet, possibly at ponts where the rhytmn is stronger and it will be good to back it up with shots of stamping and or dancing feet. in order to emphasise this even more some not so tall members will be wearing rather large heels in the dancing shots where attention is much more focused on the singer/singers. this will also bring in subtle hints of a sex appeal which, although will be kept classy will ensure a wider appeal for the video. i think these images sum up the kind of thing that we will be trying to achieve in this element of the video.

costumes!

to contrast strongly with when we are in front of the simple screen and singing, whilst in the alleyway we wnat to be wearing long coats, with hands in pockets we will keep it melancholy and subdued before te song really kicks off.

these coats highlight the differences we want to keep between but still the same theme with simple clothese that still stand out. although we do want to keep attention on us, the surroundings and special effects are equally important in the slower part of the song, the coats will keep us looking more subdued compared to later on.

amps,speakers in the street

Fitting with the lyrics which focus a lot around speakers and turning it up we liked the idea of including actual amps in the video, lip syncing whilst interacting with them. keeping this part of the video out in the street/ alleyway it will provide another location for cutaways. this stack of amps on different levels is similar to what we'd like to achieve providing us an interesting environment in which to act out the video.

Video

Here are some videos and pictures that have inspired us and helped widen our imagination towards our music video.

This Girls Aloud video has great close up of made up faces with a favouritised dark background.



This Aly and AJ video depicts specifically how we intend to sing individually into a microphone with a backdrop, whilsts also displaying great variations of shot type - close, medium and long shots.



This Miseeq video has the built-up, closed urban environment we intend to shoot parts of our video in.



This Britney Spears video shows the great contrast between the darkness of the background and the lightness of the artist we intend to achieve.



This Orson song also displays a brilliant spotlight effect and we hope to achieve something similar whilst shooting down the alley.



This Destiny's Child video is a great example of a video shot down a dark street - exactly what we intend to achieve except with less dancing in this particular part.




Here are pictures displaying the type of costume we intend to incorporate into our video.

darkened alleyways

although these arn't exactly what we want as we will be filming in cambridge, these images highlight the strong contrast we want to achieve using dark and light and the woman here highlights exactly the shillouette idea we want to include.

Pictures

Here are some pictures of our ideas about what sort of shots we would include.

We are planning to have close-ups of eyes with really big eyelashes, for example:









Our video is based on us dancing. here are some examples:




These are Robots in Disguise and their style of music can be represented by their clothing:



The video will start with us walking on the dark alleyway and we want to play with the effect of shadows in the dark:



When singin and dancing each of us will be under a spotlight such as:

Inital Ideas

group members: georgia, corina and mikaela.

TURN IT UP BY
ROBOTS IN DISGUISE


we're planning a simple but effective video focusing more on special effects than an actual storyline. the video will be progressive and we intend on slow motioning shots of for example, hair swinging around etc.
we want the whole video to have a generally dark theme, kepping with the tone of the music.
keeping with the dark theme we plan to have a wide variety of shots of us walking towards the camera down a minimal-lit allyway, all dressed differently. lots of close up shots of feet and play with the idea of silouetes and shadows. we will have a bright torch shining from behind the camera to make a spotlight effect on us. the song lyrics mention speakers on numerous occasions and so we will have three amps clustered down the allyway where we could sit, do close up shots and put our feet on them, this will provide another cut away oppertunity to ensure the video isn't boring. As the song gets more lively and upbeat so will the video, keeping pace with the music but still retaining it's dark theme.

as we get to the chorus we have a backdrop where we each individually are shot singing through a microphone and going crazy with it. during this section of the video the editing will be incredibly rapid between the three of us to keep the speed and entertainment factor up. because there are a few voices in certain parts of the song we think all three of us singing will look convincing. we want it to look a bit rocky but not go overboard. as the song winds down we want the video to become less serious and we will be walking away from the camera as oppose to walking towards it like at the beginning.

what we mean by dressing 'rocky' is like mikaela will wear red skinny jeans, georgia white and corina black. we will go for bold clothing to contrast the darkness.

further cut in shots would be of a really bright white to contrast the dark video of close up shots of eyes with REALLY LONG fake eyelashes which open.