My Target Audience

Hard-Fi are the band where there most of the fans are from a wider range than any other band. There genre is Alternative/Punk. Now i have a lot of friends my age that listen to them because they like the style that they have, but i also know a fair few people like around 30-40 who also listen to them because of their distinguished style. So it must be a certain taste they have acquired that others don't get from listening to other bands sort of the same genre.

So i think that my target audience will be from a wider range than normal, but i think ages around 20.

Clothing- I reckon the type of clothing that the target age would wear would be average. Generally wear jeans and a polo/shirt, trainers. Wear label/designer clothes.

Hair- Reasonably short. Styled.

Lifestyle- I reckon their lifestyle is quite bright, have a lot of fun. Have a large group of friends that like the same sort of music. Into generally quite different stuff at the same time. Like hip-hop and R&B.

Lyrics to My Track

"Hard To Beat"

I've seen you darling, seen you hanging round town
You in a short skirt, shining eyes of deep brown
You had a dirty look, you caught me on your hook
Turn up the thermostat, I want to see you sweat

Oh yeah, girl, you've got something I like...

I walked right over, said hi, how ya doin'?
You smiled at me and girl you tore right through me
I said come on let's dance, we've got to take our chance
You whispered in my ear, you wanna get out of here

Can you feel it? Rocking the city
Ah yeah, straight out of nowhere-ness
Like a fist, can't resist you, oh no
I tell you something

You know I love ya, just wanna touch ya
Stand up, knock me right off my feet
Hard to beat
Hard to beat
Hard to beat

Let's spend the night, spend the night together
Heart beating so fast, as you take my shirt off
This girl I saw round town, well now she's going down
Stuck on a losing streak, I think you've turned it round

Oh yeah, girl, you've got something I like...

Read all about it, have you heard the latest?
Boy in a band dates a hollywood actress
But baby, you and me, we came up from the street
No time to hesitate, we've got to push our weight

Can you feel it? Rocking the city
Ah yeah, straight out of nowhereness
Like a fist, can't resist you, oh no
I tell you something

You know I love ya, just wanna touch ya
Stand up, knock me right off my feet
Hard to beat
Hard to beat
Hard to beat

Goodness
No, I've never known a night like this
Can't believe it, you're so hard to beat
Hard to beat

Drive me crazy, my beautiful baby
Let's spend the whole day right here together

You know I love ya, just wanna touch ya
Stand up, knock me right off my feet
Hard to beat
Hard to beat
Hard to beat

Oh yeah, girl, you've got something I like...
Oh yeah, girl, you've got something I like...

The Process Of Making a Music Video

Earlier in the year we had two film and TV directors come in and talk to us about virtually everything in the industry including film, music video and commercial.

These are the stages in which it takes to successfully create a music video.

1. A Video Commissioner at a record company, sends out a track to potential directors/ production companies. Giving them usually a couple of weeks to come up with a pitch.

2. The directors 'pitch' for the track with ideas and concepts, based upon a brief from the record company and the track they were given.

3. The record company then chooses the pitch they like the most and allocates them a budget; the producer looks after the budget and arrangements for anything they need during the process in the making of the video - a percentage is allocated to this role.

4. Director of Photography and Art Director (production designer) are taken on to assist with the process - the Art Director oversees the planning of the look to the video; scouting for the location, planning of shoot etc takes place (PRE-PRODUCTION)

5. The shoot then takes place, usually lasting a full day.

6. Off-line editing then takes place. An editor assembles all the footage over a period of a few days; record company and artist may want to see it and suggest changes to it.

7. Online editing. This is basically adding special effects and getting the final version ready.

8. Delivery of finished video to client and play it on TV, online etc.

This whole process (step 1-8) could take as little as 3-4 weeks these days as budgets have fallen steeply and demands are greater.

Problems with Shooting

The weekend just gone, i took out a camera to begin the filming for my 2nd year music video.

All depended on a location i needed, and when that fell through i was unable to get hold of another space for shooting. This is a major problem for the shooting schedule, this week i am going to have to shoot all i can with something to edit for the draft cut deadline on Wednesday 21st.

This has put a lot of pressure on my back and i need to make sure that all i planned goes well next week during half term when i can shoot the part i really needed to get this week. Shooting of the commute from 'Practice' to the 'Live Gig', will take place this week, hopefully tomorrow.

Final Shot Timeline

(1) Corey is all set up on the drums in the practice room, he counts in with sticks. Full Shot of him counting and shouting with his sticks.

(2) Straight after Corey has counted in, Ryan is already there set up. Him and Corey are just jamming their riff at the start until Charles comes in and starts playing the bass. Danny walks in with Charles and he does a quick sound check on the mixer, then picks up the mic and starts singing.

(3) Get some close ups during this time, while they are all playing.

(4) At 32 seconds, Danny stops singing and has a little dance, while the other 2 on guitar and bass sing the contrasted track lyrics.

(5) Play through to 1.26 in the song. From then on, practice is over and its time to get to the gig. Pile all the kit in the car/van (need to sort out the transport) and head to the Junction.

(6) From 1.26 to 1.34, shots of them getting all the kit in the car. On the beat when the drums drop back in, have a shot of the boot shutting.

(7) 1.34 to 1.57. Driving along through the city, see a chip van and stop for some food before the gig. Grab the food, back in the car for 1.57 and eat them in the car while i film it.

(8) 1.57 through to 2.27 in which by this time they will arrive at the Junction, pile out, shots of kit being offloaded.

(9) All on stage at 2.42 with blackout with dry eyes and spotlight on Danny.

(10) Corey gets a roll going, then at 3.05 everything lights up, get good choreographed shots of the band. Lighting so it makes the place look good.

(11) Get some shots of Andy and Aaron breaking, and then when I'm editing i can just drop it in whenever i feel it could look good. If i have a crowd in there then i will get a shot from on the stage with just Danny in view and then the boys breaking in a big U shape around them.

Band Members

Band Positions:

Drums - Corey
Guitar - Ryan
Bassist - Charles

Vocals - Danny

Counting Down

This week is the start of my shooting of the video! Can't wait. A few final things to be planned and then i can get underway with the first half of the video. Tonight I am going to be having a meet with the "members of the band", my mates, to talk about what's going to be happening. Then a few days from now, shooting will start.

Track Permission

I have left a feed on 'Hard-Fi''s Facebook page.

This is stating that i am using a specific track for an educational purpose. Now if they reply or even if they don't, i technically have permission from the band and its record label to use the track for my project.

On Set

I've decided not to have a large crowd or any at all, i am just going to have the band and the b-boys. I think this will make things a lot easier whilst shooting. There won't be any restrictions for camera angles as there will be no obstructions, and it could be classed as a safety precaution with people doing flips in a small area, just incase they kick someone by accident. Yeah but with no crowd, the shots of Andy and Aaron (b-boys) will have to be tight and well shot being careful not to leave empty space that will make the video look bland.

B-Boys

My 2 b-boy's have been rehearsing and choreographing a piece to the music. These boys are no joke with their dancing, they can flip, spin anything! I still need to upload a video of them showing some of their moves. Currently they are a bit busy, i might catch them tonight at home and get them to do some and i'll upload it tomorrow.

Further Blogging

I have been in constant touch with my 3 other band members and they are listening to the music and they say they love the track. If you have been following the blogs before you will know the technique i am using in order for this to happen. I believe that this will get the best out of them during the performance.

Ed Lovelace

Today we met and had a presentation from an ex-student and now practitioner, Ed Lovelace.

He talked about lots of ideas and examples of his work, for example he had made 2 videos for the band 'Cage the Elephant' so he showed us both of them videos. He has also colaberated with a band called 'Gallows' which were an absolute fail band, i didn't like them at all, but for him it was a breakthrough. I suppose that can be the difference for your career, if you get an opportunity when you first start out as a small time director, you have to take up any offer that is given to you. You can't afford to be picky.

Between his second and third year at Bournemouth University, he went on some work experience at a film orginisation named 'Creation' as a runner. He said that this was NO use at all. He ran round all day for the directors who didn't care about him making tea! He then forced his way deeper into the heads of the directors and convinced them to let him come along on a video shoot and help out around the location. This was actually the video for 'Gallows', which was shot at The Junction, Cambridge. After the release of the video for 'Abandoned Ship', Ed was snapped up and offered a deal at 'Pulse Films'. Him and his partner he befriended at uni then teamed up to make a duo of directors naming themselves D.A.R.Y.L. We don't know what the meaning for the name is.

Him and his partner who's name i don't know then made the 2 videos i was talking about at the beginning of the post for 'Cage the Elephant'. Ed was saying that nowadays you have to reference your pitches to something else. So everyone of his pitches is more or less "my video is goi ng to be like 'Queens of the Stone Age' / 'Taylor Swift" that sort of thing, thats just a bizarre example.

He then done a Q&A session with us, basically just describing how the industry works and what you need to know and do if you want to get involved in the business. This was very helpful towards directing and shooting my music video, i think i will take some of the tips that he gave us and use them to good effect.

Shooting Schedule

Working out a schedule for shooting your video is vital. If you don't do this, your video can fall to pieces. This is why i am currently working on one to help me organise the whole shooting of the video. This week i am hoping to get hold of some studio time in order for me to shoot the first half to my video. On the first day of shooting what i want to get is atleast 6 different angles in which the video can be edited from, then on the second day get some moving shots in and around the band. Maybe get some real close shots of objects, such as drum sitcks, and the other instruments.

The following week i am set to be shooting at the junction, then i am hoping to get atleast another 5 angles from which i can edit to, and again some more close shots. I have got 2 dance students staying at my house at the moment and they have willingly volunteered to take part in my video. So i have asked them to choreograph a b-boy piece inbetween their college hours in which they can do again and again with near enough the exact same moves each time. This way i can cut inbetween the break moves which will give it an amazing effect! So i will have them rehearsing that. I am up the studios tonight so i will get them to show me what they've got so far. I will record this and stick it on the blog so you can all see how far i've come along.

The Junction

On thursday we had a good look around and tested out some of the facilities in the different junction function rooms. I think that this is a good place that i can shoot the second half to my music video.