Health and Saftey Measures

During the filming of my music video, there will be scenes where two main characters will be required to dance on tables and this of course requires health and safety measures to be practiced and carefully put in place. Whilst filming these scenes we ensured that getting on to the tables was safe and secure and that the actors did not rush, putting themselves in danger as a result. It is extremely important to take health and safety into consideration as if someone was to get hurt during filming as it is the director of the video who will be questioned. Another reason it is important is to ensure that everything is done correctly and to the best of the dancers' and singers' abilities and if health and safety is not considered this could have a huge impact on the video. If someone was to be hurt whilst filming as a result of neglecting health and safety procedures, it could be detrimental to filming and could mean that new people must be acquired to help or could cease filming altogether. 

Another safety measure we ensured was carried out was that filming did not take place in one long continuous shot between scenes. This meant that the actors could safely get on and off of the tables with help and so that they would not be rushing. Firstly we decided that a large group of people dancing may be the most effective look within the video, however after filming this, it was clear that instructions were ignored because of having such a large group. We then found that using a smaller group of actors helped us to ensure that all health and safety procedures were gone through with the dancers/actors and also enabled us to get the most footage out of filming. Having reduced the amount of people in the video from 25 to 10, meant that more time could be spent on going through health and safety measures to make sure that every person knew what they were doing and what was expected of them.

Filming the Video

I have decided that my music video will ensure all aspects of a pop music video are incorporated within, this will enable me to reach out to my target audience and achieve what I have aimed to do. My music video will use the song 'Saturday Night' which was originally sung by Whigfield, as I believe it has a feel-good vibe about it, it is catchy and offers me many opportunities to be creative and original.

I am planning on filming a group of employees at a staff meeting which will take place within a classroom in the Sixth form I am filming in. I am planning on filming a continuous shot so that the video flows and runs through without jumping and needing many transactions to be used in the editing phase. The camera angle will be aimed so that the meeting can be seen clearly and at eye-level, there will also be a close up of the manager pointing his finger to emphasise his supposed authority to the audience.

I had originally planned and made a story board of a party scene within the video which was supposed to take place after the work time. After careful consideration, I decided that it would make more sense to have the employees stay in the office rather than for the video to jump, in order to create a clearer picture for the audience to understand. In changing my ideas, I had two main characters taking the lead and encouraging the other employees to get up and dance and enjoy themselves whilst the manager was taking a phone call outside of the room.

I have come to a conclusion that I will include the infamous 'Saturday Night' dance, notoriously known for its widespread use at parties, as it will create a party-like vibe. If the video is to be a success amongst its target audience, it must be something they would participate in themselves.

To add a funny twist to the plot of the music video, it has been planned that a conga line will make up the last scene. The two main characters will go past the window first, then followed by a small group of people and then by an even larger group. In order to gain a comic feel, the 'manager' will then jump past the window. The intention of the music video is to ensure that viewers will enjoy and wish to join in with what they are watching, the video is also intended to be humorous and entertaining for the viewers.

Planning of Music Video

Questionnaire Summary and Research
We decided that after our questionnaire had been given out and the results collected, we would learn best from the results if we were able to analyse them in a simple way. We mind mapped peoples opinions and popular pop artists who we would aim to take inspiration from in our music video. 

Planning
In order to plan our video, we had to take into consideration the setting of the video, the locations in which we would like to film, camera angles, costumes for characters, how the lighting would be set and the roles of characters. Detailed planning is important as it ensures that I know what I need to consider before and during filming. 

Storyboard
Planning a storyboard will ensure I am aware of the order of which I will organise the footage we film. It will be used as a rough example of how I would like to see the video turn out to be like. It provides details of camera angles so that I am aware of how a shot might look best and also explains what is happening in each frame - to be used as a rough guide. 

Finalising my Planning

After careful consideration of song choices, I have decided on the song I wish to use. In my planning, I have been looking for a song which will capture the imagine the imagination of the audience to make it feel-good and upbeat and so that the audience will remember what they have seen. I have listened to many various songs and worked out which would best follow my brief.

I have decided that in order to follow my brief and ensure that I am able to reach out to the widest audience, I will use a song which is catchy and has scope to be individual and original. I have decided to use the song 'Saturday Night' by Whigfield as it already has a world famous dance which I may in some way be able to incorporate into my video. Whilst being as individual as possible in the creation of my music video, I will ensure to incorporate a group of people into my video to dance to the song.

I believe that my song choice will enable me to make the most out of my brief and audience profile. It will ensure that my video has lots of scope for creativity and for defying convention so that I am able to make it my own. Saturday Night is energetic and is the perfect song as it fits my brief exactly. The song meets my brief of a pop song, aimed at a majority, teenage audience.

How I intend on targeting the audience...

In following the techniques used in similar music videos of the 'pop' genre, I am going to be incorporating feel-good music with catchy lyrics and style. This will capture my intended audiences' attention as I will follow the conventions set by past music videos they have enjoyed previously. I will have to incorporate various techniques in order to target the audience effectively.

As part of my research I have created a questionnaire which I intend on asking ten females and ten males, all aged between 16-18. The questionnaire will enable to me to decide what would make my music video popular and how I should go about in the filming and creation of my course work piece. In order to come to a conclusion of the correct song choice, I have undertaken extensive research into how different songs are used to capture the audiences' attention.

I am sure that with the levels of research I have completed as well as some market research of various girl bands as well as songs, I will make the correct choices in my production and this will enable me to target the audience effectively.

Song Choices, Spice Girls - Wanna Be

The Spice Girls

Wanna Be

This song is aimed at a teenage girl audience rather than a whole teenage audience. It is an energetic and original song which has a lot of scope for creativity and individuality in the creation of my own music video. Wanna Be was released in the late 90s and so fits my criteria profile, it features five young women who are the artists and I feel that the girl group I have set up would fit the mould but at the same time challenge what has already been done.

Dancing could be incorporated into my music video if I were to use the song and this is one of my main focuses. The video must be enjoyable to those who watch it, I would like it to be able to tell a story which I believe this song has the prospect to offer.

 

Song Choices, The Tide is High - Atomic Kitten

The Tide is High - Atomic Kitten

This song is fully aimed at a teenage / young adult, gender being female, audience which means that the target audience is much narrower than other songs, although of the same genre. I would expect to target the audience by using various themes to encourage viewing, I would tie in the lyrics. The Tide is High would enable me to incorporate various techniques to encourage a female audience to enjoy and watch the video as it is fitting of the genre I am aiming use.

The song would not necessarily include dancing and so in comparison to other songs I have analysed, I will have a smaller audience to target if I was to use this song. However, it has a distinctive chorus and the scope to become modern once again. I would consider using this song as the target audience would have listened to it when they were younger and using it would allow for new popularity of the song.

Song Choices, Saturday Night - Whigfield

Saturday Night - Whigfield

The song Saturday Night by Whigfield is a properly energetic dance song which has been played at many a party over the years. The song has a very good vibe to it and I feel as though a lot could be done in a music video based around it. In creating my music video, I am looking to incorporate dancing within, and Saturday Night would provide a perfect basis for doing so.

The song is not only aimed at an audience of young girls as many female singers are, but instead at a much wider range of people. The dance which accompanies it allows for much greater audience viewing and participation, and based on this alone, the song reaches out to a far wider audience than expected at first glance.

Research: The Spice Girls

The Spice Girls

The Spice Girls were formed in 1994 and was completed with five members; "Baby Spice", "Scary Spice", "Ginger Spice", "Sporty Spice", and "Posh Spice". Their debut album, Spice, sold more than 28 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female group in music history.

Their music and image were specifically aimed at a young, teenage audience. The Spice Girls were branded to incorporate 'Girl Power' and performed much of the meaning of the band. Author Ryan Dawson said, "The Spice Girls changed British culture enough for Girl Power to now seem completely unremarkable." They were amongst other artists e.g. Madonna and Bananarama, who had similar ideas.

Research: Atomic Kitten



Atomic Kitten

Atomic Kitten first formed as a band in 1997, with three members and three UK number one singles. Their songs and albums were aimed at a teenage audience of girls and conformed with other girl groups of the time. Their music is in the category of pop and was energetic in terms of their sound and their styles. The band follow Andrew Goodwins theory exactly with their themes being conventional and stereotypical of the genre and of the time they were filmed.

Research: Whigfield

Whigfield
Saturday Night

The song was a nationwide hit in the summer of 1994 with a catchy rhythm and dance which people could enjoy and take part in. The song stayed at number one in the charts for a total of four weeks. It sold 680,000 copies in the process, sold a total of 1,092,250 copies and is currently the 65th best selling single in UK chart history.

The song is still played as a popular dance number and people of all ages know the simple dance moves. It is an excellent example of a song which has stood the test of time in still being a popular and remembered by a wide audience.