A2 MEDIA STUDIES
INSPIRATION
In this page you will be able to see different media products which have inspired me. I have analysed the following videos, digipaks and websites in order to develop my main idea. They have made me aware of tools I can utilise to transmit the youthful, fun, glamorous atmosphere I am hoping to achieve in my project.
VIDEO
ANALYSIS
HAIR AND MAKE - UP:
The hairstyles they wear are basic, for example Miley Cyrus has her hair done with curls and to make her stand out she is the only one that has it perfectly done. The rest of the girls either wear it down or in a simple ponytail. As it was filmed in the countryside, they have adapted the location with the hairstyles to avoid making it too exaggerated.
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The make - up connotes femininity and it is a way of showing they are ready for the Party In the USA.
PROPS:
The main prop of the music video is the American flag, because throughout the video it appears in several scenes in the background. This is a way of linking the name of the song with the location.
SETTING:
The music video is about a young girl that has fixed feelings because she has moved from her hometown into Los Angeles. Therefore, the whole music video is filmed in the same location (countryside) as she explains how she feels during her first day in Los Angeles.
Party In The USA is one of my main inspirations for my music video when taking into consideration,
- mise en scéne
- shots
- colours
- importance of a main character
Although my music video will have a different idea it will include similar features.
CHARACTERS:
The introductory scene begins with Miley Cyrus getting out of a car and later on she appears leaning against the car while she sings the song. This immediately positions her as the main character and makes her stand out. In the next scene, Miley Cyrus starts walking with her friends however she appears one step ahead of the rest and in the middle. This is a way of indicating Miley Cyrus is the important one and symbolises the power she has. In order to show that Miley Cyrus is superior to all the people that appear in the music video, she appears singing on a stage and the rest are shown below her .
This is an aspect I will adopt in my music video as I am aiming to use a group of girls where one will be represented as the main character.
COSTUMES:
The music video is filmed in the countryside, this is why the outfits have a cowboy style. Miley Cyrus is wearing a brown tank top, this has been done on purpose as the have matched the muted colours of the background with her clothes. She is also wearing black low rise shorts which represents a warm climate and therefore means it is a summer party. To represent the countryside location she is wearing cowboy boots and she is the only one who is wearing them in black. As the colour black symbolises power, they have used it only on her as it is a way in which she stands out from the rest. On top she is wearing a black vest which represents a cowboy style. In order to make music video have an old but trending style, we can see how everyone is wearing a belt but with a different design.
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Miley Cyrus friends are wearing tank tops and low rise shorts which is the same style as hers. Throughout the music video we are able to see how boys are wearing plaid shirts, in order to represent the countryside as it is the main location of the music video.
LIGHTING:
Characterized by: High key lighting
- Bright tones
- Increased lighting
- Ambient
As it is a cheerful music video they have used high key lighting to represent this. However, the scenes where she is dancing in the dark, represent the night and have been characterized by low key lighting as it produces sharp contrasts of light and dark areas which is what they want to achieve.
SHOTS/CAMERA MOVEMENTS INCLUDED:
medium shot low angle shot
zoom in close up shot montage
long shot high angle shot arc
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trucking shot point of view shot
HAIR AND MAKE - UP:
The hairstyles they wear are very basic, such as either loose hair or a bun. As it is a birthday party in a swimming pool, they have to wear basic hairstyles to match the theme. Towards the end, Taylor changes her hairstyle into hair down but with curls in order to represent how she is ready for the night party.
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The make - up connotes femininity and as they are in a party they use make -up to make it more realistic. In the digiapk as well as in the music video she appears wearing red lipstick and the album as a whole is called "RED" therefore the music video she is wearing red lipstick and this is also seen in her digipak as she is wearing red lipstick, and the whole album is calles "RED" therefore this colour represents her.
PROPS:
She has used confetti in order to show the audience that they are celebrating an event. Taylor Swift appears eating a cake which connotes that it's her birthday. In a scene all the girls are wearing sun glasses which is a way of representing how cool they are.
SETTING:
The whole video is filmed in a house however in the first house it's only girls and in the second house they are with the rest of their friends.
22 is one of my main inspirations for my music video when taking into consideration,
- mise en scéne
- lighting
- colours
- importance of a main character
CHARACTERS:
The music video starts with all the girls celebrating a birthday party which in this case is Taylor Swift, 22 birthday party and therefore it means she is the main character. At the beginning of the video her friends are in the background while she is singing and eating a cake. Therefore, we understand from this scene that she is the protagonist because she is explaining how the party is going. There are other scenes where Taylor Swift appears singing alone in a wall demonstrating how important she is and her superiority. In the scenes where they are all at the party drinking, she is always positioned in the middle. This shows the difference between how her friends are the guests and how she is the birthday girl.
This is an aspect I will adopt as my video is about a girl who breaks up with her boyfriend and explains how she is getting over him, therefore I will need a main character to be the girlfriend and a group of friends that will be there supporting her.
COSTUMES:
We can see a change in clothes throughout the music video. The music video starts with them celebrating a birthday party with the theme of a pool party therefore in order to represent this vibe they are wearing shorts and t-shirts. The colours of the clothes are bright because it helps to represent that it daytime. Towards the last part of the music video they change clothes into a more elegant outfit and they use different colours as black, white and gold, so we understand the change. They have used a party theme because it links with the codes and conventions of pop music videos. The use of bright colours are very common in pop music therefore it helps to match the genre.
This is another aspect that I will use in my music video as at the beginning they will appear in casual clothes while they are at home and later on they will appear getting ready for that night and finally dressed up to go out. I will do this in order to represent that she is getting over her ex and how she is much better without him.
LIGHTING:
Characterized by: High key lighting
- Ambient
- Increased lighting
At the beginning of the video they use ambient light as it is daytme therefore they don't need any extra. However, the scenes that are filmed at night need increased lighting so we are able to see the scenes clearly.
SHOTS/CAMERA MOVEMENTS INCLUDED:
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close - up long shot
medium shot high angle shot
montage pan movement
HAIR AND MAKE - UP:
In the scenes inside the house Dua Lipa and her friends wear their hair loose in order to show how she is trying to distance from him but she is not capable. When the swimming pool scene appears, Dua Lipa wears a tight bun to show how good she looks without him.
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The make - up used during the video is basic but the scenes where all the girls are getting make-up on are a way of representing that they are going to go out and it also means Dua Lipa is stronger without him.
PROPS:
During the video they use an old telephone to show how her friends are telling Dua Lipa to not calll him. They have also used a lipstick to connote they are going out and to show it is a girl´s plan. All the girls wear sunglasses to show they are at a pool party.
SETTING:
The video is filmed in different locations, most of the video is recorded in a house that seems to be Dua Lipa´s house and the rest of the video is recorded in different parts of the pool.
New Rules is one of my main inspirations for my music video when taking into consideration,
- mise en scéne
- lighting
- importance of a main character
CHARACTERS:
The music video starts with Dua Lipa lying on a bed while she sings the song and the rest of the girls are around her. From the beginning of the video, Dua Lipa is represented as the main character as she is the one that sings the song and all the girls are helping her which makes her be the centre of attention. The song is about how she has set certain rules in order to keep distance from her lover/ex. Therefore, as Dua Lipa cannot set all the rules by her own, this is why she has used her group of friends to help her with the decisions.
This is an aspect I will adopt in my music video as I need a group of girls that are going to be with the protagonist, helping her realise that she is better without her ex.
COSTUMES:
At the beginning of the video all the girls are dressed in casual clothes and Dua Lipa walks into a steamy bathroom and draws a love heart into the mirror, which connotes how much she misses him. The colours of the clothes are light but muted in order to represent how she is feeling. It also links with the scene because Dua Lipa is walking around the house while her friends help her set the rules so she is able to distance from her ex. The following scenes show all the girls and Dua Lipa in different coloured bathrobes. Dua Lipa is positioned in the middle and is wearing a white bathrobe symbolising peace and perfection. Later, when the rules are repeated in the lyrics of the song Dua Lipa appears dressed in a silver skirt and a black top which means she is going out with her friends as she is getting over him. Dua Lipa wears black heels symbolising elegance and power therefore it is a way of showing how she has superiority over him. Afterwards, all the girls appear in swimsuits in the pool which shows how she is independent and doesn't need him anymore.
This is another aspect that I will use because during my music video there will be several changes. At the beginning of my video I will show the main character in her pyjamas to represent how she is at home and her friends come to support her. Then, she will appear with a bathrobe to show that she is changing her clothes in order to go out. Finally, she will appear dressed for a party with her friends, ready to go out.
LIGHTING:
Characterized by: High key lighting
- Ambient
- Increased lighting
- Artificial lighting
The scenes that are filmed inside the house usually have increased lighting so all details can be seen, however the scenes filmed outside the house are shot with natural light.
SHOTS/CAMERA MOVEMENTS INCLUDED:
close - up long shot montage
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establishing shot medium shot