Progress: Deciding on a band name for my musical act

http://www.sparknotes.com/mindhut/2012/01/19/how-to-name-your-indie-band

"[Type of animal] + [Non-sequitur location]"

After learning that most indie rock bands, for example the Arctic Monkeys and Grizzly Bear, have a band name associated with animals, I have decided to apply this formula to the band I am making a music video of. They are known as Lymington, but due to 'trademark' issues (their brand image is already existent) I had to rename them to 'Robin Ridge' since it was the popular formula for naming a collective composing 2-6 band members.

The robin is a small orange-breasted bird that is native to the British Isles and Europe. It features prominently in British folklore (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_robin) and was voted in 2015 as Britain's national bird, taking 34% of the overall vote, in an avian-based poll created by David Lindo.

'Ridge' refers to a narrow hilltop or mountain range. If one climbs the hilltop of Mount Everest, they can view themselves gazing into the horizon, hoping for a brighter future.

Also connotes the band being edgy, indie and suiting the alternative rock genre because ridge also refers to the edge of an object.

Research: BLUSH - "Daggers" music video analysis

The Hunna "Bonfire" music video analysis

"House Party Massacre" and faulty links

NOTE: Some A2 Advanced Media Studies blogs may have been archived, such as this one here:

http://blogs.grammar.sch.gg/gabriellesmith/

http://blogs.grammar.sch.gg/00laner01/

http://blogs.grammar.sch.gg/danieldegaris/

For starters, this last A2 Media Coursework website ceases to work and instead directs you to this link:

NOT an A2 blog

These links don't even work, they require "permission" to gain access to the websites. Somehow, they kick you out of access:

https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=http://starproductions957.blogspot.co.uk/

https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=http://emilytolgamedia.blogspot.co.uk/

MAIN ARTICLE: Lara Anisere's A2 Media Studies wixsite:

Digipak and album details

House Party Massacre: a catchy band name for an original punk rock/thrash metal band.

I particularly like this website and its content because it is a very unique way of presenting the Media Studies portfolio instead of just using Blogger to create another website which would be repetitive for a those wishing to advance through A-level Media Studies with an A or above.

The background for the website is particularly typical for a hardcore punk/thrash metal band like House Party Massacre - the grey splatters suit the conventions well. Also the band name is plastered on the top of the website just so audiences can easily recognise who they are - in addition to the masterfully photographed band image. The choice of font for the digipak cover and tracklisting evokes a hellish vibe, which establishes the band's genre to audiences.

"Act Like an Angel" music video

Let's make this clear. The "Act Like an Angel" music video depicts a gang of youths raiding a business blocks, each member breaking into individual rooms and flipping props such as a caution sign and classroom tables. This projects the genre of rebellion against society - a theme common to videos associated with punk rock bands. The band performance is impressive but a bit more bravado is required to propel HPM's standards higher to win appeal from their target audience. I like how the entire video was shot in black and white to invoke a retrospective point-of-view.

Richard Dyer's 'Star' theory

"A star is an image, not a real person, that is constructed (as any other aspect of fiction is) out of a range of materials (e.g. advertising, magazines etc., as well as films [music])."

Richard Dyer, 1979

Image: Lukas Graham. Contemporary pop band, known for the hit single '7 Years'.

Dyer's star theory states that institutions such as the music industry (Universal Music Group is one example of an international music corporation) construct the likenesses of celebrities and icons, those of which represent 'real people' with 'emotions'. Their primary purpose is to make money out of audiences with extended plays, studio albums, live tours and gigs; the latter group then respond to the expectations of a star's personality by purchasing their records and merchandise, eventually becoming fans of that artist/band.

There are three sections to Richard Dyer's star theory. These are:

• Audiences and institutions
• Constitutions
• Hegemony

However, a true star will have 'brand awareness' which will have a lasting significance among a wider target market over a long period of time.

Stars can be represented by a specific attribute to better increase their appeal to people around them - for example, Fetty Wap's eye:

Fetty Wap was born with glaucoma in both eyes. With his left eye unable to be saved by doctors, he instead was fitted with an artificial eye.

Slipknot's nine-piece lineup complete with their iconic masks:

Audience and institutions

Stars are manufactured by the music industry to serve a purpose: make money out of audiences.
If you increase their brand identity, this will benefit the institution; their brand identity plows the way for a household name which can increase media platform sales.

Constitutions

Pretty much the same as the audience and institutions section above.

Hegemony

ALIAS: CULTURE

A certain ideology is promoted. Shared cultural values and attitudes are displayed by stars.

Other useful websites

NME's 100 Greatest Music Videos

http://www.nme.com/list/100-greatest-music-videos/217342

And another one: Vulture - the Best Music Videos of 2016 So Far

http://www.vulture.com/2016/06/best-music-videos-of-2016-so-far.html

How to Make a Music Video - YouTube

This would sound expensive but this modern method of filming is handy for shooting music videos:

PROGRESS: How to get audio from SoundCloud into iMovie via mp3 file

First of all, I browsed through Lymington's SoundCloud profile page...

and then searched for a SoundCloud audio converter on Google. Nevertheless, the first result was a godsend:

By copying and pasting the track page link for "Above, And" into the search box below, it was successful in downloading the intended music track as an MP3 file.

It would then play in iTunes, confirming its identity as an eligible music track for iMovie:

Next, I decided to drag the MP3 file into iMovie. The result here is as follows:

In order to let the track play without any background interruption, I muted the volume in most of my footage present... all except the beginning and end. I decided to keep the ambient noise of crickets chirping in the background as it would provide a great opener to the music video. Furthermore, the fancy guitar riff at the end provided a superb closing section.

Note that this music video is still WIP (work-in-progress). Otherwise, a second live session with Lymington would work out along with a proper live recording for "Above, And" and some wide performance shots for the final artefact.

Examiner's report - comments

Eleanor Bleach 9191 Advanced Portfolio - three advantages

1. I like how Eleanor has mentioned the usage of cutaways in her evaluation question 1, which is photographic evidence of innovation; she brilliantly compares cutaways in two documentaries: 'Oh You Pretty Things' and her extract 'Fashionably Late'. This explains how she links youth culture in her extract to that of other documentaries, effectively establishing the 'retro' sense of fashion. However, as Eleanor challenges the traditional conventions of old archival footage, she has decided to use contemporary footage in her product.




2. The newspaper advert - Bleach's primary ancillary product. The font is eclectic and matches up with the conventions intended for the stylish aesthetic of 'Fashionably Late'. In her words, it is also 'eye-catching'; similarly, the house style chosen represents that of Channel 4, which is innovative given the purpose of the documentary (to be aired on TV - Channel 4 is a perfectly acceptable channel to air a fashion documentary on). The vibrant colours and composite images arranged in the newspaper advert makes it stand out a lot in front of television audiences. Finally, the vintage looking clothes selection closely matches with the intended genre: retrospect clothing.




3. Ellie chose to interview a manager, Linda, at a local charity shop. Filming the interview was key as it demonstrates a higher sense of authority and creativity while being broad in ideas. I like how she has used iMovie multiple times in the composition of footage as she is clearly taking into mind how various ideas from related products can lead to her final documentary extract of 'Fashionably Late'.


Comments by Josh.




Date: Thursday 8th September 2016




Time: 11:53.

8th September 2016. First blog post since last summer.

Lymington music video footage shot on July 21st, 2016 [last day of year 12 - there was a gig in which they performed at Chinnerys].


Filmed their soundcheck before their actual gig, as well as footage of neighbouring band the Narcotics to support media studies project. Establishing shots filmed at Leigh-on-Sea in August.


Planning to shoot additional seconds of footage during the Heisenbergs' returning gig at Chinnerys on September 10. Reason: as cutaways for the music video.


Edited raw footage onto iMovie on my MacBook Pro at home. Used Handbrake (a MOV file to mp4 converter) to transfer movie files onto the aforementioned program; sped up parts to overcome lengthy parts.