Production diary - 31/08/14

Over the course of this weekend I caught up on some research tasks I had not completed over the summer. One of these tasks was theorists of music videos, I found this very interesting learning about the different theories and believe this has given me a better understanding on how music videos work. Furthermore, this task has prepared me for the creation of my own music video as I will apply these theories in my own video. Another task which I completed was the analysis of a previous students work from last year. I decided to analyse Amy Winchelow's music video as it is a performance based music video - something which I hope to include in my own. I also really like how the music video is centred around one main protagonist. She has also thought very wisely about her use of props, clothing and mise-en-scene which I believe helped her to create a successful music video.

Analysis of previous students work

Music Video Theorists

Music video director - Mark Romanek

Mark Romanek was born on 8^th September 1959 in Chicago, America. He is best known for his directing work in feature films, music videos and commercials. Romanek first began directing feature films in 1986 after the release of his first film ‘Static’ which was co-written by American actor and film director Keith Gordon. He later signed with the production company Satellite Films and began directing music videos.  One of his most notable music videos was for the Nine Inch Nails song ‘Closer’ which caused a big controversy in the media with many accusing the video as being disturbing, demonic and demented.  A few years later in 1996 Romanek received his first Grammy Award for the ‘Best Short Film Video’ featuring Michael and Janet Jackson’s music video ‘Scream’. The music video was shown to be a big success costing a total of $7 million dollars to produce, making it one of the most expensive music videos ever to be made.

Romanek directed various other music videos including Jonny Cash’s cover of ‘Nice Inch Nails’ which was released in 2002. The video was described by many critics and fans to be very personal and moving with scenes of self-loathing and futility as Cash quietly performed in his old home. The video was nominated for several awards, winning one for cinematography.  Romanek also directed Jay-Z’s performance art video for the song ‘Picasso Baby’ which was released in February last year. The video was shot inside the Pace Gallery in New York and featured  several personalities from the world of art including Marina Abramov whose 2010 performance art work - "The Artist is Present" inspired the video.  His most recent project was for Taylor Swifts’s music video ‘Shake It Off’ which was premiered earlier this month on the 18^th August. The video already has over 600,000 likes and almost 50 million views on YouTube, making it likely to be a huge hit.

Below is a full list of Mark Romanek’s videography:

Year	Artist	Song title
1986	The The	‘Sweet Bird of Truth’
1989	Robin Hitchcock and the Egyptians	‘Madonna of the Wasps’
1990	En Vogue	‘You Don’t Have To Worry’
1991	ABC	‘Love Conquers All’
1992	Keith Richards	‘Wicked As It Seems’
	Teenage Fanclub	‘What You Do To Me’
	En Vogue	‘Free Your Mind’
1993	David Bowie	‘Jump They Say’
	Madonna	‘Rain’
1994	Nine Inch Nails	‘Closer’
	G.Love & Special Sauce	‘Cold Beverage’
1995	Madonna	‘Bed Time Story’
	Micheal Jackson	‘Scream’
1997	Janet Jackson	‘Got ‘Till It’s Gone’
2000	The Wallflowers	‘Sleepwalker’
2001	Mick Jagger	‘God Gave Me Everything’
2003	Red Hot Chilli Peppers	‘Can’t Stop’
	Linkin Park	‘Faint’
2004	Jay-Z	’99 Problems’
2005	Coldplay	‘Speed of Sound’
2013	Jay-Z	‘Picasso Baby’
2014	Taylor Swift	‘Shake It Off’

Conventions of a music video

 

Music video director - David Fincher

David Fincher (born on the 28^th August, 1962) is an American film director, film producer and music video director. He first began producing films in 1983 after the release of his first animation film ‘Twice Upon a Time’ and was later hired by the American motion picture visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic where he worked on productions for several films including Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  Fincher later joined the video-production company Propaganda Films where he began to direct music videos and television commercials. He then went on to work with many top-selling recording artists including Madonna, George Michael and The Rolling Stones.

Throughout his music career, he received numerous awards including two Grammy Awards for ‘Best Music Video’ for his work in The Rolling Stone’s music video ‘Love Is Strong’ and Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z’s number one hit ‘Suit &Tie’. In 1989, he received three MTV Video Music Awards for ‘Best Direction’ being one of the most awarded directors in the category, alongside fellow director Spike Jonze.  His video ‘The End of the Innocence’ for American singer Don Henley won MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1990.

Below is a full list of David Fincher’s videography:

Year	Artist	Song Title
1984	Rick Springfield	‘Dance This World Away’
1985	The Motels	‘Shame’
1987	Wire Train	‘She Comes On’
	Patty Smith	‘Downtown Train’
1988	Ry Cooder	‘Get Rhythm’
1989	Paula Abdul	‘Forever Your Girl
	Madonna	‘Express Yourself’
1990	Madonna	‘Vogue’
	Billy Idol	‘Cradle of Love’
	George Michael	‘Freedom 90’
1992	Michael Jackson	‘Who Is It?’
1993	Madonna	‘Bad Girl’
1994	The Rolling Stones	‘Love Is Strong’
1996	The Wallflowers	‘6th Avenue Heartache’
2000	A Perfect Circle	‘Judith’
2005	Nine Inch Nails	‘Only’
2013	Justin Timberlake and Jay-z	‘Suit & Tie’