Digipack: Cover Research

Throughout the production faze we also started to work on the Digipack elements which included;

• A poster in a magazine
• A cover for the song (album/single)

Before reading a brief we thought it was a magazine cover that was needed to be created and therefore this was the finishing product. However despite this not being part of the overall project I believe it gave us confidence regarding the elements that will be included as there was a lot of hard work that had gone into this artwork.

We looked at various magazine covers of a similar genre however not many captured the same theme that Kate Nash herself portrays. We did however find a magzine cover which actually had Kate Nash herself on the cover. Although there are some very close similarities between the two, we believe that ours still has its own style and stands out. We would replace the photo of Kate Nash with that of Rita's however.

The magazine cover which we used a lot of visual techniques from.

The finished product.

For the logo we looked at the logo for International Design (I.D.) magazine. We believed this was simple but made the statement we wanted. This reflects to the style of song and genre of Kate Nash.

Filming Begins

On the 18/10/10 we began filming our music videos. On this day we only filmed in the Media Production Room for the shots that needed the green screen and also different versions of a whole run through of Rita just lip syncing. The reason we shot a whole run through(s) is because we wanted to have back up/extra footage so that should anything happen that could hinder us from filming certain scenes or continue filming we would have back up footage that we would be able to use instead. However, that in mind we also shot some of the scenes that we intend to use (such as a piece of black cardboard appearing over Rita's mouth when she says an expletive).
The reason we took different versions of a whole run through of Rita lip syncing is because we wanted to have a variety of footage to choose from (should we have to use that footage). For example, one version we shot was just a close up of Rita's face while she was lip syncing.

Fiona on Camera 1, filming Rita's lip syncing

Location Shots

As part of our planning we went to one of the locations that we intend to film at. One of these locations was the Media Production Room (E225). The reason we chose the Media Production Room is because in our music video we are going to use a green screen to produce the background for some of our shots and the Media Production Room has a green screen that we are able to use for our video.

The cameras in the Media Production Room that we will be using to film the shots where the green screen will be used.







This is the green screen that we will be using in some of our shots.

The other location we are going to use is the house of our group member (Rita). The reason why we want to use her house is because in the video there are some shorts where we need a location which has the aspects and features of a house such as a bed or sofa for one of the shots that we are going to film.

This is Rita's house, one of the locations we will be filming in.

This is the bedroom that we are going to be filming 'Your face is pasty scene'. We chose to film in this room because in the scene we intend tho have the male character passed out on the bed.

The kitchen in Rita's house. We will use the fridge shown in the picture for the scene where we will use stop motion in spelling out the name of the song and the singer.

This is the cul-de-sac outiside Rita's house. We will use this location to film the scene where the male character in the video scares the female character.

This is the swing (in Old Moat Park) that we are going to include in our video (most likely for some lip syncing scenes.)

Shooting Schedule

This is the start of our shooting schedule which will take us up to Wednesday 10th October. We are hoping to also film over the half term, allowing us to get shots which may be difficult to achieve during term time.

Monday 18th October 2010
One run through of the song entirely in lip syncing. This will help in the editing process in the case of any previous errors and mistakes.
Start to do separate shots in which they need different props/positioning.
Shot 4: ‘Then I’ll use that voice…input Darling’
Rolls eyes at the camera
Shot 6: ‘Then you call me bitch’
Clip art speech bubble goes over face inc random characters.
Shot 8: ‘And I won’t give a shit’
Black rectangle card put over mouth
Props/Costumes: Rita in colourful dress and black piece of card.

Wednesday 20th October 2010
Continuing with media production room shots. Retaking any from the 18th if needed.
Shot 20: 'What a surprise'
Rita in a party hat
Shot 21: 'Don’t want to look at your face...'
Pulling a gag motion
Shot 30: 'I know I should forget, but I can’t'
Shaking head
Shot 31: 'And every time we fight...but I can’t'
Starts to give up on last word, turns away.

Monday 25th October 2010
Possibly complete all shots in the location of Rita’s house
Shot 10: 10 second intro, spelling of title in tune to the piano
Stop motion of foundations being spelt on fridge
Shot 3: ‘And you humiliate me, in front of our friends’
Bunch of teddies
Shot 7: ‘Everyone we’re with will be embarrassed’
Bunch of teddies, same position but having rosy cheeks

This was the precision in which we needed is laid out in a section of our shooting schedule here. We believe that this is how we should operate to finish shooting on time in order to reach our deadlines.

Shot List

Shot 1: 10 second intro, spelling of title in tune to the piano.
Magnetic letters spell out FOUNDATIONS
Rita’s House

Props & Costumes: Magnetic Letters
Fridge

Shot 2: PENDING

Shot 3: ‘And you humiliate me, in front of our friends’
Wide shot of teddies
Rita’s House

Props & Costumes: Various teddies

Shot 4: ‘Then I’ll use that voice…input Darling’
Lip-syncing
Media production room
Green screen, various colourful backgrounds

Props & Costumes: N/A

Shot 5: ‘Why don’t you just have another beer then?’
Beer goes down in stop motion
Table
Rita’s House

Props & Costumes: Beer, Pint glass

Shot 6: ‘Then you call me bitch’
Lip sync
Speech bubble with random letters/symbols/numbers etc appears over face

Props & Costumes: N/A

Shot 7: ‘Everyone we’re with will be embarrassed’
Wide shot of teddies with rosy cheeks
Rita’s House

Props & Costumes: Various teddies, felt

Shot 8: ‘And I won’t give a shit’
Black rectangle goes over mouth on swear
Media Production room

Props & Costumes: Black card

Shot 9: ‘My fingertips are holding onto the cracks in our foundations’
Foundations spelt in lipstick

Props & Costumes: Lipstick

Shot 10: ‘And I know that I should let go but I cant’
Whiteboard, written on the board and rubbed out on I can’t
College

Props & Costumes: Whiteboard, marker

Shot 11: ‘And every time we fight, I know it’s not right’
Rita in superhero costume, punches camera. ‘POW’ flashes over.
Costume shop

Props & Costumes: Costume

Shot 12: ‘Every time that you’re upset and I smile’
Big smiley face, Big sad face
College

Props & Costumes: Sad face, Smiley face

Shot 13: ‘You said I must eat so many lemons…’
Yellow room, Eating lemons etc
Media production room

Props & Costumes: Yellow dress, Lemons etc..

Shot 14: ‘Yes it was childish’
Swinging on swing, pulling tongue
Park

Props & Costumes: Hair in pigtails, dress

Shot 15: ‘And you got aggressive’
He pushes her off swing
Park

Props & Costumes: N/A

Shot 16: ‘But it gives me thrills to wind you up’
Wind up toy

Props & Costumes: Wind up toy

Shot 17: ‘My finger tips…’
Lip sync
Media Production room

Props & Costumes:


Shot 18: ‘And I know that I should let go…’
Let go in alphabet spaghetti, pushes away on 'but i can't'

Props & Costumes: Alphabet Spaghetti

Shot 19: 'Your face is pasty...'
Lots of alcohol containers, shoes shown with sick on them on 'wasted'

Props & Costumes: Alcohol containers, shoes and fake sick

Shot 20: 'What a surprise'
Rita in a party hat

Props & Costume: Party hat

Shot 21: 'Dont want to look at your face...'
Gag gesture on 'making me sick'

Props & Costume: N/A

Shot 22: 'You've gone and got sick on my trainers...'
Close up of shoes on 'trainers'

Props & Costume: Vegatable soup

Shot 23: 'Oh my gosh...'
Rita is going to be doing a jigsaw, one piece will be left and on ' i cannot be bothered with this' she pushes it off the table

Props & Costume: Jigsaw and table

Shot 24: 'Well i'll leave you there tilthe morning'
Clock dassed out still on ' morning'

Props & Costume: Clock

Shot 25: 'And i purposly wont turn the heating on and dear god..'
Penguin waling past

Props & Costume: Penguin

Shot 26: 'I hope im not stuck with this one'
Face stuck to hand

Props & Costume: N/A

Shot 27: 'Cracks in our foundations'
Sellotape wearing away, with a heart stuck to her hand

Props & Costume: Selloetape

Shot 28: 'And everytime we fight...'
He is trying to wake

Props & Costume: N/A

Shot 29: '...everytime that your upset and i smile'
Sad face on 'upset' and happy face on 'smile'

Props & Costume: N/A

Shot 30: 'I know i should forget, but i cant'
Close up of her shaking her head

Props & Costume: N/A

Shot 31: 'And everytime we fight...but i cant'
Lipsyncing, towards the end she gives up.

Song Lyrics - Annotated Plan

"Foundations"

10 seconds intro – spelling of title in tune to piano keys

Thursday night,
everything's fine,
Except you've got that look in your eyes,
when I'm telling a story
And you find it boring you're thinking of something to say.
You'll go along with and then drop it
And you humiliate me, in front of our friends.- Shot of teddy bears

Then I'll use that voice what you find annoyin' (Donkey Neigh)
And say something like
"intelligent input darlin' why don't you just have another -lip synching beer then?"
-Beer goes down in stop motion

Then you call me a bitch -(speech bubble with random letters) and everyone
we're with will be embarrassed, -(Teddy bears with rosy cheeks)
and I won't give a shit -(black rectangle appears over her mouth)

[Chorus:]
My fingertips are holding onto the
cracks in our foundations, -(spelt in lipstick through stop motion)
and I know that I should let go, -(rubs out ‘let go on a whiteboard’)
but I can't.
And everytime we fight -(Female character wearing a boxing glove and punching the air with it) I know it's not right,
everytime that you're upset and I smile –(smiley face and sad face)
I know I should forget, but I can't.

You said I must eat so many lemons, 'cause I am so bitter. -(Female character in front of a yellow background whilst eating lemons and having a lemon smile)
I said "I'd rather be with your friends mate,
'cause they are much fitter" -(action man posing)

Yes it was childish
and you got aggressive
and I must admit that I was a bit scared,
but it gives me thrills to wind you up. -(wind up toy moving)

[Chorus] –(The words ‘let go’ in alphabet spaghetti in a bowl and then the bowl appears again with the words ‘I can’t’ but she pushes that one away as well)

Your face is pasty, 'cause you've gone and got so wasted, -(alcohol cans scattered everywhere and the female character’s shoes covered in vomit)
what a surprise, -(Female character in party heart)
don't want to look at your face,
'cause it's making me sick. –(gag gesture)

You've gone and got sick on my trainers,
I only got these yesterday.
Oh my gosh, I cannot be bothered with this. –(Female character is doing a jigsaw, but then stops doing it and pushes it away)

Well I'll leave you there till the mornin',
and I purposely won't turn the heating on
and dear God, I hope I'm not stuck with this one. –(Picture of male character’s face is stuck to female character’s hand but the female character tries to shake it off)

[Chorus]

And every time we fight I know it's not right, every time that you're upset and I smile. I know I should forget, but I can't. –(Male character is asleep after drinking too much alcohol and female character tries to wake him up but he doesn’t wake up. Female shakes her head in disbelief and gives up)

Note: The lyrics which have not been italicised are the lyrics which will be lip synched by the female character/Rita.

Further Note: Please be aware that certain annotations may not necessarily be carried out/implemented in the actual video as during the filming process we may decide to alter certain aspects of the intended plan.

Props + Costumes

Due to the narrative and planning of our video, the following is a list of the things that we are most likely to need/use:

• Fridge Letter Magnets (or any form of letters)
• A collection/variety of teddy bears
• Beer and a pint glass
• Felt (red)
• Black piece of card
• Red lipstick
• White board + marker
• Superhero costume
• Big smiley face, sad smiley face
• Yellow dress
• Lots and lots of lemons
• Action man or superhero figure
• Fake spider
• Wind up toy
• Alphabet spaghetti
• Glow sticks
• Alcohol cans
• Party hat
• Vegetable soup
• Jigsaw puzzle
• Clock
• Toy Penguin
• Sellotape

Music Video Analysis - Do-Wah-Doo by Kate Nash

The second video we looked at was the video for the song 'Do-Wah-Doo'. Like Pumpkin Soup, this song too was sung by Kate Nash and it also shares the same genre (indie Pop) as Pumpkin Soup. This video was directed by Rachel Dargavel. As the song Do-Wah-Doo is an indie pop song, the video for it was made to feature many indie pop genre traits. One of these traits is the use of a dance performance. In the video the singer (Kate Nash) is an air steward on a plane and the dance performance we see is a flight safety demonstration that has been made into a dance. The narrative style of the video is illustrative. The illustrative nature of the video is due to how the video matches the lyrics that we hear (for example when we hear "I don't even think she cares", we see the stewardess being referred to giving alcohol to airplane pilots just as they are about to take off).

Like the video for Pumpkin Soup, there is a performance aspect in the video for Do-Wah-Doo. As mentioned before, the video features a dance performance but it also features a narrative performance by the singer as she acts and lip syncs accordingly to the music. All of the performances seen in the video take place on the plane but in different areas of the plane (i.e. pilots' cabin, stewards' cabin etc). Again, like the video for Pumpkin Soup, the Do-Wah-Doo video is fairly balanced between narrative and performance. The narrative is seen when normal verses can be heard where as with performance, this is seen during the chorus

The type of shots used in the video are varied. The shots we see range from such shot as two shots, close ups, medium shots, canted shots, over the shoulder shots and long shots and also high angle shots. Apart from the hand held movement in the video, there is no other movement (like tracking) in the video. We assume that since the video was shot on a plane (or a plane interior/set), such movement (like tracking) was restricted. The most effective aspect of the camera work was the use of canted shots. The use of canted shots offered a refreshing and new change to the usual style in which shots are normally taken. The canted shots also added more 'energy' to the video as the canted shots gave off a frenzied and more 'animated' feel.

Unlike Pumpkin Soup, the editing for Do-Wah-Doo in terms of post production effects was non-existant. The video did not make use of special effects. However, through the editing the video had a fast cut rate (the shots varied between 2-4 seconds) but none of its shots did any cutting to the beat.

The Do-Wah-Doo video lacks a mise en scene laden with bright colours. The video still has colours (i.e. brown) but they are not as bright. In the video lighting is used but it is only used generally and not for the sake of aiding the mise en scene. The location used in the video is what appears to be an out of use but maintained small passenger jet. The majority of the shots shown in the video take place in the jet. There are also a number of small shots of the outside of the jet.

The music video for Do-Wah-Doo, is not strictly speaking a spectacular or highly visually pleasing video but as a music video it is fairly effective. This is thanks to the use of a narrative (i.e. lip syncing and acting accordingly) performance from the singer and as well as a dance routine in the video from the singer and background dancers. The use of canted shots also added a sense of an energetic frenzy.

Kate Nash - Do-Wah-Doo on MUZU.

Music Video Analysis - Pumpkin Soup by Kate Nash

The first video we looked at was the video for the song 'Pumpkin Soup' which was also sung by Kate Nash. The video was directed by award winning director Kinga Burza from the video production company ‘Partizan’. As Pumpkin Soup is an indie pop genre song, its music video utilises many conventions/aspects expected of the genre. An example of these conventions is the use of a bright colours and lighting in the mise en scene. For example, the colour 'red' is an occurring theme throughout the mise en scene and the video itself. This use of the colour red is also probably due to the nature of the song as it is about romance. Apart from the dominating colour red, there are also other bright colours such as yellow and white from objects in the video (i.e. the set design and furry cat costumes). The location used in the video is a studio with a purpose built set where features of the set are evident of the conventions of the indie pop genre such as a bright colour scheme with colours like green and pink. Purpose built props are also featured in the set i.e. there is a big, red rotary dial telephone.

The narrative style of the video is illustration. The illustration aspect of the video is from the performance (which occurs constantly throughout the video) of the singer. The performance involves the singer and background cat characters dancing to the music. There are also moments when the singer lip syncs to the music. As for the balance between the narrative and performance, the performance happens when the chorus is occurring where as the narrative happens when normal verses can be heard.

With the camera aspect of the video, a variety of shots are used. These shots include close ups, long shots, two shots and medium shots. There two main forms of camera movement and they are tracking and slow zoom. The tracking movement is not as frequent as the slow zoom. The slow zoom is frequently used during the chorus where as the tracking movement is used only twice. The slow zoom is the most effective aspect of the camera as it is not noticeable but stops the shots from being stale and static.

The editing in the video for Pumpkin Soup makes use of a fast cut rate as well cutting to the beat of the song. The fast cut rate is highly noticeable as it is frequent (most of the shots last no more than 3 seconds). Unlike the fast cut rate, the cut-to-the-beat aspect of the video is only implemented for the first 20 seconds of the video (where only the instrumental can be heard). As the instrumental/beats progress the video follows the changes in the music. The post production effects in the video are only present during the beginning and end of the video. These effects are cartoon style fonts and cartoon style bordering. The effects are used to introduce the video and also to announce it's ending.

Our opinion on why the video is effective is that the video makes excellent use of the camera with a variety of shots, fasting cutting shots and as well as a visually pleasing mise en scene (such as the purpose built, colorfully attractive set and the dancing cat costumes in the background). The illustrative narrative style of the video and the performance given by the singer add to the successful view-ability of the video.

Kate Nash - Pumpkin Soup on MUZU.

Music Video Analysis - The Kooks

'The Kooks - She moves in her own way' - This band are of an Indie Pop Genre which is the same Genre as the song we are going to use in our music 'Kate Nash - Foundations'. The use of the camera is quite simple with a few tracking shots and still shots but most of the video is shot with a hand held camera to give a simple look to the video, as I think they are trying to make the video look as homemade as possible. There are many close ups of them on a tour bus and then they have many location shots. I think due to the fact that they use Close ups of them playing instruments and singing plus the location shots it shows the viewer that they are on tour and viewing the world performing in various locations, due to them being on tour it shows them having a lot of fun. The effective camera shots are those Close ups of them playing their instruments and having a good time and also the long shots of various locations showing that they travelled quite a lot while filming this music video, The location being in Mexico yet some parts looking run down and others looking really extravagant.

There is a lot of cutting between the scenes, Although the cutting is at different speeds and not to the beat, it works quite well in this video due to the random cuttings it works well to give the video a more spontaneous and laid back feel.

The only props used are their instruments and they dress in casual clothes to give the video that simple and relaxed feel.

They have short shots of them performing such as performing on the tour bus, on the roof of a cinema and in a bedroom, this again portraying the calm and laid back feel.

Yes it is Indie based, So the video is about performing and generally having a good time, playing instruments, drinking etc... This video involves Disjuncture as the lyrics of the song have nothing to do the with video. There is a little bit of balance as when they are playing the instruments they are miming to the song so therefore there is a relevance to the song, so the video isn't just completely random.

I think that the video is effective because it is like a homemade video and gives it a calm and relaxing feel yet still shows them performing and having fun.

Music Video Analysis - The Maccabees

Kate Nash is categorised under both Indie Pop and Indie Rock. With this, we decided to analyse two music videos from the same category. For the Indie Rock category we have looked at the song 'About your dress' by The Maccabees. This particular video was chosen because we believe it links closely to Kate Nash's style of music videos. We would describe both Foundations and About your dress as kitsch, cute and entertaining. Specifically this video as apposed to Foundations, they seem to be made very simply but we believe that that is due to the 'Indie' category that both fall under. If the genre was mainly pop and along similar lines as Beyonce and Lady Gaga then there would probably be more of a larger budget and an extravagant music video. This, we believe is because the pop genre is targeted at a mass audience compared to the indie category which is more niche in comparison. However despite the probable lower budget and the simple filming and prop use, I believe that this is particularly effective in accordance to the genre and this is what makes the genre classed as Indie.

I would describe the music video as amplification. Firstly we thought it may be disjuncture however the words of "It's just what young lovers do" and there being the two figures of a girl and a boy there is some connection. The title of the song does not have a reflection to the video itself so thats what made us think was it disjuncture or not. We believe the song is is connected with romance and despite it being produced in an interesting way, it still has that same connection during the video. There is not a performance from any of the band members either.

The song is...

For our music video we chose the song 'Foundations' by Kate Nash. The song was featured in her successful album 'Made of Bricks' and the song itself was also able to do well in music charts around the world (such as 'Canadian Hot 100') as well as receiving universal praise from music critics. In the UK 325,000 copies of the song have been sold. The genre of the song is 'Pop' and the duration is 4:00.

Kate Nash - Foundations on MUZU.

Who is Kate Nash?

Kate Nash is a 23 year old singer, best known for her top ten single 'Foundations'. Nash was born in London, England and it was during high school that she learnt how to play the piano. After high school, Nash enrolled at Brit School for Performing Arts and Technology. However, Nash also auditioned for the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School but failed due to an accident during the audition which lead to her breaking her leg. Being housebound, her mother bought her an electric guitar and with more time on her hands, Nash focused on song writing and was able to do a performance at her local bar.

After finding a manager, the singer soon released her debut single 'Caroline's a Victim' though it was limited to 1000 copies and available only on 7" vinyl. Due to popular demand a 1000 more copies were made, which too sold out. Promotional copies were also made to be distributed to DJs and the media. A video for the song was made and the video was to get broadcast on MTV2.

It was in 2007 that she released the song 'Foundations'. 3 Months later her album 'Made of Bricks' was released and the album went to #1 on the music charts also well as being a commercial success.

Kate Nash