Production Log

Today I completed two video analysis of Rihanna – We Found Love and Katy Perry ft Kanye West – E.T

Analysis of Katy Perry ft Kanye West – E.T.

This video was released on 16^th February 2011; this was off Katy Perry’s 3^rd studio album called “Teenage Dream”. Katy is signed to Capitol Records who are the subsidiary of EMI, which has recently been bought out by Universal, this video as directed by Floria Sigismondi. This song generates from the genre of Electronic Hip Hop and uses a Hybrid of concept based and a narrative based story line, creating the idea of falling in love with a foreigner and taking wide curiosity in something completely different.

In the beginning of this video a voice over is being played saying “where in the world is there someone for me?” whilst happening we see a pulling focus on a robot, subliminally indicating to the audience that this will be the person Katy’s falls in love with. Going into a long shot of a big spaceship within mid air, indicates that the concept is based around the idea of it being in space, showing the correlation with the title of the song. We then see a medium shot of Kanye doing his solo within the spaceship controlling the panels; this could be an invitation for the audience to join the experience he may want to take them on, this is through the dark mysterious background along with the flashing blue lights which could come across as being enticing. What an audience could suggest is that, he’s abducted her and is allowing her to have an outer body experience for her to seek for something she may like within that new world. 

We then see a medium shot of an alien, which could represent Katy within a different body, which symbolises a different persona she’s taken on board whilst being in a new world. A long shot is used of her floating in space and the background is much more colourful showing the connection between her and the other world, then an establishing shot is used to display a deserted area with her descending down to be kindled with her lover. The robot is then showed again, as she steps closer to it the centre of its chest lights up, which is symbolic for the love it has for her; a bird’s-eye-view is then used to show her touching its heart, this can be inferred that she’s giving it a little piece of her and that’s what brings the robot to life.  

Towards the end a close up is used to show their kiss, whilst this happens a beam of light engulfs their faces, finalising the point of which they’re now together and we finish of with an establishing shot of them holding hands, looking beyond the horizon at the new life they’ll share together. Around them the surroundings are much brighter than earlier in the video which signifies to the audience that they’re now content with one another. 

Overall I think this video portrays an abnormal love story, and the use of a different concept enables this video to be more creative and it helps to tie in with the genre. This video would appeal to an audience of teenagers, and people in their twenties because it’s something different but it’s able to get its message across without the video being too over powering for the consumer to understand.

Analysis of Rihanna - We Found Love

This video was released on the 22^nd September 2011 and was on her 6^th studio album called “Talk That Talk”. Rihanna is signed to Roc Nation, which is the subsidiary of Sony Music; this video was directed by Melina Matsoukas.This song generates from the genre of Dance-Pop and Electro House and has a narrative based story line, which could portray one of her own relationships with someone, or basing it on what a relationship could turn into within certain circumstances.

The video starts off with an array of several different camera angles, made up of close ups/ medium shots and establishing shots of them having fun and being intimate, creating a picture of their relationship being in a good place; we then go straight into a medium shot of Rihanna standing in front of a white wall with the image of thunder across her and wind blowing in her face which implies a sign of confusion or frustration because she’s moving from side to side and is not willing to show her face.

She then says “We found love…” and we have close up of a container, then the pills in someone’s hand, into their mouth and we end with a dilated pupil, showing the significance of the drug taking action- it also has the connation of them shrinking into their own world as a couple, showing the audience that their in the same place at the same time and they both feel happy. A straight cut is then followed with another close up of them kissing and the room spinning fast- an extreme close up is then used on a cigarette and it has the effect of multi-colours going across it, which symbolises the hallucination they’re under.

Another array of different angles is then shown of them in the supermarket, picking up alcohol and spraying it on each other, and then they’re outside spinning around in a trolley- portraying their everyday life style of getting drunk and being off their heads, reinforcing the concept of them finding love in their own hopeless place. A close up is used to show the significance of their life going to waste by displaying them spending their money on a slot machine, the effect of showing this will help the audience realise how secluded they are as a couple and how they lock themselves away from society only to dwell within each other, and the later effects are then shown of how the relationship is affecting both of them. A birds-eye-view angle is used of their car going round in circles in a dull location, signifying the idea of how their relationship works- them always ending up in square one whilst things haven’t been resolved. This links in with the next close up of the room once again spinning around but with Rihanna covering her ears whilst he’s shouting at her, showing the build up of her having enough and not being able to take anymore. Towards the end of the video we see a long shot of her vigorously packing some clothes into a bag and storming off, but then it ends with her sitting in a corner with her head in between her legs, showing that she’s the lonely one and it concludes the idea of her finally giving up within the relationship and taking time to find herself.  

Overall I think this video allows its audience to get the representation of living life but also being lost within love and not realising the bad side effects you may have with a partner. All together it displays an image of what some relationships could end like and advices people not to go down them same route and to be aware of what you can get yourself into.

Production Log

I completed two video analysis of Keri Hilson ft Kanye West & Ne-yo – Knock You Down and The Pussycat Dolls – When I Grow Up

Analysis of The Pussycat Dolls – When I Grow Up

This video was released on the 27^th of May 2008 and was on their second studio album called “Doll Domination”. This group is signed to Interscope Records, and the song generates from the genre of Electro pop/ R’n’B and was directed by Joseph Khan. This is a performance based video, and gives the representation of this being every girls dream of becoming famous, and being known world wide and making it into Hollywood.

The video starts off with an establishing shot of the group in a car waiting in traffic, displaying vibrant colours within the background and costume which enables it to entice their audience; this could also be a reflection of their personalities showing that they’re bubbly/ fun characters individually.  We then have a close up of Nicole (main singer) with sunglasses on which creates a barrier of protection between her and the audience from getting to know her, whilst everyone’s eyes are visible; this image is then replaced with a much more confident woman and it’s displayed through the choreography, allowing the audience to understand her better. It may suggest that they’re all ready for the whole world to realise who they are because in unison they say “when I was younger I would say When I grow up” symbolising the point at which they’ve stated they’ve made it to Hollywood. Whilst dancing on the cars, we see flashing lights in the background, which puts more emphasise of their importance and reiterating the idea of them being famous.

A close up is then shown of their feet walking on Hollywood Boulevard  signifying that they’re walking amongst with the greatest stars and they’ve made their mark in the industry. A low angle is then used whilst they’re standing on the bench signifying their high status and importance, then a light appears through Nicole’s legs to show correlation with the words she sings.  We then see a birds-eye-view of them climbing the construction site; this could suggest them making their way to the top, representing strong female groups who can still be prominent within the music industry and be successful. What an audience can get from this is to inform them that girl groups are still triumphant within the music industry and they still produce quality music for audiences to consume and enjoy.

Towards the end of the video Nicole is doing her solo and behind her, the groups name is in big bold red font with flashing lights which would catch the audience eye and making it more appealing for the audience. We then see her smash the screen, once again implying their break through back into the industry and showing girl power. We then finish with an establishing shot of them shooting a video whilst they’re dancing with flashy cars around them displaying to the audience the life style they’re living and can afford to live by working so hard by pursuing their career.

Overall I think this video allows its audience to see what its like to be determined in what you want to become within the future, and it will allow people to be inspired by what they’re talking about but relate it in a different context. The target audience will be aimed at young teenaged girls because they’re probably easier to connect to through music and they’ll be able to take something away from it. 

Analysis of Keri Hilson ft Kanye West & Neyo- Knock You Down

This video was released on the 7^th of April 2009 and this was off Keri Hilson’s debut studio album called “In a Perfect World”. Keri is signed to Universal Music Group, and was directed by Chris Robinson. This song generates from the Hip-Hop/ R’n’B genre and has a narrative based story line, putting across the message of being able to make the right decision when it comes to love and who’s right for you.

Throughout the video the representation being made is about the main artist trying to make her decision on who she loves more. This is showed through a range of close ups, medium shots and long shots. There’s a close up of Keri Hilson and Kanye West, him behind her showing the intimacy between them both, symbolising their happiness, that is then followed by a long shot of her facing away him with her back towards him, whilst he is falling back, this could represent her rejecting his love and then he crumbles into pieces signifying the end to their relationship.

It then goes into a straight cut of Neyo doing his solo part which suggests he’s the new man in her life; we then see a close up of both Keri and Neyo, with him behind her showing that she’s happy and content.

Soon after the screen is then spilt into two, whilst Kanye is doing his solo- on the other side we see an array of moving images which match his words, speaking of the good times he shared with Keri, but all these images are in black and white representing it being in the past, and at the end both sides are engulfed within grey smoke signifying all emotions coming to an end. 

We then move into a medium shot of all three artists, with Keri in the middle of both men, it suggests that she is indecisive of who she actually wants, this links back to the representation of being able to make your choice when it comes down to the person you love, she struggles with this and runs away, displaying that she may not be ready to commit to her reasonability. Both men are left staring at each other, whilst a close up is soon then followed of her portrait, reinforcing the idea of it all being down to her.  

The last moving image is another split screen of Keri with both men, one on each side, her holding their faces, it creates the idea of her being satisfied with them both, but we see an image of her falling onto a white bed, which could symbolise her finding comfort within herself rather than the men- showing maybe she didn’t want either of them. It could also symbolise her falling back into reality, because the same image is shown at the beginning, so it could represent her being within a dream.

Overall I think the cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing and representation portray the idea of Keri Hilson being indecisive about her choices. This video would appeal to an audience of all ages because, anyone will be able to relate to this song if they’ve been in a situation like this, and it enables the audience to understand all three artists’ points of view, because we get an insight into how they feel and it allows the audience to understand the song. 

Production Log

Today I completed two video analysis of Britney Spears - I Wanna Go and Ja Rule ft. R Kelly & Ashanti - Wonderful

Analysis of Ja Rule ft R Kelly & Ashanti – Wonderful

This video was released on the 28^th of September 2004; this was of his 6^th studio album called “R.U.L .E”. Ja Rule is signed to Def Jam Records who are the subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and this video was directed by Hype Williams. This song generates from the genre of RnB, and has a narrative based story line, the main message it is putting across to it’s audience from a males perspective is “would you still want me if I wasn’t rich” and its questioning the relationship which both males (Ja Rule and R Kelly) are going through, trying to find the right woman. 

In the video the artists are being represented as them living the “gangster lifestyle”, this is through showing close ups of them smoking cigars and them being in flashy tailor made suits.  It creates the appearance of them being rich and able to afford that type of lifestyle. 

Throughout the video we see two dominate colours being portrayed in different ways with the artists and the video girls; the white and black. White is showing the purity of the ones who are wearing it whereas the ones in Black are shown to have two sides to their personality; hence why both males go through more than one girl, showing the journey of them finding the right one.We then see a long shot of Ashanti in white, standing in front of the sea with the sun setting behind her; this portrays her as being “angelic” and how she might be the “perfect” woman they’re after. Using the close up of R Kelly smoking the cigar brings an invitation for the audience to get to know him but that’s then push aside due to the fact that he’s wearing glasses which shows that he’s a mysterious character, and the smoke also acts as a barrier because its foggy and doesn’t allow you to see his face. There’s also a series of establishing shots displaying how they’re living in paradise, this will have an effect on its audience because it will make them want to aspire to this way of living because it’s being portrayed as something beautiful and worth having. 

Within mise-en-scene there’s an establishing shot of Ja Rule standing in a white bedroom with him and the video girl both in black, this could symbolise him indulging in pleasures that may satisfy him. A fade is used and a establishing shot is followed of him coming down the stairs meeting another girl in black, this then shows that he wasn’t satisfied, and the search for “Mrs Right” still continues. This search is then put to an end once he has found his perfect match, by displaying a close up of him and another video girl lying on a Yacht, both dressed in white and sailing of into the sunset, it creates the picture the “perfect” lifestyle once again, but this time with his special girl. This then gives the message of patients is a virtue when it comes to finding the right one, and it creates the illusion of this being an everyday lifestyle that an audience can aspire to live like.

Overall the use of representation, cinematography and mise-en-scene helps portray a picture of a wealthy lifestyle, and it helps the audience to understand even if they were wealthy, they’d still want someone to share it with but it’s just about finding the right one. The different representations we come across enables audience to connect wit the artist and sympathise for them, but then they feel happy to know that one of them ended up with what they were searching for.