Shot Ideas/ Locations

Whilst in the library, Rachel and I noticed a few potential shot locations we could use whilst filming in school. Here are some pictures we took of shots we could use:

We thought a shot of the protagonist through the book shelf would really emphasise the idea this is set in a school. It's a typical location within a school and one that all viewers will relate to.

With this shot of the school fences, we could use it to show the protagonists isolation from the other school kids. A quick sketch of this potetntial shot shows our character walking behind the fence, separated from the groups of other kids laughing and chatting at the tables in the foreground.

Intertextual References- 'The Book'

In Andrew Goodwin's 'Dancing In The Distraction Factory' theory, he suggests that intertextual references are an important fact of music videos. This is when references to other media are made in the video, something which we will incorporate into our music video through 'the book'.

As our central character is intended to be the past self of the lead singer, he will carry around a note book with him which the audience sees as his prized possession, something that never leaves his side. Throughout the book there will be references to hit Clash songs, with famous lines or doodles representing lyrics featured on different pages. These will be our intertextual references.

 
^possible ideas for the notebook and doodles style

Song Timings

As the brief specifies that the music video we create is around the 3 minute mark, we are going to need to cut and edit parts of the track as it is 4:28.

The timings of the original song are as follows:
0:00- 0:14 -1st instrumental
0:14- 0:24 - 2nd instrumental
0:24- 1:11 - 1st verse
1:12 - "Remember!"
1:13- 1:59 - 2nd verse
2:00 - "So Hit It!"
2:01- 2:24- 3rd instrumental
2:24- 2:53- 3rd verse
2:53- 3:49- 4th verse
3:50- 4:28- repeated last line

We are going to cut off the repeated last line as a) it is too long, and b) we think the message of the song is clear through only including the last line twice- this allows for us to easily shave 40 seconds off the song without having to alter the middle. This brings the song to 3:50, which is still too long, but getting closer to the ideal time. At the moment we are editing out different parts of the song to see which bit we can lose without losing the essence of the song whilst reaching the right time.

'Hitsville UK' Lyrcis Analysis

Here's the lyrics to our new choice of song, Hitsville UK. I have highlaighted some lyrics which we feel could be shown through the video.

mise-en-scene
intertextual referencs
concept/ narrative

They cried the tears, they shed the fears,
Up and down the land,
They stole guitars or used guitars
So the tape would understand,
Without even the slightest hope of a thousand sales
Just as if, as if there was, a Hitsville in U.K.,
I know the boy was all alone, til the Hitsville hit U.K.

They say true talent will always emerge in time,
When lightening hits small wonder 
Its fast rough factory trade,
No expense accounts, or lunch discounts
Or hyping up the charts,
The band went in, 'n knocked 'em dead, in 2 min. 59

- No slimy deals, with smarmy eels - in Hitsville U.K.
Lets shake'n say, we'll operate - in Hitsville U.K.
The mutants, creeps and musclemen,
Are shaking like a leaf,
It blows a hole in the radio,
When it hasn't sounded good all week,
A mic n boom, in your living room - in Hitsville U.K.
No consumer trials, or A.O.R., in Hitsville U.K.,
Now the boys and girls are not alone,
Now the Hitsville's hit U.K.

Song Choice and Idea Pitch

So, our final song choice is 'Hitsville UK' by The Clash. In our pitch we have discussed the plot and idea we are planning to follow and gone through factors such as intertextual references, coatumes and props, and filming locations.

Video Concept
Unlike typical music videos from the post-punk genre, we have decide to create a narativ video rather than a performance video. The plot line would follow the protagonist through his day to day life where he's often seen alone in school and unpopular. Throughout the video there will be small hints that suggest the character is infact the lead singer of The Clash 'pre fame', and shows how he was at aschool. A focal point of the video will be 'the book', which I will discuss in a separate blog post.