Taylor Swift's Change in Genre and Style

As I am using one of Taylor Swift's songs for my music video, I wanted to see what style of album covers she has and what I could take inspiration from. However, as you can see from the images below, her genre and style has changed as she has become more mainstream and to appeal for a mass audience. This is because she wants to become more popular and undoubtedly wants to make more money, spurred on by her record label. 

These album covers show her change in genre by her change in appearance and style. From her curly hair to show innocence and childlike qualities to her red lips to pursue passion and her lustrous loose waves of her hair on the album cover on the right.

For my album cover, as this song was written and performed before she changed her genre to become a mainstream and chart artist, I am going to focus my attention on the album cover on the left and use this as inspiration for my own album cover, using the curly hair and the natural, flawless pose and creating a simple, innocent look. 

Ancillary Texts: Examples of Album Covers

This is the layout for the Digipak which will include the front cover, back cover, and various inside panels which will include images of the artist who's album it is. 

These are some front covers from existing album covers that I may use for inspiration fro my album front cover:

Taylor Swift: I like the idea of the swinging of the hair in motion to create a simple but effective image

Norah Jones: The almost camera angel makes her seem innocent and vulnerable and her dress goes with the colour scheme of the album cover

Celine Dion: I like the closeness of the face with only part of it in view

Alicia Keys: The straight on look captures the audience like she is looking at them and the simple writing above it makes the album quite really effective

Carrie Underwood: The use of the filed in the background gives a country feel to it, and as my song is country, this might be a good idea to use

Along with the front cover, you will need to have a back cover with the artists songs on it. The following back covers will act as inspiration fro my own back cover:

Back Cover number 1: The image looking out to the audience gives it a personal feel to it and creates a connection with the audience  

Back Cover number 2: The blurred lights shows a simple but really effective back cover to an album

Back Cover number 3: The rustic nature of this back cover could correlate with the 'country' feel I am looking to recreate

Back Cover number 4: The uneven stripes across this back cover makes it stand out from the rest and creates a 'quirky' style

Back Cover number 5: This back cover creates a childlike image with the hand-drawn stars and handwritten songs

January Filming

In the first week of January I will be filming more shots for my music video and be re shooting some shots that I feel do not work with the song as I would have hoped they would. These shots include:

• Shots in the bedroom are now being shot outside
• Extreme close up of lips is being re shot as was blurry before

This will then improve what I have already

Partial first draft of my music video

This is my first draft for my music video with gaps as I haven't finished filming as yet. I plan to change some things as it doesn't quite work with the music. These include:

• re-shooting the scenes in the bedroom to a different location
• re-shooting the extreme close up of the lips as they are blurry

Along with this I now need to shoot the rest of my footage and edit it to create a second draft before completing my final draft. This will have to be shot in January. If it snows then I could use this weather change to film some shots outside.

A problem which has arisen...

On Friday 23rd November Ellie injured her left wrist. She went to the hospital on Tuesday 27th where the nurse explained that she may have fractured the Scaphoid bone in her wrist. They then referred her to the fracture clinic on Wednesday 28th where she was then told by the doctor that she hadn't broken the Scaphoid bone but had damaged the most important ligament in her wrist which would normally allow her to move it. Because of this she is unable to use her wrist and she have been told to keep it wrapped in a bandage and splint for 2 weeks. 

This means that some things that I had planned for my music video now have to change

 - She now has to wear long sleeved tops and hoodies which will cover the cast
 - I will use close ups, medium close ups and mid shots to replace shots that would have included her arm.

These are not major changes and I feel like I can cope with the the changes that have happened. 

Feedback on 30 seconds of music video

Feedback for first 30 seconds of music video by s0013189 on GoAnimate

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Risk Assessment

Filming shots

shots 39, 40, 41

Both in casual, everyday clothes 

Ellie wears: brown jumper, denim jacket, blue jeggings and brown ankle boots

Connor wears: jumper, light blue jeans and trainers

shots 39, 40, 41

Both in casual, everyday clothes 

Ellie wears: brown jumper, denim jacket, blue jeggings and brown ankle boots

Connor wears: jumper, light blue jeans and trainers

shots 39, 40, 41

Both in casual, everyday clothes 

Ellie wears: brown jumper, denim jacket, blue jeggings and brown ankle boots

Connor wears: jumper, light blue jeans and trainers

shots 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

Both in casual, everyday clothes 

Ellie wears: brown jumper, denim jacket, blue jeggings and brown ankle boots

Connor wears: jumper, light blue jeans and trainers

shots 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

Both in casual, everyday clothes 

Ellie wears: brown jumper, denim jacket, blue jeggings and brown ankle boots

Connor wears: jumper, light blue jeans and trainers

shot 16 in motion

Ellie wears: white t shirt, blue jeggings and brown ankle boots

shots 16 and 17 in motion

Ellie wears: white t shirt, blue jeggings and brown ankle boots

shots 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Ellie wears: white t shirt, blue jeggings and no shoes

shots 45, 46, 47

Ellie wears: white t shirt, blue jeggings and no shoes

My Artist

The person I am using in my music video is Ellie Walker. I chose her as she showed in the group preliminary activity that she can be a leading artist in a music video. 

Ellie Walker

17 years old (25th June 1995)

Currently studying Media Studies, Film Studies and Sociology

She aspires to work in the film industry 

My Audience

Animatic

Production Plan for Music Video

Friday 2nd November
Shots of Ellie in bedroom location and with male character
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 45, 46, 47

Tuesday 6th November
Shots of Ellie in living room location
24, 25, 26, 32, 33, 43, 44, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52

Shots 1 - 9 need to be filmed when there is a rainy day

Shooting Script

Shot by shot screenplay

Instrumental introduction:
1.       Opening shot of a rainy window close up, FADE IN (0:00-0:05)
2.       Long shot of artist sat on floor, arms hugged round her, knees up, FADE IN (0:05-0:11)
3.       Mid shot of artist sat on floor, looking to the left then looking down, FADE IN (0:10  -0:12)
4.       Long, side shot of artist in bedroom, sat on edge of bed hunched over, FADE IN (0:12-0:19)
5.       Mid shot of artist in bedroom, stands up and walks around the room hugging herself, FADE IN (0:19-0:24)
6.       Medium shot of artist in front of rainy window with dim light and face partially hidden FADE IN (0:24-0:28)

Lyrics begin @ 0:29

7.       Close up of artist lip syncing in front of rainy window ‘I still remember the look on your face…’ (0:29-0:37) FADE IN
8.       Medium close up of artist lip syncing in front of rainy window ‘The words that you whispered…’ CUT (0:37- 0:41)
9.       Close up of artist lip syncing in front of rainy window ‘Told me you loved me…’ CUT (0:41-0:48) At ‘away’ looks at camera

Instrumental part from 0:48 – 1:14

During instrumental shots of him leaving her

10.   Mid shot of man saying a few words FADE IN (0:48-0:55)
11.   Two shot of man and artist CUT (0:55-0:58) At second ‘away’ man walks out the door
12.    Camera lingers on the door for a couple of seconds (0:58-1:00)
13.   Medium long shot of artist in tears from an angle CUT (1:00-1:05)
14.   Close up of artist in tears CUT (1:05-1:10)
15.   Extreme close up of tear falling CUT (1:10-1:14)

Lyrics for next verse begin @ 1:14

16.   Close up of artist grabbing coat off hook FADE IN (1:14:1:16)
17.   Medium long shot of artist walking out of house CUT (1:16-1:20)
18.   Close up of artist like she has spotted someone CUT (1:20-1:21)
19.   Medium close up of man waiting for her CUT (1:21-1:22)
20.   Close up of the artists’ happy face CUT (1:21-1:23)
21.   Long shot of the artist running CUT (1:23-1:26)
22.   Medium close up of artist running into man’s arms CUT (1:26-1:28)
23.   Pan round the couple as they spin (1:28-1:31)

Chorus build up

24.   Medium shot of artist lip syncing to camera sat on the floor in a dimly lit room with pictures around her – artist is wearing men’s clothes i.e baggy hoodie and jeans. Arms round self. ‘But now I’ll go sit on the floor…’ FADE IN (1:31-1:38)
25.   Mid shot of artist lip syncing in room on floor CUT (1:38-1:42)
26.   Close up of artist lip syncing in room on floor (1:42-1:46)

Chorus

27.   Change of setting to bedroom. Mid shot of artist sat on end of bed hunched over to the side ‘Never thought we’d have a…’ FADE IN (1:46-1:49)
28.   Close up of artist when lyric ‘last kiss’ is sung CUT (1:49-1:53)
29.   Long shot of artist standing up from sitting position on bed lip syncing CUT (1:53-2:08)
30.   Medium shot of artist walking around bedroom CUT (2:08-2:10)
31.   Extreme close up of artists mouth when lyrics sung ‘forever the name on my lips’ shot lingers on lips until next lyrics CUT (2:10-2:16)

Next verse

32.   Long shot of artist on floor in baggy clothes, picks up a photo from floor around her FADE IN (2:16-2:20)
33.   Over the shoulder shot looking at picture zooms in CUT (2:20-2:21)
34.   PICTURE COMES ALIVE medium long shot of man dancing and ‘showing off’ in party CUT (2:21-2:26)
35.   Medium close up of artist stood to the side with a smirk but rolls eyes CUT (2:26-2:28)
36.   Mid shot of man holding hand out to artist CUT (2:28-2:29)
37.   Close up of hands meeting (2:29-2:30)
38.   Mid shot of man pulling artist to him and dancing slowly (2:30-2:34)

Next verse

39.   Zoom out from party picture straight to another picture showing a two shot of man and artist walking side by side, man’s hands in pockets FADE IN (2:34-2:43)
40.   Medium close up of both talking to one another – man kisses her mid-sentence when lyric CUT(2:43-2:48)
41.   Extreme close up of kiss CUT (2:45-2:48)
42.   Zoom out from picture to her sat on the floor in baggy clothes lip syncing with picture in hand FADE (2:48-2:52)

Chorus build up

43.   Long shot of artist lip syncing on floor surrounded by pictures in men’s baggy clothes CUT (2:52-3:00)
44.   Mid shot of artist on floor in baggy clothes lip syncing CUT (3:00-3:08)

Chorus

45.   Medium long shot  of artist in bedroom clutching teddy bear, sat on the end of the bed FADE (3:08-3:15)
46.   Medium close up of artist in same position lip syncing, when ‘this’ is sung artist looks away CUT (3:15-3:29)
47.   Medium long shot of artist in same position lip syncing CUT (3:29-3:35)

14 seconds of instrumental will make way for her staring to rip up the pictures

Final verse

48.   Medium long shot of artist ripping up the pictures she is surrounded by CUT (3:49-3:57)
49.   Medium long shot of artist in bedroom ‘destroying’ all the things that belong to him in a rage CUT (3:57-4:06)
50.   Close up of picture artist is holding which shows friends with the man on the end – artist rips him off the picture (4:06-4:12)
51.   Shot from behind of artist as artist walks to the mantelpiece to place the picture on it CUT (4:12-4:20)
52.   Zoomed close up of discarded picture of man on the floor FADE (4:20-4:22)

FADE MUSIC

FADE TO BLACK

Storyboard

Timed Lyrics

Rough Outline of Music Video

1. First verse in front of rainy window, face partially hidden – dim light – lip syncing looking heartbroken – different angles (shot sequence: close up – medium close up – close up – mid shot)

2. ‘you told me you loved me…’ him leaving her – crying – he says few words then leaves (shot sequence: mid shot – two shot  - shot of him, shot of her) he leaves and she is left crying (close up of her))

3. ‘I do recall now the smell of the rain/Fresh on the pavement, I ran off the plane’ Running to him in the rain – slow motion into arms (shot sequence: shot reverse shot when running – both smiling - two shot when in arms together – pan all around them)

4. ‘But now I'll go sit on the floor wearing your clothes’ Shot of her on floor in men’s clothes (baggy hoodie and jeans) – lip syncing – looks up to camera, arms around self, pictures around her (shot sequence: medium long shot – mid shot – close up – mid shot)

5. Change of setting – bedroom – ‘Last Kiss’ lyric – lip syncing – touching his things (memories) (walks around bedroom – camera on floor looking up, long shot)

6. ‘I do remember the swing of your step/The life of the party, you're showing off again’ at a party – showing off (zoomed in from pic on floor) pull her to him and dance slowly – look happy (shot sequence: establishing shot of party – mid long shot of him ‘showing off’ – mid close of her – mid close of him – close up of hands as he takes her hand – mid shot of them dancing)

7. ‘Because I loved your handshake, meeting my father/I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets’ zoom out from party pic and zoom into pic of him and her, his hands in pockets (shot sequence: mid long – close up of them both talking – unexpected kiss extreme close up)

8. Back to her on the floor in men’s clothes (long shot)

9. Back to bedroom, sat at end of bed cuddling teddy – lip syncing (shot sequence: long shot – mid shot)

10. Back to her on floor in men’s clothes – looks at pictures – lip syncing (shot sequence: long shot – shots of pictures – mid shot)

11. With friends but not connecting, not joining in (shot sequence: medium long shot of friends around table – close up of some friends laughing – mid shot of her not joining in)

12. Back to shot of her against rainy window (shot sequence: mid shot – close up – medium long shot)

FADE TO BLACK

Synopsis

The narrative music video tells the story of the artist and the end of a relationship. It details the events that lead to their 'Last Kiss' and his departing through scattered pictures. The artist will be seen in her own and her ex partners clothes as she comes to terms with the reality of the situation and the fact that he has left her. The artist is surrounded by different pictures in a dimly lit room and each picture shows a different memory of a time when they were happy, coming to life at her touch. The music video is meant to capture the rawness of emotions that someone feels when a relationship has ended and how a little part of yourself is missing for a while. 

Evaluation for the Deconstruction and Reconstruction of a Music Video

For this task we had to take an already established video and re shoot the first 30 seconds of the video. We decided to reshoot 30 second of Miley Cyrus' 'Party in the USA'. This posed quite a challenge as  the actual video is set in a dusty car park in America on a very hot and sunny day. We had to film in England in the Autumn...This was the first hurdle we had to overcome. This was achieved by using the Wyke car park and the KC Stadium car park and expertly choosing a day when it was sunny but unfortunately was freezing cold! To create the illusion that was it was a sweltering day, we all wore summer clothes (shorts, t shirts etc) while our coats were on standby between shots.

Another difficulty that we had to face came in the form of classic cars. In the official Miley Cyrus video, the dusty car park is full of classic cars. We don't have or know anyone who has a classic car and so we decided that we would film with some nice looking cars instead. However, in the KC car park there was only one car in the whole car park and so we had to make do with that car.  This problem however didn't lessen the quality of the video once competed.

For the shoot , costumes and props were essential to even begin to remake the video. The costumes included 'summer clothes' which could be dresses, skirts, shorts and vests/t-shirts. This would create an illusion to a beautiful day. Props included cars, specifically a black car as a black car feature dominantly in the video.  We used different camera angles and shots to emulate the shots that the actual video created, these include high angle and low angle shots, close ups, mid shots and long shots to establish setting.

 

The task overall was fun but challenging. With a two week timescale to plan, edit and film the 30 seconds was a daunting task, but we managed to complete it and complete it a lesson early. The bulk of the filming was at the KC stadium so once that was filmed, I , as the editor, could then start to edit the bulk of the video whilst my group filmed the rest of the shots at college. If we had filmed everything and then stated to edit everything at once, we may not have got it  finished in the timescale however, editing bit by bit made the editing more efficient and quicker to complete, allowing our group to finish a lesson early. The editing took 3 days overall, which shows how much time is needed just to edit 30 seconds of a music video.

As most of the 30 second video was shot in the KC Stadium car park, we had to find a day when we could all be at the Stadium. The production plan helped us to distinguish when certain people had study periods where they could work on the video and when the whole group could be together. As this was the bulk of the music video, it was essential that we got everyone there at the same time. We managed to arrange to meet there after college on a Wednesday and got the filming done in two hours. The other shots could be filmed at college and not everyone had to be there for it. I think having this production plan helped us to manage our time wisely and ultimately complete the task in the time we had.

This process really showed me how long it takes to edit shots and create a music video of some quality. The filming in comparison takes maybe 2-3 days whereas the editing for a full length music video would take a few months. This task put into perspective the reality of the main task I have to complete and the short timescale I have to do it in. It did show that anything is possible, however creative and 'out there' your idea may be, it can be done and done well. This fuelled my ideas and made me realise that I can create a good and effective music video. 

Storyboard for reconstruction of Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA

Finished 30 second re-shoot of Miley Cyrus Party in the USA

Genre Essay

Production Plan

Times and days where and what for

Wednesday 3rd October

3pm - KC Stadium Car park to film the whole video (if raining, still to meet in oak)

Everyone needed to attend
Shots include lip-syncing scenes and car park scenes

Monday 8th October - Lunch
Film a couple of shots for the beginning sequence of the music video using the black car

Props

Abby - Black car

Costumes

Everyone - summer weather clothes (shorts/t-shirts)

Charlotte - cowboy boots

Start editing Thursday 4th October with the aim to finish on Wednesday 10th October!

Deconstruction and Reconstruction of a Media Text

For this task we had to get into groups and re-shoot 30 seconds of an existing music video using a storyboard that we had done over the summer holidays. In my group are:

Charlotte Hemsworth - Cast
Kiera Pollard - Camera
Abbie Hardy - Director
Becky Foster - Editor
Lauren Murphy - Producer

As a group we have decided to re-shoot 30 seconds of Miley Cyrus' music video for Party in the USA. 

As this video includes other people we have gathered together some people to  act as additional cast in the music video. 

Audience Feedback

Questions asked:
1. Do you think the lyrics relate to the narrative?
2. Does the narrative capture the emotions of the song?
3. How would you rate the editing? 1-10
4. What would you say is typical of music videos of this genre?
5. What type of artist would you expect to find in a music video of this genre and theme?



  Questions asked:
1. What does this painting portray about how the woman is feeling?
2. What emotions could she be going through?
3. Do you feel pity for the woman? If not, why?
4. What effect does this painting have on you?
5. If you were the woman in the painting, what thoughts would be going through your head?


*video feedback*

Taylor Swift - 'Last Kiss' Lyrics

I still remember the look on your face

Been through the darkness at 1:58

The words that you whispered for just us to know

You told me you loved me so why did you go away, go away

I do recall now the smell of the rain

Fresh on the pavement, I ran off the plane

That July 9th the beat of your heart

It jumps through your shirt, I can still feel your arms

But now I'll go sit on the floor wearing your clothes

All that I know is I don't know

How to be something you miss

Never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

I do remember the swing of your step

The life of the party, you're showing off again

And I roll my eyes and then you pulled me in

I'm not much for dancing but for you did

Because I loved your handshake, meeting my father

I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets

How you'd kiss me when I was in the middle of saying something

There's not a day I don't miss those rude interruptions

And I'll go, sit on the floor wearing your clothes

All that I know is I don't know

How to be something you miss

Never thought we'd have a last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips, ohh

So I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep

And I'll feel you forget me like I use to feel you breathe

And I'll keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are

Hope it's nice where you are

And I hope the sun shines and it's a beautiful day

And something reminds you, you wish you had stayed

We can plan for a change in weather and time

I never planned on you changing your mind

So, I'll go, sit on the floor wearing your clothes

All that I know is I don't know

How to be something you miss

I never thought we'd ever last kiss

Never imagined we'd end like this

Your name, forever the name on my lips

Just like our last kiss, forever the name on my lips

Forever the name on my lips, just like our last