Band History

The lineup: David Beadle, Thom Powers, Aaron Short, Jesse Wood, Alisa Xayalith. 
  
Background: The Naked and Famous have  slipped into the market, since they committed commercial hara-kiri earlier this year. The five-piece from New Zealand, began as an electro duo in 2008 after the two members, Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith, met at music school. They have taken the sound indie rock and turned it into a their own style of electric rock. That's have found a gap in the market and are filling it with a commercialised version of a successful, cool American band's most popular tracks.

The New Zealand post-punk revival band from Auckland formed in 2008 when Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith recorded two EPs with engineer Aaron Short, a fellow student at Auckland's MAINZ music college. The EPs were subsequently released on a local independent label and Powers and Xayalith began performing live with Ben Knapp (bass) and Jordan Clark (drums).
In 2009, the group recorded the single "All of This". Aaron Short became a performing member of the group and Jesse Wood (drums) and David Beadle (bass) joined the band as full-time members.

The band were involved in NME's rising stars for 2011 and did an interview. There is a clip from that interview below.

 The group then set about recording the single "Young Blood" and their debut album, recording mostly at home and at Auckland studio, The Lab. "Young Blood" debuted on the New Zealand chart at number one on 14 June 2010 – the first New Zealand artist in three years to do so. The Naked and Famous released their debut studio album, Passive Me, Aggressive You, on 6 September 2010 on their own label, Somewhat Damaged. The album was produced by Thom Powers and Aaron Short and mixed by Billy Bush.

Target Audience

 In order to get a good understanding of what and who our target audience will be, we decided to interview variety of different people above you can see the videos of the people we interviewed. There are also pictures of each individual and an explanation to each piece of there style. The videos were edited by myself and the pictures were labeled by a colleague in my group, Luke Chance. While we did this the other members of the group went about working on the brief.

We, as a group decided that the most appropriate target audience would be the 'The Indie Scenesters'. the definitions of the variety of groups that are about are on UK tribes  'UKtribes.com'. The definition of Indie Scenesters on this website is 'The Indie Scenester still likes to be ahead of the game when it comes to discovering new music. They still can’t quite shake off the skinny jeans though'.
   
Fashion is important for this group and tend to not wear mainstream outfits instead choose to be different and stand out.

 

 

Topman is a very popular shop between indie tribes as it offers a wide selection of alternative clothes. denim shirts, striped t-shirts, baggy tops and vintage looking out wear are all very popular within this group and top man can provide them all. Above you can see a image that I have taken from the Topman website it shows a model wearing cloths typical associated with indie  Scenesters. It is also common for them to roll up there sleeves ans short and long sleeved shirts as well and rolling up the bottom of there trousers to show the ankles. common footwear worn would be Van's, boat shoes, desert boots and espadrilles. Commonly associated with the indie is the 'Old Man' look also called 'Vintage' where many people wear striped and patterned jumpers and shirts with colors such as beige being very popular. and knit wear often is worn.  Although baggy jumpers and tops are popular skinny clothes are also extremely popular and very common with skinny jeans a must for all indie 'wannabes'.




Top shop is the equivalent of Topman except for women. It again offers a wide variety of cloths in the indie style and to the left you can see a model showing one of the outfits typically found in this shop. the women style tends to contain a wide variety of light colors with light pink, light blue and beige all being common in there outfits.


However Topman and Topshop both also offers a assortment of cloths for people with a less extreme sense of fashion such as plain polo shirts, jumpers, suits, skirts and dresses.


Music is also extremely important as is how you tell the difference between the true indies and the ones who just try to be. Music is like a religion and there are rules to it, they do not like music that is in the charts or what is extremely overplayed. Instead they listen to bands such as 'Bombay Bicycle club' and 'Kasabian'.  

 

Pitch 1 - By Matt

After doing research in techniques and ideas of music videos we have recorded a list of potential clips. From the song choice we wanted to do a mix both including narrative elements and a performance based video. Firstly we started with the performance as this was the going to be our bulk/core of the video so we had to investigate how and what we would film it. This is from the post that my group has discussed as a whole regarding the potential setup of our music video. This is taken from one of our team members Matt Dickinson  as well as Dominic Lake. We also had to email the management of "The Naked and Famous" to ask permission to use their song. The track we selected is called "Young Blood".

PERFORMANCE

With the performance part of the video we wanted to keep it as simple as possible. As researching the instruments behind the band were very stereotypical with two guitars, a drum kits, keywords, synthesiser and a lead singer. We were thinking of finding an empty room, blacking it out and then having a single light (Maybe coloured) shining through from the background silhouetting and lighting up the band members.

Matt Dickinson created a 3D model in cinema 4D and rendered out to produce a similar reconstruction of the scene. Unfortunately the lighting isn't as realistic with a lower contrast than in real life but we can see a rough layout and style. The good thing about shooting in the dark is that the location wont have to be as important as shooting in the day time. There is also a video below of short rotation of the 3D models showing it a little clearer.

Also below are screen shots from the music video from the song "Speed of sound" by Coldplay. This shows a similiar sort of idea however instead of using a single light they use a massive screen which later lights up in the video. However the idea of light from the background creates a very clever effect. 

There are also screen shots from Muse's "Time is Running Out" and The Arctic Monkeys' "Brianstorm". The Arctic Monkeys' song also recreates a very similar effect with a sepia tone to the video but I included Muse's song because I think the overall blue lights and tone look better in comparison.

NARRATIVE

With the narrative elements and part of the video we wanted it to be quite random but sort the atmosphere and mood of the song. Therefore we were thinking of filming sequences of groups of different people and friends enjoying themselves and having edited to the music very similar to some of Calvin Harris' music videos. One idea I wanted to expand upon was a group of friends having a camp fire in a wood or field during dusk.

In the music video to "Olympic Airways" a song by The Foals there a small clip of a group of people with a bunch of black balloons in a field and then letting them drift off into the distance. This was a very clever idea that looks very appealing while suiting the style of video we want to shoot. It is also very easy to recreate and can involve or be applied to all different age groups making it a viable option.

I also really like the use of balloons in this advert by aero for their chocolate bar "Aero Bubbles". Although it has no relation to music video i think the concept is really clever and as we were planing on doing some shots based in a skatepark it maybe really cool to try and recreate this concept into the narrative. This could link into the previous scene with the group of friends in a field. We could then use balloons to create a relationship between all of the narrative clips despite them being different locations and people. 

Other related shots of use of a forest or wood in a music video by the artist The Maccabees who have a fight scene in a woods. It wasn't the scene that interested me but the way the shots were filmed with the sun rays coming through the branches and creating lens flares on the camera. These shots are very well suited to the style of narrative that we are aiming to accomplish. Luckily one of our members of the group lives right next to a forest so this is easy access and flares can later be magnified in post production if needed.

Also as we have go pro camera's we are able to film under water scenes in HD and slow motion as the camera has a frame rate of 128 which is four times better quality than a normal DLSR camera.

This idea of using bubbles in slow motion could be included if it suited the video. In conjunction we were thinking of shooting a beach scene with friends running and around on the sea front and caves so this sort of shot could be tied into that. A shot of someone diving into the water filmed from below. This could create a very cool effect especially when played in slow motion.
Proof that this sort of narrative fits style fits the music is the video (Left). This was created in final cut where we took the music video from Calvin Harris' "Feel So Close" which has the same idea of different groups of people dancing and having fun to music and then replacing the song with our music choice. Even though they are completely unrelated they fit together really well. The only parts which show the video isn't real is when the Calvin Harris sings along to his song in the video.


TYPES OF SHOT

Obviously mentioned before was the use of a go pro camera to achieve slow motion shots and underwater shots. But we have also researched into other types of shot we could play around with. One is called the vertigo shot which plays with the perspective of the shot. This was firstly used in the film vertigo and most famous for its use in Jaws but is a type of shot (Video) which we can try. It is created by zooming out the same distance as walking towards the character. This bends the background and focusses/stresses the importance of the object or character in focus. However i don't exactly know how we are going to be able to fit this in with a music video but it is a concept and idea available at our disposal.


 This is a shot which appears where the camera flys through glass and in this case a window. This would be particularly good in the intro of the song, for example where the camera could fly through a window of a car into a shot of a man tuning a radio into the song. This is created in after effects and adds a professional element to the video giving it a making the overall video look a lot more realistic. Other techniques that I personally noted can be seen on my post 

Inspirational Techniques/Shots In Music Videos.

Song Title and Directors

Our first idea was to create a performance video with maybe a small amount of narrative added in. some of our early song ideas were 'Time is running out' by Muse and 'Closer' by Miles Kane. we liked these songs as they are both upbeat and have instrumental sols which we would like to include in our videos. We also looked at songs by 'The Foals' and 'Bombay Bicycle Club'. these last two bands in my opinion are rather dull and there is not much variety of tempo throughout.

My personal favorite was 'Time is running out' by Muse. this is due to the catchy chorus which I believe would be perfect for a performance video. also there is a part where the music builds up with the drum beat for the first chorus which would be perfect for a close up for the drummer.

David Fincher

In the end we decided to use the song 'Young Blood' by 'The Naked and Famous' this was a group decision as we all liked different aspects of the  other songs and this one seems to include most of them, with instrumentals and good chances for narrative scenes.   

I also then looked at different music video directors and the best seemed to be... 

•  Chris Cunningham - Madonna
• David Fincher - Madonna/ the Rolling Stones/ George Michael
• Michel Gondry- Paul McCartney/ the Rolling Stones/  Kylie Minogue/ Foo Fighters
• Spike Jonze - REM/ Jay Z



Michel Gondry

• Hype Williams - Missy Elliot/ Nicki Minaj
•  John Landis - Paul McCartney/ Michael Jackson

Michel Gondry particularly stood out to me as he has worked with some of the biggest artists in the world including Paul McCartney, but also he has worked with a lot of artists that I enjoy to listen to. Therefor I decided to have a greater look into his past. He was born May 8, 1963 in Versailles France he is an Academy Award-winning French filmmaker, whose works include being a commercial director, music video director, and a screenwriter. He is noted for his inventive visual style and manipulation of mise en scene.

Another director that I was interested in was John Landis who has worked with artists such as Sir Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. The main thing that intrigued me about this man was the fact that he directed 'Thriller' which is widely considered the greatest music video of all time. The way that the background dancers are perfectly in time is one of the greatest dances in music videos and has influenced all since then. 

MTV Rocks

MTV Rocks (formerly MTV Two, MTV2 Europe and M2), is a 24-hour alternative music channel operated by Viacom International Media Networks Europe. The channel is widely available throughout Europe on subscription satellite and digital television services. It was released in October 1998 as Mtv two but then in 2007 it went under a large rebranding and was renamed as Mtv rocks and some of the current programs include 'Biggest, Hottest' Loudest' and 'The Official Rock Chart'.

You can see the MTV website by clicking on this link MtvRocks.

As the name suggests this channel plays predominately rock and alternative music with acts such as The Killers, Foo Fighters and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers often appearing on it.

They host award shows every year with some of the biggest names in music being invited. An MTV Video Music Award (commonly abbreviated as a VMA) is an award presented by the cable channel Mtv to honor the best in music videos. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category), the annual MTV Video Music Awards ceremony has often been called the "Oscars for youth".
  In September 2002, the MTV2 Europe introduced its own on-screen presentation and graphics, and started to use much more original programming, the jewel in the station's crown being Gonzo, hosted by the then MTV UK & Ireland DJ and now BBC radio 1 DJ Zane loweand regularly featuring interviews with bands along with contributions from members of the MTV2 Internet forum

 In 2000, the idea of audience choice, a new level of interaction was introduced. This was called 360 degree programming' where views could pick an hour's worth of music videos using their website - this would then be broadcasted through the night. The viewer would be emailed the time of the video they selected and the option to forward it to friends.

When entering the website it is very clear the sought of music that it promotes. there are alot of articles on rock bands such as 'My chemical Romance' and 'Linkin Park'.


It also has links to Mtvs other channel websites such as 'Mtv base' and 'Mtv Dance'  also you can see the most popular music videos at the moment on a scroll bar on the side, which helps people get up to date with current music.

Green Day - 21 guns

The video above is called '21 Guns' and is by the American band 'Green Day' from there eighth album '21st century breakdown'. It is part performance and part narrative.  It plays on the idea of the 21 gun salute, which is a saying for a warship emptying their guns in order to show that they have no hostile intent it is also often used as a reception for heads of state. The first interpretation fits in well with the music video as it is about surrendering and giving up on a fight that is not worth dyeing for. it is directed by Mark Webb who is quite well known. Webb won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction for this video in 2009.

It is about what is worth fighting for in life and what is worth letting go. the idea in this song and video is that although pride is important you should not let it stand in between you, and happiness. there.

 The first lines asks a question about 'do you know what is important to you?' and we see a man looking at a bullet which again refers to war and he then drops it suggesting he is giving up and as the bullet hits the ground the first guitar strums start. Then there is a close up of the actual bands Billie Joe Armstrong lead singer we see that he is trying to hide his emotions as his girlfriend is at the window looking out which shows that they have grown apart again seen when they are seen at opposite ends of the room. And the lyrics ask weather it is worth the pain. which suggests that they should forget there pride and forgive each other. The band say that 'it is not about giving up instead realising what is important'.

The couple are then subject to stray bullets coming through the walls as the chorus sets in, we see a long shot of the woman covering her head in fear as bullets come through the wall around her. The band who are seen in a similar room to the couple are also affected by it but act as if they don't notice, a medium close up shot of the guitarist playing on and singing calmly whilst bullets shoot through the walls behind him is an example of this. Compared to the couple who panic, therefor showing that they don't want to die which may suggest they don't really want the relationship to die.

I also think that is like the band are narrating a silent movie as they are almost watching things unfold and explaining. the fact that they are not affected by the bullets would suggest they are not real almost like a guardian angel.

Also the bullets could be seen as their pride which is keeping them apart and after the chorus the music becomes calmer and the couple both become calm and walk towards each other, not caring about the bullets which shows that they have overcome that and realised that it is not worth the pain of not being together therefore, surrendering there pride which again refers to the earlier line '"Does the pain weigh out the pride?'and when they meet in the middle they kiss.

The video is shot in a your average city apartment and the couple are both dressed fairly plainly, which i believe is to suggest that they are just normal people, therefor the viewer can see that this could be them if they do not listen to the meaning being portrayed. they are both wearing black leather jackets  and have similar color hair may suggests simelarities. therefor connecting the two.

Fairly often in this song the video cuts to the beat of the music, examples of this can be seen at the beginning when the bullet hits the ground the beat comes in and the video cuts to the band, it is also common when the camera is on the band for it to cut to the different members and this if often done to the beat of the music, especial the drum beat.

The video for this song is similar to a lot of the music videos made by this band especially in the album '21st century breakdown' where there is a separate narrative story and also visuals of the band playing the song, a good example of this is in the video for 'Wake me up when September ends'. However other videos especial in earlier albums have been made very differently compared to this one which is very serious and solom whereas in videos such as 'American Idiot' and 'Holiday'the video is much more relaxed and fun with a fast tempo.   

There is a defernate message trying to be portrayed in the song and the video helps to portray this to the full extent. you can tell the words are asking the question if things are worth the pain and not to let your pride get in the way of something that you want.  

History of Music Videos

Above you can see a timeline sowing the advancement in music videos from the early 1900's to 2010. 

Music Videos have seen significant change over the years, with the breakthrough, firstly of film and then color playing huge roles and then more recently the accessibility of music channels and the Internet with programs such as YouTube being available as rocketed the profitability of Videos sky high. However in my opinion the most influential aspects to the rise in music videos from the 50s are the artists who have revolutionized them, with people such as 'Elvis', 'Michael Jackson' and 'Madonna' all playing huge roles.


Elvis Presley

Elvis 'The King of Rock' along with the Beatles revolutionized music and he was the first to start using videos in order to sell his music. To the right you can see the video for the song 'Jailhouse Rock', one of his famous tracks. You can see that it is very energetic and that there is a lot of dancing involved. this was completely new at this time as before there had only been people like Dean Martin and Bing Crosby who would stand and sing. and looking on from this period almost all videos have been influenced by this breakthrough by Elvis.



The Beatles

Like I said the Beatles were one of the main artists behind the music we hear today, (popular music or pop). They produced hit after hit with songs such as 'Hey Jude', 'Let it be' and 'Yesterday', with hey Jude being played at the recent London Olympics opening ceremony a full 44 years after it was released. Along with Elvis they were the first to add humor to there lyrics and videos with 'Yellow submarine' being a good example of this.

Television

The TV played a huge part in promoting music videos with the early programs such as top of the pops being some of the most popular programmes on television. Now there are a wide variety of music channels playing songs by different artists and genres. which allows the viewer/customer to have a wide range to choose from therefor being able to watch the videos they want.


Michael Jackson
  
Jackson is one of the most iconic artist of all time compared to people such as 'Elvis' and 'The Beatles' and probably has made the greatest collection of music videos of all time. Some of these iconic music videos are, 'Bad', 'Thriller', 'Beat it', 'Earth song' and many more. He always uses his great talent at dancing in his videos. He has created some of the most famous dance moves including 'the moonwalk' and 'the anti-gravity lean'

"Smooth Criminal" is the seventh single from Jackson's 1987 Bad album. The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by a "smooth" assailant.

The Album 'Bad is the only album ever to have had 12 singles released. Jackson made videos for all of these and many are still watched today.

'Thriller' Jackson's master piece and considered by many the greatest music video of all time has had 119,776,275 views on you tube. and considering that it was made in 1983 is remarkable as many of his fans would not be regular users of you tube.

Jackson's video for scream which cost $7 million to produce is the most expensive music video of all time.

Madonna 

Madonna often referred to as 'The Queen of Pop' had her hay day in the late 80s and 90s however she is still producing songs now which are extremely popular with her huge fan base. She was one of the first artists to use sex appeal in order to promote herself. And although often controversial the videos she creates are the main way she portrays this. To the left you can see the video for her song 'Sorry'. there are clear sexual innuendos in this and this style has influenced almost all artists since with them either presenting themselves in this way or surrounding themselves with good looking people. Artists such as 'Cherly Cole' and 'Kylie Minogue' showing these influences in there music videos.


You Tube

In recent years YouTube has probably been the most significant advancement in music videos as it has made them so much more accessible for people to see that there views has risen significantly. Its power over the music industry has become so great now with most videos popularity being judged not on the amount sold but instead by how many views they have. It has also become a platform to launch new stars, for example the now megastar, Justin Bieber being found on YouTube and his new single 'Boyfriend' receiving 160,516,186 views on you tube. Other artists who have used YouTube as a promotional toll are Leona Lewis and Beyonce who's song 'Single Ladies' received 314 million views. Another Internet sensation brought about by YouTube was the Britain's Got Talent success of Susan Boyle who's audition received 286 million views.