Michael Jackson- Thriller

Thriller- One of Michael jackson's greatest if not the greatest music video he's ever made, the video is famous for the dance which today is still performed by many at parties etc, the music video was made in 1983 and still today is as famous and popular as then. The video is 13 minutes long and is like a mini movie or a mini thriller. The video has a great use of mise-en-scene as it portrays 'zombies' and the characters who play zombies do pass for zombies throughout the extract. During the period of when the music video was made Channel 4 had a policy of not showing any horror movies until after 9, the airing of the video was was done on at friday at midnight and would always attract a huge amount of views, everyone stayed up to watch this video, and because there were only 4 channels in the 1980s this is why it may have been a huge success, if you had missed the video on a friday night it would be replayed at a later point the following week. 

Video selection

BRMC- spread love

Positive:

• Use of shots (continuity editing)
• Use of props (mise-en-scene)
• Setting
• Body language
• Extreme close-ups
• Editing to the beat
• Camera angle of the guitar 
• sped up train
• shpt out of the window
• trying to tell a story

Negative:

• Out of sync some times
• Not a great use of costumes
• Terrible teeth "choose carefully"

The buttons- Anyone else but you

Positive:

• Costumes-matches the song
• Setting food with the music
• Good use of props
• Shot of rainbow
• Intimacy 

Negative:

• One effect, fade

Conventions of the genre

• ECU
• Lip synching (synchronise)
• Dancing
• Product placement
• Instrument (piano, guitar)
• Story (narrative) 
• facial expressions e.g. make-up
• Mise en-scene, lighting, costumes
• Settings
• Props
• Girls

Case-study

• Director- Jamie Thraves
• Made short films at university
• Used award- winning short films as a 'calling card' to get a 'foot in the door' with video production company factory films
• Began by shooting three very low budget music videos- cost about £5000 each
• Showed his film to a lot of people to become recognised which got him hired

This is how the process works:

• A 'commissioner' from a record label sends a track to about 5 to 10 directors, the directors then each submit a treatment (out line what they will ned to do with the track e.g. plan and story board) this whole process is unpaid, the director who submits the 'best' treatment is then commissioned to make the videos and therefore employed, only then is the director now paid.

As it can be seen for many directors in the business it is a precarious existence where their livelihood is dependent on each commission , Jamie Thraves submitted treatments for his two best known videos and each was accepted:

1. Radiohead- Just, £100,000 budget, shot in 3 days.

2. Coldplay- The scientist , £200,000 budget, shot in 3 days.

Jamie Thraves' most recent video was for japanese popstars- song for Lisa.

• Currently videos cost about £20,000
• Shooting time, 2 days
• Jamie has used the music videos to get into the film business, and has so far shot three features:
• The low dow
• The cry of the owl
• Treacle Jr

Jamie's top tip:

• Use the lyrics but try not to be literal 
• Most importantly- Go with the emotion on the lyrics

Purpose of a music promo video

• To Promote the song
• Change the image of the artist
• Change the image of the song
• Advertisement 
• Draws attention to the music/song
• Illustrates the song
• Appeals to a visual audience 
• Expresses an individual emotion (Sinade O'connor, Stan) 
• Tells a story (small town boy, I to break free, George Michael)
• Market an image (Christina Aguilera- Dirty, Madonna- change imagery
• Promotes the artist/ single/ album
• Persuades audience to buy -CD/ Download (Stan)
• Raises the audience awareness of profile of the artist / group. (21 seconds by So solid crew)
• To make a artistic statement- e.g. talking heads 'once in a lifetime'- Bob Dillen 
• Product placement e.g. Christina Aguilera + perfume (not my self tonight) 

How might we measure the success criteria of a music promo video?

• Amount of youtube views
• Sales
• Word of mouth
• Newspaper articles/ TV reports
• How many times shown on TV
• Amount of publicity, and example of this is Rebecca Black 
• Downloads (legal/illegal)
• Charts
• CD sales
• VMA awards 

100 Greatest Music Videos

The list below shows channels 4's 100 greatest music videos. for research purposes I watched channels 4's distribution of this, and there were a lot of good videos which stood out to me personally, my favourite of these from list was 21seconds by So solid crew.

1. Michael Jackson: Thriller
2. Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer
3. A-ha: Take on Me
4. Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody
5. Madonna: Like a Prayer
6. Robbie Williams: Rock DJ
7. Michael Jackson: Billie Jean
8. The Verve: Bittersweet Symphony
9. Madonna: Vogue
10. Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
11. Coldplay: The Scientist
12. Michael & Janet Jackson: Scream
13. Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall
14. Christina Aguilera: Dirrty
15. REM: Everybody Hurts
16. OutKast: Hey Ya
17. Blur: Coffee & TV
18. Beyonce: Crazy in Love
19. Madonna: Material Girl
20. Gorillaz: Clint Eastwood
21. Queen: I Want to Break Free
22. Justin Timberlake: Cry Me a River
23. Britney Spears: ...Baby One More Time
24. Radiohead: No Surprises
25. Madness: Baggy Trousers
26. TLC: Waterfalls
27. David Bowie: Ashes to Ashes
28. Foo Fighters: Learn to Fly
29. Electric Six: Gay Bar
30. Weezer: Buddy Holly
31. Eminem: Stan
32. Chris Isaak: Wicked Game
33. U2: The Sweetest Thing
34. The White Stripes: Fell in Love with a Girl
35. Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2U
36. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Give It Away
37. Guns N Roses: November Rain
38. Fatboy Slim: Weapon of Choice
39. Pulp: Common People
40. Missy Elliot: Get Ur Freak On
41. The Spice Girls: Wannabe
42. Bjork: It's Oh So Quiet
43. Dire Straits: Money for Nothing
44. Kylie Minogue: Can't Get You Out of My Head
45. Aerosmith: Crazy
46. Adam & the Ants: Prince Charming
47. The Prodigy: Firestarter
48. Johnny Cash: Hurt
49. Jamiroquai: Virtual Insanity
50. Paul Simon: You Can Call Me Al
51. Run DMC & Aerosmith: Walk This Way
52. Massive Attack: Teardrop
53. Wham: Club Tropicana
54. Daft Punk: Around the World
55. Fatboy Slim: Praise You
56. Eminem: Without Me
57. Meatloaf: I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
58. The Cure: Close to Me
59. Abba: Knowing Me, Knowing You
60. Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams
61. The Prodigy: Smack My Bitch Up
62. Blur: Parklife
63. George Michael: Outside
64. Bjork: Human Behaviour
65. Aphex Twin: Windowlicker
66. Bob Dylan: Subterranean Homesick Blues
67. The Beastie Boys: Sabotage
68. Madonna: Ray of Light
69. Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Two Tribes
70. The Police: Every Breath You Take
71. Bjork: All Is Full of Love
72. Robert Palmer: Addicted to Love
73. Basement Jaxx: Where's Your Head At?
74. Wu-Tang Clan: Gravel Pit
75. Duran Duran: Rio
76. The Beatles: Strawberry Fields
77. MC Hammer: U Can't Touch This
78. Godley and Creme: Cry
79. New Order: True Faith
80. Radiohead: Just
81. Ultravox: Vienna
82. 50 Cent: In Da Club
83. Shakespear's Sister: Stay
84. The Boomtown Rats: I Don't Like Mondays
85. Sid Vicious: My Way
86. The Streets: Fit But You Know It
87. Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime
88. Elton John: I Want Love
89. Smashing Pumpkins: Tonight Tonight
90. The Pet Shop Boys: Go West
91. The Specials: Ghost Town
92. Herbie Hancock: Rockit
93. The Rolling Stones: We Love You
94. Bonnie Tyler: Total Eclipse of the Heart
95. The Cardigans: My Favourite Game
96. So Solid Crew: 21 Seconds- This was So Solid Crews most memorable and possibly greatest music video they ever created. The video of this song is found on top of the blog, and the video portrays a dark and evil image, telling us we only have '21 seconds' to go. 
97. Cornershop: Brimful of Asha
98. Bronski Beat: Smalltown Boy
99. Supergrass: Pumping on Your Stereo
100. Musical Youth: Pass the Dutchie

Advanced Poduction

What I will also need to produce:

• A 'digipak' for it release on DVD
• A magazine advertisement for the DVD
• A digipak example

In addition to my 'promo' video I will also have to produce:

• a CRITICAL EVALUATION
• On a BLOG
• Including Research and Planning