Tommy Coulter-Liston's A2 Media Studies Coursework

Thursday 26 August 2010

Case study on Def Jam Records(MAINSTREAM)

Def Jam Recordings







Def Jam Recordings is an American hip-hop record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group. In the UK, the label takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Mercury Music Group, while in Japan, it is Def Jam Japan operating through Universal Sigma Music.

Def Jam was created by Rick Rubin in his dorm room at New York University Def Jam under PolyGram By 1992, despite recent multi-platinum selling releases Def Jam ran into severe financial troubles and was faced with folding. Polygram took over purchasing Sony's 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings. Def Jam released Warren G's Regulate... G Funk Era, which went triple platinum and effectively revived the label. PolyGram brough an additional 9.8% in Def Jam Recordings in 1995, giving them more ownership of the company. In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagrams and merged into its Universal Music Group. Following Universal Music Group's takeover of PolyGram, it purchased the remaining interest of Def Jam Recordings from Russell Simmons for a reported $100 million. Universal merged Def Jam with Island Records to form The Island Def Jam Music Group. In spite of the formation of IDJMG, Def Jam and Island continue to operate as separate imprints.

Def Jam launched new successful acts such as pop and contemporary R&B singers like Rihanna, Teairra Mari and Ne-Yo.
Def Jam brough out a video game Def Jam: Icon is a fighting game, and is the third in Electronic Arts's Def Jam-licensed hip hop video game series with the released the same year as the ps3.

Case study on Epitaph Records( INDEPENDENT)

Epitaph Records








Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created to sell Bad Religion records, but has grown into a large independent record label. Throughout the 80s and 90s most of the bands on Epitaph were punk and pop punk groups, while it is now primarily made up of post-hardcore and emo bands. A large portion of the record label, known as Hellcat Records, is owned by Tim Armstrong, frontman of the punk rock band Rancid.

In 1981, Bad Religion recorded a self-titled EP, which was the first release for Epitaph. Three follow-ups ensued – How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Into the Unknown and the EP Back to the Known – before their temporary split. In 1988, Epitaph released its first record as a proper label. It was the band L7's self-titled album, and it was distributed by Chameleon. The first album that was both released and distributed by Epitaph was Suffer by Bad Religion. In 1994, Epitaph received widespread fame, both within and outside the punk community, when NOFX, Rancid and The Offspring all released hit records. This was a big year for punk in the mainstream. their album Smash lived up to its name and quickly became Epitaph's all time best selling album, with more than 11 million units sold worldwide to date.

Although Bad Religion was the founding band of Epitaph, releasing their early records through the label, they switched over to Atlantic in 1993, with Recipe For Hate being their first record outside of the label. In 2003, Epitaph sparked some controversy among its fans by signing post-hardcore acts as well as alternative hip hop artists such as Atmosphere and Sage Francis and grindcore band The Locust, leading to debates about what constitutes the true nature of "punk" music. This has caused much criticism and scrutiny within its punk base
In mid-2005 Epitaph was added to the official list of RIAA members[2] along with several other high-profile independent labels.

The reason for the listing is not clear, but one source points to an agreement for internet P2P distribution.[3] Another source claims label management joined RIAA in order to get certified sales awards (i.e., official "Gold" or "Platinum" record status) for releases. This sparked some controversy as some feel they should no longer be labeled independent if they are a member of the RIAA

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Research in to a music video director

Research in to a Music video Director
David Fincher






Going by my Research most of the Music Video Directors are Music Video Directors at the start of the career and move in to becoming film directors. Such as spike jonze who directed “being john malkovich”, gore verbinski who made films like the ring and the pirates of the Caribbean. Michel gondry all started of as music video directors and become filmmakers, Unlike David fincher has.

David Fincher was born August 28, 1962 he is an American music and film maker known for his film Se7en 1995, the game 1997, fight club 1999, panic room 2002 and zodiac 2007. He began making movies at age eight with an 8 mm camera. Getting a job loading cameras and doing other hands-on work for forty’s Forty Films. He was later hired by Industrial Light & Magic in 1980, where he worked on productions for Twice Upon a Time, Return of the Jedi and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. He soon discovered music videos and went on to direct many promos.

Fincher directed big budget music videos for artists such as Madonna (including "Express Yourself", "Vogue", "Oh Father" and "Bad Girl"), Billy Idol ("Cradle of Love"), Paula Abdul (including "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me", "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl" and "Cold Hearted"), Aero smith ("Janie's Got a Gun"), The Rolling Stones (including "Love Is Strong"), Nine Inch Nails ("Only"), A Perfect Circle ("Judith"), Jody Watley (including "Real Love" and "Most of All"), Rick Springfield, Steve Winwood, Neneh Cherry ("Heart"), George Michael ("Freedom '90"), Michael Jackson ("Who Is It"), The Wallflowers, Wire Train and The Outfield, including "All the Love (in the World)", "Every Time You Cry" and "No Surrender".

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Journal: summer work experience on a location of a BollyWood film Ra One

I done a work experience for 2 days with a Locations team working on the BollyWood film Ra One. Were i got to see how a set on a busy london location operated. The location was south bank skateboard park near the london eye.












Ra.One (also called Ra.1) is an upcoming Bollywood science-fiction superhero film directed by Anubhav Sinha. The film, which features Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, will be produced under Khan's production company, Red Chillies Entertainment. The film is scheduled to be released on 3rd June 2011.


Filming
The shooting was originally supposed to begin in Miami, USA, but due to budget concerns this was scrapped. The first phase of filming begun in India in March 2010 and took place till May 2010 in Mumbai's Film City and Goa. The crew then moved on to London in June 2010 where the filming with the entire starcast took place during July-August and has been completed. In a recent interview, Khan stated that the remaining portions would be completed in India & would require further 6 months of post production.

































































































































A thank you email from the lady who got me the work experience >>>

Monday 23 August 2010

Gorillaz - Stylo - (Official Music) Short analysis

Gorillaz - Stylo - (Official Music)
Short analysis






The music video Gorillaz - Stylo is a music video that has been made in the style of a short film. It is a highly cinematic short action piece. With the convergence of real life and animated gorillaz characters. Which are the main actors in the short film, they represent the gorillaz and are their world wide brand which they are known by.

They have been made the stars of the music video and they are also used a lot with the band they start their live gigs with them animated characters projected on the opening of their shows. The music video show these characters as dangerous villains causing mayhem and must link to how they want the music to be related to and have this affect. Of them not being the good guys. The music video has big actors like bruce willis in it to make it and give it that real Hollywood action blockbuster movie effect. Going by how well the music video has been made, and how it give us that action message it must have been a big budget music video to promote their new song /album.


The hologram 3d gorillaz live gigs were they have their custom and well known cartoon characters who start their show off.


Eminem – Stan (music video) Short analysis

Eminem – Stan (music video)
Short analysis








The music video Stan is a music video that has been made in the style of a short film. It is a highly cinematic narrative piece.
It has been made to tell a storey, and the lyrics in the song have been purposely made to be the dialogue of the short film as well as sound track.

The actors are taking the roles serious, Eminem only appears in the flash backs in the short film, but his presence is heard through his music as he tells the storey through his song. Which creates such a powerful piece of work. This is one example of how music videos, gives fans and listeners and improved understanding of a song. And a excellent way to promote the song.

Friday 20 August 2010

Looking at music videos for inspiration ...

Whilst i have been working through the media blog sheet, I have been looking at lots of different music videos Like emenem-stan and lots of clubland music videos for inspiration. And how i want my music video to come across,When it comes to making my own. depending on the genre we get i have not looked to hard, as i dont know what to look for without a genre.

Thursday 19 August 2010

Case Study on Michael Jackson

CASE STUDY ON MICHEAL JACKSON

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

Was an American recording artist, entertainer Referred to as the King of Pop, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.

Started his career with his brothers known as the Jackson 5 then went solo in 1971.

In 1980s he became one of the best singers of the time creating the most imaginative ingredients to his music and the videos that went with them, His best and most successful "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" all selling world wide and still known and sold 30 years on huge numbers since his death

Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. with a production budget of $750,000. It was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records Thriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time, with sales estimated by various sources as somewhere between 65 and 110 million copies worldwide,[3] and is tied with Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) as the best-selling album in the United States.[

Jackson won hundreds of awards, which have made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of music. Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships and behavior, have generated controversy. While preparing for his concert series This Is It, Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after suffering from cardiac arrest. Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and as many as one billion people around the world reportedly watched his public memorial service on live television. In March 2010, Sony Music Entertainment signed a US$250 million deal with Jackson's estate to retain distribution rights to his recordings until 2017, and to release seven posthumous albums over the decade following his death.

Michael Jackson will always be the most famous and most focused pop icon of all time for his singing ability, his personality his creative mind and they way he lived his life being a world wide super star from such a young age known as the boy who never grew up.






Wednesday 18 August 2010

Codes and conventions of a music video

Codes and conventions of a music video

Codes equipment to make the music video for example cameras. But the actual codes in a music video are what the person/artist is feeling in the music video or situation that the song is about and how we see this shown with the camera shows this and the way its edited to capture emotion.
Conventions the way things are done within the video this also describes the genre of the music video
The conventions of a music video vary depending on genre of music. However, some general conventions are: The artist is shown performing, the lyrics of the song influence what is shown in the video, the pace of editing fits the pace of the music, and the codes of dress reflect the mood of the song.

Styles:

• Performance by band or singer
• Narrative having a story to it
• Mixture of both narrative & performance
• Cameo band/artist is in the story but don’t perform
• Animation digital, flash and stop frame

Editing and sound:

• Music videos often use jump cuts
• Footage is filmed to match lyrics of songs to look like their singing live
• Diagetic sounds
• Levels adjusted to vocal sounds to make the vocal more powerful.

Mise-en scene

• Props, music instruments and band merchandise
• Costumes certain outfits
• Locations

CAMERA:

CLOSE-UP

Is a dominant effect used in t.v shows partly because the size of the tv screen, which can create a sense of intimacy for the viewer.

EDITING:

The most common edit is the fast cut montage,rendering many images at one time so it make it impossible to grasp it at first viewing and therefore makes the viewer watch it again and again to see everything, This is called Multiple Viewing.
Some music videos use slow pace and gather transmission , it works for female singers like Dido.
Often Enhancing the editing for digital effects which play with the original images to offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

The Purpose of a Music Video

The Purpose of a Music Video

A music video is a short film or video, which is made to fit and work with a composed piece of music made by an artist or group. Music videos these days are to help market the piece of music, it is used as a marketing devise to promote the song and increase its sales.