Research and Planning checklist

A2 Media Studies: G324 Music Video

Research and planning checklist

Must do:	Could also do…
Research:
Research conventions of music video genre- what are the common features? Typical media language features.	Research and analysis of representation of various social groups in music video
Explore functions and purpose of music videos
Types of music video- performance-based, narrative and concept.	Research into different music genres' videos (could also get audience research into their perceptions of different genres' videos)
Analysis of a music video using Andrew Goodwin’s theory
Research into a star image (Richard Dyer and Geoff Dyer)
Analysis of key concepts in at least 2 music videos- media language, narrative, audience, genre and representation (we did Bad Blood together)
Ideas and inspiration (ongoing)	Blog about anything you see- it doesn't have to be a music video- that inspires you or provokes ideas. Could be an image or a piece of art, a fashion magazine, a film etc.
Research into digipaks and magazine adverts- aim to analyse 3 of each	If you can, find a trio of a music video, digipak and magazine advert for the same track and analyse the synergy between the 3
Audience research: what do people want/expect from a music video? Mix of both primary and secondary research, analysed.	Be creative in the way you gather research- video? Images? Electronic survey?
Planning:
Detailed target audience for your song and video: this is crucial and is often neglected!	Creative ways to present this- video? Picture montage? etc
Song choice- shortlists and very initial ideas.	This could be ongoing all through your research and planning stage- blog every time you discover a song that could work well for a music video
Explain final song choice in detail. Give rough ideas for the direction you want the video to go in.	Ask your target audience to vote on your ideas?
Music artist development- who will your artist be? Name? Image? Back story?	How do you ‘sell’ your artist? Think of it from a music industry perspective… Which artists out there are comparable to yours?
Designing digipak- plan fonts, images, layouts etc and include multiple drafts.	Audience research to measure reaction to your different ideas
Lyrics analysis- connotations of lyrics, and what aspects you will use or develop in your music video.
Treatment- a written 'pitch for your music video (Miss B's unfinished example here)
Storyboard of shots in your music video (blank storyboard on shared area) EXAMPLE PRE-PRODUCTION PAPERWORK FROM MOVIES	Make an ‘animatic’ of your video- put storyboard shots together to make a ‘draft’ music video
Shot list/breakdown for your filming (blank shotlist on shared area)
Planning props, costumes and make-up	Mood boards, inspirational images etc
Call sheet- including call times, locations and contact details, props, costumes etc (blank call sheet on shared area)