Media studies (updated)

1. NEA- Research/ Planning
By Isha

2. Record label
Glassnote Records is a record label that was launched by
American music executive, Daniel Glass, in 2007. The label
primarily has a lineup of indie rock, alternative rock and
synthpop artists, such as Mumford & Sons, Phoenix and
AURORA. Glassnote has been known as the “Best Indie
Label” by Rolling Stone, “Label of the Year” at the A2IM
Libera Awards and the “#1 Independent Label” by Billboard.
Most recently Pigeons & Planes described Glassnote as “a
powerhouse in the world of indie labels”.

3. Dancer in the dark by Chase Atlantic
Chase Atlantic is an alternative pop band from Australia,
consisting of Christian Anthony and brothers Clinton and
Mitchel Cave. The band members write, produce, sing
and play the instruments in all of their music. Chase
Atlantic has a unique style of music that is "conjured up
dark alternative pop punctuated by rock and R&B",
according to the band members themselves.
Dancer in the dark is about the artist having mixed
feelings about a girl. The lyrics explains how she’s gone
through hardships with mental illness and how easy it is
for her to get attached.

4. Common conventions of Chase Atlantic music
videos
• The three members(star image) are always present in their music
videos.
• Majority of their videos are filmed during the night when it’s dark,
which suits the genre of dark alternative.
• The editing and visual effects tend to be psychedelic and flashy during
the chorus/ upbeat parts. E.g. the MV ‘Swim’. There’s camera
movement during the lip sync.
• A lot of neon lights and saturated filters.

5. She got her head in the dirt
And her neck in my hands
She won't live too long with a mind like that
I can't hang every day, baby, I've got plans, oh woah
I won't waste her time with a life like that
Keep your hands on your face
Don't let 'em slip off with the pressure, no
Just stay blind
Take a gram to the face
Don't let 'em see your depression, no
It's not right
Oh baby, maybe it's that look in your eyes
They been telling me she wanna leave
She's been dancing with the devil all night
It's like Hell is where she wanna be
She got a smile on her face and a knife in her hand
She don't look too sane when she acts like that
She said "it's hard to relate when you don't understand"
Well, get your shit straight, baby, I am not your man
It’s about how you need to hide your
depression due to it not being
acceptable in society. Stigma that
society has always viewed mental
illness as a sign of weakness.
Despite her attempts to show false
enjoyment, she clearly doesn’t want
to be here anymore. So she would be
presenting herself in a way that no
one would suspect anything.
The “devil” refers to the girl’s
depression. During the entirety of the
night, the girl has been battling
against her depression.
A short sequence with the girl
dancing with a man in a suit and
tie(ballroom dancing)- creates
enigma. Mid-shot/ over the shoulder
shot.
The girl acts upon the aggressive side
of this protective, self-defence nature
it makes her seem unstable and, in
some way, slightly insane.
Rather than getting rid of these
negative emotions, her actions make
her seem as if she wants to continue
battling this “hell” rather than free
herself.
Having a mind with constant
negativity can become toxic to live
with.
Lip-syncing of the artist.
Leading shot where subject is
walking.

6. Keep your hands to yourself
Don't put 'em on someone else's life
Stay right there, right there
Take advice from yourself
If the energy's dead, baby, let things die
I don't care
Oh, no
Baby, it's that look in your eyes
They been telling me she wanna leave
She's been dancing with the devil all night
It's like Hell is where she wanna be
Now, watch her dance in the dark
Watch her dance in the dark [x3]
I love to watch her dance
When the lights are gone her emotion shows
I love to watch her dance
Seems like tragedy is all she knows
Baby, it's that look in your eyes
They been telling me she wanna leave
She's been dancing with the devil all night
It's like Hell is where she wanna be
Now, watch her dance in the dark
Watch her dance in the dark [x3]
Her true self is presented in the dark,
so she no longer needs to have a fake
façade. She lets her walls fall down
and lets her emotions fully show.
Reveal of the man in the suit dancing.
There’s no point in trying to keep
something alive that’s long since
been dead. It’s better to just let it die.

7. Indie/ Alternative music video conventions
Indie music videos are known to be produced at low budgets. Sets or locations can vary, for example, studios,
beaches, cities, parks, etc. Places that can be accessed easily, typically public places. However, these public areas
can also and may be secluded. These settings create a sense of mystery, as the audience are not yet familiar with
the character.
Mise-en-scene: A narrative lead music video tends to set the mood/scene/theme of the story being told. Alternative
artists use various locations frequently setting scenes outside. The artists doesn’t always appear in the videos and
often uses actors to play particular parts. A non-narrative video would have the artist often play the guitar and/or
lip-sync the lyrics to emotionally convey the meaning.
Editing/Camera: Many edits on a black and white filter creates an atmospheric feeling of nostalgia, it brings out the
emotional narrative together. This makes the video mono-toned and simple bringing the focus on the narration. A
common editing technique used is jump cuts. These communicate that time has passed, and help show a sudden
contrast between the scenes. Conventional transition techniques, such as fade and dissolve, allow the video to look
smooth. The most conventional shots are close-ups, these allow the audience to see the emotions of the
characters, often linked to the lyrics, prompting the audience with enigma codes.
Sound: A music video that adopts a storyline, it may contain diegetic sounds that create a link between the
narrative and the track. Diegetic sounds are mainly heard at the beginning, before the vocals. It helps establish the
setting and atmosphere of the music video/narrative. Diegetic sound may also be placed at the end, after the
vocals. It includes the narrative or fills in a 'plot hole' in order for the audience to make complete sense of the music
video.
Diegetic sound and non-diegetic sound can also overlap. It may add a certain detail to the music video, that helps
the story line fall in place.

8. Target Audiences
The New Casuals are unchanged on the map – think twenty-something, understated
lads that consciously maintained low-key style from Norse, APC and Folk. Their hate of
hype and broadcasting their lives makes them polar opposites to the Hypebeasts!
While they share a love of music, festivals, fashion and footy – the Hypebeasts are all
about niche language, products and ‘getting in there first’.
Activists are a major new player in the Leading Edge – on the front line at protests and
driving the politicisation of UK Youth. Activists are passionate about inequality and
social change, so are taking to the streets and social media to protest, campaign,
squat and sit-in. Especially relevant in 2015 with the General Election looming,
Activists are aspirational across the map and admired for their passion and dedication
to the cause – be that racial equality, housing, feminism, the environment.
Young Alts are the Tribe who ‘want out’ of the Mainstream – an experimental Tribe
trying anything and everything Alternative from Grunge to Hardcore…Young Alts are a
long standing youth Tribe – the entry level Alternatives that simply want to set
themselves apart from the Mainstream by looking alternative, listening to alternative
music, having alternative views… Even if they are Mainstream in every other sense!

9. Artist Profile- Travis
• The style that my artist will have a causal alter/swag outlet to appeal to audiences to feel
familiar with the genre.
• My artist will be playing as the female lead’s boyfriend, the song will be his interpretation
of how he sees her suffering through mental illness. This will involve visuals of how being
with someone with bipolar disorder can feel like riding a roller coaster. The relationship
will portray how toxic their relationship is with each other. He will try to attempt to
understand her, but it gets to the point where he starts having mixed feelings on what to
do. Even though certain lyrics such as “She won't live too long with a mind like that” or “I
won't waste her time with a life like that” may sound harsh; a preferred reading would be
that he isn’t being supportive. However, if audiences look deeply into it a negotiated
reading would be that he tries to be realistic that since she isn’t seeking help, she will
only get worse.

10. The Girl- Juliet
The main focus of the music video will be on Juliet, she is
a girl who suffers through a mental illness known as
bipolar disorder. It is known to affect your mood, and
typically can make them swing from one extreme
emotion to another -episodes of mania or depression.
The lyrics of the song describes how she goes through the
hardships of her mental illness, yet she tries to maintain a
public façade to others. This is to avoid the stigma of
being seen as “crazy” or vulnerable(“Don't let 'em see
your depression”). Having a mental illness can make
someone feel lonely, which is why Juliet feels that the
only one that she can turn to is her demon(“She's been
dancing with the devil all night. It's like Hell is where she
wanna be”).
• Causal/ mainstream style to fit into society’s idea of
beautiful, this can also show how she may feel insecure.

11. Social Issue
The social issue that will be addressed in my music video will be the stigma of mental
illness and how it can affect individuals. They are challenged by the stereotypes and
prejudice that result from misconceptions about mental illness; this can result to
people shutting out people from their lives due to the feelings of not being seen as
“normal” or maybe even suicidal. I wanted my music video to convey this sort of
awareness through the character Juliet. She feels the need to hide this part of her in
order to be perceived as a normal girl, even though Travis is aware of this, she shuts
him out thinking that she doesn’t need help. However, there will always be someone
that cares; even though Travis has mixed feelings of frustration, in the end he
genuinely wants to help her get back on her feet. This will be portrayed at the end of
the video where Juliet is dancing with the “devil”. When she is twirled around she
ends up in the arms of her boyfriend connoting that he is there to support and hold
onto her.

12. Lip Syncing
Lip-syncing will involve camera movement of leading shots where the star
image (Travis) is walking with hand movements/gestures in tune with the
beat towards the camera with a few additional shots. The lighting for this
will be quite saturated and the filming will be done in the evening/night to
suit the genre conventions of an alternative music video.
Useful sources:
• https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=XMcqHveCpmY
• https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=xXUSjXRJQh4
• https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=q2gy4jGBCIg

13. Waltz/Ballroom Dancing shots
This is used to illustrate the idea of Juliet dancing in the
dark with her inner demon which represents the darkness
of her depression/ bipolar. In a way she finds comfort in
escaping from reality by dancing with the devil -“It's like
Hell is where she wanna be”. The devil’s masked face will
not be revealed until later on in the music video, this is to
create an enigma. As the scene progresses, Juliets make
up will become more disoriented and distraugted
however she’ll be smiling(similar to Riptide). This is to
represent how conflicted she feels with herself. When
she is twirled around she ends up in the arms of Travis
connoting that he is there to support and hold onto her.
This will portray his love and care for her, also that she no
longer needs to dance with the devil (close up and mid-
close up shot).
The lighting for this sequence/shot will be quite dark and
cinematic to which amplifies with the lyrics and gives it a
more majestic feel.
The shots that will be used will be; over the shoulder of
the dance partner to create a sense of enigma on who
Juliet is dancing with, mid-shots of the movement with
slit tilts, long/wide shots to show the location and dance.

14. Living room scene/shots
Juliet and Travis are having an
argument due to the built up tension
in their relationship where Juliet
wants to reject help however Travis is
trying to persuade her. There will be
uses of close ups to show how they
are feeling and long shots to portray
these emotions through body
language. *

15. Various shots
There will be various shots focused on the couple in
social situations such as hanging out with friends- Juliet
will be trying to keep up with her façade while Travis
notices it. With the use of long shots of the location and
mid-shots to show their interactions, also how
misplaced/ uneasy Juliet feels.
Also, there will be shots of just Juliet individually to
showcase her inner struggles by how she looks at her
self in the mirror.

16. Potential locations
London Bridge or South Bank
St Dunstan in the East*
Somserset house
Living room

17. Shot listShot Location Shot type Angle Movement Description
1 London Bridge/ South Bank Mid, Eye level Leading shot-
backwards
The camera will be facing
the actor while he is
walking.
2 London Bridge/ South Bank Long Slightly tilted Along with
actor on the
side
The shot will have a side
view of the actor walking.
(both sides)
3 London Bridge/ South Bank Mid-close
up
Eye level
4* London Bridge/ South Bank Mid Slightly tilted
upwards
Following actor From the back
5 St Dunstan in the East* Over
shoulder,
close up
Stationary Over shoulder of “devil”
facing Juliet
6 St Dunstan in the East* Close up Slight upward
tilt
Stationary Shot of their feet
movement
7 St Dunstan in the East* Wide Stationary
LipsyncingDancing

18. Shot Location Shot type Angle Movement Description
8 St Dunstan in the East* Mid-close up Eye level Stationary Juliet's face
9 Living room Mid Back and forward When Juliet and Tyler
are arguing
10 Living room Close up Eye level Stationary Travis & Juliet’s face
frustrated(various)
11 Cafe Mid Stationary Group of friends
12 Cafe Close up Stationary Travis noticing Juliet
feeling uncomfortable
13 Cafe Close up Stationary Juliet looking out of
place
14 Cafe Long/wide Slight movement-
sideward
Location/ setting of
cafe
ArgumentVarious