Locations/ Significant Locations

We filmed in various locations as they represented significant parts in our film. It was crucial that the locations used during the production of our music video conveyed essences of wealth and also in contrast locations which depicted poorness.

The opening establishing shot (shown above) was clinical due to the representations a bus stop has in everyday life. Furthermore we aimed to replicate our storyboard precisely and this specific location fitted criteria very well.

We had some inspiration off certain films which influenced the locations we used to film. The film ‘Kidulthood’ follows a group of teenagers from London, who live on a London estate. It follows their lives, showing they do not have much which evidently leads them to gang and rivalry, as they have nothing else and do not follow their dreams. The locationsin ‘Kidulthood’ represent working class and a somewhat struggle; and so we tried to use similar locations in our video. We chose to use a bridge with graffiti which represented an estate like environment.

Firstly, walking down an alley way conveys the fact of the poor unattractive surroundings This relates to our song as the protagonisted is moving up in life gradually as he started from lower working class. Other locations consist of the cark park of the arndale in manchester where we filmed the big wheel and Jacob performing on the edge with buildings in the background

Filming at Rebeccas house in Hulme Manchester was very useful as this associated to the lyrics once again due to us making a sign of "Hrown ups only" this is played when the lyric is said

Costumes

In many music videos the costume in which the star image is dressed in, plays a huge part. They can represent certain feelings and emotions for the audience to engage with; and at the same time be used for effect. One specific example in which costumes can be used for effect and dramatisation is many of Lady Gaga's videos, one of them videos being "telephone" in which we have analysed previously. Although the costumes Lady Gaga herself wears are very dramatic and emphasised, they are still intended to represent a certain mood/feeling.

For example, in the prison scene she is seen to wear a black and white outfit which in my opinion represents the good and bad of society. Black glasses are covering her face which may suggest her not wanting to express her true self.

This can be compared to another outfit in a different scene which is extremely differet. The star image, Lady Gaga is dressed in an extremely revealing costume. The outfit consists of a somewhat bra and knicker set which displays the American flag. This could possibly show that Lady Gaga wishes to express where she has originated from and that she is proud of it, as the song itself relates in no way to America.

However, some music videos don't hold much importance surrounding costumes. For instance, Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" features Jay Z himself, the star image, dressed in casual, everyday clothes which can be seen as a 'normal/everyday' approach. The colours tend to be dark colours which could creates a sense of mystery. This can be said for the majority of Jay Z's videos.



He tends to deliver his music without a performance opposed to Lady Gaga who performs her songs.Throughout our production there are different costumes which will be selected and used purposely to intend a certain effect. The star image, Jacob, whom is playing the part of Jay-Z, wears several different costumes to display various feelings and symbolise different things. The outfits he wears are far from dramatic yet still manage to represent certain things. For example, during the working class aspects of his life in which he faces a somewhat everyday struggle, he wears casual clothes, that aren't out of the ordinary and does not hold any luxuries.

However, to represent a rise in money/wealth/power/status he is seen with certain luxuries and dressed head to toe in a smart black suit. The black suit represents sophistication and organization of himself and his life. In the scenes that Jacob is in the black suit, it is filmed agaisnt a white background which shows the contrasts: good and bad, poor and rich.

Another person to appear in the video is Lucy, who only appears in footage that shows Jacob as being rich and powerful. This reflects the thoughts of the everyday music industry that all sucessfull rap musicians, such as Jay-z himself, will have a girl, or many girls, that they can be seen with. This is seen to give the male power and status, making him appear as an aplha male with certain dominance. The girls costumes usually consist of provocative wear, such as a bikini or underwear. Generally, if this is not the case, a part of the girls body is usually shown, for example her stomach or legs. The rapper 50cent, is one rapper that uses many girls in his video and so he appears the main dominant aplha male. The girls in the video are usually used to look glamourous and idolised or in such videos they perform, whether it be a dance routine or singing perfomance.



Lucys costume consists of an all black outfit, which can be compared to Jacobs black suit. The fact that they match in what they are wearing makes them seem compatitble and in sync with each other. She is wearing black lipstick which connotes a certain unknowning mysterious effect. Further mystery is added as Lucy is wearing a mask wich hides her face. This is quite ambigious, it has many different interpretations, for example: she wants to hide her true identity, but our intention was for it to appear that she was hiding from her poor past, as she does now endure a totally different way of life, being with a rich idolised artist.

Jay Z - On To The Next One Analysis

The video itself doesn't contain a deep story line. It is however, surrounded by great complexity for example: it was released on the 1/01/10 which has great significance; the numbers 1+1+1 equals 3 which is an important theme in the video. Three also represents the 3 bars representing Jay Z's album "The Blueprint 3" which is of Hip-Hop genre.

The actual song is about the star image, Jay Z, moving "on to the next on." It relates to Jay Z changing the way in which he is, while getting better and achieving better. This is benifical as the actual narrative relates directly to the title of the song. It shows this in the video by using two contrasting objects such as showing milk,something that is used everyday; then in the next shot showing cristal, an expensive drink, which is indeed a luxury.


The video is based upon a series of specific images as mentioned previously. A medium shot of Jay Z is shown, where by the background appears to make Jay Z look like he has a halo. This is considered iconic imagery in certain biblical terms, such as holy or sacred figures. While this is occuring Jay Z uses the lyrics "HOVA" referring to himself as this, which supports the biblical aspects in the video as this is a reference to "Jahovah."


The video raised a certain controversy surrounding the "Illuminati" by using images associated with this, for example: the horned skull symbol.

In the video there is a certain intertexuality with Heath Ledger's, The Joker and Brandon Lee's, The Crow.


The video in constantly in black and white throughout which could be considered a contrasting aspect of opposites, like the certain symbols.

On To The Next One

The music video we have chosen to remake is arguably one of the most talked about hip-hop videos of the modern day era. 'On to the next one' harbors controversial imagery and certain sequences which depict the protagonists change in status from a mere mortal to some kind of holy figure.

On to the next one, which is a music video produced by ‘ Jay Z.’ one of the 21st centuries biggest music moguls, is an illustrative ‘hip hop‘ music video which contains a particular narrative as it implies that the performer is moving onto bigger and better things. Hence the ironic title ‘On to the next one’.

Shawn Corey Carter, best known to us by his infamous stage name 'Jay-Z', is renowned as one of the greatest rap artists of all time. Through his vast

amounts of success, he has sold over 50 million albums worldwide (including 'The Blueprint' which is the prequel to 'The Blueprint 3') cementing his himself as one of music's greatest artists along side his iconic wife, Beyonce Knowles.

The track it self harbors a narrative story witch is capitulated in the video through the performance. We will try to implement our own unique adaptation of this video and cleverly illustrate more of the lyrics in our altered copy than in the original. In addition we intend to take inspiration from other ‘hip hop’ music videos and collectively build a production with other videos shinning elements.

In addition, we will also take an intertextual approach into our music video however minimal that may be as we aim to achieve an essence of realism which some modern day music videos now have.

This is the album cover of 'The Blueprint 3' of wihich the track were will adapt, 'On to the next one', comes from. We will take aspects of this original design and conjuct together with our own adopted album cover.