99dollarmusicvideos.com research blog

What is 99dollarmusicvideos.com?
99dollarmusicvideos.com is a institution that helps upcoming unsigned artists make music video for $99, this allows the upcoming artist to make there own brand as they have full control of what they do and what goes into the music video, this then means that they can get the audience that they want as they do not have someone else controlling what they do and what they wear.

What is their ethos (value)?
Their ethos are to make sure the music video is made with $99 or less and also for the music video to be made and edited within 24 hours or 1 day, also another value of $99musicvideos.com is bringing together an artist and a filmmakers to collaborate and make the music video.

What types, labels and genres of music appear on their YouTube channel?
The types of labels and genres that appear are rock and indie mainly, there are no labels as all of the artists that are on this website / youtube channel are independent and are trying to promote them self's and there song on this site so that they can get more recognition from different audiences.

What is the relationship between 99dollarmusicvideos.com, their filmmakers and music acts?
The website says that they have to have a tight bond / relationship were they collaborate with filmmakers and artists or giving feedback, were they both share there ideas and have equal amount of input whilst making this music video. 

How does 99dollarmusicvideos.com encourage audience participation?
They encourage audience participation by putting the music video's that have been created on youtube and showing the audience that many people who can sing or rap can make a music video whilst saving a lot of money. This can then make other unsigned artists want to try this out to make a music video and try get more recognition. They also encourage audience participation by bringing filmmakers and artists together to go back to the basics and show that they do not need major record labels to make a music video.

Is it possible to make a professional quality music video for $99?
I believe it is possible to make a professional quality music video for $99 because in the music video bellow they use varied shot types and also they use good special effects throughout the music video for example at the time code 0:37 you can see the screen have yellow bits and looks like a olden time music video, this then shows to the audience that with the budget that the artists have they can make quite a good music video.

Goodwin's Ideas about music video

Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin is a man that identified 5 key aspects of music video, his ideas were key things that distinguished a short film or a piece of animation from a music video. Goodwin published his ideas in a book called 'Dancing in the distraction factory music television and popular culture' which was published January 1992.

Illustrating - This is when a video directly corresponds to the lyrics (matches what is being sung) an example of this is Owl City - Fireflies as at the time code 0:27 he says eyes and there is an shot of a robots face, also as at the time code 0:29 you see when he sings firefly that on a black screen it says fireflies.





Amplifying - This is when the music video is designed to enhance the style and the mood of the song, an example of this is LMFAO - Party Rock for example at the time code 2:26 the beat is quite fast and all of the other dancers and main singers are all dancing quite fast which amplifies the feel and mood of the song, also the cuts from shot to shot are also quite fast which also amplifies the feel of the song.




Contradicting - This is when a music video deliberately goes against the mood of the song, for example if the song was sad then in the music video you would see some happy things going on, an example of this is 'The Story of Us' Taylor Swift , this is contradicting because at the time code 0:06 the beat is quite fast and sounds quite upbeat however in the shot Taylor Swift looks sad and depressed.

Voyeurism - This is were views get sexual pleasure through watching a music video an example of this is Nicki Minaj - Anaconda as at the time code 0:18 you see one of the other dancers bums as a close up on the screen this is a example of male viewers getting sexual pleasure from watching this shot and also at the time code 0:48 where Nicki Minaj and the dancers have just covered there top and bottom parts.







Star Persona - This is how the artist is represented an example of this is Beyonce 1+1 as at the time code 0:10 there is a shot of just beyonce which is happening throughout the music video, where the shots throughout the music video are just of beyonce's face or body parts.

Iconography - This is the use of certain images that trigger a broad association for example what types of clothing e.g Nelly with the plaster on his face. (Being able to identify the genre from the mis-en-scene, an example of this is Bow Wow ft Jagged Edge - My Baby from this music video you can see that Bow Wow is a rapper from the time code 0:14 were you see bow wow in a large basketball top with baggy sweatpants.

Intertextuality - This is were another media text refers to another media text - This is on type of music video that  inter-textually references movies, this copies the films camera styles or could be a direct copy of the film, for example Michael Jackson Thriller which is a copy of the film Night Of The Living Dead, you can see in the time code 3:17 that in Michael Jackson Thriller he uses the same part from Night Of The Living Dead from this time code 0:45 This is where both of the girls from MJ thriller and Night Of The Living Dead are running from a monster.This fits the style of homage as in the time code 8:04 of MJ Thriller you see that it has a similar scene to Night of the living dead at the time code of 1:08 as in the music video and the film both the male and female character are both trying to protect them self's from the zombies. The institution would do this so that the artist music video can be more entertaining and this can lead to the artists becoming more known to people that watch movies. The positive impact on the audience is that if they have seen the film Night Of The Living Dead then whilst they would be watching the music video Thriller they would then see some aspects from the film which connote to the audience that the artist is creative and imaginative. I could possible use this in my music video by having scenes or the same camera language from a film which could interest more than just the target audience.  

Music video case study

Good & Bad Techniques

Large Number Of Cuts - This is were a music video has either a good amount of cuts during the music video or not enough cuts during the music video a good example of this is Ciara - I'm Out as during the music video there are multiple amount of different shot types and camera angles, for example at the time code 0:05 there is one shot of Ciara and then a few seconds later it is another shot of her doing something else at the time code 0:06. This effect is being used to make the music video more interesting and more entertaining. This technique is good because the video is not boring or dull it is very lively. The impact on the on the view is that they can engage more in the music video as it is not all one shot it is multiple shots. This represents the artist as it connotes to the audience that they are very creative in there music video.


A bad example of this is Shontelle - T-Shirt as throughout the music video the shot do not change that much for example at the time code 0:16 you see the same shot of her laying on the sofa for quite a while, this is being used because the song is quite slow and it would look weird if it had a lot of cuts. The technique of this was bad as the music video was quite boring and not interesting. The effect on the audience is that they would not be very engaged with the music video as it is not very exciting or enjoyable. This represents the artist as being quite creative but not as creative as she does not have as many shots to make the music video as interesting as it should be.

Special Effects  - Chris Brown Don't Think They Know ft. Aaliyah This music video has good special effects as during the beginning the people that are in the music video and also Chris Brown they are all black and white but there tops are red and blue at the time code of 1:09. This is being used because the song is sad and the red and black shows the different gangs (Crips & Bloods). The technique of this is good because the special effects set the atmosphere of the music video and how it is supposed to show respect to the famous people who have died e.g Aaliyah, this also makes the video interesting. The effect on the audience is that they would be quite engaged in the music video as it is interesting because of the different colours that are being used. This represents the artist as being very creative as the special effects that are being used represent something.

 Iron Maiden Can i play with madness - This is a bad example of special effects as at the time code 1:01 you see the clouds make a skull but it is not a good special effect. This is being used to make the music video more interesting to the audience and other viewers. The technique of this music video is bad as the special effects that are being used are quite bad as at the time code of 1:57 the skull in the book starts to move around and flash but it is not as good as it should be and it does not look good. The effect on the audience is that they would think the music video is quite interesting and different however they could also think that it is of a poor standard. The representation on the artist is that they are creative for using special effects and also they are imaginative.

Cutting To The Beat - Beyoncé  
1+1  This music video uses cutting to the beat good as near the middle of the music video were there is a thump sound and every time there is that sound the camera shot changes. This is being used so that it adds effect to the music video as it is quite slow and the shots are also quite slow. The technique of this is good as it is interesting to see that whenever the sound comes the shot changes. The effect on the audience is that they would want to watch the music video as it would not be boring. This represents the artist as being quite imaginative as they can change each of the shots on a certain instruments and not just whenever.

Nicki Minaj High School - This is a bad example of cutting to the beat as throughout the music video the shots change whenever. This is being used because the song is quite slow but fast. The technique of this is good as throughout the music video they have quite a few cuts so it makes up for them not cutting to the beat. The effect on the audience is that they would want to see what the music video is like and how good it is compared to other video's, they would also like to see if it is boring or dull. The representation on the artist from the audience would be that they are fun and creative and they have a lot of idea's for there music video's.


Varied Camera Language -
Paramore Misery Business This music video shows good camera language as throughout the music video the shots are constantly changing to something else, at the time code 0:15 you see the camera tilt down the main singers face. This is being used to engage the audience and keep the music video interesting. The effect on the audience is that the music video is effective and not boring as the shots and shot types are changing so there not all ways using a long shot or close up. The representation on the artist is that they are creative, imaginative and fun as the music video looks fun and not boring or dull.

White strips - Seven nation Army - This is a bad example of varied camera language as throughout this music video the shot stays the same it is just that the people and things are coming towards the camera. This is being used for creativity as it looks like the shots are changing however the things are just coming towards the camera. This technique is good and bad because it is interesting and creative however it could get boring. The effect on the audience is that they would be interested for a certain amount of time watching the music video however as it is the same thing throughout the music video it can get boring for the viewers. The representation of the artist is that they are creative in one way however they are also not creative. 

Green Screen - Jessie J Domino This is an example of a good green screen as throughout the music video at the time code 0:06 you see the background moving and it does not look like it is a green screen. This is being used because it makes the music video more interesting to watch and is also creative. This technique is good because it is creative and imaginative and is also quite unique compared to other music video's that the audience have previously watched. The effect on the audience would be that the music video is creative and interesting to watch and is not boring. The representation on the artist is that they are quite imaginative and have creative idea's for there music video's.

Neneh Cerry Buffalo Stance - This is a bad example of a green screen as when the background appears at the time code of 0:07 the singer looks like she has been placed onto the background and you can also see the outline around her body. This is being used to try and make the video more creative how ever it is not so good. This technique is bad as the green screen does not look professional as at the time code 0:24 you see the purple outline around her body of were they have tried to place the background behind her. The effect on the audience is that they could think that the music video is quite interesting however they could also think that it is quite badly produced. The representation on the artist is that they are creative for trying to do something different with there music video.

Lip-Syncing - usher climax  This is a good example of lip syncing as throughout the music video you see that Ushers lips are moving at the same time as he is singing for example the time code 0:16. This is being used to make it look like the artist is singing right there. This technique that is being used is good because the artist is singing at the same time as his mouth is moving. The effect on the audience is that they would believe that the artist is singing right to the camera and also that they are creative. The representation of the artist is that they are creative and that they are imaginative and that they can also lip sync good.

BLACK UMBRELLA Miley Cyrus - This is a bad example of lip syncing as at the time code 0:42 she is out of time when she is singing by a bit. This is being used because most music video's have been lip sung but in a better way. This technique is bad as when Miley Cyrus is singing on the song in the music video she is out of time and it looks strange. The effect on the audience is that the music video is bad as the artist is singing before the words have been said in the music video, this could then lead to more of the audience not wanting to watch that artists music video because they are bad. The representation of the artist is that they are not good at singing back to the camera however the music video in general is quite creative.