BS: Track Response

 

 

The Family Rain - Binocular - June, 2014

 (Unofficial Fan-Made Video)

• What is the genre of the track? how can you tell?

This track is Alternative Rock, you know this because it is clearly not heavy metal but is still rock, the sound of Alternative Rock has indie sounds but rock roots.

• Do you think the track represents high, or low fi video?

Personally I think the track represents a low fi video, this is because the animation/video has clearly been made using editing software, so no props, actors, lighting, location etc. were used which would have kept costs to a minimal amount. This video also does not require many people to create it so as well as being cheaper to produce it is also time effective. Although the "fan made" music video displays characteristics of a low fi music video, the actual music is produced to sound hi fi, which is extremely clear and high quality; clearly for the recording of the track advanced technology was used to make the quality as high as possible.

• What other videos are comparable?

Snow Patrol - Called Out in the Dark - 2014

This track by Snow Patrol is comparable to The Family Rain's song because both bands are Alternative Rock so the sound of each track shares similarities which conform to the particular genre. Although there is not a video for "Binocular" many of the bands existing music videos have a similar style and look to this Snow Patrol track, overlaying a more vintage grainy layer over the images.



 

The Family Rain - Example to illustrate a grainy overlay

Snow Patrol - Example to illustrate a grainy overlay

These videos are also similar due to visual effects, although Snow Patrol only has one line of action and within "Don't Waste Your Time" there is a narrative line and a performance line, but both are merged together within "Called out in the dark"  

Most of the lighting within both videos stays constant and continuous throughout the video, but a particular section of the Family Rain video changes, the lighting becomes brighter and gives the video a new emotion. I really like the contrast of lighter and darker scenes and feel it creates deeper meaning, in this case darker for when the main character is sad and lighter for when he is happier, this is also emphasised by the music, it becomes more upbeat, so in this case the lighting represents mood and emotion.

 

 

Example to show contrast in lighting

 

There are comparable shots within both videos, the most notable are extreme facial close-ups on the band members, this presents a performance aspect. There are also close-ups within the narrative based sections to establish and follow a main character.

 

 

Screen Shots to illustrate Close-up shots of both characters (narrative) and artists (performance aspect)