Conventions of Hip hop Music videos

Drake-Started from the bottom music video fits into the genre of a hip hop video.
For filming our version of the song we will use these conventions of hip hop music into our video.

Conventions

A common shot used throughout the videos is a low-angled close up shot of the artist.

This shot is used to symbolise the "power" of the main artist.

We considered using this shot, however have gone against the normal convention of hip hop music, this is because we will not be showing the singing in the video, and will focus on telling the story of the lyrics. However we will use the same shot to show our protagonist later on.

Another common convention of Hip hop videos is to show the characters in a club/ at a party.

This shot is used to show the characters having a good time, and to make the viewers envy there lifestyle, especially when considering the target audience Being younger people, Teenagers often enjoy going out and partying to have a good time.

We will use this shot in our video, to show the protagonist having fun, and to show the development of the story.

Common hip hop music videos show the artist or main character displaying strength and masculinity, along with competition and a sporting interest. This can be shown through camera shots or mise-en-scene using props and costumes.

This use of semiotics shows the characters dominance over other characters.

We have chosen to follow this convention and will show the main character as a competitive person.

Expensive items are constantly on display in a hip hop music video.

The imagery of expensive props and costume shows the success of the character.

We shall go with this convention in our music video, however the expense of many expensive items could be a problem, therefore we shall not use the mass of expensive items in comparison to other music videos.

 

In hip hop videos there is normally a relation between the lyrics and the images seen in the video, this is important to our group because our music video will be telling a story, using the lyrics of the song.

 

There is normally a reference to the main character/Artist looking at themselves (Voyeurism). We shall include this convention in our music video, showing the progression of the protagonist.

intersexuality, the use of linking between other videos is a convention we shall go against, that is because we want our video to be different to other music videos.

WE have chosen to follow some conventions, making it clear to our target audience of the genre of our music video, however because we want our video to tell a story, and be unique to other videos, we shall go against some conventions.

Filming

Our group will start filming before the Christmas period, this brief camera work will become our rough cut, and be used as a template for our next filming session within the first few weeks of the new year. Lighting, costumes, props and other mise-en-scene will be considered for our first filming, any complications and bad shots will be taken into account for the next filming.

Logo

This is the logo that we have designed to identify our brand.

Character list for filming

For our filming we will need:

• protagonist
• antagonist
• Employers x2
• Friends x3
• Colleagues x3/4
• *Extras

*The extras shall include characters who give money to the protagonist on the streets, and those who just walk past. Along with characters who are seen partying with the protagonist and any passers by during the video.

Main Character List

Character list

In our music video there are several characters used, these characters are:

The protagonist- (The main character who struggles through life, but eventually becomes successful)

The antagonist- (The character who is the villain to the protagonist, and his fowl behaviour towards the protagonist motivates him towards being successful)

The protagonist’s friends- (The protagonist starts off as a lonely person, however as he gets further up the ladder to success he gains more friendships, these characters will be a motivator to help the protagonist becoming successful)

The protagonist’s employers- (The protagonist has a few jobs during the video, his employers are important in the video because they show that someone has given the main character a chance at being successful in life)

The protagonists colleagues-(similar to the friends, as the protagonist starts his climb to success he has less friendships with his colleagues and they don’t associate themselves with him, however as he reaches the top he forms more friendships with colleagues and they become his employees and become jealous of the protagonist’s success).

Short Synopsis

The video opens with the protagonist gets kicked out of his house  it then changes to a scene set in a run-down street the camera is focused on a tramp (the protagonist) sitting against a building watching passers-by. Occasionally receiving money after a short while a successful businessman (the antagonist) walks up to the tramp offers him money and then snatches it away as the protagonist reaches for it. Leading to the protagonist wanting to improve his life. The video then shows him getting up and looking for a job followed by him taking job interview and finding a house getting promoted and then getting a better house. It ends with the protagonist walking down a street and passing a tramp giving him money.

Chosen song and reason why

Song: “Started from the bottom” - Drake

Reason: There are many reasons why my group and I chose this song, one of the reasons is the song title 'Started From The Bottom'. Our music video is about a man who started off living with the bare minimum and not being able to sleep with a roof over his head, as the music video goes on the man will slowly move up the life ladder, going from the bottom steadily moving up to the top going through an average person's lifestyle up to being a businessman.