Making Music Videos: an A2 Media Study Day

Making a Music Video

Over the last 20 years the most popular task in the second year of the A level courses has been making a music video. Technological advances in this time have meant that what students can produce has changed dramatically; from the early days of editing between two VHS machines, when every shot had to be filmed in sequence, to today's digital cameras and editing, where you can set up multiple timelines, access effects and shoot on HD. The possibilities for music video on no budget have been transformed. However the expectation for high quality work has also risen dramatically.  This task requires serous planning, technical skill and a real understanding of the codes and conventions of music videos. This study day for students will focus on maximizing the impact of their resources. In the morning, we will take you through activities aimed at getting the most out of research, planning, shooting, editing and evaluating their music video. We will use a range of examples from professional music videos and student work.  In the afternoon we will be joined by a music video director/editor to talk about how the professionals go about working on such tasks. 

Led by Tom Woodcock, Film & Media teacher, Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge and Freelance Media Educator

Case Study - Wes Anderson

Wesley Wales Anderson was born in Houston, Texas. His mother, Texas Ann (Burroughs), is an archaeologist turned real estate agent, and his father, Melver Leonard Anderson, worked in advertising and PR. He has two brothers, Eric and Mel. Anderson's parents divorced when he was a young child, an event that he described as the most crucial event of his brothers and his growing up. During childhood, Anderson also began writing plays and making super-8 movies. He was educated at Westchester High School and then St. John's, a private prep school in Houston, Texas, which was later to prove an inspiration for the film Rushmore (1998).

Anderson attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he majored in philosophy. It was there that he met Owen Wilson. They became friends and began making short films, some of which aired on a local cable-access station. One of their shorts wasBottle Rocket (1994), which starred Owen and his brother Luke Wilson. The short was screened at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was successfully received, so much so that they received funding to make a feature-length version. Bottle Rocket (1996) was not a commercial hit, but it gained a cult audience and high-profile fans, which includedMartin Scorsese.

Success followed with films such as Rushmore (1998), The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and an animated feature, Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). The latter two films earned Anderson Oscar nominations.

IMBD Biography of Wes Anderson

The Soul of the Plot - Wes Anderson

'I have a way of filming things and staging them and designing sets. There were times when I thought I should change my approach, but in fact, this is what I like to do. It's sort of like my handwriting as a movie director. And somewhere along the way, I think I've made the decision: I'm going to write in my own handwriting.'

Wes Anderson 2015

Tips on making a music video

Behind he scenes & Directors commentary

Plants - Alicia Catling

A2 Course Work Guide

Media Studies - A2 Course Layout