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Thursday, February 16, 2023
The Digipak
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Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Critical Reflections
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The music video represents several social groups, one of which is the young Vietnamese couples, especially teenagers. Activities such as holding hands, dancing, and watching television together are common acts of a typical Vietnamese couple. Since they are still in their youthful high school days, as seen in the music video where they are studying and playing basketball together, this represents a large demographic of the population who are young and still in school, like me, who embrace finding love at such a young age, which is stereotypical in Vietnamese culture, and how that can be one of the most memorable moments of a person’s youth.
Secondly, it represents resilience in love and its importance in keeping a relationship intact. Zoe’s departure is saddening to Jake, as they spend so much time together and make so many memories together as if they are inseparable. However, the bond of trust and faith in each other has helped the couple overcome the challenges of a long-distance relationship, as seen during their reunion at the end of the music video, where Jake waits for her with a bouquet of flowers.
The music video also represents the value of the moment and how people have to be grateful for what they have. Zoe and Jake’s farewell indicates that a person should treasure what they have currently, whether it’s relationships, work, or even their youth, and not take anything for granted, as they will one day be gone, and they will regret dearly neglecting these precious things.
In addition, it represents Vietnamese culture, as people riding motorcycles are a common sight to see, and it is no exception for young people as well. Multiple scenes see Jake riding Zoe on his motorbike, enjoying the scenery that surrounds them, and making memories that last a lifetime. Coffee is also a cultural aspect that is most recognizable in Vietnam. Jake making and bringing coffee to Zoe is a direct representation of Vietnam’s love for coffee, which explains why they are 2nd in the amount of coffee produced. Last but not least, the status and class of Zoe and Jake aren’t really representative of the general Vietnamese couple, as the country is relatively dominant in terms of the middle class, and throughout the music video, the couple seems to be of higher status. For example, Zoe traveling abroad for her studies is somewhat an indicator that she is part of a higher class, giving her more opportunities to hone her abilities. For Jake, riding a newly released electric motorbike and making coffee for Zoe using his coffee machine, which is not owned or accessible by many Vietnamese households, shows that he has the same status as Zoe. As a result, the music video can either be aspirational to the audience, or they can feel like they can’t relate to the music video due to the difference in class and status.
The music video and the digipak are all related to creating a sense of Branding in our music video.
The elements of our music video about teenage love—such as color schemes, cinematography, wardrobe, setting, and narrative—work together to establish a cohesive visual identity that aligns with the artist's brand. Soft pastel tones from scenes such as the couple dancing on the rooftop, or vibrant city lights as seen when Jake rides Zoe on his motorcycle on the bridge, whilst they have meaningful conversations during the drive, can evoke innocence or excitement, while handheld or dreamy cinematography enhances intimacy. Costumes and settings (e.g., high school, casual wear/uniforms, or bedrooms) reinforce relatability, and the nostalgic storyline reflects the artist's persona. Consistency across these elements strengthens audience connection and brand recognition.
Regarding the digipak, the front cover features a person riding a motorbike, symbolizing freedom and adventure, a common theme in teenage love stories. The CD showcases a close-up of the couple holding hands, showing intimacy and connection. Regarding aesthetics, the warm, golden-hour lighting and soft focus create an intimate, dreamy mood, and the use of Saigon’s cityscape suggests a nostalgic connection to place and love. The typography and color scheme incorporate neutral, earthy tones (beige, soft brown, and muted greens) to give a warm, organic feel and reinforce an emotional and personal brand. Additionally, the use of simple yet elegant typography with a soft sans-serif style enhances the romantic and sentimental theme.
Both products show the urban Saigon setting, which reflects real-life and everyday locations where young love unfolds. For example, the motorbike scene on the Ba Son bridge conveys a sense of exploration and escape, a frequent motif in young love stories, while hand-holding represents affection, a simple yet powerful image often seen in romantic music videos. In terms of cinematic and emotional styles, the soft, golden hues and natural lighting are similar to those used in romantic music videos, which often employ these elements to evoke warmth and nostalgia. Overall, the digipak effectively blends romantic storytelling with a strong visual identity, making it appealing to an audience that connects with themes of young love and nostalgia. It shares key elements with the music video, reinforcing its brand identity through emotional visuals and relatable themes.
Using the Uses and Gratification Theory, our product caters to the different needs of an individual who actively seeks out media to satisfy their needs and wants.
One satisfied need is Entertainment needs. The dreamy visuals, warm color tones, and emotional storytelling create an immersive, feel-good experience for the audience, and the narrative of love and adventure offers a form of escape from their daily routines, allowing viewers, especially younger demographics, to live vicariously through the characters, as they can relate to the activities that the couple does.
Secondly, Informational (Surveillance) Needs are also included in the product. Zoe and Jake are seen in different parts of Saigon, such as driving on the colorful Ba Son bridge or the beautiful rooftop of Sala, providing individuals who are keen on exploring the city with valuable information on places to visit. Vietnamese stereotypes and cultures, such as the culture of coffee or the common high school romance, can help an individual gain a broader understanding of Saigon to a greater extent.
In addition, listeners may see their relationships reflected in the lyrics, and the song’s intimate tone can validate feelings of love, longing, or appreciation, which the viewers can also see in the music video through the various activities Jake and Zoe do together as a couple, which are also common activities that most couples can relate to doing, meeting their Personal Identity needs as they learn and relate themselves through the music video.
Fans can also discuss and share their interpretations of the love story between Jake and Zoe, strengthening engagement through online discussions, comments, and social media interactions, satisfying their Social Interaction needs. The music video and digipak can also encourage fans to connect emotionally with the artist and with others who relate to the themes of young love and nostalgia.
Lastly, our products also satisfy audience expectations. Love in Saigon blends the elements of pop and indie into an R&B music video, which, according to our survey, is the 2nd and 3rd most favored genre.
(52.7% of the respondents of our survey, which was conducted previously, favor the genre of Pop over others, meaning that the group has done a great job of creating a product that aligns with audience expectations.)
The survey also shows that an artist's performance and narrative are the most critical elements of a successful music video.
(Since this is a question that allows respondents to choose multiple answers, the artist's performance (48.1%) and narrative (50%) were the most popular answers. This emphasizes the importance of emotional resonance and immersion when producing the product, over a direct and lyric-driven narrative.)
By meeting the audience's needs, our product helps our targeted audience to be engaged.
The use of conventions of the same genre is used by both the digipak and the music video.
The music video showcases small, intimate moments between the couple, such as hand-holding, exploring the city, or riding around the city on a motorbike. This represents classic and typical romance, and the scenes of the couple together whilst being in the bustling city connote the typical experience of love in our daily lives, and can help engage the younger part of the audience (e.g, teenagers).
Moreover, the golden lighting, bright city lights, and joyful interactions convey a nostalgic element into the product, typical of music videos that represent love, as well as the use of close-ups, tracking shots, and a dreamy-like atmosphere enhances the sense of emotional closeness. BigDaddy’s “Mượn Rượu Tỏ Tình” featuring Emily sees this being applied, smooth tracking shots follow the lead characters through the city at night, clubs, and social settings, maintaining movement that matches the song’s rhythm, and close-up shots showing Emily and BigDaddy’s expressions create a feeling of connection, drawing viewers into the emotional aspect of the confession.
The music video also challenges conventions. For example, instead of placing love in traditionally peaceful or popular settings (like beaches, nature, or candle-lit rooms), the video is shot in the bustling city of Saigon, showing love as something that is enjoyed best in our daily life. This approach generalises the concept of romance and love, making it more relatable to our targeted audiences.
Furthermore, while conventional long-distance love videos aim to show sadness or longing, the music video treats distance as a challenge that can be dealt with, and focuses more on the couple's endurance of their love rather than their struggles. This perspective challenges the view that love can be vulnerable under separation.
In conclusion, the music video mixes typical romance (warm lighting, daily life, etc) with a modern, unconventional twist (urban background, emotional depth). This helps the product to familiarize the audience while differentiating it from others with a more visual storytelling.
In terms of the digipak, it applies multiple conventions. Thecouple holding hands on the CD and the soft, warm lighting show themes of love and intimacy between the 2 characters, a convention seen in many romantic music digipaks, and the cityscape backdrop adds a more spacial feel, helping to cement the emotions in a realistic setting, a method used often in albums that are love-themed.
In terms of typography, the simple font and the structured tracklist follow the conventional design principles for it to be readable and appealing to the audience. The soft color palette also correlates with the romantic and nostalgic tone, which is similar to love-themed pop or indie music albums.
Like the music video, the digipak also challenges some conventions as well. Although not much, the CD design is seen to not just add a typical image that is related to love and romance, but also combine a touch of realism with the reflection of Saigon, freshly combining themes. The off-center subject placement of the couple riding the motorbike together adds movement to the digipak and makes it realistic, contrary to conventional imagery that is placed in the center.
This combination of conventional and unconventional factors helps differentiate the digipak whilst familiarizing the audience with it.
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Social Media
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Globalisation: Vietnamese Films
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1# Bố Gìa
The Vietnamese film "Bố Già" was directed by Trấn Thành, released in 2021, and falls under the genres of drama and family comedy.
"Bố Già" tells the story of Ba Sang, a middle-aged man from a working-class neighborhood in Ho Chi Minh City. He struggles to support his family while maintaining his principles of kindness and generosity, often at his own expense. The narrative focuses on the generational and cultural conflicts between Ba Sang and his son, Quân, who aspires for financial success and a modern lifestyle, leading to misunderstandings and emotional tension. The film explores themes of familial love, sacrifice, and reconciliation, highlighting the struggles of urban life in Vietnam.
It was primarily written for a domestic audience. The humor and emotional beats are rooted in Vietnamese language nuances and social norms, which may not fully translate to an international audience without cultural context. In addition, Its portrayal of life in a typical Ho Chi Minh City neighborhood resonates strongly with Vietnamese viewers familiar with this setting.
2# Mùi Đu Đủ Xanh
Vietnamese film The Scent of Green Papaya was directed by Trần Anh Hùng, released in 1993, and falls under the drama genre.
The film tells a story about Mùi, a young girl who is adopted by a family in Saigon. The film is divided into 2 parts - The life of Mùi in her adopted family and her life when she started to work as a servant for Khuyến, a wealthy musician and his fiance. The narrative of the film focuses on the patriarchal system most Vietnamese families have in the past. Whilst the women do all the heavy chores and work, the men party and are seen as superior to women. In addition, the narrative revolves around, the unseen daily lifestyle of the Vietnamese, which was not known widely internationally at the time. Moreover, the film shows the venting of frustration and sadness of the characters in the scene, something that was common back then. Lam can be seen venting his frustration when knowing his dad had abandoned him on some ants by squishing them, or Bà Ty, who cries in isolation after knowing that her husband stole all the family's savings to leave the family for good.
The film was written for an international audience. First, the film was produced in France, not Vietnam, and funded largely by French studios. Next, Its aesthetic focus on visuals and mood, rather than dialogue or plot, aligns with global tastes for artistic films. In addition, The film was less accessible to Vietnamese audiences at the time of its release, partly due to its overseas production and the limited presence of arthouse cinemas in Vietnam during the early 1990s.
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Post-Production: Digipak Design
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Post-Production Diary: Day 3
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Post-Production Diary: Day 2
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Post-Production Diary: Day 1
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Production Diary: Day 8
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Production Diary: Day 7
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Production Diary: Day 6
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Production Diary: Day 5
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Production Diary: Day 4
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Production Diary: Day 3
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Planning for Day 3
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Production Diary: Day 2
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A quick vlog before the shoot, after we've just arrived at Ryan's apartment.
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Another vlog after the shoot.
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Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Production Dairy: Day 1
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(Behind the scenes footage of the shoot in our school)
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Monday, February 13, 2023
Pastiche and Parody in Film
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Pastiche in film and music videos
Spiderman - No Way Home (2021)
Peter Parker from another universe, played by Andrew Garfield, is summoned by Ned Leeds, the original Peter Parker's universe. The film pays homage to the original Spiderman before, each played by different actors, including Andrew Garfield and Toby Maguire, featuring themselves for the last time in an historical movie, mimicking the tone and storytelling style of their original films
It is a pastiche movie because it brings together Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's versions of Spider-Man, along with villains from their universes, as a homage. It recreates the tone and style of these films while blending them into a cohesive narrative.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
The film parodies classic superhero animation and tropes in the sequence where LeBron James and Bugs Bunny enter Wonder Woman's arena. It replicates the visual and narrative style of DC Comics while using comedic exaggeration. This scene highlights DC's iconic characters in a playful and referential manner.
Drake's First Person Shooter ft. J.Cole
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Parody in film and music videos
Everything Everywhere All At Once
A scene that parodies classic martial arts tropes is the “fanny pack fight,” where Waymond, Evelyn’s husband, uses an everyday item as a weapon (Evelyn's purse as a nunchuck ), mirroring but mocking martial arts movies where objects like broomsticks are used in elaborate fight choreography.
Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" Parody Music Video
Bart Baker here distorts the original script and lyrics of the "Shape of You" music video by Ed Sheeran. The music video sees him stalking and having perverted eyes on a woman who goes to the gym, which is different already from the original script of the music video. In addition, the lyrics were changed as well to match Bart Baker's script for the music video.
This music video is a parody as it pokes fun at the original work, provide a bit of comic relief, and makes a satirical statement about it.
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Sunday, February 12, 2023
Bricolage
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Bricolage (a characteristic of postmodernism), meaning "to do odd jobs" in French, refers to creating something out of what is available. In media, specifically film, filmmakers combine various genres, such as comedy with horror, and mix different postmodern elements such as abandoning traditional narratives or intertextuality to create a film that causes the audience to rethink their understanding of cinema.
Examples of bricolage being used in films:
(Deadpool and Wolverine (2024): Deadpool and Wolverine both break the 4th wall, telling the theatre audience to shut down their phones and put them on silent mode, adding an element of bricolage in the film.)
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Saturday, February 11, 2023
Risk Assesment (Love In Saigon)
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Digipak Planning (Love in Saigon)
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First Draft
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Final Draft
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Album Research (Love in Saigon)
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Animatic (Love in Saigon)
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(For the updated version of the storyboard, I decided not to do an animatic, as the group and I have gotten a pretty good idea ourselves and from the script as well.)
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Production Schedule (Love in Saigon)
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Consent Forms (Love in Saigon)
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These are the consent forms of the 2 main actors who will be appearing in the music video. Since our product will be filmed on public property, the owners do not need to fill out the consent forms.
Background characters will be seen in the music video, and they are all friends of ours—and they already gave the green light to be in the music video.
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Mise-en-Scène Planning
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Audience Research (Love in Saigon)
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Primary
+ Target audience (primarily): About 15-25 years old - Out of the 37 respondents, 32 were teenagers to young adults, with their ages ranging from 15 to 20 years old
+ Our music video talks a lot and opens up about teenage love, which most of our primary audiences can relate to.
+ 12/37 people enjoy R&B as one of their favorite genres. We should consider this when promoting our music video since the number of people who enjoy R&B is considerably low compared to our expectations.
+ TikTok and YouTube (78% - 29/37 responses) are 2 of the main methods that the respondents use to find new songs. We can use these platforms to promote our new song and attract a larger audience base.
+ Half of the respondents consider the artist's performance to be the most important factor for an excellent music video. Putting more effort into this element should be taken note to yield desirable results.
(Important elements that make a good music video as chosen by the respondents)
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Secondary
+ Adults above 20 years old, the secondary audience,(the remaining 5 respondents) might have difficulties relating to the music video, as its concept might be different back then compared to now.
+ That said, it’s possible to target them, as the music video can be a tool to help them relive their older days as a teenager.
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Typical Audience Member
(2 of our friends who are in the target age range, frequent listeners of the R&B genre, and fit our target audience.)
Gender: Male/Female
Age: Mid-teens to young adults (15 to 25 years old)
Place of living: Urban areas in Ho Chi Minh City.
Occupation: High school/College students, Graduates, College students.
Interests: Hanging out, socializing, listening to R&B often, reading or watching High School, Office, or other types of romance.
Methods of discovering new music: Via friend recommendations, YouTube suggestions, their social media's For You Page, and going to concerts or live performances.
Education: International or Local High school, College, or University in Ho Chi Minh City.
Below is the data gathered from the audience research survey we conducted. We broke down the responses to help with the analysis of the Music Video we are going to make.
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Friday, February 10, 2023
Storyboard (Love in Saigon)
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(FIRST VERSION OF THE STORYBOARD)
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(UPDATED VERSION OF THE STORYBOARD)
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Script (Love in Saigon)
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Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Postmodernism in Film (Everthing Everywhere All At Once (2022))
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Self-reflexivity
In the “movie star” universe, Evelyn’s life resembles that of Michelle Yeoh herself, complete with red carpet events, adding a layer of self-reflexivity where the character’s fictional life merges with the actor's real-world persona.
Intertextuality
We can see that Evelyn’s life in the multiverse recalls iconic scenes from films like The Matrix and Ratatouille, embracing intertextuality—a key aspect of postmodernism that destabilizes original meaning by connecting various texts.
Pastiche
A humorous, almost absurdist pastiche is evident in the hot dog fingers universe, where humans have hot dogs instead of fingers, channeling absurdist cinema's bizarre, offbeat humor. This world’s surreal visual is a satirical nod to how multiverses can distort reality beyond comprehension.
Dark Humour
An example is the scene where Evelyn fights a police officer who is half-naked at the bottom, the item that can help Evelyn switch to another universe is the butt plug, which the officer uses when he jumps and sits on it as he lands.
Skepticism of grand narratives
Evelyn’s journey illustrates that there's no single "true" version of a person’s life; each life choice she ever made opens up radically different pathways, leading to an endless series of possible existences.
Relativism
By juxtaposing universes where Evelyn is a celebrated chef, a martial arts master, or even a rock, the film suggests that each reality, no matter how small or insignificant, holds weight within its own context.
Irony and parody
In a confrontation with her daughter Joy, Evelyn eventually acknowledges her own failings. This acknowledgment is ironic because, despite the cosmic scale of her adventure, her journey ultimately boils down to a basic need for reconciliation and love within her family — far simpler and more profound than any multiversal crisis
Another scene that parodies classic martial arts tropes is the “fanny pack fight,” where Waymond, Evelyn’s husband, uses an everyday item as a weapon, mirroring but mocking martial arts movies where objects like broomsticks are used in elaborate fight choreography.
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Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Greenscreen Challenge
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(Official video)
CONCLUSION
I think the whole greenscreen challenge went well. Thanks to my amazing teacher, I've learned multiple editing techniques—especially the effects, such as the ultra key for greenscreen removal, the use of shrinking, expanding, and zooming in, and the rotation of myself in the video thanks to the effect control panel. This was done all in Adobe Premiere Pro
However, I noticed that I need more movement and life in my expressions, not just standing there like a vegetable. In addition, the variety of backgrounds behind me needs to have more variety, as repeating backgrounds can be boring and not entertaining to the viewer
All in all, learning how to edit on Adobe Premiere Pro was a valuable learning experience for me. Not only did it help me create my first edited project, but it can also help me gain important editing skills in the future that I can use to progress in my career.
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Pitch Presentation
(Pitch Presentation)
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(The Pitch Presentation Video)
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Personal Reflections
Moreover, our delivery could have been better, as we still made some basic grammar mistakes, and ran out of ideas to further expand on the point we were trying to make, which led to some disruptions in the fluency of our pitch.
We received feedback regarding our music video's type. It's clear that it has some narrative elements in it, but the audience asked us about our method of adding a performance element to the mix.
We agree with the feedback given, as it would make our music video more interesting and add an element of excitement to it as well. We mentioned in the answer that the couple with take turns lip-syncing the lyrics of the 2 artists Daniel Caesar and H.E.R., and make sure that the lyrics of the song don't interfere with the music video's narrative.
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Sunday, February 5, 2023
Regulating the Future
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1. When was the first time you watched a horror movie and how did you watch it?
From what I recall, the first time I watched a horror movie was on my TV, and at the time I was in elementary school. It was a Thai horror movie that I watched with my family. We watched it on a streaming platform that was initially installed on our TV - FPT. It was one of the biggest tech companies in Vietnam at the time, and now it's the biggest currently.
2. Do you ever watch films illegally? And what platforms do you use to watch them?
I do watch films illegally - but only when I miss the premiere of some of the films I plan to watch at the cinema. Platforms such as 123Movies, Phimmoi, etc provide quality films and movies for me to watch by using loopholes without having to pay for tickets for films at the cinema or get out of my house to go there, and this reduces profits for films. The introduction of pirated sites also causes media regulation to be extremely hard and sophisticated, as they can't control and regulate films on there.
3. Do you believe that children are capable of regulating their own film-viewing habits?
I do not believe that a child is capable of regulating their film-viewing habits. Humans, especially children, are specimens that are often curious and often like to explore as well. So without parental interference, children can most likely wander into watching unsuitable films for their age - eventually negatively influencing them in the process.
4. Do you believe access to the internet itself should be regulated? Why?
I don't think that access to the internet should be regulated. The internet has become a necessity in all of our lives, and regulating it could lead to the restriction of free speech and the exchange of ideas. Businesses could also be affected by the regulation of the internet - it creates barriers, reduces innovation, and slows advancement in technology. In addition, the regulation of the internet will cause important media such as educational resources or important information for school work to be restricted. This can negatively affect different groups of individuals, such as students or office workers.
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Saturday, February 4, 2023
Genre Conventions
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1# Girls Like You
Artist: Maroon 5
Director: David Dobkin
Style: Performance/ Concept
Music genre: Pop
Favorite aspects of the music video: The seamless transitions when different women appear behind Adam Levine
Technical aspects that stood out: Repeated arc shot and the video’s pacing align perfectly with the rhythm of the song
Interesting representations: The influence of women in different life professions, such as musicians or athletes. Instead of using women as an attraction to music videos as most do, this music video reveals the fully rounded character of women as a whole.
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2# Muợn rượu tỏ tình
Artist: Bigdaddy, Emily
Director: Khuong Vu
Style: Performance/Narrative
Music genre: Pop
Favorite aspects of the music video: The vintage filter can add a touch of artistic flair to your photos, making them more visually interesting and engaging.
Technical aspects that stood out: Handheld camera shots when the couple goes for walks and hangs around the city can create a sense of intimacy between the audience and the couple. Handheld cameras also can mimic a character's point of view or create a voyeuristic feel for the audience.
Interesting representations: Young people usually don't know how to express their feelings—they use substances such as alcohol to do so, which is a negative thing, despite the actions of the characters in music videos not being negative. However, from a media perspective, it's considered a negative representation of young people, as they need substances to express themselves.
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3# All of Me
Artist: John Legend
Director: Nabil Elderkin
Style: Performance/Narrative
Music genre: Pop
Favorite aspects of the music video: The black and white filter, which strips away distractions, allowing the audience to focus more on the emotional core of the video.
Technical aspects that stood out: Slow motion shots help the audience pay attention to the little details of the video, such as the facial expressions that show the emotions of John Legend.
Interesting representations: The unconditional love that John and his wife gave each other, despite their imperfections. This representation is the perfect example of true love - and how it has changed and become rarer now compared to the past generations.
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4# Chưa Phải Là Yêu
Artist: Hurrykng, Rex
Director: VÕ MINH ĐỨC
Genre: Pop
Style: Performace/Narrative
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5# Treat You Better
Artist: Shawn Mendes
Director: Ryan Pallotta
Genre: Pop
Style: Narrative/Performance
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#6 Until I Found You
Artist: Stephen Sanchez
Director: Cooper Davidson
Genre: Pop
Type: Performance/Concept
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#7 Love Me Harder
Artist: Ariana Grande, The Weeknd
Director: Hannah Lux Davis
Genre: Pop
Style: Performance/Concept
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#8 Love Me Like You Do
Artist: Ellie Goulding
Director: Georgia Hudson
Genre: Pop
Style: Performance: Performance/Narrative
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#9 Perfect
Artist: Ed Sheeran
Director: Jason Koenig
Genre: Pop
Style: Narrative
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#10 Unconditionally
Artist: Katy Perry
Director: Brent Bonacorso
Genre: Pop
Style: Performance/Concept
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Conventions
Watching the 10 music videos presented above, I can see that they all feature the artist in most of the music videos - especially close-up shots. This helps facial expressions to be more impactful and to attract a wider audience to the music video
The lyrics are easy to remember, and the songs often repeat melodies. This can create an emotional connection between the viewer and the music video.
In addition, slow-motion is also common in the music videos mentioned above to highlight emotional moments, like a meaningful glance, a tender touch, or a significant gesture. It significates the intensity of the romantic connection between the couple in the music video.
Finally, I can see that the majority of couples in the music video are often making direct and intense eye contact. This is a powerful nonverbal cue to show emotional connection.
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Thursday, February 2, 2023
Comparison between film regulations of the UK and Vietnam
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1. Administration
UNITED KINGDOM
Its films are administrated by the BBFC, which stands for the British Board of Film Classification - a not-for-profit and independent organization.
Founded in 1912, the BBFC is responsible for classifying films, television shows, and other bodies of media released in the UK based on their content, providing age ratings and restrictions to guide viewers and protect children from harmful content.'
Website: https://www.bbfc.co.uk/
VIETNAM
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MOCST), and more specifically the Cinematography Department is directly responsible for the regulation of films and other types of media in Vietnam, such as culture, sports, and tourism to name a few.
MOCST was founded on March 15, 1953, and is run by the government from its foundation until now.
Website: http://www.cucdienanh.vn/
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2. Process
UNITED KINGDOM
a) The films are to be submitted to the BBFC for classification, and to be viewed by usually 2 or more BBFC compliance officers, who will review the film and give out guidelines and age rating certificates.
b) The BBFC then works with local authorities and law enforcement to ensure they agree with the classifications made. Films and video works that do not comply with the classification requirements may be removed from distribution or face legal action.
VIETNAM
a) Films are submitted to the Cinema Department, which is the agency under MOCST responsible for film regulation and classification in Vietnam. This includes both international and national films that are to be screened in cinemas, broadcasted on television, or distributed online.
b) They are then reviewed by the National Film Evaluation and Classification Council, a body established by the Cinema Department.
c) After the review, the MOCST will discuss the decision with the submitters. If a film is approved, it is issued a screening certificate with the appropriate age classification. If cuts are required, the certificate is issued after those cuts are made and verified by the council.
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3. Powers
UNITED KINGDOM
The BBFC can refuse to classify a film, and ban it from being legally distributed or streamed in the UK. This is usually done if the content is deemed to violate the Obscene Publications Act 1959, promotes illegal activities, encourages hatred, or poses significant harm to viewers.
The BBFC also conducts research often and public consultations to update its guidelines and reflect public opinion. This allows the BBFC to have the ability to adapt and improve its standards and policies in response to changing attitudes and concerns about media content.
VIETNAM
The MOCST regulates the film industry through the Cinema Department, which includes the classification, censorship, and approval of films for public viewing. It has the power to ban, restrict, or require edits or cuts to films that do not comply with Vietnamese laws, cultural values, or national security concerns.
The films all have to go through a long and strict review until it is approved to be shown to the Vietnamese public.
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4. Age Restrictions
UNITED KINGDOM
VIETNAM
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5. Restricted Content
UNITED KINGDOM
The film might be restricted due to problems with its content, such as:
VIETNAM
Films might be restricted due to:
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6. Strengths
UNITED KINGDOM
Strengths of the BBFC:
VIETNAM
Strengths of the MOCST:
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7. Weaknesses
UNITED KINGDOM
Weaknesses of the BBFC
VIETNAM
Weaknesses of the MOCST
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8. Case Study
UNITED KINGDOM: GET OUT (2017)
"Get Out" directed by Jordan Peele tells us about a black man staying at his girlfriend's family's place when he finds that his girlfriend's family is very racist people, and was acting nice to lure him in - and black people who once entered the premises were to have their brains replaced by the ones of elderly white supremacists, and their bodies having brand new identities after the transplant - those of the elderly white supremacists. The man, Chris Washington, tries to escape the premises despite the odds stacked against him - in which his brain will be replaced.
It was restricted due to scenes of violence and gore. Characters are stabbed, shot at, and gored. There was also 1 scene that involved surgery, which saw the removal of the top of a skull, exposing the brain. Explicit language was also used often in the film, which can also lead to restrictions. Finally, there were also references to sex in the film, Jeremy Armitage, brother of Chris's girlfriend, makes a reference to murder victims who thought they would only have to "suck a little dick or jiggle some balls".
In the end, the film was given a 15 by the BBFC, a rating that was too low in my opinion. 15 year-olds are still in my opinion not eligible to watch "Get Out" as the scenes can be very uncomfortable, and the language can be unsuitable and inappropriate for their age. An 18 rating would be better, as people that age onwards can handle the disturbing scenes and strong language.
VIETNAM: JOHN WICK 4 (2023)
In John Wick: Chapter 4, John Wick played by Keanu Reeves faces off against The High Table after finding out a strategy of vengeance to defeat them, The High Table is the organization of crime lords who command basically everything in the criminal underworld of the John Wick-verse, and with powerful alliances across the globe, from New York, Paris, Japan, and Berlin just to name a few. Despite the alliance with the "Bowery King" played by Laurence Fishburne proves to be beneficial for Wick. On the other hand, High Table member Vincent Bisset de Gramont is granted unlimited resources to kill him by the organization and will eliminate any person associated with the infamous hitman.
In Vietnam, the MOCST banned the film from being distributed and streamed across the country, as one of the actors - Donnie Yen who plays an old friend of Wick, supports the creation of the 9-dot line, which is a territory claim by the Chinese government of certain regions of the South China sea.
The film contains scenes of violence including shoot-outs, which often feature the use of hand-to-hand combat, bladed weapons, and people being hit by vehicles. Scenes include occasional blood spurts, mainly from gunshots to the head. Strong language is used in the film a lot - words such as "fuck, shit, or motherfucker". These are things that we see often in the previous films of John Wick as well.
In terms of age rating and classification, which are not stated by the MOCST due to the film being completely banned, the BBFC gives the film a 15 rating (which is too low in my opinion, as the blood spurts, stabbing, and people being rammed by vehicles can be disturbing for younger audiences), and classifies it to contain strong violence and language.
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