Secondary Research

Research on Arson

Inside and Arsonist's Mind Officer.com  

This was very interesting to read, I learnt a lot more about the act of arson itself. For example, arson is the most expensive crime in America, costing more than $2 billion a year in property loss. However, the role of mental illness in arson can be complex. There’s a common stereotype that arsonist's are mentally disturbed, but even if an arsonist does have a psychiatric illness, this may not be a contributing factor in the fire-setting behaviour, or may be only one of many factors. And although Pyromania is an established psychiatric diagnosis, there are very few true pyromaniacs.  

Inside and Arsonist's Mind WebMD

This article was very interesting too, I learnt something I never knew about arsonists! The vast majority of "profiled" arsonists have a below-normal IQ, typically between 70 and 90. About one in four fall in the below-70 IQ range that qualifies them as mentally retarded. Half of all arsons are committed by those younger than age 18 the other half is typically in  their late 20s. In arson cases involving older people, the motivation is usually for profit (insurance fraud). About 90% of all arsonists are male and they are usually white (states an FBI report). I found this information very useful and will apply it to build an accurate character profile.

The psychology of arson: A practical guide to understanding and managing deliberate Firesetters

This is a very comprehensive and interesting book that talks about the psychology of an arsonist. It goes into an in-depth analysis of arson, and the history behind it, why it is committed, and the profile of arsonists. This book holds a vast wealth of information that I look forward to using to develop my characters, and story. This will help me to make something that is psychologically accurate, and that won’t use incorrect stereotypes. And make sure it won’t offend persons struggling this arson, or who have loved ones that do. 

Research on Music Video Creation

Making music videos: Everything you need to know from the best in the business

This book by Lara M. Schwartz is a great insider into the producer sided world of music video making. It helps with the production management of music videos, as well as constructing feasible filming budgets, and working with ‘the talent’, among other integral aspects of a music video, that every producer should readily apply. I will definitely take this advice on board with the production of my music video, and hopefully it will be a success! And not only will I, but also my crew and cast, will be proud of it. 

Experiencing music video: Aesthetics and cultural context

This was a great book. Unlike the one before, this book focuses more on the artistic and creative side of music videos. As well as the cultural significance of them. Carol Vernallis discusses the musical, cinematic, technical and the cultural harmony that is integral for a well balanced music video. I am fortunate that a book like this exist and I relish the idea of applying the knowledge that is overflowing from his book. I don’t want my music video to be cheap and pretentious, and with this book I can produce something noteworthy.

Bibliography

Vernallis, C. (2004) Experiencing music video: Aesthetics and cultural context. New York:
Columbia University Press. In-line Citation: (Vernallis, 2004)

Schwartz, L.M. and Ratner, B. (2007) Making music videos: Everything you need to know
from the best in the business. New York: Crown Publishing Group. In-line Citation:
(Schwartz and Ratner, 2007)

KULBARSH, P. (2007) Inside an arsonist’s mind. Available at: http://www.officer.com/
article/10249289/inside-an-arsonists-mind (Accessed: 1 March 2016). In-line Citation:
(KULBARSH, 2007)

Doley, R., Dickens, G.L. and Gannon, T.A. (eds.) (2015) The psychology of arson: A
practical guide to understanding and managing deliberate Firesetters. United Kingdom:
Taylor & Francis. In-line Citation: (Doley, Dickens, and Gannon, 2015)

Kirchheimer, S. (2005) Inside an arsonist’s mind. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/
mental-health/news/20031029/inside-arsonists-mind (Accessed: 1 March 2016). In-line
Citation: (Kirchheimer, 2005)

Primary Research

Link to Questionnaire

Link to Music Video Textual Analysis

Location Visit

Vallis, Frome, Somerset. This is a road with lots of narrow, old stone houses. Fitting for the aesthetic and character profiles. 

It is a very quaint street in the small countryside town of Frome, Somerset. However, as night falls and the streetlights shine on the stone walls, it transforms it into a dark, eerie and dangerous old english town. Perfect for the look I’m going for. I will shoot video of the houses at dusk and then in After Effects I will add fire effects to visualise a flat burning down.

Research for My Idea

For my idea I am going to:

Primary Research
1) Interview a Police Constable Darren Foulger of the Wiltshire Police Department on the criminal behaviour of arsonists 
2) Circulate a questionnaire on music video preferences
3) Location visit for an abandoned shed in the woods, terraced houses, and a town centre
4) Textual analysis of other music videos (Alright by Kendrick Lamar, Marry the Night by Lady GaGa, and Let It Go by James Bay)

Secondary Research
1) Book research on music videos; How they're made, how to make them, etc
    -"The psychology of arson: A practical guide to understanding and managing deliberate           Firesetters."
    - "Making music videos: Everything you need to know from the best in the business."
    - "Experiencing music video: Aesthetics and cultural context."

2) Research on the phycology of arsonists, why they do what they do, etc

3) Web research on relevant articles on arson & music videos
    - "Inside and Arsonist's Mind Officer.com."
    - "Inside and Arsonist's Mind WebMD."
  

Contrast of Ideas

The inspiration for my FMP has been drawn from some of my favourite music videos, such as Marry The Night by Lady GaGa, Alright by Kendrick Lamar, and Let It Go by James Bay.

Marry The Night by Lady GaGa

This is a 14 minute music video, where the first 9 minutes are short film, and the last 4 minutes turn into a music video. The first part of the video is slow and follows the demise of an aspiring ballerina in a dark short film. But then the video completely changes in the end as it shows her 'get back on her feet' and become the best again. 

I liked this video and enjoyed the slow paced first part of the video. I also like the fire effects in the music video. It shows her dancing on top of a classic car while rain poured down around her. This added to a great atmosphere and mood and I'd love to do something similar in my FMP.

I disliked the pretentiousness of the film. A lot of the monologue seemed very fake and it felt as if they were 'trying to hard'.

Alright by Kendrick Lamar

This in my opinion is one of the greatest music videos ever made! I've watched it countless times and it never gets old. It starts off with a moody and hip-hop heavy monologue by Kendrick Lamar himself. Then kicks into the music video after about 2 minutes and 40 seconds. The music video is racially and politically driven with strong themes of both. All topped off by atmospheric black and white shots and death-defying stunts.

This music video has made me seriously consider making my music video in black and white. I love the feel and mood of it. And although at first I didn't like fire in black and white, now I'm starting to enjoy it visually, after much experimentation.

I disliked the really badly edited special effects in the final scene where Kendrick is falling to the ground from a lamp post. You can clearly see where the masked around him to make the ground he was on seem bigger than it actually was.

Let It Go by James Bay

This is a very slow-going music video, only reaching its 'visual peak' towards the end as Mr. Bay slow motion walks away from a building as it explodes into flames. I like how they really sell the idea of the whole house burning down without actually showing a great deal of the house on fire, rather we just see tight close ups or medium shots for the destruction. Most of which would of been done in post anyway! The less special effects work, the better! This is the kind of technique I'd like to use in my music video.

I disliked the cinematography in some of scenes. I thought at times it was just a little bit too dark, which made it hard to see what was actually going on. I think if the just used a very dim light, they would be able to show the detail in the shadows, without compromising that 'dark and edgy' look they were going for.

Mind Map

Above I have created a mind map of ideas for my FMP. As the ideas branch out they become more and more specific to my vision, and it's helped me hone in my ideas.

BURN Pitch Reflection

On Tuesday we pitched our FMP ideas to the class and our two tutors, Leanne and Steve, which was the culminative point of unit 12. I conducted a great deal of research in this unit, but when it comes to media production, you can't ever do too much research! 

I looked deeply into the psychology of arsonists. What makes them do what they do, why they do it, what their past was like, what makes them tick. All of this has been useful as it will help me construct a character that accurately portray the characteristics of an arsonist, and not just stereotypes. 

I also took time to go to a model shop on the top of Catherine Hill in Frome, to look at the possibility of burning down model houses for the VFX, instead of burning to an actual full-scale set. That trip went well and I'm seriously considering it now. I also visited a film set while in Rome. This gave me a good insight into how sets are built and managed. Also while on the Encounters International Film Festival trip, I attended the cinematography master class, held by the cinematographer for Word War Z. This was deeply insightful as to how how to perfectly light a set, according to the time of day, mood, aesthetic, etc you're trying to achieve. 

Unit 12 Reflection

My Unit 12 research project was a great help and very successful. It helped me to buckle down and really dive deep into many different ideas for my FMP. I did a lot of research into music videos, short films, and music video short films! In addition I did research into arsonist's. The psychology behind them, why they do what they do, how they go about doing it, etc. All of which is really helping with the character profiles and plot of the music video short film. 

Before I started Unit 12 I knew very little about the subject of arson, I soon found out that the little bit I did know were just stereotypes, and that the psychology behind arsonists. Now I'm far more informed about them and can accurately portray them. I also know more about how to make a successful music video. For example by keeping it short and sweet, and getting right to the crux of it right from the get-go.

I also took time to go to a model shop on the top of Catherine Hill in Frome, to look at the possibility of burning down model houses for the VFX, instead of burning to an actual full-scale set. That trip went well and I'm seriously considering it now. I also visited a film set while in Rome. This gave me a good insight into how sets are built and managed. Also while on the Encounters International Film Festival trip, I attended the cinematography master class, held by the cinematographer for Word War Z. This was deeply insightful as to how how to perfectly light a set, according to the time of day, mood, aesthetic, etc you're trying to achieve. 

Strengths
Politically Charged
Taboo Themes
Great Cinematography Potential
Small Cast

Weaknesses
Maybe too ambitious
VFX Heavy
Low light shots