Filming day 2

Our next filming day was on Wednesday the 13th of October, when getting our filming equipment we found that our memory card had gone missing and therefore were given a new one and had to restart our filming at a different location, luckily we had lots of new ideas better than the previous filming and therefore were able to go to our other location which was in Piccadilly were we did quite a lot of filming compared to the first location, as we had previously discuses before proceeding to go filming about our filming techniques, what we wanted to include and how we could improve from our previous filming and came up with better ideas which we used and had a productive filming. Also during the filming if any of us had ideas we wished to share,we would pose the filming get together and see if the ideas will work well with our video. overall this filming day was productive and we filmed for 3 hours and our next filming day will be on Monday the 18th of October at a different location.

Filming day 1

We started filming for our "Jam" video on Monday the 4th of october during our media lesson. We filmed at Aquatics in Manchester for two hours,(although we have other locations we spent more time on our first filming day) We originally wanted to start our filming in the dance studio however the rooms were in use and therefore decided to go to our next location, so that we have lots of different shots which will make it easier for us in editing as we would be able to have enough shots, and therefore we have an advantage of having back-up if certain shots don't work well with our chosen song. We did a lot of performance (dancing) during filming and got a lot different shots in order to have enough shots when editing.

Jam lyrics

Nation To Nation
All The World
Must Come Together
Face The Problems
That We See
Then Maybe Somehow We Can Work It Out
I Asked My Neighbor
For A Favor
She Said Later
What Has Come Of
All The People
Have We Lost Voice
What It's About

I Have To Find My Peace 'Cause
No One Seems To Let Me Be
False Prophets Cry Of Doom
What Are The Possibilities
I Told My Brother
There'll Be Problems,
Times And Tears For Fears,
We Must Live Each Day
Like It's The Last

Go With It
Go With It
Jam
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't Too Much
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't You
It Ain't Too Much For Me To

The World Keeps Changing
Rearranging Minds
And Thoughts
Predictions Fly Of Doom
The Baby Boom
Has Come Of Age
To Work It Out

I Told My Brothers
Don't You Ask Me
For No Favors
I'm Conditioned By
The System
Don't You Talk To Me
Don't Scream And Shout

She Pray To God, To Buddha
Then She Sings A
Talmud Song
Confusions Contradict
The Self
Do We Know Right
From Wrong
I Just Want You To
Recognize Me
In The Temple
You Can't Hurt Me
I Found Peace
Within Myself

Go With It
Go With It
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't Too Much
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't You
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
Aha, It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't Too Much
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't You
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam

[Michael]
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't Too Much
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
Get On It
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't Stop
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't You
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't You
It Ain't Too Much For Me To

It Ain't Too Hard For Me
To Jam [9x]
Get On It
Jam
It Ain't
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't You
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't Too Much
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't Too Much
It Ain't Too Much For Me To
Jam
Too Much
It Ain't Too Much Stuff
It Ain't
Don't You
It Ain't Too Much For Me To

Get On It
Get On It
Give It Baby
Give It To Me
Come On
You Really Give It Too Me
Got To Give It
You Just Want To Give It

Lyric Analysis

The Jam lyrics connote ordinary people finding their peace in their own interests and talents, as Michael cries 'Nation to Nation', suggesting ordinary people, and 'I have to find my peace cause no one seems to let me be', suggesting to us that Michael feels he has to dance for stability and sanity. Michael also has political references as he digs at the system of brainwashing and 'rearranging' minds, for example, 'The world keeps changing rearranging minds and thoughts predictions', claiming the system gives the world a perception that life should be almost robotic and not original. Michael then mocks his opinion as he said, 'I told my brothers don't you ask me for no favors i'm conditioned by the system don't you talk to me don't scream and shout', connoting brainwashing with the euphemism 'conditioned'. He also makes defensive remarks of him dancing, that he's found his love in his life and he can't be harmed within this love, for instance, 'I just want you to recognize me in the temple you can't hurt me i've found peace within my life', and also connotes a community of love with the religious reference of 'Temple'. He also tries to promote his belief of confidence in individual talents by crying 'It ain't too much for me to Jam', suggesting to the 'Nation' that he has confidence in what he does, so the nation should aswell

Analysis

The song that we are using in our music video is the Michael Jackson 90s hit Jam, from the 1991 dangerous album. It became universally popular through the music video, as the most famous 'Michael' in music, collaborated with the biggest 'Michael' in sport at the time, which was Michael Jordan the famous basketball player. They both faced each other at their own talents, Jackson teaching Jordan how to dance, which Michael Jordan admitted was rather embarrassing, and Michael Jackson playing basketball against Jordan, which again seemed an unfair match.

The song was about people finding their peace in their own talent, and dancing relieving a natural feeling, as he quotes 'it ain't too much for me to Jam', meaning it isn't too hard for me to dance. Throughout the video he shows two young black boys playing brass instruments, which contrasts stereotypes and connotes people finding their own joy in whatever they do. The video also shows a young white male in urban clothes imitating Michael Jackson's dance moves, also contrasting to what you wouldn't know about this boy if you took a glance at him, which shows the power of talents showing everyone is unique. However the two main talents that were shown was basketball and dancing, but the message being whatever you wish to do you should do. It was also powerful in the sense that Michael Jackson was protecting his innocence in this song as some of the lyrics stated 'I told my brothers don't you ask me for no favours I'm conditioned by the system don't you talk to me don't scream and shout'. This refers to the alienation of the population that's expected, he then quotes 'I have to find my peace coz' no one seems to let me be', which then he refers to his innocence and protests that he is finding his peace to 'Jam'.

The camera work in this video was indispensable, as the shots created the theme and our group noted patterns with the camera shots, there were a lot of low angle shots of Michael which added to the illusion of his dance moves and makes him look like the superior dancer he is, a pattern of tracking shots and panning shots were used and merged with the theme being fast and up beat. Also medium shots, close ups and extreme close ups were used with some of the characters to show specific detail of the props (the brass instruments).

In terms of the mise en scene, the costume of Michael jackson matches Michael Jordan with the orange shirt and orange vest, which also matches with a key prop (the basketball). This creates a colour theme and a colour association, so when people think of the video a colour association of orange comes to mind, which became inspirational in our ideas. Additonally the distinctive white socks of Michael Jackson was important, as it is part of his trade mark and tells us he is dancing. Also Michael Jordan's sporty kit is used as most people picture the basketballer in his kit, so we know it is Michael Jordan. And the lighting is important as it is used on the basketball court, or uses natural lighting. Most of the transitions are cuts as it is an up-beat tempo, also camera shots is used with close ups, extreme close ups and long shots are used for almost a cataphoric reference of what the video is going to be about. With shots of Michael Jordan bouncing a basketball with a silhouette effect. Additionally most of the lip syncing has a close up of Michael Jackson, with a silhouette effect using natural lighting beaming from the window. The motion is played with as either increased, or decreased motion which is effective as a fast beat song.