Music Director Research : Benny Boom

Biography 

Benny Boom is a R&B and Hip-Hop music video director. He trained at Temples University School of Radio,Television and Film, and also served as a protege of veteran Director X. Boom has directed over 150 music videos which includes artists such as 50Cent, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Pussycat Dolls, Lil Kim , LL Cool J , Nicki Minaj and manyb other artists. Furthermore he was the 2009 winner for Video Director of the year at the BET Awards and was nominated for the same award in 2011. Boom has not just only done music videoes , he has also done work in the  film industry and Televsion commercials for companies such as Honda and Ghatorade and Spears. In 2009 Boom directed his feature film "Next Day Air" and in 2011 Boom followed his film directorial debut with the action-crime film S.W.A.T.

Music Videos 

Below are some of Benny Booms popular music videos. After watching some of these videos i noticed that Benny Boom has his own signature styling style with lighting in these videos as a majority of them seem to have the same lighting. In addition to this, he also has he name feared on the begin gong of the videos so that the audience knows that he directed the video.

Goodwin Analysis Jay Z 99 Problems Music Video

Genre Characteristics:

The music video is set in an rundown estate which is a characteristic  used in many hip-hop music videos. The Video shows black youth playing basketball on the estate dresses in basketball clothing which is also another characteristic used in the hip-hop culture.

Voyteuristic:

In the video there a several scenes of woman degrading themselves as they are dresses inaccurately porting women less than men. The camera angles have also been placed through the male gaze as there are close ups of women's bums and breast, suggesting that women are sexual objects for men.

Lyrics and visuals:

"Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's real low" 

when Jay Z raps these lyrics there is a shot shown where he pulls his hat down. In the whole music video Jay Z movements and action are like to the lyrics . For instance, when Jay Z he says 'cash money hoes' there is a close upshot of a woman hardly any clothes on. 

Intertextual references:

The choreography shown in the music video could be seen as a mimic of one of Michael Jackson's famous dance routine. This could be a way of Jay Z paying homage or showing his respect to Michael Jackson as he is a well known black entertainer around the world. 

History Of music Videos

Pop Music TV Shows

Pop music TV shows started in the 1970's. They focused on producing short "promos", early music video which started to replace the live performance of the artist on TV-Stage.

Bohemian Rhapsody - 1975

The ground breaking  video released by Queen marked the beginning of the video era and set language for the modern music video . The video is considered one of the first to use advanced visual effects with performance and studio setup.

Technical Codes - Cinematography

• As with any moving text , how the camera is used and images are sequenced will have a significant impact upon meaning.
• Camera movement, angle and shot distance all need to be analysed .
• Camera movement may accompany movement of performers ( Walking, dancing etc.) but it may also be used to create a more dynamic feel to stage performance, for instance  constantly circling the band as they perform .

The close up does predominate , as in most TV, partly because of the size of the screen and partly because of the device to create a sense of intimacy with the viewers.  

Editing

• Though the most common form of editing associated with the music promo is fast cut montage, rendering many of the images impossible to gasp on the first viewing.
• Often enhancing the editing are delightful affects which play with the original images to offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience . This might take the form of split screens, colourisation and of course blockbuster film CGI.

Development of Technical Codes

• The key innovation in the development of the modern music video was of course video record and editing processes.
• The advent of high quality colour videotape recorders and portable video cameras enabled many pop acts to produce promotional videos quickly.
• In the 1990's a number of technical codes became common:
• Most common form of editing associated with the music promo is fast cut montage.
• Many images impossible to grasp on first viewing thus ensuring multiple viewing.
• Split screens  and colourisation are also commonly used effects.

Intertextuality

Using current popular music is often also used within adverts. Television shows include intertexual references, often for comic effect (parody). It even stretches to non-fiction media such as movies etc.

• Homage - Imitation is the highest form of flattery 
• Pastiche - Using the imagery of one text to make a comment about another
• Parody - Making fun of a person , show etc 

Stylistically

By imitating the style of a film or television genre, video game, cartoon etc.

Theme/Narrative

George Michael's outside uses intertextuality both stylistically in parts and through its narrative, which reps to his arrest .

Content

Some videos contain more subtle intertexual references within their content, a nod to a person or character, political comment, current news , items.   

Advanced Portfolio

Notes

• 25% of the total advanced GCE A2 marks coursework
• 100 marks

You will produce a promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video , together with two of the following three options:

1. A didgipak for the albums release
2. A magazine advertisement for the digipak
3. A website homepage for the band/ artist

A2 G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media

Brief from OCR

The purpose of this unit is firstly to assess candidates’ ability to plan and construct mediaproducts using appropriate technical and creative skills (AO3); secondly to assess candidates’application of knowledge and understanding in evaluating their own work, showing how meanings andresponses are created (AO2); and finally to assess candidates’ ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research (AO4). The unit requires candidates to engage with contemporary media technologies, giving them the opportunity to develop their own skills in these technologies. It also enables them to develop the skills of presentation that are required for further study at higher levels and in the workplace.

This is a coursework unit. Centres must set the brief from the menu below, though they may define a more precise details in negotiation with candidates. From this brief, candidates will produce:

a media portfolio, comprising a main and ancillary texts;
a presentation of their research, planning and evaluation in digital format(s).

The media portfolio will be produced through a combination of two or more of the following media:
Video

•  zPrint
• Web-based
• Audio
• Games software

Each candidate will evaluate and reflect upon the creative process and their experience of it.
Candidates will evaluate their work digitally, this evaluation being guided by the set of key
questions below. This evaluation may be done collectively for a group production or individually.

Examples of suitable formats for the evaluation are:

•  A blog
• DVD extras
• A podcast
• A PowerPoint

A Website Or a combination of two or more of the above.