ASKING FOR PERMISSION

Before editing and filming for my video, I had to email the record company to ask for permission to use this song. This is essential to stop the use of copyright. The record label that I had to contact was Big Machine Label, who are the record company for Taylor Swift and various other musicians. To contact the record company, I decided to email them, explaining the situation and how I would be using one of their artist' songs for my media coursework.

This is the email I sent to the company:

THE ORIGINAL BACK TO DECEMBER MUSIC VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLK2bpJixLA

After choosing this song, I decided to look at the original video made my Taylor Swift. Before doing this I brainstormed my ideas so that I can compare these with the way the video has been created. By doing this, I am able to see if my ideas were like those in the videos and if so, work out how to adapt mine so that it doesnt look the same.
These were some of my ideas I came up with:



These were some of the ideas I brainstormed before watching the video

Once watching the video, I realised that my ideas were different to the way the original video has been created.

              

The Back to December video links to the lyrics of the song, like I would like mine to also do. In the original video there is a young female singer, who is singing but also being the actress in the video. I was going to do this too because I thought it would be more relevant to the lyrics as it can represent the singers own personal story.
The locations and the persona of both characters in the video are represented fully and are easy to interpret. The snowy setting is very effective and is something I would like to incorporate if possible. In the original video, there is also the appearance of  a male actor, who the song is linked to. In the video, you only see the male actor in short shots and there is not  a joining of the two actors at any moment in the video.
When thinking about my video ideas compared to the original, I think that my music video will be very different to the original, so I am still going to choose this song.

CHOOSING MY FINAL SONG.

Though I was originally decided on 'Love Story' for my final song, I then listened to 'Back to december' and was again undecided because I felt that using 'Back to December' would be more appropriate. This is because for the time of the year, we are entering the winter season, so it would look colder, which shows a clear link to the song title.
Firstly, I looked at the lyrics to the song, to help me decide on initial ideas and shots I could possibly use, which are:

I'm so glad you made time to see me.
How's life? Tell me how's your family.
I haven't seen them in a while.
You've been good, busier than ever,
We small talk, work and the weather,
Your guard is up and I know why.
Because the last time you saw me
Is still burned in the back of your mind.
You gave me roses and I left them there to die.

So this is me swallowing my pride,
Standing in front of you saying, "I'm sorry for that night,"
And I go back to December all the time.
It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you.
Wishing I'd realized what I had when you were mine.
I'd go back to December, turn around and make it all right.
I go back to December all the time.

These days I haven't been sleeping,
Staying up, playing back myself leavin'.
When your birthday passed and I didn't call.
And I think about summer, all the beautiful times,
I watched you laughing from the passenger side.
Realized that I loved you in the fall.

And then the cold came, the dark days when fear crept into my mind
You gave me all your love and all I gave you was "Goodbye".

So this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in front of you saying, "I'm sorry for that night."
And I go back to December all the time.
It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you,
Wishing I'd realized what I had when you were mine.
I'd go back to December, turn around and change my own mind
I go back to December all the time.

I miss your tanned skin, your sweet smile,
So good to me, so right
And how you held me in your arms that September night --
The first time you ever saw me cry.

Maybe this is wishful thinking,
Probably mindless dreaming,
But if we loved again, I swear I'd love you right.

I'd go back in time and change it but I can't.
So if the chain is on your door I understand.

But this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in front of you saying, "I'm sorry for that night."
And I go back to December...
It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you,
Wishing I'd realize what I had when you were mine.
I'd go back to December, turn around and make it all right.
I'd go back to December, turn around and change my own mind

I go back to December all the time.
All the time.

After looking at the lyrics, I decided it would be useful for me if I printed and annotated the lyrics. By doing this, I will be able refer back to my ideas while working and filming for my music video.

This is my initial Plan and some ideas for my music video:

DECIDING ON A SONG.

I originally started looking at 'Love Story' and 'Our Song' by Taylor Swift and made notes on both lyrics, to start coming up with ideas for my video.

I began analysing Love Story (I wrote the wrong title) and I found it very easy to beable to make a music video too.





I also looked at doing 'Our Song', but I found it harder to imagine and work out things that I could do for this song.

After thinking and listening to more of her songs, I decided against both of these and decided to do my music video on 'Back to December', a love song that allows me to explore many different emotions and scenes.

INITIAL SONG IDEAS

After I decided that I wanted to use one of Taylor Swift's songs, I decided to listen to a range of her songs from her current two albums. When listening to her songs, I found them easy to interpret and create a narrative to because they are talking about her life story in song.
From listening to a range of songs from her albums, I limited the choice down to either 'Our Song' and  'Love Story' as a starting two possibilitites.

MY TARGET AUDIENCE

After deciding on Taylor Swift as my artist, I had to choose a target audience. Having a target audience will allow me to find out what this specific audience would like to see and would help me decide what to include in my music video that will appeal to this specific age group.
After thinking about the target audience that Taylor Swift has, I decided that it would be best to target my audience at younger generation, especially younger females. I think the age range of this audience would range from around age 11 to 20. Though this is a wide age range I think that it will be suitable for my song choice and my choice of artist. I also think that this would appeal to anyone who enjoys a mixture of pop and country music because this is the genre.

TAYLOR SWIFT

I finally decided on Taylor Swift as my artist for my music video. This is because I like her music and the songs that she has written. As well as this, I felt that when listening to her music, I would be able to create a narrative, because this is what her songs revolve around - her life story.
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.
(Wikipedia)

She is a young singer, who is popular world wide. Her genre generally focuses around the genre of country/pop, which is something i will incorporate into my music video.