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Jake Nava

Jake Nava grew up in Hackney, London, and went to the University of Westminster, before moving to America to further his career. After moving to America, he signed to a film production company called FM Rocks.

He started making music videos when he left film school, making visuals for UK artists such as Beverley Knight, Atomic Kitten and The Spice Girls. It wasn't long before he was noticed across the Atlantic in the US, with one particular artist propelling his career to the next level. That artist was the worldwide phenomenon, Beyonce, who soon asked Nava to direct her début solo release, 'Crazy in Love'. The video was a surrounding success, aiding the song to a number one position both in the UK and the US. Beyonce herself describes the video as 'celebrating the evolution of a woman. It is about a girl who is at the point of a relationship. She realises that she is in love, she is doing stuff she would not normally do but she does not care. It does not matter she is just crazy in love'.



After the success of that video, he was in high demand by many top artists, such as Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias and Usher. He has since become a main and prominent fixture on the US music scene, gaining a successful reputation amongst the world's top artists. He has created award winning videos, as well as working with a diverse range of artists, from the genre of pop (Mariah Carey, Britney Spears) to rock legends (The Rolling Stones). The Rolling Stones video was actually based on the look and feel created in the hugely appreciated 2002 film 'City Of God', with Nava presenting his Latin roots, in the form of a music video.







Nava is credited for having the natural talent and ability of capturing individual talent and beauty for each of his subjects he works on. He works very closely with artists, who sometimes ask for my narrative or performance within the visual, and in such cases, Nava goes back to planning in order to suit both his and the artist's needs. His style continuously changes depending on the artist, but he maintains that he always gives the artist their own unique identity, not merely copying another successful format from a previous artist he has worked with. He describes his ever-changing style is due to the 'visual being dictated by the genre of the music, and the vibe he feels will make the artist performing the song, look their best'.

The contrast between narrative and performance in Nava's videos is exemplified perfectly in two consecutive Beyonce video's from 2008. The first 'If I Were A Boy' is a perfectly constructed narrative piece, shot in black and white, telling the story of the song itself. It portrays a narrative about an ordinary day for a couple (played by NFL player Eddie Goines as the male character and Beyonce as the female one) in a role reversal that is hinted at by the lyrics. Beyonce said that the video is 'both compelling and reflective of the independent woman stance that she has exhibited throughout most of her career', highlighting Nava's fondness on creating a personal image for each performer.



The second video was that for 'Single Ladies', shot immediately after 'If I Were A Boy' and displayed to show the contrast between Beyonce and her alter ego, Sasha Fierce, the main theme for her album. Again shot in black and white, the video took 12 hours to make and was a simple concept consisting of Beyonce and 2 other dancers performing a dance routine to the track. The choreography used inspiration from a 1969 Bob Fosse routine entitled "Mexican Breakfast. Knowles said that she wanted to keep the video simple. She explained that it was shot without different camera shots and cuts, without alterations to hairstyles, costumes, sets or lighting. She focused only on the performance. Nava said that on the day the video was shot, the song was divided into three parts. He deliberately used lengthy shots so that viewers "would connect with the human endeavour of Beyoncé's awe-inspiring dance". He stated that all the changes in looks and lighting were executed on-camera because he wanted to keep the feel "very organic and un-gimmicky". Regarding the "Single Ladies" video, Knowles said, "Out of all my videos, it was the least expensive and took the least amount of time. And it ended up being the most iconic. I just wanted to keep this one really minimal. But once we got on the set, it was like, wait a minute. This is something special."



The video garnered nine nominations for the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, and it won three: Video of the Year, Best Choreography, and Best Editing. It won numerous Best Video awards at the MTV Europe Music Awards, at the MOBO Awards, and at the BET Awards. The video received a nomination for "Outstanding Music Video" at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards, and it was ranked at number 4 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008 countdown,and at number 3 on VH1's Top 40 Videos of 2009. It has gone on to be recognised as one of the most iconic videos of all time, and certainly this decade, so maybe Kanye was right. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanyegate#Kanye_West_controversy_and_debated_incidents)














Overall, I admire Jake Nava due to his diverse range of ideas and creativity. He has worked with many different artists and gives them each their own personal identity with each visual, a trait which is admired by the fans, critics and artists themselves.

Goodwin's Theory.

Goodwin's Theory

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)

Ok Go

                                                                  

This Too Shall Pass - Ok Go

Released - January 17, 2010

Record Label - EMI

Genre - Alternative Rock, Power Pop

Here It Goes Again - Ok Go

Released - September 25, 2006

Record Label - Capitol 

Genre - Alternative Rock, Power Pop

I choose these songs and the band because they have developed a visual style and created an identity for their band. The band, Ok Go has come to considerable fame for their creative but low budget   music videos. They use complex routines which  are often done with one or two takes and get them noticed and  use viral sites like youtube to achieve this. Their video's are innovative which differentiate themselves in the market making them stand of from the crowd.  

Iconic Music Videos

I Love Rock 'n' Roll Time Line

I was thinking about which music video I would use and was researching the internet for quite some time. Then I came across 'I Love Rock N Roll' and thought it has been covered several times which all differ greatly. I found it fascinating that one song could be portrayed very differently by creating a music video. By looking at one song that has been covered over time it allows me to focus on the images and how music videos have changed over time and what has become important in the music video sector. This is why I thought this music video was ground breaking because it started of development from the 1970's till this present day and the new versions each time begin to rely on the audiences enjoying watching the video and seeing the artist apposed just listening on the radio. 


1975 - Arrows

In 1975 this song was originally recorded and released by the 'Arrows'. I liked the simplicity of the video actually focusing on the music with what looked like live recordings on stage and actually focused mostly on the music with instrument images. However the video did adventure out into the streets of London showing the roots of the band which I felt was ground breaking to this video because it the audience can relate to the band members.    




1981 - Joan Jett

6 Years later in 1981 the song was made famous by Joan Jett. Jett re-recorded the song after she saw the Arrows perform "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" on their weekly television series Arrows when she was touring England with The Runaways in 1976. The video I feel made the song famous because it told a story and shows the audience a relationship between lyrics and visuals whilst still remaining with genre conventions of rock being gritty. 



2002 - Britney Spears

The music video for "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" features Britney in a tight-fitting leather getup. Straightforward, it features Spears jamming in a large red room, complete with her own band, a stack of speakers, and flashing lights. She crawls along on the floor, and plays air guitar before smashing the speakers with a real guitar. This is where I feel there has been significant change from Arrows showing us the band and being about the music and Joan Jett's music video being about telling a story while being connected to the music, Britney takes the song to a point where music videos became about the way you look rather than the music.



2010 - Alex Gaudino & Jason Rooney

This version of I Love Rock N Roll completely relies on the way the girls look in the video to entice people to watch instead of listen. The music video here is entirely based on looks with females that have nothing to do with the actual song. Videos like this have really killed radio and defeats the object of music. 



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Love_Rock_'n'_Roll

Influential Music Video's From The 80's

I couldn't decide my favourite out of these two, so I decided to post both!

A-Ha – 'Take On Me'

This 1985 classic propelled this Norwegian trio to international stardom, as well as earning them an MTV Music Video Award for best video. Appreciated due to it's experimental aspect, it is described as 'one of the most successfully executed concept videos of the early MTV era' and uses intertextuality with the ending based on the 1980 film Altered State. Directed by Steve Barron, it is regularly recognised in critic's top 100, due to its collision between fantasy and reality, a trait directors of today continuously try to reproduce.




Queen and David Bowie – Under Pressure

This paramount hit from 1981, pitched two of the greatest artist of the decade together, providing a classic song and classic video to match. Interestingly, the video does not feature Mercury, Bowie or any other members of Queen, relying purely on silent film and documentary footage. Although being a simple and cheap concept, I am fascinated by the portrayal of the contrasting perceptions of 'Pressure' throughout the visual. From collapsing building's to an economic crisis, the video acts as a metaphor to society, all the while accompanied by one of Freddie Mercury's finest hours.

Set Up: How is it used in Shutter Island

I realised looking through our blog, we hadn't posted our shutter island questions. So therefore I have had to re do them after not being able to find them.

Set Up: How is it used in this film?

What does the set up reveal to the audience about setting? Where is this place?  

 What gives you information?

The set up reveals that these two men who have just met for the first time on a new island in the middle of no where, we get this information by a member of the ship saying: “That’s the dock, the only way in and the only way out.” 

What does the set up reveal to the audience about characters?  

 Choose one character and explain HOW the set up reveals this information.

The set up reveals information about the main character Teddy Daniels, as being sea sick, however we know as the audience that this has further meaning rather than being just ill. However this is a foreshadowing of his children’s murder, We think that this is his first time he has been in contact with water since trying to save his children’s lives. The chains on the boat can represent the chains that he has been in , in shutter island for the past two years as a patient. We can also see that the patients he comes across in the set, act like they know him. Lastly chuck is placed on the left hand side of the frame which shows his dominance to Teddy who is placed on the right. This relates to Chuck being his psychiatrist in real life. 

What does the set up reveal to the audience about interrelationship between characters?  About their goals?  Are there any things you learn here that become important later on?

Chuck and Teddy seem to bond right off the bat as if they know each other. Teddy has a longing goal of being the good person because in real life his is really a monster.

Their relationship of the psychiatrist and patient already exists therefore this means there is already a connection between them.

What is this ‘world’ like?  Safe? Happy? Dangerous?  How do you know? 

This world is a dangerous world that is dark and deluded, we can tell this mysterious narrative and the surrounding settings of the island. They are prisoned within one island with only one exist to escape. The characters emphasise the fact that is ‘world’ that they are living in is a worst nightmare and living hell. The weather reflects the torment on which is happening.

What possible conflicts or strains are there that will become part of the story later on?

 later on in the story Teddy's reason for fearing water becomes apparent, as we are shown that teddy’s children were once drowned in which he was the one to attempt save them. Also Chuck's struggle with the firearm shows he isn't used to using a gun and that he may not be a detective but he is in fact a doctor at the facility. furthermore the patients at the mental institution immediately show recognition towards Teddy, and later on you understand why, with him being a patient.

How does this film opening fit with the codes and conventions of Thriller films?

The colours of the film are grey and dull, this emphasises the tedious and dull life which the characters lead.

Evaluation.

Finally finished editing our evaluation. We have tried to make it more fun. Hope you enjoy and now over to the runaway news...