Planning- props and costume

Props and costumes

Female props
1. phone 
2. red lipstick
3. high heel shoes
4. make up such as powder and make up brush
5. Outfits
6. Shoulder bag
8. lip gloss

Explanations for props used


The phone has been used in order to allow the communication between the two characters to be visible and realistic in the music video. The phones used allow the music video to portay how the two main character are communicating via the phone. Furthermore, in order to include the narrative theory by Todorov and create a moment of a disequilibrium i needed to use phones as the conflict between the two characters occurs over the phone. The use of phones was effective as it allowed me to add `open captions` in Premier Pro and therefore explore and add more features available on the programme, resulting in the video being more interactive and interesting rather than having the 2 characters meeting at a place and having this conversation.

At the clips where the 2 characters have resolved the conflict and therefore portaying that the equilibrium is restored as the conflict/disequilibrium is resolved, the female begins getting ready as the boy has invited her to dinner outside. This is where the props such as red lipstick, heels and the outfit- skirt, come into use as well as the shoulder bag.I have included the use of these props in order to make the appearance of the girl more attractive. As the two characters are about to have dinner in a luxurious restaurant which is a formal public place, the use of lipstick and more formal clothing also reflect the setting of the clips (where they were shot). The use of these props can also link to Butlers theory and idea that gender is a social construct. For example, props such as red lipstick and clothing including heels and formal clothing such as skirts which is mostly associated with females help audiences to construct their own ideas and definitions of `feminine`. This can also be supported by the opening clips of the music video where the girl is applying make up such as powder and lipgloss, which by repetition will lead to audiences developing ideas and definitions of what being `female` is like. This links to my audience research as it reflects the idea of feminism through the use of feminine items such as make up and also shows that the dominant gender will be the female and therefore the main role is given to the first female actor.


Male props
1. phone
2. outfits
3. school bag
4. car keys
5. car

Explanations for props used

Props used by the male such as the car and the car keys, have also helped in order to allow the state of disequilibrium to occur. The car and the keys show, show that the male is about to drive the second female character in the video home. However, the main female character witnesses this and therefore this becomes the reason they fall into conflict-state of disequilibrium.
The fact that the male character owns a car links in with my audience research as it represents his position in the socio-economic group which is C2 showing that he is of higher socio-economic group than the white female actors in the video.
Moreover, this challenges the theory of Gilroy and his idea of a racial hierarchy and therefore portrays the black male as being financially independence as owning a car portrays that he has the disposable income to afford that. This therefore shows that even though the boy is from a black ethnic background he is still viewed as successful. This can also link with my audience research as i have suggested the black male character will challenge negative stereotypes held about black people such as coming from poor backgrounds as in fact the black character in my music video is from the C2 socio-economic group.

The male character of my music video, is seen as wearing a suit- formal clothing in the restaurant setting when both characters (with the female) are having dinner, showing the equilibrium being re-stored. This can therefore relate and challenge Hall`s representation theory. One part of Hall`s theory states that media often use stereotypes. For example he argues that ethnic minorities in the media are often stereotyped in very negative ways such as black people being stereotyped as violent, dangerous, poor or from gangs. However, in my video this is challenged as the black male actor is wearing a very formal suit therefore he is represented in a very positive way, as this type of clothing- suit represents him as professional and formal, rather than poor or dangerous.