Analysis from Questionnaire

Recently we held a focus group of people aged between fourteen and twenty-six which consisted of friends, school pupils and family members. There were around eighteen people that turned up to our meeting and we had varying results.

Most of the group thought that the song contained a lot of love; hate and humor; from this we have incorporated humor into our video concept as this describes the artist very well. We had anticipated that the focus group would pick these three words but it was good to actually hear from them to reinforce our ideas.

We asked them about certain images that came to mind when hey listened to ‘Little Missy’, the results contrasted with each other but we shared ideas and thoughts on it. They varied from playground romance to adult themes, like money, business and sexual deviance.

When we asked the group whether or not they liked the song not just if they would buy it, they were split down the middle. The boys enjoyed listening to the song but they said they wouldn’t buy it because it was “too repetitive” however the girls clearly loved the song and would buy it as they walked out the door humming the tune. This brings us onto our next question about audience, from the results the focus group felt that ‘Little Missy’ appealed to a much larger audience than we had suggested. They said the age gap was from sixteen to thirty. There was a unanimous decision about gender, they all thought the song was aimed at a female audience; this piece of information is very useful as it changes the dynamics of the music video completely.

When asked about important aspects of a music video mostly all of the group said that artist representation and gender roles are very significant. Furthermore a music video with a story, humor and purpose is much easier and more interesting to watch. The younger volunteers in our focus group said that if they could relate to the video concept it becomes more accessible to watch as most videos are aimed at a slightly older audience.

Generally people preferred video concept two as it was more humorous and easier for the younger part of the audience of 16-25 to relate to.

Dana - Little Missy - Focus Group Questionnaire

Name:_______________ Age:_____

*You will now be played the song we are using for our A2 Media Coursework, ‘L:ittle Missy’ – by Danica Karic*

(Please circle your answers or write where necessary)

1. What three words would you use to describe the impression you get from this song?

2. What images come to mind when you hear the song?

3. Would you buy this song?

Yes No

Please justify why:

4. What audience do you think this song and artist appeals to?

Gender: Male Female

Age Group: Under 16 16-25 25-30 30+

Please justify why

5. What aspects of a music video do you consider important, and encourage repeat viewing?

6. Please read over the two video concepts we have given to you. Out of the two, which do you think best suits the audience and music?

Video Concept 1 Video Concept 2

Please justify your choice and state if there is anything you would change:

Interview with our Artist

Q. What gave you the inspiration to write these lyrics?

A. (She laughs) Funny story, it was years and years ago, my ex-boyfriend had this best friend who I knew was totally in love with him. I kept telling him that she loves you and he didn’t listen. She was easing her way into his life and I was like (she mutters under her breath) Bitch! So basically I got the inspiration from her and telling him that he was an idiot, also she was trying to get me out of the picture. She is Little Missy!

Q. Which Artists have influenced you the most?

A. Ah Lots really! Well actually I guess its different genres that have influenced me not artists, I just listen to everything that there is! So I have no specific person who I prefer. But I guess all this kind of alternative: rock, soft rock…um I’m not sure really! Literally, if I have a moment where I think that I want to kill someone, I would write a song about it!

Q. What genre do you consider your music to be?

A. Well for that song (little missy) it was mainly like pop/RnB, but now I’m changing. Most of my songs are like a soft rock, pop, soul I guess you could say.

Q. If you were to direct the music video, what kind of story would you have?

A. I think it would be interesting to have a teenage version of the story you already have, maybe it to be a high school setting rather than an office/club one. I like a music video to be colorful and exciting, different to an MTV video, if you understand what I mean? The two friends should end up hating each other! She should be angry but funny, she should look is about to kill her but she wont really do anything!

Q. What age group would you consider your music appeals to?

A. I’d say, from like fourteen to thirty. Although for this song because of the language probably a bit older, let’s say eighteen!

Q. Could you describe yourself and your personality in six words?

A. Hah, I’d say, my personality in six words?! Well…(she laughs to herself): Energetic, Inspired, Social, Musical, Fantastic (she cackles) I love myself! And I have been told I’m a ‘complete nutter’.

Video Concept 2 and Annotated Brainstorm

Dana – Little Missy

Video Concept 2

Artist/Room mate/Girlfriend – Dana

Boyfriend - Steven

Room mate/Love interest – Mandy

Dana and Stefan are in a relationship but Dana’s room mate Mandy has a bad reputation when it comes to infidelity and is well known for being flirty and promiscuous, even within their circle of friends. Dana doesn’t like how Mandy acts around her boyfriend, when he regularly visits the dorm or spends time with her friendship circle, which includes Mandy, and she is not afraid of showing it as she is assertive and has no respect for infidelity.

As the storyline is set in a university, the girls will therefore be seen as bitchy and the tensions and issues will be tackled silently, through schemes and deception. The video will demonstrate the tensions of girls in the dorm and put a light hearted and humorous spin on a relatively serious storyline, which the young target audience will be able to relate to.

Dana will be represented as strong and sassy and therefore the music video will include scenes of her singing – in order to follow demands of the record label and include close-ups of the artist, which are vibrant, energetic and fun. Mandy will be represented as flirtatious and attention seeking yet dominated by Dana’s strong character and intimidated by her actions and presence.

The music video will cut from scenes of the storyline/lyrics being animated through the visuals, to scenes of Dana singing the lyrics in various locations.

Video Concept 1 and Annotated Brainstorm

Dana – Little Missy

Video Concept 1

Artist/Girlfriend – Dana

Office worker/Boyfriend - Steven

Secretary/Love interest – Mandy

Dana and Steven are in a relationship but Dana has always had suspicions about Steven’s secretary’s intentions with her boyfriend. Mandy is flirtatious and suggestive with Steven in the office and has texts on his phone from Mandy, that unknown to Steven, Dana reads. Dana decides to take matters into her own hands and confront the problem by catching them out, and aims to throw Mandy off her boyfriends scent by sabotaging her plans.

The video will animate the storyline through the visuals, and include cutaways to shots of the artist singing the lyrics, with vibrant colours and energetic scenes in order to bring excitement and individuality to the video, and help to support the eccentric representation of our artist. The video will follow our artist as she plans events such as introducing her boyfriends love interest to other men, and follows the pair in an attempt to catch them out.

The cutaways from location to location, and narrative to non narrative will create a fast pace to the music video and therefore add to the energy and eccentricity that we aim to achieve.

Mood Board

Artist Concept

Born in Serbia, Dana was thrown into the world of music from a young age. From the age of ten Dana attended a music school. Music was her passion and she had learned to play the piano from the age of six and her musical talent came naturally to her. She had always dreamt of becoming a classical musician and aspired to compose and play her own music to an audience.

At the age of thirteen Dana moved to London with her family, she began to discover the different music genres that London had to offer, from the high tempo pop beats to the jazz melodies. This eclectic mix is now evident in her music, and most famous song ‘Little Missy’.

After developing a taste for this new mix of sounds Dana began to write and compose music from her bedroom. After she had compiled a few of her compositions she decided to take her work to a record company but was turned down because her music was too alternative for the label’s audience. Dana decided to set up a MySpace page where she could advertise her image and her audience could sample her music; leaving feedback where necessary. This allowed for her to take her criticisms constructively and gain confidence in herself and her talents, and take control of her success.