Props and their Narrative Significance

The following objects will be used as props in the filming of this music video :

1. Weightlifting equipment which includes, dumbbells, barbells with added plates

These props symbolize self-improvement and discipline reflecting the character's shift from emotional struggle to personal growth. 

2. Junk Food

Junk Food is used during the early stages of the video to show the character's coping mechanism specifically stress eating. This prop helps to convey themes of mental health and emotional instability making the narrative more realistic and relatable to the audience.

3. A stack of love letters 

The love letters act as a symbolic prop which represents the emotional attachment and past relationship. They can be used in close-up shots to emphasize heartbreak and sentiments reinforcing the cause of the character's internal conflict.

4. Car 

The car works as both practical and symbolic prop which can be used to show isolation such as the character sitting alone reflecting or physically moving from one location to other where he is entering his new phase of life.

 MOODBOARD

Storyboard

 

The Post (2017)

The Post is a gripping political drama that is based on real events from the early 1970s. It tells the story of Katharine Graham, who was the first female publisher of The Washington Post, and her editor Ben Bradlee. They uncover and try to publish the Pentagon Papers, which are a collection of top-secret government documents that reveal the truth about the U.S. government's involvement in the Vietnam War.

As the journalists dig deeper, they face a lot of pressure from influential political figures, legal threats from the White House, and fear of damaging their careers and reputations. The U.S. government attempts to prevent the press from revealing the truth, arguing it concerns national security. However, the real issue is media freedom versus political power. It raises the question of whether the media should serve the public or protect those in authority.

This movie demonstrates how powerful institutions can silence or control the media. It also shows how brave journalism is essential in revealing the truth, even when it comes with significant risk. It reflects important media studies themes like power, press freedom, gatekeeping, and agenda-setting, making it a strong comparison to The Sabarmati Report.

Analyzing the Sabarmati Report

INTRODUCTION

In school, as part of the Power and Media chapter in our school textbook, we watched the movie 'The Sabarmati Report', which was released in 2024 and stars popular actor Vikrant Massey. This movie revolves around an incident that took place in the year 2002, involving the burning of a train that carried many men, women and children. These tragic events occurred in a municipality in India called Godhra.

PLOT OVERVIEW

The film emphasizes how, after the horrific incident, a journalist working for a prominent news channel discovers that the attack was planned. However, despite having this evidence, the powerful media organization chooses to ignore it, instead presenting the story to the public as a mere accident. Upset by the manipulation of facts, the journalist sets out to expose the news channel for misleading the public and hiding the truth.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND ETHICS

This movie shows how influential media organizations, especially those with political or financial power can control the narrative, shaping how people think and react. It reveals how the media can spread misinformation or suppress facts to fit an agenda, ultimately playing with the minds of citizens and shifting public opinion on a national level.

The other theme that is highlighted in the movie is the responsibility of  the journalists to report the truth. The film raises questions about ethics and accountability and persuades the viewers to think critically about the news content they consume. It highlights the struggle between truth and power. Media organizations have a powerful influence on society because many people rely on them for information. Overall, The Sabarmati Report shows how powerful the media can be in shaping public perception.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, the Sabarmati Report not only portrays a tragic historical incident but also elaborates a complex relationship between the truth and media influence. The movie carried the message that while media has the power to inform the society but it should also carry the responsibility to report facts ethically.

AMUL Advertisement

In one of the media lectures we had attended, we were shown 2 advertisements of a dairy company called Amul and in one of the advertisements, it showed how the milk is made and the whole process of milking the cows.

Amul is one of India’s most iconic and trusted dairy brands, best known for its milk, butter and other dairy products. Founded in 1946, Amul is managed by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). The brand became famous not only for its quality milk but also for its clever and catchy advertisements, including the legendary Amul girl mascot. Amul milk is marketed as pure, nutritious and essential for daily health, and it plays a major role in India's “White Revolution,” which helped make the country self-sufficient in dairy production. (Source : Wikipedia)

This ad could be shown to make sure that the consumers of the products that Amul sells, feel trusted and know about the product they are consuming. It highlights freshness and quality as well as the clean production process. 

On the other hand, the classical ad that was made by Amul used particular jingles to make sure that the advertisement and the brand is remembered through catchy sounds and music, as well as making it very family friendly. 

Amul effectively uses media to control how different audiences perceive its brand by tailoring its advertisements while maintaining an image for the people who view the advertisements. For example, health-conscious families are targeted through advertisements that emphasize Amul's clean production process, freshness, and nutritional benefits, building trust in the brand’s quality and the brand image . At the same time, children are engaged with colors, jingles, and the Amul Girl who is present on almost every Amul ad, this makes the brand feel playful and makes the audience remember the brand easily. Through this consistent yet adaptable media strategy, Amul is able to reshape how people think about the brand, not just as a company who sells dairy products, but as a part of Indian culture and conversation. The media positions Amul as not only a household staple but also a brand that evolves with society, earning emotional connection and long-term loyalty from a wide range of audiences.

Investiture Ceremony

 Now that I am apart of the media team for my school, I , along with the others was appointed to be present during the investitures ceremony and capture moments from the ceremony that reflected leadership and confidence in the learners and presenters. This is all because I and a few others were selected to be a part of the media team this year 

this is a picture I took during a musical performance at the investiture ceremony to warm the guests 

Script of the Music Video

Script for the Music Video

Music- Softcore by The Neighbourhood  (2018)

Scene 1: Car scene 

Different shots are used to show that the car is parked in the parking slot, and the teenager 

is present inside the car. Relieved, and now to get a hit of 'fake dopamine' he grabs his phone and 

scrolls through his ex-girlfriends break up text. 

Devastated, he begins to start stress eating to find a way out of the pain and grief that he is

currently going through. 

A series of shots are shown where the teenager is seen just eating like there is no tomorrow.

*as the teenager is about to take his next bite he catches his father approach the car*

*father knocks, and the teenager, scared, rolls down his window*

Father (Lines improvised): (angry) What is this? is this what I have taught you? you're letting 

yourself go like this all because of a girl? I've trained you all your life and have dedicated so much time to you and is this how you repay me?

*The teenager is disappointed in himself and looks down in shame*

The camera pans to the teenager.

*Music starts playing*

Scene 2: Gym scene

In this scene, the teenager is shot entering the gym and a series of shots are executed of him lifting the weights and body different types of exercises' throughout.

An example of the shots, are a shot where he is doing pull ups with a wide shot, a close up shot of him lifting weights such as the bench press, and more. 

Scene 3: The final scene.

As the teenager get finished with the gym, we notices himself walk by a car, and the reflection of his physique catches his eye. Happy with how far he has come, he reflects a pleasant smile.

 Realizing he still possesses the letters, he finally decides to move on from his past, and he lights the letters on fire. 

 A close up shot is used from the ground where it is scene that the letters are dropped and they are burning, while the boy walks away from that which was holding him back

Details about my major task

 So for my A2 music video that I will be making this year with my partner, is going to be titled: Invictus. The music video is going to be made under the song titled 'Softcore' by The Neighborhood

The music video stands as a visual representation of using the rage and anger inside you could be used for boosting of your life if channelized,  

Music video genre: Motivational

Target Audience: The target audience for this music video are young adults and gym enthusiasts who love to workout and are looking for some motivation to rise.  To be more specific, ages ranging from 16-25 and to add on it also targets those who love pop music 

Themes: 

1. Self-Discipline

2. Consistency 

Idea of my major task

I came across this song called 'Softcore' by The Neighborhood  when I was younger and recently one Instagram reel about a powerlifter appeared in my algorithm that inspired be to make a music video using this song,  and since I love to workout I was thinking I could make a montage of a character lifting weights and sprinting, of course there will be a story to it, the story will involve one character being told to take life seriously and get back to work and work hard, when they take everything in control and starts to work hard in the gym. The story in this music video signifies that channelizing the anger inside you could lead to the flower blooming instead of it dying.  

This is one of the covers from the song 'Softcore' by The Neighborhood

Team Introduction

OVERVIEW

This year, I am gonna be working with less people than I worked with last year in AS Levels. I see this as an opportunity to respond to responsibilities better and take charge whenever we are lacking. The good news is that I would be working with a teammate who worked on last years project with me for the film opening so I would be more comfortable working with him. Smaller group allows for better communication and a better chance to put up and execute your ideas directly.

COLLABORATION

This year Lakshya Nair and I are gonna be working on a music video that revolves around a young boy who regains his spirit and puts in his hard work in the weight room (gym). Having worked together before, we know are strengths and weaknesses and approaches very well. This shared history gives an advantage to maintain a cohesive vision for the project.

PROJECT CONCEPT

Team for A2 Music Video:

Lakshya Nair

Evaan Kapoor