Spoof and Humorous Videos

While researching videos and through the answers we have got from the questionnaires so far, we have found that humour in music videos is popular and it also makes the video stick in your head longer. This is why we have decided that we want to include an humorous element in our music video. This is why I have researched into spoof and comical videos by sketch groups and comedians...

HORRIBLE HISTORIES

(apologies for bad quality videos,they are unofficial versions)

These videos are from a sketch show called 'Horrible Histories'. Adapted from popular children's books, this sketch show has won many awards in children's TV and was the first children's show to win a British Comedy Award. As they were for an educational comedy show, there is more of a focus on historical content which obviously, we would not need to follow. Even though theses music videos are aimed at children primarily, Horrible Histories obviously appeals to adults sense of humour (a 'children's show' has never won an award at the British comedy awards). This is why I feel researching and analysing these videos will give us a good idea of how to appeal to a wide audience's sense of humour.

I Became a Highwayman 

This has the clearest comparisons to a famous music video, Adam and the Ants: Stand and Deliver. The main similarities are the costume, locations, singing style and the body language of the main actor.  Adam Ant's videos are usually gently camp and comical and his trademark style of performance has been carried into the Horrible Histories video. The 'singing style' e.g. the 'huh'ing and the brief moments of falsetto singing are general Adam Ant signs but HH have also spoofed sequences from the Adam Ant video. For example: there are 2 slow motion jumps by Adam (out of a tree and through a window). And HH have used a slow motion jump off a small fence in theirs. Another feature they have taken is the way Adam handles the 2 pistols: waving them around, hiding behind them etc. The sketch group have taken this further and made 'Dick Turpin' dance around with them and pretend to fire them in the dance, adding to the humour. Both videos end with the highwayman about to be hanged, but they each deal with this issue in different ways. The real video lets him escape but the HH video (primarily aimed at children) must be historically accurate as well as sensitive to the viewers. I think it is done extremely well, as the camera zooms out through the noose and (with the music) the actor pretends to disappear through the trap door. 

The HH costume has kept the essence of the original video: the cape, Georgian style hat, curly black hair and dark eye-liner. However they have transferred the military style embroidery to a jacket, instead of the waistcoat. But it is still unmistakably mimicking the costume of the original video.‏

The original costume for Adam Ant.

Matthew Baynton as Dick Turpin

My name is Charles II

This video seems to be using general rap videos as an inspiration for comedy because it uses the conventions associated with that genre of music: Fast lyrics, the body language and dance 'gestures' and 'looming' their face into the camera (example at 0.42).  However they have used the opening lyrics to a very famous rap song by Eminem called 'My name is'. This will be instantly recogniseable to much of the audience and therefore increase the surreal nature of the video. This shows us that we do not have to use all the elements of a certain video or song. We can take a recogniseable features from many of certain genre.

Spartan School Musical 

Contrast to the 2 previous videos, this song is a reference that the younger half of the audience will understand. To represent the film aspect of it, there is a section at the start where the actors are just talking, which introduces the them of the song.  The main features that appear in both videos is the choreographed dance steps, the colour co-ordinated costumes ( in the real HSM the colour scheme is red and white whereas it is orange and white in the spoof) and the fact that they are singing in american accents. A more detailed comparison with the original and the HH version is the birds-eye-view shots to highlight the symmetrical choreography.  Also the end frame is frozen as they jump into the air which is very HSM-esque.

Literally 

This is another example of using one famous feature from one famous song to influence the rest of the video. The composition of the 4 heads in a diamond shape in the dark is unmistakably from Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody). But again this reference will not be picked up by the younger half of the audience. The original composition was extremely serious and artistic which is why it makes a big (humorous) impact when they start crossing and rolling their eyes in different directions, in the different takes. another very funny narrative sequence is the section involving monks, which I think is simple yet very effective. It didn't need expensive effects and the childish and simple humour appeals to a wide audience. The fact that they are playing swords and axes as instruments adds to the 'silly' tone which it needs because, going out on a children's channel, talking about killing monks and drinking from skulls is in need of a touch of funny!

The original composition

The HH version

Scottish Rebel 

I cannot find a specific video that this is spoofing, however it is very clear from the style of song, the 'instruments', effects and dance 'gestures' (head-banging) that it is mimicking the heavy metal genre. I like the uses of day and night shoots because it gives variety and the opportunity for different effects.
The use of low angles when shooting the band playing their 'instruments' shows them in power, which is what the song is about. They also use quick zooms in and out to focus on 'William Wallace's' expression. (examples at 0:03 and 0:15) The use of the Dolly camera sections dispersed through the video creates a feeling of increasing speed and movement throughout.


Boudicca

I feel this video is mirroring the style of female modern punk artist's videos. its very confrontational and has elements of modern girl power.  The slightly aggressive choreography places the main woman at the front and in power over the male dancers. I think that the mixture of solo performance, choreography and narrative is at a perfect mix in this video. The use of green screen on the solo performance reinforces the celtic/tribal theme because the moving and  changing pattern are all celtic inspired. Out of the selection, this is the video that uses the widest variety of shots and movement of shots. e.g. cut ins, zooms, slow motion into real time, handheld camera etc. The humor is shown through the daftness and cowardice of the male characters. Examples (1:23 and 1:44).


The Directors: Chloe Thomas, Steve Connely and Dominic Brigstocke


From this analysis, I have learnt:

• With spoof videos, mise-en-scene is the most important aspect of the video. Getting the costume/location/lighting as similar to the original as possible, but not so as you are copying.It lets the audience instantly recognise the reference.
• Knowledge of previous famous music videos. 
• Knowledge of you target audience so you know where to aim the references.