Song lyrics meaning

One way of viewing M.I.A's Paper Planes lyrics is that it is a sociocritical and ironic song. M.I.A is expressing stereotypes, prejudices and generalizations that people have against foreigners. For example that they are criminals or violent. She also sells sandwiches wrapped up in tin foil which could be interpreted as drugs.

Meeting minutes

Initial ideas

• We decided on doing a simplistic performative video with a small aspect of narrative as we thought this would be the most effective in advertising our artist.
•  Our initial ideas consisted of our setting being in an urban area, so we decided on Camden, and an who our character was going to be. So we messaged our friend who was willing to do it. 
• We wanted our character to wear urban style clothing so we messaged our character so she knew what to wear.
•  We wanted our shots to look authentic and fitting with the genre for a urban music video so we used inspiration from music videos such as Jay Z's 99 problems, in which there are a few low angle shots, so we will incorporate some similar shots into our music video. 
• We decided on a time lapse for our intro and said that we would film in real time then speed the footage up whilst editing. 
• The song we chose has a clear beat so we decided to do on-beat editing, so we have thought up a few ideas of footage that we would edit to be on beat and will go out to film.

We originally set out to film on around 3 Saturdays to complete our video, our video took 5 Saturdays to compete. So, we know to improve we could have planned more efficiently and made sure we got everything done in the times we had set.

shot list

                                                                             Location
skate park                                                                                                            Camden
close-ups of skateboards so it will get the affect we want.         high angle of London scenery to get the full picture in.
high angles of skaters so  we can see what they are doing.               long shots of graffiti and locations to get the whole picture in
long shot of Lj and Luke walking away
                                                                             close-ups of character to make their face recognisable                                                                                                                    and close up of shoes walking                                                                                           and close ups and extremem close ups of                                                                                                                            phone so you can see texting
                                                                                              mid shots of character to advertise clothing                                                                                                   and mid shots of characters as they meet
                                                              close up of money and shoes to fit with the theme of the video
                                                       tracking shots of character so the audience feels as if they are there.
                                                                                                                     low angle of Lj lip synching

production log #3

Our third day filming was not successful. Our plan was weak and we kept getting distracted as we didn't stick to our storyboard. Although we managed to get a couple of successful shots that we will use. For our next time filming we plan to get more shots that link our story together and make a more successful plan so we know exactly what we need to film. We have researched some camera angles and shots that we would like to add to our video such as low angles as they are often used in rap music videos and extreme close ups of Lj's mouth to emphasise the lyrics of the song.

production log #2

Our second day filming was very successful, we got a lot of footage filmed and in different locations and we were lucky with the bright day for a clearer image. We got our opening shot that we are happy with, the one on the bus,  and we started with lip synching. We still need more of the shots that link our narrative together and more lip synching. In comparison to our AS we were less organised and dint go out with a plan, which we now know is very useful.

Production log #1

Our first day filming was quite successful,  although we didn't plan efficiently enough. Our character had not learned the song so we couldn't do any lip synching shots. Apart from that we got some successful footage for us to edit, including some on beat editing, which fits with Goodwin's theory of the sound matching the visuals. Next time filming we are going to try and get lip synching  shots, which also matches with Goodwin's theory as we are giving the artist a brand with lots of close ups.

Lip synching planning sheet

I fly like paper get high like planes	Lj lip synching, low angle shot
If you catch me at the border i've got visas in my name	tracking shot of Lj walking
If you come around here i'll make em all day	back to lip synching
I get one down in a second if you wait	tracking shot of back of Lj's head
I fly like paper get high like planes	moving lip synching shot
If you catch me at the border i've got visas in my name	Luke walking
If you come around here ill make em all day	back to lip synching shot
I get one down in a second if you wait	tracking shot of  Luke walking

Sometimes I like sitting on trains, every stop I get to i'm clocking that game	moving shot of Lj lip synching
Everyone's a winner, were making our fame, bonafide hustler making my name	close up of Lj's mouth
Sometimes i think sitting on trains	Lj walking into shop
Every stop i get to i'm clocking that game	Lj looking at clothes
Everyone's a winner were making our fame	Tracking shot of Lj walking
Bonafide hustler making our name	close up of Lj lip synching
(chorus)all I wanna do	(chorus) mid shot of Lj lip synching
and a	skateboarding shot

and take your money	Lj lip synching
Repeat	repeat
Pirate skulls and bones, sticks and stones and weed and bombs	Lj walking and lip synching
Running when we hit em	Lj walking into station
Lethal poison in the system	Lj lip synching
Pirate skulls and bones	over the shoulder shot of phone
Sticks and stones and weed and bombs, running when we hit em	close up of phone
Lethal poison in the system	Lj going down escalator

No one on the corner have swagger like us, hit me on my burner pre paid wireless, we pack and deliver like UPS trucks,	Lj walking and lip synching
Already going hell start pumping that gas	Lj walking down stairs
No one on the corner have swagger like us	Tube coming in to Lj sitting on the tube
Hit me on my burner pre- paid wireless, we pack and deliver like UPS trucks	close up of phone
Already going hell just pumping that gas	skate shot
Chorus	chorus
MIA world class democracy	Lj walking out of train station
Yeah i've got more records than the KGB	Lj greeting Luke

So uh, no funny business	Lj and Luke hugging
you already are, Some some some I some I murder	Lj an Luke walking
Some I some I let go Some some some I some I murder	Lj and Luke walking, arm in arm
Some I some I let go	Tube coming in backwards