Create a music video for a client.
B1: Personal Progression
B1.1 - Inform ideas for progression into a creative career
B1.2 - Apply problem solving practice to develop a strategy for career progression
B1.3 - Create materials for career progression using technical practice
B1.4 - Demonstrate professional practice and behaviours in relation to career progression aspirations
B1.5 - Apply communication skills to support progression into a creative career
INITIAL RESEARCH
Analysis
Next I analysed some of my favourite interesting, deep meaning or provoking music videos: detailing use of shot types, camera techniques, editing, and overall accumulation of all these factors and how they create an amazing video. i tried to incorporate a lot of these elements in my own work seeing how well they work here.
Skipping a little further in time, once I had confirmation that Labyrinthine Oceans (a band I already had a great connection with, one of the local bands I have followed almost since their inception, as well as previously working with me during the Gig For Gaza) would be my client, I got to know them as people as well as a band.
Looking at a great documentary for an awful failure was great to help us understand not only craftsmanship of documentaries, such as different roles within them and how to distribute, but all the same for music festivals. Attached is also my notes, which turned into a drawing.
Client Details and Research
Here I detailed a lot of the bands critical reception both early and recently, with their new single 'pinch', which would be the song for my music video. Their influences once noticed are immediately apparent and I really wanted to hit that level of artistic vision that they have adapted from their own sound, whilst still being true to the band themselves - making something new and exciting. Another aspect detailed within here is a small portion of research regarding the venue I would be recording at.
These are my notes, including some general research of the band, including their names first and foremost, when they formed, some critical receptions and mentions in local media.
This helped me form my initial basis for the PowerPoint above, and aided when seeking inspiration for the music video itself.
DEVELOPMENT
Narrative Music Video
The first development task was cutting to the beat of a song, I have done this much in my own time that I will not include it, however there are hundreds of instances in my work. The next task was creating a narrative music video, I chose thing song as it has a muddy story, with striking imagery and I wanted to interpret that myself. I took lots of inspiration from German Expressionism in the light and shadow manipulation towards the end, as did the band themselves in many instances. Storyboard and planning from my notebook below.
Multicam Sequence
Here is a performance I edited using the multicam feature on premier pro. I had previous experience with this but it was very limited. I chose lots of quick camera angle changes to emphasise the music. I did not record this although I did record a live performance of a band within my college, however the footage did not turn out too well as the band was rather inexperienced: The camera setup was almost exactly the same though, 3 static cameras and one in motion.
Recreation
In my own time, I recreated one of my favourite music videos. it was shot by my friend Tyla (right) and edited by me. This was actually a real challenge as using green (blue) screens to this effect was new to me. Obviously I had many issues in the lighting department, evident by the rather incomplete chroma keying.
PRE-PRODUCTION
Within planning I recorded all chats with the bands I contacted, dates available, schedules, etc. This ended up being 5 bands, of which I had good relations with. Originally Labyrinthine Oceans were unavailable, as were all other bands, as I had mentioned I wanted to record a music video within the college premises using the equipment to be as professional as possible - about a week later they asked if I would like to record their headline gig at 'The Cluny 2' (a local venue). I mentioned this would be a great chance for me to create a music video for them, as their new single was about to drop, and they completely agreed, giving me 100% artistic freedom.
Documents
Because I was filming a live performance, with no real choreography, the shot lists and storyboards were taken verbatim from some of my favourite scenes.. I used these and placed them where I thought would work best, such as vocal cues and the more exciting visuals - as well as noting some editing decisions that could work. It was here that I realised my vision for the whole mixed media idea and overlayed visuals. Attached is all my legal documents.
PRODUCTION
All in all, I printed around 400 frames, cut each out individually, some I manipulated with scratches via a scalpel or pen ink. I scanned in each and every one and animated them with a stop motion application. They are used sparingly throughout the video as they were painstakingly time consuming to create. Detailed below are some of the creative descisions made throughout the editing process.
Editing Decisions
The opening titles, with the VHS line overlay was inspired heavily by the continues lines present in the music video for 'My Bloody Valentine''s song 'Only Shallow' - a staple of Shoegaze, an immediate influence of Labyrinthine Oceans.
Lyrics on isolation were turned black and white - which embodies the lyrics. I would like to think that I subconsciously did this as a reference to the original 'In Bloom' video by Nirvana, grunge being a similar type to Labyrinthine
The slightly slowed down overlays show a dreamy mesmerising visual, akin to that of the shoegaze music scene.
I heavily used these light leaks and film burns, as the venue itself only had red lights, I added my own colour in an interesting way. They are reminiscent of the 'Siamese Dream' era - which I did not even realise until watching the video much later.
EVALUATIONS
FINAL VIDEO