Shot Ideas/Inspiration

Shot Inspiration

I have planned to use a close up shot of the side of each artists's face. I was subconsciously inspired by Bombay Bicycle Club's album cover for 'A Different Kind Of Fix'.

I plan to have light from the window bay shining through and almost making the profile a silhouette.   

Mise-en-scene/Location

I was inspired by my choice of mise-en-scene details by Laura Marling's video for Sophia. I think that the out-of-focus candles look very effective and reinforce the sepia tones to the video

As I am shooting my video in a window bay, I am quite concerned by the light that may be coming in, this is why I plan on shooting at twilight time so the candles purpose is not defeated by the light from the window.

Window Bay Location:

After seeing a promo image of Laura Marling and Willy mason, I was inspired to include a window with white curtains around it. I think that a window is an ideal location as it is adds more detail and depth to the video and reinforces the natural style of the artists.

Left: Laura Marling + Willy Mason  - Right: Window bay Location

Music Video Analysis: Laura Marling - Sophia

Laura Marling is an established Folk singer/songwriter from London.

This video for Sophia is an example of illustration as it is a simple performance video with no storyline. I think that a performance video is very suitable for a folk video, as it can make the viewer feel as though they are there, experiencing the performance and I think that this is because most folk music is acoustic.

The folk genre is usually linked to acoustic instruments and often the songs are very relaxed with no computerised sounds/instruments.

I think that this video is very conventional for the folk genre. This is because the mis-en-scene reflects the folk genre, e.g. set in a church, candles. I think that the set for this video reflects the song as the vocals have been echoed as though it was recorded in a church. Also, Marling refers to religion within her lyrics - 'getting down on your knees to pray'.

I think that the camera angles match the music very effectively. At the beginning when she's just playing by herself, the angles are all very close up, with some slow pans. This helps to keep the pace of the video and the viewers attention. As the music builds up, we start to see more of the mise-en-scene, including the band behind her. I think that this helps to ensure that the viewer knows that there is more to be shown, and that the music is going to build up to a crescendo.

To begin with, the cuts between shots are very smooth and match the pace of the music at that point. As she stands up and the band kicks in, the cuts become quite sudden and the shots have been transformed into slow motion until she reaches the band. I think that the slow motion is very powerful during the movement from slow to fast as it anticipates what is about to come.

I think that the way that she doesn't look at the camera throughout the video adds a more casual and intimate feeling as it seems as though she is playing to herself and the band only. This is carried throughout the video and is shown by the way she faces towards the band, rather than into the church.

Lucy Rose - Shiver

Music Video Research: Kodaline (Director - Stevie Russell)

 

Kodaline's video's really stood out to me when I first watched them as they are very detailed in the storyline of the characters in the video and as a viewer, I felt like I had a emotional connection to the characters after watching the videos. This narrative approach to their videos is very unconventional, and usually an artist/band would keep the narrative code loose or suggestive to keep the viewers attention.

I think that these videos are either an example of Illustration or Amplification in music videos. I think that All I Want is more Amplification as the main character is unusual, but he acts like a normal person. I analysed this video in my Introduction post.

High Hopes is again, a narrative and follows the story of a runaway bride who is now with another man. This is quite unconventional of a narrative, as usually the artist/band will try and keep the viewers attention by referring back to the band throughout the video. 

Music Video Research: Indie, Low Budget

Swim Deep's Orange County.
I have read on their twitter feed that the band filmed this video in one night in their hotel room. I like the idea of a flexible approach to making the video, but I might be limited on research and planning.

But I think this song would suit a summery, tour-diary-type video, with shots out of a moving car, and some lip-syncing in a live performance.

Jaws' - Stay In is also an example of a low-budget production that could be easily replicated. In the description it says 'Filmed in a garage somewhere in the town of B'.



The Maccabees - First Love

Music Video Research: Quirky Dancing

I like the quirky-style of these videos. I think the simplicity of one character, in one shot lip-syncing and dancing in The Black Keys video is a more lighthearted approach to the video.
Willy Mason's video is a little bit more complex as there are more shots. You could say that this makes the video more interesting and keeps the viewers attention.