The second song that I looked into using, is Computer Wife which has a much more modern and electric beat to it - reminiscent of its title speaking about computers. In addition to this, the beat and music compensates for the lack of lyrics that are in the song (using different changes in tone and rhythm). I feel as though this could make for an interesting music video as it would enable me to use a wider range of editing types to match up with the various changes in music. I have also looked into various locations that I could use when filming the music video and that offer up similar colour schemes to the types that I would like to incorporate into the video. Below are some colours schemes and shot types that I aim to use when filing the music video, if I chose to carry out this idea. I feel as though they match with the feeling and context of the song.
I have narrowed down my choice of songs to create a music video to, to two songs with very different imagery. The first Body Image by TWRP, which speaks about body positivity, and the second by the same artist Computer Wife, which speaks more about the night/club life. For each of these songs I have come up wit ideas and mood boards to help me explore my ideas/concepts form each video. For Body Image, the beat and tune of the song is very upbeat and reminiscent of disco/1980s music. As a result of this, I have decided to look into creating bright and colourful colour pallets that I could use when shooting the music video. In terms of locations and shot types, I think that a mixture of extreme close ups, close ups and long shots (of the location) could make for an effective range of shot types and composition in the music video. Below are some of the different types of shots that I want to incorporate into the music video along with the colour pallets that I think would work well with the song/lyrics (if I choose to go with this idea).
The brand identity reflected in this music video is more through the art style used, as it is an animated music video. Although this is and animated video and therefore some of the shots would be impossible to create in real life, I have still taken inspiration form this video and the use of colour and "edits". Particularly by the shots of them people dancing in the club where the beat perfectly matches up with the slow motion dancing and flashing of the lights. I also feel that the contrast made by the dimmer lit images of the people dancing and the lighter coloured mid shots of the singer and the person of interest sitting quietly at the side.
I feel as though this music video has been created and filmed with the intent of showcasing how much energy the band puts into their live performance, appealing to members of the audience that wish to see them in concert. In terms of inspiration that I have taken from this music video, the way in which - due to the music video focusing mainly on the performance aspect - it has a very obscure narrative. In addition to that, the use of focus/aperture in the music video has influenced me as it draws the viewers attention to certain thing in each of shots.
This video is a good example of how music videos can be edited and created to reflect the "brand identity" of an artist/group. The mix of shot types and settings (starting off with close ups and mid shots of the artists in the studio recording the song before moving to mid shots and long shots of the artists outside in the gardens of a manor house), creates the connotation of the duo being more focused on the music that the fame that it brings and them being very humble and "just a normal pair of siblings". This narrative/linear type of music video where it mixes shot of the artist in the studio and shots of them outside/in a setting and location has inspired me to experiment with possibly mixing in shots of a singer recording the song with a narrative.
Shot by shot overview: Opens with shutter sliding motion - bright high key lighting. Camera pans up from the blue and white balloons on the floor to the group, the two men wearing animal print shirts and the female (lead singer) wearing very brightly coloured clothes and holding an umbrella. She's in the middle so the main focus is on her, she is the iconography of the band. The words "still into you" flash over the screen while the band remain motionless. As the base line starts, the shot changes to a panning shot (quick) in a bedroom with the lead singer sitting on a bed - which is surrounded by birthday cakes (relating to the lyrics "can't count the years on hand that we've been together") Shots of the cake inter cut quick (in-between the first and second line of the song) with close ups of the singer smiling. High angle shot of her laying on the bed. Quick shots again of her smiling and laying down in-between the lines. Back to her dancing on the bed. 0:30 - long shot of the whole band biking towards the camera in a pastel large manor house. Followed by a close ip of the lead singers leg on the bike. Cuts back to her on the bed dancing and at 0:37 back to the bikes. [Chorus] Cuts to a close up of the lead singer in the fore ground and the other two behind her on the bikes as she sings the pre chorus. 0:46 - shot changes to her singing to the low angle camera as the others ride around in circles behind her - fireworks onto the walls. Shots of all dancing around. 1:17 - shot changes to her walking forward in a horizontal line of ballerinas - long shot pans down. Her dancing with them (more relaxed dancing contrasting professional dancing). Claps in time with the claps in the audio (creating a foley type effect) - mid shot. This cuts to a mid shot and long shot of the group in the boat/balloon room from the beginning of the music video. Then changes back to the ballet room. Begins to cut between the two rooms till it gets to the chorus when it stays in the room with the boat where it shows multiple shots of the band messing around (like in the previous chorus). [Bridge] Goes back to them in the firework projection room rolling on the walls then them in the balloon room (in slow motion). A previously used shot of them on the bikes and then flips to the ballet room. "Some things just" standing against the wall, a close up of the singer (ballet), back to standing, back to ballet. 2:47 - the music slows for the build up to the final chorus. New shots are introduced of them all outside with sparkles and other fireworks going off layered over the top - all in slow motion. As it starts to build it cuts to the ballet room and then cuts back to outside as the fireworks go off behind the band in time with the music/beat. It then makes quick cuts to the firework projection room, then outside, and then once the last line of the song hits, it cuts to the firework room, the boat (the cut is off beat) and outside (repeatedly). As the song ends and fades out, the camera stays outside and pans away from a low angle mid shot of the lead singer to the fireworks in the sky to the above right.
-- The overall feel of the video that has been created is very atmospheric and bubbly/fu. This fits with the new image of the band that they are aiming to create. The inspiration that I have taken from this video is how there is a wide and bright mix of colours that match with the theme and tone of song. Along with a balance between footage played at normal speed and some footage that has been slowed down/in slow motion. The way that the lyrics are matched up with different scenes/shots that amplify the lyrics has also influenced me for how I am going to film and edit my music video.
A shot by shot overview of the music video: As soon as the video starts, there is immediate branding [0:00 - 0:08] of the artist's name followed by the title of the song. Black and white aesthetics, abandoned places with light flares - reflects the "ghost town" idea and abandonment/heartbreak that the lyrics of the song mention. Double exposure of the artist's face for fade in shots and images of the empty places. Soft lighting over his face and the settings until 0:48 when the exposure changes to a more high contrast and dimmer type of lighting. (Chorus) Flashes and jump cuts begin to match up with the beat of the music. The visuals become more of singular dancers (and models) all dancing and being "individual" - such as a gymnast posing against a wall. Changes back to a mid shot of the artist with soft lighting that has a close up of him with more high contrast lighting layered over the top of it. [1:58] The visuals change once again to the artist in a club setting with flashing lights and low key/high contrast lighting. As the song hits the pre chorus, the fast jump cuts of dancers is reintroduced. [2:00 - 2:10] The cuts to the beat change to various shots of the artist - a mid shot low key lighting shot of him in a club with others; with soft high key lighting mid shot walking forward on a diagonal; close up with low key lighting; high angle long shot almost directly above the artist - black background with him in light; soft lighting shot again - mid shot. Shots of the artist are intercut with shots of dancers in low key lighting and images of figures/statues in cloth. (Bridge) A soft lighting high angle mid shot of the artist on the right compositional third, with a male dancer covering the majority of the screen exposed over it - with the child in slow motion. The clips of the artist shot from a high angle (sitting on the floor and standing) are faded in and out - along with the dancer. As the quick beats in the music hit (lasting for 5 beats) there are quick jump cuts of the dancers moving. It then goes back to a long shot of the artist on the left third in the same lighting. The slow motion dancer is brought back in on the jump cut. Before it becomes more rapid and gets intercut with images of the artist in soft light and and the club setting. (Chorus) The beat of the music then comes back in, accompanied by the same style of imagery and editing cuts of the harsh lighting and dancers as the previous "chorus". The motion of the dancers slows as the song goes into its last lines - no jump cuts. It then cuts to shots of the artist yet again. A low key, high contrast close up over the top of a long shot of the artist in soft lighting. -- There is a multi ethnic and variety of genders included in this video through the dancers that are shown. This produces an all inclusive and accepting iconography, reflective of the LGBT+ vibe that the artist creates in his music and "star image". In terms of how I have taken inspiration from this music video, the way in which the whole video is in black and white to reflect the mood of the song has influenced me to try to match the colour schemes that I use in my music video with the tone that the lyrics have taken. In addition, The way that the editing changes to fit the changes in the pace and beat of the song has also inspired me when it comes to editing my video.
