PLANNING STAGE
FINDING THE RIGHT SONG //
After analysing and researching into music videos, I personally found that those, which were narrative based, were much more appealing in aesthetics and meaning. In a way, it is the mix of a short film and music video.
To start helping myself with this massive decision, I decided to go through my own music and see what I thought would be suitable to create a narrative music video with. My music, however has a very large range. Despite this though, I found that the style of Hozier was the most appealing to me. As I was sat listening, I was able to begin imagining certain shots, which could be incorporated into a video to the song. Hozier appealed to me, because of his soft but deep and mellow voice, which clearly sung the lyrics with passion, whilst also telling a story through the meaningful lyrics. His genre is also very much soul based, which I believe gives it an edge alongside the indie nature, which many other artists do not have.
Through research, my favourite and most ideal song I would like to create a video for, was 'Arsonist's Lullabye' by Hozier. This was, because I loved how haunting the song was, as the lyrics were sung so powerfully, you are able to imagine a story alongside it. I also enjoyed the pace of the song, it starts off slow and eerie with the humming, however it then picks up pace to a systematic beat with a powerful voice and guitar riffs.
The only problem I found though, was that I could not just suddenly pick one song straight away. Therefore, I decided to further research into the Indie Rock genre, to help find a similar meaningful song. However, this genre of music is very widespread, with different categories within 'indie rock'. For example, Nirvana and Paramore classify as this genre, however their style contrasts Hozier's, with aggressive rock and grunge. Whilst Hozier is much more mellow and soul in this rock category.
Furthermore, I decided that in order to try and find something similar to 'Arsonist's Lullabye', I went on Spotify and found the song radio for the song. This meant that Spotify would help me find songs of a similar nature.
I then went through the songs and artists to find suitable songs for the appropriate age range. Once I had found a few I liked, I then created my own Media Playlist, where I could record all the songs I found in one area, to help me then select further.
Although I increased my research this way, I found that, despite the songs being the same genre, they did not have the same dark melody that Hozier had composed in Arsonist's Lullabye. They were either too rocky with drums and guitars, or they were too slow to hold the narrative storyline I was visioning. Therefore I decided that I would select Arsonist's Lullabye to use for my final music video production.
The song was originally only a track on Hozier's From Eden EP. It was later included as a bonus song on his deluxe debut album in 2014.
STORY PLANNING //
Personally, I believe, and find this, the hardest stage of the process of any film making. The story is one of the most important aspects to any video, as it is what captures the audience, as well as expressing meanings, opinions and creativity out to the public eye. It therefore has to be enticing, correct to the target market and ensure it is ethically just to produce.
Furthermore, I needed to continuously brainstorm and enlist the help of the internet to help me get my storyline right for the style of narrative I wished to achieve.
Throughout the brainstorming, I just had all these different shots I wished to use in all of these different locations. However, I was struggling to find a storyline, which would link these together, whilst also being strong and appropriate to the song and genre.
To help kickstart my brainstorming, I found this website, which helps you start a mind map and come up with ideas specifically for music videos. It covers a broad spectrum of anything you could think of for planning the video. From location, to genre, to actions the characters do.
To start with, I wrote down the basics to which I'd then work from to find what I really want to express in my video. This led me to continuing my research into music videos, so that I could use them as a baseline.
My ideal music video would be:
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Alternative/Indie Genre
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Dark/Tense
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Suburbs/rural
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Coastline
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Black and White
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Cinematographic
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Narrative
As I said, I had a collection of shots in my head, which I wanted to use within the video to help me create the storyline.
I hoped to mix together shots of the natural world and manmade world, as said in the picture. I wanted to do this, so that I could mix up the vdeo, as well as intriguing the audience and keeping their attention.
After a long time of thinking about potential storylines, and asking for other people's opinions on storylines and ideas, I finally began writing down initial ideas I could choose from. I decided that I wanted to go with an Indie genre music video (and song), as well as a narrative style to fit with the song in aspects. I also wanted to create a storyline, which was suspenseful, as this will allow me to entice the audience into the video and therefore gain views for the artist and their song.
Cutting down these story ideas was difficult, as there was so many and so much potential for each idea - all the different camera shots, angles, locations and characters. However, thanks to feedback from fellow students and family, I was able to cut it down to the 1st, Second to last and last ideas. Although, to be able to shortlist further, I had to think realistically about what would be most achievable to make with my budget, camera and time. I enjoyed the sound of the storyline in which the character has their death tattoed to their arm, as it was original and could be experimented with. However, I believe that for a music video it wasn't very suited, because it would have to be limited to the song and it would be rather complicated to fit it all in.
Therefore, I had to choose between the two more darker ideas I came up with. Overall, I decided that the last idea (chained up), would be the best plot to use, as I already had visions of the shots I could use and it was also the most simplist - however if done correctly, it could be effective and suspenseful.
SYNOPSIS //
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Character is chained up, this is seen at the start of the video during the introduction with the humming. They are confused and do not know their surroundings.
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Once the singing starts, it cuts back to before they are imprisoned. Throughout the video the audience get glimpses that something serious has happened, which involves the character.
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The initial audience response, is that she has been captured by someone. However, the chains will actually represent being trapped but in her own mind and inner struggle
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There isn't necessarily a full story that makes sense, rather it is made up of past experiences/events which begin to reveal more about the characters position.
Images from Google
The meaning of the song can be interpreted in different ways; however, I believe he is talking about the demons in his head. Therefore, the idea of the music video is to visually express this. However, I do not want the video to follow the story in the song completely. Instead, the video will portray some of the ideas mentioned in the lyrics, with a focus on the internal struggle of the main character.
Mental health is a sensitive topic to many, however even in this modern world, there is still a strong stigma around it. I believe that there needs to be more awareness of this, to help those affected and let them know to seek help and support - it is out there. So, despite this video adventuring through some darker areas of mental health and not necessarily showing the support, it will raise awareness of the struggles people may cope with. I will be researching into this to make this video, as realistic as achievable without misinterpreting or offending.
RE-VISITED SYNOPSIS - NOVEMBER 2017
After difficulties of expressing my narrative story through motion image, without confusing the audience, I decided that it would be a benefit to go over my synopsis and change it, to make it more understanding for the audience in a short amount of time. My audience feedback suggested this, as they found it difficult to understand the interpretation of the song, as the locations kept changing unnecessarily, making the plot confusing.
Rather than creating a video trying to infer the demons in her head with the influence of fire, we came up with the idea to illustrate a story where she has done something and ran away, therefore she is missing. It will be implied that people are looking for her, however she does not want to be found. Instead she is living rough, alone. The audience will not know what the girl has done to have gone missing and run away, as this is up to them to decide along with the lyrics of the song. Although, throughout the video, there will be short clips of fire within the bridges of the verses in the song. Likewise, fire is revisited at the end of the video to continue this. Moreover, the audience can infer that her run away was influenced by something she had done with fire - "ARSONIST'S LULLABYE"
Although I changed the synopsis, the same footage was used to display this narrative. This saved time and was beneficial in the sense that I could restart editing instantaneously afterwards.
PRODUCTION ROLES //
As I am an independent production company, I will be doing all the production roles:
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Producer
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Editor
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Director
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Cinematographer
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Sound Designer
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Screenwriter
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Costume Designer
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Marketer for ancillary projects
However, my actor will be played by someone else - I will be casting teenage girls for the role to follow my synopsis.
I however, did end up receiving help from Izzy Lidgey, with props ("Standby Props" job role) and storyline (Co-Writer).
In order to gain access to Arsonist's Lullabye - to use legally and without exerting the copyright regulations of the song, I contacted the Universal Music Group who own Island Records, which Hozier is contracted to. I explained that the song will be used for non-commercial use and that it was for an A level coursework project.
