You & Me - Penny And The Quarters

This is youtube video is a collection of montage clips from the award winning 'Blue Valentine'. Blue Valentines genre is similar to one I want to explore: romance and the idea of young love. I do think this song, 'You & Me' hold many sentimental values, especially the idea of togetherness and unity, thus it would be wise to take into consideration. Another thing I find to be inspiring is the actual shots featured in the clip. The colours and editing clearly hold a blue tone, thus it fitting to its title 'Blue Valentine', this has made me think about potential titles, but also editing techniques. 

[500] Days Of Summer

This is the opening credits to indie film '[500] Days Of Summer'. This was my initial idea when the brief had been shown to me. I like the idea of growing up and memorise, as this video displays them imaginatively. The split screen of two people, who will be eventual lovers is a creative way to show personality and gives the audience a understanding of their past, and who they are as characters. The home video footage is something that especially captures my eye; it's vintage feel connotes a timeless feel and comfort, both something that a relationship can achieve. This is something I want to experiment with this within my music video.

The Music Video

Recently, I have be weighing both pros and cons about producing a short film, over a music video. In conclusion I have decided to partner up with Emma Dickson, someone whom is passionate about music, and has the same visual ideas as me, to create a music video. Reasons I choose this over doing a short film are because I thought it would be outlined as you follow, in a way, the narrative of the song. (I will post possible song choices in the near future).

To gain a deeper understanding about music videos I did some research about the history of music videos, and what makes them so successful. 

In moderen day music videos are mainly used as an marketing device, to help promote the records sales. However in the past the music video was referred to as an "illustrated song", and this term is something that I would like focus my work around - making the song come to life. 

Here is a great timeline I found that allows to view the history of the music video on a timeline: The Music Video

So why are music videos successful?

A music video, if you like, is just an interpretation of a song. It allows the consumer to engaged with the song on a whole new level: visually. The consumer can connect with the video and/or the song, thus emotion or thoughts are provoked, which is again something I want to achieve with my music video.

Michael Jacksons 14 minute long video for "Thriller", directed by John Landis, was perhaps the most influential music video of all time. Mike Celizic says this about the "Thriller" video: "A watershed moment for the music industry" - for its excellence in merging filmmaking and music.

Although I don't aspire to make a music video like "Thriller" I do think it highlights the importance of why you need strong narrative, clever conventions and editing technique. 

LOVEFIELD (Short Film by Mathieu Ratthe)

This is a short film by Mathieu Ratthe. I find it to be very inspiring and entertaining. 'LOVEFIELD' is shot beautifully, and with great care. The opening shots of the corn field add intensity and a haunting atmosphere. However this is not the part that drew me in. The twisted genre, both Horror and Drama takes "the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions". This piece is not only entertains, but is thought provoking. The audience question genre theory values, for example the sign of a crow genuinely connotes horror, however this is not apparent due to the dramatic ending of a birth. How the audience views genre will be conflicted because it is now apparent that things are not as they may seem.