Outside Influences

Using YouTube, Josh and I have researched a variety of current and past music videos that have a similar idea to ours, to provide us with further inspiration. During this process, the videos stimulated us with some other ideas that we hope to include in our coursework.

Get S*xy - Sugababes (2009)

The beginning of this music video shows the band in darkness with just torch-light flashing past their faces. Josh and I immediately took to this idea as it appears very mysterious which is a vital quality of atmosphere we want to create in our video. Below are snapshots of the Sugababes video that we will try to emulate during the filming and editing of our project:

I Am Not A Robot - Marina & The Diamonds (2009)

After coming across this video, we new the exact style we wanted to create in our project. This is our favorite video we came across due to it's simplicity yet how effective and original it appears. The exaggerated make-up, the fan blowing the artist's hair around, the robotic gestures of movement, and the simple transitions using light and changing backgrounds are the main features we will use from this music video. Below is the entire video:

Paranoid - Kanye West (2009)

This video features flashing shots of an established artist (Rihanna) throughout the video. Again, the video is very mysterious and has inspired us to use flashing eerie shots of the performers during our project. The idea of the performer reaching out of the screen, as if entrapped, is also and idea we are keen to explore during filming and editing. Below are snapshots of the Kanye West video:

Disturbia - Rihanna (2008)

This video in particular will influence mainly the editing of our coursework. Having studied each shot, we are very fond of the stop-start-reversal use of editing throughout the video. It enhances the eeriness of each shot and puts the audience on edge creating continuous anticipation for the viewer. This is the exact feeling we want our audience to experience because we feel it this sensation that excites a viewer, engages their attention and urges them to want more. The discoloring and inverted effect on various shots have also inspired us to use this feature during editing. It provides a peculiar and paranormal effect on the mis-en-scene and performers, and we feel this technique will enhance our intention to scare the audience and leave them anxious. Lastly after several views, we picked up on the correlation between the beat and the lyrics and the timing of the transitions linking shots. We feel this is important to include in our coursework because it provides the transitions with a purpose and gives satisfaction to an audience in seeing the synchronization. Also the relationship between the lyrics of 'Aha!" and our visuals on screen will be a vital element for our audience to understand. Below is Rihanna's video:

Headlock - Imogen Heap (2006)

Our artist for the coursework, Imogen Heap, has already released various music videos of her own. 'Headlock' a big hit in her early career, uses very interesting close-ups and timing throughout the video. Like the 'I Am Not A Robot' music video, there is a use of her hair blowing in the wind and the simple plain backgrounds that enhance the artist. This is further inspiration for us as 'Headlock' varies its use of close ups of the artist and narrative. We find this combination to be a steady balance between performance shots and actual storyline so our audience do not become bored with continuous performance and have other action to see develop and progress to a climax. Below is the full music video of 'Headlock' by Imogen Heap:

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen (1975)

Josh & I particularly like the use of contrast between their faces and the black background. This video has also influenced us to use a smokey effect over the performers faces as it provides a theatrical atmosphere and adds a dramatic tone to the shots. Below are snapshots of the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' video:

Edgar Degas

We also came across the art work of Edgar Degas who creates sculptures and canvas paintings based on ballet and contemporary dancing. Based on various works of his, I will choreograph short motifs that will depict certain movements and shapes from the pictures below: