Following on from my interest in underwater shots, using my actress I filmed a range of different shots, using ranging from close-ups to wide shots, because I want to experiment in order to see where these shots would be best placed within my music video.
Below is some of the shots I filmed -
I really like the extreme close up shots as they give it quite a natural
look, perhaps more like a documentary of my female character: what she's going through, what state her mind is in etc.
In the post-production stage I am going to work on my colour treatment, making the overall colour colder and more blue.
What I need to work on is stability as I thought some of the shots where a little shaky because I didn't want to use a tripod as I didn't feel I would be able to get the angles that I wanted.
The concept of my music video, to the track"Limit to your Love" by James Blake, is the idea of separation and the deterioration of a couple. I did not want to go for a romantic feel as this didn't fit to the song in my opinion. Instead I wanted to create the sense that the female is always ahead of the the male, this is why I have chosen to have lots of running shots with my male character whilst most of the action with my female character is slow and deliberate as she is almost always in control. However to contrast her control I want to create the sense that my female characters mind was in turmoil. My next filming date is centred on creating this idea using under water shots with influences from photographers mentioned in my previous post.
To develop this idea I looked at how other artists with similar concepts have portrayed it. A really good example I felt was The XX's video for the song Islands -
Although the same concept, visually I love how the have differently presented the separation of the couples. At first its seemingly a repetitive dance, however as the song continues each couple and each of the band members become distanced. This represents how relationships fall apart slowly until they crumble entirely, as if you're not paying attention its harder to notice the dancers separating each time the dance is performed.
The use of fire at the end as well helps to symbolise the destruction of the relationships, creating a really powerful symbol for the song.
Symbols are very important, I feel in music video's as they create a tone for the video. For further development I want to create a powerful symbol in my production that is recognisable to the audience why it is there, and what is represents, to enhance my concept.
I'm really interested in the use of water in my music video. I've already got key shots of my character walking round a fountain and walking up to a pond, and I want to develop further this idea.
'Drowning' is a series by French photographer Alban Grosdidier, which features several photographs of people under water. Some seem to accept their fate while other stuggle against the water. I really like this contrast of emotions within his photos.
I really like the idea being submerged under water and would like to try a similar thing with my female main character, both struggling and staying still like these two photographs from the series.
The XX's video Chained, is a an amazing example of how water can be used in a music video effectively.
The idea of being totally encompassed by water is something that I would really like to play around with in my video.
The colour treatment in the video creates a cool almost distant vibe as the blues enhance the vibe. I also really like the strobes of colour, as can be seen in the photo below, as it creates a edgy effect.
My next step is to start experimenting with under water shots and sequences.
In the post-production stage I am going to work on my colour treatment, making the overall colour colder and more blue.
