3. Childhood shots
My video often uses flashbacks of childhood. This includes items a child would
have in addition to actual children. We did this to make the audience aware that
the siblings once were together in a happier time. The song also has a
reminiscent tone so we tried to use the relationship between lyrics and videos as
the song is in past tense with words like “remember” and “used to”.
To all of the shots that are flashbacks, we wanted to ensure it was easy to
distinguish them from the present day shots. We did this though the editing in
post production. We applied the hazy filter over the shots making them softer as
images from the past are often classified as rather hazy or blurry as they’re so
distant. This is symbolic of the irretrievable nature of the past and how nothing
will ever be like it was which the audience should sympathise with.
In addition to this, we wanted the past shots to appear as if they are being
played on a really old tape. To do this, we inserted an overlay that has the circle
shapes and cracks. This represents the damage the adoption has had on the
memories of the children as if they are now tainted.
The painting shots are repeated throughout the video. They suggest creativity
and a more carefree time. This should promote the audience to feel more
empathy towards the characters when they discover they were separately
adopted.
4. Sound and visuals
There is a shot where modern day and past seem to collide as
the song is brought into the video in a more literal sense. The
non-diegetic sound becomes distorted when the protagonist
uses the CD player. This brings a clear link between the sound
and the visuals and suggests she is listening to the song. This
implies a turning point in the video as from then on, the
siblings are brought closer together. This is the only shot from
modern day with the aging past filter which suggests to the
audience and foreshadows that the two worlds are about to
merge and hope is restored.
5. Cinematic parallels
When both main characters are primarily introduced, they’re both lying in
beds staring off into space. We made the decision to keep their costumes
typical of what an average teenager would wear in order to aid their
relatability. The boys room has a classic monochromatic colour palette as
the girls room has a very Pinterest aesthetic to it. In terms of
composition, they’re both central on their beds making them the focus of
the shots as these shots are intended to establish their identity.
The use of jump cuts in order to transition between shots allowed a clear
difference between scenes and story and the harshness of the transition
indicates the distance between them at this time.
All the way through the video, the edit cuts to the beat of the song which
we found really aided the fluency between the song and the visuals. This
helped us know when to cut shots and made it seem, overall, a more well
rounded completed production.
6. Images from past and present
Another cinematic parallel occurs as both siblings look at a photo of
themselves from when they were young and still together as a family. Both of
them hold onto the photo carefully with both hands implying the memory is
precious.
the shot goes from not being focussed to a shallow focus in on the photo
frame. This suggests the image is becoming clearer as their minds recall
memories in that moment.
The narrative of the video also contains a circular element as one of the
earliest points in the story is when they were younger and the end one is a
new photo symbolising a new beginning with the photo now being taken
infront of them as oppose to behind. The cool toned colour palette in these
scene symbolises reality/realism.
7. Use of Goodwin’s theory
In production, we attempted to use Goodwin’s theory of authenticity.
The narrative of our video of more cohesive if the lip sync fits into the
rest of the video as oppose to having it as a complete separate
narrative strand.
we also used his theory of close ups of the artist and motifs. We did this
to indicate to the audience what is significant and holds meaning. The
close ups of the lipsyncer ensure a connection is developed between
them and the audience which is reinforced though her looking directly
at the camera
The stars in her hair provide a magical aesthetic as well as holding
meaning. As the song is called “Paper Stars”, we used a lot of stars
throughout the video to signify hope as its an old myth to wish upon a
star.
8. Camerawork
Most of the shots in our video are stills, we did
this to ensure the audience can focus and to
provide a calm feel to the video as oppose to a
lot of moving around shouts that could
disorientate the audience. Saying this, we do
have a panning shot at the start of the video.
We did this in order to convey the sentimental
values of childhood to provide a reminiscent
emotive tone. The shot also reinforces the
difference between the characters in modern
day compared to the past.
9. Box
We wanted to use symbolic codes in our video, the boxes
being one of themes as they are filled with childhood
memories. As she blows the stars off the box they are
meant to be like a substitute for dust, this demonstrates
how the stars are a reoccurring theme throughout the
video. The shot is taken from a slightly low angle symbolic
of the vulnerability and sensitivity that memories can
make people feel as the shot suggests she is
metaphorically smaller. The mise en scene in this shot
involves a very pastel colour palette softening the shot
and provoking emotion as the fact the shot is still
reinforces the importance of this moment.
10. Balloon
With this shot, this may not fit the narrative of the story
but it matches in terms of aesthetic. This shot suggests a
transition in the storyline as well as looking good. The
burst of colour against the light, off white background
provides a nice looking contrast. Meanings for this can be
interpolated by the audience as this shot is very much
open for interpretation
