initial plans

1. Initial Plans
Abi Long

2. Idea Generation
• Select a song/track that you like [or don’t like!]
• Generate three ideas for music videos employing styles, techniques
and conventions that we have looked at in previous sessions. Explore
how you could interpret the song differently using different methods
• You can add any extra info you think is relevant, images, mind maps,
etc
• For quick mind maps you could use bubbl.us to generate these

3. Remember…

4. Idea one
Echo- Crusher P
Completely black with glow in the dark paint/clothes. Quick flashes of colour, fast
edits.
Video in reverse, telling a story from the end to the beginning
Something that messes with your perspective throughout the video- using tv
screens, phone screens and other technology

5. Idea two
September- Earth, Wind and Fire
80’s inspired fashion, dance moves and video, bright/warm colours,
simple video of band/dancers.
Staircase dancing with other people
Couple dancing in a park w background dancers

6. Idea three
Back in Black- ACDC
Rock inspired video, gritty camera style, on a stage surrounded by an
audience
A dance off at a funeral
Band playing is unconventual places wearing all black

7. Mind map of ideas
[summary of ideas]

8. Summary
• 5 strengths of your ideas you could use
• Different concepts and Ideas
• Creativity
• Thinking outside the box
• A video that paces with the beat of the song/lyrics
• Something unconventional
• 5 weaknesses of you ideas
• Some may be undoable
• Too expensive
• Not enough resources
• Not skilled enough (in own opinion)
• Not much to compare to other music videos

9. Final idea – artist/title/info
• Name of track / name of artist
• Brief biographical background
• Links to other artists
• Genre info
• September by Earth, Wind and Fire
• “Earth, Wind & Fire are an American band that has spanned multiple musical
genres like funk, jazz, disco and pop, rock. They have been described as one of
the most innovative and commercially successful acts of all time. Rolling Stone
called them "innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing" and
declared that the band "changed the sound of black pop”. The band was
founded in Chicago by Maurice White in 1969, having grown out of a previous
band known as the Salty Peppers.” Source Wikipedia
• There is a link to Salty Peppers, as Maurice White used to be a member.
• “ Disco is a music genre and subculture that emerged in the late-1960s and
early 1970s for the United States’ urban nightlife scene.” Source Media

10. Final idea – track summary
• Summary/analysis of track [consider meaning, content, duration,
pace and style of the song]
• “The song 'September' by Earth Wind & Fire was written about an epiphany. The
very elusive subject of enlightenment. Clouds in Eastern culture means the
unwise mind. The clouds of thought that try to hide the sun from our eyes.
Suddenly you remember is recalling this epiphany, that inner happiness that will
never be taken away.” Source Songmeanings
• The song is 3 minutes 36 seconds and consists of the band dancing in a chilled
way in a simplistic room with lights swirling in the background (possibly green
screened)
• It has a medium pace and I would class the genre in disco or possibly jazz.

11. Final idea – your idea
• Your creative concept/video synopsis [describe your interpretation,
use of imagery or narrative, genre conventions, etc]
• Main singer, shot completely in a staircase, walking up and down the
stairs while dancing. The camera spins around occasionally to show
crowds of people also dancing on the staircase, sometimes individual
people who interact with the main singer.
• I’ll use bright colours and have everyone is bright outfits as was
popular in those times, use some effects to make the video appear
more old and styles traditionally used in old videos including the
dances.

12. Final idea – techniques and styles
• Video techniques/style/conventions to be used [include how you
intend to implement these]
A very old style video, with conventions from the 70’s.
Everyone will be happy and cheerful, but dancing will be
smooth to implement jazz features. I’ll use several dances
that originated in the 70’s/80’s to give it that vibe and use
the same color schemes and outfit choices. Even though I
intend there to be dancers, I’ll have it be a small group, to
make it feel more friendly and open. I’ll use light and
shading techniques to properly get the aesthetic of that era.

13. Summary
• 5 strengths of your ideas you could use
• Bright colours/outfit choices
• Fewer cast members
• Lighting technique
• 80’s inspired dances
• A light and friendly feel
• 5 weaknesses of you ideas
• Where I’ll find convincing outfits
• Who will be the cast
• How will I implement the lights/camera
• Need to choreograph
• 1 set means I have to find ways to keep it interesting

14. Potential research targets
• Classmates
• People who grew up with that style of music
• Other bands to listen to
• Different songs from theirs to learn their style more