Coursework Proposal: Music Video Project

For my music video project, I chose a copyright track from the website Jamendo rather than using a band I knew. This was down to a number of reasons but mainly

because I knew I would have complete control over the track and how to use it, and because I had an idea in mind for the style of the video and all the bands I knew of who

would be willing to participate didn’t match the folk/country/blues style I was planning on. The track I have chosen is called Gone and is by a Danish girl band called My

Bubba & Mi who have produced a whole album named How It’s Done In Italy in which I listened to a few times over and pictured the video as the song was playing. I figured

the best song for my idea would be Gone because its quite slow, has a steady pace and quite a sad meaning behind the lyrics.

I decided right from the start of the course that I wanted my video to be stop motion because of examples I’ve seen before and the pure quality and effort that is put

into each one, I also think it looks great if you do it properly so I was prepared for the challenge right from the start. I also plan on taking on the twenty four shots per

second format so that the picture and flow of the video is top quality. Because the song is slow and quite sad, my theme of loneliness and borderline depression will fit in

well, however I don’t want it to be a typical point blank video (which would feature a predictable character wearing black and looking sad), I wanted to show the loneliness

through symbols such as time, locations and objects like photographs and letters.

The locations I have chosen for this video is likely to take place through a woodland path (Marriott’s Way) and countryside destinations such as fields and old

roads/bridges which will also promote the idea of isolation and helplessness. The video will end at a lake which will almost stand as a place of relief and tranquilisation

because of its beautiful surroundings and the expression on the characters face. Although the video will take place during the day (to show the attractive, detailed settings

and because dark nights seem to be associated with loneliness, again not wanting to be predictable) the lighting is likely to be dull anyway because it will be shot in the

middle of winter. I am hoping to feature fog and cloudy backgrounds to match the mood and tone of the song and theme.

The styling of the character will be very floaty and free to match the dreamy sound of the song and the breeze in the winter air. Her hair will be loose and unstyled to

show the affects of her condition and what she is experiencing (unlike some Hollywood music videos where sad people wake up fully made up with perfect hair and make-

up!). Facial expressions and body language will be morbid and uncomfortable which will look especially effective when put together in stop motion, apart from in the closing

scenes where expressions will lighten and her body will be shown as relaxed and slightly happier.

So, overall the story of my music video will be to show how depression and the loss of someone (who exactly will not be clarified as the song and video can relate to

anyone, therefore people can interpret it in their own way) can affect someone’s daily routine and actions. It’ll show how even waking up can make reality hurt and the

events that have occurred can pull you back from doing or even wanting to do what you usually would if they hadn’t of happened. The video will be a journey of this

persons trauma, with them will be symbols such as photographs and keepsake that slowly deteriorate and break away from the character until she is shredded down to the

bare minimum when she reaches the lake and purifies herself again, having just a small moment of cleansing and self-indulgence.

A lot of time, effort and editing will go into this music video to make it stand out and I’m determined to ensure it won’t be predictable and something everyone in

the audience has seen before. Especially with the fact that its stop motion, this video will appear to be more and more special along with the extra details, interesting

locations, talented model and beautiful song.