Band Performance Scenes - Inspiration From 'We Shall Visit'

Islet | We Shall Visit

This video is strictly a performance showcase, there is no narrative or plot whatsoever. Instead, the band perform in a blandly anonymous location, and careful editing with strange effects (as shown below) give the video the extra something it needs to be entertaining.

We've decided against the use of these effects as they would not fit the mood of the song, as it's not nearly as 'psychedelic' as 'We Shall Visit'.

However there are still things we can take from this video, even if they're small. For example, the idea of the band playing to themselves, instead of the audience is an interesting idea. The cinematography in this video is definitely something we should aim for as it manages to stay exciting by snapping between band members quickly and sharply, and shooting at odd angles.

Animatic

Test Footage

Creative use of technology

Technology

For our video, we will be using a range of different techniques such as using black and white shots, different shots such as over the shoulder, close up and mid shots. Also we will be using split screens for when they are texting, wipes and different effects for when we change from one shot to another.

Cinematographic Style - Inspiration From 'Leave Before The Lights Come On'

Arctic Monkeys | Leave Before The Lights Come On

'Leave Before The Lights Come On' is a music video which is totally plot-driven, unlike our video, which blends a narrative with a band performing the song...

However, we can take inspiration from the video, which we can apply to or underlying story. In particular, we will mirror the style of cinematography. The style in this video is very rough, but neatly edited together. What this does, is create a sense of reality, while still making the story clear to the audience, very important without any dialogue; (this video contains none).

Another technique we will keep in mind during the shoot and apply in editing is the use of jump-cuts. They are used very subtly in the aforementioned video, but are very effective.

A technique which we hadn't at all considered, but are now very attracted to is the use of freeze-frames.

These two images are both freeze frames and in consecutive order, they add tension to the scene and serve as an easy way to help the images sync to the music.

These freeze frames also highlight the expressions on each character's faces, and force the viewer to see them in detail. We clearly see desperation (above) and anger (left). These two simple images tell us a lot about the characters and their place in the narrative.

Risk Assesment

RISK ASSESMENT

Hazard:

What could cause harm?

Knifes and forks.

What is the likelihood of this happening?

The likelihood of this of happening is low.

Who or what would be harmed?

Harm from all of these hazards can cause cuts and bruises to you or others

How much harm?

(2) Reduce or substitute will be required.

(1) Eliminate. (2) Reduce or substitute. (3) Isolate. (4) Control. (5) Personal protective equipment

Hazard:

What could cause harm?

Glasses.

What is the likelihood of this happening?

The likelihood of this happening is low.

Who or what would be harmed?

You and others may be harmed from smashed glass.

How much harm?

2) Reduce or substitute will be required.

(1) Eliminate. (2) Reduce or substitute. (3) Isolate. (4) Control. (5) Personal protective equipment

Hazard:

What could cause harm?

Plates being destroyed.

What is the likelihood of this happening?

Lead to blindness.

Who or what would be harmed?

You and other may be harmed.

How much harm?

Control (5) Personal protective

Applying the following priorities, how will this risk be managed?

Goggles and gloves will be worn and a set up environment to control where they smash.

(1) Eliminate. (2) Reduce or substitute. (3) Isolate. (4) Control. (5) Personal protective equipment

CD Cover Ideas

We have found that the dimensions for a CD cover are 342 by 301 pixels. Some of the ideas that we have for the CD cover are using either a plain coloured background or using a photo as the background.

Locations, Costumes, Props and Lighting

Possible locations:

• Protagonist's house
• Restaurant 
• Cambridge town centre  
• Stage
• Rooftops, car-parks, urban areas in general
• Large fields
• Cambridge shopping centre

Props for the band:

• Acoustics guitar
• Mic (with stand)
• Dum kit (with sticks)
• Costume - bright colour scheme

Props for the narrative:

• Dinner setting including food, plates, cutlery, wine etc. 
• Smart/ casual costume
• Table and chairs
• Watch
• Mobile phone
• green screen

Lighting:

• Bright colour scheme for the band
• Bright colour scheme for the narrative as it begins and and will fade slowly towards darker shots as the mood changes

Copyright Information

This is the e-mail we sent to to The Thrills, making clear that we understand issues surrounding copyright:

The Thrills,
We're a group of sixth form students from Long Road College in Cambridge, England. We're writing to tell you that our current project, in which we are required to create a music video, uses your song 'Saturday Night'.

We understand the copyright information fully, and will make no profit from our video this is purely an educational exercise.

All the best,

Angus, Matt, Dylan, Dan

Performance Idea

After looking at other music videos, such as 'Sea Within a Sea' by The Horrors (pictured below), We've decided on having our performance sequences dimly lit, to add mystery to the music.

Ideas For Album Artwork

Realizing the importance of album artwork, as it is the first thing people will see when they look at the physical or digital product, it is vital to get the right message across.

In my mind there are three popular types of album/single cover:

1 - A photograph of the band / artist, often in a fitting environment. 

2 - An image which represents the music, but doesn't necessarily show the band/artist. 

3 - The name of the album with a blank or abstract background, either simple lettering or stylized. 

Here are examples of the above: 

1: 'The Libertines' by The Libertines

2: 'A Weekend In The City' by Bloc Party                                                                                 

3: 'Suck It and See' by Arctic Monkeys

There is an exception however, recently it has become popular for bands/artists to feature album artwork with no words whatsoever. Instead the cover features a simple image only, which hints towards the tone of the music.

For example: 'Flaws' By Bombay Bicycle Club

Our group is still in discussion over what type of sleeve we will use.

Our Interpretation of the Lyrics

Is this what they call love 
Is this what they call love 
Is this what they call love 
on a Saturday night? 

I’m just a man 
I’m just a man 
Not even a great one 
I’m too vain for greatness 
Is this what they call love 
on a Saturday night? 

Is this what they call sex 
Is this what they call sex 
Is this what they call sex 
on a Saturday night? 

Time for the night clubs 
Time for the night clubs 
Providing the soundtrack for 
Dry humping on dance floors 
Is this what they call sex 
on a Saturday night? 
Alright 

Is this what they call hate 
Is this what they call hate 
Is this what they call hate 
on a Saturday night? 

Broken BEER bottles 
Broken BEER bottles 
Thrown like American footballs 
Hey its just jocks high on hormones 
Is this what they call hate 
on a Saturday night? 
Alright 
Is this what they call hate 
on a Saturday night? 
Alright 



Our Interpretations of The lyrics
From the lyrics in this song, we have interpreted that the story is about a man who is due to have a date on a saturday night and he prepares a candlelit dinner for him and his date, and she never ends up turning up. He then gets fed up of waiting and puts the food on the plates in the bins. He then goes out in anger and ends up seeing his date with someone else and then he gets angry and starts being aggressive.

Progressing Ideas

Progressing Ideas:

- Recurring events
- Have the protagonist calling his girlfriend at the beginning before the song begins.
- Make him look like he is in love at the beginning, then hating his partner at the end.
- Main character not in band; band performance cuts through narrative.
- Thought bubbles tell audience what he is thinking, as there will be no  sound from the narrative.

Rough Notes:
- Watch.
- Thought bubbles
- Heads in his hands
- Walk around the room
- Over the shoulder, where you can see the empty plates

Idea For a Scene:
- Cut to the protagonist's house before he starts getting angry and breaking things things.
- When he is waiting for his girlfriend to return home to the meal he has prepared for them we see shots of him gazing at the clock.

Initial Ideas

Some of our initial ideas that we pitched to the class were:

- We will have many close ups of the main singer, to show emotion.
- Shots of the protagonist walking along a rainy road.
- Shots switching between the band's performance and the narrative.
- Shots of his girlfriend having a good time without him.
- Thought bubbles
- Mise en scene reflects mood.for example dim lighting for when the protagonist is feeling down.
- Ending will be main character walking into his house and slamming the door.