Rough Cut of Music Video

This is my 'Rough Cut' of my music video. Unfortunately when filming I didn't organize the amount of shots that I needed and wanted to take. This is my 1st rough cut, currently Im improving the rough cut to make it a bit longer and editing it better to re member how to use the software correctly.

As you can see this is my second draft of my rough cut, when I first started to convert my files because of the issue with the software, some of my video files were deleted/were not of an acceptable quality to even put in the rough cut so throughout working on this I had to fill up the time, which at around 4:30 is rather hard to do. So although my video contains lots of repeated shots and clips I am re-filming a good amount of footage.

I also asked my classmates about what they thought of my video. There main response was that it was too bright and didn't fit the mood of the music.

So with the issues I had of converting footage (which became pix-elated anyway) and the feedback I got I decided to do another story board and come up with new ideas to fully fit the genre.

Problem With the Software

After I finished filming I copied my files off the memory card and onto my laptop so I could pick the scenes that were filmed well and then transfer them to the iMac which I use at school to edit. I then deleted the file's off my camera so one of my friends could borrow it for his filming. When I moved the files to the macs to use on iMovie, however the format my camera uses is .MTS which doesn't work on iMovie. When I asked my teacher for assistance, my teacher explained that for the files to work I needed to plug the camera into the Mac with the data on the memory card on the camera. But as I just said I deleted them for the space. I then also tried to convert the files, but it then lacked in quality of my 720p camera and was pixel-ated. So currently I am using a variety of conversion software and different formats  to see what happens. If the worst comes to worse then I will have to re-film my music video.

My Filming schedule

I planned to film my film on Friday 16th March at 13:00 in Woodthorpe Grange Park. I filmed the footage of my protagonist and his 'Girlfriend' We filmed here for around 45 minutes and then we started filming the other section, in my house. On location we shot the scenes of the couple both getting along and then having an argument. I managed to tweak certain scenes to make them feel more unique such as the shot of the drink with the camera under the glass as the boy takes a drink, and the moving close up whilst he is drunk and tired. The filming went smoothly each shot was achieved in around 2-3 takes which I will pick the best one's for my video.

Spike Jonze

For this project, I have been researching other music video directors. Spike Jonze is a well known director for both film and music videos, but mainly for music. He has made videos for artists like DaftPunk, Beasty Boys, Fatboy Slim and Kanye West, showing his diversity in the field. 


When he graduated from high school and began working as an editorial assistant at 'Freestylin' magazine. In 1991 he helped found the magazine 'Dirt' which was a spin off from 'Sassy'.  


His first music video was to film footage of some people skateboarding for 'Sonic Youths' "100". The video that really made an impact for Jonze was for "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, which was based on the 1970's cop shows. The video itself won 4 MTV Music Awards, including 'Best Director'. Following his success he went on to design a innovative  and interesting video for Weezer's "Buddy Holly" which is a song by an Alternative band.


He continued to work on both music videos and started on adverts, he made videos for the likes of:

• R.E.M.
• The Breeders
• Puff Daddy
• The Chemical Brothers
• Bjork

And adverts for:

• Nike
• Sprite
• Nissan
• Coca-cola

His enjoyment of his work also introduced him to acting, as he was in a few TV spots and is the leader of the dance group in Fatboy Slim's 'Praise You' music video, which he also directed. 


He then moved on to film, where he directed the black comedy, 'Three Kings' which he also had a cameo in it. He later went on to direct 'Being John Malkovich' for his efforts he received an Academy Award nomination for best director. 


In 1999 Jonze married Sofia Coppola, a former actress and director - daughter of the acclaimed Francis Ford Coppola.

Shot List

I am currently unsure of ALL of the shots I want to use but I am pretty confident of the first minute and  a half. And I have a strong idea of the ending of my video.


The video will start on a black screen which will fade to close ups of instruments; such as a Piano, Microphone, Drum Kit and Guitar.

At around 15 seconds I would like a Long Shot/Establishing shot which tracks in a gentle curve like fashion resenting them on stage.

When the drums kick in there will be a close up of the bass drum pedal as it beats in time with the music.

On the line "Trouble keeps me up at night" there will be a "crane" shot of the protagonist laying in bed with his eyes wide open. I want this shot to be taken in different lighting as it will prove useful when creating the finished video.

As the first line of the lyrics begins, there will be a close up of the lead singer singing it or miming, but edited so his mouth is in time with the words.

I would like a shot from in a car looking out at the window, passing a sign that states "Welcome to Paradise" as the lyric Paradise is sang.

As the song begins to get into full swing, we are introduced to the protagonist through a number of shots showing him on a journey to find new love and reminisce the girl he used to love. For this I'm going to use a variety of shots of all sizes whilst he walks down a street.

• A long shot tracking him
• A use of the shot that is used in Requiem for a Dream, I don't know what its called but its fixed to the person as they walk and is a medium close up. The actors don't take any notice of it.
• A Point of View shot of him walking. Probably varying in the angle of the camera allowing shots of the sky, other passers by and a shot of his feet as he's walking.
• I'm also interested in adding a very low angle shot of the protagonist, or a shot from underneath his feet. and tracks along underneath him.

When the chorus kicks in the colour also appears and there is a flashback-esque mood with glare and a use of bright colours. The shots I use during the verse will also be shot with his lover so I can cut from the present to the past and keep the vibe going.

At the very end of the video, the last shot is going to be a high angle "Crane" from the top of a room. The boy and girl will be spinning together with close ups of their faces and at the end they both fall on the floor laughing and having a good time. Alternatively in the present - which I will cut to on the beat, the boy on his own will be wandering around, drinking from a bottle, also insert another RFaD shot of him becoming more of a state, and ending with the same high angle shot but of him falling onto the floor.

Matters At All - Kids In Glass Houses Analysis

This band is similar to my artist but differs from You Me At Six. This is a good example of comparing it to the other band and seeing what is different.

The storyline of this song is a more traditional take, one about finding love. It starts with an establishing shot of the band setting up for a performance. The video takes the conventional 'finding love' story and flips it with an interesting use of cinematography to allow the plot twist to make sense. The video is in two parts, the part from the protagonist; a woman who keeps walking into a man and has long emotional  contact with at various locations: A Park, Grocery Stall and Cafe. We see all this from her point of view and understand that the man is leading her on as she is to him, and it seems to have a classic relationship story.
However halfway through the video we discover that she is a lonely woman who is following this man around and obsessing with him after finding his picture on the floor and misinterpreting it as a picture of her and him instead of what it is: him and another woman (his girlfriend). Here the previous shots shown early on now are taken from different angles and show him with his girlfriend who at the start is out of the shot because of the way its filmed.
The lyrics of the song are linked closely with the plot, "Not that it matters at all" She loves him but she has imagined it and he doesn't love her because he is with his girlfriend and always has been from the start of the video.

Is it so hard to remember

When we go back to September

We were

We were like.

You're a throw back to forever

In your denim jeans and leather

Yes you

Yeah we were like.

All these things that you like to leave behind

All these things that you like to leave behind.

And if it matters at all

If it matters at all

You'll wait until your first time

You'll wait until there's something wrong

Cos you'll always be the one who says

Goodnight, Goodnight, (Goodnight).

I'm watching

I'm choking

As you took a draw back on a cinder

Hanging limp between your fingers

We were

Yeah we were like.

As you crashed out as a heartthrob

When you woke up in a day job

We were

Yeah we were like

We were like.

All these things that you like to leave behind

All these things that you like to leave behind.

And if it matters at all

If it matters at all

You'll wait until your first time

You'll wait until there's something wrong

Cos you'll always be the one who says

Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight.

And if it matters at all

If it matters at all

You'll wait until your first time

You'll wait until there's something wrong

If it matters at all

If it matters at all

You'll wait until your first time

You'll wait until there's something wrong

Cos you'll always be the one who says

Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight

Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight

Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight

Goodnight, Goodnight. 

These are certain shots from the video that interested me in how they developed story and were filmed.

The first shot is an establishing shot of where the band is playing, its a fairly gloomy set but it isnt as "heavy" or quirky as "You Me At Six's" video

 There are constant close ups/medium/long shots of the band playing throughout the video to maintain a brand image and have recognisable members. 

 This is the first shot we see of the protagonist you can clearly identify with her.

 This starts of her obsession with the man when she finds a picture, supposedly him and her.

In the first half of the video the first shot here is shown but on return you can see the man is clearly with his girlfriend and is trying to get the protagonist off his back.

 Again the use of camera angle allows us to believe it is just him and her in the first half of the video

 These close ups really allow the characters emotions to be shown in the Cafe scene, the first time we see it it is the protagonsists face not the face of the girlfriend that is shown above ^.

 The protagonists relation to them together in the Cafe shows her sadness and jealousy of the other woman I also love the shot of the coffee mug smashing in slow motion and I'm interested in applying something like that in my final project.

The final scene of the video is the confrontation of the man and his girlfriend and they realise that the woman is insane and ignore her and go on to be together. The photos she finds have the picture of the man and his girlfriend not her leaving her painfully heartbroken by something that never existed.

 "If it matters at all"

You Me At Six - Bite My Tongue Analysis

This was a band I found whilst researching which has a similar vibe to that of y artist. It is - unfortunately - more  rock based than mine but it is still a close match.
The first thing worth mentioning is the story which is being portrayed, influenced by the props, location and aesthetic.
The story appears to be about a mad scientist who has created the band and is controlling them like puppets and in turn creating the music they are making. The musicians are flailing around held by bonds which the scientist controls. The scientist appears to be the lead singer of the band as well, did he want a band to play with. He gets overtaken by power and someone comes and stops.
The way the band is introduced is rather clever, it starts off with the protagonist or lead singer lip syncing with a few shots of his experiment hinting at the eerie yet cool vibe accompanied with different editing after effects such as shaking the shots, focus change and blur. When the first chorus is sang the band comes to life restrained by their restraints they comply and play the song,"You keep me on the edge of my seat" they have no choice they are stuck there. "I cant take the ones who made me" he is going mad with power and the band are annoyed with their creator. When another character comes along and defeats the scientist he puts him in the restrains where he will be controlled and die at the end. Killed by his own creation.

"Bite My Tongue"
(feat. Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon)

I hate to break it to you but
You're just a lonely star
I try to bring you down but
A level isn't good enough
You always do as you please
So I'm going to follow suit
And take a seat
And watch you fall apart
'Cause in the end
What are you without me?
I slow this down 'cause I know that you can't keep up
Oh maybe I, maybe I was wrong from the start
I might be proud, but at least I'm proud of something
You've taken pride in becoming nothing

You keep me on the edge of my seat
I bite my tongue so you don't hear me
I wanna hate every part of you with me
I can't hate the ones who made me

You keep me on the edge of my seat
I bite my tongue so you don't hear me
I wanna hate every part of you with me
I can't hate the ones who made me

I'm married to the music
For better or for worse
You say that I'm privileged but
My gift is my curse
I can't recall the last time
Someone asked me how I was
Last I checked I was a fucking wreck
I called for help and no one showed up
I sit in the dirt

You keep me on the edge of my seat
I bite my tongue so you don't hear me
I wanna hate every part of you with me
I can't hate the ones who made me

You keep me on the edge of my seat
I bite my tongue so you don't hear me
I wanna hate every part of you with me
I can't hate the ones who made me

[Oli Sykes]
Just forget what you've learned
Just forget what you've heard
The truth just confirmed
I can't bare the sight of you anymore.
You've become what I hate
Sold yourself for a bit of fame
Now that the wolves have closed the door
You wanna drag me down some more
Fuck you
Fuck you

You keep me on the edge of my seat
I bite my tongue so you don't hear me
I wanna hate every part of you with me
I can't hate the ones who made me

You keep me on the edge of my seat
I bite my tongue so you don't hear me
I wanna hate every part of you with me
I can't hate the ones who made me

Here I have highlighted some key shots from the video which I will comment on:

This is the first shot of video, a close up of the lead singer and protagonist in this video. Already starting with brand Identity he is also lip-syncing to show his relevance and importance.

 This shot signifies the start of his experiment, the doctor observing his creation whilst also being an establishing shot of the location the whole video takes place in.

This Medium shot is used throughout the video and is used on all the members of the band as they are playing and waking up but especially when for example they have small identifiable riffs over the main tune, and these shots are also edited in time to the drum beat.

Here is the introduction of a new character (Oli Sykes), possibly someone that could save the band from its fate foreshadowing his event in the future we are slowly shown him as the video progresses this is the first reveal shot of him, he seems scruffy and "untamed". The shots of him walking towards the protagonist are edited to slow motion which gives a nice contrast to the otherwise fast paced editing, its also worth noting that he is incredibly calm as he approaches.

A Close p again of the protagonist this is quickly spliced throughout the mid section of the song as it symbolises his going crazy with his experiment.

An over the shoulder shot of Oli approaching the main from behind, increasing tension and ending with him throwing the scientist down and taking over his madness and power.

Oli brings a more heavy rock feeling to the whole video, dressed the part with scruffy clothes , tattoos and piercings. You instantly relate to the genre of the song.

The closing shots are of our scientist who has been put into his experiment and is being controlled by a bigger evil; Oli. The maker has met his match and is trapped in his invention when he fails to escape he appears to die at the end.