A-level Media Studies: Advanced Production
TREATMENT: PROPOSAL FOR MUSIC VIDEO
Proposed Title/Song: To Be Alone by Ben Howard
Synopsis of song lyrics: The Lyrics leave the storyline open to interpretation: the artist talks about being alone and not needing anybody in the darkness. These connote negative elements of relationships, for example, arguments within romantic or family life.
Proposed storyline and characters: The video focusses on the lyrics, but with a twist. The narrative is not typical of the genre’s codes and conventions; it focusses on the singers family and his relationship with them. It tells of a family break-up behind closed doors, as the older brother (also the artist) reflects on when he left the family because of arguments, we now see the younger sister going through exactly the same thing. As the parents realise the sister has left, the first person to blame is the brother (artist) - leading to a reflection of both the artist and the sisters thoughts about their personal circumstances. The video closes with the sister leaving her place of refuge - therefore open to interpretation of where she goes, and a flashback of an old home movie from the artists childhood.
Setting: (time and place) The video will be set in the modern day, in locations which are local and common for people to be. These will include the woods, the beach and the homes of my characters. We will see the singer and others in the video in each of these places as they reflect on the recent events in their family.
Length: (time and shots) There will be no introductory narrative or any extra at the end of the song, the length of my audio track is about 4 minutes and 15 seconds therefore all of the narrative i need to include will have space.
Format: Digital and edited on Final Cut Pro X and iMovie
Style
Genre, mood, influences, claims to originality: The genre of my video is indie/rock just as Ben Howard’s other videos. I have been influenced by the work of Sophie Muller who directed P!NK’s video for ‘family portrait’, as it also focusses on family disputes rather than romantic ones. Elements of it will be quite dark in that we see what goes on with this family behind closed doors, the actor playing the sister will add to this by looking and being vulnerable.
Camerawork/type of shots: Long shots of the parents from an onlooker’s perspective shows the young girl’s point of view. Linked with close-up’s of the singer and the sister as they are the main features in the video and their emotion needs to be portrayed clearly.
Length of shots/editing: The video’s tempo and rhythm varies throughout, therefore so will my shot lengths. I will edit the video to match the audio rhythm; enhancing the lyrics and mood of the piece.
Movement and action: The artist and sister will often be seen walking through the woods or on a beach, sometimes running as the pace increases.
Visual qualities: The video will be shot in colour, however flashbacks to the artist and sisters early childhood will be in black and white - this will emphasise the happiness with their father. The artist will be seen in modern, fashionable attire which will appeal to the female audience. Props will be used inside the abandoned house and the sister looks through her old belongings.
Handling of narrative: The narrative will be clearly portrayed and montage editing will meant hat the audience need to work out the storyline. This will also give the video a repeatability factor. The audience will be kept on their toes so that they will want to watch until the end. Flashbacks will set the time and make the viewers aware of the characters’ history.
Target audience: The target audience will be those of Ben Howard’s existing fans and those who are alternative music fans who like to decode their own message in the media and like to work out the narrative for themselves. They will be aged between 16 and 30 and are both male and female.
Technical aspects
Production methods: To act as director, producer and editor, focus on the lighting and props as well as risk assessments and shooting scripts. The shoot will last over a total of 4 days to get the specific shots needed.
Equipment: Canon EOS 500D for both shooting HD video footage and my photoshoot for ancillary products to the video. Lighting will be used in the interior locations and Final Cut Pro X will be used to edit the footage.
Locations/studio: Exterior locations include the local beach and woods. Interior locations will be the family home, the abandoned home and the artists flat.
Resources
People: Angus Tookey as the artist. Rhiannon Eve as the sister. Glenn Tookey and Elisa Hunt as the parents.
Time: Rehearsal plus performance time. There will be limited time available to use certain actors.
Budget: Very low budget, petrol money for driving to locations: £50.
Rationale
This video will open up Ben Howard’s fan base to a new side of the artist that is seen to be both protective and vulnerable. This will attract all ranges of audience members, from teenage girls to men in their 20’s who have been through similar situations. The video is unique to all other videos in the industry currently and will therefore stand out as original.
