In the creative stages of making my music video I decided to look at other music videos to gain inspiration. Two of which I presented to my peers. Both Alicia Keys - Unthinkable and Jhene Aiko - Comfort Inn Ending.
Alicia Keys - Unthinkable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhuGQUZJot8
The music video to Unthinkable revolves around the evolution of an inter-racial couple through time eras. For example, the 50's - 00's. Also the reluctance of black culture accepting the relationship later on.
After presenting the video to my class they later analysed so I could get an unbiased view of the video and have various ideas from a range of people and what they thought.
Firstly looking at how the use of black and white during editing gave an edge to the story. For example, the stars of the music video (Alicia Keys and Chad Michael Murray) where in a black and white scene when dressed in 50's attire. This means that the use of editing was used to depict the time era that they were in. Perhaps this editing idea was used throughout the video. For example, in the scene where it was perhaps the 70's you could see that there was a still distortion of colour like there was back on 70's tv. It is very blatant that the editing skills were used to depict the era that they were in. However in my music video i will not be adopting the same principle. this is due to the fact that i'm not travelling through time eras in my music video, but this was a very good and powerful way to re-enforce that this take place in different time eras,
Keys was regularly featured on her own throughout the song. For example, during the choruses she was pictured standing in front of plants just singing. This suggests to me that Keys is the main and only artist in this song. Perhaps this was done as a way of her somewhat narrating the story. The blatant use of a single mid shot was very powerful in presenting her story telling. It wasn't too much nor too little. I feel as if I will use this in my own music video. Even though I would like for my video to be quite organic and this idea isn't I feel as if I would tackle it in different way. For example, using snap chat videos. Or just having people walk past her in the singular shots.
This was mainly my inspirational video because of the use of an inter-racial relationship being shown in a different way. It is ever rarely seen a black girl and white boy together this is why I wanted it to be shown through my music video. However I don't want the emphasis of a inter-racial couple to bring negative effects like it did in this video. Such as violence and her having to chose between love and her family. Through my music video I want people to understand that relationships such as inter-racial shouldn't lead people constantly have to think that they are giving something up because of a choice which isn't harmful to anyone as it was once perceived to be.
Un-thinkable featured various location shot mostly suggesting different time periods. For example a scene was featured in shop with the couple walking on either side of the aisles. This shows me that there were different mise-en-scene used to contribute to the time changes. I will not use this idea. However the use of multiple locations such as the store is something I may use.
Typically in R&B music there is a sense of male patriarchy this is seen in this music video. For example, the two men fighting and Key's brother defending her honour. This shows me that even though the artist of the song is a female, patriarchy takes over. I will not use this element in my music video I will have both of the main characters being equal.
R&B shows women in quite a sexual way. However in this music video that was done in a quite mature way. For example, she was dressed quite sultry. This shows men that a women doesn't need to be half naked to be seen as sexy. This is the idea that I want to take. I want my music video to be quite organic and urban. With my female lead already dressing like that, I also want the same message to be portrayed, you don't have to be half naked to be seen as sexy.
Jhene Aiko - Comfort Inn Ending.
The music video to Comfort Inn Ending revolves around the stages of after a break-up. For example, anger, sadness and the reminiscing.
After presenting the video to my class they later analysed so I could get an unbiased view of the video and have various ideas from a range of people and what they thought.
Most of the music video was done in slow motion. For example, when keying her ex-boyfriends car. This made the video quite dramatic and climatic. Perhaps this was done for a poetic affect as this is the type of artist Jhene is. I want to adapt this idea however I will not use it in the same way. I will use it only in positive way; as a way of showing that good things last for quite a long time.
In the editing aspect there were a lot of close up's. For example, her crying. This shows me that the video was very emotional and that they wanted to capture all of her emotions. This is an idea again which I will use, but again not in the same manner.
Unlike the previous video male patriarchy isn't shown here. For example, the man was hardly even in the video until the end even then his face wasn't shown. This shows me that the artist Jhene is very clear on where she stands in only wanting the story to be about her. When you see her face you gain empathy for her however as you cannot see his face there is little to no empathy shown. It also gives a sense of mystery.
Again unlike the previous video Jhene had a motif. For example her tattoos. This means that from the visuals of her tattoos you can tell its her. This is an idea I want to adopt. I will probably do this through the visuals with bandanna's with both of my leads having one.
A medium shot was featured in this music video. For example it was of them holding hands. This shows me that it was done purposely to symbolise a unity they once had. Again I will adopt this idea nearer to the end of the video for the same visual.
