Tagged: LOCATION

BUILDING THE BARRICADE

Okay so I’m currently lost on how to approach the scouting. My first instinct when I read the gig scene was to shoot it in a dark secluded room, with minimal background and the only requirements we needed were a stage and lights. Now I feel like we need more than that, and luckily enough The John Curtain on the corner right next to building 57 has a pretty good relationship with the uni. It’s actually about to host a lot of Monday night gigs, and one of my friends has confirmed that it is part of their course to organize these weekly gigs. I think I have just found my solution to the band problem we were facing when discussing casting. If he is to be wrangling the night, then it will be easy for me to gain permission from not just the venue but actual bands playing that night for permission to film during their show. It would require a lot of planning, especially with which shots we will need and definitely need to be executed very fast as to not ruin the show, but otherwise I do believe that we have a set plan and venue. I’m probably going to ask James for his opinion on this, and if he has any tips for us to be shooting in such a public heavy scenario. It may just be a case of me carrying around a lot of location and media release forms.

Here’s too a hopeful start. Oh and by the way, my friends gig is scheduled May 23rd, so maybe it may be one of the last shots we take in our timeline. Right now I think we can definitely fit the bulk of shooting with week 10, but you never know with casting still technically unconfirmed. I guess this makes me a bad producer, but hey, this class is all about trying things out and learning the process, and so far I am definitely learning a few things I didn’t expect.

EIGHT – MOMENTS IN THE WOODS

So Rohan said that location can be anything. He even told us that some of his music video were shot in his living, and all he used was a good light and some black curtains to hide away his home. It’s very comforting again to know that anyone can make anything with the lowest of budgets. Why it reminds me again of how simple Panic! at the Disco’s GIRLS/GIRLS/BOYS allowed me to dream about working with a naked Brendon Urie and nothing else.

Setting can be anything, but for our music video we have our hearts set on the Royal Botanic Gardens. Now at first it seemed like we had to jump through a lot of hoops just to get a filming permit, but after some heckling and very nicely worded pleas, we got the permit and can safely confirm that we are shooting this Sunday the 24th at our beautiful gardens in the city. It’s the best location we could have for our story, with gorgeous scenery to compliment our gorgeous cast.

Now inspired by our wonderful location I am happy to exposure to certain locations in music videos and my very thorough opinion on some of them.

1. Only U – VIXX

This music video completely took advantage of the location they were in. During their world tour concert, VIXX shot their “ONLY U” MV in Sweden. It shows the boys walking through some lovely streets, and highlighting the architecture and scenery of the country. It’s almost like a homage to the city, and really showcases the beauty in places that don’t need to be manufactured.

2. TAKE MY CHANCE – DOLL$BOX

This music video gets props for its location use because it’s hilarious when you understand it’s usual context. The underground stage setting is a staple in Japan, and usually houses a lot of old and often questionable men enjoying a live show from cute JPOP girl group’s. I recognised the stereotype instantly, and was pleasantly surprised, just like many others by their sudden change in tone for song. It is an excellent use of using location and it’s assumed knowledge and making a video more complex and interesting. It’s also gotten me to think of whether there is a hidden message condemning this underground JPOP shows, but for now I’ll just let you recover from this metal af clip.

3. Elastic Heart – Sia

My final music video is about the minimalism of location. It’s possibly just for aesthetic and practical purposes, but the setting for Sia’s “Elastic Heart” lets the audience take a step away from the where to focus more on the what. That sentence made more sense in my head, but what I’m trying to say is that with such very little going on in the background, the audience is able to solely focus on the action and performance in the video. I could care less where they actually are, I’m more intrigued by the cage and the reasons behind how they got in the cage. If there were to be colour and props lying about in frame, my attention would be divided between the dancers and the random things lying around. Sure maybe giving props and indication of a clear location may have been able to develop the story of what’s being told through movement, but I believe that there is definitely an art to having less.

So that’s it for now. I’m slightly growing tired after posting so many posts in a row. Hopefully the next few weeks I can spread them out and maybe provide a bit more insight on things.