Feedback for "Let the Sun Shine" Music Video

Here is the Feedback for our music video given to use by our Teacher and our Classmates on Friday 25th March 2011. We all watched "Let the Sun Shine" and other peoples music videos with other bands in which we all exchanged opinions and praise. The feedback were based around the questions below. Does the Music Video work with the Song Lyrics/Music? "Yes, i think its an excellent representation of a lost person finally finding a reason to live again" "I think the song is lovely, how it is transformed from club music to a melody with meaning and heart" "A nice relaxed feel to it and the band are well suited to the music video" "The Bass players need more screen time in the music video i think" "I love your reactions, George!" Anything to suggest? "Need a final shot of the two main characters together" "Maybe its a bit too dark?" "I would have like to have seen a wider range of locations in the Music Video" "Bit of a polish with more Wide Shots" "Would like to see more of the Larkin' Around" "Either need more of the flashing light effect or none at all" "Interested to see a CD cover" "Maybe a bit more colour for the sunshine, making it more dominant" Representation? "Calm band, relates to The Red Hot Chilli Peppers" "Indie, anti-superstar representation of the band" "Slightly Charty" "Similar to Nickelback, Blink-182 or Kings of Leon (the band)" What did you like in the Music Video? Editing & Creativity? "The Black and White works very well in the music video" "It's great being up close to the lead singer during the chorus" "The RED effect is very nice, a good representation of romance in a B&W video" "I like the darker contrast effect" "The pace and mood is brilliant, easy to follow and keeps with the speed of the music" "Narrative works quite well"

The Room: Setting for the Music Video

Here are some pictures of the location used in the music video; the bands (Distractions) performance area. This is the location which I thought brought out the natural basic rehearsal effect, not for work but for fun. These pictures mainly focus on the instruments that the band plays but it still gives you a general idea of where they performed. There are some pictures of the Recording Studio that was next door which was where some of the music video was filmed i.e. Larkin' around flashbacks and Light effects. I thought it would be a good idea to create this post to show audiences where it all began for Distraction.

Storyboards for Music Video (Plan)

The storyboards were compulsory to the Planning and Development area of the project however I now know that thet demonstrate the very first basic plan we had for the narrative (a quick example of a treatment) and how we would put it all together on Final Cut Pro. I drew all the sketches and action description with a bit of help from my group, they were coming round to the idea of making it a romance because I said that it will go well with the lyrics and music. I intended to do at least 3-4 scenes of the male and female characters becoming closer to each other emotionally after the meet cue but due to the length of the song and the main plan was to promote the band so we could not let the narrative dominate the music video. After the meet cue there will be one more scene before the final shot. Altogether our narrative probably fits the duration of 1min 30secs. There was no mention of the B&W and RED effect at this early stage of the project.

"Let the Sun Shine" Lyrics + Pictures (Distraction)

I feel a cold flush going through my hair
and hey you know what
I don't even care
The time has passed me by
Its gone with the wind
Its all because the sun shined once again
Now the party's on
Everybody's there
And if you don't know anyone
You'll still meet some new friends
That's the way it is
When i have myself a drink
All because the sun shines once again

Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine baby
Let it all go
Let it all go baby
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine baby
Let it all go
Let it all go baby

So turn the lights off
Ain't no one afraid
When the night comes
It'll be just like the day
And without the day light
I am glowing from within
All because the sun shined once again
So play that sweet tune
Play it through the air
And the volume

Raise it up
Don't you ask me twice
You know i'm gonna bid
All because the sun shined once again

Let the sunshine
Let the sun shine baby
Let it all go
Let it all go baby
Let the sun shine
Let the sun shine baby
Let it all go
Let it all go baby

I know that the world is gonna smile again
When we go from the darkness into the light
Ohhh

Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine baby
Let it all go
Let it all go baby
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine baby
Let it all go
Let it all go baby (x2)
Let the sunshine yeahyeah eh eyy

The (In Depth) Treatment for the Music Video

Distractions Performance
Our band Distraction will be the main feature throughout the music video despite our dark romantic narrative; our aim is to promote the band. We will be filming in the college music room just next door to the recording studio where the band creates their magic. The room was quite cramped for a performance however I thought that it would work well as it would show the authentic "beginning" that Distraction had at SNC. It will be quite simple to fit them all in a camera shot together but we will do several run throughs of the band performing their song "Let the Sun Shine" The focus will be on the band as a whole but I think we should add a little extra focus to the main singer because his voice dominates the track. CUs and mid-shots of each performer, using at least 3 long shots from different points and angles in the room in order to capture the bands performance as a whole. I may pull some focus away from the bass players in the music videos final edit as there are 2-3 of them; the melody they create supports the song perfectly so I will not make their presence completely unknown. Going through several takes of the song and each time focusing on different performers i.e. drums, lead guitar, pianist etc. We will hand the camera to Distraction and let them mess around with it in order to capture them away from strangers and it will go well with the tech shots to create a compilation of the recording studio. We will also use a B&W effect on their performance in order to blend them in with the narrative.

The Narrative
We will start of with some long shots to establish both the male character and the setting, also I think it will help the audience notice the B&W effect in the narrative. An interesting low-angle shot of the male charater on the balcony of the atrium as it portrays him looming over the other students yet he is powerless, make the brightness and contrast a bit deeper to show his dark mood; possibly noticeable to audience. The computer screen effect would be perfect to give artificial light to the dark surroundings - CU, reaction shot to computers failed search of his identity. The hallways of the media department are usually deserted in lesson hours so it will be perfect to film part of the narrative there which will help further separate our tortured male character from the rest of the world, I was hoping to film an additional scene featuring Distraction - a long shot to show them kicking out the male character from the band making him an outcast and giving him some origin in the narrative however it seems unlikely and I think Distraction are not the narrative type of band. In order to shed some light onto the narrative I think it will be interesting to move the setting outdoors yet still keeping it in B&W which will help with the lightening of the mood when the male will notice the female character and then the romance genre will come into play. Filming Charlotte will consist of a few long shots; introducing her to the narrative as a random student, the camera will pan horizontally when she walks. A quick jump cut, CU reaction shot of the male noticing her. A point of view shot watching her as she walks past him without noticing his gaze. After the elongated chorus performance by Distraction will lead to the introduction of the meet cue between the two characters causing the lust to become mutual, CUs of the eyes and hands as we will do the traditional scene of teenagers meeting in school. The RED effect will be used to symbolise the love in order to do this we will use red clothing/accessory items. A few more scenes like the meet cue will eventually lead to the final shot of the male and female character together which will be the perfect final shot, possibly fade to black.