MB: Track Response

What is the genre of the track? How can you tell?

 

Although only one instrument is pictured in this music video, the track clearly falls under the alternative rock genre when listening to the track itself. The instrumentation includes the drums (seen pictured), an electric guitar and a bass guitar. Also included is a retro style drum synthesiser, seen at the very beginning of the video

 

Do you think the track represents a hi or lo-fi video? Why?

 

I think this represents a lo-fi video, as while the band have an official Vevo page, used for their hi-fi videos, this video was published on their personal page, that they used before they were signed. Another way to tell is the quality of the camera used. While the band emphasise their desire to appear "retro", it is clear that this video was done on a relatively small budget, featuring only one shot frame for the majority and very basic editing techniques

 

What videos would be comparable?

 

 

 

I think that "Here It Goes Again" by OkGo is a comparable video, as it too features only one frame of shot, the difference being that OkGo filmed this video in one take, without any cuts to different locations as The Family Rain did. The tracks both fall under the alternative genre, and while somewhat disjunctive, they would both fall under the amplified style of music, as both keep in time with the track playing, leaving some connection between the video and the track

 

Both tracks were completed on shoestring budgets. While I couldn't find an exact figure, I biography of OkGo quoted, "With little money to make videos, OK Go got creative. They made their video for “Here It Goes Again” on a shoestring budget, and convinced their label that their fans would love it. The band put the video up on YouTube and millions of views later, everyone and their mom was talking about it"

 

Treatment

 

For my video to "On My Back" by The Family Rain, the story follows a man who is not necessarily down on his luck, but life is catching up with him and he doesn't like it. Work is a nightmare, he wife is constantly "On His Back", and so he turns to drinking. The video then follows the man late at night as he confronts both his boss and his wife, and perhaps some other important figures in his life. The video will feature some performance, both from the man lip syncing, and the band appearing at points, playing their instruments in the background

 

Locations

 

I had imagined the video to start of in a pub, with the man finishing off a pint of some kind. Once finished their, he will begin to make his way down the street, crashing into passers by unintentionally, somewhat similar to the video to "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve. He then visits his boss's house and confronts his, possibly violently before running back to his wife and confronting he also, but more like an argument. These two locations would be sitting rooms, or perhaps the hall at the front of a house

 

Grain of Voice/Characters

 

As mentioned previously, the main character, a man, would be lip syncing various part of the track as he was walking along. He would be the only character we'd need to consider based on the actual singer's voice, making sure the voice suited the person. Other characters would include the man's wife and his boss, but also the band who will be seen in the background several times. Various extras will be needed to act as passers by in the street at night, but they can be anyone

 

What pro-filmic and post-production special effects would be suitable?

 

Based on the conventions of The Family Rain's other videos, I would consider some light purple colour grading in post-production, as it gives the impression that video is set in a somewhat retro/vintage setting. However, the video will be set at night, and won't perhaps be as effective. As for pro-filmic effects, we may need some sugar glass bottles so we can safely shoot scenes where the man and his boss are fighting. This may mean we will also require some fake blood and prosthetics to simulate cuts and wounds

 

Who else would you need to "employ" to help you with this production?

 

Other than the actors, there are not many people that would be involved in the production, except besides extras. By chance, I happen to be in contact with the Family Rain quite regularly, and am keen to ask them whether they'd be interested in being part of the video. However, this is not necessary and would not effect the quality of the video, as they are all busy men. We would just have to employ other actors to be the band, or perhaps use ourselves