Webchat with Professional Storyboard Artist

This morning our class were fortunate enough to speak to professional Storyboard Artist Alex Hillkurtz (http://www.alexhillkurtz.com/AlexHillkurtz.html). He has created storyboards for films such as Fifty First Dates, Nine, Night Witches and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.

                                             

                                                                                                                 

We were given the opportunity to ask Alex for advice on how to structure our storyboards, and get an insight into some of his work and experiances. I asked him what it was like to work with Tim Burton; and he replied that he was very busy whilst on set so they did not get the chance to personally meet other than on business terms. However, Alex did say that he had a personality very much like his films – interesting then?

Music Video Research – Animation

An animated music video is one which is completely computer generated, whether it be through ‘cartoon-like’ man-made drawings, but is linked to the actualy lyrics. For example, reference Nizlopi’s “JCB song”, directed by Laith Bahrani, which fits with its lyrics and music tempo perfectly with the cartoon land in the video; from Transformers to holding up traffic, and flying when the music tempo increases. Another music video with reference to animations is Flipron’s “Raindrops keep falling on the dead”, directed by Alex De Campi. The songs seem to be quite low and lyrical, almost storylike, which help the narrative of the cartoon. The characters feature are quite childlike in their composition which fits perfectly with the Nizlopi song.

Nizlopi – JCB song

Flipron – Raindrops keep falling on the dead

Music Video Research – Narrative

Music Videos that try to tell a story give a visual representation of what the lyrics are. However, the story does not have to do anything to do with the song lyrics, for example Coldplay’s music video “Strawberry Swing”, directed by Shynola is about a man, who turns into a super hero battling through situations thrown at him to save his ‘Princess’. This has no reference to the song lyrics, however still has a story line which goes with the song. A music video which has a visual illustration of the lyrics is Fall Out Boy’s “Dance Dance”, directed by Alan Ferguson. The story a school dance and several peoples experiances of it. These people cross over throughout the video, creating one big story line.

Coldplay – Strawberry Swing

Fall out Boy – Dance Dance

Music Video Research – Performance

A performance video is one that shows a band performance for the whole, or part of the video. They can be identified from a live band playing or the impression of a band playing. Examples o this can be seen in U2′s music video “Where the Streets have no Name”, which is directed by Meiet Avis. In this video is a live performance in front of a crowd, presumably during one of their tours. The audience can view everything which is going on, plus close-ups and full views of the crowd. The pans across the crowd set the atmosphere and make the audience feel part of the crowd, as if they’re there. This type of performance video acts as a substitute to actually being there. Another performance video, which is slightly different to U2′s, is Blink 182′s “What’s my Age Again”. In this video, there’s a performance and narrative. The storyline is not clear at all, it is simply the band running through a town naked. However the video makes the audience happy, there are no negative parts to the visuals or lyrics. It is all very optimistic. The narrative part keeps the audience interested, but also introduces them to the band. 

U2 – Where the Streets have no name

Blink 182 – What’s my age again

Music Video Research – Film Clip

A film clip music video is one which incorporates shots from the film on which it is based. For example Celine Dion’s “My Heart will go on”, directed by Billie Woodruffe. This video features many shots from Titanic but also of the singer – It therefore not only andvertises the film, but also the Singer. The same can be said for Take That’s “Rule the World”, directed by Barney Clay. This is filmed as they record the track, showing their performance and also shots from Stardust, with many clips of the ‘stars’, e.g Robert De Niro.

Celine Dion – My heart will go on

Take That – Rule the World

Music Video Research – Dance

A dance video is a media product that is normally recognised on a global scale as a piece of an up beat piece of music matched with scenes of dancing and enthusiasm to engage the audience targeted. Whether it was made in the 1950’s or 1990’s a music video should be iconic and remember able due to its repetitive beat or lyrics that are personal to the artist. All videos are unquiet as each artist has a different style of representing a message the want to address. For example, Madonna, the video “Vogue” produced by Shep Pettibone revolutionised the way in which people feel. She carried out a dance routine that is now remembered and repeated at discos etc and along with a strong narrative filmed throughout. The dancing that took place in clubs and underground locations where gay members of a community were categorised inspired Madonna. Like many other artists music videos and their content are aimed to stand out and create an impact on the viewers mind especially when techniques such as intertextuality are used where the audience can reflect on other films or famous actors etc that they have seen. A more current artist is Lady Gaga whom has produced many tracks that are also very popular with a wide audience due to their image and content. “Just dance” produced by Kim Dellora in 2008 hit the screens with a unique energetic performance with a simple dance routine that many could follow. Performers use their image and define it by the props, location and lyric choices, as this is not only a form of advertisement and recognition yet keeps the music industry current and forms entertainment.

Madonna – Vogue

Lady Gaga – Just Dance

Music Video Research – Club

The 1990’s was a revolution for club music as new technology such as a drum machine and synthesisers enabled Dj’s to create their own music and apply their styles. Club music is a genre of house/dance music yet is different in the way that repetitive bass lines and more strength in a beat is recognised. Many artists actually combine their voices in a duo act for example, Kelly Rowland and David Guetta, “When love takes over” is a very powerful club song. The two make the song more dynamic and add their personal touch unlike a typical dance video where a routine is used and is more organised. I find club music more unusual and personalised with combined sound effects played In nightclubs and bars rather than a karaoke or disco etc. A current artist is Cascada whom has recently released a song called “Evacuate the dance floor” which was a great success as the director Joseph Khan set the video in a night club and addressed a fun, up beat mood. There is less of a story line due to the concept that it will be played in a club or at a beach party where the audience feel as thought they are part of the set.

David Guetta – When Love takes over

Cascada – Evacuate the Dancefloor

Music Video Research – Concept

A music video with a concept is one that has an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from a specific instance. Black Eyed Peas music video “Where is the Love?”, directed by William Adams, is a music video with a concept. The video and concept relate directly to the song lyrics. The song is about war, fighting and poverty. The question marks relate to the question “Where is the Love”. The concept of this song is meant to send out a strong message, which will be heard by millions od people world wide. With a popular band performing the song, the message will get across to all kinds of people. However, not only will the video send out a message, it will also promote the  band. Whenever people think of that concept; they will link it to the band and their ethical generous deed.

Another music video with a concept is Christina Aguilera “Beautiful”, the concept to her music video is that everyone is beautiful in their own way. That the usual idea of beautiful is not a true representation of what people find attractive and what people genuinely look like, it shows that you do not have to have a certain look about you to be liked and loved.

Black Eyed Peas – Where is the Love?

Christina Aguilera – Beautiful

Music Video Research – Gag

Eminem’s “Ass Like That” is a clear example of a Gag music video. It has a humorous element to it, and the Audience will often find Gag music videos offensive. It is usually sectioned into several different themes, for example; comedy, violence and bizarre. The aim is to make the audience want to continue watching the video as it encourages them to question the strange events. Another example for a Gag music video is Tool’s “Prison Sex”, directed by Adam Jones. This video holds a bizarre element, it establishes there is no reality in the video. It is compiled of Stop motion animation, with plasticine models and “shoebox” scenery.

Eminem – Ass like That

Tool – Prison Sex