3. Pre-Production: Visual Planning
• This section is concerned with the visual planning of your music video
• You should use this section to develop the sequencing or your video,
establish the relationship between the visuals and the track itself and
create a structure for you to follow when filming
• It is important that you ‘pre-visualise’ the video before you make it; it
will make filming and production a more streamlined process
• The following tasks are part of your visual planning
• Pre-visualisation and concept boards
• Storyboarding
• Shot list
4. Pre-visualisation/Concept Boards
• Tool for exploring the direction and visuals
• Provides inspiration and information for the “look & feel”
• Presents key moments in your video
• A means to sketch/plan ideas
• Information on colour/lighting
• Defining the “mise-en-scene”
• Include as much here as you like, but keep it relevant to the
production, the following slides have been left blank for you to
approach in your own way, add more as you need to
• Extension suggestion: edit a short sequence of clips that have
inspired or influenced your video [similar to this:
http://io9.com/5941145/this-directors-video-pitch-for-hunger-
games-might-be-better-than-the-real-movie]
5. Pre-visualization : First verse
• The music video will start out watching the woman struggle to sleep in a
darkened room. The song will kick in and the video will flash and become
transparent between 2 shots. When the first beat word comes in the shot
will transition into a much brighter orange lit room with a second actress
woman (Craziness) lurking above them. They should embody craziness with
overly frizzy hair, tattered clothing, over the top, poor quality make up, etc.
They will hold the woman's head and jitter frantically as the woman stares at
the camera incredibly still with wide open eyes and lip syncs the first 2 lines.
The camera will then pan to a multitude of shots. The woman will be sat on
the floor in her bedroom looking at a photograph of the man she is crazy for.
The shots should alternate between an over the shoulder focusing on the
photo, a close up of the woman's face as tears roll down her face. And a mid
range shot showcasing both in the room on the floor. During the line "Cause
I love me yeah I love me yeah I love myself anyway." The camera will
transition from a close up of the face into the first shot again however as the
shots cut between each other a clip of the woman and the man she likes will
flicker and will continue to emerge and settle throughout the duration of the
line.
6. Pre-visualization : Pre chorus
• The next scene takes place in a kitchen The woman will act similarly
to how she did in the first scene staring at the camera with wide eyes
lip syncing. The camera will be placed behind a kitchen counter
and raised to eye level. The entire pre chorus will be just one shot
and feature a specialized choreography of a morning routine. Two
hands on the sides will bring in and out props for the routine such as
coffee cups, kettles, newspapers, etc. The woman should quickly
use these as they are given to here from one side of the set and pass
them off the other side. All actions should be very stylized and over
exaggerated getting across a point of hyperactivity. Throughout the
scene "Craziness's" hands will be placed on the woman's wrists
controlling her movement. At the end it will poke its head out from
behind her.
7. Pre-visualization : Chorus 1
• The Chorus will be shown in the woman's room again. shots will
flicker between the woman and crazy which will show them in a
more broken down state and the woman is becoming more frantic in
her actions. This should look and feel a little bit like a dance
performance but it should clearly be more of a breakdown. The
choreography should be broken up with shots of the woman ripping
apart photos etc., Alongside crazy.
8. Pre-visualization : Verse 2
• The second verse will start with a close up shot of the woman at a
dinner table holding her head up with her hand and resting her
elbow on the table. On the line "have a drink on me cheers to the
failing" she should pick up a glass and gently shake it swirling the
liquids inside. The camera will be moved between the middle of the
table looking at the woman, an overview of the table with the
woman and crazy sitting each side from each other, and a side scroll
landing over crazy's shoulder.
9. Pre-visualization : Pre-chorus
• The pre chorus would continue from the previous scene where both
actresses lean across the table. The woman should look angry and in
denial of crazy as she doesn’t want to admit her feelings for the
guy. They should take turns "arguing" as the camera focuses on the
speaker and being placed over the others shoulder. During the 2nd
repetition of the pre chorus crazy should get up and walk over to the
woman saying the words to her whilst having a manipulative stance
all while keeping her insane look.
10. Pre-visualization : Chorus 2 and 3
• The second and last chorus will compilate earlier scenes such as the
opening shot with both women, the tearing apart of the room, crying
on the floor, etc. Look at previous notes for more details. The cuts
associated with these sections should be more fast paced and
frantic. The specific contents of the shots should always display some
sort of action, movement or another frantic / ''crazy'' display.
11. Pre-visualization : Bridge
• Since the bridge is only 10 seconds I think I could only be one shot.
The woman will simply be kneeling on the floor in a darkened kitchen
with the previously used table behind her. the camera will begin far
about mid range from the woman as she looks at the ground
(although still with visible lip sync) the camera will slowly move
towards her as she continues to lip sync and lift her head to look into
the camera. Once the beat / line comes in for the chorus the camera
should steadily yet swiftly track backwards before being cut into the
planned chorus shots
12. Structural breakdown
• Breakdown your track into it basic sections [e.g. intro, verse, chorus,
verse, etc] and apply broad visual ideas to each section
• You can use this as the master template for your production, then
add more shots to each section when you develop your full visual
plan
13. Structural breakdown – 1/3
Section [e.g. verse,
chorus, bridge, etc]
Approx
duration
( /s )
What happens, visual elements, shots Notes of technical aspects/requirements
Verse 25 Bedroom. 2 shots on the bed, 3 on the
floor. On the bed the woman stares eyes
wide into the camera lip syncing. On the
floor she is holding a picture of some
one and crying.
Pre chorus 18 A stylised choreograph morning routine.
Actions should be exagerated and
rapidly executed. All done in one shot.
Chorus 30 Shots will change between the woman
breaking down on her bed as well as
different positions of her rip up photos
and destroying her room.
14. Structural breakdown – 2/3
Section [e.g. verse,
chorus, bridge, etc]
Approx
duration
What happens, visual elements, shots Notes of technical aspects/requirements
Verse 20 The woman and crazy will be sat at a
dinner table. The woman is fed up with
her head on her hand resting on the
table, swirling the liquids in her drink,
Pre chorus 18 Continuation of the 2nd verse where the
two actresses begin to argue. Crazy
stands up and holds a manipuative
posture and facial tone whilst still
maintaining the image that makes her
crazy.
Chorus 30 1st compilation of previous
scenes. Movement should be rapid and
frantic. These traits should be shared
with the cuts and edits.
15. Structural breakdown – 3/3
Section [e.g. verse,
chorus, bridge, etc]
Approx
duration
What happens, visual elements, shots Notes of technical aspects/requirements
Bridge 10 Small, single shot. Simple zoom in –
zoom out. Try to steady the pacing so
the camera movements don’t look sharp
Chorus 30 2nd compilation of previous
scenes. Movement should be rapid and
frantic. These traits should be shared
with the cuts and edits.
16. Storyboarding
• Your storyboard should bring your idea to life
• Provide an idea of the sequencing of you video
• Provides a basis for production
• Suggested online storyboard creators are:
• https://www.storyboardthat.com
• http://www.pixton.com [very complicated]
• http://www.storyjumper.com [allows you to insert your own images]
• Alternatively, hand draw or photograph your storyboard and scan or
copy to insert it onto your slides
• There are lots of tips collected together on Blackboard!
19. Shot List
• Your shot list should contain the sequential breakdown of what you
need to shoot for your video – it is both a creative tool for planning
and practical tool for filming
• It should work in partnership with your storyboard
• It will be your working document when you film
• It should contain the shot number, scene number, shot description,
framing and action you will see
• It should also have information on performers in the scene and other
props, etc
• Shot list template is on Blackboard in the pre-production folder.
23. Production Group Info
• Include names, contact info, and defined roles at difference stages of
production, using a table is suggested
• Jemimah Collins : Crazy
• Hattie smith : Main artist (Back up: Rhiannon murphy)
• Dominic Cochrane : Love interest (Back up: Ryan Dobson)
24. Location information
• Information and images of your location[s] for filming
• You should have address details, clearance/premissions for filming,
recce photos and floorplans [including camera, equipment and
cast/crew layouts]
• Where possible, have a plan B fallback location option
• Assess each location for any issues and suggest solutions
• The shoot will only require a kitchen and a bedroom therefore we
could easily use a house whether that be mine or any of the other
cast members if necessary.
