Initial Idea one

Heaven - Amber Run

My primary idea for a music video that my group and I could possibly consider is the effective and successfully created song, ‘Heaven’ established by a smaller band called ‘Amber Run’ in 2013.

Amber Run is a British founded band from Nottingham, including five young and talented males. The band have successfully released one album and also three EP’s during their journey. The highly celebratory label, RCA Records signed the boys, clearly appreciating their love for the genres indie pop, rock and alternative rock. The band are an organic act as their star image isn’t presented on any of their album covers, showing the band are more interested and care more about their music then their image. The band also shows similarity to the successful artists ‘Mumford & Sons’ due to Amber Run’s tilt in direction of folk pop. From completing research into the band, I find it very interesting and important to widen my knowledge of Amber Run and build more of a connection between them and myself.

Music Video 
For my take on the music video, my concept will be a visualised, creative and performance-based. For example, it will be centered around a group of youthful young individuals simply hanging about and aimlessly swinging on swings, hop scotching one foot to the other, jumping over ropes and brainlessly playing bat and ball. This would be located in an open, urban and deserted playground. The light will fall into a haze and will hopefully be developed into a warm setting of ray’s of sunlight on a cold murky morning. 

During this narrative, the boy’s intention is to subjectively hang out with their friends, socially aiming to have fun in a playground. I intend to use various different shots to capture the images I have in mind. For example, I will use extreme long shots or aerial shots to follow and establish the setting and scene. I also wish to use long shots, mid long shots, close ups, extreme close ups, over the shoulder shots and many more during the scene to grasp all the entertaining events happening. I think these shots and scenes would allow for fantastic, effective and great visuals.

The boys will consistently play around with the equipment provided at the playground but some of the boys are carrying rucksacks with colour filled balloons inside the bags. As the boys continue to play, they become more excited and friendly with one another and this leads to the boys getting the coloured balloons out. The young males will start playing with the balloons and then one will throw one of the balloons at the bat and it will burst the colour and excitement. The coloured balloon is almost the climax of the whole playground scene. This will add a sense of colour and engaging visuals will be produced. So therefore, when louder more increased sounds are developed in the song, the movement will echo this and also get bigger and develop, to fit successfully with the music.

As I am aware for a successful, creative, engaging and aesthetically pleasing video I should include three different elements to be video. For instance, the playground and people surrounding it but also for this particular song the idea of a band singing and playing directly to the camera. 

For instance, I will have five individuals taking the roles of each instrument, such as, using guitars, bass, piano and vocals to mime the songs sounds. Essentially as there are lots of various chords and keys used throughout the song, the instruments will act as a vehicle to represent this through close up shots and extreme close up shots of individuals playing.


So therefore, there will be two major sets for the video. For example, the performance space for the band, which will be located in the studio. Lights will play a big role in the studio with the band and I will enhance the use of shadows and appreciate playing around with lighting throughout. For instance, the idea of using chiaroscuro lighting will fit in with this. The set will be very simplistic, including a brick or dirty wall behind them, as I wish to concentrate on the instruments and sounds made from the band. The other major set is the lively, exciting and uplifting playground, which will contrast and cut well with the minimalistic and simple studio band set.

Throughout the music video, I will constantly cut between the band playing and the individuals gathering around in the playground. I will also begin to cut between close ups of fingers on instruments, for instance in between strings of a guitar or a mouth by a microphone. I will cut this with close ups and extreme close up shots of the equipment at the playground, for instance ropes dropping, swings swinging and feet scotching.

The mise-en-scene of the video will be highly concentrated on to achieve the correct and successfully portrayed creative effects I am trying to achieve. For instance, the costumes for the band will be fairly dark and simple, including basic tees and jeans, to fit with the rock genre and style of the band; but, have some alternative twists to their outfit for example, either having very colourful query and unique shoes, rings or glasses. Also, the male individuals at the playground will be wearing basic colours as well so there costumes do not clash with the powerful colours of the balloons being thrown. For instance, they will wear similar clothes to the band but add more colour. I intend to put some glitter on the faces of both the band and the playground young individuals. This will therefore show a link between both individuals in the band and in the playground.

Quantity	Prop	Scene
1	Guitar	Studio
1	Base guitar	Studio
1	Microphone	Studio
1	Keyboard/piano	Studio
3	Backpack	Playground
2	Skipping rope	Playground
5	Colour filled balloons	Playground
2	Bat and ball	Playground

As the song is already filled with many different echoes and masses of elements already, I want the music video to be straightforward and clear to balance the sounds and movement out. Amber Run is also an organic act, following Negus’ theory and therefore the star image of the band is suitably succeeded. Similarly, as the genre of the band is indie pop the individuals uniquely playing in the playground fits this and the rock elements of the band echo these elements perfectly.