Styles
Catcallsofnyc
This instagram page is a major inspiration for my film, as it confronts the same social problem. I am using certain images as references for my final product, and through this I am assuring that I’m using reputable sources and the truth in my product. The use of colourful chalk makes the comments more engaging, and gets the attention of a larger audience. The campaign being run by this account is based off the idea of stopping street harassment across the globe, and I am trying to channel this in my film.
Si un jour
This music video is set in the French streets at night; it focuses on the seductive nightlife and the emotions that are present in the dark. The video uses a hand-held camera, and by choosing this style they create a dirty, grunge look, which is very relevant to my film. The lighting used creates an ambiance that focuses on the unknown and spontaneous French characters; a sense of importance is evident.
The use of low-key neon lighting in various shots gives off a carefree vibe, where nothing is of great importance. Aesthetically, the colours give life to the shot and produce a captivating image. I am going to explore the use of handheld camera in my film, due to the subtle feelings of incoordination and carelessness produced. The lighting of Si un jour will also be a resourceful point, as it mixes the neo-noir genre with the French nightlife. The dark colours of artificial yellows and reds paints an urban image, and my film is set in dark, mysteriously empty streets just like the setting of this music video. The colours will help establish my protagonist, and the lifestyle he lives by. The stylistic choices in Si un jour will heavily influence the outcome of my media product.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4bXHMZIpFg
Elle ne t’aime pas
This music video, also by the artist above, has a grunge, cold atmosphere. Like most of La Femme’s videos, the film is shot hand-held in the cold world of French night. The grunge style of this video is alike other European artistic films, and the atmosphere of a cold night is presented through the use of lighting and colour.
From this music video, the artificial lights that encompass the frames inspire me. The opening shot is also a point of influence, as it shows the feet of people on the wet road, the reflection of neon lights bouncing off the water. I think this video will be reflected in my final film as it uses lighting and water to produce a kind of grungy and cold aesthetic, perfect for the protagonist in my film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqskv6TAkT4
Gare Du Nord
Although much of my inspiration comes from music videos and their use of neon lighting to convey emotion, this video’s use of location and manipulation of artificial lighting relates immensely to my video. The shots have a yellow tone, and the trains passing give a sense of coming and going. The shadows created by the streetlights also enforce an ominous mood, and adheres to the grunge style relevant to my product. The stylistic choices of lighting, colour and location are very close to what I aim to create in my final film. The camera work is also something I am taking note of, as the framing and composition is carefully executed. In the screenshots shown, I can note that the filmmaker wanted their audience to understand that the female is the main focus of the scene. By placing her in the middle of the frame, using a medium shot and positioning her so that the lights fall evenly onto her, the audience can tell that she is important. I hope to use these same techniques to tell the audience important information on the protagonist of my film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NoFd-ruKws
Drop the Game
After watching through this video numerous times, I notes various aspects of style that will have a huge influence in my own final product. This was filmed in a Brooklyn side street, which is relevant due to the location of my film. The use of street lights, colours and water create an eerie and desolate atmosphere. Although the lighting and colour use is of great inspiration, I also must admire the camera work. Many of the cuts are shot in a low depth of field, where the audience can see the street blurred out, and the dancer as the object. By choosing this, the artist has brought attention to the actions, rather than the setting, yet the blurred lights and wet roads work well with the moves the dancer does. The shots are cold, with the clue lights complimenting the wet road. It gives a great sense of involvement, and every aspect makes it feel as if the audience is there with the dancer. This engagement is important for a film, and I hope to channel this into my own film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0DvjgagJko
This music video is a greats stylistic inspiration for me due to the narrative and the use of lighting. It is another example of a film shot at night, but half of it is in a club where the lights are neon and gives the scene a nostalgic, depressing feel. The narrative is so engaging as it shows someone who is very alike to my protagonist; he is a troublesome kid who has nothing better to do than mess around. Although the video shows his journey through the night, I also admire the non-linear timeline as it gives the music video a rounder and fuller feel.
The way the character’s journey through the streets is portrayed is a really key thing I am trying to get across in my own narrative. Although there isn’t exactly a 3 act structure, the rawness of the emotions of the character makes it engaging and gives the narrative more depth. The audience follows this young man as he throws himself at girls, parties and drunkenness, all in a way to avoid the memory of his ‘first love’ (which is the subject of the song). This portrayal of emotion and instability is really key to adding depth to a character, and I want to try and channel this through my narrative by using song and performance.
Skins is a big stylistic inspiration for my film, due to the dark tones it conveys, the subject matters and the stylistic choices made in the creation of it, specifically the character development. Often in media there is the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ character, generally the audience only see’s the villainous side of the ‘bad’ character, but Skins does something different. They present this bad character ‘Cook’ and slowly reveal the choices behind his actions, and the heart he really has. The creators do this by showing his good and bad sides, sometimes he acts out and his personality is terrible, but other times he is tender and broken. Through portraying both ranges of emotions on screen, Cook’s character develops extreme depth and the audience begins to feel sympathy for him. He is still seen as the trouble maker, and not liked by many, but his actions are backed up and justified to an extent.
I really like the use of Cooks character in the show, and I am going to use him as an inspiration to the protagonist in my film. My protagonist is conventionally bad, but I don’t want the superficial layers of his personality to only be show, I want his emotions and reasons for doing certain things to be the key aspect of himself.
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