Mansard Roof Music Video Blog Post

Our song was Mansard Roof by Vampire Weekend. Our concept for this video was showing a group of friends as they experience a summer. We wanted it to subtly show a boy and girl within the friend group falling in love, then resulting in her moving away at the end. We wanted it to be a montage and to show summertime through the eyes of a teenager, while their was a story line going on.

In pre-production, concepting was hard because our director did not really have a vision for the film. Our director's only vision for the shots was "aesthetic" but no real direction or storyline. The DP and I really tried to save the concept for this video by adding a storyline. All of the pre-production work was really left up to the art director, DP, and editor to do because our director did not really know what they were doing.

Production was difficult. It is hard to create a video, especially one as daunting as this because of the montage, when our director has no vision. While filming, there was little to no communication from the director, whether that be helping with actors or framing a shot. The DP and I really did everything directing-wise ourself. I was the art director and I was working with the actors. The director had no leadership, vision, or advice other than just saying to "make it aesthetic."

Along the way I learned that the director really makes or breaks a project. A good director is supposed to lead and frame shots, talk to actors, and really have passion and a vision. Without a good director, the video will in the end have no meaning or passion.

With technical skills, I really got to work on working with a camera. I normally am not the camera person, but I got to help film a lot of this and it was really cool. I got to see what it's like behind the camera and how to frame a shot and make it interesting. Communication really lacked on this project, because our director did not know what they wanted, so the crew and cast had no clue what was happening most of the time. Collaboration was also lacking, because we felt like the director was forcing us to make this video and we got little to no leeway in trying to make something good. Leadership was lacking by the director, so the DP and I had to step up and take leadership. Project management was lacking as well. We were very underprepared to shoot, and that was because we had no vision or leadership.

I would do a lot of things differently. I would make the concept different. I would use better shots with zooms and more personality. I would have made the clothing a lot more aesthetic. I would have more shots for the montage. I would have a better storyline. We lacked on all these things and it really brought down the video. I would only use the same aesthetic and editing again. Everything else about the video I would change.

For my next project, I will emphasize leadership and communication and vision - because without those, a video will never be good.

Overall, it was not my worst work but it was for sure not my best work.

Music Video Professional Blog Post

This music video does not really have a cohesive storyline. it really is just the band sailing on a boat and other b-roll of the same kind of ocean aesthetic. It shows them being friends and playing instruments, as well as pictures of them and shots of the water. It really fits the song and gives off an almost English/The Beatles vibe.

As far as direction goes, I really love the directing in this. Mostly the overall just happy friendship vibes of the video. It does not have a storyline, but it is easy to watch and follow and the watcher does not feel lost in the video.

There was no cohesive story in this music video - it is really just centered around the band being friends. There's no beginning, middle, or end concerning a story. I feel as though this video was more focused on creating an aesthetic rather than an actual story line. The aesthetic is told through zooms and the various objects shown like the photographs and instruments.
One element I would apply to my own would be the use of zooms and close ups. I feel like it really makes the video personal. It also keeps the viewer interested because they do not know what is going to happen next. The zooms are more interesting than just standard, flat shots.
One element I have already learned that I see in this video is the use of all types of shots. There is a variety of close ups as well as wide and extreme wide. This makes the video diverse and interesting to the watcher.
The creator did well with making the shots interesting and visually pleasing. The shots fit the vibe of the video and none of them seem out of place or awkward.
The creator could have worked on making a story out of the video. It would have been a lot more interesting and really added to the overall viewing experience.
Overall, I really liked the video. It is very different, even for the time it was created. It conveys the uniqueness of the band and their music. The music video is very memorable. I really enjoyed it and I would watch it again for future reference.