ROMENA VASANTH
Initial Ideas:
Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams:
The concept behind this music video is very dynamic and from the start the audience are able to follow along with the storyline as the narrative progresses. It starts with serval smooth transition which jumps from one location to another so we have an idea of what is going on. So before the actual singing starts, the audience are aware that it is set in Africa through the ariel view shots, and that it is featuring a film set. This is done through the camera movement which pans from a lighting object to a director take board and this then builds the audience's interest. I like this Music video as it incoprates a narrative and uses many techniques as well as various camera angles and shot types to make the video different and hook the audience.
 Music Video titleHere there is a split screen between an aerial view of the location and the actress singing. The camera transitions from focusing from the animals running to Taylor singing. |  Wind motion through clothingThis is an interesting concept that I would like to use in my own work. Here Taylor's shawl is blowing in the wind and has been slowed down, to give it a cinematic effect. It appears throughout the video on different occassions where the cloth flows in the air and is shown through different angles and shots. This same concept appears in various other music videos such as "Selena Gomez - A year without rain" |  Close upIn this part of the song, the camera is close up to Taylor Swift's face whilst she sings. It is useful for making her the subject to focus on whilst having a clear view on her make up and facial expressions. |
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 LocationsThe shot is set in a different location where the camera pans from one side of the room to the other. From this we can see the different items in room which follows what is being said in the song. "Clothes are in my room" this assists to follow the narrative. |  Car sceneAt this point Taylor is looking back through the car and the camera zooms to the car wing mirror so we can see what is going behind the car. |  Sun set cloudsTime lapse of the clouds and the sun moving. This is a nice effect to have throughout the video. |
 Over the shoulder shotsideways tracking shot. The over the shoulder shot is as if the audience are looking through the actor's eyes. |  Focus pullIn this shot there is a focus pull where the background of the flashing lights are blurry and Taylor seems to be the main focus within the frame. The lights behind her and infront of her highlight her face well and gives her a better complexion. |  Medium close upThis is a very dynamic pose where Taylor tilts her head back and the clip is slowed down so that the shawl slows down in the movement of the wind. |
At first their romance seems really majestic with shots of them kissing and the camera slowly panning forward until their mouths meet whilst the camera zooms on Taylor's face and then instantly moves across to her co - actors face to highlight how she admires him and is singing the song about him. At 45 seconds there is no longer a film set but both actors standing together watching a sunset. This is shown with an over the shoulder shot with the bright light implying how everything is going well and seems dream like. However, this quickly jumps back to the film set to maybe suggest how Taylor is dreaming and truely loves her co - actor outside of acting. What is interesting is how the actors mouth moves along with the lyrics as though it is scripted for the film, which gives us a clearer sense of what is going on. "Say you'll see me again, even if it's just in your wildest dreams." Next at 58 seconds, there is a medium long shot of Taylor along with the landscape where it clear that she is again filming something as a man is standing there with a fan to achieve the effect of her long costume flowing in the wind. Taylor's outfit works well with the environment and shows effect use of mise en scene as the yellow is very bright and matches the colour of the field to show she fits in place. Her clothing is very elegant and flows to the wind which creates a cinemtic effect, there are parts to that shot where Taylor moves her hands with the shawl quickly then it is instantly slowed down to create this effect .Then moves back to an ariel view of a waterfall whilst Taylor stands there with Richard.
At the start of the second verse the location changes again to them being in a room where there are high angle shots of the room "his clothes are in my room" but as soon as the lyrics for "nothing lasts forever" the tone of the song suddenly changes along with their relationship and what is being shown. For instance, "but this is getting good now" there is an argunment on set which suggests the break down of their relationship and objects are being thrown around. But then they are shown to come together for the sake of the film because Taylor's expressions change from being upset to being in love. When the chorus starts again at 1:41 seconds the camera tracks a mini plane which seems very old fashioned because of the clothing Taylor is wearing and again they are shown to be in love because they are running around and he is spinning her. The camera shot continously changes from different angles because from 1:40 to 2:07 there are 14 different shots moving from the plane to back to the yellow dress flowing and then back to the interaction between the two actors. The pace of the shots start to cut quicker with many shots of lightnig and animals indicating the excitement of their love even with them kissing in the rain.
The end of the music video ties together the narrative as the location cuts to a Hollywood Premieur where Taylor sees her co - star with his wife an through the focus pulls we have a sense of her looking at this and feeling sad and remembering all the times they shared together. The video then ends with Taylor runnining from the Premieur and leaving in a Taxi, which the camera continues to track as we can see her co - star Eastwood running after her as the camera zooms to the wingmirror's reflection.
The song was recorded by Taylor Swift for her album "1989" and was released on August 31, 2015. "Wildest dreams" is a ballad with an element of dream pop where from the start it is clear that the narrative behind the music video is based on a love story. The lyrics show Taylor's desire for her lover to remember her, "Say you'll remember me..." but as the song continues the audience can see how their relationship progresses during their ups and downs. The camera motion is slowed down to give it the effect of being like a dream and in some parts romantic. The video was directed by Joesph Kahn who also worked on many others of Taylor's videos such as "Bad blood" and "Blank space" which both also take a creative direction. The video itself was filmed in Africa and Califonia and according to the director, "It was based on Classic Hollywood Romances like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, as well as classic movies like The African Queen, out of Africa and The English Patient."
When the music starts the camera moves around a film set slowly transitioning from film equiptment to arial shots of the location, to allow the audience have a sense of the atmosphere and what is going on. On this film set, Taylor stars as "Majorie Finn" whilst her co - actor Robert Kingsley (Eastwood) plays her lover. The first 13 seconds of the song before the singing starts there are ten different shots all taken at different levels and angles but using the same motion and pace to have the video move at the same rhythem of the song, for the introduction. When the names of the artist, director and song appear it is merged ontop of a wide long establishing shot then when the focus becomes more on the artist we have an close up of her face and an extreme close up of her eye. Also, the props within this music video are really important as they reveal clues for what is happening. For example, the directors board suggests to the audience that the music video itself is featuring a film set and the protaginists are playing to different characters. By doing this ot is easier for the audeince to follow the narrative along wth their love story.