Initial Ideas and Perceptions

Due to the name of the song - "The Fight" - My initial thoughts were to create a video featuring an array of martial arts sequences to embody the metaphor of the song, however, due to practicalities I decided to take a more pragmatic approach and use some actors

Ideas

Combat montage: I thought that in order to body the metaphor of the song, I could use some martial art/combat specialists to emphasize the frustration of the singer, I would preferably use a martial arts specialist or a boxer, this would adhere to the songs message and convey the struggles of the protagonist. One of the most recent examples of a music video like this would be Maroon 5 - One More Night in which lead singer Adam Levine is shown in a number of shots training intensely in a boxing gym for a number of scenes/shots until the video culminates in a big fight. This video serves as a useful reference point on which to base some of my ideas should I choose to use this idea. This idea would have to involve a series of close - ups and extreme close ups to capture the emotions of the protagonist. In addition to this, the most intense scenes should be used as the song is in the chorus, as this is when the song is at it's loudest. If I were to apply this idea to my video, the fight scene would have to happen towards the end of the video to keep the audience in suspense. During the fight, a shot reverse shot must be used (whilst adhering to the 180 degree rule) to convey to the audience that the two parties are very much against each other, however, when the protagonist and coach are training together they must be presented through the use of a two shot to connote unity. The environment in which this video is set is of paramount importance: it would require a boxing gym to stage training sessions and give the video a sense of verisimilitude, therefore having more of an effect on the audience as the text will have more cinematic credibility.

Performance video: I would also like to explore the idea of having a performance video for the band, as my research has informed me that many bands similar to the band I am creating for have taken this approach to music videos. For example, Guns N' Roses have made two very successful performance videos with hits "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City". One commonality among these videos is the use of monochrome effects that connote a very vintage and minimalist approach to music and reflect the artist's musical ideologies. Also, a band performing in a video for which they have quite a lot of creative freedom reinforces the minimalist approach to music, as it shows them doing what they have done for there entire career - performing their songs for the fans - with the omission of any drastic special effects. This video would require the use of some wide shots to represent the band as a cohesive whole, before using close-ups/extreme close-ups on each member of the band individually, placing special emphasis on certain members of the band depending on the juncture of the song i.e. if there is a guitar solo, emphasis will be placed on the guitarist. I have also contemplated the idea of using a number of extras to pose as fans, however, I felt this would be too difficult as it would be incredibly difficult to organise such a plethora of actors and it could also incur unnecessary costs for actors/extras who are not needed.

Development from adolescence ( narrative video): Whilst the song encapsulates many of the negatives elements of an intimate relationship, it also describes how relationships can elicit immaturity but also become mundane, hence the line "Our youth you've strangled from us has brought me to this state" - commenting on how love can constrict our personalities. Therein, I plan to construct a video that revolves around younger actors in order to get an idea across - the idea that our behaviour in relationships does not differ much regardless of our age, that we manifest similar characteristics whether in the midst of a silly playground romance or a long-term relationship. This is why I may use younger actors, is it almost simplifies the problems we face in loving relationships. This will use a series of shot-reverse-shots to emphasise the burgeoning animosity between the two, rather than presenting them in a two-shot, which would connote that they are together and there is no discord between them. As per usual, it will also have to include an array of close-ups/extreme close-ups to capture the expressions of the actors in order for the audience to empathize. I believe the binary opposition between young and old and love and hate really encapsulates the meaning of the song.