New shot idea: graveyard visitation

Very recently the idea of additional locations in my video have arisen, most notably a graveyard.  The shots will be taken in the gloomy autumnal weather during the day. The location of the graveyard plays upon themes such as mortality, loss and longing, as well as adding a secondary reason for the protagonist's melancholy state. The Elm Hill shots in turn can be interpreted as some kind of spirit world.

Actors and costumes in Insomniac

Insomniac focuses solely on the activities of a technically nameless and troubled young male aged roughly between 16-25 (placed more or less on the lesser end of the scale) of white English nationality, middle to middle-working class background and secluded in nature. For reasons involving convenience and seizing full artistic freedom in the video, along with the protagonist being planned as the only active character in the video, I will be playing my central role. The appearance of the protagonist is consistent with my target audience: a young person, visibly within the 16-25 demographic, who is of mostly average build and passable physical health, wearing their hair down in a relaxed, unconditioned yet clean fashion at a length still widely socially acceptable on males. Because The Jubilees are an all-male band and far from a manufactured vocal group, their audience will statistically contain a higher ratio of males, therefore this section can relate easily to the protagonist. Females can still be appeased by the video, possibly in sex appeal, but most likely in sympathy or even concern for the protagonist. Both genders in the audience can relate to the protagonist's Indie/rock style and thus focus in on the primary product of the band.

The protagonist

               Name: Unspecified
               Age: 17 (born in 1994)
               Gender: Male
               Nationality: White British
               Place of Birth: Norwich, England
               Profession: Unemployed/student

The protagonist of the video is a primarily middle class, white British male who lives with his parents in a Norwich suburb. His daily routine, in his opinion, is monotonous, boring and repetitive. He often has trouble sleeping due to this overbearing feeling of dissatisfaction with his life, as well as the stresses of the adult world. He takes a variety of pills to get up in the morning, get to sleep at night and generally cope, though not all of these pills are prescribed or taken in the correct doses. Though he leaves the house for walks into town or to the graveyard his lifestyle is a solitary one. He has a history with underage drinking and has used alcohol with his pills on more than one occasion. His sleeping problems have recently worsened: for him the boundaries between dream and reality have blurred and he is standing on the brink, sleepless and erratic.


Costume consists of:

Mid-range, unbranded slim-fit Primark t-shirt, black
Pair of North Coast (M&S) regular straight-legged jeans, slightly worn, darker end of blue
(image of jacket to be added)





The dark lack of colouration in the shirt mirrors the general negative mood of the video and the protagonist's emotional state. The absence of brand labels eliminates any copyright issues. The slim style of the shirt is fairlu contemporary, being a common item of clothing in the fashion of the last decade and the casual feel of a t-shirt  fits in with the up-to-date and relaxed style of the Indie/young alternative demographic. The jeans are similarly linked to the audience in their immense popularity for use in everyday life. The choice was made not to use skinny jeans so as to allow access for the less die-hard fans of the Indie fashion. The coat is practically designed for use in Winter, which reflects the somewhat careless choice of clothing that the protagonist makes, wanting clothes that are as cheap and practical as possible. The weather in the morning shots is deceptively mild, with bitterly cold air, reflecting the protagonist's grim state of mind, whilst the night shots have no coat, distancing them from reality. The plausibility of the protagonist owning such clothes is high as both the shirt and trouser pieces were bought locally and cheaply, the coat being slightly more expensive (roughly £30). The protagonist's hairstyle is of a typical length for boys and young men who are fans of the Indie niche, a style popularised in the current generation by bands such as the Strokes. Make-up will be minimal, mostly to cover up blemishes as they arise during filming. For some of the night scenes I have planned to darken the area underneath the eyes subtly to give the impression of shadows or bags under the protagonist's tired eyes. The shape of my eye sockets allows for very accentuated lines and shadows, giving the impression that the protagonist has been awake for an unhealthy amount of time, or is in a general state or ill health.

Intertextual references to other sources in 'Insomniac'

My music video is planned to contain a handful of references to the Anton Corbjin film 'Control'. The film charts the short life of Joy Division front man Ian Curtis, from prior to the formation of the band and his marriage to Deborah Woodruff to his suicide in 1980.

The subject of alcohol is blatant in the film, with Ian going to the pub to drink on various occasions. The alcohol may be contributed to the violence of his depression-induced mood swings and the loss of control in his life. The protagonist of my video is also hinted to be dabbling with alcohol and prescription drugs. The film also contains many memorable shots using the rule of thirds, with characters filling one section to the side of the shot. I plan on incorporating the rule of thirds into my video on various shots, and the specific shot of Ian sitting in front of the bed to the side has inspired me to use a similar shot.

The opening scene of Danny Boyle's 'Shallow Grave' has also inspired me to experiment with certain shots, specifically the spinning bird's eye view/close up of Chris Eccleston's character.

Though I am currently unsure whether or not the shot will work or even be used in the final cut, I plan to attempt it or a similar shot focusing on my protagonist in his bed. A shot in this format will connote the confusion the protagonist is feeling and the ambiguous dream-like composition of the closing half of the video. A similar rotating shot is used in Sam Raimi's 'Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn', though on a much larger scale and nauseatingly quick. The format seen in Shallow Grave will be my favoured method.

The use of the cobbled streets of Elm Hill in the dream sequence directly links back to a lyric from 'The Sound of Silence' by Simon and Garfunkel:

The imagery in the line 'In restless dreams I walked alone, narrow streets of cobblestone' has inspired the outdoor section of the dream sequence in my production. The reference is quite literal in the inclusion of Elm Hill and its narrow cobblestone roads during what is hinted to be one of the protagonist's dreams. The lonely old streets of 1940s Vienna as seen in The Third Man have also served as inspiration for this segment. The Sound of Silence was also featured most recently in the 2009 film adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel Watchmen, playing partially during The Comedian's funeral. The themes of civil unrest in Watchmen and specifically The Sound of Silence may be appealing to the general demographic of 16/18-25 year old young alternatives in my audience wanting to rebel against the social norms. Similar appeal could be found in the protagonist of Insomniac, who himself is of a similar age group to my target audience.

The autumnal graveyard location, added as a source of the character's melancholy (either due to a deceased loved one or the contemplation of his own encroaching death) and change of scene, promotes an almost horror-like atmosphere of dread which the protagonist feels. The daylight cemetary references the opening scene of Night of the Living Dead, in which Barbra visits a grave with her brother before the situation dawns on them. The autumn setting also echoes John Carpenter's Halloween, specifically the near opening shot of the falling leaves.

Narrative Structure and editing of my video

The narrative structure of 'Insomniac' is intended to be mostly chronological as the events of the video happen in succession and in order. Parts of the video will be presented as flashbacks to events prior to the beginning of the video, such as the protagonist's substance abuse. As in the Foo Fighters' video for 'Long Road to Ruin' these flashbacks will tell some elements of the story as the main narrative moves chronologically.

In the first half of the music video the protagonist's average day speeds by from waking up in the morning to coming home & going to bed in little detail, therefore the video may contain elements of montage, shifting into a slower, more flashback-centric phase in the second half, charting the rest of the night for the protagonist. The video will not be featuring a performance from any band, focusing purely on the storyline. A similar approach can be witnessed in the Arctic Monkeys video for 'Fluorescent Adolescent.' Both videos are potentially humorous, though the latter is somewhat of a perverse slapstick instead of a parody. The fast-paced editing and physicality of the video has inspired me to attempt something similar with my video, possibly by speeding up sequences or focusing on exaggerated body movement.

Props for use in 'Insomniac'

Semi-realistic toy gun

This prop was first bought when I was very young on a visit to Disneyland Paris. I recently found the prop again and decided it would be appropriate to use in the video. The gun is not entirely to scale, but the handle is easily concealed when held by an actor. The labels are small enough not to be noticed on a glancing shot and the prop itself is far more realistic than any cheaply purchased toy guns on sale in the UK today. Due to changes in regulations toy guns must be brightly coloured so as not to cause panic in the streets. Having bought the prop in the 1990s in Europe the toy itself is much more realistic, crafted mostly out of metal and coloured correctly, with a working trigger and rotating barrel.

Selection of pills (multivitamin & foreign generic pills x2)

As part of the substance abuse theme I chose to use a variety of pills. The small, grey container is a selection of multivitamins and the two generic pill containers were taken by my father on a business trip to Asia. The purpose of the pills is ambiguous; they could be sleeping pills, pills for getting up in the morning, a terminal or chronic illness, or merely a variety of over-used prescription medicines (chiming in with the destructive lifestyle and tiresome life of the protagonist).

Bottle of beer (branded)


Keeping with the destructive substance abuse theme, a bottle of alcohol will also be featured, touching on the themes of alcoholism and under age drinking. The protagonist will either hold the bottle over the label to conceal the brand or display it in full if I decide that the label should be removed. A paper bag may also be used to cover the label.

Initial storyboard for 'Insomniac' (rough)

These are the storyboards to my music video for 'Insomniac' by The Jubilees. They roughly display the planned shots for the video with transitions and sound. A set of neater and more accurately illustrated storyboards are planned for later in the process, though this set of shots will be used for filming.

Pitch for music video

My music video for Insomniac by the Jubilees will tackle such themes as insomnia, sanity, suicide and drug abuse, touching on fears and anxieties held by many teenagers concerning their futures and emotional states, including myself. The story follows a young man who is tired of the lifestyle he is living to the point of huge physical and mental strain. The video begins with him going about his daily routine in fast-forward. When he returns home and collapses into bed, he wakes up in the night and cannot sleep. After trying to settle, he gets up from bed and begins to lose his sanity as he cannot face what his life has become. Then, in a possible dream sequence, he leaves the house in a daze, wandering the streets for what could be hours. Flashbacks of substance abuse occur and visions of a graveyard, representing his death, appear before him. Exhausted by the entire experience, he comes home and fires a bullet into his head, immediately cutting to him awaking in bed. Whether or not the content of the video was a dream is never revealed.

Shooting Schedule

As I am the only performer and crew member in the production of Insomniac, I have had free reign over times at which to film. FIlming has taken place during the Summer Holidays and September.

1st Elm Hill shoot - 14th August
2nd Elm Hill shoot - 19th August

1st interior shoot - 20th August
1st exterior day shoot - 20th August
2nd interior shoot - 25th August
2nd exterior day shoot - 26th August

3rd Elm Hill shoot - 29th August
3rd exterior day shoot - 29th August
3rd interior shoot - 20th August
4th interior shoot - 1st September

Extra Elm Hill shoot - 2nd September

Locations for filming

I will be using my own bedroom for the sequences of the video in which the protagonist is in their bed, pacing about their room, falling asleep/getting up, etc. Other areas of the house, such as the landing and bathroom, may also be used in for the daytime montage and aimless wandering. The bedroom signifies a place where the protagonist can retreat, where they can try to wind down and relax (though this effort will be futile in the video). The exterior shots during the day will be filmed on Sigismind road, Trafford road and Rowington road for their close vicinity. The houses in the area are small and terraced, and clearly British. The night shots will occur entirely at Elm Hill, a historically significant cobbled area of Norwich.

Mood Board

This is the mood board I was required to create to present ideas for the upcoming music video for 'Insomniac'. They include the use of a small toy gun as a prop, the themes of sleep deprivation and substance abuse, locations around the city of Norwich, contemplation of artists such as Dali, the theme of death and the infleunce of imagery in film, such as in Carnival of Souls.

Evidence of provided permission to use the chosen song

After deciding on my song, I was required to get sufficient permission from the band to use their material. This screenshot depicts the Email sent via the band's information page to secure permission & make sure the use of the song by a student was allowed. (Personal information has been removed.)

The Jubilees - 'Insomniac' lyrical possibilities

The lyrics to my chosen song (Insomniac by the Jubilees) are as follows:

Wide awake, I can’t sleep now; I’m climbing up the walls

Wide awake, I can’t sleep now (I can’t sleep now)

Mind astray, I won’t come down, until the morning comes

Mind astray, I won’t come down (I won’t come down)

Help me out

I’m tired, chasing your shadows round streets I can’t remember

So take me home

Help me out

I’m tired, wasting my lifetime on things I won’t remember

So take me home

The powerful lyrics of the song were the main catalyst for ideas on the planning of the video. The song repeats 'wide awake, I can't sleep now' amongst other sleep and insomnia-related lyrics, therefore the general idea for a video follows a lone, sleep-deprived actor. The song also hints as a gradual loss of sanity, opening up possibilities for a dream sequence or surreal flashbacks. 'Chasing your shadows' hold possibilities for a love interest and a primary dilemma in the construction of the video. The shadows chime in with nightmarish images brought on by the substance abuse and insomnia of the character.Whether his situation is simply a dream or rather a hallucination will be ambiguous. 'Wasting my lifetime on things I won't remember' may allow me to delve into contemporary issues such as drug abuse.

Song choice for promotional music video: The Jubilees - Insomniac

For the filming of my music video I have chosen this song, 'Insomniac' by The Jubilees. The song is short enough to build a fast-paced music video around without having to cut parts of the audio. The lyrics are powerful and inspiring for an insomnia-themed subject to the video. The rhythm is catchy and can be build upon with editing which cuts to the music. I am extremely happy with this song and I already have many possible ideas for a video.

Possible songs for use in music video

As the task was to create a music video to promote an unsigned British band, I was required to choose a song by a lesser known artist/group. Initially I struggled to find something which appealed to me, especially due to the tediousness of working out whether an band was still unsigned.

I narrowed the search down to three artists, one of which was suggested by a teacher and another being a song used in previous years of the course. These two songs were in that shortlist, though I did not choose either as my artist to promote.

The first was 'The Fall' by Black Market Karma. I found this particular song on YouTube & decided to choose it for the quality of both the musical and live performance elements. If I were to construct a music video with a chronological narrative, it would be slow-moving and may involve frequent fades. The reason I did not choose this piece is because that the lyrics failed to inspire that many visual ideas, the song needing to be cut in some places for length reasons and, of course, a professionally constructed video already being complete and published to the site.

The second possible choice was 'Zero Integrity' by Daniel Cope. Unlike the previous song, Zero Integrity has very clear and meaningful lyrics which may be easy to interpret into a visual narrative. The video for the song itself is also a static live performance typical of the music category on YouTube, so there is no room for bias in the construction of a video. I chose not to use this song partly because the acoustic style of the song did not necessarily appeal to me, and partly because the narrative possibilities of the lyrics did not appeal to me as much as that of my chosen song.

First post of the new blog

Hello! More will be added soon, but this post is specifically for assigning labels.