'Fallen Trees' by Saint Saviour
Here is a perfect example of what indie music videos feature. 'Fallen Trees' begins with a close-up shot of the artist, Saint Saviour, as she begins her song with just one camera shot directed at her when she sings. Throughout the whole video, there are very few different shots, such as side shots, mid and long shots and shots that follow the artists movements. The limits of these shots contribute to how an indie music video is defined, as the camera never veers away into unneeded establishing shots of sparkling images. The same can be said with the cinematography of the video, as it is clear that there is no evidence of post-production editing, yet maybe apart from a possible change in brightness. It basically shows that the artist and the cameraman went out and filmed the video and used whatever was already there without need of adding effects inappropriate to the song. In most larger-budgeted music videos from big, well known artists (who in my opinion are much less talented than the independent singers, who write and help produce their own work without needing a dozen big-time producers), the use of props can either heighten or worsen the videos intended effect, but with an independent video, we, the audience, are presented with a video that focuses more on the song meaning than on the surrounding colourful visual aspects and large items that get needlessly thrown around to insinuate fun, but it ends up looking silly. However this isn't to say that indie artists never use colour in their videos, as with Marina & the Diamonds and her 'Oh No!' video, which has a pop-art effect. In the 'Fallen Trees' video, the only noticeable props are two sets of black balloons, each set tied to each hand of the artist as she sways with the balloons. The use of these balloons can convey much more meaning than thinking that they're just there for effect. Is she trying to fly away from something? Why are the balloons black? Now to analyse the use of location. As I said before; the indie artists use whatever there is in the shots of their videos, so here is a wide open space that looks countryside-like or even coastal or looking as if it was filmed on the top of a cliff. Juxtaposed to the more well known music vids by more well known artists, Saint Saviour's 'Fallen Trees' strives for effect from its music and visuals, and not glamour, like many chart toppers try to achieve instead just to get a larger target audience. When a big artist makes a music video, the budget is much bigger, so the idea of being able to put almost anything into a video from the budget gives it a bigger chance to ruin the song with irrelevant uses of over-the-top cheesiness and special effects. The same applies for the film industry.
These features that I have analysed should now help me get further with my own my own music video of Kate Bushe's 'Them Heavy People.' Hopefully it should go well. In my next blog I'll share the first stages of my planning for the music video. If you want to view Saint Saviour's 'Fallen Trees,' you can find it here at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUr7KfD8WY
