A2 Advanced Portfolio - Anamatic Storyboeard

Mainline Animatic Storyboard

Through the creation of this animatic storyboard we are able to show, for the first time, a clear relationship between the music and the images. This allows us to get a clear preview of how our music video will look at the end of the post production process, and gives us a better understanding of the timing in relation to the shots. The increased rate of cut, compliments the sound and speed of the track and gives a very futuristic, surreal look to the video.

This key shot (seen below) shows an establishing shot of all three of the henchmen, this is key as it shows their identical business-like attire and you see their movement as very robotic. This, along with the use of identical white face masks, creates an image that resonates with the idea of the "Corporate Robot" or "Corporate Machine" which influence and are a product of the mainline or mainstream. The white mask establishes an enigma code as they create an almost in human look and feel to the henchmen and raises the question to what is under the masks.

Below, is another key shot as it shows symbolic elements of the 'Mainline' and their methods of manipulation and control represented by their briefcases. It also establishes another enigma code, leaving the audience to question what they are carrying inside.

This shot represents the idea of conformity and dispels any sense of individuality.

Through the animatic storyboard we can use it to reinforce the appeal to our target audience. The fast rate of cut, the flahsing of images and the vast amount of rapid movement, all would appeal to our target audience of 18-35 as it matches the pace of the music. Also drum and bass is essentially used as an up-tempo dance track therefore the fast edits encapsulate the thrill and excitement of the genre.

This week we have also been researching on how to achieve professional-level shots without the price tag. One shot used in our piece is a technique called a Snorricam, this shot allows the camera to be focused and fixed to the actor so that the actor's face doesn't appear to move whereas the background does, this is a method that is used in such films as Darren Aronofksy's 'Requiem For A Dream', seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9vZ-m7JSM0

In order to achieve this shot we have looked at numerous different ways to build the snorricam harness. Here is one of the examples we looked at:

Here are a few examples of where a snorricam has been used in a music video:

Smashing Pumpkins - 1979:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4_C4yhl33g

Placebo - Meds:

System Of a Down - Chop Suey:

One argument raised concerning our music video is that the track itself has no lyrics and is purely music, this is unique for mainstream drum and bass which often have a repeated chorus or hook played at certain intervals. Therefore in order to derive a plot that is in keeping with the sound and feel of the track, we relied on the title 'Mainline' in order to draw inspiration. The fact that the track itself is unconventional when trying to sell a mainstream drum and bass product actually aided our idea of fighting again conventions and liberating individuality. So in actuality helping us rather than hindering us. On top of that it has also given us a lot more creative freedom in our concept for the video, and holds very little restriction.

A2 Advanced Portfolio - Storyboarding

After Alec completed the script for our music video last week, Ben and I have began constructing the storyboards. Due to the plot we decided to spilt the music video into two different sections. Ben is drawing up the storyboards for the pre-'bomb' section of the video and I am creating the post-'bomb' section. We have done this specifically to show a clear contrast in style of direction, thus emphasising the difference between the villain's controlling 'Mainline' and the youths explosion of individuality. Ben's section will strive to keep to the conventions and capabilities when shooting in a silent movie style, including shooting in black and white. My section however will be in complete contrast and represent a modern style showing the clash between the two genres. This in turn challenges the way in which genres are perceived, and also creates a symbolic representation of the class system.
Villain = Controlling Upper-class
Henchmen = Bureaucratic Middle-Class
Youths = Working-Class

These semiotic representations will help the videos appeal to our target audiences, the younger half of our key demographic will relate the the generational representation and also supports their view that black and white movies are boring and stuffy whereas modern movies are fast and eye catching.
The older half of our demographic will relate to the idea of the class system and controlling force (Government) behind our society. They will also relate to the idea of the mainstream media influencing public consumption.


I initially went about creating my storyboards by playing the track over and over again in order to create a strong visual in my mind. From this I made sure that all my original ideas were in keeping with Alec's initial script and though he was more than happy to allow us to develop our own ideas I feel that its important not to change the original script, but rather work compliment and enhance it.

Here are a few of my storyboard sheets: