THE WOMBATS

Images from the post-punk revival

JOY DIVISION

post-punk, late 70s early 80s images:

'Let's Dance to Joy Division' initial ideas

Key themes that i want to address in the video

'celebrate'

'joy division'

'happy'

'irony'

The Wombats: 'Let's Dance to Joy Division' lyrics

The Lyrics
The lyrics to this track are pretty ambiguous. The use of 'irony' could be interpreted on various levels and the intrinsic links with joy division combined with the upbeat track confuses even more. Anyway, these are the ideas I've decided to stick with in order to apply moving image to the track:

'Let's dance to joy division and celebrate the irony, everything is going wrong, but we're so happy'

ok. here goes...

• celebrating the irony of dancing to joy division.
  
• everything's going wrong for joy division, but the wombats are going to remain happy.
• celebrating their realisation of how happy they feel when dancing to joy division

now, there are waaaay more ideas that could be extracted from this key line, but we've got to settle on a mere few otherwise we could go round in circles all day.

The other key line is:
'Let the love tear us apart, I found a cure for a broken heart'

• Surrendering, letting go, allowing things to go wrong, letting love be lost because...
• They've discovered the 'cure'; the happiness of dancing to joy division.
  

Music Video: Lady Soveriegn '9 to 5'

Music Video: The Pussycat Dolls 'When I grow up'

Scaffolding shots: (1.50)

• I really like the climbing the scaffolding shots. Just FAR less sexual for an indie video obviously...!
• The birds eye shots, character climbing into the frame

Crowds and street parties

I managed to drag these two videos up from the depths of my memory. how old school. anyway, i somehow remembered they had street party scenes, which could be of some use.

Avril Lavigne - sk8er boi

(from 1.34)

• people running in direction of performance, in between cars
• band performing on car
• on-lookers watching from windows
• swinging on road signs

Geri Halliwell - It's raining men

• (2.33) stair shots
• (3.16) (4.20) onlookers hanging out windows, london streets, cars, crowd takeover

Music Video 3: Short Stack, 'Princess'

This video has good examples of performance shots.

(0.12 and throughout) The singer moving in and out of the still camera, diary-room style.

(0.35) The low and wide, off-centre angle

(0.56) The microphones facing inwards

I also like the bunny, the mexican and elvis!

Music Video 2: Lady Gaga, 'Just Dance'

Shot grab: 2.33 - 3.05

I chose this particular section of the video because...:

• The sped up shots add texture and pace to the video, create a slightly disillusioned effect, and i'd like to use them maybe at the beginning or end of the video to represent maybe a flash-back or a vision.
• The bodies. I like the close-ups of the bodies, the small snippets add to the intimate party vibe and conform to the typically voyeuristic nature of music video. I'd draw on these shots if i decide to include a crowd/party sequence.
• Dance/Movement. The Wombats' track definitely needs lots of dancing. The stuff in this video is far too choreographed, but i do like the cut aways to Lady Gaga posing.
• The camera work incorporates a wide range of angles; low angles when showing intrusive and close up shots, high angles when widening the shot and showing the whole room. I also like the hand-held moving shots which occur throughout the video, making the audience feel a part of the action.

The main inspiration I've drawn from this video is the costume and props used. I think they're a bit too flashy at times for the indie genre, however I like the idea of using lots of random props - red indian hats, big glasses, blow-up whales, disco balls, animal costumes... I think this fits with the celebratory theme of the track, the idea of letting go, forgetting their worries, embracing the irony, and generally being WILD.

Music Video 1: Black Eyed Peas 'Let's get it started'

Shot grab:

Between 0.28 and 1.00

I'd love to be able to incorporate the opening shot sequence where the camera pans in a semi-circular motion, whilst the artist stays in shot. This could work with any performance shots, moving between guitarist, bassist and drummer. It would also work in crowd scenes, the camera drawing the audience's attention back to the visual hook/performer.

I like the movement it adds, the smooth transition it creates between shots, and I'd like to learn how to do it with the camera and editing equipment available. It would definitely work well with the speedy tempo of the track.