TREATMENTYouth Warrant - Shake

This music video is going to have a fragmented narrative where we follow the story of a man who seems restless and emotional. The video will also have a circular narrative which we can understand as relating to the lyrics of the song as well as some repeated shots and the actors waking up in the same places as they began in. the genre which I have chosen to do a music video on is usually related to breaking norms and stereotypes which is why I have chosen to have the male actor to be vulnerable and emotional as these are stereotypically the values associated with women, and the female actor will be the support for him, which breaks the idea of ‘the damsel in distress’.

LyricsYou’ve got my t-shirt onGot your hair undoneOh and how it haunts meEarly in the morning

The first shot which we see is of a man waking up and looking over to see a woman getting ready. In this, she will be wearing what will appear to be his T-Shirt, which is a direct link to the lyrics. We will see this scene through the use of an establishing shot, a medium close up of the man waking up, followed with a POV and medium close ups of her. These shots will be done with soft light, perhaps sunlight to create an early morning feel to it.

LyricsSh-shake this wake-up hazeCh-change these blues and greysI’m spiking all my coffeeJust to fight these feelings off me

The next series of shots is them in the woods and then them with coffee. I have chosen to use the woods as a location because this is a typical setting for an indie music video, and this is a clear code and convention for this genre which will help the audience to understand it. At this point, there will also be cutaways of a time lapse of the sky which will change colours from blue to grey and vice versa. This is a link to the lyrics “change these blues and greys, I’m spiking all my coffee just to fight these feelings off me” as grey clouds usually have a connotation of negative emotions, which would go alongside the thought of him feeling as though he has to ‘fight off’ feelings through the use of alcohol.

LyricsMy feet are on fireI walk on the wireI just can’t let it go(Over and over again)

As we get to the chorus, we see the man alone in the previous room from a high angle, which shows his vulnerability. There will also be close ups of the man to show his emotions and a harsher artificial lighting will create shadows on his face. He will then get up to close the blinds where we will see the reflections of his face in a dark window, which will show that it’s late, as well as cutaways of a clock showing the late time. At this point, we see that there’s a link between the lyrics and the music video as we see that he is unable to turn the light off completely and cannot sleep and there will be close ups of the man watching TV instead.

LyricsYou’ve got that red dress onYou said the night is youngWell I think I’m getting thirstyCause I’m feeling all the worst things

We then see the woman come back into the room, and is wearing a red dress to link it to the lyrics, and as she enters, there is a bright light coming from behind her which has the connotation of her bringing him happiness and having an angel-like allure to her. We then see her going over to the man through the use of an over the shoulder shot followed by a long shot of the two of them sat on the floor together.

LyricsSh-shake your body nowS-scream the words out loudCause the lights are getting lowerBut the night is never overAll these ghostsThat we write offBut won'tTurn the lights off

We then follow them as they get ready to go out and whilst they are out, it’s darker yet there is more colourful lights in the background through the use of street lights and cars for example. We see them walking down the street using long shots and medium close ups and then see the time lapse again with different coloured overlays as he says “the night is never over” which plays on the idea of time passing and her being there with him.

LyricsI’m trying not to lose itBut it’s hard enough just movingMy feet are on fireI walk on the wireI just can’t let it go(Over and over again)

As the song comes to an end, we see some repeated shots of them in the forest, this will show the audience that time is repeating and is a hint at the video being circular.Once we get back to the chorus, we see him try to go to sleep with her there instead of him previously being alone. In this, she is the person who is closing the blinds, which we see as close ups and this time she turns the light off entirely. As the song comes to an end, the video will fade to black on the words “over and over again” which will show the audience that the cycle will repeat and never end.