Imagine Dragons Radioactive

By Anthony Teasdale For Interscope Records

Anthony Alan TeasdaleTS23 579AnthoyTeazdale@gmail.com07744718016

CONCEPT

The video starts with various establishing shots of a mysterious forest, however, as soon as the video starts, shots of a harsh industry, rusty metal and the protagonist in rooms cluttered with tools. These shots are here to represent lies and mistakes covered up, until the protagonist finally acknowledges the mistake, represented by the shot of flowers decaying/burning. For the chorus, a dark mysterious figure singing in a shadowy room. The second verse follows the protagonist on a journey through the mysterious forest. The journey is less of a physical journey and more of a mental journey, with the forest representing the protagonists’ growth as he tries to right his error. The chorus is again sung by the figure in the dark room, but it is brighter this time, revealing him to be the protagonist. The final verse shows the protagonist finishing his journey, finding a bright and surreal part of the forest, symbolising forgiveness. He uses newly found powers to right the wrong by undecaying/burning the flowers in the first few lines of the final chorus, but the rest of the final chorus shows the room again. However it is now bathed in bright light, and after finishing the chorus, the protagonist is free and leaves the room.

NarrativeThe narrative of the video will be linear, showing the journey of the protagonist. However, the journey is more abstract and symbolic, being more of an emotional journey. Lip-sync is mainly reserved for the chorus, but it will be used in some verses, linking the two scenes together. The narrative will outweigh the performance in terms of screen time.

The video will seem like a dream sequence, with surreal visuals, extreme angles and unnatural colouration, however, it will not be explicitly stated. There will be a use of ellipsis throughout the entire video, as it will focus on only the main events of the narrative.

In Todorov’s theory, the video takes place over the recognition of disruption, overcoming of disruption and new equilibrium period. In Barthes's theory, it uses the symbolic code, as every action, location and prop in the video is symbolic of an emotion or scenario. An example would be the burning flower representing mistakes done in the past ruining some kind of relationship. The images of rust and cramped areas represent the protagonist feeling trapped and depressed, while forest represents the emotional journey to admitting mistakes. The room the chorus takes place also represents the protagonist feeling trapped, until he leaves and is free at the end of the song. The flower being repaired is symbolic of the relationship being repaired after the protagonist admits his mistakes.

LOCATION, COSTUME, PROPS

Locations: Cramped, dark, dusty room- represent the main character trapped by emotions

Dark room (studio)- Represents entrapment, but later begins to mean freedom as the lighting changes

Forest (damp, twilight)- represents an emotional journey, juxtaposes the dark rooms, but fits the cramped feel of the video.

Brick wall (where the flower will be burned)- used as a backdrop to the flower burning clips

A location with rusted metal- used for cutaways at the the start of the song to represent a decaying relationship.

Costume:Dark/black casual clothes (shoes, jeans, coat)- this will represent the negativity the main character is feeling, while also portraying him as an everyman type character, making the video relatable.

LIGHTING AND COLOUR

The lighting will be dark and moody in the first half. Colours from black and brown as well as the dark colours of a natural forest. Black is used to show depression and entrapment by emotions. The video transitions to bright whites in the latter half of the video to represent freedom and renewal. The lighting will start off low-key in the studio and become high-key over time. Most of the video, however, will be natural lighting as it will give the video a less professional, and therefore more indie. The binary opposite black and white colours links to Levi-Strauss’s theory of opposites

CAMERA AND EDITING TECHNIQUES

The video will use slowly moving shots and camera movements in time with the music to keep up the flow of the video. Fades to and from black are used to give a negative feeling to the video, but this is opposed by a fade to white at the end. Medium shots and far shots will be used to create a distance to the protagonist, but as the video progresses, the shots become closer and closer. This represents the protagonist repairing his relationship. An overlay of light will be used to show the protagonist using his powers to unburn the flower, which will be achieved by reversing the footage. Filters, such as film grain, bad TV, colour filters and saturation will be used to add meaning to shots and give a surreal feel to the video. Jump cuts provide the main editing technique of the video, sometimes in time with the music to create a thought beat. Canted angles are used to show the emotional distress of the main character. Some footage may be sped up or slowed down for effect.