Beyonce's Halo

EDV

EDV

Well-known member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70AgyIEnBRE

The lighting on this video looked almost completely messed up: colors washed out, shooting against a window, etc. In some scenes all you could see was the sunlight hitting the lens. Plus, the concept was weak. And this was commissioned by .... Beyonce? wow....
 
Just because common convention says one way is the way to go, doesn't mean it is the only way.

If that was the case, everything would be shot with inches in focus because of the DOF craze.

PS> that looks better than most "indie" stuff I've seen.
 
At the end of the day, if you're making a video for one of the biggest pop stars in the world it's got to look great. And this video DOES NOT. I admit it still looks acceptable, but at this level, the cinematography just doesn't cut it. I've seen much better work from people in this forum.
 
I can't help but believe that the look a was a conceptual choice.
I can't speak to what the director was after, but if I had to hazard a guess I'd say he wanted the sunlight to "represent" something and not just be used as a key or fill source.

I found bathing the scenes in the sunlight gave the shots an ethereal quality - which is fitting giving the context of the song.

I agree that there could have been some contrast and color in the shots that don't feature the windows directly behind the talent. The images were rather muted given this choice.

As was pointed out, Beyonce is one of the biggest pop stars in the world. If this music video didn't live up to their expectations, surely they would have commisioned another one that did.
 
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and of course i cant see the video "not availabe in my country" thank you very much youtube i love ur new approach to things... s*it!!
 
btw, i just got finished explaining to my girlfriend why i'm listening to beyonce in the other room. thanks. :)
 
I only wish it had been done with an HVX200. ;-) I'd take the blown out highlights and the wash in sunlight. I agree with Neal, it was an artistic choice, and goes with the song.

My .02.

Jan
 
I liked the look, the lens flares are very "in" right now i.e. Star Trek, Transformers.
I thought the use of lights gave it a very unique look for the concept of the video and kept it from feeling to generic.
 
I really loved this video and look. It really fits the song and feels very surreal or halo-ish with the diffusion which if you listen to the song, he's like her angel so I'm thinking that its a metaphor for Heaven. Quite clever actually. What is "cinematic" to you? Big wide sweeping shots? It would not fit this because its an intimate song.
 
I didn't see much there that didn't look like the result of conscious choices.

Aesthetically pleasing choices, for me.
 
EDV said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70AgyIEnBRE

The lighting on this video looked almost completely messed up: colors washed out, shooting against a window, etc. In some scenes all you could see was the sunlight hitting the lens. Plus, the concept was weak. And this was commissioned by .... Beyonce? wow....
Click to expand...

Couple of points. First as others mentioned it was choice - the song is called "HALO" after all. The other thing is I highly doubt the light source is the actual sun.

I used a similar effect - to a much lesser extent in my character intro I did for my questfest thread. ( HERE ), see last shot. I love the look.
 
Haha while watching it i couldn't help but wonder what the director was thinking..Must have been something like "lets do something that'l get other film makers/directors talking" well here we are.I love it!
 
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