MUSIC VIDEO: Cali Blake - "High" - Burlesque music video shot w/ C300II/C100/GH4

Mickey G

Active member
Hi All, Here is a music video I shot for a local artist here in New Orleans.

Cameras:
C300II
C100II
GH4

Cut with FCPX

Feedback appreciated! Hope you enjoy

 
I don't quite get it? I presume the client is the girl with the cigarette? She doesn't actually do anything does she? Visually it's colourful. Unless you understand burlesque, you wouldn't make the link to burlesque because the usual features of that style of performance are missing. The music is very weird too. It fits the style of the piece, but I don't really understand what was going on. The bit in the middle where they had an argument? That looked a bit out of place? Technically and visually interesting to watch, but what actually is going on? Here in the UK, the cigarette would limit its exposure as smoking is banned on TV in many circumstances and it would get limited exposure to younger audiences. Smoking here has become a BAD thing, so much that you cannot even see cigarette packets in shops. They have to be totally hidden and have to be asked for. You never see pretty girls lighting up.
 
I liked the main woman (is she the artist?) and it is shot very well.

I have to agree that I don't really understand narratively what is going on.

However, definitely kept my attention for the most part.

-M
 
Looks like you had a good budget for some nice cameras. I think this endeavor may have really benefited from budgeting for a director/creative director to give this some direction/intention. The images are nice...but if feels like a collection of images shot by a DP that has not been given any direction. Nice images though....just needs some grounding and and idea that you are conveying (of sorts).
 
Hey, interesting song and visuals.
I am not sure I am bothered by not knowing the ''story'' of it all, since it can be hard to do on top of music. Also, I am often mistified by narratives in many music videos. Nonetheless, I agree with the above comments.

That said, some nice camera work and editing in there. Keep it up!

Man, New Orleans is such a great place. I am jealous. I hope to live there some day.
 
Hey all, Thanks for the great feedback, reading through these comments has been very insightful.

Yes the artist/producer is the main girl.

I have to say this video from concept to completion has been quite the experience (in a good way)
This was produced with a micro budget and the artist just had a basic concept of what she wanted. Also I consider this the “artist/producers” cut but after a few revisions I’m still happy with the way it turned out, the collaboration in post made for a better video overall.

Our approach was unique to say the least, The artist was really into improv and whatever happens spontaneously sort of speak so during pre-production I felt the more planning and shot design we would come up with the more uncomfortable it seemed she was. It was a good experience but it just felt she wasn’t into too much planning so we kind of just had to “go with it”.. But I like that approach as well, sometimes its good to just let things happen and capture it naturally but I felt we needed some sort of game plan for the day considering this was going to be a more “stylized” video.

Which brings me to the director who’s between a rock and a hard place on something like this with so little pre-production, no sort of script and just a basic shot-list of notes we want to hit but open to improv..
For me it was so much fun and freeing to work like this considering the subject matter but as you can imagine a nightmare for the director who’s trying to communicate the artists “vision” to myself as DP/Editor and the performers. (also note the girls were real burlesque dancers but not actors, we actually had a no-show for 1 actor so had to wing some of the “narrative” elements).

This approach may have hurt us as far the story coming across (yes there is a story there lol) and the “argument” is a pivotal point in that narrative.
However I feel like if the story was so clear cut the artist may have felt like we failed. The original edit was much more linear and straight forward but we cut it up more and more and just added more and more “randomness” to it. To me visually it feels better and is more interesting even if the narrative gets buried. But again at the end of the day we need to meet the clients expectations and vision.

My reason for posting this is I’m always trying to improve on my skills to create better visuals, craft more engaging stories, better understand the technology which enables me to create my own work and produce content of the utmost quality for my clients and the feedback I get on this site is invaluable.

If anyone is interested I’ll follow-up later with some sort of synopsis of what is actually going on. While maybe not the the most original and engaging concept again there is some sort of narrative going on lol.

Thanks again and if anyone has any other questions I’ll check back and be following this thread.

some nice camera work and editing in there. Keep it up!

Man, New Orleans is such a great place. I am jealous. I hope to live there some day.

Thanks for the comment, yes New Orleans is amazing! Such a photogenic city too, so much texture and character, you can find locations for virtually any look you’re going for and business owners/residents are so flexible and easygoing to work with.
Look me up if you ever come down here.
 
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