Need some advice for music

R

randomname

Well-known member
I'm applying for a videography internship at my university, and while only a portfolio or demo reel is required, I figured it would impress them if I put together a video specifically for the application. Basically, I'm going for something on the artsy-er side, the whole thing is gonna be at half speed with no sound, mostly either pretty shots on campus or nice closeups of people (mostly people doing graduation stuff, since thats going on right now). My problem is I can't decide what song to set it to, the best two I've come up with are from the "The Fountain" soundtrack, Stay with me and Together we will live forever. I'm worried that those two are too melancholy and might make the whole thing seem too pretensious, so does anyone else have any suggestions for music? here are some links to the songs I was referring to

together we will live forever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XZkLmomNgA

Stay with me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZDpqDpIsfs
 
This is a problem right here. We can't tell you what music's gonna go with your reel without seeing the reel. This is why so many people's reels, films, videos have music tracks that are completely unsuitable. I think using music that doesn't belong to you in a reel is also amateur hour x 10, but since it's for a university thing and nothing more, maybe it's alright.

The first track is extremely slow and depressing which is not a bad thing for the film it was in, but unless your reel is incredibly sad and/or beautiful with some of the most gorgeously-heartbreaking shots ever put to film, I would avoid it. You mentioned it's all at half speed, which is cool, but still, the mood has to match the music, and if it's just daytime shots slowed down in everyday situations without any kind of dramatic effect, I think it will just seem silly and hella pretentious.

The second track is probably too atmospheric -- in a dramatic way -- for a reel, unless again, the reel suits the music in this sparse kind of way. I'd imagine this track in a scene where some real shi* has gone down, and the characters are left to contemplate...

Either way, if your reel is mainly just shots of people doing graduation and close ups of the campus, I would definitely avoid these tracks. Unless it really seems to click with the video for you - and the shots are really beautifully matched.

I think I know what you're after, and maybe just something that's a little less melancholy while still not drawing too much attention to itself as a track would work pretty well. You could look into tracks by Air, they have loads of instrumental tracks. Ones like Alone in Kyoto, which isn't quite as heartbreaking as the Clint M. track you posted a link to. Or maybe some of Kevin Shields's mellower stuff. Again, depends on the reel.

Good luck, and Welcome to DVXUser.
 
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Yeah, I guess I should have explained a little more. I would have edited some of it together to show some examples of what I'm going for but I'm still in the process of filming it. Right now I'm going for about 2/3rds day shots, then a time lapse of it going from day to night, and then the rest of it would be night shots, mostly closeups of faces. If it helps you get at least a little bit of a feel of my style, I filmed on a T2I and I got every shot with either a 50mm or 100mm prime. Shots of people were handheld and everything else was on a tripod. Also, While I'm probably going to have a lot of graduation related things to work with, I'm not going for alot of excitement or celebration in my shots, I guess with the shots of people graduating I'm trying to imply that they're leaving, not that they're moving on to something new and exciting.
 
You can try hitting up jamendo.com for some Creative Commons music. Or you can compose something yourself-- just mess around on the piano, layer some things and you could get something nice. OR get a friend and commission something from them.

Regardless, I wouldn't pick anything too dramatic or attention grabbing since the emphasis is on your camera work. Also I'd stay away from lyrics.

/2cents.
 
I ended up going with "Alone in kyoto" (thanks for the tip, that song was exactly what I was looking for). Heres the final product, I'd love some feedback on it (although I think there are quite a few shots that don't have much meaning if you didn't go to A&M):

http://www.vimeo.com/11851606
 
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