Music Video Research

Artist: Revere
Track: We Won't Be Here Tomorrow
Director: Will Garthwaite & Rory Shaw



Camera/Editing
Initial use of Big Close Ups (BCUs) is striking and intriguing. Camera shots are varied but always focus on a person in a particular surroundings.
Editing has pace - but is not excessively fast and not always necessarily in time with the music.
Initially the camera is static. However as the story (and song) picks up pace then so does the camera - it begins to pan and track more frequently as the four characters move around.
The most interesting use of technical is the 4 way split screen that shows all four characters at once on their journey - this results in a clever 'shot' towards the end whereby we see the characters effectively run in and out of each others frames - just before they all finally meet.

Narrative
The story or stories are somewhat ambiguous - but they are all linked by a central visual motif - the red balloon.
This motif provides a simple structure to each of the four character's stories' - The characters wake up to discover a red balloon in whatever setting they are in and then have an uncontrollable urge to take it somewhere - when they arrive there are lots of other people, all with red balloons, and the group simultaneously release them into the sky.
The balloons could represent a desire for freedom - each of the four characters seem to be trapped in some way or another. The commuter on the tube, the bored security guard, the loveless relationship (perhaps a fling), and the loner fishing in the canal - the balloon gives them an opportunity to escape.
The most obvious narrative devices is the split screen emphasising a parallel narrative. Not only is this visually interesting but it reinforces the theme that many of us may wish to escape and although we might feel separate from others, we can be unified.

Conventional/Unconventional
As expected from a music video the themes of running away, finding freedom (but still being united) - is represented in the lyrics of the song. In this way the visuals are an interpretation of the music but not too literal as to be cheesy.
Whilst we don't see the lead singer of the band address the camera or lipsync at all - we do see members of the band playing their instruments - these are dropped into each of the four narratives at various times and are a subtle reminder that this is a musi promo.

What Works?
The split screen isn't overwhelmingly confusing - it actually makes you want to watch again and it's clever when the four stories join up and the audience can see more than one character in each quarter of the screen even if they can't.
The red balloon seems like a bit of a contrived device to link the characters but the way it is shot and performed is not over sentimentalised and is actually quite humourous - this actually helps the impact of the video.
The four settings (and characters) are all really varied and make the video visually engaging throughout - the use of the inner city tower block towards the end is also an interesting visual backdrop.