Project Schedule

Hello!

Below is the schedule for how I will complete my project. Keep in mind that this is sorted by Pre production, production, and post production. Scheduling for things could change if things do not go according to plan. 

Pre Production

February

23-29

1. Finish planning music video
2. Begin website

Production

March 1-14

1. Shoot music video
2. Continue making website 
3. Digipack photoshoot

Post Production

March 15-29

1. Edit Music Video 
2. Edit Digipack
3. Wrap up website

March 22- April 11

1. Show project to peers 
2. Request critique 
3. Make final changes based upon critiques. 

April 12

1. Turn in project

Brainstorming

Hello!

In this blog I will be going deeper into my initial ideas for Lil Tru’s No GTA music video. 

https://soundcloud.com/user-248054651/lil-tru-no-gta

As I mentioned in the previous blog, No GTA is a very fast paced song. Alan raps very quickly over this beat and gives off an energetic feeling that keeps the listener hooked.  After listening many times I realized that to keep the viewer engaged I would have to make the video just as fast paced as the song. This meant finding components that would fit the style that the song takes. I believe that using the following three components will help me achieve this goal:

1. Cars

The component of cars in this video is essential to be able to match the pace of the music. My idea regarding cars in this video was to base one of the shoots around a fast car. This would include shots of the car going being driven fast down a highway or down a regular road. By simply driving the car I can film a variety of shots like some close-ups of Alan driving and rapping and the car by itself on the road. Other than shots of Alan driving, there are many other ways in which Alan can be shown around a car. An example is a shot of Alan performing in front of a car with his friends surrounding him. This would be used as my A-roll for the car portion of the video, and can definitely be a transitional element into the scene that follows. I have taken inspiration from a few different music videos that provide similar visuals to the ones I would like to shoot.

The Weeknd- Blinding Lights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NRXx6U8ABQ

Bad Bunny- Vete

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5aDUB1NCnk

Migos- Motorsport

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v_rtaye2yY

2. Motion

The component of motion in this music video is very important. The use of constant motion throughout the music video not only aids in keeping the viewer engaged, but it gives the video the same fast paced feeling that the song has. The Weeknd recently used this technique in his Blinding Lights music video, using quick shots with motion in them to add to the madness in the video. Some ideas that I had for this video regarding motion were close ups with quick motion in them. These shots not only add to the energy of the video but they serve as good transitional elements and B roll.

The Weeknd- Blinding Lights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NRXx6U8ABQ

3. Party

In order for the video to be engaging and not drag on with the same visuals, I believe it is important to switch the scenery. Moving from cars to a party works well because it keeps the same energy and provides new visuals that keep the viewer hooked. My idea for this was to throw a fake party at my house and film Alan and other people as if they were at a real party. This would include B roll of people dancing and having fun at the party as well as Alan by himself, with friends and with girls. While the first part of the video is very centered on Alan, the party scenes revolve much more around him and his closest friends that have helped him achieve his goals. For inspiration regarding cinematography and set design I have turned to Dave Grutman, owner of LIV and many other clubs. If there is anybody that knows how to make a party look good it’s him. 

LIV Miami- Art Basel 2019 at LIV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpPeNy4ftfg

I know I want to be there.

I strongly believe that if I use these three components in my music video everything will fit together well and will look good. I’m super excited to continue planning and further developing these ideas.

Options

Welcome back!

For my A Level portfolio project I have decided to tackle the music promotion project. I am very excited to announce that I will be working with rapper Alan Trujillo also known as Lil Tru. Alan is a senior at Cypress Bay who began developing his rap career in mid 2019. He mainly uses Soundcloud to distribute his music and has become an icon among the Cypress Bay class of 2020 and some of Broward having reached up to 30 Thousand streams on one of his songs. 

My original plan for the music video portion of the project was to use two songs in one video. After speaking to Mrs. Stoklosa I found out that I was limited to only one song. Having listened to all of Alan’s work on soundcloud, I narrowed my list of songs for the music video down to 3. I believe that these are his best three songs so far and I have been able to come up with ideas for each one, but some I have been able to develop more than others. I have attached the link to each song. 

Woah Woah / 30.2K Streams: https://soundcloud.com/user-248054651/lil-tru-woah-woahx

Woah Woah featured Alan rapping over a generic rap beat. I found that the song could have potential to become a music video due to the amount of streams it received. Having 30.2 Thousand streams, the music video would have potential to match the song's numbers. Woah Woah is a song that enjoy listening to, but it is difficult to come up with ideas for its music video. While listening to it I visualize nighttime shots in a city, but not much more than that. I don't think the song has enough versatility to transform it into a music video. Turning this song into a music video could be powerful on the marketing end, however it does not exactly match the style that I want the final product to have. 

Long Time / 1.3K Streams: https://soundcloud.com/user-248054651/tru-long-time-mixedby-melli

Long Time was a  took a similar style to Ugly God's Back to the Basics from his Sophomore record Bumps & Bruises. This song was mainly led by hi-hats and included the use of ad libs, a technique that has been used more recently by artists like Ugly God and Migos. I found this song to be more laid back and slow. Given that, the ideas that I had for this were very different from the other two songs. For Long Time i had imagined something that took A$AP Rocky’s style, particularly projects like A$AP Forever or L$D. This song gives off a more relaxed vibe, so I had pictured the use of different colors, aesthetic scenery, and effect led by cinematography. Alan has good flow and lyricism throughout the song but similar to Woah Woah, it was not the style that I wanted to take for my final product. 

A$AP Rocky- L$D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg

A$AP Rocky- A$AP Forever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNzc6hG3yN4

No GTA / 702 Streams: https://soundcloud.com/user-248054651/lil-tru-no-gta

No GTA is a very fast and straightforward song. I found that while listening to this song I was able to come up with more ideas and really develop them. Although the track uses somewhat controversial lyricism, it is easy to cover it up and make it subtle with the use of visuals. While brainstorming for this video the thought of cars constantly came to me. Personally I liked this song and thought it was unique song of his to turn into a music video. The idea for this definitely needs to be further developed, but I believe if it is done correctly it will result in a good screen debut for Lil Tru.