Casey Neistat. (2017). Do What You Can't. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG7dSXcfVqE. Last accessed 24th April 2018.
In my research for the Woodkid music video, I found that close to medium shots are best effective at showing the subjects emotions in their facial expressions and mannerisms. That can be considered when I experiment with test shots to capture anxiety and depression for negative emotions, as well as motivation and happiness for positive emotions, linking back to the concept. However, I find that the Youtube videos by the video creator Casey Neistat can give me useful inspiration for the format and some technical aspects in my own film.
Cinematography
Casey's videos feature the combination of a vlogger's perspective, graphics and stock footage. The vlog clips consist of medium to close shots, as he has to hold the camera facing himself. This is a natural limitation if you are your own camera man and are mobile. By including these close to medium shots in his videos, he self involves himself as a narrative voice in the subject matter of the film. This allows for the story to become more personal to himself and allows him to tell his stories, as is the purpose of a vlog. Also, by having himself talk to the camera, he can directly address the audience, which gives the illusion that Casey is talking to the audience in person. This allows the audience to engage with Casey on a very personal level and therefore the the audience will empathize with his emotions more easily. This could be used in my project as a tool to alter the audiences mood and emotion, depending on when the tone changes from negative to positive.
Editing
The main editing conventions that stands out in this video of Casey's is the use of a mixture of amplified and illustrative editing to convey a montage format. This is evident by how the cutting of clips at times, matches the rhythm of the music. Out of the two, illustrative editing is most dominant in this video, as the visuals illustrate either literally or abstractly the dialogue that Casey has done over the top. The use of illustrative editing here places emphasis on the words being said and ultimately gives them more importance. I am considering shaping the project around a montage format, as the montage in this video is meant to bombard the audience with fast paced editing and cinematography. However, I may have to to alter this to flow much slower, as my earlier research into the music video by Woodkid has shown that long takes help to give impact to clips and to strike a more sombre tone. Perhaps the negative emotions could be conveyed through slow paced cutting and the positive emotions could be expressed through fast paced editing, as a clear transition of tone.
From looking at this video and Casey's videos overall, I intend to experiment filming more close to medium shots of myself addressing the audience directly because it could be an effective method to engange the audience in my own story with grief. I will also, at some point, experiment with whether amplified or illustrative editing is more effective with visuals and also whether fast paced or slow paced cutting is more appropriate for the theme of grief.
As a side note, I noticed that this video especially conveys a strong motivational overtone, which happens to be one of the positive emotions I intend to express in the film.
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