Gold

 

Cute as a Button- We Laugh at Monsters

Neuqua Valley
Music Video

Entry Description

It is a music video for an original song called Cute as a Button. The theme of the video is bad luck, which is shown by breaking mirrors. We wanted to give the video a grainy, dark feel, so we shot the band shots in a basement storage area. We made the video grainy in editing with color correction and video effects.

Judge 1

Positives: I really, really like this song. Not only is it original but it's edgy, raw and very catchy. (I'd buy it!) I like the rawness of the visuals that complement the song. The grainy look works with this.

Improvements: This song is SO good that the video needs to be at nearly the same standard. Although catchy, you really need another layer to this piece besides the band in the basement and the mirrors. Add another dimension by using a character narrative (i.e. the lead singer and his connection to bad luck like a broken relationship, getting busted, something bad.) Work on some shot composition. You can do more interesting visuals with mirrors. Some lip sync a hair off--nothing major. Still, great song. This can be really powerful with more attention to the video.

Judge 2

Positives: Nice use of a key at the beginning and end. Good to see the effect chosen carry throughout the entire video of the band playing. Good editing pace throughout. Great syncing of video to audio.

Improvements: Liked the choice to break mirrors for bad luck, but it became a bit repetitive. What about expanding the story to include band members walking under ladders? Can even shoot footage looking down from top rung of a ladder for creativity... Possibly even opening an umbrella indoors? Could cut all 3 elements together at the end - causing complete havoc. This would've given you more depth to the bad luck "theme". Also, footage outdoors looked a bit blue - might be better to while balance, and shoot on a day that's more gloomy/overcast to carry over a similar style to the footage shot indoors.

Judge 3

Positives: Great song! Jump cuts were great and well planned. Close ups of lead singer were really nice. Video effect was a good touch.

Improvements: The close-ups of lead singer were really nice - the video needed more of that throughout. The drummer didn't sync up with the music throughout the video.