"Vienna" - Music Video Submission - ID# 484
New Trier
Music Video
Entry Description
"Vienna" by Billy Joel. All production, acting and editing completed in compliance with MMEA rules.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 2/27 1:20 pm - To begin the video, a visually pleasing low-angle shot is used to capture the town, while simultaneously depicting the subject's morning routine as they prepare for school. The introduction of the video is spliced with several establishing shots of the town to provide a more comprehensive view. The use of candlelight potentially symbolizes hope for the future or a transition from his younger self to his older self. However, it's unclear if the story involves the subject burning down their house, maybe leaving behind his current home or his dreams are being destroyed, or possibly finding himself content at the end and reflecting on his life while playing the piano. I am a little confused.
Judge 1
Positives: The narrative is clear.
Improvements: The storytelling is a bit obvious and hamfisted. Some of it is too dark. The editing is a bit choppy. Why so many hard edits?
Judge 2
Positives: I really like the camera and lighting work in this piece. There were some really nice compositions--even a shot of a gutter grate was pretty and well-framed. I almost gasped out loud at the shot with the smoke and the actor backlit in silhouette. So great, like something out of an 80s action film with Michael Douglas. Or a Billy Joel music video from that time.
Improvements: The story was a touch unclear. By the end, I'm pretty sure both actors at the piano were the same person (BTW, nice job casting an older actor, instead of just high school students). But more could have been done editing, lighting or even production design wise to get that across throughout the whole thing. I dinged you under sound because the piece felt more like a non-dialogue short film than a music video (which in my opinion, should have a little music performance of some kind, if even just a bit of lip-synching).
Judge 3
Positives: Great shot composition. The screen always had a nice image on it. You managed to fill a fairly large amount of time with a story that took the viewer on a journey
Improvements: Unfortunately the journey was a bit confusing. You spent a lot of time on him falling in the hallway and I'm struggling to see the significance of that. The main character could have been more convincing. That actor needed more directing. But overall, I was impressed!!!
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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