Money Talks - ID# 442
Glenbrook North
Music Video
Entry Description
A high school student dreams of becoming rich overnight. Their world transforms into a dream fantasy where money flows endlessly—but as greed takes over, reality starts to glitch and collapse around them.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/21 3:10 pm - STORY: The music video tells a clear story about a student fantasizing about wealth and the consequences that can come with that. The story is easy to follow and it progresses logically from reality to imagination and back to reality. I really liked how you started with a relatable moment. We see the student get frustrated after checking his wallet! Your opening shot is strong and the framing is balanced and engaging. SOUND: Your audio is mixed appropriately. Your video clips certainly match the music as well. Something to consider would be to add subtle sound effects under your music track. For example, a soft police siren at 1:03 could be heard to support the flashing lights on screen, a locker slamming sound when we see it close, as well as the jingle of car keys during the swap. I think these additions could add texture to your audio and support the actions happening on screen. CAMERA: You had several well-composed shots - the shot of the penny and wallet at 0:12 stands out, and the reaction from the character adds great emotion to the story. At 0:25, your use of leading lines and depth of field is very strong - great visual! The creative shot from inside the locker at 0:35 adds a different perspective as well. Your shot at 0:18 does appear to be out of focus, possibly due to the camera being too close to the $20 bill. Similarly, 0:19 is also slightly soft. Be sure to double check focus, especially on key items and props. You can try backing up a bit or adjusting focus manually. The eye close-up at 1:36 is a great emotional touch, but it does look a little grainy. This could be due to a high ISO. You can shoot in manual mode to avoid the camera automatically boosting ISO, or simply film in brighter lighting conditions. LIGHTING: Overall, the green color tone in the dream sequence is a clever choice. It not only represents money, but also greed. It clearly separates the dream from reality. At 0:35, when your subject briefly blocks the light, the shot gets very dark in the shadows. Consider using a light to add light on the subject’s face so we can see his expression. EDITING: Your sequence of events is thoughtful and well-paced. The dream to reality structure works will too! To help distinguish the dreamworld or imagination even more, you could consider adding a subtle white vignette or dreamy glow around the edges of your frame from 0:24 onward. It could help further enhance that dream-like feeling. Overally, you show clear storytelling that has great symbolism and structure. Keep creating and great job on this piece!
- 2/18 11:26 am - This music video showcases creative storytelling with a clear narrative that flows well throughout the video. The variety of shots and angles keeps the viewer engaged, offering fresh perspectives that enhance the visual appeal. From wide shots to close-ups, the mix of angles adds dynamic movement, ensuring that each scene feels visually rich and stimulating. This variety also works to capture different emotional tones within the story, adding depth to the overall experience. The selection of locations is well thought out, and the variety of clips adds great texture to the video. Transitioning between different environments not only keeps the viewer’s attention but also helps to reflect the shifting emotions and themes of the song. Whether indoors, on the streets, or in other settings, each location complements the storytelling and helps to establish the mood of the video. The use of police lights is an effective visual element, adding urgency and intensity to certain scenes. These lights create a sense of drama and tension, enhancing the emotional weight of those moments. Additionally, the natural lighting in the video brings a grounded and authentic feel, especially in the outdoor scenes. The interplay between natural and artificial lighting helps to highlight key moments and gives the video a cinematic quality. The computer screen is another great visual tool that ties into the narrative, adding a sense of modernity and technology to the overall aesthetic. It’s an interesting way to break up the video’s pacing, and it provides a clear focal point for some of the story’s plot points. The glowing, screen-lit moments contrast nicely with the more organic lighting, creating visual interest and variety. Overall, the video is well-executed with a strong balance of creative storytelling, a variety of shots and angles, and well-chosen locations. The police lights, natural lighting, and computer screen all serve to add visual flair and contribute to the narrative, making the video visually compelling and engaging. This is a well-rounded music video that successfully blends technical elements with storytelling to create an enjoyable and immersive experience for the viewer.
Judge 1
Positives: The performance is engaging. The story moves well.
Improvements: It's too dark. The "dream fantasy" is not convincing. More fantastical imagery and dreaminess, please.
Judge 2
Positives: As a John Hughes fan, I especially enjoyed the Breakfast Club homage, shot probably not too far from where Hughes shot the original. The variety in shots was really well done, and had a nice 80s feel, and I like what you did with the lighting and color correction to try to differentiate visually between the real and imaginary parts of the story.
Improvements: The story seems relatively simple, but in general muddled to me. I don't get what the Money Talks flyer was supposed to be, and what the point of the imaginary part played relative to the real part. While the editing was good mechanically, it didn't really help in terms of clarity of story.
Judge 3
Positives: This color correction is really nice. Like that addition of using it to add to the story also! I like the thought of adding a wardrobe switch to add to the story. Showing us indirectly is super important in storytelling!
Improvements: The scene where all the chairs are were shown a lot. Maybe show more something to the tune of getting a lot of snacks out of the vending machine, or everyday guilty pleasures that people like to indulge in, you're doing in excess. Could be anything.
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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