Planning- Treatment Pitch (Empire- No Apologies)

Overview 

For our track "no apologies" we want to challenge ourselves to go to the extra mile and test the boundaries of the music video medium. let's create an  unbelievable, thrilling short film that is simultaneously a sleek hip hop and R'n'B video. In our video, we have motivation behind each and every one of our shots and camera techniques. By telling a high concept story about poverty and fame, we are able to include many different shots and angles, we are able to surprise and entertain the audience, and it enables us to w eave a heartfelt story of poverty to fame into it all.

"empire" the TV series, which we acquired our song choice from, is a story about a family who own a big recording label and each member of the family desires for power. but it is not a normal representation of this and creative things are done. power is simply our archetypal framing device. like the empire TV series. we aim to entertain audiences, make them feel connected with the music video, and make them want to watch it again and again. we'll shoot our film in two locations both being London, in the rich parts such as oxford circus. and the other being Gillingham, in the poor parts such as the Gillingham market, these two location will serves as the basis for our character's adventures.

We have two characters playing exactly the same role but one character has an added role. Both characters will be poor in the beginning of the music video and only one character will be introduced to the audience at the beginning. the performance element of the video will be intercut within the main story of the music video. in addition, there will be parts where will the story is being shown the performance scenes will entwined within it. The character will be dressed in ripped clothing and will be shown struggling to live by trying to pick pocket, living on the street, etc. this will create a production that will play to our song's strengths in terms of its meaning, as is not only something that will captivate the audience, but its a very serious subject being portrayed as well.

Story

Too often, music videos have half a story, or become a pastiche of stories that we've seen a million times. But "Empire-No Apologies, will be a unique music video with a captivating finish that can stand all on its own.

Our lead character is shown laying on the road in the heap being glared out by people passing by. He will shown trying to pickpocket money to buy food and we will cue the music when he runs away from the people he is trying to steal from. He barricades himself in an ally where he discovers a guitar left on its own that looks brand new. As the music continues, we will show curiosity coming on the character as he decided whether to take the guitar. As, the owner runs into the ally we will show the character again running from danger.  We will then show the character beaten and battered singing to himself.