Tech Noir Music Video
About:
Format: Digital Music Video (02:38) 720p
Potential Submittal Work
Music: Gunship by TechNoir
Roles: Creative Director, 3D Designer, Storyboard Artist, Video Editor
Synopsis: Music Video with VFX and motion graphic elements created for synth-wave song “Tech Noir” by Gunship. This music video only uses about half of the music’s original run-time of (4:48) as potential submittal work. The song’s theme of an imminent nuclear attack along with its mesmerizing, and hauntingly beautiful cinematic synth rhythms allowed a freedom to explore a narrative for a potential music video. One that could navigate solitude and an isolating voyage through a cosmic and confusing landscape post a nuclear catastrophe.
Process:
Programs Used: Oscilloscope! | Rhino 6 | Blender | Aftereffects
This music video took 4 weeks to complete.
Like for most of my motion graphics works. I do preliminary brainstorming like collecting references in order to organize my ideas. Because of the nuclear theme of the song, many of my ideas included solitude, and of a solitary environment, deprived of organic forms but enriched with geometric shapes applicable to the futuristic nature of the song.
Once I had my ideas and plan formulated, I started storyboarding scenes I wanted to include in the video.
In continuation with the theme of solitude and apocalyptic doom, an idea that surfaced during the ideation process was of a singular hand moving. In specific of a hand within a semi-empty space attempting of escaping its spatial singularity. A sign of humanity trying to escape the doom they have caused which is captured in the gif to the right.
An interesting part of the process was collaborating with my brother and recorded him in front of a DIY greenscreen which was the first time we ever ventured into VFX. The process was fun, and I learned how to rotoscope in After Effects.
Locations of geometric shapes in expansive spaces were always a constant goal for this project. These locations were inspired by 80s sci-fi aesthetics within analog mediums such as VHS tapes or vintage computer screens.
My brother and I continued the VFX process, recording more walking scenes of just my brother alone, giving him stage direction along the way.
Grain and other types of radiant effects were added to the compositions in order to give the scenes an 80s, dystopian, and high contrast aesthetic.
The editing process was perhaps the most experimental part since the song became the tonal bases of how the scenes would interact with each other. I used the song’s low and high beats and moments to dictate the progression of the edits.
Finally, after several watches, I got to finished end product. This video got great compliments and feedbacks from my fellow pupils during the product’s final presentation.
[FRAMES]
