Prop Planning

Props form a major part of a music video, and mise-en-scene can be used to really sell the atmosphere in the promo. Because of this we will have to choose our props carefully. The storyboard illustrates random landscape features or items being used throughout the promo. The thinking behind this is that the Astronauts are exploring the familiar as the abstract and alien, and in theory it should come across as quirky and humorous. The locations we are planning on using will be a supermarket and some rural areas, one with an abandoned container present.

Firstly though, the astronaut actors will be wearing space helmets. By making our own low budget space helmets for the main narrative characters, they can help bring the low budget and somewhat comical feel intended for the promo to life. These helmets will be made from rounded bin lids and tin foil and their creation can be seen on a separate post.

The finished helmets: Images coming....

Co-Op Props:
These props will be your general supermarket items and some quirky things that normally you would walk past. These would include wrapping paper, which could be played with as swords or telescopes to investigate what they do, A small toy space shuttle which could be closely inspected and a reference could be made about it's size, spare bin lids which could be tried on as a new hat and toilet rolls, which anything could happen with. These are all things we generally take for granted, but how would an alien or person from another world react to them? This helps to connote the idea that our society makes no sense at all to outsiders and we as humans are not very straightforward beings. This along with the upfront comical aspect will help to give a deeper meaning to our promo video.

 

      

 

Exterior Location Props
Props for the exterior locations, such as Hills and Holes and Maxey Lakes could be anything. A abandoned shipping container is at Maxey Lakes, so that could be used as a quirky set piece for the footage shot there. The promo is all about exploring what we take for granted as the unknown, and this would be a perfect prop to investigate. Other items that would be taken to the outdoor locations would be a football and a sledge. These items would need some serious explaining to an alien creature, and they could be used to get some comedic footage.

Performance props:
For the performance, instruments and a microphone would be used to help keep this part of the video grounded in reality. The electric guitar would be played by Niall, the bass by Luke and the drums by Sam. The fact that you would be able to see the performers playing the instruments would help to give the video an authentic feel.