Bollywood Music Video

Here’s a fun music video that doubles as a mini Bollywood movie. I was inspired by some of the some slick camera moves and eye-catching editing techniques I hope to use to enhance my Winter Project about a Bollywood DJ. There are several videos included in the link below. The one I’d like to highlight starts at 2:23.

The short video is a compressed storyline of  boy meets girl, does boy get girl? With a Cinéma Vérité approach the plot starts with a taxi driver passing a supermodel photo shoot – and he is struck with love at first sight. There’s a cool frame through the cabbie’s window at 2:37 providing the audience with POV showing (not telling) us what’s going on.

Next we see some matched action shots (starting around 2:40) with medium and tight shots of the taxi driver on his phone renting a luxury car thinking he might stand a better chance of getting the model’s attention if he has a cool ride. The guy goes on to totally reinvent himself to come across as some kind of jet-set super rich dude to score points with his love interest.

Slow motion is used throughout the video congruent with the pace of the music, as well as the storyline. The video editor slows down the pace with slow motion to emphasize the dreamy pursuit. An example starts around 3:08.

To convey passage of time, the editors use a series of crossfades, like these starting at 3:52. It also lends a another dreamy, romantic feeling as we watch their budding romance blossom.

Drastic and artsy angles are used throughout the video providing an edgy feel and interesting aesthetics. Here’s an example at 3:35.

Smooth and gliding gimbal and pans are used in much of the video conveying motion and congruent with the flow of the music.  Here’s an example at 3:35:

The mini Bollywood movie approach here is fun, energetic and entertaining just like the music video’s song. The gimbal shots and crossfades lend well to the dreaminess of a love story in the works and convey passage of time. Drastic angles edited to beats also emphasize the song’s style and feel. The deliberate use of slow motion sets the pace in accordance with the music and storyline. The matched action and framing gives us context and moves the story along with a ‘show don’t tell’ technique.

Now, I wouldn’t recommend faking someone out with a false persona to get a date.  But, it seemed to work for this guy and the answer to the Unanswered Question appears to be yes – he got the girl! 🙂