SHANE DRAKEDIRECTOR STUDY

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• SHANE DRAKE IS A MUSIC DIRECTOR FROM REDDING, CALIFORNIA. HE HAS WORKED ON OVER 50 MUSIC VIDEOS FROM PARAMORE TO PLAIN WHITE T’S. HE OWNS HIS OWN PRODUCTION COMPANY; RED VON PICTURE. HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS MYSTERIOUS VIDEOS. HE SEEMS TO ENJOY COMING UP WITH A CONCEPT BEHIND THE VIDEO, THOUGH IT MUST SUIT THE ARTIST.

HOW HE WORKS • SHANE CHECKS WITH THE ARTISTS TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD

LIKE TO BE VIEWED AND BASE’S HIS VIDEOS AROUND THEM ADJUSTING HIMSELF TO THE NATURE OF THE BAND OR ARTIST. THE MAJORITY OF HIS VIDEOS ARE A MIX OF PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND CONCEPT. SHANE USES A LOT INDIVIDUAL SHOTS AND CLOSE UPS ON THE ARTISTS/ BANDS. HE LIKES TO FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR POINT OF VIEW, SOMETIMES HE WILL FOCUS ON THE PERFORMANCE ASPECT OR THE NARRATIVE AREA USING CONCEPT IMAGES AND DRAMATIC SETS AND IDEAS, WHERE AS OTHER TIMES HE MIGHT JUST FOCUS ON PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER.

EFFECTS • THROUGHOUT HIS VIDEOS YOU CAN SEE A PATTERN OF EFFECTS HE USES.

HE OFTEN USES OPPOSITES TO CREATE AN EYE CATCHING IMAGE. BLACK AND WHITE IS ONE HE ENJOYS USING DURING HIS MUSIC VIDEOS, THIS TECHNIQUE MAKES YOU FOCUS ON THE CHARACTER. THERE ARE NO BRIGHT COLOURS OR IMAGES DRAWING YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE MAIN IMAGE, MAKING IT MORE INTIMATE AND FIXATED. HE ALSO USES OTHER COLOURS AS A SIGNIFIER. IN SMILE BY AVRIL LAVIGNE THE ONLY COLOUR THROUGH THE NARRATIVE SECTION IS RED WHICH, BECAUSE OF THE LYRICS WE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH HEART BREAK, PASSION, AND LOVE.

• IN PLAIN WHITE T’S HE USES QUITE DULL COLOURS EXCEPT FOR GREEN WHICH AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE LYRICS WE ASSOCIATE WITH ENVY, AND JEALOUSY. HE OFTEN USES QUITE FAST PACED EDITING, TRACKING AND PANNING, WITH A VARIETY OF SHOTS SUCH AS CLOSE UPS, POINT OF VIEW, OVER THE SHOULDER, MID CLOSE UPS AND LONG SHOTS.

MY OPINION

• SHANE HAS AN INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO STAY TRUE TO THE GENRE HE IS FOCUSING IN. HIS VIDEOS SEEM TO HAVE AN AIR OF MYSTERY AND INSIGHT. I PLAN TO USE SOME OF HIS CONCEPTS AND IDEAS AND INTERPRET THEM INTO MY OWN MUSIC VIDEO AS HE HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF INSPIRATION.