MUSIC VIDEO TREATMENT

XXXTENTACION Save Me

Submitted by William Wood

November 2nd 2017

Shot Type Examples
Who do I have?
Heaven and hell, my friend (my friend)
I wont shed a tear
Let them see me in pain again

Hello, from the dark side in

Does anybody here wanna be my friend? (my
friend)

Want it all to end

Tell me when the fuck is it all gonna end?

Voices in my head
Telling me Im gonna end up dead

So save me, before I fall

So save me, I dont wanna be alone
So save me, before I fall
So save me, I dont wanna be alone
TREATMENT
Save me is a very powerful and dark song. The song suggests themes such as isolation, depression
and despair. The music video will address these themes through intense visuals that depict the
unrecognised harsh reality of life, this will create a captivating music video that hints at the severity of
depression through cinematic visuals. XXXTENTACIONs previous music addresses a more darker world,
and his recent album 17 (that includes Save Me) tackles that theme. To maintain Xs image, I want to
focus on the darker themes throughout the music video, that will conform to and represent Xs
persona.
The music video will be a narrative music video that tells the story of a young male (Tommy) who has
depression, and who has to survive in the world without any help from anyone. The story will be
intensely visual and highly cinematic.
The story begins on a cold, dark and empty street, it is dark and there is a cold, harsh and scarce
atmosphere. Tommy is sat on the concrete floor as the meagre yellow street lights create a silhouette
of Tommy against the pavement. And using many long shots to establish isolation and loneliness, that
which is present in the song. Various shots of Tommy in an urban environment are used, to ensure that
it is made apparent that he is alone. There will be heavy use of low-key lighting and natural lighting to
invigorate Tommys solitary life. The ambient sound of the city echoes around him as he wanders
alone, from rooftops to alleyways.
As the lyrics begin we cut to a close-up of Tommy covering his face with his hands. This shot, along
with the rhetoric of Who do I have? represents the painful emotions Tommy has to deal with. As the
song progresses, Tommys mental state decays. Tommy will be shot in close-up as he punches a wall in
anger, and screams down at the world from the top of a building. All of these shots used to
continuously convey the harsh reality of Tommys life, and the constant hint at the severity of
depression.
On the lyric Let them see me in pain again a pull focus will be used to show a knife and then Tommy
looking at the knife; to subtly hint at the danger of depression. Following this close-up shots of Tommy
holding back tears in multiple locations will be used, an empty car park, a dark alley, a vandalised
bathroom. There would be heavy use of direct gaze, to create an uncomfortable atmosphere. We
would then come back to the knife scene, and Tommy would be holding the knife as the lyric Want it
all to end is used. An over the shoulder shot of Tommy screaming in the mirror would be used, the
vandalised bathroom environment representing Tommys damaged mental state.
Examples of Lighting
Tracking and panning camera movements will be used depicting Tommys isolation from the world as he walks
along empty streets alone. Low-lighting will be used for the majority of this music video to convey the
relentless world consuming Tommy. We cut to various long shots and mid-shots of Tommy on top of a building,
a dark environment compliments the low-key lighting creating a sense of darkness as Tommy is shot in a
silhouette style. We would then cut again to the knife scene as the chorus begins, but this time the scene is
intensified. Tommy will be hesitating and trembling as the knife hovers slightly above his arm; this scene will
be shot in close-up to amplify the emotions. As the chorus continues with So save me, I dont wanna be
alone, we circle around Tommy as he drops the knife in panic, falls to his knees and cries in the corner of the
vandalised bathroom. We want to intensify this scene in order to maintain the dark and truthful reality of Xs
image.
Following this a series of tracking, dolly and panning camera movements will be used showing Tommy running
down the street distraught and upset; as if he was trying to run away from his pain. Along with the running,
close-shots of a teary-eyed Tommy would be used in between the tacking and dolly camera movements to
further reinforce his pain. As the chorus finishes and the instrumental begins again, the close-up shots of
Tommy will continue along with previously used long shots of Tommy from afar. The editing will continue to be
at a faster pace to maintain the intensity. However as the music slows down so will the editing, creating a
powerful sequence of long held shots that create a cinematic yet climactic finale. With the instrumental
finished we quickly return to the knife scene once more, except this time there is silence. Tommy is in the
corner of the room, he gets up and returns to the mirror, the silence resonates. A close-up of Tommys face
and then a close up of the knife are edit together in a fast-paced manner, creating intensity even without the
music. We then see Tommy pick up the knife. Cut to black.
 TECHNIQUE AND PRODUCTION DETAILS
Due to the lack of budget and the limited cinematography and lighting equipment,
there is not much range for multiple lighting and camera techniques. However,
production, setting and costume are important and more achievable. The location
shall consist of Norwich, and neighbouring villagers such as Loddon, Thurton and
LODDON Chedgrave. These locations offer a range of locations that will be used for the filming,
such as a city scape, empty car parks and empty streets; this is due to accessibility
and the already existing locations are ideal for filming. Furthermore, due to the small
size of the neighbouring villages, the opportunity to shoot on empty streets and car
park will be much more achievable than the city. There are not many props needed at
all, except for the knife, that which is crucial for visual impact. The intention is to keep
the set scarce, in order to maintain the authenticity of the narrative.
Two models of camera will be used, the DSLR Canon 70D and a JVC camera, this is to
capture the dramatic visuals in the music video, with intense focus depth, and
cinematic detail when used with natural lighting. The music video will be edited using
NORWICH Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2017, allowing a professional edit to be produced. The
intention is to use as much natural lighting as possible, but at times using a small set
of lighting equipment for shots using low-key lighting.
There will need to be a casting of one key character, a young male between the age of
16-20. Due to insufficient funds, the casting will have to depend on contacts,
acquaintances and friends; although there is no pay. The shooting will take place over
the course of one or two weekends, due to the same style of shot types and locations
it will not be too time consuming, and therefore will only take a small amount of
time. There is no lip-syncing and therefore no need to use on-set audio, this will take
up a lot less time. There will be initial run throughs of some shots, particularly the
DSLR CANON 70D JVC CAMERA tracking, panning and dolly camera movements , which will take a few rehearsals to
perfect framing and positioning of the actor. Overall the shooting shouldnt be more
than 10-15 hours of filming. This is excluding any re-shoots.