- Type
- Music Video
Citizen Brand
A modern day homage and stylized take on CITIZEN KANE, about a real estate mogul who undergoes an awakening when he remembers his childhood "Sister".
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STYLE
Film noir with an edge. Imagine the story of CITIZEN KANE mixed with the style of SIN CITY and SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. Most scenes will be shot on a green screen so most backgrounds will be digitally created out of photographs or stock footage. Lots of potential with the black and white dynamic, especially with the image of the Sister. Slashed pools of light. Characters in full silhouette or moving in and out of shadows. The dramatic pace of the video is represented by the change in weather. Light snowfall to a windy breeze, then to a pounding rainfall that signals the baptism of Brand's refreshing new life. The performance shots with the band are more desaturated than pure black and white. Dramatic shots from a low angle. Slow motion capture of each band member. The finale to this performance should be breathtaking in the pounding rain.
STORY
NIGHT. We reveal a towering skyscraper etched with the logo BRAND. Now we're INSIDE a dark office where B.J. BRAND (mid-50's) sits contemplating. He holds up a snow globe with a playground inside. His lips speak. "Sister".
The song begins and behind him, Low vs Diamond is revealed as they perform in a life-sized version of the playground featured inside the globe. The swings, monkey bars all look rusted in this vast sandlot. This is the PERFORMANCE setting for the band that we go back and forth to.
BRAND'S face DISSOLVES to a younger BRAND (10) as a FIST enters frame and wacks him. FOUR YOUNG KIDS surround Brand and his RIVAL (16) in a school playground. Brand furiously wipes the blood off his mouth when SISTER (40's, nun-like school teacher) appears. She pulls BRAND up on his feet and shakes her head in disappointment.
OFFICE. Sister paces around a dejected Brand and leans over to whisper. "Don't forget sister. She'll always be true"
The song builds up as the following MONTAGE appear rapidly to the beat:
Brand raises his hand in class
He solves a math problem on the board
He reads a textbook
He receives diploma
Brand (now 18) looks out the train window. The image of his family waving goodbye DISSOLVES into the downtown skyline. We're in a BOARD ROOM where an older Brand (35) turns away from the window to face a conference table full of older SUITS. A "BRAND" LOGO is situated behind them on the wall.
Brand now speaks to an auditorium of fans. TRANSITION to a CONSTRUCTION SITE where Brand poses for a groundbreaking ceremony.
Brand's WIFE (25, gorgeous model) escorts BRAND to a LIMO. Brand looks out the limo window and is surprised to see PROTESTERS carrying signs ("SAVE CHURCH", "COMMUNITY FIRST"). Brand's reflection on the glass becomes an image of his Sister. He's startled but his WIFE takes his mind off things by kissing him.
Penthouse. CAMERA pushes into a seated Brand as MODELS in lingerie party around him. Time lapses as we move in closer to and we return to the opening scene: with Brand (50) and his SNOW GLOBE. He looks up and sees his disgusted WIFE slamming the door on him.
Sister's image suddenly appears on the snow globe. A startled Brand drops the globe and rushes out of the room.
GRAVEYARD. A strong breeze as Brand kneels before a tombstone and yells out loud. MATCH CUT to lead singer Lucas also looking up to the sky as the song hits its final dramatic act.
MONTAGE
Brand visits a disabled VETERAN in a hospital
Brand presents a HUGE CHECK to a group of KIDS
MAGAZINE spins into frame with headline "BRAND NEW PHILANTHROPIST"
Brand poses with a PRIEST and some SISTERS in a ribbon cutting ceremony. RAIN starts to pour down. As everyone else tries to find shelter, Brand doesn't budge and takes in the rain. His face radiates with satisfaction.
The same hard rain also pours down on Low vs Diamond. Dramatic slow shots of each member playing in the drenching rain.
Brand is seated but smiling. REVEAL Brand on a park bench and taking in the beautiful sight of KIDS playing in this new playground. The sign reads BRAND'S PLACE.
END
Film noir with an edge. Imagine the story of CITIZEN KANE mixed with the style of SIN CITY and SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. Most scenes will be shot on a green screen so most backgrounds will be digitally created out of photographs or stock footage. Lots of potential with the black and white dynamic, especially with the image of the Sister. Slashed pools of light. Characters in full silhouette or moving in and out of shadows. The dramatic pace of the video is represented by the change in weather. Light snowfall to a windy breeze, then to a pounding rainfall that signals the baptism of Brand's refreshing new life. The performance shots with the band are more desaturated than pure black and white. Dramatic shots from a low angle. Slow motion capture of each band member. The finale to this performance should be breathtaking in the pounding rain.
STORY
NIGHT. We reveal a towering skyscraper etched with the logo BRAND. Now we're INSIDE a dark office where B.J. BRAND (mid-50's) sits contemplating. He holds up a snow globe with a playground inside. His lips speak. "Sister".
The song begins and behind him, Low vs Diamond is revealed as they perform in a life-sized version of the playground featured inside the globe. The swings, monkey bars all look rusted in this vast sandlot. This is the PERFORMANCE setting for the band that we go back and forth to.
BRAND'S face DISSOLVES to a younger BRAND (10) as a FIST enters frame and wacks him. FOUR YOUNG KIDS surround Brand and his RIVAL (16) in a school playground. Brand furiously wipes the blood off his mouth when SISTER (40's, nun-like school teacher) appears. She pulls BRAND up on his feet and shakes her head in disappointment.
OFFICE. Sister paces around a dejected Brand and leans over to whisper. "Don't forget sister. She'll always be true"
The song builds up as the following MONTAGE appear rapidly to the beat:
Brand raises his hand in class
He solves a math problem on the board
He reads a textbook
He receives diploma
Brand (now 18) looks out the train window. The image of his family waving goodbye DISSOLVES into the downtown skyline. We're in a BOARD ROOM where an older Brand (35) turns away from the window to face a conference table full of older SUITS. A "BRAND" LOGO is situated behind them on the wall.
Brand now speaks to an auditorium of fans. TRANSITION to a CONSTRUCTION SITE where Brand poses for a groundbreaking ceremony.
Brand's WIFE (25, gorgeous model) escorts BRAND to a LIMO. Brand looks out the limo window and is surprised to see PROTESTERS carrying signs ("SAVE CHURCH", "COMMUNITY FIRST"). Brand's reflection on the glass becomes an image of his Sister. He's startled but his WIFE takes his mind off things by kissing him.
Penthouse. CAMERA pushes into a seated Brand as MODELS in lingerie party around him. Time lapses as we move in closer to and we return to the opening scene: with Brand (50) and his SNOW GLOBE. He looks up and sees his disgusted WIFE slamming the door on him.
Sister's image suddenly appears on the snow globe. A startled Brand drops the globe and rushes out of the room.
GRAVEYARD. A strong breeze as Brand kneels before a tombstone and yells out loud. MATCH CUT to lead singer Lucas also looking up to the sky as the song hits its final dramatic act.
MONTAGE
Brand visits a disabled VETERAN in a hospital
Brand presents a HUGE CHECK to a group of KIDS
MAGAZINE spins into frame with headline "BRAND NEW PHILANTHROPIST"
Brand poses with a PRIEST and some SISTERS in a ribbon cutting ceremony. RAIN starts to pour down. As everyone else tries to find shelter, Brand doesn't budge and takes in the rain. His face radiates with satisfaction.
The same hard rain also pours down on Low vs Diamond. Dramatic slow shots of each member playing in the drenching rain.
Brand is seated but smiling. REVEAL Brand on a park bench and taking in the beautiful sight of KIDS playing in this new playground. The sign reads BRAND'S PLACE.
END
Comments (14)
Jea Devoe Impressive!! one of the best up on the competition site may be a bit much for a music video but well done I'll be watching for your future work, all the best and I am a big fan of Orson Wells and thoroughly enjoyed your approach again break a leg!!
November 11, 2008eignacio I really enjoyed watching this pitch video. Well done!
October 11, 2008Good Luck with the competition!
xylophonistic This storyboard is amazing, I don't think i've seen one like this before! even though a younger audience may not necessarily know it's an homage to Citizen Kane, it's fine. to see the images would be very powerful and stark. Great pitch!!
October 10, 2008twelveone Good treatment... I'd probably like to see him be more bad, but I guess without drug or violence in video's anymore probably be really hard. Be nice to see CK visualized in a music video Good Luck
October 8, 2008Go360xRoland Great take on CK, the film that revolutionized the industry. Would love to see this concept come to fruition. Good luck with this project.
October 7, 2008Patricio Ginelsa Thanks phantommaxx and greencheesemedia for the comments!
October 6, 2008I only used the film as a stepping stone or an inspiration for my music video concept and I never intended to copy everything thematically. Early on, I think I even included a sled called "Sister" before settling on the nun-like image. It's been years since I saw the entire film and I purposely didn't watch it again when writing this one. While the film laid out the groundwork, it was the song that placed the finishing touch.
Carl Hartman Part of the idea of visual treatment of CITIZEN KANE was that it came full circle with the idea of ROSE BUD and the SNOW GLOBE. Although interesting, it fails to echo and stay true to the CITIZEN KANE story. The concept really only picks up small elements of the film and appears to lack a true understand of the essence of the CK story.
October 6, 2008PhantomMaxx I love the pitch, both in concept and execution. Although most younger music video viewers may not know Citizen Kane I think the concept is relevant to the feel of the track. Good job.
October 6, 2008Patricio Ginelsa Thanks jjasef and uriah!
October 6, 2008I didn't see the budget restriction during the Rules portion but I finally saw it here in the Director's FAQ.
"A general rule of thumb would be that your video should be able to be produced for under $25,000. That's not to say the actual budget won't be higher than this, but we want to level the playing field and really get you to pitch creatively."
I see ways I can scale down this idea if need be and stilll maintain the theme, but honestly I've done crazier things with a smaller budget. Thanks for the heads up!
Uriah I believe you'll go far no matter what.
October 6, 2008