Twin Peaks: Video Deconstruction

TWIN PEAKS

Twin Peaks is an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois, United States. The band consists of Cadien Lake James (vocals, guitar), Clay Frankel (vocals, guitar), Jack Dolan (vocals, bass), Colin Croom (keys, vocals, guitar) and Connor Brodner (drums). In 2012, the band recorded their debut album Sunken in James' basement using two condenser microphones and GarageBand. Sunken was released on July 9, 2013, through Los Angeles-based independent record label Autumn Tone Records. Their record 'Wild Onion' was released by Grand Jury on August 5, 2014 in North America. "Making Breakfast", a song on the album written and sung by Frankel, had a music video released in October 2014, and has become the band's most well known song based on YouTube with over 650,000 views.

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks_(band)

The Band:

 Cadian Lake James on vocals & guitar

Clay Frankel on vocals & guitar

Jack Dolan on vocals & base

Colin Croom on vocals, keys & guitar

Connor Brodner on vocals, keys & guitar

RECORD LABEL

Twin Peaks are signed to 3 different independant record companies;

When viewing the record labels websites and researching it is clear that they are very similar in the types of artists they sign- very indie and alternative. Communion Records are the only record label which have signed highly commercially successful artists.

1. 'Los Angeles based Autumn Tone Records has set its sights on uncovering, and in some cases, widely introducing artists whose craft transcends the boundaries of trend, genre, and we hope...time.'
2. 'Communion Music is an independent music company, made up of Communion Records, Communion Presents, and Communion Publishing. It has offices in London and Brooklyn, NY. In its capacity as a label, promoter and publisher it currently works with a wide range of artists including Catfish and the Bottlemen, Ben Howard, James Bay, George Ezra, Bear's Den, Nathaniel Ratefliff and the Night Sweats, Daughter and Highly Suspect.'
3. 'Grand Jury is an independent record label based in New York City, founded in 2014'

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks_(band)

http://grandjurymusic.com/

https://en-gb.facebook.com/AutumnTone/

http://www.communionmusic.co.uk/

MAKING BREAKFAST

Watching the garden grow, 
happy, happy days 
Got egg yolk on my bed, 
Chinese food on the way 
Watching the garden grow, 
straight into the sky 
Got a candle by my window, 
it keeps me warm at night 

Spending time together 
watch out, don't let it get you down 
Nothing is forever 
that's right, but don't let it get you down 

And I'm sitting in the back of a limousine, 
just going to a show 
Wishing you were here right next to me 
but you already know 

That I'm the one who loves ya 
watch out, don't let it get you down 
And there will be no other 
that's right, but don't let it get you down 

Watching the garden grow, 
such a beautiful day 
It's raining through the window, 
but I like it that way 
Watching the garden grow 
the colour of your eyes, 
is changing with the season 
and God only knows why 

Spending time together 
watch out, don't let it get you down 
Nothing is forever 
that's right, but don't let it get you down

This song is a lighthearted feel good type song, the meaning isn't particularly philosophical or prominent within the song, it's more just about staying happy and continuing with an everyday mundane life. There is also references to some type of relationship within the song, as it seem Clay is talking about missing someone but not letting it get him down. It could be suggested that with these two elements combined, the song is about putting on a brave face and purposely looking for the positives in a situation.

SYNOPSES

https://soundcloud.com/cigga14/twin-peaks-synopses

TIMELINE

• 0:00 - 0:15: The promotional video opens with a close up of a cheesy mug with 'today is a good day' written on it. The Shot however opens with a slow circle transition effect. Holding the mug is Clay. There is a straight cut to a retro styled special effects mid shot in black and white, of clay- and the shot is doubled within the frame, side by side. The camera straight cuts to a close up side angle shot of Clays head with egg yolk running down his head in slow motion, there is bathroom tiling behind him. There is a buffer/ static effect over laying the shot throughout the music video. At 0:07 the camera cuts to a long shot of Clay outside the front of a house and street, with clay and a barbecue in the foreground and in the background there are passing vehicles and two men messing around outside a house on the pavement and a man with a dog entering his house. Clay starts singing with a mug in his hand and casually dancing, at the bottom of the screen is the lyrics superimposed with yellow lowercase calibra font. This continuos throughout the video

• 0:15 - 0:25: Here a straight cut takes us to the close up side angle shot of egg running down clays head in slow motion. The lyrics have changed to a yellow font with a bright green outline. The camera cuts to the mid black and white shot. The camera cuts back to a long shot clay singing and dancing outside in front of the american styled residential buildings, there are still men and passing vehicles in the background-which there is throughout the music video

• 0:25 - 0:39: The camera cuts to the close up side angle of Clay where another egg is thrown at his head in slow motion, before the camera cuts to the mid black and white shot, where there is some camera movement. At 0:30 the camera cuts back to the close up side angle shot of egg yolk running down clays hair. However, the previous shot is overlaid with a very high transparency level. The camera cuts back to the long shot of Clay where he wags his finger to 'nothing is forever' at 0:32. The lyrics are in a purely yellow font.

• 0:39 - 0:54: There is an instrumental break here and the camera cuts to the slow motion close up of Clay shaking the eggs of his head. There are no lyrics on screen during this shot. The camera cuts to the long shot of Clay singing and the lyrics are yellow with a green outline again, then change to pure yellow, and as the camera cuts to the mid black and white shot they change back again. The camera cuts to the close up slow mo shot for a second, before a straight cut to the long shot of clay singing.

• 0:54 - 1:09: The camera cuts to the distorted mid shot in black and white where the image is less exposed this time, and you can see Clay lip-sinking. At 0:58 the camera cuts to the long shot of Clay continuing to sing, before cutting back to the distorted mid shot of Clay lip-sinking. Then camera cuts to the side angle slow mo close up of Clay lifting up his egg covered head. The camera then cuts to the distorted mid black and white shot of Clay lip-sinking.
• 01:09 - 1:22: The camera cuts to the long shot of Clay singing and dancing, where the superimposed lyrics have changed to pure yellow. At 01:14 the camera cuts to the distorted mid black and white shot- Here the lyrics are spread vertically down both sides of the frame, 'MAKING' on the right shot and 'BREAKFAST' on the left. As the music cuts to the instrumental the lyrics disappear and the screen flickers from black to shot and Clay looks down showing the egg shells in his hair. Camera cuts to the long shot of clay where he lights a cigarette with matches on the barbecue. There is a quick cut to the side angle close up bathroom scene, before cutting back to  the long shot of clay lighting the cigarette.

• 1:22 - 1:44: The camera cuts to the side angle close up of egg running down Clays face singing in slow motion. Camera cuts to the distorted mid shot of clay lip-sinking. Half way through the shot, the text loses its green outline and the camera cuts to the long shot of Clay singing now with a mug and cigarette in his hands. The camera cuts to the side angle close up of Clay who's hair is completely flattened from egg yolk, before cutting to the distorted mid shot and the text has a green outline. The camera cuts to the long shot of clay and the text loses its green outline, Clay points to camera with the cigarette in his hand as he sings 'spending time together'. At 1:41 camera cuts to the side angle close up, before cutting back to the long shot of clay singing.

• 1:44 - 1:57: The camera cuts to the distorted mid shot of Clay singing and laughing, at 1:50 the camera cuts to the long shot of Clay singing, then cuts to the side angle slow mo close up of Clay laughing and the text has changed to yellow with a green outline again. Then camera cuts to the distorted mid shot split screen where the lyrics are scattered on each side of the frame again 'MAKING' on the left and 'BREAKFAST' on the right. 

• 1:57 - 2:12: The camera cuts to the long shot of Clay where he takes a draw from his cigarette, the men in the background walk off and clay reaches into his pocket, walking towards the camera, pulls out two eggs and then smashes them into the screen. He then pretends to lick the screen before walking off screen and a mope drives past. Credits appear at the bottoom of the screen with the song title, band name, director, editor and production company. The video closes with a long fade to black.

KEY SHOTS, CAMERA MOVEMENT AND EDITS

00:33- 00:39

I chose to highlight this shot as it is demonstrates the singers persona well, and I believe although in theory the music video is highly repetitive the audience is kept engaged just by the entertaining demeanour of Clay Frankel. I also like the use of lyrical display as it creates another visual element for the viewer, and the shot seems to be slightly desaturated- I believe this is a stylistic choice to create a retro aesthetic. I also like how these scenes are taken in lengthy shots to match the tempo and tone of the song. When further researching the band it seems they often have lyrics at the bottom of the screen, making it a sort of trade mark.

00:30 - 00:32

I found this transition interesting as there is a slight overlap of the shots, with the black and white overlaying the side angle close up. This combine with the slow motion effect really amplifies the songs relaxed and slow tone. This again creates a retro and alternative aesthetic which is part of the bands brand. I also want to comment on how the lyrics have changed to yellow with a green outline, this alternate occurs throughout the video and just adds more layers for visual engagement. 

02:01- 02:12

The closer of this promotional video dose a good job of tying all the elements of the video together, with the use of props- eggs and cigarettes-and having the lead singer once again portray his doltish attitude and then walking of screen which signifies the ending as he has been the focus of the promotional video. The Credits also then fade onto screen in the same font type as the lyrics for consistency. And there is a long crossfade to black which is keeping to the slow pace of the promotional video.

01:13- 01:17

I find this shot effective as it highly contrasts with the theme of the rest of the video. Firstly the image becomes much less exposed allowing us to see the features of Clay more clearly, and secondly the lyrics are then dispersed across the screen. This is in succinct with the music and also highlights the title of the song, this is in a a way a form of advertisement as they're highlighting the title of the song. 

00:00 - 00:03

The introductory shot is very unique in terms of music video conventions. Firstly the transition effect is very dramatic but sets the slow pace and focuses the viewers attention to 'today is a good day' which basically summarises what the songs about- enjoying the day no matter what. The close up allows us to see the dirt under the lead singers nails, this is portraying the band member as being carefree etc again a demonstration of branding and attempting to relate to the audience. This also sets the theme for the retro aesthetics with the low saturation and transition effect.

It is noticeable that the band are named after a 1990's popular TV series. This alone says a lot about how the band are presenting themselves and the type of audience they are relating to as it has grown in popularity to carry a retro niche style- and I believe they are attempting to do this. In fact quite often throughout the video there are similar aesthetics to to TV series i.e. desaturated picture, font...

LOCATION & MISE EN SCENE

timeline

(made with PHOTO SHOP)

location and props

costume, hair and makeup

FOCUS GROUP

'I really like the staticky effects they've put over the footage, and the style of the font as I feel like I'm watching something from the 80's music video. The font also reminds me of the font you find on Tumblr and I just find it really aesthetically pleasing. I think without these effects the video might be boring."

'I find the visual style of the video unique but I enjoyed the performance from the guy because he just seems really laid back and funny. Especially in the slow motion shots of the eggs being thrown at him, I like the randomness of it yet link between the title and eggs.' 

' I find the singers look very appealing, especially compared to Fall Out Boy's. And although this is only one member of the band I think he does a good job of encompassing the nature of the band, and seems likeable/ relatable which would make me want to see more if I didn't know who twin peaks were. I also like that the takes are often long as it amplifies the chilled sound of the song'

'I think there is opportunity for there to be more going on in the video, as if the song was any longer I'd probably lose interest. However, I do like the singers mannerisms and it just seems like he doesn't take life too seriously which is relatable and pairs nicely with the song. I also like the background of the performance shot and its mundane realism but the details of the houses and people are just an interesting visual aid.'

'I love the faded colour gradient and just all these post production effects as they're simple in theory but just gives the video a unique and nostalgic feel. I like the colour scheme of the fonts as well. I really like the closing shot as its almost interactive and is just funny and just brings the whole video together'

LESSONS TO CARRY FORWARD

• Lengthy shots can be effective when paired with the right pace of a song- slow.

• Costume can be key when creating a likeable and relatable band persona, especially the hipster-niche fashion trends for the common audience of Alternative Rock 

• Locations don't need to be extravagant when attempting to create an engaging music video, however details can add more depth to a location for the audience 

• Post production effects can create an memorable aesthetic and give a promotional video more edge, setting it apart from mainstream genres and therefor appeal to the Alternative Rock audience

• A careless, rebellious, casual frontman/ protagonists are often more appealing to an audience 

• It would be useful to explore the newer market retro niche aesthetics when styling our promotional video

• It is important for elements of the video to be appeal to the audience, whether through satire, image or iconography

• It is effective to interchange between concept shots and performance shots, and make sure to be consistent with the rate in which you do so

• Having only a frontman feature in a video can work as long as they represent the bands brand well