Costumes

The following are photographs of the final costumes for the forest scenes. Notice how the artist's costume is far more detailed and interesting than King Midas or his creatures. The creatures' costumes consist of a sheet draped over one shoulder. King Midas's costume is tied at both shoulders forming this dip at his chest. With far more material on his person shows his superiority and wealth. The crown he wears is a golden, glittering, branch that has been looped and tied to fit his head. This shows his connection with nature, but the gold shows his control of gold.

Costume Research

Listening to 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)', the reference to Greek mythology echoes through its lyrics, 'Midas is King and he holds me so tight'. I want the artist's appearance to alter when she goes through to the other world, to use all these changes to challenge her. I therefore, looked at possiblities for her costume. It had to be far more complex than the other costumes as she was almost, always in the shot. Also keeping the idea that she is going through into another world and with the title of the song, 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)', I thought that another theme could be Alice in Wonderland. Therefore, I wish to merge these two themes of Greecian style with that of Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland'.

The top of the costume could be Grecian style, made of a white sheet, draped over one shoulder. The middle wrapped in gold coloured rope and ivy wrapped around the skirt-like part. This would emphasise the fantasy element of the garment. To give fulness to the dress, two petticoats would be placed underneath to give that childlike appearance that Alice has. The shoes would be simple as little black pumps, like that of Alice. The idea for the shoes also came from the image shown above, of the model wearing ballet pumps. It also creates this ease of movement within the forest, but with elegance.

Story Board

Make-up Research

As I do not have at hand state of the art special effects, I need for the slaves of King Midas to appear like creatures by the use of unusual make-up. I therefore did some research on what I believed I could develop for the creatures in my music video. I want to use bold colours so the camera camera can pick these up and inhance them. Thinking about the creatures and their part in the music video, I believe I will use red or blue or black colours as these are darker and more menacing colours to heighten their evil in the video. Looking at the images that I have collected, I like the idea of adding unusual false eyelashes to the female creature and features to their hair, to make them seem less human.

For the artist's make-up I will only have her with full make-up for the forest scenes, to make that change from her normal life so much more emphasised. I want her make-up to be more natural and, therefore I will have her with green eye shadow, with yellow tones around her eye socket. The liner around her eye will be delicate and detailed to heighten the imagery of elegance and innocence.

Costume, Hair and Make-up Ideas

Due to the abnormality of the characters involved within the narrative of my music video and for effect to to keep the interest of the audience, the costumes, hair and make-up must be thoroughly researched. Therefore, I have collected images from magazines and the internet to help develop possible ideas for costume, hair and make-up.

When looking at the lyrics, it mentions a character known as King Midas of whom is known in Greek mythology. Therefore, I wish to have a costume theme of Ancient Greece. In reflection of what was said in the Vox Pop, about something being unusual and odd grabbing their attention, I wish for my music video to echo this. When thinking about themes of which are weird and wonderful I came across the theme of Alice in Wonderland. Moreover, I wish for the costumes, hair and make-up to represent both a grecian and wonderland style.

This images shown above is a collection of pictures from magazines. The larger image of the woman in the green dress gave me the idea of using natural colours for make-up for the main character, the atist whilst within this other world. All dresses within the collection use material that flows and creates a sense of elegance which is what I am initially thinking for the artist. The image in the top left hand corner of the lower collection of images, represents a possible idea for the creatures within the narrative. The blue of the eyes stand out and she almost looks ghost like.

When thinking about the theme of wonderland and the costume from the Imogen Heap music video 'Goodnight & Go' I began to look at ballerinas. I like the way the underskirts lift up the dress in a way to create a far more fanatasy look about them. Thinking about this, I believe I will use an underskirt for the artist's costume.

Further Lyric Research

Within the chorus of the lyrics 'Rabbit Heart (Raise it up)', it mentions a character from Greek mythology. The lyrics say, 'Midas is king and he holds me so tight/And turns me into gold in the sunlight'. To get a better understanding and to develop my ideas for the music video I researched the story of King Midas.

King Midas

‘King Midas was a very wealthy king. Collecting gold was his hobby, his joy and his life. One day as he sat counting his wealth he saw an old man asleep under a tree. He saw that it was Silenus from the court of Dionysus, God of wine. Midas was cunning and treated Silenus like a king for ten days before taking him back to Dionysus. Dionysus was grateful for the care lavished on his old servant and told King Midas that he would grant any wish that he made. Midas asked that anything he touched would be turned to gold. Dionysus granted his wish but warned him about his greed. Midas was very happy. He touched a tree and it turned to gold. He touched the walls of his palace and it turned to gold. He touched his horse, then his servant, his food and finally his children. Everything turned to gold.

Midas began to feel very unhappy. He could not eat, sleep, drink or touch anything because everything turned to gold. He missed his children dreadfully.

Finally Midas went back to find Dionysus and told him that he wanted to get rid of his golden touch. Dionysus laughed when he saw the change in the king. Eventually he decided to take pity on him and told him to go and bath in the river Pactolus. King Midas went to the river. He was afraid to get into the water in case it turned to gold and killed him. He got a jug and washed himself down. Little by little the gold washed away. King Midas was so relieved. He took jug after jug of water back to his palace to wash his children, his servants, his horse and the whole palace. He did not stop work until he had restored everything to its normal state.’

Ideas

From the story of King Midas, I wish to take parts from this story and use it as part of the narrative for my music video.

Looking at both the lyrics and the story, I believe to keep the interest of the audience and to promote the band of Florence and the Machine I will emerge both my ideas with the theme of Greek mythology. As there is reference to King Midas, I believe it would well into the music video if I included the very character of King Midas. Perhaps by adding other unusual parts to the video along with the theme of Greek mythology, the originality of the music video should entertain the audience greatly.

Lyrics

Analysis and breakdown of the Lyrics