Requests Permission for Using a Song

21st November 2012
Virgin EMI

Dear Virgin EMI,
My name is Josie McCusker and i am currently studying A Level Media studies at Aldenham School.

As part of my coursework this year, i am creating and producing a music video to a song of my choice. I have chosen Kings and Queens by 30 Seconds to mars as the song  I would like to create a music video for, nd i am writting this letter to seek your permission to do so.

Please note, this video will be used only for my coursework and will not be disturbed or marked in any form. I would greatly appreciate your permission to use this song.

Many Thanks,

Josie McCusker.

Idea of My Music Video

Idea of My Music Video

Within my song choice of Kings and Queens there is a 30 second gap before an eagle cry, within this gap my intentions are to  include landscape scenery  to give the effect to the audience that its a peaceful background which  symbolises the moral meaning behind the song.

When lyrics are brought into the song I am planning to film my artist within one of the scenery that i have shown already. This is to show the artist is in peace with the landscape around him. Hopefully I am planing to do this in front of dawn so I can capture the sunrise.

 From then onwards I am going to introduce two other characters who are going to be displaying ball room dancing practice around a dance studio to symbolise hard work and commitment. This is one of the moral themes that have comes across to me through the song. I will hopefully have the footage to flash and fade back and forth from the artist and dancers to create a showcase as well as narravtive.

Near to the end of a song there is a instrumental interval where I have planned to fill with more a narrative look on the song, I am hoping to do this by creating a tragedy within the dancers that also reflects on their practices.



Director of Kings and Queens

Steve Lilywhite

Lillywhite entered the music industry in 1972, when he worked as a tape operator for Polygram.
Lillywhite has been credited on over 500 records and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including U2, The Killers. The Rolling Stones and 30 Seconds to Mars.

 

Steve Lilywhite as well as working with 30 seconds to mars on their song "Kings and Queens" he also did worked with their video of "This is War". As well as this year, MTV reported that 30 seconds to mars and Steve are working on their 4th record in April

Lyrics of Kings and Queens

Kings and Queens Lyrics

 Into the night
Desperate and broken
The sound of a fight
Father has spoken.

We were the kings and queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the children of a lesser god
Between heaven and hell,
Heaven and hell.

Into your eyes
Hopeless and taken
We stole our new lives
Through blood and pain
In defense of our dreams
In defense of our dreams

We were the kings and queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the children of a lesser god
Between heaven and hell,
Heaven and hell.

The age of man is over
A darkness comes at dawn
These lessons that we've learned here
Have only just begun

We were the kings and queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the children of a lesser god
Between heaven and hell.

We are the kings
We are the queens
We are the kings
We are the queens 

Other 30 Second to Mars Music Videos

Other 30 Seconds to Mars Music Videos

This is War

 Within this music video there is no shots of the band performing however the band are shown as characters within the story it is telling, therefore making it a narrative music video.

From Yesturday

As you can see within these videos they have a pattern of creating a narrative music video while at the same time a showcase. Within my music video these are the two type I want to entwine together. I am going to do this by not creating a narrative with my artist but to create a story while utting back and forth to my artist.

30 Seconds to Mars

30 Seconds to Mars

30 Seconds to mars was originated from Los Angeles, as a alternative rock band. They started there music career in 1998 and still producing music today.  At the moment they have produced 3 studio albums; 30 Seconds to Mars, A Beautiful Lie and This is War, which have all been successful.

Their band includes 3 musicians;

The Lead Singer - Jared Leto. He is also an actor who has had to make decisions between his acting career or his band. For example movies; Fight Club, American Psycho and Requiem for a dream.

Drummer - Shannon Leto is Jared Leto's brother who as well as being member of the band, he also has a career within photography

Guitarist - Tomo Milicevic is a friend of the two brothers and has been apart of the 30 Seconds to Mars band from 1998 to present.

My Artist and Song that I have chosen

My Artist and Song that I Have Choosen

My artist's are a band called 30 Seconds to Mars, a group that does music within the genre of alternative rock. Their videos are not literal as aspected by there lyrics. However also give the effect towards the audience that their music means more then just what they have but what they see within the world.

My Song - Kings and Queens

Music Videos that Have Influenced My Own

Music Videos that Have Influence My Own

Cherly Cole - Parachute

This music video influenced me by the choreography and the camera angles of the dancing. Shots that display the emotion between the dancers is what I want to portray within my music video.

Pink - Try

This music video similarly influenced me through the choreography however I also am inspiried by the use of coloured powder that creatively displays the sense of violence.











Rihanna - California King Bed

This music video inspired my own through the sense of lighting it uses. Within my own music video I would like to use the sun setting within my shots of my artist. This is to show the simplicity of him alone. This is to contrast with my others shots which are more complex.