Suwandri's A2 level blog

 Difficulties faced making music video Making a music video for a selected song was a challenge for me because I did not have enough resources, and that had an impact on selecting my song as well. Since I only had one character available to utilize and did not have a large cast, I faced difficulties in bringing my full creative vision to life. I had to carefully plan everything according to the limitations I had. Here are some tips I used to cope up Keep it simple: I focused on a straightforward storyline that did not require a large cast. Since I only had one character, I made sure the concept was emotionally strong instead of complex. Get creative with roles:  As I did not have multiple actors, I used props, simple costume choices, and editing techniques to make the character more expressive and engaging. Play with camera angles: I used close-ups, over-the-shoulder shots, and different framing styles to create variety. This helped make the video visually interesti...

 Bedroom For my music video, I chose the bedroom as one of my main locations. I chose it because a bedroom is a very personal and private space. It is somewhere people usually go when they want to be alone. Since my music video is about mental health and emotional numbness, the bedroom helps show isolation and overthinking. In this space, the character is mostly alone and not very active. I planned to use simple movements like sitting on the bed or lying down to show tiredness and emotional heaviness. The room is not decorated in a dramatic way because I wanted it to feel realistic. This makes the audience focus more on the character’s emotions rather than the background. The bedroom represents being stuck inside your own thoughts. Garden I also chose to film in the garden. The garden is open and natural, which is very different from the bedroom. I wanted this contrast to show that even when the character is outside in a free and open space, the feeling of numbness does not go aw...

 In my music video, I chose to dress the character in normal, everyday clothing to reflect the realism of mental health struggles. Instead of using dramatic or stylised outfits, I kept the costume simple and casual. This was intentional because mental illness does not have a specific appearance, and people who struggle often look completely normal on the outside. By doing this, I wanted the audience to understand that the character’s battle is internal rather than visible. I also avoided bright or vibrant colours in the costume. The use of neutral and muted tones helps represent emotional numbness and detachment. The simplicity of the outfit supports the theme of feeling stuck and emotionally drained, which links closely to Numb Little Bug by Em Beihold . Additionally, I kept the styling minimal with no exaggerated fashion elements. This allows the audience to focus more on the character’s facial expressions and body language instead of being distracted by the costume. The natur...

 Mental Illness Representation “Numb Little Bug” by Em Beihold , the song mainly represents: Emotional numbness Depression Dissociation Feeling detached from reality Functional sadness (looking “fine” but not feeling okay) In my music video , the character is represented Emotional numbness Depression Dissociation Emotional detachment Visual Representation and comparison with my MV Rather than showing dramatic sadness, the character presents internalised suffering , which reflects the idea of “functional depression” appearing physically present but emotionally absent. In this scene, the character is lying behind her laptop with her head lowered, which represents mental exhaustion and emotional overwhelm. The laptop acts as a barrier between the character and the viewer, symbolising emotional distance and disconnection. Although she is physically present and appears to be working, her posture reflects a lack of motivation and energy. This portrays functional...

   Costume Research (Mental Health Comparison with My MV)  Use of Normal, Everyday Clothing In many music videos that portray mental health struggles, the character is dressed in ordinary, casual clothing. This is done to create realism and relatability. Mental illness does not have a specific “look,” and people who struggle often appear completely normal on the outside. In my music video, the character wears simple, everyday clothes. This reflects how mental health issues are internal and invisible. The costume does not exaggerate the condition but instead presents the character as an ordinary person experiencing internal conflict. This links strongly to the theme of Numb Little Bug , where the lyrics suggest functioning normally while feeling emotionally detached. Mental Health Link: Hidden struggles, internalised emotions, realism.  Muted / Neutral Colours Mental health-based music videos often use muted tones such as black, grey, white, or soft colours. T...

 Location Research (Mental Health Comparison with My MV) Bedroom Location In many music videos about mental health, the bedroom is used as a symbolic space. It represents isolation, safety, and emotional confinement. The bedroom becomes a private world where the character is alone with their thoughts. In my music video, the bedroom location reflects the character’s mental state. The enclosed space visually communicates how trapped the character feels inside their own mind. The minimal lighting and limited movement inside the room reinforce the feeling of numbness and emotional stagnation. Compared to typical mental health representations, this location effectively mirrors depression, where individuals often withdraw from the outside world. Mental Health Link: Isolation, overthinking, emotional withdrawal. Outdoor/Open Space Location Open spaces are often used in mental health music videos to contrast inner chaos with outer freedom. Although the space appears large and free, the ch...

 Here I have put the most important parts of the song I have videoed for my song. I conducted a mock shoot to experiment with my visuals before the final production. I tested different camera angles, particularly close-ups and handheld shots, to effectively capture emotion and create a sense of instability. I also experimented with low-key lighting to enhance the dark and isolated mood of the scene. This process helped me evaluate the performance, framing and overall atmosphere, allowing me to identify areas that need improvement, such as better lighting control and stronger composition for the final shoot.

 Here I'll show the behind-the-scenes of me filming my music video Here the camera was not the actors face is not in the middle of the screen so the shot was not right Here the camera was not the actor's face was not in the middle of the screen so the shot was not right I  first wanted to take the shot where the dog was sitting beside her, but it was a failure because it did not show any interest, so we took the shot with the dog sitting down and looking up Small mistake She did not look angry enough in this shot  I did not include this clip in the last MV It was actually a very fun experience filming the MV, but we also had an annoying number of mistakes which we had to correct and move forward. These show the wrong takes and the bloopers of filming (behind the scenes)