CONCEPT: A perfume launch party (with music/performances)
THEME: James Bond
WHY: UNI WORK
TITLE: Silence is a killer’
SETUP IDEA: Casino / Red Carpet
OTHER KEY WORDS: Luxury, VIP
WHEN FOR: 6th April 2024
MY ROLES: Conceptual Designer, Event Manager, Video Director/Producer
SONGS INSPIRATION:
Skyfall – Adele (2012)
You Know My Name – Chris Cornell (2006)
No Time To Die – Billie Eilish (2020)
Diamonds Are Forever – Shirley Bassey (1971)
I know maybe I should’ve gone with what scares me the most, but I also wanted to shine in a way that I felt useful.
Yesterday I had a class called ‘Popular Music & Technology”. I actually have this class on Tuesdays specialised/focused on my discipline — Performance; meaning we learn how to use technology in our craft. For example, how to introduce special visual effects or sound effects during stage performances. I am not going to lie, it is very daunting for me since I always struggle with being a beginner at something, and even if I am ‘supposed to’ know more about music DAWs (Logic Pro, Ableton, etc), I still feel like a proper newbie. BUT, this class makes it fun when you think of the end goal of having an amazing performance with cool effects such as those you can see during your favourite artists’ tours.
So, back to the class on Saturday; it’s a combination of all disciplines. Performers meet Producers meet Entrepreneurs meet Composers. We are therefore assigned a theme (yesterday’s one was James Bond’) and we have to come up with an end product. Here, we had to come up with a theoretical event for a perfume launch party called ‘007’ and collaborate all together to compose songs/music themes resembling those in James Bond movies, while having those in charge of the visuals/props/event itself.
Funny enough, I wanted to both be part of the songwriting/performing team AND the event managing one. But then when attributing tasks, I kind of got scared of the songwriting camp because I tend to compare myself too easily. I know maybe I should’ve gone with what scares me the most, but I also wanted to shine in a way that I felt useful. I then decided to be in charge of the actual ‘event’, which will take place in our class on the next Saturday we hold this lesson (in about 5 weeks).
“I kind of got scared of the songwriting camp because I tend to compare myself too easily.”
Indeed, I have always been attracted to conceptualizing ideas, whether it be for photoshoots, music videos, YouTube videos, songs, etc. I therefore recently realised that I would in fact make a GREAT conceptual designer/production designer — aka be the one in charge of props, visuals, venues/places for a filming or photoshoot. It sparks something in me that I cannot describe. You can see it in my way of being 100% (or more) into the realisation of my ideas: the money I tend to spend in props for my songs’ videos or promo is insane! (Not saying this is a good thing, but with a budget and an actual plan, it could give me a great career path, eh)
I did not regret my choice of task since I think I am great with coming up with my own song ideas, but not so much when given a theme or working as a team.
So, the idea is to create a ‘red carpet’ event. I want millions of props (casino props, fake martini glasses, anything reminding James Bond movies, black gaming cards, luxury card invites for everyone in the class (just like they’d be VIP guests for the event), red velvet curtains and ropes, etc. We’d all be wearing tuxedos and beautiful red or black dresses & all dolled up.
While I was still going strong with the conceptualising of the event — which I think excited me this much because it reminds me of the concept of one of my upcoming songs… — the rest of the team was composing two or three different songs on the idea of James Bond such as Skyfall by Adele, and much more. I did not regret my choice of task since I think I am great with coming up with my own song ideas, but not so much when given a theme or working as a team. (although I am fully aware I WILL have to face this fear someday… But not today!)
The last idea I came up with, which I am absolutely hyped about, was a video. In fact, we requested a few props to our tutors (even though I KNOW I will want to provide some myself too, ahahah) and among them was a video projector. I need some of my classmates to be actors, and I am in love with the idea of being the director/producer/writer/editor of a perfume ad (please give me all the titles, I love them, thank you *sunglasses emoji*).
Two of my friends helped me with the script, which could consist of a perfume that is so good it can kill. In fact, we came up with the title ‘Silence can kill’ (or something like that) to follow the themes of previous James Bond movies, and the idea that a perfume could kill came to our mind… I am starting to envision the actual ad, but for you to know how it comes to light, you’ll have to sign up to my newsletter to read my next excerpt… See you soon!
“It reminds me of the concept of one of my upcoming songs…“
