Where It Started
I wrote my song "11:59" after my freshman year of college, and it's inspired by the familiar cycle of procrastination, facing distractions, and then eventually trying to finish at the last minute before the common due time: 11:59. This started as a song, then started becoming something else: a music video which brought that feeling to life.
From Song to Screen
When I was in Directing 1 class, and assigned a final project, I had to look for an idea. I then realized I already had a story within one of my songs. I turned "11:59" into a music video, which gave me the opportunity to make my first music video. This project allowed me to explore how I can be able to translate the song into a visual story. I wanted to showcase what procrastination feels like from the inside: starting with a night that's ordinary and then eventually building up to the deadline pressure.
One Desk, One Deadline
I wanted the video to be familiar and feel grounded, so I built the story around one desk and the routine of trying to finish an assignment. I focused on the small details which communicate the increasing stress: the laptop, the various tabs and the assignment, the desk getting messier, and the time passing. As the night is progressing, the pacing and environment become more chaotic, and that reflects the pressure that's building in the song.
Learning to Direct Myself
When making the video, I also had the chance to learn about what it means to direct myself. I needed to think about the performance, camera, editing, and storytelling simultaneously. Not every shot turned out to be what I pictured, but this process taught me to keep going and find out how all the pieces work together when combined into a finished project.
What's Next
What initially started as a song I wrote after my college freshman year has now turned into a music video I'm preparing to release alongside the song. For now, I'll leave the rest of the story for when the video and song is released.