Virtual Paganini School
MUSIC VIDEO TREATMENT | APRIL 2017
CONCEPT
Shanghai
Paris
New York
To create a video that reveals a compelling story about a way of learning that breaks down cultural barriers by offering students an opportunity to learn from anywhere in the world via a virtual school of music. The virtual school of Paganini brings four young students* from Shanghai, Paris, New York and Rio together in a virtual music lesson taught during a live performance of one of the most complex Paganini Caprices by world renown, violinist, YI-JIA SUSANNE HOU from the heart of Vancouver, BC, Canada. * The 4 students are “imagined” youth violinists on 4 different continents. But they are not actors. They’ll be actual promising young talents, sourced from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) youth orchestra, and Hou’s personal contacts.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Rio
Shanghai
Paris
VISUAL APPROACH The visual approach for this project is to create a unique look and feel for each city and character in the video. Colour palettes and lighting will be meticulously chosen to represent specific times of day, culture tones and character personalities. Each country will be introduced with a stock purchased iconic city scape time lapse that is followed up with closer detail shots that are crafted to reveal key details of each character’s personality. The visuals of the four students will be woven together with a beautifull shot live performance of Susanne playing Paganini’s caprice no.1 in the stunning Pyatt Hall at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in downtown Vancouver.
Brazil
New York
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
YI-JIA SUSANNE HOU A virtuoso…. a world-class Canadian violin soloist who performs centuries-old music with a kind of magical sensitivity and dexterity that few can match.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
CHAN A 10 year old, slightly awkward and socially shy, video gamer from Shanghai who dials into the virtual school late at night from his minimalist contemporary apartment in downtown Shanghai.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
MARIE An 11 year old, confident and very stylish Parisian girl who dials in from Paris where she sips her morning espresso and munches on pink meringues in a small cafe in the chic Marais district.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
FRANKIE An 13 year old, street savvy, punk rock girl who dials in from Brooklyn, New York in an old warehouse where she typically skateboards and plays punk rock music with her friends.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
PAULO An 8 year old outgoing soccer loving, Brazilian boy who dials in from his modest home on an old outdated computer in the slums of Rio De Janeiro.