Case study - Jamie Thraves

• Director – Jamie Thraves
• Made short films at University
• Used award-winning short film as a ‘calling card’ to get a ‘foot in the door’ with the video production company Factory Films
• Began by shooting three very low budget music videos – cost about £5,000 each

As can be seen for many directors in the business it is a precarious existence where their livelihood is dependent on each commission. Jamie Thraves submitted treatments for his two best known videos and each was accepted. 

Radio-head – Just £100,000 budget. Shot in three days. His videos focus mostly on a small narrative that keeps the audience engaged. This is maybe because he wishes to be hollywood directer instead. 

Coldplay – The Scientist £200,000 budget. Shot in three days. This focuses on the emotion of the song and in turn draws an emotional response from the audience. 

   Jamie Thraves – most recent video – Japanese Popstars – Song for Lisa. Currently videos cost about £20,000    and was shot in two days. Jamie has used the music videos to get into the film business. He has now so far      shot 3 features:

   •The Low Down
   •The Cry of the Owl

   •Treacle Jr

       Use the lyrics but try not to be too literal. Most importantly  go with the emotion of the lyrics.

        Song for Lisa , has the lyrics 'you can not go home again' this phrase is best known for a novel  by Thomas Wolfes about not being able to change the past.  Jamie focuses on the metaphorical meaning of the phrase which suggests that you can never turn back time or go back to the past. He then goes with that by showing a girl having a day out when she was young and then having the same day when she's older and showing the contrast.