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Miami
Will Smith
Director: Wayne Isham
Intro: We open in a theatrically staged environment where Will and Jeff are sitting around,
glumly contemplating the cold reality of a sudden Philadelphia snowstorm. Using a motion-
control Dolly and Blue-screen effect, the camera continuously circles around them...we first see a
blizzard through the windows of Will's home in Philly. Jeff picks up a postcard of an aerial shot
of Miami Beach and, seamlessly, using this same motion control technique coupled with the
digital magic of "Henry," we are looking at the same aerial view of Miami Beach from the cabin
window of a G-4 jet. Will and Jeff, now smiles on both their faces, are kicking back...as the
track kicks in.
We capture Will's performance in close portraiture. Around him there's already a party
atmosphere on the plane -- "South Beach...can you feel it?" Will looks up; a beautiful, sultry
STEWARDESS stands over him -- "Hi, Will." Jeff looks over at Will with a devious grin, and
the next thing we know they're looking down the landing ramp at a receiving line of suggestively
clad EYE-CANDY GIRLS. Almost Honolulu-like -- "Welcome to Miami...Bienvenidos a
Miami" -- this scene has an odd postcard, "American Tourister" look and feel to it. Slightly
surreal, tongue-in-cheek, even mildly reminiscent of an Elvis movie...yet the flavor's uniquely
Will Smith!
It should be noted here that our Eye-Candy Girls are not "bimbos" and are integral to the piece.
Like an animated, Re-occurring Greek Chorus, they add a bizarre, off the wall blend of visual
excitement with a light comedic touch.
Adding to this surreal quality, is our continuous motion/dolly/blue-screen effect, making
everything appear as a single take with no edit points or visible cuts. (For visual reference,
enclosed is the British "Tango" commercial.) We next find ourselves thrust with Will and Jeff
into the tropical heat and vivid, multi-cultural scenery of Miami...Will in a moving car over the
5th Street Causeway, a neon sign reads, "Welcome to Miami Beach." The Faces. The
Girls...(again!) "Will, we loved your last hit." The swaying palm trees and sunrise scenery of
South Beach will be another graphic backdrop. Street scenes. Ocean Drive. Collins Avenue.
12th Street Beach. "Calleocho," a neighborhood with year-round Mardi Gras atmosphere...
In seamless transition, we continue in this vein, at some points following the lyric lines... Will
and Jeff getting caught in a "tropical storm" only to emerge completely dry as they're boarding a
sleek Scarab speedboat. The boat takes them through Miami's magic-hour, dusk-lit, intercostal
waterways to a spectacular nightclub overlooking and literally overhanging the water's edge.
At around midway through the track, we find Will, in mid-stride, walking through the crowded
club. As if fashionably late, he casually changes into his most stylish, "Big Williest" jacket. We
pan to a WOMAN, who screams -- "Ay, Papi." And at this point, as Will takes the stage, the
video goes from a theatrical, staged, conceptual piece into a hot, live performance...raw emotion
and pure energy, devoid of narrative and/or technical artifice, this is Will Smith as we've never
seen him before in a music video.
The camera pulls back in panoramic proportions to reveal the larger than life picture... Will in
front of a packed party, with DJ Jazzy Jeff and a full orchestra behind him, complete with horns,
timbales and congas. A Baby Grand Piano and the city's lighted skyline twinkling in the
background. Add in the live DANCERS and this club scene will be reminiscent of the "Mambo
Kings." As Will does his thing live and direct, the video takes us out in a blaze of Miami heat.
While conceptually two videos in one, this narrative/performance piece may sound technically
complicated, but with the proper, detailed planning and some great casting and location selection,
it can be pulled off with such a flourish, it'll be a clip that's remembered for a long time to come.
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