General conventions of a music video 2

General Conventions of a music video

Camera shots-
Range/cut from long shots to close ups and extreme close up shots. Rather than in film where, usually in the opening, extreme long shots are used to set the scene and don't use close up/extreme close up shots as frequently. The close up shots usually focus upon the lead singer signifying their importance much like a central protagonist within a film, how ever the frequent extreme close up shots are directed more towards the lead singers mouth as they lip synch, which is unusual to see in a film.

Example of this are seen in many recent videos such as Taylor swifts 'Wildest Dreams' and Justin Bieber's 'What do you mean'.

This however this is not shown in The arctic monkeys music video Fluorescent Adolescent as the band members don't actually appear in the music video, even though some of the camera angles are included the absence of the band in the video is unusual but a common trait in the bands early music videos, which has now significantly changed as they have now gained global success.


Another example of an artist who does not appear in their own music videos is Sia known for her controversial and widely know music video Elastic Heart. Sia has publicly announced that this music video is her "Anti-fame manifesto" as she "doesn't want to be famous, or recognisable”.



Camera movement-
whip pans, tracking shots and fast overhead crane shots (high aerial shot) which follow the performers as is it common for a lot of choreographed moves and dance to occur a good example of this is Peace's music video 'Lost on me'.



Editing-
Jump cutting and montage editing are regularly used to quickly move from person to location to instrument this creates a non linear sequence which is timed usually to the beat which in its self creates a logical sequence. Also the fact that the editing is so quick means that people are more likely to repetadley watch the video which is helped by the videos usually unresolved ending creating intrigue. But there are exemptions for example continuity editing is used in Sinead O'connor's music video 'Nothing comapres to you' which uses dissolve shots.

Lighting-
 Extreme artificial lighting is used on the leads face to create a bleamishless effect making them seam perfect, this is also shown in Sinead's close up above. Also strobing can be used as well as a common use of black and white.

CGI-
I used mainly in high budget videos to create either a futuristic set or brightly coloured back grounds as seen in Nicki Minaj's Starships video

Narrative music video-
Where the music video follows a story which has some relevance to the lyrics of the song. This makes for interesting viewing as it can add more meaning to the song as in Greendays Wake me up when September ends, this emotional story of a young couple who are split apart when the boy enrols in the military shows the horror and pain of war and puts across the bands negative feeling towards the military action at that time.





Another reason for narrative music videos is to help attract the target market for the artist for example Taylor Swifts series of narrative music videos appeals to her youthful female audience due to the main theme of love and helps define her approach as an artist.







This can spread across a wide variety of genres for example in The all american rejects video Gives you hell



Ellipsis-
Where jump cut editing is used to create the effect of moving through time for example in Olly Murs's video of Dance with me tonight he moves from day tonight in one short cut through the use o ellipsis.