CONVENTIONS OF MUSIC VIDEOS

By Katie White

CAMERA SHOTS/ MOVEMENT

Camera Shots

A variety of shots are used in music videos, however there are usual conventions that are followed.

Music videos tend to include close ups of the artist, this draws attention to the artist and adds recognisability. CU’s can also be used to add a particular atmosphere.

Long shots- are commonly used to reveal the setting and create emphasis on the background.

Camera Movement

Typically the cameras key movement is to trace and follow the artist/band. This makes the music video more interesting as the audience can follow every aspect of the video.

Camera movements commonly used in music videos are tilts, slow zooms, craning, tracking, panning and crabing.

MISE-EN-SCENE

• The Mise-En-Scene refers to the arrangement of performers, props and setting in a scene

• The Mise-En-Scene is a vital part of creating a professional and successful music video, as it constructs the overall display and atmosphere of the music video

• The Mise-En-Scene differs from genre of the music video. For instance, if it was a dance/electronic genre the mise-en-scene would consist of bright lights, consistent dancing and flashing images to show the excitement and buzz of the scene, while a hip-hop genre mise-en-scene may consist of females in minimal clothing, flashy cars, and mansions in a hot country to imply success and pleasure.

Redlight - Lost in your

love (Dance genre)

Kid Ink - Promise (Hip-Hop genre)

EDITING

A variety of editing techniques are used in music videos for various reasons:

Jump Cuts- to allow a sudden change from one scene to another

Matching Action- to allows continuity of one event e.g. opening a door from one end then showing the individual come in

Transitions- fade and dissolves are regularly used in music videos to create a smooth and different transition to cuts

Filters- commonly used to construct a certain mood to the music video

Coldplay - Paradise

(Jump Cuts and Matching Action)

James Bay - Scars

(filters)

OTHER CONVENTIONS

• There are other vital conventions music videos commonly use to construct the mise-en-scene and genre of the music video

• Lighting- creates a particular mood by different colour connotations e.g. Red can connote love, passion or danger and blue can connote sadness or relaxed. Lighting can either the artificial or naturalistic depending on the genre

• Sound- most of the time the vocals and instruments of the song in the music video. However, ,sic videos may use particular effects such as dialogue or sfx- usually for music videos that are short films

• Props- assist particular scenes in the music video. Usually have a role in displaying significance to certain characters or objects.

• Costume- vital in showing role of characters and representation. Normally reflects the genre of the song – an influential factor as how the artists dresses can be aspirational to the viewers

• Colours- create mood and set the genre of the song e.g. indie videos may display darker distressed colours, while pop videos may display bright vibrant colours

CONVENTIONS IN THE INDIE GENRE

• Setting- studios, cities/urban areas, parks and woodland areas create a relaxed, real to life mood which the indie genre is notable in

• Mise-en-scene- Indie artists tend to have a very vintage/ individualistic look, which can be constructed through the costumes, props, lighting and setting

• Camera- close-ups are generally used in indie music videos to promote the artist or display the mood, long shots tend to show the setting of the artist and tracking and panning is generally used to allow the audience to follow the artist

• Editing- Most commonly long takes are used to portray a sense of realism and allow the audience to immerse in the music video

• Lighting- commonly the lighting is very naturalistic to create a sense of authenticity

Tom Odell - I Know(Typical Indie conventions)