Conventions of music videos

Conventions of Music Videos

Camera Angles
Music videos tend to include many long shots, close ups and mid shots. This is to create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions. Close ups are used not only to show emotions but to show the words of the song with the movement of the lips of the artist.

Camera Movement
The camera generally is used to follow and trace the artist or band and also to help the audience follow the narrative. Camera movements include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots.

Mise-en-scene
This is to do with the positioning of performers and props on stage or in a scene for a production of a music video or any other media text. Mise-en-scene aids the representation of something. An example is, ‘Mad’ by Neyo. The mise-en scene involves him walking down a road alone and being in an isolated room. This reflects the isolation from his lover. Also, the props include hats and dark clothes which represent the down mood of the song. These also help to decide on the genre of the music video. Similarly, the lighting is kept very dark and it is black and white; this links with the angry and depressed mood. This is just one example of the mise-en-scene used to give an idea of how it contributes to the music video.
Neyo - Mad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAYuOc7_TKg&feature=fvst

Editing
Jump cuts are the main editing technique used in music videos. This is because this allows a sudden change from one scene to another and often it is a fast montage to confuse the audience first time making them watch it again – this links in with marketing and making money. Transitions such as fade and dissolve are very common in music videos as they create a different effect to cuts.

Lighting
Some music videos are black and white (like the Neyo video) which help emphasise a particular mood and some videos have artificial lighting which gives the artists an artificial look. Also 3 point lighting is often used to create different effects

Sound
Sound is mainly the vocals or the song but in some cases if the video contains a narrative then it can also contain diagetic sound and speech.

Props
These are a vital in aiding the performer to create significance and to link lyrics with actions.

Costume
This goes with the scenes in the song and reflects the genre. Costume is an important factor because it has a slight influence on how the viewers will dress if that particular artist is their role model and also the costume is a way of the audience understanding what the artist is really like, as videos mark their lifestyle that the artist leads.

Colour
Colours tend to set the mood of the song and help in creating an atmosphere. For example, dark colours are used more in rock songs such as Kings of Leon and bright colours are seen to be used more in hip hop and pop videos.
For example Katy Perry’s music video ‘Hot and Cold’ the narrative at the beginning is very white, most probable representing a ‘White Wedding’ but then as the music starts colours start to be introduced to change the atmosphere from serious to fun (disco lighting).

Music conventions in some example genres

Indie/Rock

• Tends to be black and white
• The artist/band is shown throughout the video
• Use of extreme close ups and long shots are popular
• Dark locations
• Face paced
• Some use of special effects

Example
• Arctic Monkeys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30w8DyEJ__0

Hip Hop

• Locations tends to be a party, club fancy location
• Use of alcohol
• Recognised brands and clothing
• Expensive cars and houses
• Camera shots tend to long and establishing to show the money involved. Close ups to show the jewellery and assets of the artists.
• Attractive women
• Does not follow a storyline, only follows the genre
• Artists tend to be involved in action

Example
• 50 Cent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss

Pop

• Bright and colourful
• Close ups to show the cheerful and upbeat emotions
• Extreme close ups – these tend to show the innocence in the personality of the artists
• Aims at the teenage audience
• Very upbeat

Example
• Britney Spears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brYTO6JHMHs