CONVENTION OF A MUSIC VIDEO

BY ALICE VENARD

CONVENTIONS IN MUSIC VIDEOS

• Camera shots

• Camera movement

• Mise-en-scene

• Editing

• Lighting

• Sound

• Props

• Costume

• colour

CAMERA SHOTS• The main shots which are used in music videos are long,

mid and close up shots

• All of these shots are used in order to create emphasis of the artist and promote them throughout the video or they are used to create the narrative throughout the music video

• Conventionally, long shots are used to establish locations whereas close ups and mid shots are used to display emotions or to show the artist lip syncing.

CAMERA MOVEMENT• The camera movement is important as it appealing for the

viewer to watch but allows the viewer to know where to focus.

• The most common camera movements are:- tilts-pans-tracking-crane shots

MISE-EN-SCENE/PROPS• The mise-en-scene is a fundamental aspect in the creation

of a music video

• It’s what represents the narrative of the music video as it gives us the props and performers

• Mise-en-scene also allows us to identify the genre of the music video for example pop videos would have backing dancers whereas rock videos would have band/concert scenes

• Mise-en-scene is also used to emphasise certain aspects. For example in Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ music video, she is seen to be dancing with an umbrella which adds emphasis on the title.

EDITING• It is important is music video that they edit it to the beat

which allows the music to be emphasised but also makes the video more look appealing to the viewer.

• A lot of artists use special effects such as green screen and CGI to make their music video look more unique.- green screen is usually used when the artists is in a car and they want to make it appear that they are travelling somewhere.

• Without editing the video would look bland and would not interest the viewer. For example The Beatles’ ‘Hello Goodbye’ video.

LIGHTING• Lighting is also a convention is music videos. Lighting

allows the viewer to understand the mood and tone they are trying to achieve.

• Madonna uses black and white for her video for ‘Vogue’ to create the illusion of a 1930s-40s film star. Black and white also connotes to glamour, which would fit the title ‘Vogue’, as ‘vogue’ is a high fashion magazine.