Afet KoraltayMedia Coursework

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Carol Vernallis states that ‘music videos often contain a long series of low or high angle shots that create a different relation between listener, music and video’. In our production we experimented with these camera angles on a large scale. Both these angles allow the audience to feel as though they are part of the video and enable themselves to become familiar with the artist. It also assisted the connotation of the cheerful feeling we needed to show through the character. Hannah and her partners playful mood was accentuated with the low angle shot of them spinning under the trees in the striking sunlight.

The high angle shot of them cuddling enables the audience to familiarise with their happiness and love as a couple on a journey together. The camera angle allows the viewer to feel as though they are watching the artist reflecting their presence. The shot of them taken from a bird’s eye view angle with them both laying on the grass smiling reflects the carefree feeling already created through the lyrics.

The low angle shot of the guitar being pulled through the fields puts great emphasis on the instrument the artist plays in the music video and supports the idea of her going on a journey. Similarly in Mumford and Sons ‘Winter Winds’ music video with the artist pulling the chair and holding his guitar through a comparable field to ours. This music video was one of the ones that inspired me and Shianne to choose the song ‘Mexico’ which belongs to the indie genre. Although a major difference between their video and ours is the apparent contrast in the season which is clear to the audience by the title of their song. The camera angle gives us a view of the clouds and the trees

Afet KoraltayMedia Coursework

ahead which enable us to familiarise with the mood of the artist. The camera in a way is following him on his journey as it is showing him walking away in the same way it is in ours suggesting the audience are accompanying the artist on this journey they are going on

Our production begins with this tracking shot of Hannah Belle sitting on the train looking out of the window holding her guitar and suitcase. By introducing the song and the artist with this underlines the overall theme of the song. The title of the song being ‘Mexico’ makes it obvious to the audience that the artist is going on a trip of some sort but it is not clear whether she is travelling to Mexico or perhaps it could be a trip while she is already in Mexico. Therefore it enables the viewer to grasp the general essence of the music video however they have to watch it to understand the full concept. Likewise in Mumford and Sons the shot where the artist is looking out of the window reflecting on his thoughts whilst connecting with nature, this is also evident in our music video.

“Tracking shots play a crucial role in music videos because the movement of the camera provides a change in point of view” as said by Carol Vernallis. The movement of the camera with the artist makes it seem like we are observing them on their thoughtful journey and they seem content through their body language. For example, Hannah’s leg up on the train and her head tilted on the window suggests she is feeling relaxed and carefree. Mumford and Sons on the other hand has his arm up on his neck which creates a comfortable and easy going feeling of the character. Additionally, the lighting in both the videos shows the sunlight shining through and reflecting on the window of the train and car which adds an idyllic sentiment in a sense.

Afet KoraltayMedia Coursework

According to Goodwin, close-ups are essential for creating meaning in a music video. This close-up shot of Hannah holding and looking down at a rose with the sea in the background illustrates a sense of reminiscence. The sea behind her creates a calming and soft atmosphere to the video. In addition to this, a rose is usually associated with love which is important in our video as the artist is going on a journey with her lover. This clip with the rose is similar to Beyonce’s ‘Broken Hearted Girl’ video with a close up of the artist picking the petals off the rose with a comparable setting the background. Our initial idea developed from Beyonce’s video and we filmed a shot of Hannah picking the petals off her rose but we didn’t include it in the finished production in the end as we didn’t feel it created the effect we originally wanted. Even though the genre varies between both these songs there are conventions that are shared across various genres.

This close-up of Hannah’s hand swaying through leaves extenuates the feeling of independence and freedom. Her jewellery explores her femininity as does her red nail varnish. The positioning of her fingers adds a sense of delicacy to Hannah’s character and convinces us that we are following her while she is exploring nature. The camera following her hand movement again reflects the theme of journey which is very dominant in our video ‘Mexico’.

The close-up of the guitar is significant as the lyrics state ‘You Me and Mexico’ in the song giving her instrument importance in the video. Hannah plays her guitar for most of the video and at the time she is not, she is making the narrative understandable to the viewers. There are a variety of shots with the artist holding and playing her guitar but this one in particular is a bird’s eye view which shows as if someone is looking down on her from above watching her contently in performance. The angle allows us to see the grass she is laying on which replicates her connection with nature and suggests a peaceful and relaxing moment in her life.

Afet KoraltayMedia Coursework

We wanted to reinforce the artist and her boyfriend’s commitment and togetherness in their journey to Mexico so we thought it would be effective to take a shot of them holding hands. We captured a variety of shots on our camera so that we would later have a choice of which one we wanted to use in the finished piece. We chose this forward shot of them holding hands, the guitar and the vintage suitcase in comparison to one of them from behind holding hands. Likewise in ‘Broken Hearted Girl’ there is a close-up of the artist holding hands with her partner in a very similar way to Hannah. However, the lighting in the two music videos is contrasted with Beyonce’s one being black and white and ours with natural daylight which creates a diverse mood. Hannah is embracing their togetherness.