A case study on film and music video director Jonas Akerland, as well as an insight into the development of some of the music videos he helped to create

1. Jonas Akerland is a Grammy award winning film and music video
director. He has had a long running career since he has directed many
music videos since 1988. In 2015, he recently directed Madonna and
Nicki Minaj's music video for their song "Bitch I'm Madonna."

2. As a fan of pop music, I have been aware that he has directed some of my favourite
artist's music videos too. These are music videos for Lady Gaga which included her
singles "Paparazzi" and "Telephone" which featured Beyonce. In relation to the
topic of similar conventions, themes and editing techniques I also noticed he
filmed Britney Spear’s music video for her single "Hold It Against Me" in ways
which were alike, as well as the previously mentioned “Bitch I’m Madonna” music
video by Madonna and Nicki Minaj.
Jonas Akerland &
artists he’s
worked with.

3. PAPARAZZI & TELEPHONE:
The Telephone music video was a sequel to
the Paparazzi music video. Similar themes
and styling are in both videos as a result of
Gaga and Akerland collaborating. The
Telephone video features Lady Gaga
reprising her role as a murderous celebrity,
except this time she was joined by fellow
vixen Beyonce.
Gaga has mentioned in interviews that both
videos were statements on the media,
paparazzi and their obsession with the rise
and fall of celebrities. Her statement was
metaphorically emphasised through the
song which she described as depicting her
fear of suffocation as she finds it had to be
free and have fun. For example, her lyrics,
“stop telephoning me,” obviously shows
this.

4. The Paparazzi video, which is also likened to a short film, also enhances these
messages, since, she “falls from grace” after her lover that she trusted uses their
romance as a way of getting the media’s attention. This results in her murdering
him for revenge. The Telephone video then shows the results of this, as it begins
with her in a prison which may be a metaphor for describing her entrapment by
the media.
Links between both music videos:

5. Akerland, as mentioned a little previously, creates a similar motif and uses similar effects in his music videos, for example, he has
the ability to create film like music videos due to his mixture of camera shots which include establishing shots, close ups, extreme
close ups, medium shots and continuity shots. These often show thought provoking themes and ideas more stereo-typically
associated with films. These include violence and sexual related themes which can be found in both of Gaga’s videos. They also
help to connect shots showing scenes involving acting, which are often associated with films and Gaga, as well as dance routines
found in each mentioned music video, since they are often linked to the pop music genre.
Examples of establishing shots used.
Similar motif, styles and effects:
Examples of dance routines.

6. The film like feel is also enhanced through different features in Gaga’s videos
such as the non-diagetic sounds in the Paparazzi video (bottom left) of the
cameras flashing contrasted with sounds of knives to emphasise the message
that fame can lead to a celebrities’ demise. This is a theme also insinuated in
Britney Spears’ music video (bottom right) for Hold It Against Me. Similar
camera effects are used on scenes, like Gaga’s videos, to insinuate that she
finds it hard being followed and surrounded by the media which is also
showed in a scene which leads to her spinning out of control and battling her
self too.
Another example of mise-en-scene is the use of
the Pussy Wagon (from the well known,
murderous themed Kill Bill movie series) in the
Telephone music video which was also a link to
the violent themes of the video. These,
sometimes deemed controversial themes, aren’t
usually associated with the pop music genre
which links to the rebellious meanings of the
video as well as Gaga herself since she is known
for being creative and pushing boundaries.
Similar motif, styles and effects:

7. His unique shots and effects
include:
• Animation found in the
Paparazzi music video.
• Slow motion and reverse
effects on shots used in
the Telephone and Bitch
I’m Madonna music
videos.
• Camera/paparazzi effects
on shots used in the
Paparazzi, Telephone and
Hold It Against Me music
videos (shown on the left).
More similar shots and styles are also found in the previously mentioned music videos. Establishing shots, are used in Gaga's and
Britney’s videos to introduce what the music videos are about, although Madonna and Nicki Minaj’s video features one at the
end to set the scene instead. Bright colour schemes are also used in each video (screenshots below prove this). Since the mise-
en-scene which involves the set designs and costumes are all brightly coloured, this ties into stereotypes of the pop music genre.
This is since bright colours have connotations of fun and creativity, like pop music.