2. There are some main conventions of music videos, they include:
• Narrative & Performance – The narrative of the song mostly includes the band
members/artists themselves, but sometimes has separate actors. The storyline to a
narrative usually fits in with the lyrics, but sometimes parts are left out the keep the
audience guessing. The performance allows the audience to become closer to the
performer and give them eye contact which they may not be able to do at a live concert.
• Camerawork – camera movement usually follows dancers or people walking. A dominating
camera angle in music videos is close ups, this shows the stars face and promotes them, it
also makes the viewer feel intimate with the performer.
• Editing – the most common part of editing music videos is fast cutting montages, this
makes sure that the viewer watches carefully to get the entire story of the video. Digital
effects can be used to make the videos more appealing, effects such as spilt screens,
colourisation and maybe CGI.
• Star Image – Most of a stars music video will show themes of the stars existing image so
that the viewers will recognise them. Music videos are used to showcase their talent and
maintain their star image.
• Voyeurism – In a male performers video, voyeuristic treatment of a female body is often
apparent with the use of dancers as adornments to flatter the male stars ego. Females are
shown promiscuously through body shots and editing, this means more male viewers are
likely to watch the video.
• Intertextuality – Music videos use intertextuality to link between videos, helping the
audience spark recognition. Some people may not recognise it, but they will still enjoy the
video. Music videos often take ideas from cinema and movies sometimes also from tv
programmes. An example of this is the White Lies song, Bigger Than Us, that potrays a
theme like E.T.
3. In my music video I tried to use as many conventions as possible, but not all of them fit into an indie/country style. The
conventions I used were:
• Narrative & Performance – I included both narrative and performance in my music video. I used separate actors to
play the storyline and others to play the band. The storyline of the video went well with the lyrics of the song. The
performance uses lots of close ups to make the audience feel close to the band.
• Camerawork – When filming to storyline I used the camera to follow footsteps of the people walking, mainly close
ups and I tried to get them to walk in time to the beat. I used a lot of close ups of the band and also in the narrative
to show the reactions of actors faces.
• Editing – I tried to use lots of fast cuts between each shot to keep it in time with the upbeat track. However I think if I
did it again I would definitely take even more shots so that I had more to edit between making it look even fast
cutting.
• Star image – To help promote star image I used close up of the band when they were singing, I also used them on the
front covers of both my digipak and magazine advert.
• Voyeurism – In my video I haven’t used voyeurism as it wouldn’t be appropriate for the style of my song and wouldn’t
fit in with the storyline.
• Intertextuality - As this is their only music video, none of the videos match up together however the video does
match up with the poster and digipak which should help to spark recognition of the band.
4. There are certain conventions I needed to include for both my digipak and magazine advert, they include:
• Magazine Advert – the magazine advert had to include dates of when the album is released, the name of the
band, a rating from a magazine and the name of the album. Without all this information, it will be impossible for
the audience to know what they could possibly be buying.
• Digipak – I used similar images to my magazine advert so they match and it is obvious that they go together.
All the fonts, effects and images that are used are the same of both ancillary texts. I also tried to link them to my music
video, so they are all obviously by the same band.
