1. What is a music video
By Taran saini, Jas Bola and Taha
Khan.

2. Definition
• A videotaped performance of a recorded popular
song, usually accompanied by dancing and visual images
interpreting the lyrics usually produced for promotional or
artistic purposes.
• Although the origins of music videos date back much
further, they came into prominence in the 1980s, when
MTV based their format around them.
• Music videos use a wide range of styles of filmmaking
techniques, including animation, live action
filming, documentaries, and non-narrative approaches such
as abstract film. Some music videos blend different
styles, such as animation and live action. Other music
videos may be without a set concept, being merely a filmed
version of the songs live performance.

3. Style of music videos
• Music videos can be categorized in terms of the
style they use, these can include:
• • Performance- Band/artist playing.
• • Narrative/story- includes a story.
• • Mixed performance and narrative- both
performance and narrative based.
• • Cameo (artist features in the narrative but does
not perform)
• • Animation – digital/stop-motion

4. Styles of camera shot/angles in music
videos
• Variety of shots depending on the style
• A lot of CU’s (especially in performance music
videos). - Perhaps even ECU of lips, guitar strings
being strummed, etc…
• Crane shots – hovering over stage.
• Low-angles.
• LS and ELS.
• Pans / tilts – move from different performers.
• Tracking.

5. Editing and sound
• Different techniques are used in the editing and
sound of music videos, including:
• • Editing to the beat of the song
• • Split-screens
• • CGI/Special effects
• • Jump cuts
• • Straight cuts
• • Inclusion of diegetic sounds as well as the track
itself
• • Changes in the volume and levels of sound

6. Development of music videos
• Due to the popularity of music videos, many of
them are now made into collections and sold on
DVD. Instead of watching the video to listen to
the piece of music, some viewers now watch
them purely for their aesthetic value.
• • Critics say that in the modern day, music
managers have sought to focus on sex appeal in
music videos, particularly in the case of female
artists, rather than creating different narrative
videos.