The video for "California King Bed" by Rihanna shows her struggling with a broken relationship. Scenes cut between Rihanna singing alone and interacting with her love interest. Nature imagery and soft lighting create a dreamlike atmosphere. The focus remains on Rihanna and establishing the song's theme of lost love.

2. RIHANNA
California King Bed
Rihanna is a successful, modern artist
that has released a verity of number
ones, that are different genres
including; dance, R&B, hip hop. However
I have decided to analyse her
‘California King Bed’ release.
‘California King Bed’ is a song based on a love
struggle, it shows two people that used to be in love
but they are now broken hearted and are trying to
find the feels they once had for each other.

3. EFFECTS
NATURE In the video there is a scene where it cuts to
Nature is shown during the video in black and white this creates interest and makes
lots of sections, through leaves, trees the video unique from others with an exciting
and the main location surrounded in feature.
sky, this creates a natural impression LIGHTING
and suggests that this is a dream due Soft lighting is used with a natural
to the clouds. At the start a backing theme, however in parts the visuals
track is used of the sea this get over exposed by the lighting, this
establishes the mise-en-scene. gives the impression of a dream like
feel. The video also uses a red toned
light which is highlighted by Rihanna’s
ACTORS hair, red shades suggest warmth and
The only other character in the video is an autumn impression which
Rihanna's love which is a handsome male represents a new start.
actor, the camera never focuses on him and
only shows him sitting on the bed and CAMERA ANGLES & MOVEMENTS
interacting with Rihanna, this means that The video consists of lots of close-ups whilst
focus is not taken away from the artist. Rihanna is performing and profile shots are used
Although in one scene his body is shown this creates focus on the artist, also shown in areas
with water flowing down it but its reversed were Rihanna is directly singing into the camera.
and is shown in black and white. Transitions are smooth throughout the video and
in places over exposer is used with the sun to
COSTUME & MAKEUP blank out the visuals. The camera has oft and
Rihanna uses the codes and conventions
flowing movements and often does arc and
of a love pop video in the aspect of
circular techniques.
clothing this is achieved with little
clothing which Rihanna is known for, the
clothes she does wear are all white and LOCATIONS
cream suggesting purity, they are pretty The whole video is based around one room
pieces which gives the idea of a perfect with a bed in the middle which links in to the
girl. The makeup is natural with making lyrics of ‘king bed’ the room is surrounded by
a statement which also suggests perfect COMPOSTION white curtains which blow in the wind.
girl and allows people to focus on this Rihanna is sometimes shown on one side of the However parts of the video show her lying on
meaning without being distracted. camera to create focus on the background and the grass or standing next to an autumn tree.
location this also creates visual impact.

4. GABRIELLE APLIN
Never Fade
Gabrielle Aplin is an up coming artist
that was recognised on YouTube, her
target audience is young consumers
who enjoy pop and Folk music.
The video to this song was created on a small
budget that is why I think to would allow us to
see what we could create and gain inspiration.

5. ACTORS LOCATIONS
EFFECTS The video concentrates on her however at All the scenes are set
During the video lots of scenes are the end it shows her with her friends this outside, including fields and
overlapped by others, meaning one creates a light hearted end to the video. woods. Nature is used in the way
scene is behind and then another of flowers, trees and leaves are
layered with a transparent effect shown and the camera focuses on
allowing you see to both scenes. This them. A natural breeze of wind is
is very effective and in most it has the used in the performance scene
artist performing in a still shot and which fits in with codes and
then a moving shot of nature, behind. conventions of a females music
video, this technique is used a lot
to create drama.
LIGHTING
Natural light is used throughout. In
places light is shown to be beaming CAMERA ANGLES & MOVEMENTS
through the leaves and trees this The video uses a wide range of camera
allows the video to make the most of techniques, movement was used a lot including
the location. Candles are shown in panning however this was very fast and in some
lanterns this is near the end were it areas became over powering. This doesn't fit in
turns into night time, this creates a with the normal techniques used in this type of
dreamy and romantic atmosphere. genre. The camera tracked her walking and just
showed her feet, in other places, tilting was. In the
performance scenes close-ups and profile
angles, to enhance the artist.
PROPS
The props play a big part to this video in the performing
scene there are home accessories including
lamps, pennants banners, curtains and frames. All of COSTUME & MAKEUP
these props are representing a stereotypical romance Gabrielle only has one costume in
music video. One of the frame says the video this identifies that it’s a
‘Home, Sweet, Home’ this suggests that nature is her low budget video.
home and she feels comfortable with a natural
environment.

6. TAYLOR SWIFT
Mine
Taylor swift is a well established artist
that uses meaningful ideas and issues in her
song and lyrics, although most of her
releases focus on love ideas.
The video to ‘Mine’ is based on a performance and narrative theme. The
narrative is addressing a love story of ‘boy meets girl’ as its realistic
and her fans can relate to this. The video is structured as her life and
the audience seems to be following her as a fly on the wall to this love
struggle.

7. PERFORMANCE
LIGHTING The scene where she is performing is
Light is flashed to create a in the woods there are family photos
transition this is used to suggest hanging from the branches, this links
that it’s a dream or a memory to into the narrative and creates an
the audience. Light is also used interesting mise-en-scene. Taylor is
to create the right emotions and wearing a white dress to suggest
atmosphere were she is looking purity and there is light dapple
back at her childhood its duller beaming through the trees.
this gives the idea that it was an
unhappy time. Whereas in the LOCATIONS
future its shown to be bright and The video is set in a rural area, and shows the
a happy time period of her life. family home, town and a beach. The beach is
first shown when her and her love go together
then later they revisit with their children. The
locations are meant to suggest that this story
CAMERA ANGLES & MOVEMENTS could be anyone's and that it relates to
Simple camera movements are used, however everyone life.
during the performance the camera is looking
down at her and follows her this creates the idea THEME
of we want to be n her position and allows the The lyrics paints vivid visual images to
audience to focus on the artist. Taylor sings into the audience this is then linked ins with
the camera making us concentrate on the song as the images shown on the video.
well as the strong narrative.
EFFECTS
COSTUME & Taylor looks into a family photo and the camera
MAKEUP is looking into it as an over the shoulder shot
Taylor’s clothing gets more this gives the idea of we are in her shoes, it then
mature as the narrative shows are reflection looking back at us before it
develops this indicates the cuts into her memories of this time period.
plot of time to the audience. Silhouettes are used in scenes were her and the
However the costumes are male character are used this is an effective
always pretty and fit in with method to clearly show the characters and not
the stereotypical. the situation.

8. ASHTON SHEPHERD
where Country Grows
Ashton Shepherd is a country styled
artist that is signed by MCA
Nashville.
The song uses simplicity to establish the genre. It is
mainly a performance video however certain scenes
show a narrative.

9. LOCATIONS
The video is set in a farm and the
THEME grounds around are used including the
This video follows the codes and fields and the main mise-en-scene
conventions of a country styled genre shows a large tree with a home made
mainly due to the lyrics and song. bench under it. The location is a big
However this is established in the video part in establishing the genre of
by the artist playing the guitar, the Country styled artist.
location and the style of video.
EFFECTS
The colouring on the visuals
LIGHTING have been edited as the
Sunlight is used as a spot light background seems dull this
on the artist this gives the allows the audience to focus on
impression she is performing . the artist and not the location.
COSTUME & MAKEUP
Her costume links in with the theme of a
country girl, as she is wearing cowboy boots
and a patterned dress. Her hair is down and
CAMERA ANGLES & MOVEMENTS
blows in the wind this appeals to the
The transitions used in the video are created by over
audience., as she looks attractive.
exposing the camera and then cutting to another
scene, this technique creates an interesting transition
that fits in with the location and doesn’t seem out of
place.