2. Youth by Daughter
• As all of my student analysis work has been based on Ellie’s coursework,
I thought her video was the best one to look at but also it allowed me
to analyse her video from the perspective of her journey and how she
has developed across the school year.
• I think that Ellie’s video, to the song Youth by the indie band Daughter,
was very impressive mainly because of the unique camera shots and
editing techniques ensuring that the audience didn’t want to take their
eyes away for a second in case they missed a new element that had
been added to the narrative.
• Personally, I didn’t want Ellie’s video to end and I paid attention
throughout unlike a couple of other A2 student videos which I
eventually clicked off of because I got bored. I think the way she cut it
to the beat of the song and how well executed her video allowed her
target audience to keep focused.
• I believe that during this analysis it’ll allow me to go into depth on what
to include in my video in terms of camera, sound, editing and mise-en-
scene so that I can great a full mark video just like Ellie did.
3. The Song
• ‘Youth’ by Daughter is an emotional song with lyrics that have a deep
meaning about the end of a relationship and how the main performer
envies people who are happy and successful in love.
• Ellie does well with sticking to conventions of music videos when she
careful puts the beat and lyrics to the visuals. The main storyline of her
video is a male and female performer as a love story but the prop of the
mask on the female implies she’s reluctant to open up in a relationship
due to previous heartache.
• The colour scheme of her video also suits the narrative structure and
lyrics as it features black, white and red. The black and white symbolises
loneliness as all the shots of the performer alone are in this filter.
• Red is a common colour the runs throughout the clip which symbolises
love but danger like the lyrics do. Danger is also demonstrated through
the large amount of empty alcohol bottles.
• Ellie’s colour scheme links well to the lyrics allowing the visuals to
interlink with the lyrics and make the video as a whole more aseptically
pleasing.
4. Camera
• Ellie has used such a variety of shots within her video that all give off a
different perspective of the main performers story. She uses a range of
angles e.g. Close ups, wide shots, extreme long shots, pans etc.
• The close up of the female performers face display no expression
whatsoever which emphasises her emotion after her happy
relationship, she has no feelings left that she is blank.
• Shots of the couple are in a sepia filter making them stand out from the
rest highlighting their importance but also throughout these the male
performer is smiling and happy suggesting that this was the easy time
in the females life. Moreover, these tend to fit in with the upbeat
sections of the song added them as playful, mood lifters to the video.
• Within the shots the camera never focuses on one thing for too long
either with a faded focus or a new shot which moves with the fast
paced music ensuring the video isn’t boring and keeps the audience’s
attention throughout.
5. Editing
• Editing is the main aspect of Ellie’s video that made it the most creative
one from her year. She obviously tired and succeed with a range of
different editing techniques like: a time-lapse, slow motion, fast motion
and reverse.
• According to music video conventions editing should flow well which
Ellie’s does however the range of editing breaks away from conventions
as no other videos I’ve seen use this many. Although Ellie somewhat
ignored these conventions she managed to produce a very successful
piece of work in the editing field.
• The reverse is by far my favourite section as it acts as an end to the
narrative whilst building up tension and keep the audience’s eyes glued
to the screen. This is so well done to fit the beat that it makes Ellie’s
video look even more professional.
• The time-lapse of the purple sky is visually pleasing and fits with the
whole aesthetic of the video.
6. Mise-En-Scene
• Mise-en-scene is the main micro feature that Ellie thoroughly thought
about before creating her video.
• Her conceptual idea of the mask being a barrier of her performer fits so
well with her song and adds an element of privacy to her character than
makes the video even more interesting to watch.
• Red is the common colour which is the colour of the mask, dress, box
and door that are 4 props that all fit the narrative idea. This colour
symbolises love yet danger so maybe how she is damaged by
heartbreak.
• The red box gives this conceptual idea of the main performers hidden
secrets or memories being within so she shuts it at the end to keep it all
locked away forever.
• As an introduction to her video, Ellie used the bottom picture of a piece
of paper with ‘Youth’ written on it which is the name of her song. This is
such a nice intro as it allows the audience to be aware of her song
name before viewing it and introduces the black and white colour filter
throughout.
7. What can I learn from this?
• The unusual editing that Ellie has used to highlight her narrative and
conceptual ideas really appeals to me as it ensures the audience don’t
get bored which is an important aspect to include in a video.
• Mise-en-scene is vital in any music video and the way Ellie made sure
that everything she used in her video linked back to her story and lyrics
worked so well.
• Visuals were amazing within her video. The colour scheme and pretty
scenic shots she used allowed the audience to feel calm whilst
watching. Also, this made her main performer look more like artwork in
her surroundings than an actor playing a character allowing the
professionalism of her video to pick up.
• I believe that I need to make my video have a risky storyline so that I
become out of my comfort zone and break away from some of the
conventions of music videos however I can’t get too carried away as
some people like videos that stick with conventions.
