2. Camera work
• The way the camera is used is crucial in producing a music video. It
can have and create different effects by the different angles, and
movements. In general every music video used a variety of camera
shots, angles and movements to create different techniques and to
make each music video unique in its own way.
• Music videos feature a number of shots for various reasons, to relate
with the audience by expressing thoughts and feelings, but also to
show the audience what is happening. Certain shots that you would
normally find in a music video include; mid shot, long shot and a
wide shot.
3. Camera Work – Mid shot
• Mid shot- This shows the artist from his/her waist to head, and focuses mainly
on the subject but still giving an impression of the location/setting.
• Throughout the music video you can see loads of different camerawork
techniques have been used.
• When watching the music video I found that mid shots were used the most.
• Some examples of this are when she is directly looking into the camera lip-
syncing the words to the song. The reason she is directly looking in to the
camera is so then who ever is watching this feels
like she is singing to them this means she can find a
way to connect with her audience.
4. Camera Work- long shot
• Long shot- Long shots are used in music videos so the audience can see
the artist full costume that they are wearing. We also can see the whole
location of where they are and if any props are being used.
• In this music video we can see that the artist is at some type of gym. The
long shot allows us to recognise this because she is wearing shorts and a
tank top. Also her body is glowing suggesting that she is sweating from
working out.
• From the set we can see the rope and the
weights that she has been training with.
• As this song is about empowering women it
shows how training to become strong would
imply she is also at gym.
5. Camera Angles
• The way the camera is positioned determines the angle of the
shot. There are many different camera angles used in the
production of a music video to convey different images.
6. High angle- this is were the
camera shows the subject
from above, and the camera
is angled down towards the
artist. This has the effect of
making them appear less
powerful, less significant and
or even submissive.
An example of this is when she is
singing the song and when the
lyrics are representing how when
boys look at her they just see the
girly side of her and that no boy
gets to know her. The reason there
is a high angle on her at this point
is because she is feeling very low
so they want to show the audience
her emotions.
Eye level- this is a very
common view being the
real world angle that we
are all used to seeing, it
shows subject as we
would expect to see
them.
For example in this music video we
can see her at eye level when she is
painting. The reason a eye level shot
is being used here is because she is
just looking into the camera
connecting with her audience and
she is not doing anything that we
wouldn’t expect her from doing so.
7. An example of this in the music video is when
her trainer is putting on her gloves. The reason
this has been used is because we want to show
that yes she might be a girl but she is going to
show her audience that she can fight and that
she is strong.
Low angle- this is were the subject is shown
from below, giving the impression of being
more powerful or dominant.
8. Editing
• Final cut pro is the music video editing software that we use to edit
most music videos.
• Editing is the process that concludes the making of the music video.
When you edit you cut scenes down, add special effects and add in
the track of the music video. The editing consists of the following;
jump cuts and CGI effects. Another part of editing is adding in non-
diegetic sounds.
9. Editing
• When the camera moves with the main singer it also transitions onto
the next clip. This turning effect makes it look very unique to other
music videos. While the clip is spinning around they have also speed
up the speed slightly to make the spin be done smoothly.
• Another editing technique used is cutting the clips from different
locations to show how she is a very different person from each place
these are called a transition. Some transition used are fade, colour
match, white light, spinning into next clip, sliding, fast pace editing.
11. Sound
• Sound consist of two main forms diegetic sound which is already present in
the clips and non- diegetic sound which van be edited in. sound is
absolutely essential in any music video as this is the main reason for why
people watch and listen to them, to gain a sense of art via different artists,
sound like footage can be editing to create different effects and variations
to the normal vocals that we hear.
• Sound parallel sound is when the music matches the mood of the video..
An example would be if the song was slow then the video would also be
slow to go with the mood of the song. Also if it was a sad song the music
video would have sad vibes.
• Some music videos have diegetic sounds where they include sounds from
the surrounding such as birds, police sirens that make the video seem more
realistic. However the music itself is non-diegetic sound.
12. Mis en scene
• The mis en scene for music videos focuses on the lighting, props, costume,
hair, makeup, location and colour these normally change on the genre of
the music video and the style of the artist. These can also also be
influenced by the genre.
Lighting- how the scene is lit/ artificial lights
Props- performance equipment band merchandise
Costume- certain outfits
Hair and makeup- style of the artist and can also be prosthetic makeup
Location- depending on the style of music video but can be at there own
concerts or streets or green screened
Colour- specific colours representing a mood
