Research into music videos

1. Research into similar media
products

2. Narrative music video:
A narrative music video tells a story, logically or
sequentially through a chain of events that are put
together to run parallel to each other. At times it may
even seem like a short film that stars a main
character who communicates with the audience.
Narrative music videos are good at creating
emotional bonds between the artist and the viewer.
They not only present the artist with a more engaging
way to present their ideas, but also increases the
recall value of the artist/band by the audiences.
A narrative music video doesn't need to be based of
the lyrics of the song. Most of the time the lyrics will
be very loosely tied to the narrative with the music
playing while the story commences.
Examples:
• Macklemore x Ryan Lewis
"WINGS"
• Joyner Lucas - Ross Capicchioni
• David Bowie - Lazarus

3. Narrative music video analysis:
Macklemore x Ryan Lewis "WINGS"
The video starts with a mid-shot, this shows the artist
face. The first shot is also a low angel, this makes the
artist appear more powerful and heroic. The golden
tint over the music video placed over the music video
portrays an idea or nostalgia within the viewer.
In the next scene there is a low angel close-up on the
characters shoes. The artist is reminiscing about the
first pair of sneakers he bought when he was young.
The visual link makes it easier for the person
watching the video to keep track of what is happing
in the video.
The next scene shoes the artist younger self playing
basketball in the rain, the wide angel long shot shows
the audience the full scene. The rain in the
background helps portray emotion and add to the
nostalgia of the narrative.

4. Performance music video:
Performance music videos give a sense of
authenticity to the artist, giving the audience the
most realistic image of the band. The cost of
production for a music is relatively cheap as the
producers are essentially filming a
live performance with a relatively low production
value.
Performance video are normally favoured by
musicians who can't afford a video. However, rappers
often do Performance video, even if they can afford
an elaborate video. This is due to the personal nature
of the lyrics.
Some performance videos, like the "Daily
Duppy" series by "GRM daily", have visual effects to
emphases some of the lyrics and to engage the
viewer.
Examples:
• Sia - The Greatest
• Fire In The Booth – Bugzy
Malone
• Polo G – Funk flex freestyle
• Billie Eilish - Ocean Eyes

5. Performance music video analysis:
Sia - The Greatest
The main character tin the story is seen wiping
something under her eyes, it is later show to be
rainbow colored paint. This is a reference to the LGBT
community, along with the lyric addresses the need
for perseverance in the difficult battle for LGBT
equality. "Don't give up, I won't give up"
In the next verse reminds everyone that regardless of
your gender, sex, religion, or sexual identity, you’re
free to be the greatest you can be. The video has a
group of children dancing, this reinforces the ideas of
equality.
The verse after starts with the lyric, "running out of
breath" This is in reference to high suicide rates
among the LGBT community. The music video shows
a group of people with the main character in the
middle, this is in reference to running out of breath.

6. Conceptual music videos:
A concept music video is abstract and is
neither concept or performance. It often starts from
an idea or theme the music video director has
produced. It normally doesn't relate to the song lyrics
however may have an underlying relationship or
meaning with them.
A conceptual music video allows for the artist to
convey more emotion and meaning through the
music. Conceptual music videos give the artist and
producer a lot of creative freedom and allow them to
try new things. For example, doing the whole video in
one take, splitting the screen into two and have two
separate things going on at ounce, for them to later
link up at the end. Due to all the different ways to
make
Examples:
• Lil Tjay - One Take
• OK Go – The One Moment
• SKRILLEX - Bangarang feat. Sirah
• Marshmello - Alone

7. Conceptual music video analysis:
OK Go – The One Moment
The music video is a slowmotion onetake. The first
shot plays the shot at full spead, then the music
starts, and the shot is plays in slowmotion. The group
of artist is known for their conseptual music videos
and long onetakes. Throught the music video there
are many shots that would have been missed if not
for being slowed down.
The music video focuses on visuals as opposed to the
narritive or the lyrics. These strong visuals make the
music videos easily recognizable.
One of the final scene shows many guitars suspended
in the air, being blown up. The guitars exploding in
slow motion links to the lyrics, "We'll build us some
temples, We'll build us some castles, We'll build us
some monuments, And burn them all right down."

8. Camera angels and shots:
The most common camara angles in music videos are
Eye level, Low angle and High angle. Camran angles
have stong connotations in music videos; for
example, a low angle will make the artist look
powerful. The effect of camera angles can be
amplified with different shots. A low angle will have
more effective as a mid-shot than a long shot for
example.
The shots often used in music videos are long shots,
close ups and mid shots. This is very similar to in films
however, the shots are often used in different orders.
In films an establishing shot is used to show the
location, followed up by a long or mid shot, with
keeping continuity being important. Whereas in a
music video there is less structure and shots may cut
form a close, to establishing shot and back to close,
with the lack of continuity being used for effect.
Examples:

9. Props / Mise-en-scène:
A prop, or theatrical property, is an object used on
stage or screen by actors during a performance or
screen production. A prop is anything movable or
portable on a stage or a set, distinct from the actors,
scenery, costumes, and electrical equipment.
In music videos props are used to portray certine
ideas, for example a rapper may choose to have
money in a scean to show that he is rich. Props are
also used for safty, often weopons like knives in music
videos are props to avoid injury during filming. Cars
are also used as props in music vidoes due expensive
cars being easily recognizable to the audience.
Mise en scene is the arrangement of scenery and
stage properties in a play. Translated from French, it
means "setting the stage" but, in film analysis, the
term mise en scene refers to everything in front of
the camera, including the set design, lighting, and
actors.
Exampels:

10. Location:
The location in a music video is extremely important
in portraying where the artist is but is also reflective
of the genre. For example, locations such as the
beach, in a car, or at a party, would usually be found
in a dance pop music video due to the happy and
energetic feel they give. Whereas, a rap or hip-hop
music video would be more suited to a street,
alleyway or abandoned house, to reflect the
grittier view of the world that the artist is trying to
present.
The location of a music video may not seem
important, however, when it is done wrong it
becomes obvious and can distract the viewer form
the music and what is happing in the video.
Examples:

11. Editing:
Editing is similar to the location of the music video in
the fact that if it is done correctly it will go unnoticed.
Editing is used for effect and can be used to show
meaning. For example, the pace of a mucid video can
be connoted through the use of short cuts, whereas
long drawn out cuts will present a slower pace.
Using different editorial techniques, like invisible cuts
or match cuts, can add to the aesthetic of a music
video. For example, using invisible cuts in a
conceptual video will play off the abstract concept of
the video, with maintaining continuity not being as
important as in a narrative music video.
A narrative music video may choose to have more
basic editing techniques to help the viewers
understand what is happing and maintaining
continuity.
Examples:
Graphic match
Shot reverse shot

12. Production:
Performance videos are made with the
band/artist either lip syncing or playing along with
the music. The songs are played through large
speakers allowing the artist to play along.
However narrative videos are much more complex.
A concept will need to be thought up by a
writer or creative director. However the narrative will
need to correspond with the song itself.
While shooting the music video different shots need
to be taken, A roll and B roll. The difference
between A-roll and B-roll is that A-roll, or principal
photography, is the footage used to tell the story,
and B-roll, or supplemental footage, is used to
support or add depth and context to A-roll. The
different shots should be labeled, this makes it easier
while editing the music video.
What is needed to produce a
music video?
• A story board and a script corresponding to the
song
• A schedule for shooting and a list of who is
involved, including their role
• Location scouting, finding spots for the video to be
filmed
• Filming, this may take multiple days at
different locations
• Editing, color grading and audio syncing.