2. Generic Codes, Conventions & Form of music video
• Genre = Pop (Indie)/Folk Video Release = November 2012
• The video contrast a typical pop video which is often flashy and crammed full of editing
and different effects and other actors.
• The video is simplistic and is a combination of conceptual + narrative making it a hybrid.
• Tom Odell, through this video is displaying how he and some other people act when
they have had a bad previous relationship and the difficulty of loving somebody else
again, the video can be seen as a short insight into Odell’s relationship with the girl
(linking to lyrics) making it narrative
• Also conceptual in the sense that it is a one take continuous shot displaying the
relationship in a small time frame, starting with a plead for affection from the women
turning into her anger due to Tom’s lack of change and stubbornness to not open up
• Covers a typical topic in the pop field (love) however it’s a more personal story and is a
one continuous shot video similarly to Kanye West’s Power
• As the artist is still being noticed in the industry and is currently expanding his audience
his video for this song is simplistic, with a lack of cgi for example.
3. Girl is affectionate with Tom at first (Medium shot
- transitions to next shot without a cut)
But then begins to get frustrated as
the video (time) goes on (medium
long shot now)
Change in tint displays change in emotion,
chair has been thrown on the ground and the
girlfriend (top right of picture) is throwing
down books in anger. Inevitable end to lack of
trust in relationship (Long shot)
4. Cinematography, Effects & Editing
• The video is taken in two shots officially but is predominantly one shot before the
last 5 seconds cut back the beginning of the video (however it can still be referred
to as a one shot)
• The video begins with an extreme close up of Tom Odell’s face but continues to
slowly zoom out into a medium shot, then long shot further showing the setting of
the video
• The camera continues to zoom in and out throughout the video at different points
respectively
• As it gets to medium shot, we see a woman’s waist (girlfriend) walk into the shot
• Camera shakes during a later chorus, simple editing but effective as it shows the
emotion (time – 2:20)
5. The director has cleverly placed the mirror in a strategic
position, where you can see the girl when she is not directly
in the immediate shot. As well as showing a transition in
time it also shows Tom lack of change in contrast to the girl
linking to the songs lyrics.
Long shot further depicting
setting (house) which is
also an indicator of time
and the relationship in the
video
Leads
to
In these two shots we see some
simplistic effects and editing reinforcing
the general theme of the video, the
progression in time but not trust/love
in the relationship. In these two long
shots we see Tom is in the same
position however the girl sat on the
suitcase slowly begins to fade out
becoming transparent before
disappearing altogether seconds later
6. Long shot of the apartment’s change,
still in one shot despite the change
not being in the video, some may
consider it a subtle cut although I
believe it may be good effects and
editing in one shot (bookcase and
books may not actually be real ,
possibly added images)
The tint/colour of video changes to a darker
colour, symbolising night possibly as well as
anger in the video as if you look carefully the
books on the shelf are messy, we see later on
that the chair gets thrown the floor reinforcing
the initial point.
7. Mise-en-scene
• Location = Apartment/flat
• Dull room at first with grey as the predominant colour with little
sunlight on Tom’s face
• In second half of video, the room has slightly changed there is red
paint and more furniture symbolising a slight progression in the
relationship despite a reluctance to open up on love again on the
Tom’s part.
• The room begins to feel more like a home although Tom hasn’t
changed his opinion possibly why the director hasn’t made him move
for the whole video placing him on the old arm chair
1. 2. 3.
8. Relationship between sound and images + Audience
• As mentioned throughout this presentation I believe the video and sound have a direct link in a clever way,
the video entails a progression of time between two people in a relationship, where one person can’t
open up to other and move on (Tom).
• The girlfriend is trying to be affectionate but Tom isn’t responsive which can be seen in the video as he
doesn’t move or even directly look at/acknowledge her.
• The target audience may be specifically aimed at young adults /late teenagers however love is a
worldwide emotion ranging in age and could be aimed at a wider audience as there is no specific age
where you can and can’t experience the emotions.
• The video strongly suggests it is aimed at young adults due to the two people present in the video.
9. Institutions & Representations
• Tom Odell is apart of Columbia Records, In The Name Of – both under the
Sony Music Entertainment umbrella.
• In The Name Of, established by Lily Allen who is another successful British
artist like Tom Odell has had albums released under Sony Music
Entertainment
• Young adults are represented in this video as unstable + emotionally
fragile in the modern day relationship
