Music Video Conventions

1. Conventions Of A
Music Video
BY SUHAIL HUSSAIN

2. Camera Shots
 All music videos have a wide range of different camera shots used
throughout their music video to connote different things as well as to
make the video aesthetically pleasing in stead of just using one shot which
would make it very plain and boring. (Long shot, mid shot, close up.)
 These shots also help to show of the artists off as well as the song because
it allows for the viewer to see the meaning behind the words as the artists
would mainly be performing it with a story/narrative. This allows for
viewers to create a better connection between

3. Mise-En-Scene
 Mise-En-Scene is a big part of music videos as there is so much of it. Mise-
En-Scene includes things like lighting, iconography, colour, location, acting
codes, framing… etc.
 All of these add to goodwins theory as these all have to tie in with the
music video or else it wouldn’t make sense. For example if there was a very
upbeat pop song but the lighting was all dark and gloomy it would not
make sense whereas a song like Katy Perry’s California Girls has a lots of
bright colours in it as it is trying to represent a positive image and
therefore is more coherent with the song and the music video.

4. Camera Movements
 There are not a lot of different camera movements however that does not
mean that they are not important as they are a necessity in music videos.
 Camera movements consist of tilts, pans, tracking shots and crane shots.
 These can all be used for different affects and by using multiple camera
movements it helps to make your music video more fluid and interesting
as it will be constantly changing to keep your audience engaged.

5. Editing
 This is probably the most important part of making a music video as it will
determine whether your video will look good regardless of your footage.
(The magic of editing)
 The main edit that will be used countless number of times throughout the
video will be quick jump cuts to different parts of your music video since it
needs to be very fast and not linger on one shot. However not all have to
be fast as it would not suit some specific genres.
 Also fades and dissolves can be used as they are different and slower than
jump cuts which could help to create different affects creating a unique
music video.

6. Sound
 In a music video sound is very basic and is used non-diagetically whilst the
artists would mouth the words and then once they were edited over each
other and put in sync you would not be able to tell.
 However some music videos also have narratives before, after or even
sometimes during the music video where there will be diagetic music for
short sequences maybe to end or setup the music video.