The document discusses various cinematography techniques used in a music video, including medium shots, medium close ups, close ups, and long shots. It explains how each shot type was used to convey emotion, focus on key elements, and establish relationships. Costuming, props, editing techniques like cross dissolves and rhythmic cutting, and sound design choices are also summarized. The overall goal was to use conventional techniques to tell a narrative of heartbreak through visuals and connect it to the song.

1. Textual Analysis

2. Cinematography

3. Medium Shot
In the beginning of my video, I have opened it up with
a medium shot from behind my artist/actor. The
reason I have chosen to do this is so it is visible to the
audience what he is looking at, allowing them to view
from his perspective. Then, further along in the video, I
have filmed my artist performing by again using a
medium shot. I felt using a medium shot was suitable
for the performance because it is conventional and
also it was easier for my artist to fit in the shot, which I
thought made it more aesthetically pleasing.
Throughout my video, I use medium shots frequently
because I feel like it is the best way to portray the main
protagonist interacting and performing within the
music video. Also, having medium shots establishes
the protagonists costume as opposed to having a close
up where their costume isn’t visible.

4. Medium Close Up
In the performance part of my video, I have used a
medium close up to portray the protagonists emotions. I
feel by having a medium close up I allow the audience to
connect with the protagonist more, therefore they
sympathise with them because they can identify their
emotions more closely. Instead of having my actor stand
to the side while shooting the medium close up, I have
framed the shot so he is in the centre. This makes the
shot more appealing to the audience but also, you are
automatically drawn to him because he is directly in the
centre. Again, I have also used a medium close up when
filming my actress. The main reason for this is because I
edited to the beat so I cut closer to her on the beat,
ending with an extreme close up of her eyes. By doing
this, I have allowed the audience to engage with my
actress and possibly identify her emotions due to the
shot I have used.

5. Other examples of medium close ups
Again, using a medium close up for these
shots captures the emotions of the
protagonist and actress which is then
portrayed to the audience for them to
identify with and sympathise.

6. Close Ups
In my video, I have sometimes used close ups which feature
props within the mise-en-scene or the artist himself. I have
used close up shots of the pictures so that the artist could
connect to the video and identify what exactly it is my artist is
looking at, in some senses it gives them a point of view shot.
By showing the photos, the audience can be active and
understand what exactly the narrative is about as it shows him
reflecting on his past, which is what I am trying to connotate
through these props. I have also used a close up to show my
artist performing, which puts emphasis on the artist as he is
lip syncing and it also allows the narrative to progress.

7. Extreme Close Ups
In one part of my video, I have used an
extreme close up. The reason I have chosen
to do this is because in the song, there is a
part that says “you’re giving me the coldest
stare” and I wanted to put the emphasis on
the ‘stare’. Therefore, I used an extreme
close up of my artist and actresses eyes so
that it symbolised the lyrics of the song. By
doing this, I have connected my song with
the video which allows my audience to
connect with it more and understand what
is going on within the narrative.

8. Long Shot/Wide Shot
At one point in my video, I have used a long shot
which shows my protagonist running into the
tunnel and into the distance. By using a long shot
here, it allows my artist to fit into the shot but also
it shows to the audience how he is isolated in such
a big place. The isolation is shown by the wide
space he is in and also how he disappears so far
into the distance, it is like he is lost and he is trying
to run away from his emotions. The framing here
allows the protagonist directly in the centre, making
it aesthetically pleasing for the audience to view
but also you are drawn to him automatically
because of him being in the centre.

9. Two Shot
In the video, I have frequently used 2 shots. The reason for
this is because the two shot establishes the connection and
interaction between the protagonist and actress so the
audience is aware of the relationship between the two and
what type of relationship it may be. In my case, I have used a 2
shot of my artist in a flashback sequence where the 2 are
close and happy so the audience will be able to establish this
from the shot. However, during the performance the 2 are
further apart from each other and the lighting is darker which
the audience could identify as foreshadowing the future of the
pair and their relationship.

10. Mise-en-scene

11. Costumes
Throughout my video, my protagonist and actress both wear 2
different outfits. In the performance shots, I have put my actor
in a black t-shirt and some jeans and I have put my actress in a
blue t-shirt and leggings. Having a black t-shirt allows my artist
to stand out on the white background but it also connotes his
emotions, he is in a dark place so the black portrays this. With
my actress wearing the blue, it connotes how she is confident
and peaceful which would reflect her attitudes in the video
because she is confident with her feelings and how she portrays
them. In the narrative sequences, I have chosen my actor to
wear a white t-shirt, grey hoodie and black jeans. By wearing
these he connotes how he is pure and innocent but it could also
show his emotions with how he is upset and broken. Also, my
artist is wearing a white t-shirt, khaki jacket and a skirt. The
skirt reflects how she is a confident female and the white
portrays how she is innocent, which shows to the audience
despite the narrative she hasn’t done anything wrong, she is
just following her feelings.

12. Props
My main prop within the video is the photos.
The reason I incorporated these is because I
had seen them used within other narratives
that portray a heartbreak love story so I felt it
would be effective to follow conventions. Also,
by using them it allows my narrative to progress
and portray the actions of my protagonist. The
photos are the main focus throughout the
video as they are used for my actor to reflect on
and I think they are helpful for the audience to
connect with the actor. Also, by having these
photos, I am able to introduce my actress
straight away at the beginning of the video and
this establishes her role within the narrative,
making it easier for the audience to follow.

13. Editing

14. Cross Dissolve
Throughout my video, I have quite often used the edit ‘cross dissolve’ to cut from different shots. One
reason I did this was to allow my narrative to flow more rather than constant cut edits that would get
repetitive. Also, in the sequence where my artist is shuffling through the different photographs, I have
used the ‘cross dissolve’ edit here to represent the feeling of time passing which shows to the audience
that he constantly thinks about and reflects on the past, which allows the audience to connect and
sympathise with the protagonist. From looking at existing products, I saw that this effect cropped up
frequently so I decided I would use it in my product. One video I looked at and used as inspiration was
‘Right By My Side’ by Nicki Minaj as this uses dissolve edits a lot throughout and I felt this looked effective
and allowed the narrative/performance to flow well.

15. Cut Edits/Rhythmic Editing
Quite often in my video I used cut edits which matched the beat of the song. This is
called ‘rhythmic editing’. I have chosen to use rhythmic editing because by editing
to the beat, it makes the video more interesting and the shots are not too long. In
some parts, especially the beginning of the video, I have used rhythmic editing a lot
as the song has a very strong beat so I wanted to make sure I didn’t waste this. By
using rhythmic editing I have made my video more interesting to watch as it
doesn’t drag on, it keeps the audiences attention as the shots constantly change so
it makes them want to see what happens next.

16. Black and White/Slow Motion
By editing some parts of my video
in black and white, I have indicated
to the audience that the sequence
is a flashback as it show the happy
relationship of the 2 before the
occurring events. I have also used
slow motion in the scenes with the
2 of them as I think it emphasises
the fact it is a flashback.

17. Sound

18. Sound
The sound within the video is all non-diegetic as this allows for the
performance of the artist as we see him lip-syncing in the performance
sequences of the video. Although it shows my actor speaking within
the narrative at one point, I have chosen not to include any sound
breaks as I feel this would disrupt the song and narrative and also
sound breaks are more conventional within the pop genre, like: Sam
Smith’s ‘I’m Not the Only One’ and Beyoncé and Lady GaGa’s
‘Telephone’.