1. Evaluation question 1:
music video
In this I will be talking about what types of things are included in an indie music video
and will then be linking them back to my own music video. I will be talking about the use
of live performance shots, narrative shots, and how the use of camera, mise-en-scene
and settings help to portray the indie genre.
2. Live performance:
Live performance is normally used in indie music videos as it helps to keep the main focus of
the audience on the artist/band, it shows the band as performers and shows that the genre of
indie has always been about the actual music and the relationship between the band and the
audience. In my video my narrative is of my character walking past a poster of my band and
then later on is of her getting ready to go see that band, the performance parts of my video
are set on stage as a live performance. Below are examples of some of the different angles
that show the live performance, I haven’t included all of them as most look the same. I took
footage from different angles as it keeps the video interesting for the audience to watch, it
also allows the audience to see the band from different perspectives and angles.
3. Narrative:
Most performance in a music video is broken up with narrative, narrative helps to keep the audience interested in
the music video as there is always something new and it is always changing and telling a story, it gives the
audience something else to look at that isn’t in the same location like with the performance, in my video I have the
plot of my character seeing a poster of the band and wanting to go see them, we then see her picking up her keys,
bag and jacket getting ready to leave. I chose to make the plot for my narrative about a woman finding a poster
and then getting ready to go see that band because then it links to the live performance parts of my video, it
suggests that the woman is then at that performance and therefore links together both narrative and performance
footage.
4. Setting:
Indie music videos are quite low budget therefore the main locations are usually inside a
studio, on stage during a live performance, i have used three locations in my video, outside
on the streets showing my actor walking past the band poster, inside of the house showing
her getting ready to leave and inside the dance studio showing the band performing. Setting
is very important in any music video as it gives context to the footage, for example having a
band performing in a studio then they are recording or rehearsing, having them on stage or in
a big room then they are performing to a crowd, setting in narrative is also important, it shows
where the character is and lets the audience imagine the scenario.
5. Mise-en-scene:
Indie artists have quite a retro/minimalist look and style, this is normally shown mostly through costume and props,
creating a style for characters in a music video means that the audience can identify them as a certain group or
genre the viewers may also be able to relate to them and want to take inspiration from their style. In my video the
costume of my band presents the indie/rock genre and the props i use are just the instruments that the band
members play. I also have a character in my video whose style is very indie rock, this fits in with the video as the
story line is her going to the bands performance which means she must like the band and must like indie music,
which is portrayed in the way she is dressed.
6. Camera:
Close ups are normally the most used shot in the indie genre, it introduces the band members to
the views and it also shows the band playing their instruments. It allows the audience to match a
face to the names and can identify the individual band members. I have included this convention in
my video, i have included individual close up shots of each band member i have also included
some shots of the instruments and equipment at the start of my video without the band playing
them and then also some with the band playing them. The viewers can now link the band to the
instruments that they play, close ups of the band also mean that we can see their outfit and see
what they are wearing, this means that audiences can take inspiration from their style like i said in
the previous slide.
