The document discusses conventions used in music videos and how the student's media production challenges or develops these conventions through various camera shots and techniques. [1] Low and high angle shots were used on a large scale to make the audience feel like they are part of the video and familiar with the artist. [2] Tracking shots of the artist on a journey are used to provide the viewer a change in point of view and sense that they are accompanying the artist. [3] Close-up shots of meaningful objects like a rose or the artist's hand emphasize themes of love, freedom and connection to nature.

1. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Carol Vernallis states that ‘music videos often contain
a long series of low or high angle shots that create a
different relation between listener, music and video’.
In our production we experimented with these camera
angles on a large scale. Both these angles allow the
audience to feel as though they are part of the video
and enable themselves to become familiar with the
artist. It also assisted
the connotation of the
cheerful feeling we
needed to show
through the character.
Hannah and her
partners playful mood
was accentuated with
the low angle shot of
them spinning under
the trees in the
striking sunlight. The high angle shot of them
cuddling enables the audience to familiarise with their
happiness and love as a couple on a journey together.
The camera angle allows the viewer to feel as though
they are watching the artist reflecting their presence.
The shot of them taken from a bird’s eye view angle
with them both laying on the grass smiling reflects the
carefree feeling already created through the lyrics.
The low angle shot of the guitar being
pulled through the fields puts great
emphasis on the instrument the artist
plays in the music video and supports
the idea of her going on a journey.
Similarly in Mumford and Sons
‘Winter Winds’ music video with the
artist pulling the chair and holding his
guitar through a comparable field to
ours. This music video was one of the
ones that inspired me and Shianne to
choose the song ‘Mexico’ which
belongs to the indie genre. Although a major difference between their video and ours
is the apparent contrast in the season which is clear to the audience by the title of their
song. The camera angle gives us a view of the clouds and the trees ahead which
enable us to familiarise with the mood of the artist. The camera in a way is following
him on his journey as it is showing him walking away in the same way it is in ours
suggesting the audience are accompanying the artist on this journey they are going on.

2. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework
Our production begins with this tracking
shot of Hannah Belle sitting on the train
looking out of the window holding her guitar
and suitcase. By introducing the song and
the artist with this underlines the overall
theme of the song. The title of the song
being ‘Mexico’ makes it obvious to the
audience that the artist is going on a trip of
some sort but it is not clear whether she is
travelling
to Mexico
or perhaps it could be a trip while she is already in
Mexico. Therefore it enables the viewer to grasp the
general essence of the music video however they
have to watch it to understand the full concept.
Likewise in Mumford and Sons the shot where the
artist is looking out of the window reflecting on his
thoughts whilst connecting with nature, this is also
evident in our music video.
“Tracking shots play a crucial role in music videos
because the movement of the camera provides a change in point of view” as said by
Carol Vernallis. The movement of the camera with the artist makes it seem like we
are observing them on their thoughtful journey and they seem content through their
body language. For example, Hannah’s leg up on the train and her head tilted on the
window suggests she is feeling relaxed and carefree. Mumford and Sons on the other
hand has his arm up on his neck which creates a comfortable and easy going feeling
of the character. Additionally, the lighting in both the videos shows the sunlight
shining through and reflecting on the window of the train and car which adds an
idyllic sentiment in a sense.
According to Goodwin, close-ups are essential for
creating meaning in a music video. This close-up shot
of Hannah holding and looking down at a rose with
the sea in the background illustrates a sense of
reminiscence. The sea behind her creates a calming
and soft atmosphere to the video. In addition to this, a
rose is usually associated with love which is important
in our video as the artist is going on a journey with
her lover. This clip with the rose is similar to
Beyonce’s ‘Broken Hearted Girl’ video with a close
up of the artist picking the petals off the rose with a
comparable setting the background. Our initial idea developed from Beyonce’s video
and we filmed a shot of Hannah picking the petals
off her rose but we didn’t include it in the finished
production in the end as we didn’t feel it created
the effect we originally wanted. Even though the
genre varies between both these songs there are
conventions that are shared across various genres.

3. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework
This close-up of Hannah’s hand swaying
through leaves extenuates the feeling of
independence and freedom. Her jewellery
explores her femininity as does her red nail
varnish. The positioning of her fingers adds a
sense of delicacy to Hannah’s character and
convinces us that we are following her while
she is exploring nature. The camera following
her hand movement again reflects the theme of
journey which is very dominant in our video
‘Mexico’.
The close-up of the guitar is significant as the lyrics state ‘You Me and Mexico’ in the
song giving her instrument importance in the video. Hannah plays her guitar for most
of the video and at the time she is not, she is
making the narrative understandable to the
viewers. There are a variety of shots with
the artist holding and playing her guitar but
this one in particular is a bird’s eye view
which shows as if someone is looking down
on her from above watching her contently in
performance. The angle allows us to see the
grass she is laying on which replicates her
connection with nature and suggests a
peaceful and relaxing moment in her life.
We wanted to reinforce the artist and
her boyfriend’s commitment and
togetherness in their journey to Mexico
so we thought it would be effective to
take a shot of them holding hands. We
captured a variety of shots on our
camera so that we would later have a
choice of which one we wanted to use
in the finished piece. We chose this
forward shot of them holding hands,
the guitar and the vintage suitcase in comparison to one of them from behind holding
hands. Likewise in ‘Broken Hearted
Girl’ there is a close-up of the artist
holding hands with her partner in a
very similar way to Hannah.
However, the lighting in the two
music videos is contrasted with
Beyonce’s one being black and white
and ours with natural daylight which
creates a diverse mood. Hannah is
embracing their togetherness.
I need to write about the shot of the shoes and the
feet in Mumford and Sons not completed yet!

4. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework