Many music videos use a variety of camera shots like close ups, mid shots, and long shots to emphasize the artist, locations, and emotions throughout the video. Camera movements like pans, tilts, and tracking are used to follow the protagonist's movements and add realism. The mise en scene, including colors, props, locations, and costumes, is carefully planned to support the narrative or audio and reflect the artist's personality. Editing uses cuts between shots to flow smoothly and match the beat of the music without appearing obviously edited. Lighting and colors are also important for setting moods - darker colors suggest less happy feelings while brighter colors represent happier moods.

1. Conventions
Camera shots
Many music videos tend to use a large mixture of camera shots to increase emphasis on the artist,
locationsandemotions.The mostpopularcamera shotsare close ups,mid shots,extreme close ups,
longshots, cantedangle,crane, 360 and establishing.These shotsare continuouslyusedthroughout
the music videos so that action and energy is maintained depending on the genre of the audio. For
example,if the audiowaslessenergeticandhadmore low beatsincludingaslow piano,there would
be a reduction in the amount of shot cuts and how fast they change, but constant movement if the
camera,whetherit’sa glide or360 degreeshelpstokeepthe audience interestedandmake sure the
music video is not boring.
Camera Movement
The movementof the cameraas talkedaboutabove isextremelyimportantwhenmaintainingenergy
and interest of the viewer. This can be shown through movement such as a crane shot where the
camera slowly makes its way from either head to toe or toe to head, generally focusing on one
protagonistatthispoint.Cameramovementlikethisisusedtoestablishandrevealthe identityof the
protagonist to the audience which is helpful when the music
video needs a sense of drama or is following the narrative
pathway.Anotherfewcameramovementsinclude tilt,panand
tracking where the camera is usuallyfollows the movement of
the protagonist for example they would be walking down a
streetandthe cameraisshowntobe followingtheirmovement
and body language to add a sense of reality. A pan is a more
professionalstyleof movementwhichcanestablishthemiseen
scene and location extremely well when completed to a great
standard. These shots make sure that the audience are aware
of the location and can start to knit together the narrative
storyline in their minds.

2. Mise en scene
The mise en scene is very vital when it comes to creating an atmosphere for a music video. This is
because there is a large emphasis on the location in most videos, with the artist singing or moving
around in front of the proposed set. A mise en scene is made up of the colours, props, locations,
costumes to sometimes support or go against the narrative or audio to introduce more detailed
planningandmeaningbehindthe chosenlocation.The mise enscene isveryimportantwhenmaking
sure the video is interesting with months of planning and research going into the location to make
sure it suits the genre and reflects the personality of the artist/or their message. For example, Iggy
AzaleasFancyvideoisverydetailedwhenitcomestothe mise enscene,withthe locationanduse of
propsbeingable todeliverintertextuality.The videoincludesneartoexactreplicacostumesfromthe
filmCluelessandthe artistisshowntobe the mainprotagonistinthe film.Thisis usefulwhenwanting
to maintainthe statusof the artistand show theirlikenesstothe character.Using replicastothe film
it can help to attract the target audience
who would have originally watched
Clueless and make them want to watch
the music video which can increase
viewing numbers. This is also shown in
JamesBaymove togetherwherethe artist
is locatedin onlyone mise en scene,with
the movement and location representing
how he is alone with a night setting and
minimal use of artificial lighting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-zpOMYRi0w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhWTREgDAxc
Editing
Editingisvital whenmakingsure thatamusicvideosflowsnicelyandthe final pieceshouldnotappear
to have beeneditedtothe audience,butbe a smooth runningmusicvideowithsubtle changes.The
most common cut is the straight cut which is used to take the viewers from one shot to the next
withoutanyaddedfeaturesor special effectsonlytoshow a change ina subtle way.Anothertype of
cut isjump cut, where the visualswill cut to the beatof the audiofor example a large beat.This can
be foundina numberof musicvideosincludingLove ontopbyBeyoncé where the dance studioisthe
mainmise enscene withalarge amountof editingtomake sure thatthe onemiseensceneisenough.
L cuts and Jcuts are alsousedtoshowhow the musicandvisualsinfluencethe storylineand how the
editing has been conducted to an excellent and professional standard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob7vObnFUJc
Lighting/colours
Differentdirectors/artistsdecidetouse themesanduse blackandwhite withaddedartificiallighting.
The lightingisvital whensettingamoodwithlow lightingaddingalesshappyanddeepfeelingtothe
video,withbrightlightsbeingable torepresentahappierandmore alertmusicvideoforthe artist to
be seen in. Colours alsogo along with trying to create a certain atmosphere for example thiscan be
seeninKanye Westallof thelightswhichshowsanemphasisonthe blackandwhitetoshow awashed
out world, with bright colours then being used to show a change in the mood and strength of the

3. protagonist.The lightinginthisvideoisextremelyimportantwhenmakingsure thatthe audiencecan
relate andmake sure thattheycanunderstandthe narrativebehindthelyricsifthereisalinkbetween
visuals and audio or visuals and lyrics. Songs from other genres such as rock will use darker colours
suchas royal blood’sfigure outwherethereisconstantinterchangingof colourbetweenblueandred
to adda darkerfeel asitisarock song.Connotations of redare dangerandconnotationsof blueshow
a cold and less important life with this creating a great atmosphere for this genre of music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhgVu2lsi_k&list=PLLdXDYGZu1b_x7ZDhhVR3pe9WEMIsoDII
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAfFfqiYLp0
Electronic rock/pop.
For our genre for Awolnationsail,there isusuallyalarge use of low coloursand blackand white.The
genre is usuallyadarker sense of life withthe musicvideoscontainingartificial lightingthatislowlit
witha slightlywarmeffect,the use of a dull filterto reduce/washoutthe bright coloursin the shots
and a blackandwhite filterisalsousedtoemphasisethisparticulargenre toemphasise the energyof
the track as it is usually heavy energy and constant up beat audio.
 There is a use of dark locations
 Use of filters to wash out colours for example black and white
 Close ups of artists face to show emotion
 Slow motion to emphasise action
 Use of special effects to add a sci-fi feel
All of these factorsare usedto emphasise the characteristics of anelectronicpop/rockgenre andwill
be included within the music video I am going to create. There is usually a large use of camera
movement with constant action being covered with fast shots and multiple camera angle such as
crane, pan, long shot, close up, mid shot and 360. Editing Is essential for this genre as there is need
for a range of cuts withstraightcutsbeingusedona large scale and jumpcuts to emphasise the beat
of the musicand the atmosphere withinthe video.The mise ensceneisusuallyurbanorstudiobased
and isset inthe autumnwithcold and drearysettingwhichcanbe emphasisedthrougheditingskills.
This is demonstrated through music videos such as:
Awolnation sail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgIqecROs5M
Fat boy slim praise you- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULVQOneeZE
Midnight city M83 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3k_QDnzHE