Music Video Inspirations

1. INSPIRATIONS FOR MY
MUSIC VIDEO
Megan Sellar

2. The Script and Maroon 5 both include flashbacks in their music videos. The Script use flashbacks to
portray the difference between the past and present as they particularly concentrate on the relationship
between the protagonist and actress as he describes his feelings and emotions towards his break-up
between him and his girlfriend. The flashbacks are show to be much more colourful and slightly brighter
than the real-time shots to give the audience the impression that they are looking back in time from the
male’s memory. The constant change of colour is effective as it conveys him to be much happier when he
is with his girlfriend and sad and miserable when is alone. I will perhaps think about including scenes in
colour as well as black and white to give this effect.
Maroon 5 use flashbacks in a similar manner as the
music video is displayed to be a circular narrative
where the story begins at the end events as the
audience are taken on a journey arriving back where
they started. The music video includes flashbacks
throughout to convey how it all began between him
and his work colleague and the story of how he ended
up at a payphone in the middle of nowhere. Within my
music video I hope to include flashbacks of the
grandfather and grandson together with clips of
the main protagonist singing as he looks back in time.
THE SCRIPT – ‘BREAKEVEN’ & MAROON 5 –
‘PAYPHONE’

3. THE LUMINEERS – ‘STUBBORN LOVE’ & EMELI SANDE –
‘MY KIND OF LOVE’
The American folk rock band The Lumineers and Emeli Sande both involve a car scene in their music
videos. The Lumineers music video ’Stubborn Love’ revolves around a young girl who is shown to be on a
car journey as she follows her mother as a result of her parents divorcing. The young girl is shown to
change her perception of the situation as she is conveyed to smile at the end of the video. I like the
video’s use of camera angles and shots as it includes a series of close up shots of the girls face. I will
perhaps incorporate this idea into my own music video, as my video will display the grandfather and
grandson adventuring on a journey together. The solo artist Emeli Sande also involves a car scene as she is
shown to assist her childhood friend from hospital and take her on a days trip to the seafront
amusements in Hastings. The video features a clip of the two siting together in the car, creating a scene of
juxtaposition between the pair. Furthermore throughout the video, flashbacks are used to show their
younger self's as they venture to the park and fairground. I like this idea as the music video includes jump
cuts from the flashback scenes to the scenes of them now as they visit the park and fairground.

4. JOHN LEGEND – ‘ALL OF ME’
The music video John Legend ‘All Of Me’ features a linear narrative as the video follows the love story of
John Legend and his fiancée Chrissy Teigan. The video includes conventions of a performance based
music video as the video includes scenes of the male protagonist playing the piano. Throughout the
video, long and medium shots are used to portray the couple’s emotions and feelings towards one
another while panning and close up shots are used circling John Legend as he sings and plays the piano.
The piano is an important symbol in the video as it is used to represent his musical skills as well as his love
and passion for the woman he is singing to. The use of panning shots are effective, creating a diverse in
shots, making the video seem more interesting to watch. I will think about including this in my own music
video as I plan to film my singer playing the piano . Furthermore, the music video is filmed entirely in
black and white which helps set the scene of the video. The lack of colours create a gloomy and
depressing scene which in contrast to the visuals of the song plays the opposite as John Legend sings
about them both giving all their love to each other and the feelings he feels towards his wife.

5. MIKKY EKKO – ‘PULL ME DOWN’
Mikky Ekko’s music video ‘Pull Me Down’ features the main artist walking around a house with fallen
objects around him. The broken objects suggest there has been an argument, this is further shown as the
camera focuses on a pair of broken glasses which imply it could have been between two people in a
relationship. The use of low key lighting is effective as it contributes to the moodiness of the piece and the
main artist. This is emphasised by the dull colours used in both the set and costume. The colours used in
the bedroom scene in particular are shown to be fairly dull but quite
light at the same time, drawing the audience’s attention to Mikky
Ekko, who is almost silhouetted by the dim backlight in the shot.
I will think about the use of lighting before I begin shooting my music
video and will perhaps include the unconventional method of low
key lighting to the performance parts of my music video to follow the
emotional lyrics of Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Afire Love’. The music video
also includes slow camera movement including gradual zooms to fit
with the lyrics and visuals of the song. Towards the end of the video,
a close up shot is used as Mikky Ekko’s hands are shown to slowly
disappear in thin air. I like the idea of including a vanishing effect,
similar to Ekko’s at the end of my music video as I will show the
grandfather and grandson walking together and holding hands while
the grandfather is shown to slowly fade away as the lyrics of the song
symbolise death.