1. In what way does your media product
develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Question 1
2. conventions
• In order to create an effective music video as a group we did research
into established music videos of the same genre which in this case
was R&B and the theme behind the narrative was to do with love and
relationships. To an extent we followed the conventions of a love song
due the fact that it has to have some similarities to a traditional love
song in order to be identified as one. It also follows the vital
convention of a music video which is lip syncing, we followed this
through, however, we did have parts where the artist weren’t lip
syncing this was seen frequently is established music videos.
3. • The case studies that we used were Keyshia cole – trust and believe and a few Rihanna videos. We used these music videos to give
us a brief understanding of the conventions of this genre; this later on influenced our music video. Firstly, in both of these music
videos a prologue was used. We felt it was essential to include a prologue into our music video as our music video didn’t have a
strict chronological order to it so it was important that at the beginning it was very clear in what has/going to happen. Inlove
songs this aspect seems to occur a lot and it is usually an argument that takes place during this prologue which we in this case
followed. (Images)
• However, to an extent we challenged this aspect as we didn’t have no diegetic sound used during the prologue and it is usually
very important to have dialogue as it explains what has happened, however we felt it would work better as it draw more attention
to the artist’s body language, gestures and facial expressions. The first part of the prologue was a party scene which basically sets
the scene. This was also seen in one of the case studies which we used. Another conventional aspect of this particular genreis
flashbacks - as a group we decided to have the flashbacks in black and white to connote it is a flashback. The use of the flashbacks
was to show both the good times and bad this idea to some extent is very cheesy, however, flashbacks have been used a lot islove
songs as it is there to tell the story.
Our music video
Our music video
Established music video
Established music video
5. Close up shot
• We used a various amount of camera shots from
different angles in order to express a particular meaning
or feeling. As the theme of the song is about ‘love’ it
was incredibly important that the artist was able to
connect with the audience. During our research we
came across many music videos where the camera shots
were in the view point of the artist this made sense for
our music video because the singers are telling their
story from their account. The use of a mid shot was to
highlight on the facial expressions and body language. In
this case, her body language shows her hands on her
hips the connotation of this that she is showing attitude
and strong female energy in a positive way, that shows
she is in charge. Here the artist is showing eye contact
with the audience so its makes it more personal with
the audience and the artist and the audience is more
able to engage with her.
Our music video
Established music video
6. Low angle shot
• A low angle shot with the camera looking up at
the artist implies the artist has a lot of power
and high status. This could also imply at that
moment she felt good, happy and as if she is on
top of the world. Our inspiration for this was
Nicki Minaj as she is a very power female, this
challenges the conventional representations of
women as she is not portrayed as a weak,
venerable and passive but she is portrayed as
independent and strong.
Our music video
7. Wide shot
• Wide shots were used to
exaggerate the loneliness of the
artist as they’re singing about a lack
of love and affection. The use of
wide shots is also able to highlight
the environment surrounding the
artist. As we can see this shot the
artist is located in an inner-city area
which can explain choose of
clothing, props etc. It was very
conventional of rap artist to be
standing in front of their car; it
suggests high status and power. As
a lot of the time R&B artist talk a
lot about money, cars, girls etc.
However, here we tried to portray
this idea in a positive way.
Our music video
8. Mid-shot
• We used a various amount of camera shots from
different angles in order to express a particular
meaning or feeling. As the theme of the song is
about ‘love’ it was incredibly important that the
artist was able to connect with the audience.
During our research we came across many music
videos where the camera shots were in the view
point of the artist this made sense for our music
video because the singers are telling their story
from their account. The use of a mid shot was to
highlight on the facial expressions and body
language. In this case, her body language shows
her hands on her hips the connotation of this that
she is showing attitude and strong female energy
in a positive way, that shows she is in charge. Here
the artist is showing eye contact with the
audience so its makes it more personal with the
audience and the artist and the audience is more
able to engage with her. We felt it was important
to put a plain black back drop in this shoot as it
looks more professional and it contrasts with the
artist and allows the artist to standout this shows
her importance.
Our music video
9. Editing
• In the editing aspect we didn’t want to over do it, we intended to keep as simple
and as professional as possible. During the prologue which was a party scene we
were inspired by the song T-Pain – Up down as flicker effect was used. As a group
we felt it was suitable as improved and enhanced the party as it helped to make
the scene look more busy and fun. Also during this scene there wasn’t any curial
focus so it was suitable to put that in. We also put the flash backs in a white and
back theme this helped to separate the different time periods. We felt it was
important to do this so that it wasn’t confusing for the audience to understand
what was going on. This was inspired by (Trey songs – heart attack). In addition,
we added fades to move one scene to another but so the transition wasn’t too
hard.
10. Mise-en-scene
• In terms of clothing as a group we decided that our artist was wear clothes
suitable to the genre, song and weather. We wanted to show our artist in
more than one outfit to show more than one style. Predominantly, the
outfits were very trendy and a part of popular culture. The artist who
played Rihanna wore clothes that didn’t meet the stereotypes of R&B
female artists in the music industry, instead it challenged those stereotypes
- her clothes were not revealing at all this definitely portrayed women in a
positive light as women in this sector are seen as sex objects and are
judged according to what’s on the outside rather than inside. The artist
who played Future wore a white t-shirt predominantly, the connotations of
this is that he is innocent and positive, where as, the artist who played
Rihanna wore clothes of a dark colour the connotation of this is that she is
more negative. This on it self challenges the idea that the male is always
the ‘suspect’ and the female is always the ‘victim’.
