This document analyzes different camera shots used in popular music videos and how they can be effectively utilized to tell a story and evoke emotion from the audience. It discusses various shots including establishing shots, close-ups, mid shots, wide shots, extreme close-ups, and focus pulls. The document also considers high and low angle shots, two shots, and extreme wide and reverse shots. Examples are provided from specific music videos to illustrate how different shots were used strategically to further the narrative and connect with viewers.

1. CAMERA SHOT ANALYSIS

2. CLEAN BANDIT- SYMPHONY (FEAT. ZARA
LARSSON)
This music video begins with an establishing
shot as a way of setting the scene before the
music video/lyrics start. Within this video, the
establishing shot is from a birds eye view
which is quite common in high end music
videos as they have all the required
equipment to create a successful shot from
this angle. I aim to use multiple establishing
shots in my video in the instrumental section
at the start to match my visuals to my lyrics
and set up all the scenes that are yet to come.
This gives the audience an insight to the
background.
Shot Used- Establishing
Shot

3. LORDE- GREEN LIGHT
Close Up’s are a very common shot in music
videos that evokes the correct emotion from
the audience that relates to the character.
This shot from Lorde- Green Light is powerful
as she is looking directly into the camera
meaning she would be making eye contact
with the people watching it strengthening the
connection with them. I believe that close ups
are one of the most effective camera shots
featured in music videos to put emphasis on
the protagonist’s face to highlight them as the
main focus and get every bit of emotion from
them possible.
Shot Used- Close Up

4. NOAH CYRUS- MAKE ME (FEAT.
LABRRINTH)
Mid Shots show a performer within the video
with roughly half of their body in the frame. I
think the shot to the right suits the message
and tone to this video as you can understand
the passion the protagonist has for her lover
sleeping and how much upset she is going
through. My video will feature quite a few mid-
shots however, I would like mine to have the
protagonist or performer looking directly into
the camera as this will portray my storyline in
a deeper light meaning that it will evoke more
sympathy from my audience members.
Additionally, eye contact is vital for my style of
video to stick to conventions.
Shot Used- Mid Shot

5. BRUNO MARS- THAT’S WHAT I LIKE
This whole music video is effective as it looks
as though it was done in one take with
animation added in during post production. It
consists mainly of wide-shots with the
protagonist’s full body being in frame through
the majority of the video. Wide Shots give a
clear style to the music video by letting the
audience view the mise-en-scene within the
frame especially what the protagonist is
wearing. I think wide shots are best used to
break up the close ups as they don’t portray a
specific emotion from the audience as they
focus more on the body than the face of the
protagonist.
Shot Used- Wide Shot

6. NAV- SOME WAY (FEAT. THE WEEKND)
This shot from the song ‘Some Way’ by NAV
always stays in my head. It contrasts all the
shots that come before it highlighting the
importance of it. This style of shot gives the
audience an insight to an important feature of
mise-en-scene that the produce wanted them
to focus on and makes the audience feel close
to the performer. By using this type of shot it
adds originality to the music video which gives
the narrative a deeper meaning and links the
visuals clearly to the lyrics. I’m planning to use
one or two extreme close ups in my video to
emphasise crucial clips that aid to the
development of my storyline.
Shot Used- Extreme
Close Up

7. RIXTON- HOTEL CEILING
I find this video has one of the best narratives
I’ve ever watched due to the big twist that
comes at the end. The shots that make it up
all conform to conventions of the pop genre
and develop the narrative to make it seem
very realistic. The use of a reverse mid shot
allows the audience to see the protagonist
from a different angle and feel more of a
connection as though they are the camera
walking with them and seeing what they are
seeing. Moreover, it allows the audience to
have their own opinion on how the protagonist
would feel towards their surroundings as you
cannot see the face of them so don’t clearly
know.
Shot Used- Reverse
Mid Shot

8. ED SHEERAN- CASTLE ON THE HILL
This is an extremely eye catching shot due to
the fact that is enables the audience to see
not only the location but the shadows of the
performers that we are going to be introduced
too. The dull lighting suits the naturalistic tone
of the video linking to the main narrative that
flows throughout. This shot also turns into a
tracking shot as the beat kicks in making it
more interesting and visually pleasing for the
audience. I would like to include an extreme
wide shot when producing my video but I’m
not sure how successful it would be with the
variety of technologies I have.
Shot Used- Extreme
Wide Shot

9. GEORGE EZRA- CASSY O’
Focus Pull’s are one of the most effective
shots used within music videos to draw
attention to a specific thing. This one is used
to focus on the protagonists face as he is lip
syncing the lyrics. It contrasts all the previous
shots as they all had bright coloured
backgrounds and were in full focus on either a
piece of mise-en-scene or one of the
performers featured. I hope to use a few focus
pull’s throughout my video to grasp the eyes
of my audience onto specific things that are
valuable for them to gain the full
understanding behind my narrative. I think it
will work best on my protagonist just before
the shots changed to black and white.
Shot Used- Focus Pull

10. MARIAN HILL- DOWN
This is one of the most unique music videos I
found in terms of variety of shots and editing.
The camera was constantly moving with the
main focus on the performers and visuals
linking clearly to the lyrics and beat of the
song. This shot caught my eye as it’s as
though they’ve just noticed each other as the
beat of the song kicks in. It adds a realistic
approach to the start of the music video and
portrays a clear connection to the audience
that the two performers have a connection to
one another that will be explored further within
the video.
Shot Used- Upper Body
Two Shot

11. THE 1975- SOMEBODY ELSE
High Angled Shots are usually used within
media to look down upon someone for the
purpose of class or power. Within this music
video it gives off the same effect but in a way
to make people feel sorry for the protagonist.
Through his body language and the lyrics, we
as the audience can tell sympathy is meant to
be brought out of us here for his situation. I’m
going to try and use some high angled shots
within my video to build up my narrative. I’m
aiming to get one a low angled shot of my
male performer followed by a high angled shot
of my female performer to emphasise that he
has the power in their story.
Shot Used- High Angled
Shot

12. MUMFORD & SONS- I WILL WAIT
This shot is extremely powerful as it not only
features the band from their perspective but
also catches a glimpse of the audience they
are performing to. The use of lighting and
props within this shot highlights the pure
passion for music that the band have.
Reversing an extreme wide shot emphasises
things from the viewpoint of the band meaning
that the person watching can feel like part of
them and connection on a much more
meaningful level than they would by seeing
this shot from the front. I don’t think this type
of shot would suit my house style that I’m
aiming for because I don’t have a band in my
video.
Shot Used- Reverse
Extreme Wide Shot