Music videos are short films that integrate song and imagery, primarily made to promote music sales. Early music videos from the 1920s included animated films set to music. Modern conventions include illustrative videos that tell stories, conceptual videos with abstract ideas, and amplification videos interpreting songs creatively. Music videos typically use shots like close-ups and long shots to establish artists and emotions, while camera movements follow artists or storylines. Elements like costumes, lighting, editing and more contribute to the overall mise-en-scene and presentation of the video.

1. CONVENTIONS OF A
MUSIC VIDEO

2. WHAT IS A MUSIC VIDEO?
A music video or song video
is a short film integrating a
song and imagery, produced
for promotional or artistic
purposes. Modern music
videos are primarily made
and used as a marketing
device intended to promote
the sale of music
recordings.

3. HISTORY OF A MUSIC VIDEO
The earliest music videos or
promos were filmed in the mid
1950’s. However, before then, as
early as the 1920’s, films by
animators such as Oskar
Fischinger were accompanied
by musical scores labelled
‘visual music’.
The early animated efforts of
Walt Disney’s ‘Silly
Symphonies’ were built around
music.
The Panoram jukebox with
eight three-minute songs were
popular in night spots yet faded
out during the War.

4. TYPES OF MUSIC VIDEOS
Illustrative: This type of music video tells a story and is often on a
performance base.
Amplification: This is where a music video director interprets a video in
their own way making something creative and different.
Conceptual: This type of music video may not have anything to do with
the lyrics of the song and are known to be very abstract.

5. CAMERA SHOTS AND MOVEMENT
Music videos tend to use shots such as close ups, mid
shots and long shots. This is use to establish and
emphasize the artist, emotion and location. The close
ups are also used to shot lip syncing done by the artist.
The movement of the camera usually follows the artist
or the storyline and can include techniques such as
panning, tracking, tilts and crane shots.

6. MISE-EN-SCENE
This refers to the arrangement of the performers and
props in a scene or production of a music video or media
text. Mise-en-scene emphasises on the importance of
representation and symbols.
It can also include:
• Costumes
• Make up
• Lighting
• Décor
• The frame of the camera work

7. EDITING
The editing of a music video has the ability to completely change the footage
for example, the colour, the speed and the effect.
Transitions are usually used to help footage flow such as fading, dissolving
and wiping.
The most basic type of shot transition, the cut is the most common way to join
two shots. It is the continuation of two different shots within the same time
and space. It is the most basic in that the video undergoes no special
processes to perform a cut; the two film strips are simply played one after the
other.

8. LIGHTING
Some music videos connote emotion through lighting for example dark lighting can
mean danger or night-time.
Black and white lighting can reflect an era and is usually used in period videos.
Lighting such as spotlights can be used to identify an area or a performer, this is
common in music videos.
Computer generated images and green screens are also a popular method of device
to create bright coloured effects.