The document analyzes the editing techniques used in three music videos: 1. Lady Gaga's "Applause" uses surreal techniques like subliminal flashing images and body modifications to portray Gaga's abstract and outrageous persona. 2. Clean Bandit's "Extraordinary" employs simple techniques like slow motion and matching shots to focus on the music and artists. 3. Nico & Vinz's "Am I Wrong" tells a narrative through captions, color tints, transitions and slow motion to evoke nostalgia and convey the song's meaning.

1. BY SHANAÉ CHISHOLM
HOW IS EDI T ING USED FOR EF FECT IN ONE
OR MORE MUSIC VIDEOS OF YOUR
CHOICE?

2. THE THREE MUSIC VIDEOS
THAT I CHOSE TO EXPLORE
WERE:

3. 1 . LADY GAGA - APPLAUSE
Directors: Inez and Vinoodh
Producer: Gabe Hill
Production Company: GE Projects and
theCollectiveShift

4. E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A P P L A U S E ’
The style of Lady Gaga’s music video is ‘abstract-performance’; it is a blend of both, this is seen through her choice of costume and dance routines,
however this is also seen through the editing techniques that have been used. A range of post production effects have be used in order to further
exhibit the style of the music video, also, it is relevant to add that this video reflects Gaga’s star image of being outrageous and random.
Amongst the post production techniques were:
Subliminal images: (0:19-0:20)
Throughout the video - more so at the start of
the video - images are flashed up so quickly
that you aren’t able to tell what the image was.
The effect this has on the viewer is that they
are left disorientated and confused. In addition,
this technique is in conjunction with another
post production effect which was the effect that
the clip was shaking. My interpretation of this
editing choice was that the movement and
subliminal images were meant to physically
mimic the action of ‘applauding’, clapping is
quick and instant and this is what the editing
was like.
Cartoon hands and coloured power smoke
These techniques align with the abstract theme, and also add a sense of surrealism
and fantasy which again is a clear representation of Lady Gaga’s star image.

5. E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A P P L A U S E ’
Multiple faces in one shot
This is another example of post production
editing, again tho style of editing ads to the
surrealism of the video, making sure that the
viewer stays engaged. Furthermore, this makes
the viewer feel as though they are surrounded by
Lady Gaga, as if they can not escape from her.
Body modification
The picture below show two ways in
which Lady Gaga was edited in a way
that made her ‘un-human’, firstly when
she’s seen as a swan and secondly,
when she is resized from being a giant
to a normal sized person. The effect
this editing has is that Lady Gaga
perceived as a super human and it also
adds to the abstract style of the video

6. LADY GAGA:
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the use of computerised
editing created the effect of surrealism,
furthermore, the overriding editing
method was non-continuity editing, as
the various shots weren’t in conjunction
with each other.

7. 2 . CLEAN BANDI T : EXTRAORDINARY F T
SHARNA BASS
Directors: Clean Bandit
Cinematographers: Anna Patarakina and
Daria Novickaya

8. E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ E X T R A O R D I N A R Y ’
In this particular music video the main editing technique was again non continuity editing with long shot durations, however
The Clean Bandit Logo
At the start of the music videos, the first thing
viewers see is the Clean Bandit logo placed over a
rural scene, this ensures that the viewer remembers
the band not just by their music or their music
video, but also their logo.
Slow/Fast Motion
The effect of slow and fast motion makes the video more dynamic and existing
to watch, it also allows the viewer to concentrate on particular aspects of the
video.
Match on action
At one point in the music video, match on action was used, this was when the
violin was dropped from the top of the cliff. It is important to recognise this as the
violin itself is symbolic to the band, as the member of Clean Bandit are all
classically trained, so by dedicating time in the video to concentrate on it, so will
the viewer.

9. CLEAN BANDIT:
CONCLUSION
This particular is quite simplistic in terms of
editing; there isn’t a particularly wide variety
of editing techniques, however the
techniques that were used, were used for
specific reasons.
The effect this simplicity has on the viewer is
that it allows them to concentrate on the
music but also on the artists in the video
more than be attracted by fast moving
images. Also, this type of editing does suit
the song, as opposed to the editing Lady
Gaga used in her video.

10. 3 . NICO & VINZ : AM I WRONG
Music video by Nico & Vinz performing Am I Wrong.
Directed and edited by Kavar Singh
Cinematography: Kavar Singh & Arild Kumar
Produced by : Amanuel Kidane for 5 Star Ent &
Julian Alexander for IDAP Vision
Production Assistant: Melinda Elvenes
VFX Supervisor: Arild Kumar

11. E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A M I W R O N G ’
Out of the three music videos that I have chosen, this is the first music video that has a narrative to it, furthermore, it is also the first video
to use transitions, which supports the observation that transitions are usually used for music videos with a narrative, as transitions help to
indicate a change in time.
Captions
At the start of the video, viewers are introduced to the music video, this is significant as it instantly
suggests that this video is a narrative and it also creates a sense of professionalism
Television
The television is a prop that is used throughout the music
video, however the screen itself is edited in. Although this
is a micro element of the editing techniques used in this
video, it is an important feature as it is an iconic symbol
through the video, and if it was a television without the
‘fizzing’ - for example - it wouldn’t have the same lasting
effect on the audience.

12. E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A M I W R O N G ’
Colour Tints
Within this video, other than the natural colouring, there were two colour tints, or
washes, that were used. Through adding these tints it helps to tell the narrative as a
change in colour changes the mood of the video, and the fact that the clips go from one
to the other despite having different colour tints, implies that there are two different
running themes. Moreover, the effect of these colour tints support the impact of the
crosscutting between the two narratives involving each character, as it suggests that
the two different characters are experiencing two different or similar things.
Transitions
A dissolve cut was sued towards the start of the video and a
cut to black was used twice. As said in the previous slide,
the effect of using transitions is it helps the viewer to
establish time; when something has come to an end, when
something has occurred after a specific event and this is
important in a narrative video, as it helps viewers to keep
track of events
Slow motion
This editing technique was used frequently in this music video, and through its
use it created a feeling of nostalgia; it allows the viewer to cherish the moment.
In isolation you wouldn’t associate slow motion with a feeling of nostalgia, if we
were comparing it to Clean Bandit’s video, however the images that the slow
motion was used for, helps to create that emotion.
Quite frequently, the clips in the video cut to the beat of the song.
This is another important editing technique as it subliminally allows
viewers to keep the tempo of the song and helps them to
remember it, as the music becomes more associated with what
the viewer is seeing.

13. NICO & VINZ:
CONCLUSION
Editing has been used in this music
video in order for a story to be told
alongside the already existing narrative
of the song. It presents emotions of
nostalgia and happiness and that, I
think, helps to bring out the meaning of
the song.

14. To conclude, through analysing the effects of editing, it is shown that
editing plays an important part in firstly, establishing star image - Lady
Gaga’s video - displaying the musicality of a song - Clean Bandit’s
video - and aiding the presentation of a narrative - Nico & Vinz’s
video.
– THANK YOU FOR WATCHING