1. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Carol Vernallis states that ‘music videos often contain a long series of low or high
angle shots that create a different relation between listener, music and video’. In our
production we experimented with these camera angles on a large scale. Both these
angles allow the audience to feel as though they are part of the video and enable
themselves to become familiar with the artist. It also assisted the connotation of the
cheerful feeling we needed to show through the character. Hannah and her partners
playful mood was accentuated with the low angle shot of them spinning under the
trees in the striking sunlight.
The high angle shot of them cuddling enables the audience to
familiarise with their happiness and love as a couple on a
journey together. The camera angle allows the viewer to feel as
though they are watching the artist reflecting their presence. The shot of them taken
from a bird’s eye view angle with them both laying on the grass smiling reflects the
carefree feeling already created through the lyrics.

2. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework
The low angle shot of the guitar being pulled through the fields puts great emphasis
on the instrument the artist plays in the music video and supports the idea of her going
on a journey. Similarly in Mumford and Sons ‘Winter Winds’ music video with the
artist pulling the chair and holding his guitar through a comparable field to ours. This
music video was one of the ones that inspired me and Shianne to choose the song
‘Mexico’ which belongs to the indie genre.
Although a major difference between their
video and ours is the apparent contrast in the
season which is clear to the audience by the
title of their song. The camera angle gives us a
view of the clouds and the trees ahead which
enable us to familiarise with the mood of the
artist. The camera in a way is following him
on his journey as it is showing him walking
away in the same way it is in ours suggesting
the audience are accompanying the artist on
this journey they are going on.
Our production begins with this tracking
shot of Hannah Belle sitting on the train
looking out of the window holding her
guitar and suitcase. By introducing the
song and the artist with this underlines
the overall theme of the song. The title of
the song being ‘Mexico’ makes it
obvious to the audience that the artist is
going on a trip of some sort but it is not
clear whether she is travelling to Mexico
or perhaps it could be a trip while she is
already in Mexico. Therefore it enables the viewer to grasp the general essence of the
music video however they have to watch it to understand the full concept. Likewise in
Mumford and Sons the shot where the artist is looking out of the window reflecting
on his thoughts whilst connecting with nature, this is also evident in our music video.
“Tracking shots play a crucial role in music videos because the movement of the
camera provides a change in point of view” as said by Carol Vernallis. The movement
of the camera with the artist makes it seem like we are observing them on their
thoughtful journey and they seem content through their body language. For example,
Hannah’s leg up on the train and her head tilted on the window suggests she is feeling
relaxed and carefree. Mumford and Sons on the other hand has his arm up on his neck
which creates a comfortable and easy going feeling of the character. Additionally, the
lighting in both the videos shows the sunlight shining through and reflecting on the
window of the train and car which adds an idyllic sentiment in a sense.

3. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework
According to Goodwin, close-ups are essential for creating meaning in a music video.
This close-up shot of Hannah holding and looking down at a rose with the sea in the
background illustrates a sense of reminiscence. The sea behind her creates a calming
and soft atmosphere to the video. In addition to this, a rose is usually associated with
love which is important in our video as the artist is going on a journey with her lover.
This clip with the rose is similar to Beyonce’s ‘Broken Hearted Girl’ video with a
close up of the artist picking the petals off the rose with a comparable setting the
background. Our initial idea developed from Beyonce’s video and we filmed a shot of
Hannah picking the petals off her rose but we didn’t include it in the finished
production in the end as we didn’t feel it created the effect we originally wanted. Even
though the genre varies between both these songs there are conventions that are
shared across various genres.
This close-up of Hannah’s hand swaying
through leaves extenuates the feeling of
independence and freedom. Her jewellery
explores her femininity as does her red nail
varnish. The positioning of her fingers adds a
sense of delicacy to Hannah’s character and
convinces us that we are following her while
she is exploring nature. The camera following
her hand movement again reflects the theme of
journey which is very dominant in our video
‘Mexico’.
The close-up of the guitar is significant as the lyrics state ‘You Me and Mexico’ in the
song giving her instrument importance
in the video. Hannah plays her guitar for
most of the video and at the time she is
not, she is making the narrative
understandable to the viewers. There are
a variety of shots with the artist holding
and playing her guitar but this one in
particular is a bird’s eye view which
shows as if someone is looking down on
her from above watching her contently
in performance. The angle allows us to
see the grass she is laying on which
replicates her connection with nature and
suggests a peaceful and relaxing moment in her life.

4. Afet Koraltay
Media Coursework
We wanted to reinforce the artist and her boyfriend’s commitment and togetherness in
their journey to Mexico so we thought it would be effective to take a shot of them
holding hands. We captured a variety of shots on our camera so that we would later
have a choice of which one we wanted to use in the finished piece. We chose this
forward shot of them holding hands, the guitar and the vintage suitcase in comparison
to one of them from behind holding hands. Likewise in ‘Broken Hearted Girl’ there is
a close-up of the artist holding hands with her partner in a very similar way to
Hannah. However, the lighting in the two music videos is contrasted with Beyonce’s
one being black and white and ours with natural daylight which creates a diverse
mood. Hannah is embracing their togetherness.