The document compares the conventions used in the student's music video for the song "Like We Used To" to those used in The Script's music video for "Breakeven". It analyzes how shots, settings, props, storyline elements, and sounds are used in both videos to either follow or challenge conventions of music videos in the alternative rock genre. Key conventions that both videos draw from include close-ups of the artist singing passionately, varied camera angles, using black and white to denote different emotional states, natural settings, eye contact between romantic interests, and endings where the protagonist walks away alone. The student's video challenges conventions by incorporating more humor and fun moments between the couple.

1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?

2. In order to establish how my media product uses, develops
or challenges conventions, I have decided to compare
the conventions used in my music video for the song
‘Like We Used To’ with the conventions of The Script’s
video for ‘Breakeven’. Within this presentation I will
reflect on the shots Kaylee and I used in our video and
whether we have successfully used and challenged
conventions of real alternative rock music videos.

3. How do the shots use, develop or challenge conventions?
The Script’s video Jono’s video
Here The Script have used a close up of the lead singer performing;
this shows his facial expression and emphasizes his passion for
music. Within alternative rock videos it is conventional to use lip
syncing and show a lot of shots of the band/artist performing as they
put a lot of importance on writing music and lyrics, in addition
showing them playing/singing reminds the audience that they are
talented. Therefore we decided to use this convention to show Jono
and a talented and passionate artist.
This screen shot of The Script’s video shows the lead singer from
behind whilst he is performing; another band member has been
captured from the side in the foreground. The use of different angle
shots of the artist is a common convention within music videos as it
makes each shot more interesting because they vary. For this reason
we chose to include a range of angles of Jonny in our video so that
our video is as appealing and entertaining as possible.
The Script’s lead singer is also the protagonist in the story. When his
character is away from the girl, the shots are black and white in
order to connote loneliness and sadness. This is a convention used
by a lot of alternative rock bands in order to show a clear difference
between two situations and the way in which the character feels.
Within our video we decided to film the sad scene (where Jonny’s
character wants to get back together with Jess’) in the rain because
it connotes sorrow and can relate to crying, therefore we felt that it
had a similar effect to use of black and white. In addition we
changed the contrast, brightness and saturation to make the shots
slightly more dull.

4. Both videos contain many shots filmed in natural settings; this is a convention
used in a lot of alternative rock videos, however compared to The Script’s video
my video seems to focus a great deal more on nature, as the majority of scenes
are filmed at locations such as the woods and the beach. In this way it could be
argued that we have taken the convention to the extreme, I believe that this
makes the genre very clear.
Videos with romance storylines conventionally tend to include shots where the
couple touch one another and often are wearing revealing clothes or possibly
nude. Despite the revealing nature of these shots, the main focus of these
shots is not to make them look ‘hot’ and attract the male gaze, the shots are
actually used to show a deep connection and passion between the couple. In
The Script’s video they show a males hands touching a females skin which
shows their trust and passion. In our video we have showed this through shots
of their feet when they’re in bed together; this has connotations of sex, but
does not actually show too much skin for our target audience.
Another key convention of romance music videos, particularly within the genre
of alternative rock, is the use of eye contact between the couple which shows a
strong love and connection. Within The Script’s video the couple look into each
others eyes often; we chose to use this convention in order to present the love
the new couple share. We asked the actors to look into each others eyes as
much as possible, and we filmed many situations (such as lying in a park) where
the couple could focus on eye contact.
Within The Script’s video they have used a shot of the couple lying in bed; they
are very close to one another and are facing one another which shows they
love each other, whereas it they were facing away from one another it would
seem as though they are not interested in one another. We have included a
similar shot within our video to the shot The Script have used; near the
beginning of our video we have used some shots of the old couple in bed, these
shots imply that they did have a good relationship before they broke up, but
could also suggest that the love was one sided because Jonny is looking as Jess
but Jess isn’t showing love by looking into his eyes. Following this we have
shown the new couple in the bed, their bodies are facing on another and they
are asleep; this could suggest a simple, loving and peaceful relationship.

5. Although it is not conventional for music videos to contain many props, the key props
which are used usually have a lot of importance for the storyline. For example within
The Script’s video they have used an over the shoulder shot which looks at a phone
playing a video of the girl; this shows that he is thinking about her and also shows
viewers what their relationship used to be like. Similarly in our video we have used on
over the shoulder shot to show a polaroid picture of Jonny and Jess holding hands; this
suggests that he misses her and also encourage the viewers to consider what their
relationship was like, and could also imply that he is planning on getting her back. In
addition the polariod itself fits with conventions of the genre as many indie/alt rock
songs include polaroids.
Another similarity between my video and The Script’s is the use of the shots of the
couple spending time together. Both videos feature the couple at the beach, which is
conventionally a romantic setting; the couple are holding hands and walking away
from the camera. As they are on a beach the shots could suggest that the couples do
not need expensive things to do in order to have a good time, all they want to do is
spend time together. By showing them walking away from the camera they are made
to look as they’re walking forward, and could suggest that they are looking forward to
the future ahead of them.
Conventionally, music videos have at least one twist or turning point in which the plot
changes; these are often dramatic. Within The Script’s video this main point of drama
is when we see the woman leaving the man and his desperate attempt to stop her.
Within our video the break up of Jonny and Jess is shown at the beginning during the
bed scene, however the drama actually takes place when he walks to her house in the
rain and asks her to get back together with him. Jonny lip sings asking her if she is
happy in her new relationship, and she then shuts the door in his face. We decided to
use the convention of a dramatic scene as this moves the plot along and creates an
interesting storyline.
It is conventional for music videos to fade to black at the end and the music usually
fades with this. Both my video and The Script’s uses this convention because it makes
it clear its the end and ensures it does not finish too suddenly. The endings of both
videos are very similar as they both show the singer and ex boyfriend character
walking away from the camera; as earlier on in both videos characters are seen
walking away together, this emphasises the idea that once a relationship is over the ex
boyfriend feels lonely. It could also show that the men are giving up and leaving.

6. Another convention which has been used to some extent in The Script’s video is
. showing a fun side to the relationship, however the video is quite serious and the
. only shots that could show them as fun is when they smile at one another. I have
. noticed this amongst the majority of alternative rock videos; they tend to show the
. could looking very deep and loving, as they aim to show the ideal relationship.
. However I felt that we should challenge this conven tion of alternative rock videos
. and include some shots of Jess and Tom laughing and having fun together as this
. would make out video more unique and entertaining. It is common for music videos
to become less gripping and entertaining during the middle, as the opening sequence is usually draws the audience in, but
then people may begin to lose concentration and interest after this. Therefore we included three scenes which we chose
specifically to add a humorous aspect to the video in order to keep the audiences attention; there scenes are the ice cream
scene, the throwing leaves scene, and the scene where the hold hands and spin. When we showed the video to our audience
the majority of people laughed at all three of these scenes, therefore I feel that we have been successful in adding some fun
and humour to our video. The screen shots below show these three fun/humorous scenes.

7. Conventionally music videos do not
usually use any ambient sound or Sound At the beginning of The Script’s music video a
female voice says “What would I do without you?”,
any speech, as the focus is on the The majority of alternative which is repeated multiple times; this is quite
music which is artificial. However rock music videos to fade to ambiguous as it is not clear when she is saying it to
The Script have subverted this by black at the end, it is also him and she seems to be contradicting the
including some speech at the very conventional for the song to storyline where the couple seemingly split up ,
beginning of their music video. This fade with this. This is more therefore the audience cannot be sure of whether
is unusual because it is often seen aurally pleasing because the the couple are breaking up or arguing.
to distract the attention from the song does not cut out
music and is not always aurally suddenly. It is also possible that
pleasing. the phrase may have
been said in the past
When the female and that the man is
speaks, the video shows looking back on times
the lead singer of the when she needed and
band and the main loved him. Despite
character in the video the ambiguity of the
driving a car; he seems voice, it is useful in
to be looking at the setting up the theme
passenger seat which of love, relationships
could imply that the girl “What would I do without you” and heartbreaks as it
is sat next to him and encourages the
talking directly to audience to predict
him, however this again what will happen in
contradicts the storyline Within our music video we decided to use the video.
as she seems to be the convention of just playing the song, as
saying that they should we felt that a voice or any ambient sound is When done correctly using a voice
talk together, when in not needed to explain the situation because can be very useful in explaining the
the video they seem to the bed scene shows that the ex-boyfriend context of the song or introducing a
be breaking up. is replaced by a new man. theme or issue.