1) The document discusses conventions used in metal music videos that the author incorporated in their own video, including mixing narrative and performance, varying shots of full band and individual members, and using low key lighting. 2) The author's video uses a somewhat circular narrative structure, bookending with shots of waves that are reversed at the end to imply looping back to the beginning. This challenges conventions and references postmodern narrative theories. 3) Conventions like dark tones and lighting were used to create themes of darkness, unease, and confusion, while reusing existing footage in a new way references bricolage theory. The author believes combining conventions with a challenging narrative made an effective piece.

1. Evaluation Question 1
Will Watts A2 Media

2. Within my music video, I have made sure to incorporate some of the genre conventions of metal,
within my own work. After analysing two existing videos within this genre, there are particular
conventions which I feel are most important, and will allow an audience to identify them easily.
One key feature within these two videos, that was perhaps the most conventional, was the mix of
narrative and performance within the sequences. In ‘Bring Me The Horizon’s’ ‘Alligator Blood’,
the use of performance within the narrative helps to separate the ‘storyline’ within it, and allows
the audience to easily follow the narrative. I have done something very similar within my music
video, in order to separate the ‘narrative/concept’ from the performance, which in effect, helps to
keep the video flowing, as well as it not becoming too repetitive. From my focus group feedback,
this was one point that was picked up on. Another key part of this convention, is having both a full
shot of the band performing, and individual members, which again, helps to make the performance
shots varied, and not to repetitive. I have made sure that in my music video, to not put
performance parts to close to other performance parts, and spaced them sparingly, in order to
create an even balance; another positive comment from my focus group. Another convention of
these particular videos, is the use of low key lighting. Being very stereotypical to use in a metal
video, I have used this in my own, using very dimly lit scenes, including narrative and
performance, in order to keep an even flow. I have also edited in artificial lighting, in order to both
highlight some areas, and darken others. An example of the use of darkening a scene, is the shots
of the coast, In order to create this theme of ‘darkness’ and ‘unease’, I have turned the brightness
of the entire shot down, in order to make the shot look stormy, which in its own right, connotes
unease, fear, and unsettlement. It is very apparent that within my music video alone.

3. In terms of narrative structure, there is not so much a ‘storyline’ within my video, unlike the existing video I analysed, however there is
a somewhat circular structure incorporated. Around the beginning of the video, a mid shot of waves crashing onto the shore line is used,
which on it’s own, does not suggest a circular structure, however around the end of the video, these same waves can be seen again, this
time the waves are reversed, suggesting that within the video, you end up where you started. This is effective, as by the end of the
video, the audience will be familiar with these particular shots, however they will perhaps be unsure as to why the waves are in reverse,
which one, sets up an enigma code of ‘why are the waves going backwards?’ And two, creating perhaps a sense of unease, which links
into the rest of the video. This is challenging the conventions of a conventional music video, as the two videos that I have analysed,
have a very straight forward narrative, whereas my video, the narrative is very fragmented, which could suggest Lyotard's breakdown of
Meta-Narrative theory. The narrative itself suggests no time or place, as well as the fact that at the end of the video, time almost seems
to be warped, again representing underlying emotions of confusion, unease, and unsettlement. Levi Strauss’ theory of bricolage can also
be incorporated here, as the shot of the reversed crashing wave is the same shot used earlier in the video, however it used differently at
the end, thus using ‘pre-existing media’ to create something new. I have stuck with the conventional metal video features, which in my
opinion, has been used to its advantage, and in effect, has allowed me to create a very convincing and effective piece.