The document discusses conventions for music videos in the rock/pop punk genre. It analyzes several existing music videos to identify typical elements. Key conventions identified include showing the band playing their instruments, incorporating live performance elements like crowds, portraying the band as relatable and not overly polished, including elements of rebellion or controversy, and focusing on the music over visuals or story. The document concludes that incorporating these elements like live instrumentation, energy and movement, and some comedy will help make an original music video successful in representing the genre.

1. FOCUSED GENRE
RESEARCH
Music Video – Rock/Pop Punk

2. The genre I have chosen for my music video is rock/pop punk, I have chosen
this genre as I have a great interest in it and feel I can produce a good music
video. A vast majority of rock/pop punk videos have the band playing the song
within them, an idea of music first. The age group that this genre looks at is
around 15+ and mainly male, however in the last few years more females have
been getting involved in this genre therefore I need to corporate that into my
video. I feel the music would target 15+ because below that age you are ‘spoon
fed’ your music mainly by parents or older influences and this isn’t the
traditional genre, so after that age you become a bit more independent and
delve into the music world. Pop videos tend to have an icon, someone the
listener looks up to and inspires to, you do have this in rock but they are shown
to be more normal, more in reach of society, rather then put onto pedestal and
admired.

3. A Day To Remember – The Downfall Of Us All
The opening few shoots shows a crowd and the band in the
background, typical of the genre, also the first few shoots have
been very quick again to keep up with the music. By the first
few shots it makes it clear what genre this is by showing a
crazy crowd and the band playing instruments, and you
wouldn’t see that in for example a pop video. In the screenshot
below you can see he ids very simply dressed, rather then
wearing multiple pieces of jewellery that is a convention of rap.
The next few scene is the start of the singing, and by his facial
expression you can see he’s putting a lot of effort in as he has
a passion and its not all about looking good, like in other
genres. Therefore I need to find actors that will accurately
represent the genre, clothing and looks wise. There is also a
setting of a band playing, not individually, as this genre is a gig
loving genre were fans enjoy music live and this is the feeling
it gives the fans.
After the first 20 seconds you see the story line pick up, and in
this case you see a police officer, and again this is typical of this
genre as its related to rebel behaviour, especially as A Day To
Remember are a slightly heavier band. The previous shots show
Jeremy McKinnon with a beard and rough around the edges
which is a contrast to pop as they are normally clean shaven,
along with many close ups to see the beauty involved with pop.

4. After flicking constantly back to the crowd and the band
playing it carries on with the story and I think I will incorporate
this into my video. The police interaction is key here as I’ve
said, even more so that they are only putting up fliers for their
gig, which gives the impression the music is ‘illegal’ and it is
still frowned upon by many, this attitude towards the genre
and especially heavier stuff has created a community feel
and developed a feeling of ‘us against the world’.
During the video the is skateboarding involved and these two sub cultures link in with each other,
as skating is also seen as ‘illegal’ in some places. Also the fact that it was filmed in their home
town creates a feel of community again and this shows the band puts the music and fans first over
anything, this is extremely typical of the genre. The do care about their image, but the image is a
don’t care look and feel about the band. The song was written about how hard song writing is and
the pressures it puts on you, and in this genre its extremely hard to write something that is
accepted within the genre, as pop lyrics are repetitive and sometimes almost meaningless and
petty, whether rock lyrics normally mean something and come from past experiences. This video
has helped me see how many shots are involved in a music video and how fast paced it is and I
will take inspiration from this as well as the story line. It is also filmed in a small town called Ocala,
where they grew up in, this emphasises the fact they don’t go to a high budget company and the
making is very true to roots and all about the music. This video involves something that is
perceived as wrong and in many other rock videos they also have this. We can see quite clearly
that this is a rock video by the setting, not spending a vast amount, simple and effective. Also not
using iconography relates to the fact they are real people and yet again its about the music and
not them.

5. Tonight Alive – The Ocean
Tonight Alive are more pop/punk band than A Day To Remember
and this is shown in the way they dress there is a certain style,
they care more about their appearance. The video opens up with
them walking out on stage and again this tells us the genre
straight away. Also again with the crowd being involved and it
being a live show gets the watchers interested as they are
interested in those types of gigs and like seeing their favourite
band perform live with the atmosphere.
The first 25 seconds are them playing at a gig, and then it
switches to them ‘behind the scenes’ which many a fan would love
to see them and it involves them meeting their fans which to them
would be a dream and this dream potentially being able to come
true would enhance the love for that band. It also shows they are
‘normal’, for example here walking through a festival this is of
stark contrast to pop singers who are usually put on a pedestal
and the fans rarely meet their idol.
Generally in rock videos there is an element of comedy as they
are light hearted and the bands act like they don’t take many
things seriously. Also having shots like this creates influence
for fans to do something crazy at gigs to possibly be spotted.
Yet again the video is showing a crowd and people singing
along which is what the fans crave, as this isn’t mainstream
music not many people like it, however being in a crowd where
everyone loves them is what the fans strive for.

6. Again there is more behind the scenes footage, which shows
a care free attitude, like they’re living the dream and for many
of the fans that is a dream, they are aspiring musicians and
this is more typical in this genre then pop or rap.
The general codes and conventions for a rock music video are they have multiple
shots of the band actually playing their instruments and this accompanied with
the band looking like they are having a good time and not too rehearsed is
something I would want to incorporate into my own music video. The general
mise en scene for a rock/ pop punk music video is the band playing, possibly at a
gig or music event, and during the video there is also a quite often a hint of
comedy or not taking it too seriously, linking back to the ideology of a laid back
attitude.

7. Foo Fighters – The Pretender
The opening scene shows an extremely basic set up,
perfectly fitting in with the conventions and ideology of
music first, a stark contrast to the conventions of pop, where
the artist aims to out do one another not on a music level
but video level, maybe in a sexualised way for example
Anaconda by Nicky Minaj. It also shows the instruments
used by the band, again a huge part in any rock video.
This shot could mean the idea of rock against the world and this
linked in with foo fighters being one of the only last remaining
real rock bands left, it shows that rock has declined over the
years and now other genres top the charts. Due to the fact that
they are the last remaining real rock band they are represented
as hero’s, icons within the genre and Dave Grohl has worked
his way up starting with Nirvana and now onto Foo Fighters,
possibly the two most influential bands, shows you have to gain
respect this again is of contrast to say pop where one artist
bursts onto the scene with one song and immediately becomes
an icon, for example Magic singing Rude.

8. This shot shows the passion that he has for the music and
genre which is definitely a convention of the genre. This
passion identifies the following for this genre as well, as the
fan base is also more committed with rock, they follow a
band however in pop it is usually whatever is in the charts.
Once again this shot identifies
the ‘rebellious’ nature of the
genre, even though they are a
extremely popular band and
have extreme respect, and are
now not seen as bad or in some
cases illegal for example A Day
To Remembers A Downfall of us
All, they still include this
convention as the idea of rock is
still related to rebellious nature.
This shot shows the background exploding and this could be
interoperated as them ‘fighting’ back against the police, this in
itself is another convention, fighting for music and what is right
and again this shows passion. The SFX used to create this is
unlike most other rock videos as they are generally on a
smaller scale and don’t involve SFX, however there are a few
examples and this is one, if feel they can do this because of
the popularity and enormity of their band. Also as they are one
of the only real rock bands left this could explosion could
signify them trying to influence and help new bands break out
onto the music scene. The final idea this creates is the estatic
nature of rock and just letting you hair down attitude, the idea
of going crazy and not caring.

9. Conclusion
The researched that I have carried out here will help me greatly as I have seen
the specific codes and conventions that are most commonly used rock/ pop
punk music videos. I will hope to incorporate as many of these as I can to make
it as successful as possibly, for example I am going to have the band playing
instruments and also get them jumping and involved in the music as I feel this
is key in my video, as during any rock video there is movement around the
‘stage’ area. The other thing I will try and add in is comedy however I
understand this is hard especially if I choose to go for a back story. Along with
the movement I would like to create an energy throughout the video to
represent the genre of rock.