The document provides a detailed analysis of the technical elements used in the music video for the song "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?". It discusses the narrative structure, editing techniques, sound design, camera shots, mise-en-scene elements including lighting, costumes, acting, and locations used. The video follows a single character, Alex, on a linear journey as he drinks in a bar and walks home, becoming increasingly disoriented. Editing uses fast cuts and text overlays to match his emotions and state. Sound incorporates diegetic and non-diegetic music, and camera shots vary from close-ups to long shots, with techniques like jump cuts and tracking shots capturing his deterioration.

2. Narrative structure
There is a single strand structure as we follow only Alex’s character on his
linear journey. Amplification is used throughout this video, the chorus of the
song compliments Alex’s actions. He is seen using his phone regularly while
he is under the influence, ‘left you multiple missed calls and to my message
you reply, why’d you only call me when you’re high’. This music video has a
closed structure as there is a clear conclusion to the storyline. Alex Turner’s
character is seen standing outside the opposite house to his
girlfriends, pleading to go inside. We then see his girlfriend finding the texts
and missed calls from Alex and she is seen turning off her phone and walking
away, this suggests an unhappy ending for Alex. But overall the audience have
reached a resolve.

3. Editing
The majority of editing transitions used are fast cuts which makes the audience feel disorientated
in keeping with the main characters current emotions and theme of the music video. The most
obvious use of editing is the use of the texts overlaying the master shot of Alex. Allowing the
audience to see what is being said. Other editing techniques used to create a disorientating effect
include the melting clock which shows us the effects of Alex’s drinking which dissolves into the
next scene, also the blurred effect when looking in the mirror.

4. Sound
The sound used in this music video is unusual, at the beginning diegetic
sound can be heard such pool being played and people talking and
laughing, the song ‘Why’d you always call me when you’re high’ plays in the
background which makes the audience feel as if we are in the
bar, experiencing the same thing’s as Alex’s character. The music then
changes to non-diegetic sound as the soundtrack is played in the
background, later on in the sequence the music changes to diegetic which
implies that the song is being played in the pub. While Alex walks down the
street he is met by other characters that speak to him. This is diegetic sound
and it adds to the disorientation which is a consistent theme throughout the
video.

5. Camera Shots
The first shot in the music video is an establishing/long shot of a pub, a man playing pool is
shown in shallow focus allowing the three background characters to be seen more clearly.
The camera then cuts to a close up of one of the characters (Alex Turner) who is drunkenly
swaying. As the camera pans downwards towards his phone it becomes apparent that he is
attempting to text a girl named Stephanie as the he types the words are superimposed onto the
screen allowing the audience to see what he is writing, the camera pans upwards showing Alex
Turner’s expression. We then cut to a medium shot of him texting and he begins to scan the
room. Cut to a long shot of A clock on a red wall, the numbers and hands of the clock begin to
fall, this creates a disorientating atmosphere which also implies that he is under the influence of
illegal substances. As the camera cuts back to Alex, he looks un-phased by the puzzling collapse of
the clock and walks over to the two characters shown in the previous shot, the camera tracks him
waveringly as he walks.
A long shot of Alex Turner is shown as he walks towards another room, the other characters in
the shot are shown in shallow focus which implies how Alex see’s them in his drunken state.
We are then shown a reflection of Alex in a mirror, as he stands in front of it, his reflection begins
to distort, as he stands in front of the mirror a montage of ghostly figures appear which he
ignores and then turns to walk towards the camera.

6. Cut to Alex walking out of the bathroom, the camera tracks his movement as he walks through the
room. A jump cut is used to illustrate his lack of control and vulnerability. When he reaches the other
characters he gestures towards a drink and is shown in a montage of shots drinking numerous
beverages. Each time Alex drinks the camera moves closer to him. Jump cuts are used when Alex turns
away from the bar and he is seen briefly coughing a blue flame which compliments the disorientating
theme of this music video. Close up as he turns and the camera pans slowly around his head in a series
of jump cuts.
A medium close up of the distorted clock from the previous scene is shown, it continues to melt down
the wall. The camera then cuts to a woman who is standing with a man, both characters are blurred,
reverse shot to Alex’s character as he shakes his head implies that he knows the female character.
Fast cut to a medium long shot of Alex walking out of the pub onto a street, as he drunkenly staggers
down the street the camera tracks him. We see pedestrians block Alex’s path from a point of view
shot, and an eye line match of a homeless man who gestures at him.

7. Mise en scene
Lighting
The lighting throughout the music video is low key, however it seems that
the darkness progresses as Alex’s character’s state gets worse . which is in
keeping with the night time vibes of the song. Red filters are used at times
over Alex Turner symbolizing his importance and also his emotions as he is
currently angry at the girl that isn’t replying to his texts. Street lights and
illuminated shot signs are also used to make the scene convincing and adds
to the realism in the music video.

8. Costume
Alex’s character is dressed in all black similarly are the majority of the people
in the pub this is used to convey a dangerous atmosphere making the
audience worry about Alex’s saunter home because of the threatening people
that are in his path. The female role ‘Stephanie’ also wears black, but is
shown with a red top under her other clothes symbolizing that she is an
important character. The colour red also connotes love and passion which
could suggest that Stephanie and Alex have some kind of relationship.

9. Acting
At the beginning of the video Alex stands with his friends, as they talk the
audience can assume that he has been drinking heavily prior to this, causing
him to walk clumsily, which he continues to to throughout the video. The
other characters that feature in the video stand unaware of Alex’s unusual
sightings such as the melting clock, and remain talking in the background. As
all of the characters in the video use a realistic approach to acting, it creates
more believable surroundings, this compliments the song well as it is about a
realistic scenario hence why realism is used.

10. Location
The locations used throughout the music video include a Bar and a busy city
street these settings have been selected because it adds to the realism of the
music video. The bar resembles most, it includes a pool table and darts
board, this allows the audience to identify with the scene. The city street is
used for the same reasons, it offers a familiar setting that audiences can
relate to.