The document analyzes and provides feedback on several music videos. It discusses the effective use of close-ups, matching edits to the beat of the music, setting mood through lighting and camera angles, portraying settings and atmosphere through low angle shots and cutaways, and engaging audiences through contrasts and interpreting meaning from visuals. Overall, the document examines how various technical and directorial choices can effectively match the genre, story, and tone of different songs.

1. By starting the video with just words is effective because it
grabs the audiences attention. It also shows the messages
behind the song and gives people watching something to
think about.The words set a more serious note for the
video, which matches the nature of the song.
Close ups are used immediately to introduce the character in the
video. By using close ups we can see the emotion on the
characters face which sets the mood and atmosphere for the
video.They use close ups to slowly reveal the person which keeps
the audiences hooked in the first section.
By matching the cuts to the beat of the music gives off a
professional feel to the video.This is matched with the clever
lighting and camera angles shown in the shot above.This
professionalism encourages us to understand the serious emotion
of the video.The mise en scene in these shots of the lighting also
add more diversity into the shots.
Using low angle shots like this one give us an idea of the setting.
This is a clever, interesting way to portray atmosphere.Through
out the video they also use cutaways to break up sections of the
narrative.This is something I would like to use in my video
because its an eye catching way of giving the audience more
background on the setting or narrative.
They have defined a narrative clearly in this video and use different
contrasts when editing to keep the audience engaged. Different
contrasts also portray different emotion.They have used black and
white here to demonstrate a negative situation, which the
audience can read.This relates to Stuart Halls theory that
audiences are taught through their life how to interpret
something.
The variety of settings the students have used show commitment
to giving the audience an interesting video.The wide shots they
have used establish the different settings, and they are shown
through out when the setting changes.This works well because
the audience is not bombarded with settings, but instead feel like
they are following the actor in the video on a journey.
Analysis of past media A2 videos:
Tuesday, 24 September 13

2. The way they have filmed the video matches the song.They
have used rough camera work and shaky handling of the
camera to portray the rough nature of the song.The
characters clothing and look is also matched to the song.We
link done up polo’s and short hair to the same social group
as the genre of the song.
The settings they have chosen for the video are clever because as
it’s set in somewhere that appears to have lots of flats and semi
detached houses is somewhere we associate with trouble makers.
The angles they have used here, like in the shot above where they
have cut out some of the characters face is clever because it
seems unprofessional, however it matches the song.They have
mixed the shaky camera movements with nice looking shots so
that the overall feel of the video still feels professional. I think this
is a clever way of portraying the mood that the song
communicates.
The makers of the video have used cutaways that relate to the
other settings they have used.These cutaways are what adds
interest to the video, and breaks up the narrative.The shots have
only been displayed for a very short time but give the audience
time to catch up with what they’ve already seen.
In the video there is a clear narrative of a story between a boy
and girl.This is done from the singers point of view which causes
the audience to feel more of a connection with him.This works
well with the song because it is sung from his point of view too.
The students have continuously used the rule of thirds through
out the video which means the audiences are drawn to the main
part of the scene.
Analysis of past media A2 videos:
Tuesday, 24 September 13

3. The directors of this video have introduced the song by
starting with visuals involving a guitar.This identifies the
music as rock music because of how we associate this genre
with instruments like guitars and drums.
They have used split screen in parts of the video to show to
narrative storyline, with the live playing.The genre of the song is
rock, therefore instruments are an important part of the
production.This is why the idea of splitting the screen to show
this works well with the music we hear as we listen and watch.
In this video they have also used black and white to portray
negative sections of the narrative which is clever because the
audience know how to read this.They have also used this to show
the past.This keeps the audience interested in what they are
watching.
We see cutaways of a band playing the song.This is done in an
environment we would associate with the rock nature of the song
and band.The are also dressed in clothing that would support this
genre.They have used a variety of close ups and long shots to shot
this.
The editing they have used through the video is clever.This is
shown in the shot above. By mixing a shot of the singer, which
demonstrates the mise en scene we would attach with the genre
of the song, and a shot showing the narrative lets the audience
watch both at the same time and brings boths parts together.
They use a hand held capture in parts of the narrative.This creates
a more griping atmosphere in the video.They have used this when
the song speeds up, therefore the beat of the song now matches
the visuals.
Analysis of past media A2 videos:
Tuesday, 24 September 13

4. The video begins with an establishing shot accompanied by
synchronous sound.This sets the scene for the audience, and
we immediately know that the song we are about to listen
to is from the country genre.
The camera is left still which reflects the calmer side of the genre
the song comes from.As the song starts we watch the girl get out
an instrument which is also something we link to country music.
As we see different angles of the girl sat on the bench and walking
through the forest we see settings that are relevant to the genre.
However this could become boring for the audience because they
is no outfit change or big change of setting, but instead stays in the
same kind of place through out.
The close ups of the girls face show the intimacy of country
genre. From these close ups we see natural hair and make up
which communicates the relaxed style of the genre.They have
used rule of the thirds in these close ups which make the shot
look neater and more appealing to the audiences eye.
The wide shots of the forest like this arent that effective for the
audience, because although the story narrative is trying to be
communicated here, the shot it not set up so that our eye is
drawn to the character here. I think this could be better thought
out in order to communicate a story better.
At the end we see a shot of this character that has not appeared
in the video much, this confuses the narrative for the audience.
However the camera work used here is something that interests
people watching, because the subject is still and the camera is
moving.This is one of the good sections of camera work the video
shows.
Analysis of past media A2 videos:
Tuesday, 24 September 13

5. The establishing shots of the different settings are
interesting and use structures to set up the shot, like the
one above.This intrigues the audience and would make them
more likely to want to carry on watching the video.
They have used a fade to change shots at the beginning.This brings
the different settings they have used together and makes the video
look smoother. However this does not fit with the beat of the
song we can hear.
They use a tracking shot to follow the character whilst singing.
This identifies who the singer is in the video to the audience,
whilst using interesting camera work that will catch the audiences
attention.
The black and white contrast is used here to identify the narrative
part of the video.The change in setting in these parts show the
reflection in the video and song, because when the boy sings it is a
calm, secluded setting. However in the narrative story parts of the
video it is a busy street/city.
The directors of this video has used a tracking shot to identify the
busy city setting.This is interesting because what we see is always
changing capturing the audiences attention.
Some cutaways they have used add more to the setting they have
already showed in the video.The shot above adds more interest in
the video, by varying the shots. However I do feel like this could
be considered random to the video, although I do like the idea of
these cutaways.
Analysis of past media A2 videos:
Tuesday, 24 September 13