The video for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was inspired by the film RockN'Roll High School. It features shots of the band performing in a high school gym among a crowd of students acting out stereotypical high school personas. Kurt Cobain personally oversaw the editing of the video. Slow motion shots and fog were used to create an atmosphere of uncontrollable restlessness among the teenagers. Close ups of the drummer and silhouettes of the singer through cheerleaders helped drive the song's message and energy.

1. NIRVANA
SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT.

2. INTRODUCTION
• This songs was the first single and opening track for
the album ‘Nevermind’ which was released in 1991.
• Two days before it was shot, flyers were handed out
asking fans to be featured in the video. They were
asked to ‘adopt a high school persona, preppy, jock,
nerd.’
• Kurt Cobain personally over saw the re editing.
• The video was inspired by Over The Edge in the film
RockN’Roll High School, produced in 1979.

3. CAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS
CAMER SHOTS
- Extreme long shot
- Long shot
- Full shot
- mid shot
- Close up
- Extreme close up
- CAMERA ANGLES
- Birds eye angle
- High angle
- Eye-level angle
- Low angle
CAMERA MOVEMENT
- Crane shot
- Tracking shot/dolly shot
- Panning

4. CAMERA ANGLES AND SHOTS
• Close ups of the drummer, he carries the whole basis
of the songs.
• Pan of the crowd showing the restless teens.
• Close to medium shot when the main singer starts to
sing. Something that is featured by many music
videos.
• Shot of the main singer through the silhouettes which
is a very artistic concept.

5. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Settings and props
• Costume, hair and makeup
• Facial expressions and body language
• Lighting and colour
• Positioning of characters/objects within the frame

6. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Lighting cast on the main singers face purposely to
drawn attention to him and the words he is singing.
• Shadows manipulated to make him look more
disorientating to the audience.
• In a school gym. Lots of students in the crowds,
cheerleaders in black outfits with the letter A.
• Fog machine used to create more atmosphere, added
to the subject of the uncontrollable restless teenagers.

7. EDITING
• Order of shots
• Continuity
• Transitions
• Shot duration
• Pace and rhythm
• Special effects

8. EDITIING
• Slow motion shots in almost every scene in the
beginning creating atmosphere.
• Yellow tint to the footage.
• Normal speed once the chorus starts creating a wild
disgruntled atmosphere.
• During the verses, the atmosphere in very slow and
lethargic, almost dream-like.

9. SEMINAL?
• The music style was influenced by The Pixies.
• Other songs that bear similarities include "More Than
A Feeling" and "Louie Louie" have similar chord
sequences but not the same rhythm.

10. MAIN SINGER- LIGHT DIRECTLY ON
HIS FACE WHILE THE FOG CONSUMES
THE SCREEN

11. CLOSE MEDIUM SHOT OF THE
DRUMMER- SLOW MOTION, HE
CARRIES THE SONG.

12. LONG SHOT OF THE SETTING, LIGHT
DIRECTLY SHONE ON THE GUITARIST.

13. CHEERLEADERS SILHOUETTES, MAIN
SINGER SEEN THROUGH WITH LIGHT
DIRECTLY ON HIM.

14. MEDIUM SHOT, SLOW MOTION, OF
THE UNCONTROLLABLE WILD
TEENAGERS DANCING.