This document analyzes how the media product, a music video, challenges, uses, or develops conventions of real music videos. It provides examples of several shots from the video and evaluates them as either conventional or unconventional. Conventional shots that are commonly seen in real indie or rock music videos include shots of the whole band performing, POV shots, filler shots between lyrics, close-ups of the artist's emotions, and low angle shots showing sadness. Unconventional shots included one resembling a film poster and one showing contemplation with light and shadow. The document demonstrates how the video borrows from conventions but also uses some unique shots.
1. In what ways does my media product challenge, use or
develop forms and conventions of real media products?
2. This is one of our
key clips in the
video and it shows
us performing the
song. This fits in
with the
conventions of
the traditional
indie/rock music
video setup. The
whole band is
visible and this is
seen in real videos
and practically all
indie videos from
the likes of The
1975, The
Vaccines and
Bombay Bicycle
Club.
3. This is a POV shot taken
from our video and this
too is a conventional
quality of popular music
videos. This is
sometimes used to
create the impression
that you are part of the
story and are relevant to
the video. There is a
very well known and
controversial use of this
in The Prodigy’s video
for “Smack my bitch up”
which follows the
activities of a
protagonist on a crazy
and abnormal night of
drugs and violence. We
used it to demonstrate a
character being thrown
out by the landlord.
4. This is a particularly conventional shot. These shots are used very frequently to fill in gaps where
there are no lyrics and sometimes long pieces of music. We were pleased with the opportunity to
use this shot.
5. This shot is not a conventional music video shot. It looks more like a poster of a film and that is
the impression that we were looking for. It was supposed to look mysterious and happy in
some way; leaving his old life behind to fix it and start again with just himself and his guitar.
We were really pleased with this shot.
6. This was a shot that I have seen
occasionally before in real music videos.
We used it to demonstrate loneliness
and equilibrium. I have seen similar
shots in videos by Jake Bugg who is a
performer of a similar type of Indie
music.
7. This is our favourite shot. It took us hours in total to complete the lyric cards
and to still-shoot each jump shot. This was stolen from the video for “Don’t
Stop” by Nina Nesbitt as we felt it was a refreshing way fill some time and
lines. We used this on around 3 lines and I think it looks really good as it cuts
into the final product. Thus, this is conventional and it has been followed but
adapted by changing traditional colour schemes and text fonts.
8. This shot was framed as a low angle. It was to show the
protagonist’s lonely mood and mind (fitting with the
lyrics). It is both widely and conventionally used in many
videos to show sadness and disillusionment along with
inferiority which we were also intending to portray and
display here.
9. This shot was a conventional one also. It uses an
extreme close-up of the artist to show his
emotions. The lyrics state “I’d seen your eyes girl
and I was so flippin surprised” which ties in with the
hollow look we receive from the artist. This
,therefore, was a good shot and I am pleased with
the result.
10. This shot was conventional. It was a low
angle and the face was deliberately
removed to focus in on the actions of
playing the guitar. This has similarities to
“Wonderwall” By Oasis. Though Noel
Gallagher is facing the other way, the
shots and shot types are the same.
11. This shot is non necessarily conventional though I have seen
in before. We used it to show contemplation once more as
well as loneliness. The light from the window in the
background helps to outline the face of Craig and this light
and dark contrast with his hoodie creates the idea of light at
the end of the tunnel.