This document analyzes the camera work and themes in three existing music videos to inspire the creation of the author's own music video about a breakup. Key conventions identified include alternating between happy memory flashbacks and lonely present-day shots, the protagonist reminiscing about past photos/videos, and including an argument scene. The analysis of camera angles, lighting, and emotions conveyed will inform the production of the author's original breakup-themed music video.

1. Textual
Analysis of Existing Music Videos

2. Explanation…
I thought it would be a good idea to take several
screen shots of camera work taken from my
inspirational videos (in my previous post) to
illustrate the type of images I am aiming to
create in my music video. Although, not all of
them are specifically based on break up’s, the
lyrics and the meaning of the song, has inspired
me with a few ideas when it comes to creating
my own.

3. The Script - Breakeven
This is the first music video that I am going to do
a textual analysis on. This music video gave me
inspiration, as it is based on a break up
explaining that not all relationships are plain
sailing and they don’t always have a fairy-tale
ending. Throughout this video, it has numerous
shots that have inspired me for my take on a
break up song.

4. I particularly like the idea of the
protagonist, looking back at
pictures or a video of his loved one,
to show that he is reminiscing on
the memories they once had. I may
not use a phone to look back at the
memories, due to the fact they may
not be the best quality piece of
technology to use. Nevertheless, it
still has given me inspiration for my
music video!
I also like the idea of either
having him filming her, or
holding the phone (or whatever
technological device) taking
videos of themselves having a
laugh and creating memories
together. This point of view
shot and mid shot helps the
audience imagine what their
relationship was like before it all
went wrong.

5. Throughout this music video, it switches
from the happy memoires of the couple,
to him breaking down all alone. One of
the main differences between these two
shots is how when they are together the
footage is in colour, whereas when he is
alone, it has been edited in black and
white to show how he has lost the colour
and happiness of his life. This enables the
audience to sympathise with the
protagonist and feel his pain of the break
up.
This again has given
inspiration, to demonstrate
how the couple were once in
love and had something to be
happy about, but now he is
left alone, he can only
reminisce of the times they
once shared.

6. This is a typical shot that you would see during
a break up, either someone leaving the house
after an argument or moving out due to the
fact it isn’t working out anymore. I think I will
try to recreate this shot somehow, as I believe
it is a stereotypical shot of a break up and a
convention worth sticking to.
The fact he is walking off into
the distance, again shows how
alone and lost he is. By it being
in black and white heightens the
fact he has nothing left but to
walk away from the situation.
This again will help the audience
to sympathise and connect with
the character, if they have felt
this emotion and pain before.

7. Jason Derulo - What If
This is another music video which has inspirational
camera shots in. Although it may not be based on a
break up, it does imply that without them meeting
she could have been better off. For instance, by
making that one decision and action of getting the
last box to move into their new house, it displays
how she lost her live (or was about to as we don’t
see the after shot of her getting hit from the car)
and without him she still would be alive.

8. Although, I may not put a scene of someone getting run over at the beginning
of the music video (like this one has), it has given my inspiration to put a
“twist” on my creation of my break up music video. For example, the couple
may have an argument, where she leaves the house and has the option to
either turn back and say sorry or run away form the situation and if she
chooses the second options her fate lies in her hands.

9. I believe this is a typical
stereotype of the man trying to
be the hero, by attempting to
save the girl. This makes the
audience heart go out for the
protagonist especially when he is
too late. If I ended up doing a
running over scene I would
definitely use this video as my
inspiration.

10. I like the idea of the
over the head shot
portraying the couple
having a conversation
during their happy
memories, as it helps
the audience feel a part
of their relationship.
By having a photograph of
the couple again shows how
happy they are in each
others company. I think this
would be a convention for a
prop and to include in mise-
en-scene of my music video
to help portray the
difference from the happy
times to the reality.

11. The close up of the clock
stopping or going in slow
motion helps create the
importance of time on the
relationship. In this particular
music video I believe it is used
to emphasise how precious
time is because you have to live
in the moment because you
never know which day might be
you're last.
A mid shot of them of them messing
around with food, creates a cute
“lovey dovey” scene, to show the
happy memories of their
relationship. I believe this is a
typical image you would imagine a
couple in love would do and
therefore I think I should stick to
this convention and include a cute
scene in my music video.

12. Lawson - When She Was Mine
This is the last textual analysis I will do on the
typical conventions you would expect from a
complication relationship. This is one of my
favourite songs and it another typical break up
hybrid performance + narrative based music
video. It portrays how the guy just wants to
forget the memories they once had, although
they are constantly running through his mind.

13. Here are the conventional
shots you would expect from a
happy relationship, where he
has got his arm round her and
walking hand in hand down the
street. People who are or have
had relationships can relate to
this typical image and
therefore, I should aim to stick
to this convention in my music
video.

14. Like in both “what if” and “break
even”, the protagonist is looking back
at images of his lover and the good
times they once shared. I think this will
be a must have convention to include
in my music video, as all break ups or
complicated relationships seem to
include this type of shot.

15. Again like the “break
even”, this video has got a
scene of the couple
arguing and she leaves him
on his own. I believe this is
another convention that I
must include in my music
video, as I don’t know any
break up videos where
they have not included an
argument scene.
The fact that he has his hand in
his head, shows how upset he is
about the situation and can’t
believe what has just happened.
This kind of relates to the clock
scene in “what if” wishing he
could turn back time. This close
up helps the audience feel his
pain and feel sorry for him for
what has just happened.

16. Conclusion
Now that I have analysed 3 of my inspirational videos, it has
helped me understand the must have conventions included in
a break up video and stimulated my mind for some ideas to
include in my creation. The main things that I have taken into
consideration are:
• How there must be scenes that switch from the happy
memories to the reality of the break up.
• The protagonist should reminisce about the memories they
once had, whether it is in his mind through flashbacks, by
flicking through pictures or watchingvideos etc.
• There should include an argument scene to display the break
up and show how the aftermath has affected the protagonist.