Music Video Conventions

Music videos tend to include long shots, close ups and mid shots this creates emphasis on the locations, emotions and the artist. Close ups can be used to show emotion but also its shows a link between lyrics and the video. The camera tends to track the artist to show that all eyes are on them and they are the main attraction. Mise en scene is important in music videos its means the arrangement of performers, props and the scene of production. The mise en scene usually links in with the lyrics but it depends on how the video is going to work. Jump cuts are very popular in music videos it shows a sudden change from scene to scene and usually there are faster cuts with a quicker music pace.  The colours, props, lighting and costume really depend on the genre of music like pop music is more likely to have bright colours with high key lighting whereas rock is more likely to have low key lighting with darker colours. Some music videos are black and white or have black and white parts in them this emphasises a particular mood so are more popular with sad songs or alternative/rock music. Artificial lighting is used in some music videos to put the artist in an enhanced look. Props aid to create a significance to a particular object or people, they are used  to link in with the lyrics sometimes and to show a narrative. Costume is important and has a slight influence on how the viewer will dress. Pop/ Hip Hop videos tend to be up to date with fashion and wear clothes that are branded and in more mainstream fashion areas. Whereas alternative/rock tend to have their own style of clothing and set a style to viewers who want to look like them but don't set as much of a trend as pop and hiphop.

Jenna Tubby