Conventions of a music video

– Task Two

By Will Smith

Main features of a album cover

• Image of artist or object that represents the arts or album name

• Name of artist

• Name of album

• Dark, non vibrant colours are mainly used

• White text used over the dark backgrounds

• text usually central to the imagine but can be placed either top,

middle or bottom

• Monochrome is used in many alternative album covers

Main features of a indie music

videoIn most Indie music videos there is the iconography of Indie music videos having a

casual dress code of jeans and a top. The music videos don't normally include lots

of special effects and seem to have quite a low production value, because of how

Indie music originated. Indie music videos are often half narrative-based and half

performance-based, but it can vary a lot from one Indie band to another. It is

conventional for Indie music videos to have some odd shots or clips that don't

illustrate the music and have a symbolic meaning or represent something. Some

arty strange aspects of Indie music videos don't represent anything and the band

felt like adding it in, for it is stereotypical for Indie artist(s) to be portrayed care free.

Bastille – Pompeii

A lot of the shots used are establishing shots and

they are completely square on and create symmetry and leading

lines.

The same theme of symmetry is used again

in this shot with the pillars. I could use these types of shots within my

music video.

A few close ups of the lead singer, Dan

Smith, adds the emotion to the video

and brings the viewer back from the narrative to the band

itself.

Throughout the music video the

locations become quite diverse as it

starts in a big urban city to wide open

landscapes in America. The

diversity of the locations could be something I use in

my video but I could also include the

diversity into any aspect of my video

too.

The Lumineers - Ho HeyDuring the whole music video the location of it doesn't change. They

stay in the same building just in different rooms

which is similar to other music videos I've viewed such as One Republic –

Counting Stars and George Ezra – Did You

Here The Rain?

One of the key themes to the video in general is

the use of lights. This theme could be useful to remember for my music

video. This particular shot seems almost

symmetrical by the sides of the door frames and the fairy lights on either

side.

The theme of lights follows in this shot as well. Also it has been

edited to be slow motion which is also a simple

editing technique I would consider using.

This long shot of the whole band creates

symmetry by the leading lines of the floor

and fools. The leading lines and symmetry makes the band the

focal point of the image. Also the lighting is very subtle yet fits with the

theme of alternative/indie.

Again, multiple light bulbs are used which adds to the theme of

man made light.

This shot of a crowd of people dancing isn't something I would

necessarily use within my music video but the lighting and smoke/fog

are factors which I would consider using.

George Ezra – Did you hear the rain?This music video in

general has very dark and minimal lighting to create its intense atmosphere which

works. From this long shot the camera

continues to zoom in.

Then cut to blurred close ups of facial features and cuts

back out to where it continues to zoom

in. This editing style is actually really

creative and could easily be adjusted to fit my music video.

George Ezra keeps direct address with the audience which adds to the tension. Also pointing to the viewer also feels like

he is speaking/singing directly to you.

The idea of repetition is used a lot in this video as

the scenery doesn't change once to the

point where it almost becomes tedious.

When standing up, it makes George Ezra look intimidating and fearful.

The extreme lighting reminds me of

Chiaroscuro as it is so intense and is the key factor that makes it

such a dark atmosphere.

One republic – Counting Stars

The dark and dingy location is how i

visualise my music video with artificial

lighting, misty/dusty air etc.

Lights are again used in another indie music

video and it is definitely a factor to

consider to use.

Diversity is used again in this music video as it conveys surreal and random

narratives which don't directly link to the music or lyrics. But I do think the

element of surrealism is

important to the indie/alternative

genre and I want to have create a very

surreal music video.

The1975 – GirlsThis video is very

different from the others I've looked at as it is very

saturated and clear. I think the idea of using

instruments in my music video could be a good

link back from the narrative and to

represent the band.

This mid shot of the lead singer is very uncommon within

the genre of alternative/indie as they usually consist more of mysterious

and surreal shot types and angles.

The use of instruments is a

common theme in this video,

highlighting the main factor that The 1975

are a band with different features.

This music video almost makes fun of the pop genre

as they purposely use typical square on shots,

bright colours and seductive women. This shot includes

many of those factors and is completely the opposite of

what I want to create.

These side on shots are to typical and don't really fit

with the genre but they have been done on purpose to almost mock the genre of

pop. They've done this because their has been

confusion to what genre The 1975 are. Either pop or

alternative. In my opinion iwould class them as alternative over pop.