Tuesday 4 October 2011

Music Video Style

Camerawork
- Has a significant impact upon meaning.
- Camera movement, angle, shot type and shot distance all need to be analysed.
- Camera movement can accompany the movement of performers in order to create a more dynamic stage performance and to reflect energy, for example, constantly circling the band as they perform may reflect the high energy of a rock band.

Editing
- Fast-cut discontinuity montage editing is the most common form associated with music video and ensures multiple viewing.
- However, some use slow pace and gentler transitions to establish mood and tone, i.e slow-tempo acoustic tracks and ballads.
 
Radiohead's 'Street Spirit' (dir. Jonathon Glazer)


Digital Effects
- Digital effects are often used to enhance the editing in music videos, as opposed to creating the illusion of reality which is commonly evident in cinema.  
- They play with the original images to offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience. (see 'Street Spirit' above.)

The Close-Up predominates
- Creates a sense of intimacy for the viewer.
- Emphasises the commodity on sale (the artist, song and particularly - the voice).
- John Stewart (of Oil Factory) views music video as essentially having the 'aesthetics of the TV commercial', with lots of close-ups and cinematography techniques (i.e lighting) used most prominently for emphasis on the star's face.

A close-up of Radiohead's vocalist Thom Yorke from 'No Suprises' (dir. Grant Gee) presents half of the artists face captured in key light (used by photographers/cinematographers) to highlight the form and dimension of the star. The other half of his face is almost silhouette-like, complimenting the melancholy mood of the video whilst also linking to the haunting grain of Yorke's voice, emphasising the commodity being promoted.



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