CONVENTIONS OF MUSIC VIDEOS

By Fahrin Sultana

What is a music video?

A music video is a short piece of film, not necessarily a story but it can be focused on a particular person being filmed and this is matched with a song. The aim behind this is

mostly for promotional purposes. For example, a new artist wants to sell their music. The purpose of the video is to aid in advertising their music. There are different styles they can do so in. For example, narrative so it has a storyline. It can be animated, so it doesn’t have to have people in the actual video. It can be creative, such a point of view, which is sort of like you are watching it through the eyes of the singer and it’s giving the impression of it

being live.

The Music Aspect in a Music VideoObviously the music overlapping the video is the main reason behind the initial reasons for creating this film. If there was no music it wouldn’t be classed as a music video. The artist or director can chose how they wish to interpret the music and how they wish audience to see it. For example, they may wish to abide by the lyrics and create a story. Or they may even go completely against the lyrics in the song and create something abstract which can also work if done successfully.

Editing is CrucialEditing can be classed as the ‘edgy’ part to a music video. It seems very technical and can be time consuming. It can take a company many hours to finally master their skills and create something successful. Editing involves matching the music to the video. This can involve cuts to overwrite the barriers between incomplete pieces in the video. Jump cuts allow the lyrics to match the artist who is singing. Especially if they wish to lip-synch their video.

Considering Mise en SceneA very fancy word which summaries the crucial ‘elements’ which make a successful video. When considering how to intertwine Mis En Scene you are basically considering the following factors -Location (depends on your aims and intentions and how you want your video to come across. Budgeting can also impact on this)-Costume (depends on the genre and once again your intention behind the piece. For example does the outfit connote a certain meaning)-Props/Setting (can depend on your aims an intentions, some videos can simply be just the artist alone, but then that would involve some thought given to the simplistic nature of the setting)