BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Task A.6: Music Video Styles and Conventions

Viewing Notes
Style/Na
Title,
Editing
Genr rrative
Camera
Locati
Artist
Lighting
Techniq
e
Structur
Angles
on
& Year
ues
e

Props

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Give into
Me
Michael
Jackson
(1991)

Pop

As Live

Only lighting
used is the set
for the concert.
Light only on
stage sole
focus on
Michael.
Crowd can have
a connection
with the
performers as
they can see
them in person.

Guitar playing from

a member of the
Guns N' Roses
(Slash).
Filmed during
rehearsals for the
Dangerous World
Tour of 1992-1993.

Simple, for
so basic
editing
creates a
bigger
atmosphere
.

Greater
effect the
Angles used are both effect on
closed ups and also the
viewers.
mid/ long shots.
Woman and man
An insight
together in some
to a
scenes.
concert,
help people
This can be
see Michael
interpreted as the
girl in whom Michael Jackson
live.
sings about in the
song.

Concert
hall
One
scene
can be
used for
this
particular
video, it
is
performa
nce

Main
propsmusical
equipment
.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Leave Me Pop
Alone Michael
Jackson
(1987)

Animation

Lots of scenes in Mid and wide shots

video.
throughout.
Michael goes
through head,
and is quite
dark.
When outside
scenery is very
bright.
Relates back to
underlying
message of
song.
Lighting used
sparingly in
video helps with
focus- necessary
in some shots.

Viewers can see

everything, which is
being referred to.
Tabloid shot.
Jackson makes
shrine for Liz.
Relates to Michaelhe goes through
shrine'.

Graphical
to general
editing.

No set
locationlot of
scene
Lots of slow changes
motion and in the
jump cuts
song.
in video.
Video
Shows
starts in
different
a trailer things in
finishes
video, can on a land
be related plain.
back to
synopsis of Changes
video.
of scenewatchers
will be
kept
more
intereste
d: variety.

Only
proplittle
rocket in
(funfair).
Shows
travelling
through
Michaels
mind.
Treated as
a jokeMichael.
Its a
metaphor.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Thriller
Michael
Jackson
(1982)

Pop

Narrative

Dark due to the

eerie of video.
Scarier
atmosphere in
the videoapprehensive

Long, mid and wide

shots- basic camera
angles.
Cover most of what
needs to be shown.

There are close ups

Narrative of
on zombies, zombie
video horror
Michael and female
film- is intended in video- show the
to be effect.
emotions and
expressions of the
Lighting not a
subjects.
priority in videofor atmospheric
purposes.

Jump cuts
for
changing of
scenes in
video.
Cuts very
subtle so
isnt too
much
change.
Viewers
dont lose
the plot of
video.

Lots of
locations
are
video, as
is a short
film.
Arent as
many
scenes as
you
would
expect in
a feature
film.

This
Creation of video,
atmosphere are only
, when
4 scenes.
changes
happen,
Cinema,
some jump the
scare or
graveyar
furthering
d, the
atmospheri house,
c build up. and
street

Arent
any
props
used in
video- all
down to
dancing.
Main
characters
, no props.
At start of
video,
werewolf
Michael.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

(first
encounte
r the
zombies).

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

They
Pop
Dont
Care
About Us
Michael
Jackson
(1996)

Homage

Video is
Mid and long shots.
naturally lightis set outside.
Aerial shot of the
Christ the Redeemer
Set in Brazil, is
statue Rio, Brazil.
extremely
bright- hot
Mid and long shots
country all year down to reason that
round.
video is to show
Brazilian people in
The general
the slums of Rio.
infrastructure in
the video is
white as this is a
good colour to
refract light,
thus making the
video lighter
also.

Jumping
cuts and
scene cuts
as video
isnt based
on much
but
message of
the song.
Keeps an
eye on
footage.
Adds
emotion to
viewers as
it keeps
focus
people in
Brazil.
Shows the
harsh
reality of
their lives,
which

Different
views of
Rio.

Props used
in video, is
drums
which
Viewers
extras use
can get
in the
an insight video.
of Rio
which
No major
isnt
props as
touristic. video is to
show
Shows
people of
the harsh Rio- props
reality of would
poverty
make
in Rio.
artificial.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

doesnt get
shown
normally.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Rememb
er The
Time
Michael
Jackson
(1991)

Pop

Reference

Light- Ancient
Egypt- Egypt is
hot country.
Lighting keyvideo gives a
natural feel.
Little fires
throughout set
to further
lighting and
keep authentic.

Long, mid, wide and Basic jump

close ups-show all in cuts
scene/s.
through
scenes-full
Close ups to the
focus
talking (singing in
towards
this).
actual
storyline.
Mid/long shots
during the dance
routines.
Basic
cinematogr
aphysimple too
much
editing can
become
confusing.

Set in
Ancient
Egyptian
area.
4
locations
in the
whole
video.

Lots of
props-is a
short film.
Weapons
held by
soldiers in
the video.

Not many
props are
in useMain hall, large trend
corridor, in Michael
market
Jacksons
and the
videos are
royal
dance
chambers routines.
.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Billie Jean Pop

Michael
Jackson
(1982)

Interpretiv Lighting in video Aerial, long, and mid

e
follows Michael - shots.
tiles on the floor
Shows the full photo
The video is set of the video.
at night; the
focus is on
Showing everything
Michaels.
in mid and long
shots, the viewer
Lighting coming can see different
from Michael
elements of video
shows he is sole and make own
for narrative.
judgement of
meaning.

Adds
suspense
to video
throughout
storyline.
The buildup of the
effects
show the
video
unfolds.
End of the
video,
there is
aerial shot
of Michaels
light
travelling
throughout
street.
Shows
ending of
video is
unknown.

Street
and
hotel.
Minimal
location
add
drama as
make a
lot of
atmosph
ere from
little that
is used in
video.
Keep a
basic and
good
storyline
towards
the
viewers.

No props
used in
video-is all
sets and
dancing.
Lack of
props
keeps
video very
simple.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Like a
Pop
Prayer
Madonna
(1989)

Surreal

Lighting is
mainly dark
therefore only
provided by
certain
elements.
Spotlights used
and make singer
main centre of
attention.
Lighting is dark
due to fitting the
general aura of
song.
Candles also
used and shows
the authenticity
of video, lighting
is not essential.

Close up, mid shots,

establishing shots
and long shots are
used in the video.
Shows emotion of
characters
relationship.

Editing is
extremely
limited in
the video.

Locations
are
outside
the
church,
Slow
inside
motion
church
used when and also
Madonna is outside in
flung into
some
the air.
sort of
alleyway.
Surreal
editing also The
of the
inside of
video,
the
when
church
Madonna
also turns
picks up
into the
dagger on police
the floor
station.
and her
hands have
holes in the
palms.

Props
relate to
the idea of
God
Furthered
through
use of
choir in
church.
Police
used
handcuffs
and use
this on the
Jesus
also when
believe he
stabbed
Madonna.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

In the
Closet
Michael
Jackson
(1992)

Pop

Influence
Light as is all set
of
outside.
Commercia
l
Michael and Tyra
are by tree and
buildings,
shadows in the
video.
This overall
makes video
natural: a
balance of light
and dark.

Camera tilts,
zoom/reverse
zooms, long wide
shots and also close
ups.

Basic
scene/
jump cuts
used in
video.

Used in commercial
senses as it show off
people and the
locations in video.

Keeps
centre of
control
which is
good for
purpose of
video as is
to sell the
artist
mainly.

Large influence of
commercial you
would normally
expect to see this in
a perfume advert.

Location
is a
desert.

Backing
dancers
used in
video
Small
which
amounts contribute
of
to the
agricultur overall
e in
video.
video.
Focus is
Lack of
definitely
backgrou on Michael
nd
and Tyra.
centres
Michael
and
Tyras
dancing.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

We Made Rap/
You
HipEminem Hop
(2009)

Pastache

Light is very
normal for
setting;
therefore isnt
much difference
in lighting
compared to
average video.

Long shots, mid

shots and close ups
throughout the
video.

Very much
heavy due
to fact
video has a
lot of
graphics.

This is
not
general
outdoors
locations,
Due to fact that this
but made
video is show full
ones as
scenes.
Video is
the video
showy and is all
Some of lighting Some of close ups
OTT as sole sets.
is dark.
show Eminem
purpose is
rapping- whole focus to take the
For example
on these sections is micky out
when Eminem
to show him.
of the
and an actor are
people.
in a car.

Lots of
props used
in video
for all sets.
Range
from
furniture
to cars.
Extravaga
nt as
possible.
Shows
how good
the video
is and
artist as it
sells to
TGM.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video

Sorry Pop
Justin
Bieber
Parody by
Bart
Baker
(2015)

Parody

Rigs are used.

Has lots of wide

shots-are used also
with individual
Lighting equal in dancers.
video so that
everything
Establishing shots,
balanced.
show the differences
and similarities
between the
dancers.
Version of Justin
Bieber in the video,
but Bieber isnt in
the actual video.

Jump cuts
are used in
video.
Bieber is
killed with
lightsaber
and head is
on floor as
he sings/
talking
towards
camera.
Exaggerati
on of
Bieber is
made as it
is to take
the mick
out of him.

Setting is
supposed
to be as
similar to
original
as
possible.

Prop of
lightsabre
in videoused to kill
the fake
Bieber.

Only prop
The
which is
location
used. Also
for video a sign is
is studio. held up at
the start
Only
of the
location
video, just
is basic
like
backdrop original.
from
studio
perspecti
ve.
Focuses
on
dancers
rather
than
scenes.

BTEC Level 3 Creative & Media (TV & Film) Research

Film Making - Music Video