Music Video Evaluation Helpsheet

Task: A three minute music video to accompany all or part of a particular track

What you are marked on for the production itself: For music video, confidence in handling technology
can be demonstrated by:
● careful framing of shots
● editing appropriate to the nature of the production and audience
● evidence of consideration being given to lighting, mise-en-scene and sound.

Evaluation: Each candidate must produce a 700– 800 word evaluation which should reflect upon:
● how the aims of the production have been met
● how the product applies appropriate codes and conventions and uses appropriate media
language
● how the product represents people, places or events
● where and when the product would be exhibited
● what regulations and controls might be applied to the product and how these have been taken
into consideration
● the strengths and weaknesses of the product in terms of meeting the needs of its audience.

There are 10 marks for the evaluation and 20 marks for the production.

Essay Plan:
Introduction:
• What did you set out to do?
• For this assignment we had to…..
• What song did you choose and who is it by?
• What genre is it?
• Who is the target audience?
 • Was the production successful? (yes, no, partially? Why? Keep this brief at this point)

Music video conventions:

● From your research, what did you discover the codes and conventions of the genre to be?
(use PEEL paras)

How did you apply conventions:

● How did your video replicate some of the conventions of your genre? (mise en scene,
camera work etc) Remember to use media terminology in this section. You should split into
mise en scene/cinematography and editing

Representation:
• How does your video represent people?
- At least 1x PEEL paras. Clothing/props/iconography/camera work.
• How does your video represent places?
- At least 1x PEEL paras. Why did you choose the locations you have and how have you
represented them?
• How does your video represent events?
- Are there narrative sections when events happen? What do they show and why?

Editing:
• What were some of the editing decisions you made and why.
– At least 2x PEEL paras
– Pace/transitions/effects/cross cutting etc

Exhibition
• Where and when would your video be shown?
– TV channel/music channel/internet/social networking (think about the impact of
new technology and the internet)
• Link this to institutions – how and why do they want the video to be shown/used.
• What regulations or controls might apply to your product?
– What can you show/say at certain times.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• 1x PEEL para on strengths
• 1x PEEL para on weaknesses
• Link these to the audience!
Your evaluation must cover all of the key areas: Media Language, Representation, Institution,
Audience.
Terminology:
Lip sync Montage Cropping Male Gaze Fan base

Direct address Uses and Gratifications Opacity Target audience Mise en Scene
Theory
Cross cut Performance Institution Genre Iconography

Narrative Filters Representation Ideology Shot types

Abstract shots Framing Transitions Audience expectation Andrew Goodwin’s theory