Theories: Carol Vernailis

MTV style editing:
Many functions
-Change rapidly, no one element must gain the upper hand.
-Keeps us in the present moment eg. Stop us focusing on the image over the music and the music over the image or the narrative over the star and the star over the narrative.
This has montage editing and some continuity editing.
pop

Theories: Bordwell & Thompson's Theory 2001

Graphic Match: shots link together by graphic similarities.

Graphic Continuity: point of interest remaining constant through cuts, maintaining a colour theme, same lighting levels, avoiding strong colour clashes.

Graphic Discontinuity: Plays around with juxtaposition, contrasts in colour, contrast in footage type, contrast in movement and stillness. This is commonly used in faster paced music.

Rhythmic:

Shots stay the same length- steady metrical beat

Shots which lengthen steadily

Shots which get shorter and shorter in length

Longer shots

Rapid series of quick shots

Spatial:

Continuity: establishing shot

The 'Kleshow Effect': no establishing shot, one location- connective relationship

Crosscutting: parallel editing- action taking place at the same time but in different locations

Temporal:

Order: order the events are, manipulated- story/ plot change to interrupt normal order of time

Duration: events that take place in the story can be altered through the use of ellipses (event presented in less screen time than it would be in reality)

Frequency: in continuity editing, an event happening tends only to occur once. If the event is repeated it can become a powerful way of building tension and audience expectation

Theories: Andrew goodwin

Illustration: Always cuts on the beat, image illustrates the literal meaning of the lyrics (often with band singing and dancing), band image- singing- dancing- playing instrument- dresses as would be expected.

Amplification: Cuts to beat and off the beat to emphasize features (changes in music), image amplifies lyrics and a narrative may be used that wouldn't be picked up from the lyrics alone (more of an interpretation), band takes on fictional role in narrative.

-'This Ain't A love Song' is a good example of this. The body language shows the concept and there are quite a few stories and emotions shown.

Disjuncture: Music cuts off the beat sometimes (this is a sign of a badly made music video), images that don't relate to lyrics and sometimes well established bands do this and can afford to take the risk, band takes on image that is nothing like or the opposite of their expected image. For example, the lead singer of Texas dresses up as Elvis.

Daft Punk, 'Da Funk' is a good example of this (director Spike Jonze).

Brief

I have been set the task of setting up and producing a music video on any genre of my choosing. The people that I will be working with are Todd Carter and James Simpson.

Conventions of a music video

The conventions of music videos are:

-Quick cuts to next shots

-Actions of people correspond to the beat of the music

-Cuts correspond to the beat of the music

-Longshots of the group performing/ dancing

-Cuts to the band/ artist playing for authenticity

-Lip synching, again for authenticity

-Close ups of artists

-Some exaggerated imagery

-Shows a concept

-Uses montage editing (opposite to continuity editing)

-Concert footage

-Eye contact between the artist and the audience

-Will suit the genre

-Will refer to the lyrics

-Moving camera

-Makes it clear if it is a group of a solo artist

-Approximately 3-4 minutes long

-Narrative -representation of lyrics through emotions and feelings rather than telling a story (Binary Oppositions)

Analysing the Caesars: Jerk It Out

1: Jerk It Out, by the Caesars
2: This was in the album Love For The Streets
3:
4: The song is about having fun and being happy with everything and nothing can make you go into a low
5: The content of this video is people on stage, performing, it shows them in a car, it is a very simple video with a couple of location switches

6: The video has no plot, only a car moving through different locations possibly showing them getting to the different places where they are performing

7: This is a performance video
8: There is lack of connection between thelyrics of the song and the video as nothing acts out the lyrics, the shots of when they are in the car may possibly show some relevance to the lyrics
9: The target audience for this video would be teenagers up to people in their late twenties. Both genders and more or less all ethnicities
10: We meet the band in the video along with people around them, dancing

11: The video has different locations, outside, inside in a car, on a road

12: There is a very happy atmosphere in this video

13: What draws my attention to the video the most is the music, the different shots used (like the ones on the car) and the atmosphere that comes through
14: The video portrais a good, fun identity to the band and it shows that they are popular
15: The combination of lyrics, music and video work quite well together as it shows people enjoying themselves and it is overall happy

Analysing ABBA: Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie!

1: Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie!
2:
3:
4: The song is about wanting a man and not getting lonely but there is no-one out there
5: The video shows production of the music on the sound desk and recordings they made. It also shows performance

6: There is a plot in that it is about music production (showimg how they produced this song)
7: This is a slight performance style video as it shows them recording the video but not really performing the music to anyone, live

8: There is no obvious connection between the lyrics and the video as the lyrics are about wanting someone and the video shows the production of the music
9: The target audience for this video is people in their 40's or 50's

10: We meet the group and producers in this video
11: The video takes place in a recording studio, inside
12: There is a happy, calm atmosphere in theis video

13: The clips of the production of the music and the music itself draws my attention to the video14: The video shows a calm, happy identity to the group
15: The combination of everything in this music video is good as it is very interesting because it shows them mixing and producing their music

Analysing Queen: Killer Queen

1: Queen: Killer

Queen

2: This is part of the album: Sheer Heart Attack3:4: The song is about a very expensive prostitute, (femme fatale/ siren)
5: The content of the video is the lip synching/ singing of Freddie Mercury, the different shots of the band playing with other shots of their instruments, but focuses on Freddie Mercury (who is the lead singer). It shows each band member playing and also singing. It shows Freddie performing with the band on a stage

6: There is a plot in the lyrics, like in many Queen songs, but the video only shows the performance side of it. It is most certainly a concert video

7: There is a connection between the lyrics and the video as Freddie acts/ shows emotions of the person mentioned in the lyrics (the prostitute)

8: The target audience for the video is, (now) people in their 20's up to 50's/ 60's as this is one of the classic Queen songs and music videos
9: The only people we meet in the video are the band performing
10: The video takes place inside, in a large room or hall

11: The atmosphere created is a strong (sultry possibly/ mischievious)
12: The music draws my attention, along with the shots of the group with their instruments

13: The video gives the group an identity where they are passionate about their songs and they will wear whatever suits their songs

14: I think that the combination works well with the lyrics and video

Analysis of Basshunter: I Can Walk On Water

1: Basshunter: I Can Walk On Water
2: 'I Can Walk On Water' is from the album 'Now You're Gone'
3:
4: The song is about not giving up and not fearing anything ever again
5: The video shows the artist, Basshunter, on a stage, singing/ lip synching the lyrics to his song. It is shown to be in a club and it shows many people in the club dancing to the music. It looks very lively and there are many flashes of coloured light

6: The video shows where the artist has been and it shows him around lots of people. Most of the vid eo, however, does not seem to have a plot. It shows the artist performing on stage

7: This is a performance video as it shows the artist performing/ lip synching on a stage infront of many people8: There is very little connection between the lyrics and the video. This may be because the music is mainly about dancing in a club like style
9: The target audience for this video would be teenagers who like going out clubbing, especially, because it is very repetitive, faced paced and has a strong beat
10: The video only focuses on the artist, Basshunter
11: The video takes place inside, in a club

12: There is an intense, club-like atmosphere in the video. It conveys excitement
13: For me, the music and the strong atmosphere that comes through draws my attention
14: The artist is shown to have a fun, DJ type identity where he is at the front, giving the music

15: The music and video go together well as it is lively. The lyrics, however, have less to do with these although the upbeat music and the artist's facial expression could portray what the lyrics mean

Analysis of Cascada: Everytime We Touch

1: Cascada: Everytime We Touch
2: This is from the album 'Everytime We Touch' (February 21 2006)
3: The director is Max Nichols
4: The song is about a girl who wants this man. She wants her relationship with this man to last and that she has been through a lot with him

5: The video shows a slight narrative with what is going on between herself and a certain man. There are many quick cuts to different shots of everyone dancing. 'Cascada' is seen performing in different areas and it shows her lip synching. There are different locations where the concept and performance are shown

6: There is a plot to the video, she goes to a library, almost intimidating this librarian, who she wants. She keeps on messing small things up. She apologises and he forgives her. They eventually walk away together

7: This is a performance and narrative video as it clearly shows her wanting this man through singing and the concept

8: There is a strong connection between the video and lyrics and both are about wanting someone and not letting them go
9: The audience for this would be older teenagers and both genders as the concept shows more of a connection with younger people10: In the video, we meet peo

ple such as the peple in the library, the librarian and Cascada and the main focus is on the librarian but mostly on the artist, Cascada

11: The location is inside, in a library

12: The atmosphere is intense, dancey/ exiting atmosphere

13: The dance-like feel to the music draws me in along with the flashing shots constantly there
14: This video portrays a very upfront identity to the artist

15: Everything works together in this music video as you would expect it to. It makes sure that there is a connection between everything as well as including interesting shots of slightly differing situations (dancing scenes)