Music Video Codes and Conventions

Codes and Conventions of a Music Video

Researching Music Videos

The Script - For The First Time

Golden hour at the beginning of the video. The video starts off with dialogue and no music. We are looking at it from the woman’s perspective, she is also narrating the beginning of the video.

There is also the use of lens flare which is an example of diegetic lighting. She looks very casual as if she has just woken up due to her creased top and messy hair.

 

There are also a lot of close ups used, as soon as the woman stops talking the music begins to kick in.

The music video contains linear narrative but also contains elements of performance which is in black and white. The first band member to be introduced is the lead singer who is well lit from one side of his face, presenting hard lighting.

 

This is an example of pulled focus which is used to keep our attention on the lead singer.

An example of non-diegtic lighting used when the band are seen performing which leads us into the more realistic narrative part of the video.

 Showing more than one band member in shot whilst both are playing (one band member playing guitar and the other singing). It is also more focused on the lead singer rather than the guitar player.

 

Another example of diegtic light and lens flare. It is very natural and bright which possibly contrasts with the other part of the video where we see the band performing as it is very dark and has a lot of hard, non-diegtic lighting.

 

An example of layering, hides the identity of the characters and can potentially make it more mysterious.

 

Shows the location of New York which people can perhaps relate to and everyone knows where it is.

  

Here is an example of non-diegetic lighting which has been used to create shadows, this makes it more mysterious and hides the identity of the band member.

 

Here is another example of the golden hour, which then creates a sun flare, this is used a lot within the video.

 Although I couldn’t capture it with a print screen there was a use of slow motion from the lead singer in the back ground who is very well lit, signifying that he is the main focus of the band, he is also in focus whereas the guitar player is not.