Previous Students Work

To see what makes or breaks a student music video I took a look at one of the music videos produced last year and analysed it in comparison with the mark scheme which will be used to critique my work, this will allow me to gain some interesting ideas and tips on how to approach my music video to the highest possible standard.

Below I have linked the video, mark scheme and my analysis of the video.

Holding a shot steady:

All the shots in this video are perfectly still and steady during all of the performance, in the narrative there is some wobbling whilst tracking the working man and when the lift breaks down however this clearly symbolically represents the stress and chaos he is experiencing in his day to day life.

Framing a shot:

Most shots have clear consideration for effect on the audience, there are many facial closeups of the working man of the narrative to emphasise his stress, the rule of thirds is used effectively here when he is in the lift to draw the focus onto the struggle of his life.

Variety of shot distances:

Throughout the video facial closeups are used on the performers to make it appear more personal appearing as direct audience address, some shots are big closeups of the performers mouth suggesting their lack of identity reflecting the themes of the song, this helps to break the fourth wall between audience and performer.

Appropriate to task:

The continuity of this music video is excellent flowing seamlessly between narrative and performance successfully conveying a story. The use of green screening and color correction is so precise that this looks like a clean polished and professional product especially with the shot of closeup of four lips each in different, vibrant colours conventional to the reggae genre.

Mise-en-scene selection:

The street jacket of the lead singer helps to consolidate the star image of the rap/reggae genre. The darker, moody shots of the suited man in the lift suggests his mundane and repetitive working lifestyle and society whilst music is presented as a creative escape with the bright colored background and upbeat, positive performance.

Editing for meaning:

There is a good even split between narrative and performance but this still allows for a clear story to undergo proffered reading by the audience. This use of amplification through the narrative is clear when the suited man exists the lift onto the sunny beach, this is in time with the softer vocals and stripped down instrumentals reflecting his lapse from stress to relaxation.

Shot Transitions:

Most if not all of the transitions are similar cuts, however this helps increase the pace and suits a more upbeat tone. Many shots are in time with the music for example the last trumpet note is always followed by a cut to another performer in the performance section of the video drawing focus to its unique and positive sound.

Sound with images:

The lip syncing and performance is perfectly timed with the music and you can even see the passion of the performers as if they actually were singing it, as before stated the cuts are in time with the music especially the trumpet, and the gentle backing vocals of the woman is complimented by extreme closeups of lips suggesting her lighthearted and friendly nature showing a clear relationship between sound and image.