Conventions of a Music Video

Alex Maddison
Camera Shots
Music videos tend to include many long shots, close ups and mid shots. This is to
create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions. Also, close ups are not only
used to show emotions but to reflect the words of the song with the movement of the
lips by the artist.

The movement of the camera is used to follow and trace the artist/band. The most
popular cameras movements include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots.
Mise - en - scene
This refers to the arrangement of performers and props on stage or in a scene for a
production of a music video. Mise-en-scene puts importance on the representation of
something. An example is Jessie J, Price tag. In her music video she has lots of
money flying around , this reflects her lyrics it's not about the money as it shows
she clearly isnt bothered about the money and wishes other people feel the same.
The lighting in this music video is very bright which helps the video remain happy
despite its strong message. This is an example of mise-en-scene.
 Jump cuts is the favourite editing
technique used in most music videos.
This is because this allows a sudden
Editing change from one scene to another.
SImilarly. Transitions such as fade
and dissolve and very common in
music videos as they create different
effects to cut.
Lighting
Some music videos are black and white, like Be Alright - Kendrick Lamar, which
helps emphasise a particular mood and some videos have artificial lighting which
puts the artists in a enhanced look.
Sound:
Sound in mainly the vocals or the song but in some
cases such as again, Alright by Kendrick Lamar,
the producers can makie the music video into a
short film.
 The colour tends to set the mood of
the song through creating an
atmosphere. For example, dark
Colour colours are used more in rock songs
such as Kings of Leon and bright
colours are seen to be used more in
hip hop music videos like Rihanna's
new song, Bad Habit.