How are music videos changing?

Music videos are changing by being more free in the sense that bands help with the ideas and are creatively free. Videos are becoming more 'art-orientated' and 'ad-friendly'. The factors that have bought around these changes are firstly the budget. The budgets for music videos has gone down so they don't spend as much money as they used to. Another factor is that MTV devoting no air time (until your famous enough) to videos but people posting loads on Youtube or other music blogs instead. The digital revolution is another big factor as technology has obviously changed dramatically over the past 20-30 years. This goes for the music industry with new and better directors gradually climbing ladders t be the best and over time things change. For example 'Vincent Moon' shooting videos in one take saving money and slashing budgets This also relates to bands changing their directors to get different effects and save money. Alot of bands have been involved with vincent moons way of doing things including BLACK CAB SESSIONS which sees bands sitting in cab's playing their sings live and accoustically. Alot of these types of videos get alot of publicity on sites like youtube, helping to advertise such bands as Grizzy Bear, Maximo Park, Little Boots etc.

lighting (key back etc)

Fill light- This light connotes day time in a slightly surreal way as most of the time there are no shadows.

Backlight-This back light connotes this girl to be anglic and almost mysterious. Sometimes it shows them as herioc and important. In this case however, it seems to innocent.

Keylight- This lighting connotes a silhouette effect creating an important feel and dragging your eye to the main thing (oranges).

cinematography

Music videos use cinematography to create an atmosphere and a meaning by varying camera angles and movement depending on the mood they want to set.

In the fire starter video by The Prodigy, They use tilt as just one example of cinematography. They use tilt alot at the end when the instrumental enters and the music climaxes. This is to portray the front man and main person in the music as crazy. This relates to the lyrics also when he sings 'twisted fire starter'. Tracking is another device used. As the camera tracks out the frontman almost runs away from the camera, however, when the camera tracks foward the singer tracks forward towards the audience. This is to show slight confusion and panic in him as if he is running away mimicing the camera but when he comes foward, it creates a scary atmosphere as if he is there with you which you associate with excitement, energy and fear. At the start of the video it is steadycam so it can build up excitement for the 'explsion' of camera angles at the end. The variation of close-ups is done so that you can see the emotions on his face, panic, excitement etc. so you kind of feel how he feels. As this video is not only in black and white but is broken so it looks like an old movie and it's set in a tunnel and wrestling ring which also stresses fear and panic. i really liked this video because of the craziness

the conventions of music videos

Music videos are alot more complex than i thought in a sense that they use many different conventions. Usually the conventions fit in with the genre for example, if the video was for a heavy rock or metal band then the video is more likely to be made in a dark lighting in the setting of a warehouse or similar room or setting. The cimematography in a heavy rock music video is also likely to be more simple with close-ups of instruments and panning out to see the whole band which will more than likely be on the screen most of the time. Some are weaved with narrative to fit in with the mood and lyrics but most are more plain. However i personally feel that the cuts and changes in cuts made, tend to be a bit slower, making the videos seem slightly longer than other genres of a music video.

On the other hand, in (for example) an R and B music video, Things seem to be clearer. They use alot of mise on scene in their videos, if a girl was wearing skimpy clothes and dancing in a crude manner, it would be very typical as the storyline is usually about "gettin' sexy girls". The cinematography is a little more complicated with more camera angles being used in general to see what's put on the screen. More close-ups, extreme close-ups etc, but less promoting of the band or singer. More editing, more cuts and changes of scenery and the lighting is varied alot more.

jorgina stebbings' blog

hi i'm jorgina,
i'm doing a creative and media course and Norwich college, CNS and Hewitt. This blog is for posting video projects. My work will be assessed through this blog.