Post 3: Research pt. TWO

POST THREE: RESEARCH INTO EXISTING STUDENT MADE MUSIC VIDEOS

A2 media studies music video: High Flying Bird - If  had a gun (A Grade):

Creativity 

I feel this particular student made music video is very creative and unique in the way they have used the shots and then rewound them to look as if it its going backward. I haven't seen this kind of music video very much but I think it was really effective because it gets the audience wanting to know where it starts and combined with the choice of music, works really well.

Setting/Location

The setting of the music video seems to start in a town or a city (possibly a quite part of the town/city as we are only exposed to a busy road with not a lot of buildings or shops). However, this then changes about 37 seconds in when we see an extreme close up of a pair of shoes on sand which we assume to be a beach, which continues with the main character facing a statue. (The beach looks like the Antony Gormley Exhibition at Crosby beach). Then, the location changes again about a minute and half in to the music video when we see the character in a cemetery. then for the rest of the music video we are also exposed to a car park and another street within a city or a town. The switching of location works well because it seems like time passes quite quickly and the main character is walking far.  

Costume/Props

The main character is wearing a smart suit at the start of the music video. As we continue through the video though we see the main character gradually taking off his clothes, starting with his jacket, to tie, then shirt and towards the end then putting on a coat as we see an introduction to another character and the plot becomes clearer.

Mix of narrative/performance 

There is a only a limited amount of characters in this particular music therefore we are not exposed to a key part of the story/theme until the end. I think this only builds up the suspense as the audience wants to know where he starts. Finally, we see that the main character was walking away his friend/girlfriend perhaps being injured or dead.

Editing, camera shots, angles and composition 

There is wide use of camera shots from this music video ranging from wide shot, pan shot, close up, extreme close up and many more. I like the wide angle shot they used throughout as it was effective and works well with this backwards idea, combined with other close-ups. All of these camera angles and shots help to give the viewers a sense of the emotions and feelings that are happening. The composition of most of the shots are in the centre frame - (the main character is in the centre of the shot making him and his actions the main focus). I like the wide angle shot they used as it was effective and works well with this backwards idea, combined with other close-ups.

What you liked/didn't like

Overall, I thought this particular music video was very clever in terms of how it was made and how it has been edited. For example, the use of rewinding scenes makes it look very well presented and intriguing as each scene is not dull. However, for me I would of personally tried to explain the story more as I did not get it straight away.

A2 Media Studies Music Video: The 1975 - Girls 

Creativity

This student made music video is rather unique and individual. The music video shows a female and a male getting ready to go out, possibly a date as this is what it looks like with one another. As we seem them preparing themselves for their dates, they are both miming the song in the process. We then see them both sat a table however, not together, in each shot they are separate shots. towards the end of the video we find out that actually both of the characters are in fact homosexual and they've gone on separate dates with different people. this idea is not commonly seen in music videos, in the past it would not have been acceptable due to the negative stereotypes around homosexuality. the idea/theme of this music video may be to show how times and eaters have changed. 

Setting/Location

This music video is mainly filmed in the two main characters houses - possibly their own rooms - it shows a female in her bathroom putting make up on and doing her hair, and the male is shaving in the bathroom and then checking himself in the mirror in supposedly his bedroom. this is a very realistic setting for the story that is being represented. the other location is in a restaurant in which both characters eat at separately. There is nobody else in the restaurant other than those two couples - to me this process does not look/feel realistic as there are normally a lot of other people in a restaurant. 

Costume/Props

The props within this music video are minimal and basic. We see the applying makeup in the mirror which gives us the impression that she is a typical teenage girl who is preparing f2or a date. The boy has the equivalent amount of props such as a razor, deodorant and headphones, typically what a man needs to prepare for a date. The others props that are used are food and cutlery at the restaurant as they eat which is typical for a romantic date. The costumes both characters are wearing very typical of tow teenagers who are attending a date.

 Mix of narrative and performance

There is a mix of narrative and performance however it was very merged together. Within the music video there is singing/miming going on from both characters. however, they are not doing this throughout the whole video, in some parts they are just getting ready.

Editing, camera shots, angles and composition 

The video uses a wide range of different clips which ultimately pieces the video together, making it a very good music video. I understand this is due to the good editing used within the video.

 
What you liked/didn't like

In this particular student made music video, I personally liked the storyline and the twist that appeared at the end, as no one including myself did not expect it. I thought the two characters were going on a date together which I thought was very fake and stereotypical however, I admired the surprising change/twist at the end. Although, I personally thought the miming and singing was good however it did look a bit fake and dramatic in certain scenes. 

A2 Media Studies Music Video: Twenty One Pilots - Polarize

Creativity 

this student made music video is quite simple in terms of the location and props but very effective and good in terms of the editing and skills used. The creative element is that it is a black an white edited shots and when he puts his beanie hat on and the color changes back to normal, however when he then takes it off again, it goes back to black and white. It is a very simple music video but very well put together and looks very professional in my personal opinion. 

Setting/Location

The location where the music video is set appears to be in a town or a city. However, we also see a quite park with the character walking along  pathway, and at one point in the video we see the character walk into a corner shop. the locations are rather basic but fit extremely well with the theme and idea of the music video. Moreover, the video is focusing on the him (the character) not the location he is in. 

Costume/props

The props used within this music video are very basic and simple. The character buys an orange juice from the corner shop which he eventually throws it on the floor and litters. He also has a spray can of graffiti and sprays on a  tree. At the end of the video there is the added props such as the drum kit and microphone which he performs to a new character. the character is wearing very simple and casual clothes with makes him look like an 'ordinary' person. 

Mix of narrative and performance 

In this music video the performer and singer is also the person who is the main character in the story behind it all. In most of the scenes, he is telling the story and signing, however, there are a few scenes where he stops singing and just acts out the story. i think this is very effective as if he mimed the whole thing , it may look a little over dramatic. At the end there is an additional person who joins, who happens to play the drums whilst singing in a park indicating that he's part of a band - possibly the same as the main character. 

Editing, camera shots, angles and composition

In this video to begin with there is a lot of slow motion used which makes the video feel a lot more dramatic and emotional/ there are lots of scenes where the character sings directly into the camera in a close up shot. This shows us the emotion on his face. Near the end, the editing becomes more advanced and skilled, there are scenes where he completely dissolves and erases objects with his hands, which is extremely clever and advanced. 

What you liked/didn't like 

Overall, i liked this music video very much, as i thought it was well edited. Moreover, i also admired the creativity behind the hat, when he had the hat on the viewers see the color, whereas when he takes the hat off the viewer is then exposed to black and white. It tells us that he feels more comfortable and relaxed when he has the hat on. i also think the miming was very good throughout the whole music video, in comparison to many other student made music videos. 

Daisy Gilbert