Conventions - Music Videos
COMPLETE
Whilst researching Alternative Music Videos I have found many different conventions that are repeated in most of the Music Videos that I have researched that I plan to include in my own music video:
- Most alternative music videos include both performance and narrative elements of their music videos, for example most alternative music videos will feature the band playing or the artist lip-syncing (often while making direct mode of address with the audience). As well as this most alternative music videos follow a storyline and a narrative to make their videos more engaging with their audiences.
- This is a convention that I will uphold in my own alternative music video, I plan to have lots of shots of my 'artist' lip-syncing along to the song whilst holding direct address as this is something that I have found many alternative music videos do. Along with this another convention that I have found of typical alternative music videos is to use extreme or close up shots on the artist. This is a convention that I have found being used in a variety of music videos and I also plan to use.
- Many of the music videos I researched also used an extreme close up shot whilst showing the artist lip-syncing which is a convention I will uphold. Using this convention in my own music video will engage and connect with my audience (16-25 year olds and young adults). As this convention of using an extreme close up shot paired with shots of my artist lip-syncing is a recognisable and memorable convention as well as this the lip-syncing and direct address can create a memorable connection with the audience, engaging them further and driving the audience to support my 'artist' and engage with all of their content therefore promoting them better.
- Although using instruments and including a band performing in music videos is also a widely used convention of alternative music videos I plan on challenging this convention through my music video by only showing my 'artist' lip-syncing - as I plan to represent my artist as a talented and skilled vocalist in my music video as well as an enthusiastic and passionate performer - focusing on the vocal talent of my artist making my artist look engaging and appealing to the audience, and I believe that upholding the convention of having my artist lip-syncing better affirms how I would like to represent my artist in my music video.
- Alternative music videos also include a wide variety of camera shots and angles in the videos. For example in many music videos that I researched they typically included lots of wide angle shots (that were used to establish the setting for the music videos) as well as tracking shots. High/Low angle shots are also conventionally incorporated into the alternative music videos which are used to better convey ideas for the narrative.
- I plan to uphold this convention and use different camera angles and shots to help communicate my narrative in my music video so that overall my music video can be both narrative based and performance based. With the performance elements coming from the lip-syncing in my music video and the narrative elements stemming from my controlled use of different camera angles and hots, for example a low angle shot of my artist that places the audience beneath the audience - idolising and making them more desirable for the audience. This engages the audience and makes them look up to the artist even physically looking up to the artist. Which will appeal to my 16-25 year old audience and is a convention I will definitely uphold in my own final project.
- Another convention I will uphold will be to have careful and intentional use of mine en scene (costume, set, hair, makeup, props, location). This is another convention of alternative music videos that I have found during my research looking into alternative music videos. Many of the videos I looked at included carefully thought out use of mine en scene using colour for example to encode their messaging and representation for the artist featured in the music video. For example the use of white costume and the colour white being used in general in one music video to make the artist look ethereal and angelic, having the audience romanticise and idolise the artist making them look desirable and angelic.
This is a convention I will definitely uphold, making sure that I have used colour and mine en scene effectively in my music video which will further promote my artist and further engage my ABC1, 16-25 year old demographic.
- During my research, looking at alternative music videos I also discovered that many alternative music videos use lighting to encode their messaging of the music video as well as proper editing that fits the overall tone of the music video, with the editing matching the beats and pace of the music video. This will also be upheld in my music video. Alternative music videos typically also use a myriad of different special effects that are added into the music video in post - production and editing. Some of the alternative music videos I looked at had included lots of special effects and editing to give the music videos a hazy 'dream like' quality to them which I want to include in my own music video. Special effects and editing will further engage my audience who could be interested by the style of editing the the stylistic choices made in post - production which will entice them further with my artist and create a connection with my audience.
