Kings of Leon - use somebody

Kings of Leon are a band which have a typical rock image, using dark colours and showing their rebelliousness through the use of dark clothing and showing images of the band smoking which also adds to their rock image.

There is a lot of camera movement used through out this video making it seem more exciting to watch. For example many tracking shots using a dolly as well as zooming and reverse zooming. This creates interesting and different angles to watch such as the high angle shots looking down at the city below. A low angle shot is also used a few times through in the video suggesting that the band are superior and should be admired. The footage is mostly filmed at night reinforcing the rock image of dark colours but using the bright lights of the city to make it more appealing to the audience. Many of the shots which are not filmed at night are in black and white as this keeps with the dark theme of the video.

The editing is very fast cutting between the band backstage and the live gigs that they have done as well as there being an actual storyline to the video, which involves random shots of a love interest and the lead artist in the band sitting alone in an apartment suggesting that they are not together anymore. Fades are also used between the wide shot of the city and the close up of the lead artist face.

deconstruction of music videos continued ...

Katy Perry- hot 'n' cold

In this video the artist is presented as an interesting, glamorous and different type of pop artist. This image is created through the use of camera angles, editing and mise en scene.

For example the camera angles used centrally framed her showing her to be the most important figure and the first close up of the video is of the artists face which reinforces the importance of the artist. Using a high angle establishing shot allows the audience to establish the setting as a church where Katy Perry is getting married- although the audience understands that she is playing a character and is not playing herself in the video. Close up shots of main stereotypical wedding characters are also used to reinforce the idea of a wedding such as the priest, brides maids and congregation in the church. There are also many close ups of the groom to establish him as a main character to the videos plot. It also cuts between many other characters which Katy Perry is playing which allows the story to develop. Using many close ups in the second scene and using red to connote danger or love she is also shown to be a very confident character through the close up shots and direct stare into the camera. She is shown to be a different type of stylish artist as she plays a crazy bride which adds humour to the video. Humour is also added through some of the props and characters for example the man in a hotdog costume and the brides dancing carrying bats as well as the male brides.

The editing is also synchronous to the music as pace of the cuts increases as the tempo and action within the video also increase.

deconstruction of music videos

Little comets - one night in October

Little comets are a fairly unknown indie band, who have created their image of youth and rebelliousness from the mise en scene and camera angles and shots used to present their image. For example, the clothes that the band are wearing are typical symbols of youth wearing bright, clashing clothes in hoodies and skinny jeans, reinforcing the typical indie band stereotype. Also the use of the shopping trolley in the video creates this sense of rebelliousness as it is implied that they have taken this object from a supermarket and are now messing about, showing the lead male playing guitar in the shopping trolley, which also reinforces this idea of youth. Their image of a typical casual youthful indie band is also represented through the settings of the video, as no glamorous sets are used, keeping it plain and simple allows the audience to relate more to the band and create the stereotypical, unglamorous, indie image.

At the beginning of the video the camera editing matches the pace of the music engaging the audience and interesting them in the band. By using fast camera shots using a dolly to circle the band as they are playing their instruments, they are creating an excitement about the band through the pace of the camera shots and editing. As the music changes the camera changes from long shot to extreme close up of a instrument, which creates impact as the two shots are complete opposites. A low angle shot looking up at the band in the shopping trolley is used to give the band an iconic image suggesting that they are important. A hand held camera effect is also used at some points in the video to create an excitement about the band and the song.

To make the video different and interesting a clever editing technique is used which allows the song words to appear behind the lead band member as he sings the words. This is a simple effective technique which creates an imaginative image for the band making their video stand out against other videos. Another editing sequence sees a group of people being cut in and out of the band who are playing the song, this implies that the band have a good social image and are popular, as the people are cut in and out of the sequence.

Introduction

In this blog I will be documenting the research, planning, production and evaluation of the practical production task, which involves creating a music video, DVD cover to support the main task and a magazine advert for our band or track.