By Katie White - A2 Media

1. CONVENTIONS OF MUSIC VIDEOS
By Katie White

2. CAMERA SHOTS/ MOVEMENT
Camera Shots
 A variety of shots are used in music
videos, however there are usual
conventions that are followed.
 Music videos tend to include close
ups of the artist, this draws
attention to the artist and adds
recognisability. CU’s can also be
used to add a particular
atmosphere.
 Long shots- are commonly used to
reveal the setting and create
emphasis on the background.
Camera Movement
 Typically the cameras key movement is to
trace and follow the artist/band. This makes
the music video more interesting as the
audience can follow every aspect of the video.
 Camera movements commonly used in music
videos are tilts, slow zooms, craning, tracking,
panning and crabing.

3. MISE-EN-SCENE
• The Mise-En-Scene refers to the arrangement of performers, props and
setting in a scene
• The Mise-En-Scene is a vital part of creating a professional and
successful music video, as it constructs the overall display and
atmosphere of the music video
• The Mise-En-Scene differs from genre of the music video. For instance, if
it was a dance/electronic genre the mise-en-scene would consist of
bright lights, consistent dancing and flashing images to show the
excitement and buzz of the scene, while a hip-hop genre mise-en-scene
may consist of females in minimal clothing, flashy cars, and mansions in
a hot country to imply success and pleasure.
Redlight - Lost
in your love
(Dance genre)
Kid Ink -
Promise
(Hip-Hop genre)

4. EDITING
 A variety of editing techniques are used in music videos for various
reasons:
 Jump Cuts- to allow a sudden change from one scene to another
 Matching Action- to allows continuity of one event e.g. opening a door
from one end then showing the individual come in
 Transitions- fade and dissolves are regularly used in music videos to
create a smooth and different transition to cuts
 Filters- commonly used to construct a certain mood to the music video
Coldplay -
Paradise
(Jump Cuts and
Matching Action)
James Bay -
Scars
(filters)

5. OTHER CONVENTIONS
• There are other vital conventions music videos commonly use to construct
the mise-en-scene and genre of the music video
• Lighting- creates a particular mood by different colour connotations e.g. Red
can connote love, passion or danger and blue can connote sadness or
relaxed. Lighting can either the artificial or naturalistic depending on the
genre
• Sound- most of the time the vocals and instruments of the song in the music
video. However, ,sic videos may use particular effects such as dialogue or
sfx- usually for music videos that are short films
• Props- assist particular scenes in the music video. Usually have a role in
displaying significance to certain characters or objects.
• Costume- vital in showing role of characters and representation. Normally
reflects the genre of the song – an influential factor as how the artists
dresses can be aspirational to the viewers
• Colours- create mood and set the genre of the song e.g. indie videos may
display darker distressed colours, while pop videos may display bright
vibrant colours

6. CONVENTIONS IN THE INDIE GENRE
• Setting- studios, cities/urban areas, parks and woodland areas create a
relaxed, real to life mood which the indie genre is notable in
• Mise-en-scene- Indie artists tend to have a very vintage/ individualistic look,
which can be constructed through the costumes, props, lighting and setting
• Camera- close-ups are generally used in indie music videos to promote the
artist or display the mood, long shots tend to show the setting of the artist
and tracking and panning is generally used to allow the audience to follow
the artist
• Editing- Most commonly long takes are used to portray a sense of realism
and allow the audience to immerse in the music video
• Lighting- commonly the lighting is very naturalistic to create a sense of
authenticity
Tom Odell - I Know
(Typical Indie
conventions)