Types of Music Video

There are three types of music videos; Performance, Abstract and Narrative and elements of all three can be used in one video depending on underlying themes and conveyed meanings.

Performance 

A performance music video consists entirely of the artist and/or band playing and performing their track. This may enable viewers to feel as if they are watching a live performance and helps establish star image as a 'look' is kept consistent throughout. Performance videos will usually contain abstract or narrative elements to add slightly more interest to a video as seen in the Paramore crushcruchcrush music video (below).

Abstract 

These music videos often have little or no story line and can be confusing to watch due to the little visual and lyrical connection. An abstract video can convey a certain message through images and themes in a rather convoluted way but can also just be a strange mix of random images to confuse viewers.  This can also either create a lighthearted theme or darker meaning, depending on whether a certain message is supposed to be conveyed. In Panic! At The Disco's music video 'Nine in the Afternoon', (Below) performance elements are included but an overall abstract theme is created by unconventional mise-en-scene choices.  There is also no conceivable message and is thus portrayed as playful entertainment.

Narrative 

These music videos portray a story line which is often related closely to the lyrics of the song. It easy to understand as it progresses and can create a connection between the videos characters and its viewers.  The narrative detailed does not always have to be an exact visual of the songs meaning but if a video does not want to become too abstract it often will be. The following video is an interesting narrative because the album it is a part of, has a music video for every song which depicts one larger narrative.  To understand what is happening it is easier to watch all the videos at once but the viewers can still follow the individual plot even if it does appear more abstract.

Performance Location

This thin alley way is similar to the bridleway where we will see our female character run through, keeping a continuous theme throughout.  We will use the brick wall as a backdrop for our performer,so that the main focus will be on him and so that our shots will not look cluttered.

The small space could make it hard for us to set up equipment and use it if we wish for our performer to have enough room to move around, but we believe the close proximity will heighten the entrapment our main character is feeling. We will also be able to use long shots of the performer walking down the alleyway which will show him filling up space and add to his star image as he dominates the location around him.  Another issue we may face however, is getting in the way of the public.  As it is a public space we will not be able to stop people from using it and both parties could get in each others way, on the other hand the alleyway is not used too often and as we will likely be filming later in the day there is likely to be less people walking about.

Pitch

Whilst presenting our pitch, we mentioned our main inspirations and our initial ideas.  We also described the changes we are making to these ideas, in order to move towards a more abstract concept and away from what could have been an amateur narrative . Since then we have also decided on a location for our performance, in a small alley way against a brick wall, which we believe will fit in well with our other settings.

Mise-en-scene

Settings

1. Brick wall - For strangling shot, preferably inside for better light manipulation
2. Hill and Wood -  In Thaxted and Gt. Bardfield for running away scenes.
3. Bathroom - Perhaps in the same house as the packing and fighting scenes, if there is enough space.  Used for overdosing scenes as she begins to lose her grip on reality
4. Bedroom - Luxurious bedroom with warm colours to create a sense of comfort that will juxtapose with the dark scenes of the rest of the video. We will shoot the getting ready scenes which lead to the final argument in here and the packing scenes.
5. Dining room - Argument is brought down here when the pearls are ripped from the lead characters throat.
6. Alleyway - For performance shots - more abstract and emphasis is on performer to emphasixe star image.

Lighting

• Performance: We will have a back lit performance in order to centerpiece our performer and emphasize the star image.  This will also add to the morbid atmosphere of the video as the scene will appear dark and miserable.

• Sparklers: This scene will be lit mainly by the diegetic lighting of the sparkler but with the addition of some non-diegetic lighting.  This will be placed from behind the camera and aimed at the main girls face to create a soft light around her.

• Arguing: Whilst the couple are fighting and the boyfriend is attempting to strangle the main girl, we will use minimal lighting to keep the scenes dark. This is to emphasize the aforementioned mobidity of the video and the melancholic theme throughout.  

• On hill: The shots filmed on the hill will be filmed at 'golden hour' to create a bright but soft and natural lighting.  However, we will also use available portable lighting and reflectors in order to emphasize this light, but we will keep this to a minimum in order to keep the shot looking as natural as possible. 

• House shots: The scenes shot within the couple's house will be filmed with a soft golden light in order to emphasize their wealth and the luxuriousness of the setting.  This will juxtapose with the lighting of the rest of the video, which will represent the dark themes throughout.

• Overdosing: When our main character is experiencing the effects of overdosing we, will continue to use minimal, dark lighting but include lights flickering on and off, moving around and blurring to represents the girl's lost grip on reality. 

Costumes/Makeup

Props

1. Sparklers
2. Pearl necklace
3. Framed picture
4. Large bag and clothes
5. Fake drugs (tic-tacs)
6. Dead Flowers

Costume List

Female

Outfit 1

Our actress will wear a provocative red dress in one of our scenes as she is featured getting ready. This will provoke her abusive boyfriend as he will deem it unacceptable and try to force her to change. The bright red will connote ideas of lust, passion and anger which will all be reflected in the actions of the male character. It will look similar to this:


A pearl necklace will be the main prop of the fight as the boyfriend will rip it off her neck. This is a violent gesture as it shows him destroying an innocent object, which becomes a metaphor for the treatment of his girlfriend. The pearls will also scatter onto the floor and we will film them dropping, possibly in slow mo, to show the severity of the action. This will infer that this is the last action to push the girlfriend away and force her into running away.

Outfit 2

This outfit will feature a fur coat and will be the first outfit we see the character in. It is due to this, that we felt it necessary that the outfit conveyed an accurate representation of her and her status. This outfit is supposed to display that our character is fashion conscious and has enough wealth to buy statement clothing such as a fur coat.

The outfit will also include high-waisted skinny jeans to accentuate our character's figure and to slightly sexualise her. This style of jean is also very common at the moment and will be easy to access.  It is also a very popular style with women of her demographic.


Outfit 3


Our final outfit will juxtapose the previous two. It will show her change in emotions by emphasizing her melancholy and apathy for the way she now presents herself. The scruffier clothing will disregard self -presentation as the character will no longer care how she looks. It contains a hoodie and joggers which will be worn when she runs away and overdoses.

Male

Outfit 1

This outfit is for a black tie event so he will be wearing smart, black trousers and a white shirt. However, he will not be seen wearing the jacket or tie as he is supposed to be in the middle of getting ready. The suit will be extremely well cared for to accentuate the character's need to have control over everything.





Outfit 2

As with the woman's second outfit, this is the first thing we will see him wearing. He will be dressed in all black as a foreshadowing of his aggression but will still appear fairly smart to emphasize his wealth. The outfit will be more casual than the other to exaggerate the apparent normality of this character - that he looks just like very other man,

Performer

Our performer will be dressed in a way which suits conventions for rock/metal music videos. Therefore, for this outfit we drew inspiration from the band's lead singer who is usually dressed in a plaid shirt and skinny jeans. However, we may replace the shirt with a black leather jacket to better suit rock conventions.