Task 7 Part 2 - Different Video Types Performance & Narrative (Done)

Disturbed - 'Indestructible' - Performance + Narrative




These are examples of the mix of narrative and performance based shots. We are introduced to the dark lighting of the music video, which goes well with the genre of the music video and the editing helps to establish this with several fast cuts and mid-close ups of the vocalist and lower body long shots of the running man.



This is an example of a few shots based solely on narrative. Here we see an example of lighting - the dark above the sun and the darkness to which the man is running.



The last few shots consist of constant switching between performance and narrative, although the performance is shown much more often than the narrative side is. An example of editing consists of the explosions in the background and the lighting is constantly kept dark, so we can just see the shots scroll by with all the performance actors simultaneously 'attacking' the audience, with a close up of each actor.

Daniel Powter - 'Bad Day' - Performance + Narrative




This is a narrative based part of the music video. We see normal, morning light, which makes the audience assume this video isn't about anything unusual - just a simple, normal day. The editing consists of the split-screen of the two actors who are representations of the everyday, moody individual.



Contrary to the last one, this part is only performance based. We see close ups, mid-close ups and mid shots of Powter in a brightly lit train and outside, suggesting to the light hearted nature of the music video.



This is a mixture of performance and narrative. Here we see switching cuts between both actors and Powter, suggesting to the end of the video.

Fatboy Slim - 'Weapon of Choice' - Performance




This is an entirely performance based video, although we never see the actor, Fatboy Slim, to actually sing or do a lip sync with the words of the song. The lighting throughout the entire video is bright and the mise-en-scene of the interior is richly designed.



However, whilst we never see synching, he does 'suggest' the words by dancing to the lyrics, as evidenced from the clip above. The dancing indicated the light hearted and positive atmosphere this video is trying to create.



The main feature here is the editing, where the actor flies above the floor, possibly held by strings either too thin to see or which were edited out.

The Cranberries - 'Zombie' - Performance + Narrative




The start of the music video is narrative and suggests its gloomy and depressed nature due to the starting close-up of the boy's ragged face. This is supported by the black and white editing and what appear to be city ruins - we can presume from seeing this that the video is based on war, as evidenced by the mise-en-scene of the soldier walking on the street.



This long part of the music video is solely performance. We see the edit of contrast of the colours and make out the difference between the gold that the actors are bathed in and the black and white edit of the beginning.



This is a mix of narrative and performance. We again see the contrast between the gold and the black and white mix and the mise-en-scene gets very gloomy with the camera in a close-up of the children being shot.

Ed Sheeran - 'The A Team' - Narrative




Since this video is entirely narrative based, as opposed to 'Weapon of Choice' by Fatboy Slim, it is nevertheless quite rich with editing. First, as we notice above, the audience discovers that the entire video will probably be black and white, suggesting the gloomy theme of the video and this is supported by the mise-en-scene of the girl waking up on the bench.



Here we see another type of editing, which is the fast-motion edit. This causes the audience feel sympathy for the girl as they view from her POV what her world is really like.



This last scene is given very dark lighting, suggesting the dark nature of her life which involves drugs. The girl's shaking body is shown to the audience as her desperation for the drug takes over and we further feel sympathetic.

This part of the task has given me knowledge and insight about the types of music videos which there are. This has got me thinking about what style of music video I will want to make, whether its narrative or performance based or, most likely, both.