Codes and Conventions of Music Videos Part 2

4. SHOT TYPES
The most common shot type used in indie music videos is the close up-- it creates an emotional connection with the characters (necessary as the music videos often follow a narrative) and also helps the audience to recognise each character. Another commonly used shot type is a long wideshot to establish setting, era, and tone, as the videos follow a narrative.

EXAMPLE: BORN TO DIE, LANA DEL REY

This music video features many wide shots, slow zooms and establishing shots because of the contrast in location between Lana's performance and the narrative. This is another convention of indie music videos.

5. MAKEUP
Makeup plays an important role in music videos, especially for female artists, as it not only conveys the era as in the mise en scene section, for example a large cat-eye and lashes to convey to the audience that it is set in the 60s. Additionally, a unique makeup style to that artist (like Amy Winehouse's iconic eyeliner) promotes brand recognition and creates an image for the star, and according to Richard Dyer's star theory this will sell more records.

EXAMPLE: ARABLELLA, ARCTIC MONKEYS


This music video is clearly set in the 60s from the mise en scene, props, and most importantly the makeup and clothing of the characters. The girls sport makeup from this era with a large cat eye and bright lipstick.

6. SETTING
As indie bands and artists often create low-budget music videos, the setting is usually an easily accessible place to cut on costs, such as a beach or a city.

EXAMPLE: LONG GONE, PHUM VIPHURIT

This music video is entirely shot outdoors in public spaces and was presumably filmed and edited by the band themselves or with a very low budget crew.

Completing this task has allowed me to better understand the conventions of indie music videos, and choose which to apply and which to subvert in my music video. I think that I want to use an outdoor/public setting in the music video as it means we don't have to worry about budget. I also would like to use many close-ups as I think our music video will have an emotional tone based on our surveys and so we can set this mood with a lot of close-ups to show emotion.