MUSIC VIDEO DESIGN

0.01 TRIVIA! What was the first music video to air on MTV in 1981? Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ How many music videos are played on MTV now? 0.01

EDITING Pacing –shots quickly edited / intentionally long & drawn out; How does this reflect mood of song? Rhythm— cuts / edits synched to beats or chords, etc.? Is pattern being created ? “ Abstract Effects”—is video layered? multiple frames in one frame? in reverse? Sped up? Slowed down? Repeated? Colors changed? Blurred? Keyframing? Etc. etc.etc.

RELEVANCE to the MUSIC Lip-syncing?—audio matches singer’s lips for much of video; band playing song start to finish with b-roll over top. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjQ9tuuTJQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8WLa6umgdw Beat-syncing – shots edited on beats: snare drum, cymbals, bass drums, chord changes, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t21DFnu00Dc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4dx42YzQCE

RELEVANCE to the MUSIC Literal / Narrative–clips in video follow what singing is about. Sometimes done to a fault. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6TLWqn82J4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo Mood / tone –overall look and feel of the video reflects feel of the lyrics/instruments. Some examples might be: Happy/ upbeat – might feature bright colors, hazy filters, lots of moving shots / actors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPlQpGeTbIE Sad / Intense – dark colors, low light, slow edits, high angles, high contrast, serious acting, etc. Mysterious – blurs, flashes, shadows, silhouettes, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTlAJqjUeeY

CONCEPT / DESIGN Abstract concept –goal of video is to be different and memorable. (remember, music videos have a lot more freedom to be bizarre, abstract, and nonsensical). A single, complicated / uncomplicated shot for the whole song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co3qMdkucM0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Ymd-OCucs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd1DuuNr448 Shots with highly complex choreography (moving in interesting ways) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABYnqp-bxvg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vjPBrBU-TM Elaborate uses of mise en scene / props https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSOMA3QBU0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU Reflections, blurs, lighting, lasers, choreography, projected video, psychedelic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dSYgd5Elk Animation—Is 3-D, stop-motion, cartoon animation, creative text animation used? Why? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2fpgpanZAw Cheap aesthetic—“intentionally bad” for some reason? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UskSU5BoyZs

CINEMATOGRAPHY (FILMING) What types of shots are used? Why? Some examples: Are there lots of wide shots to reflect loneliness of the lyrics? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0AKJMGxwpE Are there CUs to show what a singer / character is thinking? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWRsgZuwf_8 Are there quick, complex motion shots to reflect the fast rhythm of the song? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVyVIsvQoaE How are light, shadows, colors, reflections, movement used? Is it dark and dreary to reflect sadness and isolation? Is it bright, colorful, oversaturated, high contrast? What type of depth of field is used? Why? Is it intentionally overexposed or underexposed?

Things to remember To sync a singer’s lips with good audio, shoot the person singing along with the song being played (as a reference track). When editing, match the song in the reference track to the good audio track, then eventually delete or lower the audio from the shot. Singers may need to exaggerate mouth movements when lip-syncing so video will clearly match audio. Take advantage of the freedom you have with music videos. Almost any theme or idea can be great if you put enough thought and hard work into it.