Six Stills
This is what we came for - Calvin Harris
16th June, 2016
This long shot of Rihanna in the first part of the song shows significantly of what the song symbolisms are. Even though, its a simple shot but there is a lot of lighting that makes this shot more appealing to audiences and making it look "cool" in this era. Her posture, (shoulders relaxed, head up) in this scene conveys that she is confidence of what she walking in to. The background, I believe have been made using big projectors and which projects the crowd that the persona is thinking or imagining about. In addition, the lighting has been saturated and made it more neon to give a feel of being in a party in her perspective. Rihanna on the other hand, was made to look darker to emphasize that she is in a dark place or thoughts and is trying to find the way out by walking to the crowd, which the crowd is the light in this place.
In this music video, I have learnt the significance of lighting, eye-contact with the audiences, and facial expressions makes a big impression on the lyrics and the song itself as well.
Thinking out loud - Ed Sheeran
7th October, 2014
This long shot of the two persona in this music video I believe is the highlight of the song. The lights that are shining at both characters shows that they are the main object/ people in this scene. The dark background suggests the setting that they are in but more importantly showing that both of the personas are more significant that the objects behind. Moreover, even though this shot was taken only in the first few seconds of the video, but audiences could see the connection or the link between the characters. Through the posture and the body language of the people as they are walking towards each other. Plus, this can also foreshadow the scenes that may happen later in the video.
What I have taken from this music video is the posture is one of the important criteria that makes a scene looks good or bad and in this scene it makes audiences like me feel like I am watching a romantic story even if its only 4 minutes long.
Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus
24th September, 2013
This shot is taken as Miley Cyrus appears in the beginning of the music video. I find this scene very powerful because of her facial expressions. Even though this is a simple close up shot of her face but it shows her feelings and emotions as if she was really feeling it at that moment. Her tear drop in this scene is also significant because it portrays that this song is not a positive happy song but is a sad song which makes audiences think about their own past experiences as well. The white, plain background have made Miley's face stand out more and made her the subject of this scene. Also, this scene is quite bright in terms of lighting which made this shot clearer and which audiences can focus better on the scene without having to find clues or symbols. Furthermore, her red lips conveys her personality as sassy and strong which also contrast with what she is feeling at that moment. It makes audiences reflect on their own internal fear and weaknesses even though externally they look tough all the time.
I have learnt that make-up and grooming can make audiences guess character's personalities and most of the time the grooming and make-up relates to the song lyrics and what characters actually been through.
The heart wants what it wants - Selena Gomez
6th November, 2014
This side close up shot of Selena Gomez in the 33rd second of the music video is one of the shots that I remembered just because of her posture and how the song lyrics relates to that moment. The dark lighting here shows that she is trying to think about the past that she regrets as seen in her facial expression. The grey-ish smoke on the right of her face can also represents the past that she cannot take back and it makes her think and memorize those memories when she is alone. Her posture here (relaxed shoulders, hear a little tilt down) shows nervousness and conveys that she is worried about what she is feeling at that moment. Her hands that is softly placed against her chest conveys that she is unconfident of those decisions she had made before and still thinks about them which I feel that this scene many audiences can relate to as this song lyrics came from real-life experience. Her face and body facing the side not the camera even made this clear that she is scared and not being able to face the truth.
I have learnt that the dark tone colors can both made the scene looks like the past and it can make the mood of the scene more depressing and negative which makes the characters look more truthful and more realistic at the same time.
Style - Taylor Swift
13th February, 2015
This side mid shot of Taylor Swift is one of the most abstract shots I have seen. The dark tone colour of taylor swift's face shows that she is going back to the past and reminiscing the things she have done before. The guy that appears in her hear is a significant part as it is the subject she is reminiscing about and the location of the shot appears to be the beach. I found this shot very fascinating because it makes audiences know exactly what the song is about and it shows exactly what she is thinking just from the pictures appearing in her head without having to look at any clues or connections. The way her head is tilted up shows that she is dominating her own thoughts and hasn't have that much regret when thinking about it.
What I have taken from this music video/ shot is that the most abstract shots can be the most simple shot as well because it actually makes more sense to audiences if it shows a story line and even in this picture audiences know right away that this is her thoughts and we are looking at it.
Tresspass - Monsta x
13th May, 2015
This mid shot of Jooheon in a cell was taken in the chorus of the song. The contracting feeling in a cell in real-life is very different from what we see in this shot. In this shot, he is smiling and so this can mean that he is first crazy or second he has a plan to get out of this cell. As the concept of this song is "Trespass" therefore this shot here refers to what he has in mind to get out of this cell without being caught. The background is made darker and blue was used to made the atmosphere look like the cell has no "real" "normal" life. Also, this music video was almost used by dark tone colors to make it blend with the concept of jail. Plus, by using dark lightings it symbolises how there is no freedom and no light to make the day or life more positive. The tight grip of his hands conveys that he wants to get out go this cell because he believes that he does not belong in this place and therefore contrasting with what his facial expression is expressing...
Overall, I have learnt that music videos may have an un-true side of a story to make it more exciting or more attractive to audiences so it isn't boring and links to the theme of the song.
