Analysis of A2 Music Videos
I decided to look at past examples of A2 music videos to see what would work and what wouldn't. I looked at 4 videos, all made by past media students, whose videos cover a range of grades.
Video 1
If nothing else, this video is certainly entertaining, and I can see some of the dance genre conventions they were trying to reflect. However, although the ideas are there, the actual execution is poor. For example, the video shows 'the artist' lip syncing against a wall, a common convention of the dance genre. However, the fire alarm and boarding in the background make it obvious that the wall is in school. The video overall seems rushed and unplanned, and the normal settings (school corridor, someone's messy home) give the video a low quality feel. The POV shot of a person drinking beer and the club scene are poorly executed and clearly unplanned, and the strange and unnecessary effects make the video seem even more amateurish. There are some better moments - such as the editing of one of the guys drinking to the beat of the music - but overall the video seems unplanned and badly executed.
We would give this video level 2 because there is little attention to framing, camera, or miss en scene, the effects are not appropriate, and some of the shots are too dark to see. The video is also not especially creative, although it does conform to the genre and is not completely terrible.
We would give this video level 2 because there is little attention to framing, camera, or miss en scene, the effects are not appropriate, and some of the shots are too dark to see. The video is also not especially creative, although it does conform to the genre and is not completely terrible.
Video 2
This video is certainly better than the last, although the misspelling in the title of the video is rather off-putting. The video conforms to the alternative genre well, with shots of the band performing intercut with shots of a mysterious woman walking. The camera techniques match the genre well - however, the video becomes slightly repetitive after a while as most of the video is similar shots of the band performing. The start of the video is especially good as it has a box of text declaring the name of the song and the director ect, which is seen in professional music videos and thus makes this video seem more professional. The acting in this video is also slightly off, and a few moments (such as an awkward but conventional jump at the beginning) makes it obvious that this is not a professional band. However, it is clear that the band knows the genre fairly well, although the video could be improved by more of the narrative story.
We would give this video level 3 because the shots are controlled and well chosen, with the video conforming well to the genre. It also appears to be quite self-aware and well thought through, and is fairly entertaining. However, it is not especially creative and the video is somewhat repetitive, stopping it from achieving level 4.
We would give this video level 3 because the shots are controlled and well chosen, with the video conforming well to the genre. It also appears to be quite self-aware and well thought through, and is fairly entertaining. However, it is not especially creative and the video is somewhat repetitive, stopping it from achieving level 4.
Video 3
This video sticks to the conventions of the pop genre well, although it is quite boring and plain. The video is all in black and white, which conforms to the style of some sad pop songs. In terms of technique, the video is fairly good; the shots have been chosen well, the camera is steady and the editing is good. There are a few moments when this is broken, such as one shot where the focus is on the background instead of the 'artist' and an strange and amateurish blur effect on the lyric 'blur', but overall the technique is good. However, this video is very safe and simple, and somewhat boring to watch. There are moments of narrative in this video which are also well done, although the video might have been more entertaining if there were more. Overall, this video is fairly decent and is well executed, if rather plain and basic.
We would give this video level 3 because it is technically proficient and conforms to the genre. There is a controlled use of camera, framing and effects, and although there are some misjudgements in filming location, it's success in the other areas makes it a level 3.
We would give this video level 3 because it is technically proficient and conforms to the genre. There is a controlled use of camera, framing and effects, and although there are some misjudgements in filming location, it's success in the other areas makes it a level 3.
Video 4
This last video is much more creative than the others, but still manages to stick to the chosen genre of alternative. It is visually interesting an varied, showing a range of things and overlays, from projection to glitter to shoes. Some of these work better than others, but overall they all add to the disjuncture of the video. The shots are all well filmed using a variety of angles, and the use of suitable slow motion emphasises their editing abilities. The number of different things shown also shows the planning of the video, as it would take a lot of time to film that many different things. The similarity of the first and last shot also give the music video a sense of professionalism and planning as it gives the video a cohesiveness that makes the video feel well put together. The only negative would possibly be with the repetitiveness of some of the shots (eg the hair flicks) although it could be argued that this makes the video more put together. Overall, though, it is a well put together video that is creative and interesting while remaining true to conventions of the genre.
We would also put this video at level 3 because although it is very creative and some of the shots are great, the visuals in the video were rather inconsistent. Some parts, such as the projection and the close ups, are good, whilst other parts, such as the shots of the shoes and hair flicks, are slightly amateurish and repetitive. Therefore, we would give it level 3.
We would also put this video at level 3 because although it is very creative and some of the shots are great, the visuals in the video were rather inconsistent. Some parts, such as the projection and the close ups, are good, whilst other parts, such as the shots of the shoes and hair flicks, are slightly amateurish and repetitive. Therefore, we would give it level 3.
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