music video production

Key elements of a music video

1 - lyrics: Lyrics establish a general feeling or mood. Key lines might play a part in visuals but a music video rarely goes along with the lyrics precisely.

2 - music: Music videos tend to use the tempo of the song to drive the editing and might emphasise particular sounds by focusing on instruments.

3 - genre: Some music videos don't fit in one genre while others are easily categorised. Genres often have certain characteristics (scenes, themes, performance, camera and editing styles). For example, a country song might have farms and guitars.

4 - camera work: Camera movement might move with performers or might be used to create a more dynamic feel to stage performances. For example, a closeup might be used to centre the star of the music video.

5 - editing: some videos require a slow pace to establish the mood

6 - narrative and performance: Narratives are often fragmented, cutting between story and performance. A close up on screen allows more intimacy than a stage performance.

Music video analysis

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" - Cyndi Lauper

Lyrics:

• The lyrics of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper represent female freedom, independence and the desire to enjoy life without being controlled by the female standards of the time and restricted by the expectations of others. 

• The repeated line “Girls just wanna have fun” represents how women desire the freedom to make their own choices and enjoy themselves rather than being defined by relationships or responsibilities. The lyrics also explore the idea of women being controlled. This is shown during the line about boys taking "a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world".  

• The references to her mother and father throughout the music video can represent traditional family expectations and the pressure placed on young women in that era to behave in a certain way. In this music video, these themes could be represented through a girl initially feeling trapped or restricted before gradually becoming more confident and independent. 

• A lot of the lyrics tell messages of freedom and not wanting to be controlled. The lyrics "Walk in the sun" suggests freedom and being visible rather than controlled. 

• This sets a rebellious, fun and energetic mood. The repeated chorus makes the song have a certain feel of excitement and a feeling of independence while also being fun and energetic instead of serious or angry.

Music: 

• The music in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is upbeat, energetic and catchy, which creates a fun and positive atmosphere while also keeping the deeper meaning of freedom and wanting to go against female standards. 

• The strong rhythm and repeated chorus make the song suitable for dancing and allow the visuals to be edited in time with the beat. 

• The contrast between the upbeat music and some of the more serious themes in the lyrics, such as control and expectations placed on women, could also be used to create a deeper meaning within a music video. 

• The use of many electronic instruments such as electronic synthesizers, electronic drums and electronic guitars makes the iconic riffs in the song and makes the music catchy and rememberable.

Genre: 

• The song is generally associated with pop music from the 80s, with its bright, energetic sound and memorable chorus. 

• The music video reflects these characteristics through its rebellious and colourful style, exaggerated performances and energetic movement. 

• The genre allows the video to focus heavily on entertainment while still communicating themes of female independence and rebelling for freedom. 

• The genre is mainly focused on the 80s vibe at the time, mixed with different genres of dance pop and synth pop which is what most music videos in the 80s included while also having a deeper meaning.

Camera work: 

• Within the music video there is a lot of different camera shots and camera movements such as the use of wide shots, medium shots and close ups. 

• The use of wide shots in the video was used to show groups of girls dancing and interacting, while the close ups that are contained can highlight facial expressions and emotions in the video. 

• The camera movement like handheld movement made the video have more of an energetic and match the rhythm of the song. 

• Different angles could also be used to show the contrast between feeling trapped and feeling free from society norms.

Editing: 

• The editing in the music video is fast paced to match the upbeat tempo of the song. 

• The cuts are made in time with the beat, like during the chorus, to make the video feel energetic and exciting. 

• Jump cuts are used for quick changes between locations and different performance shots could be used to maintain the audience’s attention and keep them wanting to watch. 

• The editing could also become progressively faster as the main character becomes more confident when she leaves her restricted life and has a feeling of freedom within her life.

Narrative: 

• The narrative follows a young woman who feels restricted by the expectations of her family or social norms of being a woman at the time and wants the freedom to make her own choices. 

• At the beginning, she is shown following a repetitive routine or being controlled by other people’s expectations including her parents. 

• As the song progresses, she begins to break away from these restrictions and spend time with her friends, which leads to her eventually becoming more confident and independent. 

• This reflects the lyrics and creates a clear beginning, middle and end to the music video creating a easy story to follow.

Performance: 

• Performance is an important part of the music video because the song has a strong emphasis on having fun, dancing and self expression. 

• The performers use energetic choreography, exaggerated facial expressions and confident body language to reflect the upbeat mood. 

• Group performances could emphasise friendship and togetherness, while solo performance could show the main character becoming more confident within herself as the music video progresses. 

• The performance could become increasingly energetic throughout the video to reinforce the theme of freedom and independence. 

"Wannabe" - Spice Girls

Music: 

• The music in “Wannabe” is upbeat, energetic and catchy, creating an exciting atmosphere. 

• Its fast tempo, strong rhythm and repetitive chorus make it suitable for dancing. 

• The changes in rhythm and emphasis throughout the song also provide opportunities for the visuals to change in time with the music which keeps the audience engaged. 

• The lively sound reflects the song’s themes of friendship, confidence and having fun.

Genre: 

• “Wannabe” belongs to the pop genre and includes elements of dance pop. 

• The song features a memorable chorus, a strong beat and distinct vocal performances, which are typical characteristics of pop music. 

• The music video reflects the pop genre through its colourful personalities, energetic movement, playful behaviour and emphasis on the performers.

•  The individual styles of the Spice Girls also help communicate their different personalities and make them recognisable to the audience.

Camera Work: 

• The music video uses a variety of camera shots and movements to capture the energy of the Spice Girls. 

• Wide shots establish the location and show the group moving and interacting together, while medium shots and close ups highlight individual members and their facial expressions. 

• The use of moving and handheld camera work makes the audience feel like they're watching a documentary. 

• These techniques contribute to the videos lively and informal atmosphere.

Editing: 

• The editing in “Wannabe” helps maintain the energetic pace of the music video.

• The video uses cuts between group shots and individual performances to showcase the different members of the Spice Girls. 

• The relatively continuous movement through the location gives the video a spontaneous feeling, while cuts between different actions and performers keeps the audience’s interest. 

• The editing supports the rhythm of the song and helps communicate the idea that the group are enjoying themselves together.

Narrative: 

• The music video has a loose narrative rather than an actual storyline.

•  It follows the Spice Girls as they enter and explore a location, interacting with people and each other while creating a lively atmosphere.

•  Instead of focusing on a problem and its resolution, the video presents a series of events that showcase the group’s personalities and friendship. 

• This approach reflects the songs message that friendship, loyalty and having fun are important. 

• The lack of a complicated storyline also allows the audience to focus on the performers and the music.

Performance: 

• Performance is a central element of “Wannabe”, as the Spice Girls sing directly to the camera, dance and interact with one another.

•  Their exaggerated facial expressions, confident body language and playful movements communicate their individual personalities. 

• The group performances emphasise friendship and unity while the individual moments allow each member to stand out. 

• Their confident and energetic performance reflects the group’s image and reinforces the songs themes of female empowerment, independence and friendship. 

Analysing both videos has helped me understand that there are different ways to approach a music video. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" demonstrates how a clear narrative can communicate a message, while "Wannabe" shows how camera movement, performance and atmosphere can engage an audience without an obvious narrative. For my own music video about a girl rock band, I could combine these approaches by using a fun, romantic narrative alongside expressive performances, close ups and carefully planned editing. This would help communicate the character's experiences visually rather than relying on dialogue to explain everything. 

lighting and colour

Film lighting refers to the direction, quality, source or colour of light.

These different elements work together to guide our attention, create texture or visual impact, and create an atmosphere.

Elements of lighting:

• Direction refers to the path where the light source comes from and where it lands. For example, top light or backlighting.

• Quality refers to the intensity of the light. For example, hard or soft light.

• Source refers to the role of the lighting. For example, key light or fill light.

• Colour refers to the colour of the lighting. For example, white light or warm lighting.

Colour theory

In filmmaking, colour theory refers to the notion that certain hues on the colour wheel combine to create particular visual effects. A director's use of colour combinations can evoke a mood or atmosphere within the world of a film.