Conventions of a Music Video

There are regular conventions that are used in music videos to get the most from them and to get certain messages across to the audience, such as different emotions and feelings the music artist may be feeling and what the song may be portraying.

Camera Shots are used to show the music artists emotion and to reflect the words they are lip singing through there mouth. Sometimes certain parts of the song may be empahasised and they show this by having certain camera shots such as long shots, mid shots and close ups on the music artist. Directors may sometimes choose to do this on the chorus of the song or an important part that reflects the message of the song.

Mise En Scene is used by having props in the music video and the arragement of the music artist and the performers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_4O44sfjM
This is the music video for Christina Perri's 'Jar of Hearts' this video is a good example of how Mise En Scene has been used effectivley. At the beginning of the song she is seen in a smokey dark environment sitting on a step singing into the camera whilst chucking leafs on the floor, this emphasises the fact that shes sad and is singing about an emotional break up and the leafs could be there relationship which she is chucking onto the ground. The background is also very dull with dark colours and things are falling from the sky, she is shown being isolated and shows isolation towards her ex partner in the video by turning her back to him and singing the lyrics 'who do you think you are running round leaving scars' to him, this shows she is clearly facing some kind of heartbreak.

Editing is also vital, this allows changes to be made in the video and cuts to be made, transisitons such as fade and dissolve are effects used alot in music videos because they are an easy way to show how an edit has been made.

Lighting, Props, Costume and Sound are also important and are used to express different moods and feeling and help keep the audience captivated in the video. Props,Costume and Lighting are for the visual aspect and are used to keep the audience interested by what they see. Sound is very important as the song has to have some revelance to the video and sometimes directors choose to have conversation between people in music videos to relate to whats going on and so that it links to the song and storyline within the video.