*BE SURE TO VIEW THIS POWERPOINT AT FULL
SCREEN WHERE THE ANIMATIONS CAN BE
VIEWED AS THEY HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY
PLACED AND TIMED TO MAKE CERTAIN PARTS
READ BETTER. WITHOUT THEM THE
POWERPOINTS WILL APPEAR UNREABALE
AND MESSY.
THANKS
2008 XL
Recordings
Limited.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T8tYL2bqGQ&feature=fvst
Cinematography:
•
•
•
•
Shot types typically alternate between Close Up (CU)/Extreme Close Ups (ECU) and Wide
shots (WS).
CU used when focus is on artist as she lip syncs. This keeps our focus on the actress and in
particular her words and not so much her image or appearance. It also establishes the fact
she is the artist of the song.
WS (+ High Angle (HA) ) are used to show the storyline of the dead couple being acted on the
pavement or them as they really are, dead with a chaos of people around them, and later
medical practitioners. These shots types serve as showing the entire scene. The HA aspect
also helps show they’re in need of help as this shot type makes them appear more
vulnerable.
LA shots are also used on the singer, Adele for most the video. It is not such an obvious angle
as with the dead couple, but still gives an effect of drawing vulnerability into her role in the
video which fits the lyrical song content. Furthermore it strengthens the link between her
and the couple on the floor, suggesting their love story isn’t so different from her own and
perhaps this is where she shall too end up.
Due to the long duration of shots, commonly to keep interest of the audience, the shot will
be a panning one. This way a shot is gradually displayed, keeping the audience from seeing
everything in one go. In the instances of showing the car accident with the medics all around
this is used to the greatest effect.
The point of view of the entire video is shot from that of an onlooker. This is typical for most
music videos as it allows the artist to be viewed. Another followed convention is the fact the
artist looks at the camera, this is a convention very unique to the genre of music video and is
important as it gives the effect of making the artist seem to be singing directly to the
audience, establishing a connection that might influence more people to buy into their image
and music. However, the direct eye-contact with artist to camera is not actually very
common. This suits the music video, however, being about an emotional pain. It recreates
the distance felt by the artist with her emotional pain from other people.
Editing:
•
•
•
•
•
Unconventionally shot duration is long (being more than a few seconds) so their are fairly
infrequent cuts, but this is more at the beginning. Later once the chorus has been established
and the music thus increases pace cuts then becomes more a little more frequent. The slow
pacing created by these techniques matches the slow and emotional tone of the song.
Later when the shot durations increase this is because the tune has become more upbeat.
The chorus is where the storyline of the dead couple is acted out on the pavement. This links
these scenes directly with the words of the chorus, which is fitting considering the lyrics
involve “chasing pavements”. It also brings focus to these character’s storylines
strengthening a link between them and possibly the artist’s love life.
Changes in shot occur on beat. With every change of music in particular the shot will change.
For example when the music is very sedate and calm at the spot the shots showed are very
bland in content being of a car park. Once the artist starts singing the edit is made so that the
shot of her singing at a CU is instantly shown. Then when the music begin to gain more pace
the shot cuts to the chaotic scenes of people running to the dead couple by their smoking
car.
Straight cuts are always used during the video. This keeps all the cuts between Adele and
dead couple showing that these are separate storylines. There are only two instances in
which the fading technique is used for shots and this is at the beginning and end of the video.
For the beginning this suits the slow melodic start, keeping it a gentle, calm start up to the
song. The end fade does the ob of relating back to the start, as well as relates to the last shot.
This shot is of the dead couple being taken away by the medical staff so fading may symbolize
death and an end.
Mise-En-Scene:
•
•
•
•
There is no use of a studio. This is a rather convention defying thing. Normally, studios will be
used at least for one point of the video. However, looking at the other music videos by Amy
Winehouse, Duffy and Joss Stone only one of those three seem to use a studio
(Winehouse’s), suggesting it is not a convention of this genre of music.
Instead the video is filmed in the everyday environment of a park and road. This gives a less
star-quality to the singer putting an emphasis on the lyrical content and emotions in her
voice which can be related to the lives of average people, instead of her image. From this is in
fact additionally suggests things about her image being quite average and that she doesn’t
come from a particularly wealthy background.
To match with the chosen locations the artist additionally wears very everyday, wintery
clothing. The lack of glamour to her wardrobe again puts more a focus on her music rather
than her image. Her make-up is quite natural and plain, except for her eyes which have thick
eyeliner all around them. This draw more attention to them. The eyes are one of the most
expressive features of the human body therefore this puts emphasis on emotions for what
the song is about. Furthermore, looking at Adele’s CD covers and websites it becomes clear
showing the artist’s face and bringing attention to her eyes with make-up is her brand or
motif.
Figure expressions are serious and sad, relating to the song’s lyrics, the tones of the singer
and pacing of the song. It enhancing the overall mood of the video and music.
Narrative:
• The video is somewhat abstract in its content as the main narrative the
story of a couple who’ve had a car crash. Beginning with them dead on the
floor and later showing them act out on the pavement the story of their
relationship. The actors are able to behave as if standing upright and
interacting, whilst actually lying on the floor of the pavement. Once these
sequences are complete the characters return to their positions of being
dead, to re-establish the fact they are. This oddity in an idea is an
interesting way of showing that they’re still dead and this is merely them
acting out the past.
• Adele, the artist, does feature in the video, which is conventional for the
pop genre. As discussed in editing the cuts from her to the dead couple as
well as similar camera angle suggest a connection between her position
and theirs.
• A male, who is first seen in the car with Adele is cut to from time to time.
His glances at her at start suggest him and the artist to be romantically
involved in the video. Perhaps it is o be presumed he is what the lyrics are
referring to when they talk of deciding whether to pursue something even
if it “leads no where”.
• There is actually an issue with this video in that as later explored in the
research of the YouTube comments beneath the video many did not
understand the video due to its abstract content.
Representation:
• The motif/brand of artist in regards to photography is an interesting
one. I expect the reason for it is probably, because in the music
business there is much emphasis on beauty and Adele does not
have the media-’ideal’ figure so to sell this artist shot types she
must try to hide her figure as much as possible and focus on her
more media-pleasing aspects such as her green eyes.
• The male in the video who is seen in the car that Adele was in plays
a stereotype defying role in that he behaves emotionally, showing
sadness and distress through his figure expression. Furthermore
Adele is the one to leave him in the car, suggesting she is the more
powerful one. What’s more her sad expressions seem more
contained and controlled showing strength even at times, making
the man the more emotional one. This also defies stereotypes. This
is important for this artist as her appeal is going to be more to
females who do wish to seem woman used in objectifying ways.
Girls these days prefer strong characters for role models.
Conclusion
• A combination of techniques are used to
establish a sad mood to the music video which
matches the song and lyrical content of the
song.
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