Transcript Codes and Conventions

Codes and Conventions
James Stevens
First music video: Alt J - Left Hand Free
Establishing shots
Establishing shots
These shots set the scene and mood of the music video. In the start of the video they
have use nature and calm scenes to create a unity with the music and its natural
surroundings, this gives the audience the impression that the music has a deep
connection with rural environments and natural influences. It also shows how the song
is setting a “feel good” mood by showing warm summer days which could spark
memories or create idealised locations for summer plans/ideas within the viewer which
fits well with the upbeat and feel good mood of the song.
Contrasting establishing shots
Contrasting establishing shots
The shots here contrast with the first few establishing shots as they show unity
between humans and nature. The colour range stays the same as before which
shows how the people and nature are harmonious to each other. It also makes the
music video flow more fluidly.
It has also made me think about the use of a specific colour range for my music
video to make it show a storyline that clearly flows and doesn’t clash within itself.
First Person Perspective
First Person Perspective
Using first person perspective makes the video more inclusive to the audience as
it gives a sense of being in the moment to the viewer. It also makes the video
more relatable as it looks like footage that the viewer could of filmed themselves
which is a technique that is commonly used in documentary style videos and
videos made to look like they are homemade. I could use this technique to make
my music video more relatable to the audience and to add more narrative.
Flume - More Than You Thought
Kaleidoscope effect
Kaleidoscope effect
The use of lights and mirroring creates a kaleidoscope effect which can create
interesting content in the music video. It also sets a mood within the video of a
strangeness or an unnatural feel to the music video. It is also not a very common
technique used in music videos which could be used to stimulate the viewer and keep
their attention. However using this effect too much in a music video could become
repetitive and boring because it adds no narrative and usually looks very similar.
The kaleidoscope effect could be an interesting way to split up a narrative in my music
video however it would be challenging to perfectly use it the right amount so not to
make the video confusing or repetitive.
Filter/Overlay
Filter/Overlay
While editing, there has been a use of a vignette filter which changes the mood of the
music video to dark/creepy whereas if there were no vignette the music video would
have a more mystical vibe. The use of a filter has changed the mood drastically and I
will use filters where appropriate in my music video to convey the feeling I want
people to have while watching my music video.
There is also use of a purple overlay to keep the colour range very similar and
undistracting from the content of the video. It is a subtle but effective way to make the
narrative easier to follow with less distraction for the viewer.
Conclusion
From my research I now understand about several different techniques that I can
use for my music video such as, how to effectively create a specific colour range
and why it is important to have one as well as how I can use different techniques
while editing to create a desired mood, look and feel to my music video such as
the use of colours and filters. I have also gained more understanding in how
important the uses of angles and content are when filming. Angles help develop
characters without having dialog within the narrative which is necessary in a
music video. A story based narrative is the main part of the video but I also can
use other footage to break up a narrative or to change the mood of the entire
video.