Unit 18- Cinematography- M2

M2

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Codes and Conventions

Codes and conventions are the techniques used in order to communicate certain ideas or construct meanings. Codes are systems of signs which create meaning and conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. Technical codes are the technical elements of the video including camera angles and shots, sound, lighting and editing. Symbolic techniques are how the meanings are conveyed through the use of body language, mise en scene and actions of characters/artists. I have followed most of these codes and conventions through out the music video. 

Camera shots and camera angles that i have used are all different through out. I even used landscape and portrait angles when filming, this created cool effects in my music video. I had made sure i had close up angles and medium shots on the main singer, this creates that personal connection with the audience and it also shows a clear image. Then i have wide and moving backward shots, these shots show the full length of the room making sure the dancers are in the shot and that there is a clear view of the stage. These shots are a nice change and a good variety of angles to make the video a lot more interesting. I also used high angle shots looking down on the girls, this is to get a bit of depth and to make it look like there are cameras all over them. I think these worked perfectly. I also used mid shots and some central shots to make sure i have all the shots covered and it make it very exciting. The different clips made the video look like a professional montage and that's what i was hoping for. 

Editing, this is very important, this part of the music video is what makes it a music video. We need to make sure all the clips fit into the song and to make sure each clip will hit the right beats. Or else the video wont flow and it will look messy and that's not what we want. I made sure i hit all the beats of the song i chose. The song has millions of beats within so i had to make sure while filming i got as many as i could. I had to make sure that when the song makes a beat the clip aligns with that beat. This took a long amount of time but i managed to hit every one and it looked amazing. Each clips worked perfectly foreach beat. jump cuts and different editing styles were used. Jump cuts is what i used and this is when each clips jumps into another to show a quick action giving a montage of clips effect. This is used all through out my music video and it work so well with the beats and matching the style of the music.

Sound is a big part in this without music it is just a video. This song is upbeat, fun and just a really good boogie song. I wanted to make sure that the editing matched this and the song was at its best quality. The volume levels were checked and this it to make sure the audience gets the best sound experience. There were no jumps or blips in the song and so this worked well. 

Mise en scene covers a range of aspects such as props, location, lighting, hair, make-up etc. These elements are used to convey a message or meaning of the video as well as representing the artist in a certain way (especially with the use of costume and make-up). Make-up, the makeup is an important part of the video, i asked my dance girls to come in light but dance like makeup. Not too over the top but enough to make it look like they were there to party. Like the song it is a very dance based song and so they knew what kind of vibe to go for,. I also did the same. The makeup wasn't too much of a big part in this one. However, the consume meant everything. I asked the dance girls to come in costumes that looked like they were going to an old hip-hop club or some dance festival. I also did the same to match their vibes. This all tied in with the music and i made sure that everything linked so that the audience could make sense of the atmosphere. Dark and bright clothing was used to get brilliant effect when mixing with the lighting too. I also did the same thing with their hair, something that matched the vibe of the song and of a dance atmosphere. Same with the props, i only had one prop and it was a vintage microphone and i thought this was great to connect the looks together. 

Lighting was very important. I made sure i had a different range of lights. I had white lights above us on the stage like spotlights but a bit dimmer. I had color lights all throughout the music video to make it seem like you are in a club or a dance festival or something of that atmosphere. This then matched with the music video and song. I think wanted to have the lights to change and be all over the place on the girls and making sure i have so many different colours that change to get that fun and exiting atmosphere. 

The location is also everything. I am glad i picked this song and this type of music video because I'm a dancer and i have a dance studio with a stage and lighting already. I used this to my advantage and that became my filming point and that i was going to film a dance video there. This worked perfectly and it was safe i followed all the risk assessments and i made sure that everything would run smoothly there and it did. The stage had a backdrop and lighting that i could change when i wanted and the girls also knew what it was like because it is their studio too and so we were safe. It was a perfect set up. 

The purpose of my music video is to entertain. I want people to put this video on and have a dance and a boogie. TikTok is very popular and i wanted it to have that sort of connection and video. That is why i used portrait to film close up shots to give it that TikTok look. This video is very put beat and has a tonne of dance moves in it and so I'm hoping that when people play this song watch this video they can get up and have a dance too with the dancers on the screen. It is a very fun doing and it has that dance element to it with the beats in the song too. It is friendly for anyone to listen too and so i want it to be there for people to be entertained and to have a boogie. I think i have followed this because i have made sure to get the dance elements in there for people to copy and join in. 

Codes and Conventions Example 

This shows the lighting that i have used well which is a code and conventions. This shot has the background with small fairy lights which is just appealing to the eye and makes the background look interesting. I then had LED ceiling lights on flashing at the dancers to get multiple colours  and to have a disco kind of effect. This is great because it matching in with the style of my music video and it also makes the dancers look bright and clear on screen. It makes the colours of their clothes pop and it shows you who the subject is in this shot. This also links in with the camera angles. This angle is central and a mid shot which shows who is the most important in this shot. I think this was done well and shows that i have matched the style to my video and used the codes and conventions. 

This also shows that i have used lighting and angles to help you know what style of music video this is and it gives meaning to the shot. This is a close up of us so it is personal it is showing the audience who we are. It is also full of colour which is there to link in with the style of music video i have chosen. I also can see in this shot that the makeup and costumes which linking in with mise en scene is also showing in this shot. The hair and makeup tells the audience what the style of the music video it and it shows link. It also tells the audience what kins of era is it in and what theme we are going for and it gives the audience and insight on what is gong on and how to be in that atmosphere. 

This shows the lighting and camera and use of camera. The lighting is plain and bright and i have the lighting shining all over me, this is to show who is in frame and how is most important in the shot. It also shows a clear view of me and what is important. The neutral lighting looks slightly more professional. I wanted to have two different lighting, chaotic party like and a calming but more professional take, this was to get a contrast of having the chaotic/ dance shots and then a professional singing shot. I have found a few music videos do this so it makes the music video interesting and different instead of the same shot all the time. That is what I did here. It also creates different moods when it comes to using different lighting, colours are fun and neutral is simple yet clear. 

This shot is very powerful in my opinion it shows many things when it comes to meaning. It shows the party style that I am looking for, it also shows joy with everyone jumping around and smiling having fun. It also shows togetherness and what it means when you are with people you love it brings energy and happiness and it makes you want to dance. This links in with the symbolic codes and the meaning of shots in media. I feel like this shot shows so many meanings and it also expresses the style I am wanting my music video to be. 

Compare

A video that is similar to my music video is another music video by Rihanna called Umbrella, this is also a bit of a montage of clips involving a dance sequence, mining of the music with closeup shots, lots of light and colour. This is on a bit more of a professional level with a lot more elements to it however, the basic main conventions are there still. The atmosphere makes you want to join in and dance and that's what i have tried to replicate. here area few clips to show you the similarity and how i have created this type of style. 

Here are my examples... 

I thought that these shots to me look similar, my shot is a slow motion shot that shows power, togetherness and beauty. It also sets the scene, shows you what’s coming up. It’s very professional and it is a montage of these types of clips. This is very similar to mine and I feel like they both show that convention of a music video. The shots are showing meaning while being entertaining. The professional video has lighting that is very powerful and it shows the audience who is important in the shot, it is showing the main subject is glowing suggesting she’s the main character. The makeup and costume matches with the style of the music video, it is bold and fun. This doesn’t just link in with the style of the lighting and costumes but it also matches the powerful fun song/ style. This is what I have done with my music video. I have linked the style of the song with the style I’m filming in. Please don’t stop the music suggests the songs never stop the partying is forever and have the best time. That is what I have done with my music video. The dancing never stops the singing is forever and it’s a disco until the music stops. The lighting in my shot show that style like the professional shot is showing that’s to come. Also the editing style is a montage like style and this is what I have incorporated into my music video. This shows the link to my music video and a professional style. I have used these as inspiration to make sure I follow the right codes and conventions of a professional music video. 

I picked this shot due to the codes and conventions of music videos. The camera angles is what I wanted to talk about and the lighting. The lighting is again different it’s more dulling and that changes the mood of the professional shot. It is very moody and it shows little highlights of her face, this is a close up shot and is very personal. This gives the audience a bit of an intense connection. I think that’s important because it shows the audience can listen and understand the lyrics. If someone is talking to you from afar are they going to listen intensely or are they not going to understand you. However, if you are close then someone is mor likely to be invested and listen. This is why I have done the same. Using close up shots are a lot more connecting to the audience and is very personal. I like that meaning and connection and so that’s why I used this angle and lighting. To create meaning, connection and mood. That is a part of a music video and that’s what I needed in mine to make it a music video. 

This shot is something a bit more different it’s about performance. Depending on the type of music video a few of them involve dancing and a performance. This doesn’t always have to be in a music video however, it is in mine and the professional one that I picked. The performances are both upbeat, they are fun and enjoyable to watch. Each music video has different lighting which matches the style of music video. One is very colourful and disco like. Whereas one is relating to a specific theme which is rain and city like and so that’s the lighting involved. This is how you can link the codes and conventions of a music video with a performance also being involved. You can add a dance in but if it doesn’t match the style then it won’t look like a part of a music video. This is why researching is at best and seeing what works with styles and songs. These performances also create meaning and relation to songs, this is what I like about the link with my music video and a professional one. 

Summary

I think that i have done a great job at following the conventions and codes of a music video. I have used each code and conventions to my advantage and they all worked out so well. I manged to hit each of them and explain what i did. I'm happy with the outcome of the final piece. The lighting and editing worked well hand in hand making sure i got so many different lights with colours and without to give it atmosphere. The editing was a long process but i needed to make sure i could hot every beat of the song with i managed to do and have a jump cut style to it. The hair, costumes and makeup all tied in with each other and work with the dance vibe of the music and the lighting then worked with this too. The location was a safe and perfect environment which was perfect. I think all the codes and conventions were matched all together and tied in with one another to make this a great music video.