Genre Similarity; Visual Elements:Tom Rosenthal - A Thousand Years:

For me, both the track and music video are beautifully simple. The concept of him playing this pretend piano, just cutting between different locations. Tom’s video has such beautiful composition and the change of

location works alongside the music. This idea of location change is something I may also use in my own music video. Tom’s musical sound

of acoustic-like folk music is similar to that of my ownchosen track, the natural surroundings and simplicity of the concept being something which

enhances the music alongside, which is what I’d also like to create. The video having no narrative or real story to it passes attention to the track.

Tom Odell - I Know:The music video is set in one basic location,

again, another simple concept of the camera just tracking Tom as a performer.

Tom walking through the trees with a misty aesthetic, creating the empty forrest to look

scenic and mysteriously peaceful. The ambient sunlight shining through the trees

adds to the visuals. For my own production I wish to have a scene where the light comes down

through some trees, so these frames from Tom’s video act as inspiration for me to create my own

original interpretation.Lucy Rose - Shiver:

The music video for this song, for me, creates a nostalgic atmosphere, the elderly man walking around where he used to constantly be, the concept is something I like alongside the lyrics. But I’ve chosen this music video to talk about the visual colour grading that has occurred in post-production. The images feel faded and dulled-out. For me, this enhances that nostalgia and highlights how everything has changed around him, presenting places he no longer recognises. I think it’s important to be complimenting the music with the visuals, in whatever way that

may be, even if that means using an ironic binary opposite.

Genre Similarity; Visual Elements:

Nick Mulvey - Cucurucu:This music video has seemingly very little narrative structure in terms of a plot-line;

instead showing two young boys and their horses on the beach. I think I’m really drawn to this video because of the rawness and naturalness about it. I felt like I was just

witnessing two friends having a great time, being young and free with no worries; in the most amazing of locations. The concept so simplistic, yet the shots they’ve managed to achieve are beautiful. This naturalness is something I hope to somewhat use in my own

music video. In comparison to other videos I’ve looked at, this one seems a lot more brighter and vibrant, possibly due to the foreign location or even because the ambient lighting has been used. Making the piece seem more real, there may have been some plans for the piece, but as a viewer it seems improvised, which is somewhat unusual in

the industry. The wide and two shots show the wideness of the empty beach, the

Hozier - Take Me To Church :This music video is completely in black and white; I think it helps the distinct contrast between the fire and silhouettes created by its back-lighting.

The video seems to be making a rather strong political statement.Telling the story of a gay couple, forced apart by religion, is how I interpret

it, which is represented by both the lyrics and the gang which separate them. I believe you expect the ending to be happy, the man being rescued.

When instead, you can presume the opposite, that he’s been killed.I think the choice to end it on such a poignant and harrowing message has

a bigger impact about what they’re trying to convey.

horses cantering across the beach. I feel like the video is a statement about the youth, these boys not owning technology or having possessions on them. Just living in the moment, being so happy and free, which I feel is strongly presented here.

Hudson Taylor - Chasing Rubies:The two male performers in the video, in the same location; the yellow jetty from which they jump off towards the end. There are two parallel narratives; the performers and the female.

However, visually I really like the range of shots used, the shots of her lying in the road smoking have a muted colour aesthetic and dark tone to them,

The 1975 - Settle Down:This is one of my favourite music videos for the way the title card is shown; the aesthetic tone of black and white with the ocean frames the text creatively. The

young boy being beautifully lit non-dietetically, key lighting allowing him to stand out from the dark background.

As a viewer, at points you feel you’re being invasive; seeing the mother’s weariness and possible concern, un-invited yet looking into

a sensitive issue of their lives, making you feel uncomfortable that you’re invading their privacy, the notion of looking enhanced. This also occurs with father and son in the car, his dad keeping a wary eye on him, yet the boy notices, like he expects his parents to be trying to watch him and make sure he’s behaving. Watching the

music video as a whole; you realise he’s seemingly different. Having another boy who looks similar, their different which is expressed when the touching hands, immediately letting off this bright white light; which is heightened by the black and white contrast, emphasising the tone, cutaways from this show everyone else in the city collapsing to the floor, their united power ultimately being so powerful; possibly reflecting

the importance of friendship or even originality.

The woman in the video is shown through extreme close-ups, possibly reflecting the

closeness and intimacy of their relationship,connecting this to the lyrics. It does feel, from the point of view shot, voyeuristic, following the young woman around and due to the camera being so close-up, slightly intrusive. The concept of the male-

gaze may apply here; the patriarchal media industry focusing on aspects of the woman which are deemed desirable by society standards of beauty.

contrasting with the optimistic lyrics. The composition of the shots are beautiful; both the two men and the woman being centred during transition, but also her lying down body framing the shot.

In addition, I liked the lighting design in two shots; the haze-y natural looking light adding slight rim and back

lighting to the female. These shots using the rule of thirds, adding to the structured composition.

Genre Similarity; Visual Elements:

Genre Similarity; Visual Elements:Mumford and Sons - Lover of the Light :

I find it really interesting when an artist creates a music video for a song, and when I first see it, I think I’d have never associated those two things; the song and visuals, to work together. In my opinion; this song is one of those. The music video composed by Dan Cadan, British screenwriter. It includes a blind businessman, played by Idris Elba, who seems troubled and then flees into

the wild and running free. The video is constantly cutting between him and a stag.

The scenes of the man running through the forest highlight his confusion, how he seems lost, without his sight he seemingly just follows his instinct. The tracking movements of the camera feels like the viewer is trying to catch up with him.

As I’m using a setting involving a forrest like location, I’m taking some inspiration from these scenes, tracking the man as he runs towards the setting sun through tress.

The deer representing him in his most natural form; a metaphor for not being restrained, symbolising freedom. He’s even shown to be slightly animalistic, running

The diegetic sunset behind the man as he seems panicked and confused, the beautiful sky silhouetting him, which I’m sure would have been enhanced in post-production. My interpretation of these beach scenes reflect how he feels; being blind and struggling enough with that, but he’s completely alone. Wide shots show the sparse, empty beach; with no one to help and

support him. The business suit reflects he has some status, which creates the idea that someone as ‘normal’ and regular as him can be suffering internally. Battling with himself, completely alone. The stunning sunset and vast beach being just a backdrop to

his breakdown, this emphasises his distraught and suffering which represents his internal insecurities. As he wakes up, standing by the window and stretching, it cuts to this image (right). I interpreted it to show the binary opposite of his freedom; instead, it looks like he’s imprisoned and trapped, reaching for escape. Acting as a metaphor; he feels trapped inside his own home, reflecting how he may feel

like an outcast from society. And only happy when he flees, running free.

through the forest and trying to escape his problems. The main shots of the deer are extreme close-ups, possibly reflecting how close you are meant to perceive them to be, almost like they’re turning into the same

creature as he searches for his freedom. During the first cuts to the deer the tone is much darker, a more blue and grey filter reflecting his uncomfortable and struggling mental position. Battling himself for what he’s living

with. However, later on when you see the deer, the tones are warmer, possibly reflecting growth and change for him. However, I don’t feel like at the end of the video you are meant to think he’s completely fine. To me, it’s reflected as an ongoing battle he’s facing. The last scene is him screaming in silence. Symbolising how he’s

finally calling out for help, yet no one is there to hear him.

His actions of running towards the sunset are symbolic themselves; almost like it’s a timer, slowing running out, acting as a countdown. I really love the composition of these shots, the sun centred in the frame, acting as ambient rim

lighting which frames the male’s silhouette. I just think that the image created is brilliant with the song and concept of the video. The trees acting as barriers in his way, but at the same time framing and adding depth to the shot.

The choice to keep the camera movement rather jolty and not fully stabilised is interesting; however, I think this adds to the movement being rushed and desperate, which presents him to be

so determined in reaching the cliff before sunset.

(Continues)

Right at the end of the video, this beautiful shots of him running through long grass, his hands out, and the ambient lighting of the sunsetting creates a warm golden glow, slow motion

emphasises his desperation to reach this point.A drone, used to create a sweeping birds-eye view shot, allows the viewer to feel the speed of him, and peer over the edge of the cliff. Which could represent how close he’s getting to the

edge; both literally and emotionally, being at breaking point.These shots of him on the end of the cliff, at first you’re distanced for him, he looks tiny;

swamped by surroundings, then you get closer, feeling sympathetic towards him.

Genre Similarity; Visual Elements:

Ben Howard - Only Love:Specifically, I take inspiration from the use of framing in this video; using the

surrounding environment. The rock ledge which the person jumps over reflects this gap; the natural rock and faded colour grading making the

image have a nostalgic aesthetic. In comparison to the sharper image of Ben himself riding a bike across this bridge,

which is brighter and more defined with the metallic and modernised look. In the same video the contrast between modern and older tones help link to the change in emotion of the lyrics. The song relating to the lyrics is a usually common factor of this genres’ music videos; how poetic and metaphoric or obvious and

blunt depends on the director and production.

The use of shadows and lighting is also prominent in Ben Howard’s video; the use of his shadow in the performance spotlight may reflect his internal insecurity and a different side of his personality to what you see on stage.

The underwater scenes have amazing cinematography the brightness in the background and darker framing which highlights his body in the water, the composition of the shot being cleverly clear under the water, a clever choice of location, which I think worked

alongside complimenting lyrics with a visual aspect.

Also, the out of focus image on the railway line is a shot I really like. It features so briefly in the video, but I think it’s one of my favourite parts; the choice to have the

silhouetted figure, from backlighting, may reflect multiple interpretations, but I think it was an interesting choice to use. The very basic imagery; the bare tree and peaceful,

yet real danger he’s in, yet it seems calm and secluded.