GENERAL CONVENTIONS 5: Cinematography + Editing

Possible Influences

• Special effects at drop
• Have editing pace link to pace of track at some points
• Large shot variety 
• Layering in post production
• Attempt robot arm movement 
• Have variety of stable camera angles + handheld (stabilized when appropriate) 

Summary

• Editing pace generally fits pace of track
• Special effects and cgi implemented at times
• Large variety of shot types
• Scope for creativity in post production
• Goodwin's theory of cutting to the beat
• Cutting between narrative and performance 

Vodcast
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Cinematography and editing is one of Andrew Goodwin's 6 conventions of music video. Being that there is usually a large shot variety and the editing and pace of editing is generally too the beat. The track I have chosen is Jebroer - Kind van de Duivel.

About Track 
Jebroer - Kind van de Duivel
Genre: Hardstyle
Release date: January 2017
Lyrics

Narrative
A young boy who has a hard family life decides to rebel and get a gun too steal things which ultimately results in his death.

Lyrics 
The main lyrics translated are:
Dutch:
Ik ben een kind van de duivel
Mama, jij hoeft niet te huilen
Feesten, alsof elke dag hier mijn laatste is
Hoop dat je deze draait op mijn begrafenis

English:

I'm a child of the devil
Mum, you don't have to cry now
Partying, like every day is my last
I hope you turn this song on at my funeral

These lyrics give a general idea of the track, and also link into the narrative.
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Analysis of Music Video

The music video ends the same way it started creating an effect of an unsolved narrative making the audience watch it again and again.

The opening shots start out with a little narrative enigma followed with a series of panning shots to establish who has made the track. This is an effective method of keeping the audience engaged with the music video.

The first narrative shot is a long shot slowly zooming into a medium long shot. The next shot is then a close up of the little boy singing the lyrics. Almost a jump cut in a way.

The track starts out fast paced but the editing pace does not relate to the track pace until the first "drop".

At 0:36 there is an over the shoulder shot, that is clearly indicating a conflict between the father and son.



When the buildup for the drop is happening there is a slight earthquake/flash special effect to the first beat which is preparing you for the drop. This is also a medium shot and two shot. The camera is also panning to the right as this is happening.


At 0:47
there is a handheld shot done on purpose for it is the boy who is angrily throwing stuff out from his cupboard. The handheld shot signifies action.


The earthquake/flash special effect with colour correction comes again in this shot with the second major drum hit. The pace has also increased and is cutting to the beat as the drop is getting closer. The earthquake/flash special effect also signifies the anger of the little boy in this video and helps anchor the narrative of the boy having a hard life.



At 1:09 there is a small speed up effect on the shot as the boy walks fast and slows down to a realistic pace. This is quirky but quite effective.


The whole sequence from 1:09 - 1:35 is a series of panning, handheld CU, MS and LS shots because this sequence happens during the drop. The editing pace is not that fast so they have to make up for it with all the different type of camera angles and shot types.


As the second drop happens the same earthquake/flash special effect happens. In a way all of these flashes are foreshadowing what is about to happen if you listen to the lyrics and watch the narrative of the child rebelling.


At 2:03 there is a low angle of one of the producers of the track who is acknowledging the boy. This shot signifies that the boy is still weak and not prepared for what is about to come.


At 2:17 we see a tracking/dolly shot of the boy walking confidently as if something is about to happen.

This shot happens right after a dramatic moment of a gun being fired. The flash signifies a muzzle flash from a gun, this effect is also used to transition the next part of the narrative which is a close up shot of a picture of the boy on top of a coffin. The close up slowly becomes an extreme long shot as the camera slowly panning out from the picture.     


3:13 There are two more close ups before revealing that people are carrying the coffin with a long shot.
The music video ends the same way it begins.


Additional Examples

This music video for PIXIES - INDIE CINDY has some interesting ideas with the whole narrative being in reverse. With special effects that show an old camera flicker, signifying the "flashbacks" of the central protagonist.



*warning: this track contains explicit content*Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar -  Kings Dead
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Kendrick Lamar always produces interesting videos in the sense of editing and cinematography and this one is no exception as one of the scenes, has been edited together with many layers put on top of each other, clips being both reversed and played on repeat. Multiple zooms and panning being done in post production as well to the beat.   

*warning: this track contains explicit content* Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
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The effect created here is using a robotic arm as this is not possible with handheld, steady cam or post production to make it so smooth. The robotic arm is programmed to stay focused on a subject and then move in unique ways to create this effect, either with the program or a controller. Its named motorized precision. There is a video created to explain all of the features used for this incredibly unique technique. The is no special effects or CGI added with this robotic arm. 
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Panic at the Disco - High Hopes 
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In this music video we follow the lead singer walking up a buildings sideways. Many shots are  obviously using a green screen and CGI plus special effects in post production to make this bizarre concept achieve verisimilitude as seen with the GIF below.  ...

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Mötley Crue - Kickstart My Heart
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Editing pace plays a huge factor in music videos. The editing pace in this music video clearly reflects the pace of the track. Special effects, the large variety of shot types as well as cutting between performance and narrative has made some of the sequences extremely fast paced.
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(JC)Guns N' Roses - November Rain

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The video opens with a close up of a man (Axl Rose) extinguishing a ciggy on his table and takes

some pills, the close up shows clearly the contents of the table and gives a slight idea to the viewer as to what kind of person he is. However because of the height of the camera angle there is narrative enigma as to who it is.

The lighting throughout these shots has a blue color correction, it gives a cold feeling to the shots which matches the content of drugs

 Part of the video is set in a large concert hall, the first shot we see of this is a large establishing shot, it looks over the hall and shows the scale. The orange color correction is a complete contrast to the previous shots.

 There are multiple shots of the band, these include, close ups, medium close ups and medium shots

 These shots are used to show a lot about the band, they show there clothing, props and setting. Again they are shown with the blue light however because the lighting is darker it doesn't have the same cold feel

The setting now changes so the common convention of a extreme long shot, establishing shot is seen

Throughout the video there are multiple uses of cross-fade transitions, these are heavily used and the transition lengths are quite long

Here slash can be seen with a low range of focus, he is completely blurred out and out of focus.

Here is a clever example of a use of special effects in editing, the room Axl Rose is sat in