Codes and Conventions - Music videos

 List of codes and conventions for production:

• Often begins as some sort of film, but then cuts to the band performing.​ - CHALLENGE
• Often has cuts between performing band and the story. The band will often be playing whilst the  chorus is going and there is more of a loud, fast paced part of the song going on. During verses, the narrative video plays again, as it is a calmer part of the song. - USE, but change it slightly.
• Story often follows some kind of narrative that is resolved by the end. Often is resolved well but  often ends with somebody dying. Either the protagonist or the antagonist. - CHALLENGE
• Mostly wide shots but also close-ups used throughout. The close-ups are used to show more emotion of the characters.​ - USE
• Mainly mid-shots but often the use of low angled shots. Low angled shots are mainly used when people walk above, or they walk past. These walking shots are often moving shots as well as being low angled.​ - USE
• Tends to open the video either on a far shot where the character either comes into frame, or the camera moves onto the character if they begin by being stationery. - CHALLENGE
• Normally, the videos only really take place in a few different locations. One location is often used several times throughout the video. Sets tend to be fairly minimal especially if a character has a flashback or a past memory. - USE
• Often two shots will overlap, and one will slowly fade out as the scene changes. When a character has a thought, they often fade the shots in and out.​ - CHALLENGE
• A cleverly executed transition using moving set pieces or changes using one type of colour (sometimes using props) will be used. ​- CHALLENGE
• Most of the time, shots will just cut between one another normally, with maybe 3 or 4 smooth transitions in a video. The sudden cuts are used often when the setting changes. - USE
• In most of the music videos I have watched, the artist seems to be in the video, either as the main character who sings along to the song.​ - USE
• They also don't always sing along to the song but most times they do. In some of the songs, the artists only sing along to certain parts of the song such as the chorus or a certain verse etc.​ - USE
• Most of the time, the shots will change from being the main narrative video into the band performing, either live or pre-recorded. - CHALLENGE
• In some cases, the credits roll as the music and video slowly fade out. ​- USE
• In one or two videos, there may be a post credit scene after the first few credits that talk about actors and directors roll, then after the rest of the credits roll like the sound designers and costume designers etc. This very rarely happens though.​ - USE
• Most of the time, the video fades and a regular page with credits that alternate appears. The page often shows credits and then has a web link at the end telling the viewer where to visit next. - CHALLENGE
• The artist seems to appear in their music video and are almost always the main character. They do this so that their lip syncing seems more natural to the viewer as they have obviously made the song and so sung it before.​ - CHALLENGE
• Main artist is the main character, but the other band members are performing (just performing on instruments). - CHALLENGE
• Lighting is often used to show a character's emotions when inside. (often the classic red=anger, blue=sadness etc). - CHALLENGE
• Normally a more natural looking light is used when it is set outside.​ - USE
• Several different coloured gels used throughout. Changes depending on atmosphere or the setting.​ - CHALLENGE
• Sometimes the light source is visible for the viewers depending on what it is. - USE
• Rather extravagant and eccentric outfits are used for most characters since the videos play out like a film. This means that it is difficult to pin down one particular commonly used convention for outfits as they are never alike in the videos.​ - CHALLENGE
• Depends on the narrative for the type of costume. Costumes range from suits in more formal videos and then t-shirts and shorts in the less formal videos. - CHALLENGE