Conventions of music videos

Mise-en-scene

This is the arrangements of the performers as well as the clothes they wear. It is also the setting and the different props. Mise-en-scene can be used to show meaning and depth. For instance in Eminems music video "Stan".



From this image you can see how the character is in a small dark room , which shows how he is lonely and un happy. The scene is full of images of one person which shows how this person obviously has an obsession with somebody. The lighting is very dim, but has a flashing light just over the main character, this represents his short bursts of anger and confusion.

Editing

Music videos are tend to only be around 3-4 minuets long on average, therefore a lot of editing is requires for the audience to understand the story or the meaning that may be in the video in that short amount of time. For instance many music videos slow down time with slow motion to prolong certain scenes, which they want to be noticed. For instance "It's time" by Imagine Dragons has many scenes which are slowed down especially when the artists are in frame.

Editing can also involve adding in special effects after filming for instance the use of green screen allows editors to choose the background and control the setting and lighting of the whole scene. Special effects have allowed the image below to be in Imagine Dragons video, as it appears as if the artists is floating. 

Camera Shots

Close ups are used in many music videos as they help to show the emotion of the videos characters. For instance in James Arthur's Say You Won't Let Go, close ups are featured continuously throughout the video to show how he feels.

 Establishing shots are usually used during the start of music videos to set the scene for the story. For example in Twenty One Pilot's Heathens there is an establishing shot of the prison which is where the they are held prisons.

 Long shots are heavily used as they allow the audience to see everything that is going on around the artist, allowing the artist to show off their creativity. For instance in The Chainsmokers, Closer there is a long shot of the artist as he travels through a vast landscape. This long shot allows the audience to clearly see his surroundings.