Research: Six Stills

Six Stills

Some of my favourite music videos can teach me a lot on camerawork, lighting, editing and meanings of the shot. Here are some of the screenshots of the MV's I listen to:

1) Alright: Kendrick Lamar

This is a wide-shot of policemen carrying an old American Muscle during the beginning of the Music video. Inside the car is Kendrick rapping as he gets carried off by four policemen. The song "Alright" reflects on the inequality of whites and the colored in America. It also reflects on the corruption of police officers that are increasing in numbers this year. The use of Black and White filters clearly executes the message. Black and white filters that are used throughout the entire music video indicates the clashing of white and colored people of America and the unnecessary violence acted by the police. 

In terms of the still image itself. The positioning of the policemen who are lifting the car brings question to the audience. Are they assisting Kendrick and the music video is all about the true meaning of equality and fairness. Or are the police taking desperate measures in escorting colored people to jail for no particular reason. The choice of a car is used in this because it is a stereotype in the U.S during the 1960's-90's, black men are seen as people who steal and cause crime. As a result, Kendrick Lamar is trying to tell the audience how mislead white people are and how corrupted the system is by using a common stereotype to judge others who are innocent. In terms of editing, it is clearly seen that the car and the police have 2 separate frames and are combined together during the scene of the still  image.

This still image makes me learn the concepts of editing objects into a frame and to create meaning for my music video, sending a message to the audience discussing about social problems in the world.



2) Take Care: Drake

This still image of drake falling into pieces requires a lot of editing. The actual part of the music video was taken by a slow motion camera and captured scenes of animals in slow motion such as a bull shivering and humming birds flying in slow motion. The slow motion of the scene signifies how love can slow things down and the beauty of a women can brainwash a person, breaking him into pieces. 

I enjoy this music video because of its unique camerawork and editing which consists of mostly slow motion cameras which goes well with a slow tune. At first, I was considering taking up this idea and use of camerawork to my music video coursework alongside with a slow and smooth song, something like Drake's "Take Care" song. This MV taught me the concepts of editing and showed me the beauty behind slow motion camerawork which I am considering to take up more.

3) No Church in the Wild: Jay Z & Kanye West

Again with another conceptual MV. No Church in the Wild is a music video that expresses the break of religion. People breaking the pyramid life as they try to overthrow God. But first, they need to go through God's guadians of justice (police). It highlights the rage of people as the lyrics itself in the song gradually fills the listener with rage. In addition to adding video, the MV uses different objects to signify rage. 

For example the wide shot shown above. Where the camera is focused only to the person who is about to throw the molotov as he is backed up with other men. In terms of mis-en-scene, the positioning of the mob and the molotov person are significant. It gives evidence that the person throwing the molotov is carrying the rage of the other mobbers as if he is releasing the fire on behalf of the members of the mob who back him up.  Fire spreads wherever there's oil, in this case, after the molotov is dropped, the fire spreads in the exact same shape of the shadows of the other mob members. This marks the rage from the very beginning of the music video. 

This shot taught me how to use objects as a semiotic for particular reason. 

4) When I'm Gone: Eminem

For this music video, I focus on the editing because it is considered the strongest factor other than the portrayal in the MV. When I'm Gone is a song by Eminem where he was in his good rap years before going into rehabilitation. He has to choose between his life as a rapper and his life as a father. The main setting of the music video is taken place at a rehabilitation centre where Eminem is about to share his personal story about his daughter. 

 In this music video, Eminem makes his relationship with his daughter stronger by using different transition cuts to different incidences. One; to the exact moment he was with his daughter Hailie to two; the rehabilitation centre as he is sharing the story, this editing is scene throughout the music video to strengthen the bond between him and his daughter. Another location was used near the end of the music video which is the performance in Sweden but this shift is a smooth fade out cut with Eminem changing from loose rap clothing to a suit.

As seen here:

1)

2)

Second, Eminem uses fade out cuts to transport certain objects his daughter gave him from the same location as the first case of cuts to the other location. He used this twice, when his daughter gave him the necklace locket, and later used again when his daughter threw him the "#1 Dad" coin. These objects were used because it links both past and present together and to show that Eminem has a strong bond with her daughter due to the little memories and things his daughter did to him.

As seen here:

Locket:

Coin:

Lastly, the editing of sound as Eminem insert parts of his song lyrics to the actress who played his daughter. This was used to again, tell the audience about the strong bond. He and his daughter are one. 

This particular scene is similar to a conversation between father and daughter where first, Hailie says "Daddy its me! Help mommy, her wrist are bleeding". Then, Eminem replies "But baby we're in Sweden, how did you get to Sweden?" which is later replied by Hailie "I followed you daddy, you told me that you weren't leaving". All of this seems like a normal conversation, but in the music video, it feels like a rap battle between Eminem and his daughter. Audio is all done in Eminem's voice. 

This MV taught me how to use editing and a plethora of settings to create a strong and personal feeling. Also, it taught me that the "video" in the music video does not have to be in chronological order always.

5) Wings: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Wings is a song that discusses the addiction of basketball shoes to sneakerheads. It discusses the lies that a company makes to attract consumers through the use of a superstar basketball shoe the "Air Jordan" collection which is said to be one of the top performance sneakers and every year, there will always be a new line waiting. It highlights the actions of society being addicted to trends and thinking these objects are "special". 

In this mid shot of 2 pairs of Air Jordan 4's that can be visible in the frame. The shoes have the same colourway and design. However, the camera is focussed to one pair other than the other which shows the boy's popularity slowly fading away as he soon realizes that his "pair of shoes" are not special anymore and they are just another expensive pair which will one day be priceless. 

I can learn how to use camerawork to divide the level of significance of things. Furthermore, I can learn from the positioning (close to frame or far to frame) & (the angle of the object which can alter the level of importance) of the actors or objects to compare which is more higher in rank.

6) Airplanes: B.O.B ft. Hayley Williams (Paramore)

For the final still, what I like about this wideshot of B.O.B is the use of backlight or a projector that is shone towards him to achieve a "dreamlike" feeling as if being in the sky. Furthermore, I like the setting of the shot as well, being in a basement/ underground area with a cement wall to make the backlight visible, giving it an "artsy" style as well.  What I can learn from this final still is the ability to use space and backlight to create a "nostalgic" music video. 

via GIPHY