2. Camera
As this is a music promo, It has given me more artistic freedom as from
research into music promos in general, they can be more abstract with
camera angles, I have done this in my video, which I felt I have used to
create the dark and surreal atmosphere that you’d expect from a metal
music promo. For example I have used low angles on the scenes of the
band, to make them seem like they should be looked up to, and you should
follow them, this is a common camera angle in metal music videos, and I felt
that this particular shot was essential. I have used close ups on objects like
a lit cigarette burning, which could symbolise that the protagonist’s life is
slowly burning away due to his alcohol problem.
3. Editing
The editing for my music was really important as I had to ensure the
the scene fitted well with the music video, for example there is
scene in which a bottle falls down some stairs and smashes, when
the bottle is falling down the stairs, each drop is in time with the
music, this makes it flow very nice, and then later on I have used the
same scene but shot in reverse, this adds to the surreal feeling to
the video. The use of cross cutting was used to show that both the
band performing and the protagonist Bob was happening at the
same time, for example when the Bob shoots himself, one of the
band member who actually plays Bob has a bit of break down, I
have done this to make it seem like it is all in one of the band
member’s head and that the rest of the band are unaware. During
the more fast music, the scenes had to be cut quicker to make them
fit together, which shorted a lot of scene, although the running time
is 4:14 minutes, which is the average time for a metal music promo,
but songs are usually longer than this, but I followed the traditional
way of cutting down the song for use of a music promo, which is
something that a lot of metal bands do.
4. Sound
This being a promotion for a new album, the sound was an
important part to the video, as there is barley any other
sound, other than the song ‘Season in Hell’ used for the
promo, although there is use of non-diagetic sound as
well such the bottle smashing, which if it was just on the
album it would not be present, but for the promo, I
decided that it should be heard to add to the
protagonist's ‘fragility’, another example is right at the
beginning, when the band are messing around, you can
one of the member burping, which has no meaning to
the promo, but I thought it added humour to it, and
showed the band playfulness.
5. Mise en scene
The mise en scene used in the music promo adds more depth to it, which I feel
makes it more like a feature film than promo, but I also think it worked very well
for a music promo as well, for example the use of alcohol makes the scenes
more serious, as the protagonist has an alcoholic, which is what the side story
of the promo is about, and I think that it was used a great signifier for the
character’s weakness and dependence. Another example of mise en scene is
the half-eaten sandwich which was used for comedic affect, as Bob the
protagonists puts his cigarette out in it, this has little meaning, although it
further shows Bob’s carelessness and mental state.
The costumes in the music promo, were quite normal as the band wore typical
metal music clothes such as; jeans, band t shirts and other dark clothing, to get
across to the audience that this is a metal band, although it is quite subtle and
not as over the top as other older metal bands have worn, which shows how up
to date the band is.
The colour used in the music promo are mixed, as I have used various filters to
give each scenes different effect and feels. For example when Bob got hit by
the train I used a ‘dreamy’ camera filter, which makes it more obvious to the
audience that it was just a nightmare. The use of black and white in the scenes
in which the band are performing was used to give a noir feel or of a
homemade quality, which I also used a metaphor to represent the band as
straight forward people and no gimmicks.
6. Mise en scene
The mise en scene used in the music promo adds more depth to it, which I feel
makes it more like a feature film than promo, but I also think it worked very well
for a music promo as well, for example the use of alcohol makes the scenes
more serious, as the protagonist has an alcoholic, which is what the side story
of the promo is about, and I think that it was used a great signifier for the
character’s weakness and dependence. Another example of mise en scene is
the half-eaten sandwich which was used for comedic affect, as Bob the
protagonists puts his cigarette out in it, this has little meaning, although it
further shows Bob’s carelessness and mental state.
The costumes in the music promo, were quite normal as the band wore typical
metal music clothes such as; jeans, band t shirts and other dark clothing, to get
across to the audience that this is a metal band, although it is quite subtle and
not as over the top as other older metal bands have worn, which shows how up
to date the band is.
The colour used in the music promo are mixed, as I have used various filters to
give each scenes different effect and feels. For example when Bob got hit by
the train I used a ‘dreamy’ camera filter, which makes it more obvious to the
audience that it was just a nightmare. The use of black and white in the scenes
in which the band are performing was used to give a noir feel or of a
homemade quality, which I also used a metaphor to represent the band as
straight forward people and no gimmicks.
