Conventions of a Music Video

Camera Shots -
Music videos tend to use such shots as many long shots, close ups and mid shots. The close ups are not always used just to show emotion of the artist they can be used to reflect the words of the a song throught the artists lips. The different use of shots is used to create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions of the song. The ways the camera is moved is a convention of a music video for example a panning shot of all the band to show who they are.


Editing -
Fast paced cut shots are predominantly the most used editing technique in a music video, these techniques are mainly used because this allows a sudden change from one scene to another. Also they will be used to keep in time with the beat, for example the shot will change in time with beat changing for shot to shot, depending on the beat of the song.


Lighting -
Some music videos are black and white to help emphasise a particular mood or scenary in the music video, also some videos use artificial lighting which put the artist in an enhanced look.


Sound -
Sound in the music video is mainly the backing tack but also directors can create a short film out of a music with narrative such as Micheal Jackson - Thriller.