Love the way you lie...

Narrative Introduction Analysis...Michael Jackson "Thriller"

Thriller is a music video with great intentions, it was a video that set standards for artists wishing to continue in the music industry combining narrative and music as one in a cinematic music video. It has been said to be 'THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSIC VIDEO OF ALL TIME.' 
Thriller opens with the obvious conventions of a horror movie, the first insight of the video is a tracking shot following a car down a dark road with very little lighting. The typical mise en scene of a forest with broken light peering through, full moon, misty air and an eery silence hovering over the script all add to the regular conventions of any horror film. There is no music being played at this point, however there is over exaggerated noises you would expect to hear in this given environment; bugs, the noise of the car travelling along a road.  As the car breaks down it adds to the convention of a horror scene, it being in a dark mise en scene. As the characters (in this video, the artist is used in both the narrative & the song) leave the car in the dark night the camera pans their every move on ground level focusing on their feet to emphasise that they are walking in this 'horrific' environment.
As the clip gets further in the non-diagetic music turns the video into a short film rather than just simply a 'music video'. This is only because the director has decided to use music that is not related to the song, instead he uses PARALLEL MUSIC to fit the scene and exaggerate the code of a horror film. 
The actors that have been used also create a sense of importance and relevance to the audience, the girl involved has been dressed to look innocent and vulnerable, and shows signs of distress throughout the experience within the first 30 seconds of the cars breaking down, which again proves to be a convention of  horror. The costume Michael has chosen to use for himself is iconic to him as a performer, which instantly establishes him as an artist. 
The introduction in this video becomes so long it becomes a film its self within the music video.
Unlike many of modern narrative music videos, thriller was created using Michael as not only the artist but also as the main character in the narrative. By doing this it makes the video become beyond believable because the narrative and performance is combined. 


One important thing when creating a narrative music video is to ensure that the narrative and performance is balanced.  Thriller has managed to do this by having the ability to connect imagery and music. In each section of short film the choreography and the image is linked with the music. By doing this Michael has created a video that has the capability to stand alone in the world of music and narrative and create a standard for others to aspire. 




(i tried to embed the music video, but i was unable too)

Opening Narrative Analysis...Green Day "When September Ends"

When September Ends is a classic video whereby the artist has chosen to incorporate a narrative within the video. Using actors opposed to the band themselves they have created a sense of 'two different worlds' for the viewers. 

This video opens with a classic mise-en-scene shot discovering the setting of the video. The producer has decided to use a conventional romantic setting, a wide field of flowers and had used a young couple holding hands, which is a typical CODE of young love. We can tell that the actors are in love by the way the camera uses intimate work to read their emotions, focusing on them kissing and looking in each others eyes.The warm colours also convey the feel or warmth and happiness the couple feel for each other.  All these codes add up to enable the audience to acknowledge and accept the intense feelings the couple have for each other. 

A typical convention for many music videos which incorporate narrative would be to being with the narrative being separated from the song, with maybe lightly played music in the background. This makes the audience focus on the story rather than the song which gives off and creates a more cinematic video, which then adds to the separation of the two worlds...narrative and artist. This is also enhanced by the high quality filming the producer has chosen to use and the fact that actors are used instead of the band themselves. In order to create a distinct separation between the narrative and the artist the director has used non diagetic music, with the bands music playing internally under the speech of the actors. By doing this the producer is slowly introducing the artist into the video so there is a connection rather than a sudden change in music.

Introduction...

As an A2 Media Studies student I am entitled to research, plan and create a music video. To support my music video I must alongside create 2 of either Cd album cover, magazine advertisement or website. This project will require time, I will need to research into many things such as; music genres, target audiences, conventions of music videos, codes of music videos, conventions and codes of album artwork, marketing strategies. I must recognise narrative that are involved in music video's and the reference they have to either the song, the artist or society today.
For the first part of the course I will be doing independent studies, however part of the way through I will be designated to a group with whom I will create my music video. This will require me to have good communication skills and time management. 
Throughout my project I will update my blog regularly, with essay's, analysis', and eventually filming updates. Alongside this blog will be a group blog which will be linked to my main blog. The group blog is a place for all the members of my group to put their ideas and update as a group working together.
I hope to create a strong music video that would succeed in the music industry, I also hope to gain valuable experience in working towards a deadline, in a group and with new equipment.