Although the genre of this music is not of Alternative Rock and is of Pop Rock, I have chosen to analysis this music video because of the cinematography used mainly (there are a few other features that I will discuss as well).
To begin with, the first shot used is a close-of the musician for the video (Brandon Flowers) and he is looking downward with his eyes semi-closed. He then looks up to a point at which the audience cannot see (creating a sense that the character knows more than the audience and so they want to continue watching in order to find out what happens). This is a long take because the initial shot last for about one minute eight seconds and slowly zooms out gradually. Furthermore, the camera is shaky and so a hand held camera was probably used in order to bring tension and suspense to the narrative. The cutting rhythm is affected because the cut to the next shot is prolonged so that the sense of danger is built and subjective time is created because the long take enables the audience to feel how he feels – weak and unable to move easily like the camera.
When the long shot is shown of Brandon, he looks right past the camera at something and an explosion occurs next to him following a man with his arm on fire flying past. This is when the theme of crossfire is introduced because the narrative shows that he is caught in the middle of it with whoever he is looking at. When the female character is finally shown, a motivated cut goes back to Brandon’s facial expression and the audience see him looking hopeful for the first time – showing that she has come to help him. It is then followed by a sequence of mid and close up shots in order to built the narrative and show their relationship.
This relationship is supported and developed because a similar situation is then shown when a jump cut to the next scene is used. This implies that she is the hero in the narrative and that he is the one that needs saving every time (a role reversal from the stereotypical narrative of the male saves the female). This enables the narrative to become like a film because of the detail and moreover, neither of the characters ever look at the camera – Brandon always looks beyond the camera and the female does the same. It is like the audience it just a spectator and is not in the action. This loss of direct address is just like a film because the fourth wall is not broken – which normally is broken in a music video.
To begin with, the first shot used is a close-of the musician for the video (Brandon Flowers) and he is looking downward with his eyes semi-closed. He then looks up to a point at which the audience cannot see (creating a sense that the character knows more than the audience and so they want to continue watching in order to find out what happens). This is a long take because the initial shot last for about one minute eight seconds and slowly zooms out gradually. Furthermore, the camera is shaky and so a hand held camera was probably used in order to bring tension and suspense to the narrative. The cutting rhythm is affected because the cut to the next shot is prolonged so that the sense of danger is built and subjective time is created because the long take enables the audience to feel how he feels – weak and unable to move easily like the camera.
When the long shot is shown of Brandon, he looks right past the camera at something and an explosion occurs next to him following a man with his arm on fire flying past. This is when the theme of crossfire is introduced because the narrative shows that he is caught in the middle of it with whoever he is looking at. When the female character is finally shown, a motivated cut goes back to Brandon’s facial expression and the audience see him looking hopeful for the first time – showing that she has come to help him. It is then followed by a sequence of mid and close up shots in order to built the narrative and show their relationship.
This relationship is supported and developed because a similar situation is then shown when a jump cut to the next scene is used. This implies that she is the hero in the narrative and that he is the one that needs saving every time (a role reversal from the stereotypical narrative of the male saves the female). This enables the narrative to become like a film because of the detail and moreover, neither of the characters ever look at the camera – Brandon always looks beyond the camera and the female does the same. It is like the audience it just a spectator and is not in the action. This loss of direct address is just like a film because the fourth wall is not broken – which normally is broken in a music video.
From this music video, I have widened my knowledge of the length of shots that I could use for effect and that maybe the cutting rhythm doesn’t have to be really faced paced. Also, I know that the narrative can be really creative and have a film-like edge to it in order to create a wider audience and make the repeatability increased.
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