Album Cover Analysis

Low Budget Music Videos

Despite being a low budget music video, this group's recreation of 'Just Got Paid' appears fairly high budget, due to the effective use of editing, camerawork and mise-en-scene. One of the first examples of this is the costumes. As the whole group are wearing suits, this not only connotes high quality and wealth, but it is very stereotypical of boy bands to all wear the same outfit, with only small alterations between each one. This therefore made the music video appear more genuine, and added to the quality of it. Another aspect of the music video is the fast-paced editing, which works to make the video seem energetic and adds a high energy to the atmosphere, therefore making it appear higher budget. In addition to this, the video also uses lighting to a high standard, such as when the group are standing in a line and a light comes on behind each member in succession, revealing their silhouette to the camera. This is a typical piece of lighting often used in music videos which, similarly to the costumes, makes the music video appear more genuine and high budget. Furthermore, the use of a handheld camera, when paired with direct mode of address, makes the audience feel as though they are a part of the video -- therefore immersing them in the video, and making it seem higher budget than it actually is.

Another example of a low budget music video which appears high budget is this version of Imogen Heap's 'A-ha!', which features a large amount of editing, mise-en-scene and camerawork. One of the most prominent pieces of editing is the use of superimposition, which is used several times throughout the music video, in order to give a busy and distorted atmosphere to the music video. This is therefore effective in making the music video appear high budget, as it replicates professional music videos of its genre well. Secondly, the music video also features extreme closeups, which maintain a sense of mystery to the girl in the video as you never fully see her face, and therefore adds to the suspenseful atmosphere -- once again improving the quality of the video and making it seem higher budget by following the conventions of its genre. Furthermore, the music video also uses a large amount of props, such as a music box and rope. These, on occasion, relate to the lyrics (such as the use of the rope on the word 'tied' in the lyrics) and therefore create a link between the song and the music video. They also work to add to the unnatural, eerie atmosphere of the music video, which once again relates to the genre and therefore gives the impression that the music video is high budget. Lastly, another piece of editing used in the music video is the use of a black and white filter, which on occasion highlights the colour red. As this colour could connote danger or blood, this contributes to the creepy atmosphere of the music video, and as a result, once again follows conventions of the genre and feeling of the song.

                                                          

By watching these music videos, I was able to consider what similar methods I would like to employ in my own music video, in order to make it look high budget despite actually being low budget. One example of this is the use of lighting in 'Just Got Paid', when the silhouette of each member of the group is revealed by a light behind them turning on. This method would be great for a music video in the pop genre, as it is quite a stereotypical effect, and therefore if I choose to do a pop music video I could include this. Another piece of music video which I could take inspiration from is the close up used in 'A-ha!' which shows a close up of the singer's lips as she mimes the words. This particular aspect of the music video is used in a wide range of genres, such as pop and rock, and therefore can be used in a large amount of music videos I may choose to do. It also works with grittier, more alternative music videos to create a mysterious atmosphere as it doesn't show the singers face. Lastly, another shot which I may also take inspiration from for my own music video is the use of a close up on one of the group members feet as he dances in 'Just Got Paid'. This works to show the artists talent, and is often used in a variety of different genres of music video. For this reason, it would be an interesting shot to use in my own music video.