Conventions Of Music Videos

By Gemma Davies

Camera Shots

Music videos use a variety of different shots e.g. Close-ups, Long-shots, Mid-shots

Close-ups serve a purpose of showing the lip-syncing but also for emotions

Camera Movement

The camera follows the artist around

Tend to use a lot of tracking shots and panning shots

But they can use a range of movements e.g Tilt, Zoom

Mise en Scene

Music videos use a range of props, lighting, makeup costumes etc.

Every part of the Mise en Scene is chosen carefully to reflect the video

Editing

Jump cuts are used a lot in music videos, allows for a dramatic change of shot.

Fades and Dissolves are also extremely common