Planning Cinematography - Miss Miller

Cinematography is vital when creating any type of media. In reference to a music video, it is essential because it makes the video look more interesting due to the different shots, angles and positioning seen. Without different types of cinematography in a music video, it will be boring and become un successful due to there not being a target audience watching it. Therefore, cinematography brings the music video to life and conveys the hidden messages behind each shot that may link to the narrative, concept or performance seen. It also is essential when showing different things for example a long shot shows the setting of the music video. Additionally, the use of cinematography helps convey different emotions and connotations within the music video which help give the audience a further understanding of the music video and what it is trying to convey.

The first camera technique my group will have in our music video, is close up shots. A close up is a camera shot that tightly frames of an object or a persons face (unless specified otherwise). A close up will be used to show the artist singing as it will help establish her current emotion as the audience will see this through her facial expressions. This will help build a relationship between the artist and the audience as it'll present the artist as expressive and the emotions conveyed could be understood by the audience and create empathy from the audience. A close up will also be used to show the characters facial expressions for example the artists partners facial expression could be looking quite annoyed as she does not want to fully expose their relationship when they're in public. Close ups are conventional to the indie genre because it represents emotion in the music video, and artists from this genre usually sing about something that is close to them, therefore the use of close ups emphasises this. I have seen this shot been used in other indie music video and I agree that it helps give deeper meanings in the music video, which get the audience thinking and maybe relating to the artist with her situation. The use of having close ups in our music video will represent our artist as open, genuine and expressive. She'll be represented as open because the close up allows her to express her feelings and emotions through her facial expressions that'll accompany her singing to give deeper meaning. Also, she will be portrayed as genuine because she is not hiding anything from her audience and they'll feel as if she can trust them, create a relationship between her and the audience.

To continue, the second camera technique that'll be used in our music video is a side view positioning. This is simply a shot that is positioned from the side of the object or person. The camera will be positioned on the side when were shooting the partner leaving the artist after hugging at the end of the video. The use of this side view will portray the partner walking away fully and the artists facial expressions to her walking away which will be sad. This will help the audience relate with the artist especially with the situation of wanting to be with someone but also at the same time having to let them go. A side view is conventional to the indie genre as it shows the location the characters are and also their facial expressions and body language from a side view that may make the viewers feel like they are there witnessing the action. The use of this positioning of the camera will represent our artist as in love, caring as it'll show her being all focused on her partner and looking sad when she leaves which shows that she's in love and always wants to be with her.

Thirdly, we will use a tilt shot (Vertical pan), which is a shot that is used to capture a feel of motion why keeping a moving subject in a sharp focus. However, since were doing a vertical panning shot, our camera will move vertically (toes to head) at the dancers. This will be used when the ballerinas are dancing and it'll introduce them in a interesting way. Horizontal panning shots are conventional to the indie genre due to it following a person around for example walking in the street. However we are going to challenge this convention and make ours a vertical pan, so that the dancers are shown fully which could represent the artist as having nothing to hide and willing to tell her story through the movements of the dancers. Furthermore, the vertical pan will represent our artist as an open book and creative. She's represented as these two descriptions because the creativity of having dancers visually dance the emotions within the narrative shows that she has different ways of communicating to her audience, and also she's represented as an open book due to her sharing her emotions and experiences through the dancing with the viewers. 

Another camera technique that my group are considering to include is a hand held shot. This shot is a filmmaking or video production technique in which a camera is held in the camera persons hands as opposed to being mounted on a tripod or other base. A hand held shot will be used when the couple are walking in the camden market where they'll be seen from the back or side. The use of this camera shot will show what the artist and her lover are doing and also show the scenery in which they're in. The reason why we have chosen to include a hand held shot in particular for this scene, is so the audience feel like they're apart of the video and are walking with them which could lead to a sense of realism. In addition, the unsteadiness will not portray the scene as steady and could help convey the business of the market which makes it relatable for the audience if they have been to a market. The hand held shot will represent our artist as ordinary as it'll show her walking in the market doing everyday things and make her look like she's one of the members of public and not a celebrity singer. This could create a relationship between the artist and the audience, as they will feel that they can relate to her in the music video with the activity of going to a normal market, therefore portraying naturalness. 

Last but not least, the camera technique that we will include in our music video is a high angle shot. A high angle shot is simply a camera shot that is positioned from above and shows the object or person below it. We will use this shot when the couple are seen playing with the firework sparklers in the bonfire scene. The use of the high angle will highlight the couple as being the most important in the scene by acting like a spotlight for them. High angle shots are conventional to the indie genre as it they help convey an object or person as inferior because they are portrayed as small. In reference to my music video, the high angle will represent the artist as vulnerable and oblivious. This is because it'll illustrate her as being focused on her partner and unaware of the things going around her. Therefore portraying the artist as emotionally invested into her partner because they're seen form a high angle shot which illuminates their connection together and how they're exposed. The use of this high angle shot will help build a relationship between the artist and the audience as it showcases the artist as being content in her relationship, which some could relate to if they were in a relationship. 


I believe our target audience will be able to build a relationship with our artist through the different types of cinematography included within our music video. Having carrying out the target audience research, this helped us choose the types of shots to include in our music video, as they were most favoured. For example a close up and long shots were proposed by the audience as they felt these were conventional to the indie genre for showing the artists facial expressions and setting that they're in to convey the narrative or concept well. Shots such as close ups and a side view positioning help give a personal feeling in the scene so that the audience get an insight on what the artist is feeling. For example, close ups show the facial expressions of the artist and characters which reflects the emotional state their in and tell the narrative through their expressions. Planning cinematography has ensured us with some camera shots that we believe the audience expect to see and be conventional to the indie genre, as well as help convey our narrative in a interesting way. For example, the high angle showing the artist as vulnerable, happy and joyful with her girlfriend in the bonfire scene playing with sparklers, helps show the part of the narrative where we show the good memories they have.