Comparison

Throughout the production of the music video, I have used my notes and findings from the initial analysis of three music videos. These were Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles, Avril Lavigne - Innocent and Cheryl Cole - The Flood.  I will now compare our final product to these three music videos, showing the similarities and influences these videos have had on the production. 

To clearly show the difference between the past and present we decided that we would alter the colour of the Flashback footage to black and white. This is a commonly used code and conventions as you can see Avril Lavigne has used the same idea in her music video innocence.

When looking at Vanessa Carltons version of A Thousand Miles it became clear that the theme and motion of movement was key to the music video. As you can see from her music video Vanessa Carlton showed the theme through the movement of the piano in different locations. To portray this in our music video Melissa (Vanessa) is constantly walking in a variety of locations, including a busy street show above and the woods shown below.

The costumes that Melissa (Vanessa) wears whilst in outside locations are suitable and fit with the costumes, hair style and make up worn within the music videos I have analysed. For example Cheryl Cole in the music video The Flood (shown above) is wearing a coat and scarf with her hair scruffy and tied back with naturalistic make up. 

When specifically comparing the Flash backs featured within my groups version of Vanessa Carlton A Thousand Miles, to those featured within the music videos I have analysed. You can clearly see the similarities. These are shown through significant objects such as flowers which fit with the theme of the video as well as being an object often associated and given between couples. As well as what the couple are doing for example having a pillow fight and walking along with their arms around each other. This shows that my group have considered the type of Flash backs which are relevant and conform to those used in professional music video to get the emotion, love and loss across. 

Another way in which it is clear that the analysed music videos have influenced the aspects of my groups final music video is through the use of the white screen. It was decided that instead of altering the background of the screen it would be kept white. We felt that having the plain white background would not only highlight the singer but also conform and support the theme of pure love, innocence and loss, through the colour white being featured. By using this feature my group has conformed to the codes and conventions of existing music video with a theme and narrative similar to A Thousand Miles.

The white screen (in this video the colour altered to black) is another featured used within Cheryl Cole's music video The Flood. This further shows that my groups music video conforms to the codes and conventions. As well as this the costume which Melissa (Vanessa) is dressed in and how her hair and make up has been styled is similar to that worn of Cheryl Cole which further shows and supports my groups research and planning of the video specifically relating to the mise-en-scene as we have reflected and portrayed the style of Cheryl Cole.  

One of the editing techniques we have used, dip to white, is also featured in Avril Lavignes music video Innocent. It was decided to use this incorporate the dip to white effect within our music video as it is a good way of adding cuts to the video. Ensuring there are quick cuts helps to keep the flow of the music video. As well as this using the dip to white in our version of the video links the white background and again enforces the theme of loneliness, isolation purity and love.

When specifically looking at different types of shots used within Vanessa Carlton version of A Thousand Miles there were a variety used such as close up shots, mid shots, zooms,  tracking and high and angel shots. These have all been featured in my groups version of A Thousand Miles.  A shot that my group specifically wanted to include was a mid shot of Melissa (Vanessa) in which Melissa was positioned to the left with the right of the shot being the background. We decided to incorporate this as this was commonly used in the original version of the video. As well as being a way to get across the loneliness and loss of her boyfriend as in the previous Flash back in this location Aran had been sitting beside Melissa in what now is an empty space. Further reinforcing the theme and helping the narrative to flow.

In my groups music video a similar location as in Cheryl Cole The Flood has been used. This is because the location fitted, reinforced and helped the narrative of the video. This is through the location being a lonely place with no one around and nothing to see except for the water and land in the distance. This further enforced the isolation and loneliness which Melissa (Vanessa) felt.   

The technique of jump cutting has been featured within my groups interpretation of A Thousand Miles. The example of a jump cutting which my group has used is from the far away shot of Melissa (Vanessa) on the pier being cut to a close up shot of the same footage. As you can see above this is a feature which has been used in Vanessa Carlton's version of the song and conforms to the codes and conventions of existing music videos. As the technique helps to create short cuts which catch the viewers eye and engaging the audience with the video as well as helping the narrative to flow and breaking up long pieces of footage.

Another shot which my group felt was in keeping and effective for the main theme and notion of the storyline; movement. Was a shot were the camera is held still and Melissa (Vanessa) walks past. This has been used in Cheryl Cole's music video The Flood so is a shot which conforms to the codes and conventions of existing music videos of this genre. 

The shot of two people hand slipping away further enforces the notion of loss and that something / someone is missing. As well as this the shot is extremely powerful and symbiotic. 

The last shot featured within the music video is a flash back followed by a dip to black. Having this for an ending in a music video made to a song with the main themes being reflection and love is both strong and powerful. As you can see this is a commonly used feature of music video with this genre an theme which reinforces and supports my groups choice for this ending.

As well as the elements I have specifically featured and talked about above there are other areas of the music video which are similar and have been influenced by the three music video I analysed. 

These are the type of camera shots captured which include panning, tracking, mid shots, close ups, zooms, low angel and high angle. The alteration of the speed of the footage especially the shot were Melissa (Vanessa) throws the teddy at the camera. Which is similar to the speed of several shots within Avril Lavigns music video. This helps to show the emotion within the shot.

As well as this there are quick cuts which help the story to flow as well as separating the past and present. This is a technique and element present in all of the music video I analysed. Lastly in the music video my group has created several of the Flash backs are repeated at the end of the video this is also featured within all of the music videos I analysed ensuring I have conformed to the codes and conventions at that our music video fits in to the market and appeals to its target audience.