Music Promo evaluation

CameraAs this is a music promo, It has given me more artistic freedom as from

research into music promos in general, they can be more abstract with camera angles, I have done this in my video, which I felt I have used to create the dark and surreal atmosphere that you’d expect from a metal music promo. For example I have used low angles on the scenes of the band, to make them seem like they should be looked up to, and you should follow them, this is a common camera angle in metal music videos, and I felt that this particular shot was essential. I have used close ups on objects like a lit cigarette burning, which could symbolise that the protagonist’s life is slowly burning away due to his alcohol problem.

EditingThe editing for my music was really important as I had to ensure the

the scene fitted well with the music video, for example there is scene in which a bottle falls down some stairs and smashes, when the bottle is falling down the stairs, each drop is in time with the music, this makes it flow very nice, and then later on I have used the same scene but shot in reverse, this adds to the surreal feeling to the video. The use of cross cutting was used to show that both the band performing and the protagonist Bob was happening at the same time, for example when the Bob shoots himself, one of the band member who actually plays Bob has a bit of break down, I have done this to make it seem like it is all in one of the band member’s head and that the rest of the band are unaware. During the more fast music, the scenes had to be cut quicker to make them fit together, which shorted a lot of scene, although the running time is 4:14 minutes, which is the average time for a metal music promo, but songs are usually longer than this, but I followed the traditional way of cutting down the song for use of a music promo, which is something that a lot of metal bands do.

Sound

This being a promotion for a new album, the sound was an important part to the video, as there is barley any other sound, other than the song ‘Season in Hell’ used for the promo, although there is use of non-diagetic sound as well such the bottle smashing, which if it was just on the album it would not be present, but for the promo, I decided that it should be heard to add to the protagonist's ‘fragility’, another example is right at the beginning, when the band are messing around, you can one of the member burping, which has no meaning to the promo, but I thought it added humour to it, and showed the band playfulness.

Mise en sceneThe mise en scene used in the music promo adds more depth to it, which I feel

makes it more like a feature film than promo, but I also think it worked very well for a music promo as well, for example the use of alcohol makes the scenes more serious, as the protagonist has an alcoholic, which is what the side story of the promo is about, and I think that it was used a great signifier for the character’s weakness and dependence. Another example of mise en scene is the half-eaten sandwich which was used for comedic affect, as Bob the protagonists puts his cigarette out in it, this has little meaning, although it further shows Bob’s carelessness and mental state.

The costumes in the music promo, were quite normal as the band wore typical metal music clothes such as; jeans, band t shirts and other dark clothing, to get across to the audience that this is a metal band, although it is quite subtle and not as over the top as other older metal bands have worn, which shows how up to date the band is.

The colour used in the music promo are mixed, as I have used various filters to give each scenes different effect and feels. For example when Bob got hit by the train I used a ‘dreamy’ camera filter, which makes it more obvious to the audience that it was just a nightmare. The use of black and white in the scenes in which the band are performing was used to give a noir feel or of a homemade quality, which I also used a metaphor to represent the band as straight forward people and no gimmicks.

Mise en sceneThe mise en scene used in the music promo adds more depth to it, which I feel

makes it more like a feature film than promo, but I also think it worked very well for a music promo as well, for example the use of alcohol makes the scenes more serious, as the protagonist has an alcoholic, which is what the side story of the promo is about, and I think that it was used a great signifier for the character’s weakness and dependence. Another example of mise en scene is the half-eaten sandwich which was used for comedic affect, as Bob the protagonists puts his cigarette out in it, this has little meaning, although it further shows Bob’s carelessness and mental state.

The costumes in the music promo, were quite normal as the band wore typical metal music clothes such as; jeans, band t shirts and other dark clothing, to get across to the audience that this is a metal band, although it is quite subtle and not as over the top as other older metal bands have worn, which shows how up to date the band is.

The colour used in the music promo are mixed, as I have used various filters to give each scenes different effect and feels. For example when Bob got hit by the train I used a ‘dreamy’ camera filter, which makes it more obvious to the audience that it was just a nightmare. The use of black and white in the scenes in which the band are performing was used to give a noir feel or of a homemade quality, which I also used a metaphor to represent the band as straight forward people and no gimmicks.