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| How do you effectively evaluate your choices of editing and mise-en-scene? |
Here are a couple of articles from last year regarding how to secure the highest possible marks for the music video evaluation.
Here's a breakdown of the mark scheme, which luckily only boils down to two things.
And here's a more detailed breakdown of exactly how to link between your production and research investigation, including a sample opening.
Finally, here is an exemplar evaluation from last year. Pay attention to the structure, and consider how this evaluation has addressed the mark scheme in the first link. Missing from this version of the evaluation is a series of supporting screenshots from the music video, comparing it to the videos initially researched.
EVALUATION OF MUSIC VIDEO (EXEMPLAR EVALUATION)
The genre we focused on in our music video was ‘pop’, specifically ‘indie’ as the sub genre. The representations we focused on were women and ethnicity. We have attempted to represent this specific genre and representation through cinematography, mise en scene and editing. The two scenes we shot was the master shot, which involved a white female teenager lip syncing (Maiya) and the narrative scene which involved another female protagonist (Tegan).
In the master shot, Maiya wore a green blue and pink dress that consisted of a bohemian pattern that is a typical costume design associated with the indie pop genre. Maiya wore golden, pink and green hair bows which were also effective for presenting the mise en scene of the accessories. These denotations connoted the Indie pop genre, as traditionally feminine items are generally used in pop music videos.
An efficient prop used to similarly convey traditional femininity was a white scarf with multicoloured patterns. Maiya was directed to twirl with the scarf, dance and laugh in order to cut to the beat and conform to the typical optimistic mood pop genres portray. She was placed in the centre of a vibrant and colourful background that was projected on a screen. The lighting of the setting was low key as it allowed the projection of the background colours to shine through and also lead there to subjective lighting on Maiya, who is a focal character. The background allowed the master shot to be effective as the colours shone through Maiya’s glittered makeup, colourful costume and white scarf. These colours lead the music video to be conventionally associated with the ‘indie pop’ genre. The multiple colours are a symbolisation of young teenagers and their lively lifestyle.
The narrative scene included a mixed race female teenager who is in the process of getting ready for a party. This narrative scene eventually escalates to Tegan dancing outside. The editing we used was fast cut shots between Tegan’s narrative shots and Maiya’s master shot of her lip synching which kept the pace of the music video steady and allowed it to cut to the beat along with the soundtrack. Long shots and close up shots of Tegan’s actions were shot which were effective because of the effect of continuity between the different sized shots created an effective connection with the music video and the song. For example, we shot a big close up shots of Tegan putting on mascara, which is a archetypal prop for women and the pop genre. We shot a medium long shot of her walking in and out of her room, which captured her light green party dress, conforming to the ‘pop’ genre as most pop music videos thematically consist of partying. We also used transitions such as the cross dissolve fade e.g between a extreme close up of Tegan’s glittered face and a medium close up shot of her shutting the bathroom door. This effectively presents the narrative from different perspectives. Split screen shots were also edited into our production such as in the beginning with the close up shots of cigarettes, laundry and beer bottles. These editing skills effectively represent the hectic lifestyle that a teenage audience can perhaps relate to.
In my investigation, I discussed the generalisation of women from different ethnicities. In our music video, the representation of race was generally subverted compared to how mixed race or black girls are stereotypically represented in music videos. Indie pop videos characteristically involve white people. However this typicality is subverted as a mixed race female was used as the main protagonist. Tegan had curly hair at the beginning of the video which was seen by close up shots of Tegan doing her makeup. Her hair is eventually straightened towards the middle and ending – mainly during the dancing scenes. This is relative to my investigation as the idea of ethnicities being westernised is discussed and Tegan’s straight hair portrays this traditionally western characteristic.
In conclusion, the variegated master shots and the fast cut shots of Tegan’s narrative constructs a music video that depicts the stereotypical lifestyle of a teenage girl.However, the stereotypical representation of ethnicity is subverted, as Tegan –who is mixed race – is not physically sexualised but is depicted as recklessly youthful.
Thanks to Rujbina for the exemplar evaluation.