MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSISMichael Jackson’s Thriller (Short

version) By Charlie Pugh

Shot 1

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A TRACKING SHOT OF A MOVIE BILLBOARD TO CREATE A HOLLYWOOD ATMOSPHERE.

ANALYSIS

At the first shot you can see a movie theatre playing a film also called Thriller starring Vincent Price who provides the sound of the evil laughter at the end of the video.

The title Thriller on the billboard is used to create brand awareness.

The Palace Theatre in Los Angeles is used as location footage for the theatre in this shot.

Shot 2 SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A TWO-SHOT OF TWO PEOPLE TALKING OUTSIDE A MOVIE

THEATRE

ANALYSIS

The colours of orange and blue are used for the clothes of Michael Jackson and his female companion while they are standing outside the theatre

The word “Thriller appears again on a black billboard in blood red text which not only is brand awareness again, but the red text emphasises the theme of horror.

Shot 3

ANALYSIS

In this shot Michael is talking to his date after being scared out of the movie theather by reassuring her that “it’s only a movie”

In the background there are movie posters with a 50’s design on them which a reference to the popularity of B horror movies during the 50’s.

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: OVER THE SHOULDER SHOTS OF PEOPLE TALKING IN A DARK ALLEYWAY TO CREATE TENSION.

Shot 4

ANALYSIS

A graveyard is shown to emphasis the theme of horror and to tell the audience that something to do with supernatural elements is going to happen.

This part of the mise-en-scene in the video enforces the feel of dark and creepy things happing in the night.

After Michael walks past it the tombs start to move, which gives us the feeling that unlike the movie shown earlier, this is a real supernatural force.

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A TRACKING SHOT OF A GRAVEYARD.

Shot 5

ANALYSIS

In this shot a group of the living dead are dressed in tattered clothes to remind the audience that they have been underground for years.

The couple are surrounded in the middle of the mise-en-scene by the zombies with little hope of escape

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: AN ARC SHOT INVOLVING THE CAMERA MOVING AROUND IN A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND MICHAEL AND HIS DATE AS THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY ZOMBIES.

Shot 6

ANALYSIS

This shot is suddenly revealed to the audience after a close up shot of the girls face looking scared . She looks at Michael who has suddenly changed position to the head of the zombies and his face has transformed off-screen designed to give the audience a shock.

The cinematoghpy adds shadows to the transformed face of Michael , making it hard to make out all of the details which makes it even more frightening since less is usually more.

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A CLOSE UP SHOT OF MICHAEL'S TRANSFORMED ZOMBIE/WEREWOLF FACE.

Shot 7

ANALYSIS

At this point of the video, the transformed Michael and the zombies break out into a well choreographed dance sequence.

Michael is located at the head of the group shaped like a triangle which gives the audience the feeling of leadership and shows them how to preform the sequence.

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A GROUP SHOT OF MICHAEL DANCING WITH THE ZOMBIES.

Shot 8

ANALYSIS

Michael wear brightly coloured red clothes while the zombies are wearing rags and darker coloured clothing which allows him to stand out of the crowd to get the audience’s focal point.

His transformed face is now seen clearely under the set lights as he is standing very close to the camera and futher away from the shadows to enhance the narrative.

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A CLOSE UP SHOT OF MICHEAL JACKSONS BODY WHILE HE DANCES WITH THE ZOMBIES.

Shot 9

ANALYSIS

When he finally starts to sing the chorus , Michael is no longer a zombie; his Star Trek-style jacket is mended, and his red jeans are clean and pressed. It is as if singing restores his life.

During the choegraply of the chorus, the zombies start to dance more rapidly when Michael temporality turns back into a human to represent a chorus line as if they are fully under his control.

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A LOW ANGLE SHOT OF THE ZOMBIES KNEELING DOWN TO MICHAEL WHICH EMPHASISES HIS DOMINANCE ROLE IN THE VIDEO.

Shot 10

ANALYSIS

After being cornered by the zombies in a gothic haunted house, the girl suddenly wakes up which suggests that the events of the video may have been just a dream.

However as Michael prepares to take the girl back home , he looks at the camera directly revealing his zombie coloured eyes suggesting that he may still be cursed.

SHOT TYPE AND MOVEMENT: A TWO- SHOT AND MINOR CLOSE UP SHOT OF MICHAELS FACE

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V90AmXnguw