H OW I S E D I T I N G USE D FOR E FFE C T I N ON E OR M OR E MUS I C V I DE OS OF YOUR C H O I C E ?

BY SHANAÉ CH ISHOLM

THE THREE MUS IC V IDEOS THAT I CHOSE TO EXPLORE

WERE :

Directors: Inez and VinoodhProducer: Gabe HillProduction Company: GE Projects and theCollectiveShift

1 . L ADY GAGA - APPL AUSE

EDIT ING TECHNIQUES IN ‘APPL AUSE ’The style of Lady Gaga’s music video is ‘abstract-performance’; it is a blend of both, this is seen through her choice of costume and dance routines, however this is also seen through the editing techniques that have been used. A range of post production effects have be used in order to further exhibit the style of the music video, also, it is relevant to add that this video reflects Gaga’s star image of being outrageous and random.

Amongst the post production techniques were:

Subliminal images: (0:19-0:20)Throughout the video - more so at the start of the video - images are flashed up so quickly that you aren’t able to tell what the image was. The effect this has on the viewer is that they are left disorientated and confused. In addition, this technique is in conjunction with another post production effect which was the effect that the clip was shaking. My interpretation of this editing choice was that the movement and subliminal images were meant to physically mimic the action of ‘applauding’, clapping is quick and instant and this is what the editing was like.

Cartoon hands and coloured power smokeThese techniques align with the abstract theme, and also add a sense of surrealism and fantasy which again is a clear representation of Lady Gaga’s star image.

EDIT ING TECHNIQUES IN ‘APPL AUSE ’

Multiple faces in one shotThis is another example of post production editing, again tho style of editing ads to the surrealism of the video, making sure that the viewer stays engaged. Furthermore, this makes the viewer feel as though they are surrounded by Lady Gaga, as if they can not escape from her.

Body modificationThe picture below show two ways in which Lady Gaga was edited in a way that made her ‘un-human’, firstly when she’s seen as a swan and secondly, when she is resized from being a giant to a normal sized person. The effect this editing has is that Lady Gaga perceived as a super human and it also adds to the abstract style of the video

L ADY GAGA: CONCLUS ION

In conclusion, the use of computerised editing created the effect of surrealism, furthermore, the overriding editing method was non-continuity editing, as the various shots weren’t in conjunction with each other.

Directors: Clean BanditCinematographers: Anna Patarakina and Daria Novickaya

2 . CLEAN BAND IT: EXTRAOR D INARY FT SHARNA BASS

EDIT ING TECHNIQUES IN ‘EXTRAORDINARY ’In this particular music video the main editing technique was again non continuity editing with long shot durations, however there were a range of other techniques again including post production effects.

The Clean Bandit LogoAt the start of the music videos, the first thing viewers see is the Clean Bandit logo placed over a rural scene, this ensures that the viewer remembers the band not just by their music or their music video, but also their logo.

Slow/Fast MotionThe effect of slow and fast motion makes the video more dynamic and existing to watch, it also allows the viewer to concentrate on particular aspects of the video.

Match on actionAt one point in the music video, match on action was used, this was when the violin was dropped from the top of the cliff. It is important to recognise this as the violin itself is symbolic to the band, as the member of Clean Bandit are all classically trained, so by dedicating time in the video to concentrate on it, so will the viewer.

CLEAN BANDIT: CONCLUS ION

This particular is quite simplistic in terms of editing; there isn’t a particularly wide variety of editing techniques, however the techniques that were used, were used for specific reasons.

The effect this simplicity has on the viewer is that it allows them to concentrate on the music but also on the artists in the video more than be attracted by fast moving images. Also, this type of editing does suit the song, as opposed to the editing Lady Gaga used in her video.

Music video by Nico & Vinz performing Am I Wrong. Directed and edited by Kavar SinghCinematography: Kavar Singh & Arild KumarProduced by : Amanuel Kidane for 5 Star Ent & Julian Alexander for IDAP VisionProduction Assistant: Melinda ElvenesVFX Supervisor: Arild Kumar

3 . N ICO & V INZ : AM I WR ONG

EDIT ING TECHNIQUES IN ‘AM I WRONG’Out of the three music videos that I have chosen, this is the first music video that has a narrative to it, furthermore, it is also the first video to use transitions, which supports the observation that transitions are usually used for music videos with a narrative, as transitions help to indicate a change in time.

CaptionsAt the start of the video, viewers are introduced to the music video, this is significant as it instantly suggests that this video is a narrative and it also creates a sense of professionalism

TelevisionThe television is a prop that is used throughout the music video, however the screen itself is edited in. Although this is a micro element of the editing techniques used in this video, it is an important feature as it is an iconic symbol through the video, and if it was a television without the ‘fizzing’ - for example - it wouldn’t have the same lasting effect on the audience.

EDIT ING TECHNIQUES IN ‘AM I WRONG’Colour Tints Within this video, other than the natural colouring, there were two colour tints, or washes, that were used. Through adding these tints it helps to tell the narrative as a change in colour changes the mood of the video, and the fact that the clips go from one to the other despite having different colour tints, implies that there are two different running themes. Moreover, the effect of these colour tints support the impact of the crosscutting between the two narratives involving each character, as it suggests that the two different characters are experiencing two different or similar things.

Slow motionThis editing technique was used frequently in this music video, and through its use it created a feeling of nostalgia; it allows the viewer to cherish the moment. In isolation you wouldn’t associate slow motion with a feeling of nostalgia, if we were comparing it to Clean Bandit’s video, however the images that the slow motion was used for, helps to create that emotion.

TransitionsA dissolve cut was sued towards the start of the video and a cut to black was used twice. As said in the previous slide, the effect of using transitions is it helps the viewer to establish time; when something has come to an end, when something has occurred after a specific event and this is important in a narrative video, as it helps viewers to keep track of events

Quite frequently, the clips in the video cut to the beat of the song. This is another important editing technique as it subliminally allows viewers to keep the tempo of the song and helps them to remember it, as the music becomes more associated with what the viewer is seeing.

NICO & V INZ: CONCLUS ION

Editing has been used in this music video in order for a story to be told alongside the already existing narrative of the song. It presents emotions of nostalgia and happiness and that, I think, helps to bring out the meaning of the song.

– T H A N K YO U F O R WATC H I N G

To conclude, through analysing the effects of editing, it is shown that editing plays an important part in firstly,

establishing star image - Lady Gaga’s video - displaying the musicality of a song - Clean Bandit’s video - and aiding the

presentation of a narrative - Nico & Vinz’s video.