Emilie Sande-My Kind of Love
The opening
shot of this music video involves the main artist (and in this case character
in the narrative) walking into a hospital setting with an upsetting expression
on here face. Here, the slight effect of slow motion proves particularly
effective, and emphasises how everything is going ‘in slow motion’ and that the
situation is ‘surreal’. The presence of doctors seems particularly significant-despite
the fact that the character is in a safe, authoritative place which is normally
associated with a secure, caring atmosphere, she is the one going to “do the
caring”. Nether the less, in general the hospital and health service is
represented positively, with clean rooms and friendly staff. This shot lasts
for quite a while-emphasising the emotions that the character is feeling and
perhaps allowing the audience to reflect on the situation themselves. According
to the Barthes codes, the enigma code presented here is the question of where
the woman is going, why she’s at a hospital looking so glum and who she’s
seeing. This could be argued drives the narrative forward and several more
codes are presented throughout the video which give a similar effect.
The video
then cuts to another character on some tea cups, yet her sad expression
suggests that this setting. The presence of the fairground setting throughout
the music video is likely to depict how upsetting the setting is, as well as
demonstrate the characters disbelief at her situation, because of the setting
in quite a colourful ‘fantasy world’. The fairground may also evoke memories
for the audience-allowing them to reflect on their own child hood experiences
which are likely to have included visits to such an event, or perhaps taking a
younger relative to somewhere similar.
Just 30 seconds
into the music video, an usual effect is used where by the setting of the
narrative (including the characters in the fairground) and the setting of the
artist are merged. This creates quite an eiree effect, as the audience are
likely to believe that the character and artist are the same people-maybe the
artist has created the song about her friend, and is singing it in the
fairground after they have said goodbye to one another. The presence of the
artist in both sections of the of the music video (narrative and artist scenes)
as well as a similar setting in each creates a sense of continuity to the video
and allows it to flow more. It also allows the audience to build more of a
relationship with the characters/artists, thus heightening the in pact of
events later in the music video. Although I am currently thinking of
incorporating three narratives into my music video (and so making the task of
the artists being the same as the character difficult), I shall try to show
some links between the settings of the narratives, and where the artist mimes
the lyrics of the song.
The shots
where the artists is stood on a carousel singing seems particular significant.
The idea of a never ending cycle is present, suggesting the mind state of the
woman on it. The movement of the camera during these medium shots only adds to
this sense of unrest, which can also be seen in some of the hospital scenes.
Later, the
poorly character (her friend) sits up in bed to find a ‘half closed’ curtain
which seems to have been placed there to stop her from hearing whatever is in
discussion by her friend and a doctor. This sense of the unknown adds to the
fear and hostility felt throughout the video, perhaps prompting the audience to
question how they would feel in such a situation. The characters gasp and
helpless fall back to lying on the bed is likely to reflect how a lot of people
would feel about such a situation, where the health and welfare of the
character is being kept hidden from her-adding greater meaning to the lyrics
and the track. When her friend (the artists) later arrives, she draws the
curtain closed completely, representing the friendship between the pair. It is
then that the woman seems to be able to “become herself”-sticking her tongue
out and giggling slightly. The narrative then follows with shots of the artists
making her friend feel a lot better, and her making slightly daunting tasks
(such as choosing a wig) almost ‘fun’, encouraging sympathy and love towards
the character which is likely to further build any relationship between the
audience and her.
It is
throughout such scenes (which later sees the woman climb into a wheel chair
with assistance) that the pace of editing somewhat quickens whilst the shots
become more varied. This could show how the characters are making the most of
their situation, encouraging the audience to perceive them as inspirational
figures-something which I would like to achieve in my own music video. A shot
including the characters speeding through the hospital entrance out of the door
almost summarises this. A similar slow motion effect to that used at the start
of the video is used to connect the event of the friend entering the hospital,
and then leaving with a somewhat happier friend after cheering her up. However,
the idea that she is ‘putting on a false smile’ by such a connection could also
be present, once again encouraging the audience to feel sympathy towards her
and increasing the impact of the song/lyrics.
The shots
where the characters are in car represents the artist as her friends carer,
which is emphasised by the soft lighting and cuts between shots-making the
scene seem almost dreamlike and ‘surreal’. The fact that her friend is eating crisps
in the back of the car whilst she is in control reinforces this, and I think
that the idea of a ‘stronger’ character being present alongside a slightly
weaker one, emphasising such contrasts is an idea which I would like to
incorporate into my own video. This could be linked to Straus’ Binary
Opposition theory, in the sense that weak and strong combine to emphasise one
another and drive the narrative. A shot which pans from the face of the poorly
woman to a picturesque scene of the sea reflects the beauty of the world, and
once again allows the audience a time to think about their own morals and
values. Here, the idea of verisimilitude is present, created and sustained by
soft lighting, and quite a shaky camera movement.
The shots of
the characters in a park setting achieve a similar effect to those in a
fairground-evoking sympathy and irony through images of innocence. One
particular shot of the character on a swing includes a bird flying past. Here,
ideas of freedom contrasts with how the characters are feeling-somewhat trapped
and confined to their unfortunate situation. However, the happy looks on their
faces may once again prompt audience members to feel inspired by them and
therefore be inspired by other elements of the promotion-such as the track itself
and its lyrics. At GCSE level, the music video which I created also explored
such themes of freedom and innocence, and it seems fitting (due to the genre of
music I expect to use) that such themes will again be present.
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