Conventions of a music video

Camera Shots:
Music videos usually tend to include a range of shots, for example long shots, close up's and mid shots. These are used to create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions. Also, close up's are used not only to show emotions but to reflect the words of the song with the movements of the lip of the artist



Camera Movements:

Camera movements in a music video are used to follow and track the artist or band, or sometimes even the dancers. To do these, they include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots.




Mise-en-scene:
This refers to the arrangement of performers and props on stage or in a scene for a music video. Mise-en-scene puts an importance on the representation of something. A music video which shows this well is 'Neyo-Mad', as the mise-en-scene involves him walking down a road alone, being in an isolated room. This reflects the isolation from his lover. Also the props, and colour of the clothing used represent the down mood of the song. Similarly, the lighting is kept very dark as it is black and white; this connotes the angry and depressed mood

Editing:
The predominant editing technique used in a music video are jump cuts, this is because this allows a sudden change from one scene to another and vice versa. Also transitions such as fades and dissolves are very common in music videos as they create a different effect to cuts, and can also match to the mood of the song.

Costume:
This goes with the scenes in the song, and reflects the genre and sometimes even the artist. Costume is an important factor because it has a slight influence on how the viewers will dress because they use some of the celebrities as role models.

Colour:
Colours are used in a song, to set the mood of the song through creating an atmosphere. For example in rock songs such as Kings Of Leon darker colours like blacks are used whereas in pop and hip hop music videos there tends to be brighter colours used more.