Research & Planning
Audience
I researched various music videos to influence my ideas on the
audience, camera shots and mise en scene.
Mise en scene
Since my partner and I already
agreed on the genre being R&B, we
automatically assumed that the
targeted audience would be aimed at
teenage and adult boys and girls due
to the fact that R&B is usually based
on the theme of ‘Love’.
The music videos that I looked at
helped me decide on the setting
and costume of the model. Most
R&B music videos are based in
everyday settings such as the
home & the road. This gives a
natural feel. I also had to make the
lyrics fit the setting.

• I looked at three R&B music videos that had some of the same ideas that I wanted to use. I looked at Ciara – Sorry
(a love song expressing how she feels about her lover and his mistakes influencing her actions) There are some
moments where she is sitting down on a couch thinking to herself which my partner and I used for our actor
sitting on the bed. This music video uses a lot of slow pace zooming in to reflect the singers mood of being sad
and in deep thought. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DLA8Be7P9w
• The close ups are used throughout the video (beginning middle and end) become more frequent when it gets to
the climax to show that the artist is getting more emotional. We used this same idea for when the lyrics get more
emotional.
• The second music video I looked at was Nicki Minaj – Right Through Me (also a love song expressing the ups and
downs in a relationship and managing to get through it. The same technique of using flash backs in the music
video is also used. Even though it has a fast pace of cutting the use of shot reverse shot is used when the male
and female performers are arguing in the video. Extreme close ups are used on the artists face for emotion when
cutting away from the drama in the video. The regular cut away suggests that this is the way the artist is thinking
about the series of events. I want to use this editing technique so that the audience are able to keep track of the
storyline and to portray why the artist is saying certain things.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DLA8Be7P9w
Thirdly, I looked at the music video Chris Brown – Yo (Excuse Me). (A R&B music video where the singer describes a
girl he likes from outside a shop window and describes what he would do to impress her)
All three of these videos have a natural feel because they all are based in everyday locations such as (Ciara & Nicki
Minaj) in the home and (Chris Brown) walking down the street.
In the Chris Brown music video, the use of tracking expresses the movement of the actor and how long he is following
the girl for linking to how attracted he is to her (showing emotion). http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=yn_6LC4loY8
At the beginning when he is in the shop getting told off by his employer, a focus shot is used on Chris Brown while his
employer is blurred in the background. I have tried to use this technique in our music video. A medium pace
zoom in on his face stopping at a medium-close up shot of the singer portays his sudden thought of being
discracted by the girl.

Searching for a location
• We researched together various hotels that
we were going to use online.
• We looked at various prices.
• When planning the location, I visited a hotel
which we were going to use to start with
before our plans had changed.

Props
• We had to make sure that we were able to find the right props
to fit the video. We suggested a ring (box), candles, a mobile
phone, and utensils for when the boy is waiting on the girl at a
date in a restaurant during the flashback. These are quite basic
things that we are able to get for the video shoot.

Setting Up for Recording
I had to keep in contact the model that I was to use for the
music video. We arranged to meet at her house where she had
a double bed and a window close to it which is what I was
looking for in our music video.
We had to make sure that the timing of the lip syncing was right so
she memorised the lyrics and I brought cue cards just in case.
Before we were able to record the lip syncing part of the music
video, we tested out some camera techniques in class to see if it
would work. I also practiced using the camera in my own time.
After each take, I looked over what I had just recorded to
make sure that it looked right.
During Recording

Pre-production
• Our pre-production includes release forms,
production schedules, risk assessments etc…
• This was used to help us with organising
planning the video whether it was the
location, costume, camera shots or getting
particular goals done by a certain date.

Storyboard
• We made a storyboard for a brief understanding of what we would want the model
to do when recording and the camera angles & editing techniques that we would use
in the flashbacks as well.
• E.g.
• Close ups of the important moments and facial expressions
• Zooming in to built tension