H O W I S E D I T I N G U S E D F O R E F F E C T I N O N E

O R M O R E M U S I C V I D E O S O F Y O U R

C H O I C E ?

B Y S H A N A É C H I S H O L M

T H E T H R E E M U S I C V I D E O S

T H A T I C H O S E T O E X P L O R E

W E R E :

Directors: Inez and Vinoodh

Producer: Gabe Hill

Production Company: GE Projects and

theCollectiveShift

1 . L A D Y G A G A - A P P L A U S E

E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A P P L A U S E ’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 smoke

These 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.

E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A P P L A U S E ’

Multiple faces in one shot

This 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 modification

The 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 A D Y G A G A :

C O N C L U S I O N

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 Bandit

Cinematographers: Anna Patarakina and

Daria Novickaya

2 . C L E A N B A N D I T : E X T R A O R D I N A R Y F T

S H A R N A B A S S

E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ E X T R A O R D I N A R Y ’

In this particular music video the main editing technique was again non continuity editing with long shot durations, however

The Clean Bandit Logo

At 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 Motion

The 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 action

At 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.

C L E A N B A N D I T :

C O N C L U S I O N

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 Singh

Cinematography: Kavar Singh & Arild Kumar

Produced by : Amanuel Kidane for 5 Star Ent &

Julian Alexander for IDAP Vision

Production Assistant: Melinda Elvenes

VFX Supervisor: Arild Kumar

3 . N I C O & V I N Z : A M I W R O N G

E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A M I W R O N G ’

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.

Captions

At 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

Television

The 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.

E D I T I N G T E C H N I Q U E S I N ‘ A M I W R O N G ’

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 motion

This 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.

Transitions

A 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.

N I C O & V I N Z :

C O N C L U S I O N

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 Y O U F O R W A T C 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.