Planning Editing Styles - Miss Miller

A variety of editing styles are essential to include within a music video because they ensure that the video is interesting and varied so that the audience does not get bored of watching the same editing techniques/shot transitions throughout the entire media product. As a result this engages the audience and makes them want to keep watching. I terms of the music video, editing techniques are beneficial because they help the narrative to come across so the audience understand the storyline. For example, in my music video using the same filter for each memory scene told the audience what clips were a part of the artists memory.



The first editing technique we decided to use in our music video was a filter. The filter layers a red circle and white frame over the image to create the idea that the scene is being filmed through a low budget recording camera. This will be used during hand held memory scenes to suggest that the couple are filming themselves to create memories of their relationship. This connotes that the music lyrics are personal to the artist as the footage is personal to her. This suggest that, because the narrative follows the artists real life, that the lyrics are describing events she has really experienced. This is conventional to the indie genre because artists of this genre often write their own songs and so the music is often very personal to them. Furthermore, if the audience can relate to the lyrics then they will feel as though they are similar to the artist and this will encourage a relationship to form. This relationship will be reinforced by the realisation from the audience that the artist is sharing parts of her personal life with them. This builds a layer of trust between the artist and audience because the artist is showing she trusts the audience enough to share her personal experiences with them. This is conventional to the music video as memories and past relationships are the two main themes of our video. This editing technique is also conventional to the indie music genre as indie music videos tend to be low budget and therefore you would expect filming equipment to be relatively low budget and affordable.  The editing style helps to represent my artist as sentimental  as she is recording the footage just to create memories to look back on. She is also portrayed as happy and carefree as she will be smiling and laughing in these scenes which will portray the carefree and positive side of the relationship before it started to break down. Thirdly the artist will be shown as down to earth through it appearing that she is using a low budget recording camera that anyone can buy relatively cheap in a shop. This suggests that she is ordinary and similar to the audience and so not stuck up like other artists who may insist on buying expensive cameras or getting members off staff to do all of the filming. This helps the audience to build a relationship with her as they believe she is like them in some ways and the fame has not changed her as a person. Therefore she is a suitable role model as she is grounded and relatable despite being talented and successful.

Fireworks timelapse

Another editing style my group have decided to use in our music video is a montage of memories. This will be used in between the main memories that will be linked with a souvenir. Inbetween these main memories will be a series of short filler memories of the couples relationship. Also at the end of my music video there will be a montage of filler shots such as fireworks, time lapses and memories of the couple arguing. This is connotes how quickly the development of the relationship turned into the breakdown of it because the montages will be relatively faced paced. The firework shots connote the overwhelming emotions from the relationship such as rage which suggests that the relationship became very heated and argumentative towards to end. This is confirmed with the footage of the couple arguing. The overall high speed montage will connote the artists feelings of confusion and feeling overwhelmed. This is shown through the speed demonstrating her mind racing and the unclear footage (timelapses etc) demonstrating her unclear and clouded mind.  This fits n with the narrative of the song because the artist is singing about ending a relationship that was relatively happy (at least at the start) and how she ended it because she panicked. Again the artist is portrayed as sentimental as well as nostalgic and heartbroken as she is looking back on memoires and dwelling on the past in the memory scenes. The majority of the target audience will be able to relate to the feeling of heartbreak or nostalgia ans so by identifying with these lyrics they will be building a relationship with the artist as they understand the song is personal to her. Therefore they will be able to relate to the artist and what she has gone through.

Fast paced editing

Fast timing of shots will be used in some filler memory scenes towards the end of the music video where the relationship begins to breakdown. The shots will show the couple arguing, storming off, the artist throwing the souvenirs into a fire etc. This is conventional to the music genre because it shows how the artists mind is racing which is typical of an indie music video because songs of this genre tend to be open and honest in terms of the artists emotions and experiences as they often write their own songs. Further connotations of the fast timing entail the artist having no control over the breakdown of the relationship as it happened so fast an was therefore inevitably despite the good times the happy had that are shown through memory scenes. This represents the artist as confused as their mind is racing quickly as well as impulsive as they are throwing away their items based on their current negative emotions about the relationships. She is also portrayed as having no control as the breakdown of the relationship was inevitably and the artist is acting impulsively to try and come to terms with it. The audience will most likely relate to the feelings of having no control or being distressed. Therefore they will be able to identify with the artist and how she is feeling so can build a relationship with her. Despite the negative emotions, the artist is shown as strong as she has lived through it and is brave enough to share her story with the target audience. This makes her a good role model as she is showing the audience she has had a dark past much like most of her audience and therefore they can idolise her and look at her as inspiration on how to get through it.

A shot reverse shot is the final editing style that my group discussed when planning. These will be used in the scenes of both of the couple when they are having a conversation or looking at each other and messing around.For example, in the kitchen and home cinema scenes. This is conventional to the indie music genre as it portrays the emotions and relationship between the couple which is common as indie music videos are often based around the theme of love and relationships. In the kitchen scene the couple will be laughing and talking carelessly to each other as this scene takes place in the happy stages of the relationship. The shot reverse shot used here will connote the relationship between the couple as carefree and cheerful as they will both be seen laughing at each other and smiling. However, in the pub scene there will be another shot reverse shot that dictates an argument between the couple. This connotates that there are two different sides to the story and that the couple therefore do not agree with each other. This is emphasised by the frowning facial expressions of both characters before the boyfriend storms off. This represents the artist as loving and caring in the positive scenes and argumentative and troubled in the negative scenes and overall as honest and open as the relationship between the couple is clearly portrayed throughout. 

My target audience can build a relationship with my artist through the editing styles that I have selected because  they each portray the narrative clearly through the relationship development and breakdown which is clear and emphasised on in each technique. Each editing technique dictates how the artist has experienced a troubled relationship and breakup. Therefore the audience know the artist has been through heartbreak and has a dark past that they may be able to relate to and see her as an inspiration for having a positive outlook in the end and honestly singing about her journey. The honesty portrayed through these techniques that highlight the artists personal struggles build a layer of trust in which the audience can respect as they feel the artist trusts them enough to share her personal stories with them. This helps them to build a relationship with her.