Mise En Scene
Mise en scene refers to everything that appears before the camera and its arrangement. These include the composition ,sets, props, actors, costumes, and lighting. It also covers facial expressions and body language as part of the actors. MIse en scene is one of the most important aspects of any media text as it is used to transmit the message of the media text to the audience. With the use of its components mise en scene can change the meaning and message of a media product. Mise en scene can also be used to conform to conventions of particular genres. In a horror movie the use of props is significant as the audience expect to see props such as masks or blood in a horror movie. Mise en scene can also be used to set a mood in a media product. In a music video if there is a natural setting like a park and it is sunny then the mood will be expected to be happy. However, if the location is set in a dark room with hardly any lighting then the mood will be a negative one.
Camera Shots
The use of camera shots is essential to music video as it may reinforce the theme and message that the music video may be trying to show. An example of this is the use of long shots which try to establish a setting so that the audience can see the location in which the music video will be set in. A close up however will show the emotions of characters and what they may be feeling. An example may be a close up of a man crying. This puts an emphasis on the mans emotions as the audience will see more of his facial expressions than they would have if it was a long shot.
Camera Movements
Camera movements may be used in music videos in order to express emotions and also be used to match the beat of the song. For example a high tempo song will have faster camera movement whereas if it was a slow song then the camera movement will be slow.
An example of using camera movement to express emotion would be a slow tilt of the camera from the ground to the sky in order to express the emotion of peace.
Lighting
Lighting is a component of Mise en scene and is really important in a music video. This is because the lighting in a music video can create different views by the way the scene is lit , it allows the audience to recognize the genre and style of the music video.
Colour
Colours like lighting can be used to represent a certain mood or feeling or even to signify a certain thing. For example some scenes in music videos may be black and white in order to show a flashback. These scenes may be black and white in order to make the audience aware that these scenes are not in present day and have not happened in the current timeline but rather before. This avoids confusion for the audience as if the scene had colour and showed a couple being happy even after the music video showed them not being together it may confuse the audience.
Editing
Editing like camera movements is a way to express emotions in a music video. A R&B music video will have jump cuts to move quickly from one scene to another, This is because a R&B music video often has settings of club and has the theme of parties so needs qucik jump cuts in order to create the emotions of "living the life" as parties are often associated with being fun and have a quick pace to them.