JS: Technical Analysis of a Music Video

In light of our recent realisation that an American artist is simply not a particularly feasible or believable video for two British adolescence, we have decided to look at a slightly different genre of music and are looking at a similar style but from a British artist. I have chosen to analyse Professor Green ft. Chynaman and Cores - "Upper Clapton Dance" because this is an artist whose met-narrative is more achievable to emulate for us, and also it is filmed in a location that we could easily replicate; and so this is beneficial for us to look at in the sense we can develop our concept further from this - as we would like to have a similar ratio of performance to narrative.

Professor Green ft. Chynaman and Cores - Upper Clapton Dance

This is an idea that we could recreate in a style relevant to our own song - as it is very important in constructing the meta-narrative of the artist: especially as the first thing seen in a video. 

Something else that is clear to see from the offset is the very regular, whilst slight, camera movements in each shot and extremely high cutting rate - with action changing roughly every 2 seconds throughout the video; this ensures the audience remains on edge and doesn't lose interest in the video, and also mirrors the 'live fast, die young' type of attitude and lifestyle being showcased.

Generally speaking, the action is motivated by the lyrics with very literal scenes being depicted, "hoodies up in all seasons" shows a character with their hood up.

This is an intelligent and instant way to suggest location and even motives to an extent (see technical analysis table 0:13-0:14). We could use something as simple as this to indicate a location without actually filming there - for example at the minute our piece is ideally set in London, but practicality may mean we film in somewhere more local and cheaper to get to with somewhere to film without time constraints; however this filming is inside and so we could use a signifier to insinuate a different external location.

Shot times	Shot Type	M-E-S
0:00-0:03	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	Fade in from black out. Black and white filter. Filmed with a fisheye – can see more of surroundings and the main focus of shot is character. Character looks left and right – connoting suspicion and delinquency. Location – high rise flat feel about it, run down and graffiti covered. Very slight movement in camera, pan in end that suggests character’s movement of leaving the setting.
0:03-0:04	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	Two young children, one is in the foreground whilst the other is in background. Main character is wearing a NY cap and putting on a baseball jacket – showing context of fashion of current London youth. Camera movement is slight and following walk as to maintain eye level and face in centre of shot.
0:05-0:06	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	Middle aged man walking very fast, looking aggressive in facial expression and face is looking around – as if he is hunting for someone. Camera movement is more conspicuous and jerkish – mirroring this character’s apparently more angry and on edge nature.
0:06-0:07	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	Single boy wearing a cap with neutral expression walking through a more open area – perhaps suggesting a more privileged background. Camera movement is still present and mirroring walk style yet less obvious in this shot.
0:08-0:09	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	A group of children that are walking through a council estate, the main character in the shot is placed in the centre and facial expression is somewhat threatening. Camera movement is again slightly heightened – perhaps to make you feel like you are a member of their clique.
0:09-0:10	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	Still shot (no movement) to raise significance of shot of Mother and Baby and difference in lifestyle. Holding her baby connotes love and care, different to the other characters shown. She is also sitting outside a house – suggesting she is fundamentally different to the other characters.
0:10-0:11	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	Again a still shot to show difference in desires and way of life. NVC is used in a different way – the child looks miserable as opposed to the aggressive looks of the other people involved in the video: suggesting they are motivated by other things than the implied delinquent behaviour and are upset to be tied up in this social context.
0:11-0:12	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	The artist, standing yet he sways slightly – meaning there is still some movement in shot. Positioned in front of what looks like a flat. First performance based aspect as we see him lip sync the opening word of “Yeah” – delivered in a somewhat hostile manner.
0:12-0:13	Midshot, Head Shot, Handicam	Man is displayed asleep, the shot is slightly more distanced than the others, perhaps further away from understanding this character due to them not being awake. He is seen wearing a wife beater and has a tattooed arm, which is suggestive of a certain thug type character: although in current society both tattoos and wife beaters have become more mainstream and associated with different social groups than the traditional brute.
0:13-0:14	MCU, Head Shot, Handicam	Hooded figure seen at Clapham train station – intelligent way of establishing setting immediately and a shady character. Clapham is known as a particularly rich area of London on the whole, but also known for particularly violent crimes – most notably the Yardies’ gang shooting and killing of an on duty policeman. This location suggests a motive to gain wealth but doing it through illegal and harmful ways – for example violence. This is the connotations of the location implied merely through a train station name and hoodie.
0:14-0:15	CU, Head Shot	This frame brings the action closer in, the character shown is the artist and the second piece of lip syncing is present as he aggressively spits “WHAT?” The background is out of focus and this means that the audience is significantly attracted to the performer’s face alone. He is wearing a cap and has both his ears pierced – reflecting fashion statement.

I think we could recreate shaky handicam style with maintains idea that the characters are always on edge and meaning footage is more exciting in a sense - audience less likely to lose interest. Similarly, we could use colour grading to a similar effect to the black and white filter - which reflects the tough and dark style of the lives shown, whether they want it or not. These could both work, although we would have to manipulate them to be more original and fitting of our concept, because essentially the broad styles are quite alike - both songs and videos are talking of hardship of certain lives.