I have decided to answer this question in the form of a video diary. This question is basically asking me how my product uses, develops and challenges forms and conventions of media products in the same music video genre as mine, and how it develops challenges or conforms to the conventions of Ed Sheeran's real music video for the song 'photograph' - the song I used.
Below is a basic plan of everything that challenges, develops and uses the conventions of the real media products in a table I made, in note form.
MY MUSIC VIDEO ALSO...
- falls among average length of a music video
- falls in the documentary/lifestyle genre but also a hint of family and teen as far as the ages of people who may watch it could be
- Is relatable and relevant to my target audiences issues
- has no live music/lip syncing
Below is a script I have made for the video:
Most songs about reminiscing have a music video that has a concept of reminiscing running through them, for example the actual music video for the song 'photograph' consists purely of home videos, making it personal to Ed Sheeran. My music video uses this convention as a large part of it is about reminiscing as we see the older version of the teen in the video, looking back her life. However in saying this, my music videos narrative is slightly more creative than these regular documentary style music videos as I have incorporated a flashback and flash forward theme in showing the older lady looking back at her younger years - with videos of her younger years - for example when she gets a car for her birthday. I think this develops conventions of real media products of the same genre as mine, because it gives the video more layers, making the narrative more interesting.
My music video also uses the convention of incorporating home videos, as theres one scene where I included this where the two friends are shopping, overlaying a 'recording' image ontop of the clip... but in terms of the format and different types of clips used, my music video massively challenges that of real products in that it doesn't include any live music or lip syncing - as most music videos containing flashbacks - such as maroon 5's payphone and Jason derulo's what-if, do.
However, my music video does conform to conventions of real media products similar to it in that it is uplifting and heartwarming, which are traits music videos to songs like photograph - and documentary style music videos like mine, often have and share. I think my video slightly develops regular conventions though as it isn't just uplifting, it portrays a positive and almost inspirational message to the audience, showing them life is short and must be enjoyed as all you have left in life is your memories.
In terms of acting, I think my video conforms to that of real media products, as the acting does not look staged. The shots are very natural showing raw relationships, they don't look forced which was something I was worried about as an amateur. Also, the plot of the video wasn't revealed immediately, I gave the audience an enticing period from the beginning of the video until I slowly gave them clues as to who the older lady was, which conforms to the style of regular music videos as the plot is never given away immediately.
A major way in which my media product develops conventions of real media products, is that I used and showed many different types of relationships - not just a romantic one as I felt this was very expected and safe, especially as most songs are about a romantic love. My video also develops these conventions in that it therefore gives us a glimpse into a lot of different aspects of the girls life, telling a story and letting the audience get to know her through her relationships- which is more common in short films than music videos.
I think my video also develops conventions of real media products in terms of who may find it relatable. My target audience of older teens and young adults do as the storyline is very relevant to what they are going through, however I think people in the older generations may relate too because I incorporated an older version of Mollie. It attracts two very different audiences.
Using my cover of the song instead of the actual song is also something I think develops conventions of other music videos made to this song as I thought using a female voice would be more effective so that it appeared the main character was singing. However it conforms to regular music videos in that the gender of the voice (in my case female) and the gender of the main character (also female in my case) are the same.
On the subject of ways my product develops conventions of real ones, I used a variety of different transition shots so that switching clips was smoother, making the video more relaxing to watch, as well as using cut aways. My product also develops and slightly challenges that of real ones in that it contains a wide variety of different shots and camera angles, particularly macro close up shots, which are my favourite in the music video.
My music video does challenge conventions though in terms of shots as I think the transitions and types of shots made the video quite artistic in comparison to regular music videos in a documentary/teen genre. It also challenges products in the documentary/teen genre as it isn't as materialistic/lifestyle orientated with partying and activities teenagers do, it has more depth to it looking at relationships over pass times.
One of the main ways my music video challenges similar media products is that the narrative doesn't have any major tragedies, it doesn't really follow or conform to Todorovs narrative theory of equilibrium, as although there is a change - it is all positive, and the video starts with the 'disequilibrium' of acceptance letter however in the story, it doesn't come across as an imbalance in harmony as todorov suggests, more of a positive change.
The narrative also challenges that of real media products as its not entirely linear, the entire video consists of flashing forwards and back between Mollies younger and older self, however if you take the shots of mollies younger self and group them all together, you would see they were in linear order - as it starts with an acceptance letter and ends with leaving.
My video however does conform to real music video products as it falls among the average length of a music video being just over 4 minutes, it is easily distinct able as a music video
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