Narrative

A narrative video allows the audience more varied access to the performer than a stage performance can. The close-up, allowing eye contact and close observation of facial gestures, and role-play, within a narrative framework, present the artist in a number of ways not possible in a live concert. The mise en scene, in particular can be used. - my coursework relates to this side of the narrative. Although my music video doesn't tell a story, there will be use of close-ups of faces, and lip-syncing that will add to the video which I think is the heart of a music video. For scenes where I introduce narrative, I will be using the lead singer Beth as the focal point to emphasise her role in the band, and also offer the viewer the chance to see their favourite band memeber, whilst still offering plenty of opportunity to see performance. As Steve Archer puts it: "the lip-synch close-up and the miming of playing instruments remain at the heart of music videos, as if to assure us that the band can really kick it". However, my music video is mostly performance based which I decided will work best as I am focusing on not just one, but 5 artists in the band.

An example of a very famous narrative music video would be "Take On Me" by Aha (1984):

Other than these aspects of narrative I have just discussed, my video will be mostly performance based, and this has stemed from my knowledge of others of The Saturdays music videos. My intention is for the girls in the band to be the focal point of the music video, rather than it telling a story. Although the theory that the most memorable music videos have a strong narrative perspective, I however feel that the performance based music video I am going to produce will encourage the viewer to want to see the video more than once.