Conventions of a Rock music video.

Conventions of a rock music video

Cinematography –
With alternative rock videos, the main goal is to show off the ‘musicianship’ of the band. Close-up and extreme close-up shots are used on the various band members to emphasize their musical talents. For example a guitar solo in a song, will probably be represented with a close-up of the guitarist in the band.
Wide shots are used often to represent the band as a whole, and to show their performance as a band.
All camera movements are used – Pan, tilt, tracking, jib,

Editing –
Because alternative rock songs are generally fast paced, rock music videos are cut in beat to the drum beat or guitar rhythm.

Mise-en-Scene –

Rock videos generally contain a performance by the band, usually on a stage to an audience.
The mise-en-scene refers to the type of stage lighting used and practical stage effects such as dry ice.
Similar to indie rock videos, clothing is usually casual

Mise-en-scene is a reference to the props, sets, costumes, make up and lighting used in a media text. It can also include posture and gesture. In rock music video terms mise-en-scene is often simplified, with sets being a stage with bright lights and even smoke machines. Band members often either wear plain casual clothes (jeans, vests e.g. Kings of Leon - 'Sex on Fire') or more elaborate outfits like glamrags (Steel Panther - 'Death to all but Metal'). Examples of posture and gesture would be things like when a singer screams into the microphone and either pulling it close or leaning into it, or a musician playing a guitar might arch their back and lean the head forward. Make up used in certain genres of rock music video (Death metal, emo metal, goth rock) is often very black, using very dark eyeliner and often very pale foundation to give a stark contrast.

The music video for ‘These Days’ by Foo Fighters is created by footage taken during their Australian and New Zealand tour. So the video consists of stage performances with large crowds. There is also a narrative with cameo roles which show the band members preparing for a gig, from leaving the house to practicing back stage before the show. The cinematography throughout is very conventional. A tracking shot is present when the camera tracks behind the crowd, zooms are used and handheld is used for the majority of the live performance shots along with lots of low angle shots which would have been taken from the ‘photography pit’ at the live gigs. Colour grading isn’t used like in Indie Rock videos. The different lighting set-ups at the various live performances add different colour tones to the band members whilst they perform. The video also includes sections of ‘live sound’ as well as the pre-recorded soundtrack throughout the video. Elements of ‘heavier rock’ videos such as smashing instruments are included in this alternative rock video.