Carol Vernallis' Ideas on Camera Work & Editing in Music Videos

The rules of continuity editing are broken. Edits do not have to be continuous, for example, the artist could be wearing a different outfit in the next shot. This draws attention to what is happening on screen.

Basetracks are frequently used. This is to give the video structure, and have parts of the video that are similar to cut back to and tie it all in together.

The camera often moves in time with the music. This gives a good visual representation of the rhythm of the song.

Edits are sometimes very obvious. Special effects can be added to enhance the video, like illustrative overlays or colour filters, and transitions can be added for a more interesting way of moving between shots. Also, jump cuts are used very often.

Some videos that represent some of these ideas are:

Starstruckk (feat. Katy Perry) - 3oh!3

- Lack of continuity editing. Both 3oh!3 and Katy Perry change outfits.

- Basetrack when 3oh!3 and Katy Perry are singing.

- Obvious edits. Plenty of jump cuts, many of which are to the beat of the song.

Sssnakepit – Enter Shikari

 

- Basetrack when Enter Shikari are performing.

- Camera moves in time with the music at a few points.

- Obvious edits. When band members are jumping through the triangle light structure, they hover/go backwards and forwards for a moment before landing on the stage. There is a grainy effect added to some shots, much like a TV with no signal. Text with some of the lyrics is added into a few frames, for example, ‘Yeah lucky for you’.

Learn To Live - Architects

- Basetracks when Architects are performing privately, and when they are performing in front of a crowd.

- Camera moves in time with the music at some points. The camera moves faster at faster points in the song, and slower during the slow parts of the song.

- Obvious edits, there are green, orange, blue and grey colour filters, none of the shots are naturally coloured.