There are any key things that need to be considered during the filming of a music video. Since nearly all music videos are unique in their own way, they will all use techniques such as the extreme close up, mid shot etc. The extreme close up is generally used when the main focus of the video is on the artist. It is to ensure that the audience that is watching is clearly shown the reactions of the artist. An excellent but yet not purposely used extreme close up is in Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U where throughout the whole song it is just an extreme close up with a few transitions of different locations that the director was planning to film at. The key iconic thing that worked with the extreme close up and the artist was the fact that when she began crying the audience could obviously see the emotion that she was portraying was real.
Next it is the mid shot that is typically used in all music videos. This shot normally is quite farther away from the artist or group so that the audience can see their face and part of their body. Typically whenever the artist is lip syncing the lyrics to the song, mid shot is generally used. In some music videos there will be additional instruments that the audience can see the artist playing. It can tell the audience that it is them that can play the instruments and that they don't just sing; this adds a more personal touch to the song. Some of the most successful songs are actually the most basic ones where there isn't any special effects such as cuts and wipes or even different shots or angles. For example in Christina Aguilera's The Voice Within the whole song is simply one continuous shot with the camera occasionally zooming in and out. As well as the video is just one shot it is also only in black and white, even though this generally doesn't make a difference the the audience to this or colour but it is still recognised as a different style.
Next you will have the video or videos that will make absolutely no sense. The most recent and most talked about song has to be Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball. This is simply because the song has no emotion and no meaning to it what so ever which can also be indicated in the lyrics. Some artists will use songs to be able to boost their standing in the public by making controversial songs. As for Wrecking Ball, most people are to believe that this song was used to be able to change her image, so that she could not be seen as the same child that was once on Disney Channel. But then on the other hand, you have other artists who know what they are doing and know what the videos reaction will have on the public. Madonnas Like A Prayer is such song because although she knew what the song was actually about, she also knew how the public would react. In the video she has sex with a man that the public believes is a black Jesus but Madonna referenced the apparent 'Black Jesus' as a saint.
Next is the very self explanatory dance videos. This is a very simple type of video in which the artist or group is just seen dancing. A well known example of this is Beyonce's Single Ladies. The video is very simple and easy to produce simply because all that the director needed to worry about was the filming and the costumes that the dancers and Beyonce were going to wear. The dancers in the video normally have their own dance set list and the dance routine is different from any other kind of video. The dance routine is normally very simple so that the audience that is watching can mimic the the moves which in turn will also make the song more popular. You also have the Modern type of music videos which is very popular amongst female artists. Normally used when in a girl group but then there are the occasional female artist who will hire professional artsits to dance with them that know the dance routine. Usually the back up dancers and the main artist will have different costumes so that the audience can know who is the main person. This will also help if someone who hasnt seen the artist before so that they can reference the person who has the different outfit as unique.The background is generally a basic room or wall in which the group dance.
Finally you have the artist that dress up during their music videos. In some of these videos there may also be a hidden story or meaning to the video; although sometimes it can be said in the lyrics. Some of the music videos will make more snese than others. For example, In Katy Perry's Part Of Me, she is a woman who I believe that recently lost her husband which can be seen at the beginning of the video who then gains courage and decides to join the marines; I'm guessing since her husband/boyfriend died in the military. There are other videos however that show experiences that either the artist has gone through or by one of their fans. Another example would be Stan by Eminem. The video and song lyrics are about a fan of Eminems who kept sending him fan letters byt since Eminem was so busy he didn't get a chance to reply back. Seeing as the fan thought that he was being ignored, he decided to tie his pregnant wife in the back of his car and then drive it off a bridge. These kinds of videos are really touching to the fans and to the audience.
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