Research Blog: Music Video Conventions

1. Snooze by SZA 

Cams 

• - Music Video uses High, Low, and Eye-level Angles.  

• - Music Video uses Pan Camera Movement, Zoom and a Tracking Shot in 4 scenes. 

• - Music Video uses Close Shot, Medium Close Shot, Long Shot, Wide Shot, Establishing Shot and a Regular Shot. 

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Editing 

• - Music Video crosscuts in every scene. 

• - Uses the Dissolve technique 

• - Uses Shot/Reverse Shot in the Robot Scene. 

• - Jump Cuts from Scene to another. Ex: Outside Scene to Indoor scene with video games. 

 
 

Mis en Scene 

• - The video has 4 different settings. (In a bedroom, outside in a field, a barn, a living room, and open space.) 

• - Uses a different person for each scene 

• - Uses props such as a tractor, sunglasses, video controller, pillows, and a robot. 

• - 11 different costumes changes. 

• - Acting changes when the person with SZA changes.  Different storylines such as arguing, pillow fighting, eating together. 

• - Lighting changes to Dark from Light frequently. (When outside the lighting was bright, when inside it was mostly dark.) 

 

2. The Weekend by SZA

Cams  

• - This music video has mostly low angles and some eye level 

• - This music video consists of long shots wide shots, establishing shots, medium long shots, medium shots, aerial shots 

• - This music video uses pan camera movement and tracking shot 

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Editing 

• - Crosscuts for every scene 

• - Jump cuts to each scene 

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Sound  

• - SZA singing 

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Mis en Scene 

• - Setting is shown to be different parts inside of a parking garage 

• - SZA is shown in every scene throughout the music video

• - There are four different costume/outfit changes shown

• - The lighting switches between dark to light 

• - A prop shown in the video is a checkered floorboard in which SZA dances on

• - In one scene it looks as though there are two different glass stained wall fixtures, one bing red and the other blue.

3. Good Days by SZA 

Cams 

• - Angles used in the music video consisted of high angles as well as some dutch. 

• - Some movements in the video included zoom, tracking as well as tilt. 

• - Camera shots in the video included the establishing shot (SZA in the bedroom) and wide shots. Other shots were medium long, medium shot, as well as an Ariel shot. 

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Editing 

• - In the music video, a lot of cross cutting appeared between the different scenes. 

• - There was a present jump cut as well. In the beginning,it jumped forward to the scene of SZA in the forest, and back to the starting set. 

• - There were also a lot of inserts in the music video. Especially retro video inserts, which added entertainment to the video. 

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Mis en Scene

• - Costumes SZA used in the video consisted of a bold, sparkly bathing suit, a green ripped forest green outfit, and a revealing glamorous dress. 

• - The lighting used in the video included that of dim and natural lighting. 

• - Actions SZA used in the video were her dancing, singing, and even being clumsy. 

• - The Makeup SZA used was a natural but bold face 

• - Props included a pole, books and papers in a library setting, and a vintage camera. 

• - The setting took place in a natural forestry setting, a gas station, as well as a house. 

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Sound

• - In the music video both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds were used. It was mostly the artists singing, as well as some background sounds. 

• - There was some ambient audio of birds chirping to add the forest theme