In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My media product uses typical conventions of real music videos to ensure success in its entirety. I feel that it is vital that my product included some key forms and conventions of examples of music videos that have already been produced and are out, making money in the market.

We decided that our video would follow a narrative-based structure since my research had led me to the conclusion that song video's that are centered on the themes of love and relationships, contain a storyline with a clear plot and normally a happy ending. This is usually due to the fact that the intended target audiences are young females and normally teenage girls who admire a simple, love storyline. The media product I produced use and follow these certain conventions.

Our product includes a typical love story.



This is similar in many current products



Well-known landmarks in famous cities is a convention that many successful music video’s use as they add a further sense of professionalism to their work. Consequently, we decided that various shots around London’s landmarks would easily fit in with the prestige of products presently in the market and also show there is a serious element about the product.

Famous sites add prestige

Throughout the video, the footage cuts to various shots and angles of the band which is another typical device of music videos of a band.

We decided to include a shot of the plug going into the amp along with digectic sound and a shot of the band members leaving the scene once the song had finished to give our product a different dimension for the viewer.

We felt that these methods developed the shots of the band simply playing and almost allows the viewer to connect with the band members so they feel like they are normal people.

Since the boyfriend and girlfriend in the video have many parallels and present the fact they are in the exact same position as each other and feeling the same emotions, I decided that to develop normal forms and conventions of real music videos, good effects had to be used. To make our product more than a simple production we used, a split-screen followed by a fade-out and a scene in black and white, to highlight an unique feature.

However, I realised that to make a successful music video, not only do you have to appeal to your target audience but the product has to be different from all other products currently out. This might seem tough but I feel we have made relevant decisions and included clever features within our product so that forms and conventions are ultimately challenged.

The lead singer of the video is in fact also the male character in the storyline. This was deliberately done to not only differeniate from other music videos, but to appeal to the intended audience a bit more. 

Furthermore, we included an effect that is not normaly present in a reltionship-themed video. The 'reverse speed' effect we used was done to keep the minds of the audience interested but ultimately excited.

Overall, I feel that our media product successfully uses and develops forms and conventions of real media products so that it fits in with the current work that is out on music channels and on the interent, making money. Yet, I feel that this music video also challenges typical methods to make it unique whilst continuously appealing to our target audience.