Trailer Essay. . .

Special Guest Film - Apologize

I have chosen ‘Apologize’ as the trailer I want to analyze given that it has cleverly used and covered a lot of the media studies skills and key concepts although it is a music video. The title of this music video ‘Apologize’ creates a question in the audience mind as they are looking forwards to video to find out what the situation for this apology may be.

Throughout this music video the director has carefully used camerawork in a variety of different ways. At 2.44 of this music video a BCU has been used to show the actress playing with her ring this connotes that there is something wrong with her relationship, also it ties in with the music video it self and the lyrics being used throughout. Further more when the actor is looking at the message on the phone, at 0.44… a high angle has been used to engage with the audience so they can see what is actually going on and feels how the actor is feeling. Medium shots are used most within this video, they are used mainly show facial expressions and body language.

Sound, is a key concept in this media production since it is a music video. Unlike most productions that use both diegetic and non-diegetic sound this one had only used the one, diegetic. Although the song is not sung by the actor himself since it is a music video this would count as a dialogue. Soundtrack used in the actual song uses instruments that make a very deep and low sound; they may have used this to create an affect as it connotes sorrow and despair. A gloomy atmosphere is created using this technique.

This music video is very clever with editing techniques used right through the production. They have used a variety of different edits to create an effect and to keep the audience focused. Cuts are often used even though fades are also used. At 0.14 a fade has very cleverly been used showing the actor swinging on the swing thinking and then it fades out into an empty swinging swing! This effect may have been used to flow the song and to show that her apology had not been accepted. So the editing in this production helps the viewer understand the story. Furthermore towards the end beginning from 2.40 the editing is very crucial to tell the story in this video the actress is fiddling with her ring and then it cuts off onto the actor playing with his ring and quick cuts are used as flash backs letting him think upon his decision then finally he drops his ring connoting an end to his relationship. Last edit used was the fade out into the sky this may connote a final goodbye a no turning back. The speed of the edits are not very fast since the music in the video is at a constant pace so the edits resemble to this.

Apologize has a very characteristic meis-en-scene since the story can be told with out the sound to accompany it. Costumes worn by both actors are normal cloths they are not fancy costumes. This may have been done to create a narrative enigma were the audience feel they can relate to the people used in this video and hey can compare themselves to the actors. The make-up is also very basic it is an everyday look to show the reality of the situation. Moreover this is the case for the setting too as it is shot in a home and a park, this may have also been done to create a realistic feel to the video and to show his feeling and not have the storyline overshadowed by a grand setting. It all ties in together to add a feel to the song. Lighting is natural low key lighting to connote the seriousness of this issue and to show the feelings in the song. Natural day light has been used no harsh high key lighting has been used. The rings were the only prop that seemed to stand out at me as the connoted the relationship and what the situation and resolution to the problem was. The rings showed emotion although they were only used as a ‘prop’.

Lastly the genre of this music video would be R‘n’B, and the genre of the video would be a romance love song. There are many connotations of this like the rings and the shot of the couple in bed and the table set for two, this all connotes a romantic feel. Although it is a broken romance since the relationship is breaking apart. The directors have conveyed all the conventions of this genre very well and completed their production to a very high flawless standard.