The frames shown above are taken from the video "The Road", performed by the band "We Are The Ocean". This video is purely performance based, allowing me to now evaluate the key conventions of a performance based video - PERFORMANCE BASED.
At an instant, it is clear to the viewers that the video has been shot in black and white (grey-scale), limiting the color used in the video. This however can also be seen as a way of getting the mood of the song across the to the viewers.
The first shot introduces the lead singer of the band as he sings the first verse. This is shown through a close-up, hand held shot of his face, allowing the viewers to become more familiar with his appearance - complimented strongly through the shallow focus on his face. In the next slide we are introduced to the band. This is shown through a wide/ long shot of all four of them performing in a room - also allowing the viewers to establish the setting of the video. During the length of the video, many hand held shots are used on each individual member of the band. This is shown in the third slide above. As you can see, this shot provides the video with a sense of perspective towards the viewer, allowing them to feel as if they are there watching the band perform. As shown in the next slide, the viewers are then introduced to the other members of the band individually. This is shown through a close-up shot, with a shallow focus - shown above on the lead guitarist. This is also shown in the next still shot, however this time used on the drummer. I believe that the variation of shots used on the individual members on the band provide the viewers with a better understanding of the song; through both the rhythm and the beat. The next frame shows the lead guitarist singing into the microphone - shown through a medium close up. I felt this frame was important to the video as it allows the viewers to see the backing vocals being performed - again showing understanding and creation towards the video. Another feature I felt deemed important to the video was the closeups of the instruments being played. As shown in the next frame, a close-up of the bassist guitar as been used. This provides the viewer with a detailed shot of the instrument being played; an interesting and more appealing shot added to the video. Towards the end of the song, as the beat becomes more intense, the camera begins to slowly circulate around the room, showing a little more insight to the setting of the video - shown in next frame. This frame shows a shallow-focused medium shot of the bassist from behind. The next frame shows one of the final shots in the video. The video finishes with another wide shot of the band, providing the viewers with one last glimpse of the band performing together before the video ends.
Overall, I feel that both Narrative and Performance based videos have an equal ability to portray the story of the song across to the audience. Performance based videos allow the audience to see the band in their state of mind whilst performing the song, where as the narrative based video provide a narrative of the story behind the song. Many narrative based videos do have performance based features - band interaction...etc. I do however feel that Narrative based videos have more to offer on top of just portraying the meaning of the song. In this case; more color, a wider variation of shots, a visual narrative of the story of the song...etc. From this, I feel that a narrative based video would be a more appropriate and effective way to portray the meaning and story behind my chosen song.
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