The video to 'Beginners' by Slow Club focuses on actor Daniel Radcliffe, who staggers drunkenly around a deserted bar, drinking shots and punching walls.
This music video of the alternative genre is performance based with a slight narrative (he gets more and more drunk throughout the video), it is not fast edited which contradicts the conventions of a traditional music video - which is now becoming more popular, especially in this genre of music.
There are conventional features spotted throughout the video, however the fact it is in one setting and a male is lip-syncing to female vocals, breaking the illusion of real life - however the intensity of the acting enhances the meaning of the song.
The first shot is of the wooden floor with the steady-cam moving backwards, showing it is an old building but also acts as a clear background for an introduction to the band 'Slow Club' - followed by the title of the track 'beginners' which is a less important fact as the purpose of the video is to promote the band, not the song. Without cutting, the next focus point is a medium close up of the candle in the corner of the room. Next, the camera pans over to the performer who's head is on the table with an empty wine glass and half-empty pint glass on the table with the use of the 'rule of thirds' in frame - already giving the impression of the glum and depressive narrative. This shot becomes a close up of his face followed by a medium close-up as he stumbles around the room. The camera then spins behind him while he leans his head on the pole which give a sense of confusion.
He often faces the camera as if addressing the audience directly, the use of steady-cam is also an indication to this. The visible streaks of light shining through the windows and the clothes he is wearing shows it could be summer however he is in a dark bar alone, demonstrating the sombre meaning of the song. Effects such as slow motion and close-ups of the performer however the are not many fast cuts which is unconventional for a video, however I have found that this technique is becoming more popular with music videos, particularly this band, and more often those of the indie rock genre.
This music video of the alternative genre is performance based with a slight narrative (he gets more and more drunk throughout the video), it is not fast edited which contradicts the conventions of a traditional music video - which is now becoming more popular, especially in this genre of music.
There are conventional features spotted throughout the video, however the fact it is in one setting and a male is lip-syncing to female vocals, breaking the illusion of real life - however the intensity of the acting enhances the meaning of the song.
The first shot is of the wooden floor with the steady-cam moving backwards, showing it is an old building but also acts as a clear background for an introduction to the band 'Slow Club' - followed by the title of the track 'beginners' which is a less important fact as the purpose of the video is to promote the band, not the song. Without cutting, the next focus point is a medium close up of the candle in the corner of the room. Next, the camera pans over to the performer who's head is on the table with an empty wine glass and half-empty pint glass on the table with the use of the 'rule of thirds' in frame - already giving the impression of the glum and depressive narrative. This shot becomes a close up of his face followed by a medium close-up as he stumbles around the room. The camera then spins behind him while he leans his head on the pole which give a sense of confusion.
He often faces the camera as if addressing the audience directly, the use of steady-cam is also an indication to this. The visible streaks of light shining through the windows and the clothes he is wearing shows it could be summer however he is in a dark bar alone, demonstrating the sombre meaning of the song. Effects such as slow motion and close-ups of the performer however the are not many fast cuts which is unconventional for a video, however I have found that this technique is becoming more popular with music videos, particularly this band, and more often those of the indie rock genre.
