1. Q1: In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?
Jemima Chamberlin

2. This still from our music video shows Alex leaning on a
wall. This uses the media convention of an urban
location for a music video. For example, this wall has
graffiti on it which is a stereotypical feature in an urban
location. This was important to include in our video
because we wanted to make a clear distinction between
the two locations of urban/forest, to mark the
differences in their individual journeys.

3. This still of our music video shows Hannah walking
away and the shot being from ground level, with an
immediate focus on the leaves. This develops the
convention of orange/sunset tones featured in the
forest location of music videos. This is because in this
shot, like many in our video, the setting is the focus.
This also shows the journey Hannah is on in noticing
the beauty in her surroundings.

4. In this still from our music video we challenge the
convention a music video from the singer/songwriter
genre. Music videos these days tend to be focused on
the narrative, the video will include either a focus
entirely on the artist, or of two random individuals. In
our video we chose to show the ‘artist’ which is
portrayed by Michael as well as Hannah and Alex’s
journey. This was important as we wanted the overall
message of the video to show that heartbreak is
something not only the artist writing the song has
been through, but it is also something widespread that
has to be dealt with.

5. This still from our music video shows the sun shining
across the sky. This uses the convention of music
videos from our genre of singer/songwriter, especially
in a more forest location because the sun tends to be
the natural lighting of the video. This was important for
us to include in our shots of the forest location because
it shows that we have taken in to account what sets
the mood and tone for the video, in this case, the sun –
which accentuates the uplifting mood of the song.

6. This still from our music video shows four of the
people that we filmed for our chorus. This develops
the convention of the song being applicable to many.
This was important for us to include in our video
because it shows the shared journey and understood
meaning of the song across a wider audience than just
our two main characters. This is developing the
convention because these extra people may not
usually be shown.

7. This still from our music video shows Hannah jumping
across some tree stumps in the forest. We used a less
opaque layer of her doing the same thing slightly
behind time above it, this used the media convention of
music videos of having effects. This effect was
particularly important in showing her leaving her old
self and struggles behind as she moved on through her
journey.

8. This still shows the end of a panning shot of Michael
singing. This shot was used at this point as he’s singing
the last few, more reflective, lines of the song. “I’ll
always remember you the same..” is being sung as it
pans around him. Even as the camera moves Michael
continues to look at the same place, this is using the
media convention of a pan shot and emphasising his
reflective mood as he thinks over his past relationship.

9. This still shot from our music video shows Hannah
leaving the forest and entering the urban location. It
also shows Alex about to reach her. This is a significant
use of location because it shows her at the end of her
journey, embarking on to new things. Whereas Alex
has always been in the urban setting and has not
moved on from the past. This develops the media
convention of locations in a music video as it adds
more meaning to the reason for choosing certain
locations, and why they come together.

10. This still from our music video shows Michael (the
singer) walking through the forest location passing a
sign that has ‘Ben’s woodland walk’ this is significant as
the track is by Ben Howard. This uses the media
convention of involving the artist in the music
video, this is especially important in the
singer/songwriter genre. In a similar way to product
placement in media products, including the artist’s
name or something recognisably about them reminds
the audience of what/who they’re listening to.

11. This still shows Hannah wearing a denim jacket, an
earth-toned scarf, etc. This is an important use of the
media convention of mise-en-scene in a music video.
The costume here is in keeping with her surroundings
and is also representative of the genre. The genre
typically has more nature shots, and those in the video
wear flowing clothes, and denim jackets are often seen
on Ben Howard. This is important because it will attract
the target audience who would also dress similarly.

12. This is our digipak. The convention of a media product
shown here is the symbolic image of the guitars being
on the front cover of the digipak. This will also be used
on the magazine advert as it will immediately attract
the target audience because it’s a recognisable
stereotype of Ben Howard as an artist. This uses the
media convention of a ‘signature instrument’ for a
singer/songwriter artist.

13. This is our magazine advert. The convention developed here is the signature
instrument being a central focus which will draw the target audience in straight
away, it also links to the digipak and has the same colour scheme for both the
guitar and forest image. The font size for Ben Howard’s name is the largest on
the advert which will make it easy to see for those viewing the advert and
potentially buying the album.