Shot Count

For my shot count I decided to choose this video by Panic! At The Disco, called ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’. Their music is the same genre as my music video, so I feel that the style of their video would fit with what I want to do with my own.

Panic! At The Disco are generally stereotypical to their genre when it comes to the style of their music videos. The lead singer wears eye-liner, as does the protagonist of the narrative, and all the background characters/ dancers are dressed as circus performers with extravagant make-up. They are compared against another set of characters that convention would class as normal, and then shown to be the better people through a turn of situations.

In this task I had to count the amount of shots that were used to make up this music video, which are 138 shots. It was partially difficult to keep count of whenever to song went into the chorus, as the editing of the shots sped up with the rhythm of the music, but then slowed down with the music again when it went into another verse. A lot of the shots are either pans or zoom outs using, most likely, a track and dolly for a smooth and efficient effect as there are continuous cuts between these pans and zooms out, going from one to the other. Almost every other shot is of someone’s face or a close up on the singer’s mouth or lips. By doing this it helps to establish the story through the interactions shown between the people.

I feel that by looking at just the lyrics a simple story could be deducted, yet through the Mise En Scene and the deeper narrative shown in the video, unique and individual meaning are shown that one could not have taken from just the song, such as how you shouldn’t shut out your friends for the one you think you love, because they’re going to be the ones there for you when it doesn’t work out.

Genre

The Rock/ Punk genre of this song can be seen mainly through the style of the characters and story that is shown. And all these things can be seen through the editing. For example, whenever something dramatic is about to happen, a flash cut happens between shots, as though counting down to whatever will happen in the video next. The cuts between people and events are also very fast and sharp, fitting with the feeling and beat of the type of music. It keeps the viewer on edge and aware of the music – exactly how Rock affects people.

 Narrative

The story in the song is enhanced by the video, and by extension, each shot – allowing every situation or interaction to have clearer meaning through the editing. When the singer is introduced it is through a downwards tilt of the camera, then when it comes to the subject that he is signing about (two people getting married), they are introduced through an upwards tilt of the camera – helping to show that from the narrator’s point of view (the singers) he feel that he is the opposite to those he is singing about, for better or worst is yet to be shown in the video. By following a story the editing is shown to be much neater and collected than it would have been if no narrative presented itself.

Audience

Panic! At The Disco has no specific gender set when it comes to their audience, nor a specific age for that matter. However, listeners from the ages of 16 – 25 may relate the most to the music and style of the group. In previous videos they had been seen as a ‘steam punk’ style, different to the common and popular music of the time – Pop. This video is only a small step away from that idea with a song full of circus performers and dancing. By doing this the group make themselves stand out from all others of their own genre, allowing their audience to grow as they are easily noticed.

Representation

Currently, there are three members of Panic! At The Disco, yet the lead singer (as is usual) is the only member in this music video, and gets the most camera time amongst the others in previous music videos.  This is a clever technique to make it easier for people who are not big fans of the group. By only having one face as the iconic persona of the band it makes it easier for people to become familiar with them through the reorganisation of one band member.