Carol Vernallis

Vernallis looked at editing and camerawork in music videos. She realised edits in music videos are more frequent than in films and have a rhythmic basis connected to the song.

Her main points are:

·     The usual rules of ‘continuity’ editing are broken in order to draw attention to what is on screen.

·     Editing may be obvious to draw attention to themselves.

·     Jump cuts are frequently used.

·     A base track/master shot is used to give the video structure

·     The camera may move in time with the music

·     Never a static position within the sequence.

This video illustrates some of Vernallis ideas. There's an obvious edit where Missy Elliot’s neck is extended out and her head comes closer to the screen, this is an obvious edit to the audience and draws the viewer’s attention.  Slow motion is used several times, an example would be when the frame freezes and spit travels through the air to the man’s mouth. Plenty eye contact is made with the camera by the main artist. The camera always returns to the main artist during the chorus creating a base track.

Missy Elliot –Get you Freak On