Analysis of a Music Video

Track: Where Have You Been
Artist: Rihanna
Director: Dave Meyers
Release Date: 8th May 2012
Length of Video: 4:03
Number of shots in entire video: 165
Average length of shots: 1.47 seconds

Chosen 30 second segment: 0:47 - 1:17
Number of Shots in a 30 second segment: 21

Shot number	Shot type	Shot length	Description	Edit to next shot
1	Close Up	3 seconds	Close up of Rihanna	Fade out
2	Mid Shot	3 seconds	Mid shot of Rihanna and dancers behind her	Straight  cut
3	Tracking Shot	2 seconds	Showing Rihanna and dancers	Straight cut
4	Close Up	1 second	Close up of Rihanna	Straight cut
5	Tilt Shot	1 second	Tilts upwards	Straight cut
6	Tracking Shot	2 seconds	Showing Rihanna and dancers	Straight cut
7	Group Shot	0.5 seconds	Showing dancers and Rihanna	Fast Cut
8	Tracking Shot	1 second	Moving round the group	Straight cut
9	Mid Shot	1 second	Of Rihanna and dancers	Straight cut
10	Close Up	2 seconds	Of Rihanna	Straight cut
11	Group Shot	2 seconds	Of Rihanna and dancers	Straight cut
12	Mid Shot	1 second	Of Rihanna and dancers	Straight cut
13	Close Up	1.5 seconds	Of 3 Dancers	Straight cut
14	Group Shot	2 seconds	Rihanna and dancers	Straight cut
15	Mid Shot	1.5 seconds	Rihanna	Jump cuts
16	Extreme Close Up	1 second	Rihanna’s face	Straight cut
17	Mid Shot	1 second	Rihanna	Straight cut
18	Tracking Shot	3 seconds	Rihanna and dancers	Straight cut
19	Mid Shot	1 second	Rihanna	Straight cut
20	Shots 20 & 21 (combined close up and group shot)	2 seconds	Split screen of the two shots.
21

Within the 30 second segment there are...
Close ups: 5
Extreme close ups: 1
Long shots: 0
Mid shots: 6
Panning shots: 0
Tilts: 1
Other Shots: 8

Analysis
From this process, I have learnt about the use of different shots and the lengths of time in which they last. I have also learnt how the spead of the shots reflect the pace of the track. In 'Where Have You Been', the music's pace is fast and the length of shots, constant changes of angles and types of shots reflect this. A slow moving video with longer length shots wouldn't have worked as well with the music. I have also learnt how the wide variations in the types of shots and the order in which they are used make the video more interesting and that the use simple cut techniques rather than complex doesn't make the video any less interesting.