5 - Carol Vernallis Research

Summary of Carol Vernallis theory on editing

 

 

Carol Vernallis states that music videos may break the conventions of editing, the style of editing in music videos is very distinctive and plays a key role in the narrative of the music video. Edits may include the following:

 

1.Extreme changes in Pace

2. Jump Cuts, Base Track cuts

3. Cutting with lyrics

4. Edits matching the song
5. Close ups / Extreme Close ups

 

There are more edits in a music video than in a film or tv show to add excitement and to keep the viewer involved or interested in the video, also because it usually goes in time with the pace of the music.

 

Examples

 

 Base Tracks and Close Ups:

 

A$AP Rocky - Multiply: From 0.29 seconds, we see use of fast cut base tracks to keep up with the beat and pace of the video and repeated close ups of his face.

0.35 seconds - example of a close up used in a base track, base tracks are used through out the whole video, 

 
 However, to separate up the base tracks, at certain beats/points of the song, the camera jumps to this shot, (outside of the studio), and always jumps back to this location whenever the pre-chorus comes up.

And then the close ups /extreme close  ups are brought back when the main chorus is played.