Summer project: coursework planning

Coursework Planning

1) Research music videos

Music video 1: Marshmello x YUNGBLUD x blackbear - Tongue Tied

How is narrative used in this music video to engage the audience?

The music video for "Tongue Tied" uses a dystopian narrative to engage the audience. It follows Todorov’s structure, starting with a disruption where a group called the “Silencers” suppress freedom of speech. Characters like YUNGBLUD and blackbear represent the rebels, creating a clear binary opposition. Fast-paced editing, dark lighting, and symbolic costume choices highlight the themes of control vs. freedom. The use of enigma and action keeps the audience interested, while the final voiceover 

delivers a powerful message about youth and resistance.

Music video 2: Years & Years - I Wish I Knew

How is camerawork and mise-en-scene used in this video? Use CLAMPS to remember the different aspects of mise-en-scene

In the “I Wish I Knew” video by Years & Years, the camerawork uses close-ups and steady shots to focus on Olly Alexander’s emotions and performance. The mise-en-scène uses CLAMPS: the costumes are casual and colourful, the lighting is soft and natural, and Olly’s acting is lively and fun. The make-up is simple, the props like the disco ball make the video feel homemade, and the setting is a cozy room. All these things work together to make the video feel personal and easy to connect with.

Music video 3: Foals - Hummer

How is editing used in this music video to engage the audience?

In the “Hummer” music video by Foals, editing is used to keep the audience interested and match the fast pace of the song. The video has lots of quick cuts and fast changes between shots, which makes the visuals feel energetic and exciting. These quick edits follow the rhythm of the music, helping to create a strong connection between what we hear and see. Sometimes jump cuts and broken-up images make the video feel a bit chaotic, which fits the mood of the song and keeps the viewer’s attention. Overall, the editing helps make the video feel fast, intense, and engaging.

Music video 4: Your choice : One Last Time - Ariana Grande

In what ways does the story in the music video reflect the themes of the song?

The story in Ariana Grande’s “One Last Time” video matches the song’s themes of regret and wanting one last chance. It shows a disaster happening, which makes everything feel urgent and emotional—kind of like how the song talks about needing to fix things before it’s too late. The editing makes the tension build up, and the close-up shots of Ariana really show how desperate and hopeful she feels. The story works like a visual way to show what the song means, making it easier for the audience to understand and connect with.

2) Music video planning 

Artist and song you have chosen: 

Moon River - Frank Ocean

Plan for music video (narrative/performance etc.): 

The plan for my music video is to combine a diegetic opening with a reflective narrative that flows into Frank Ocean’s Moon River. It will begin with a casual exchange between two characters — “Love or lust?” — leading into a response that sets up the theme of choosing love as something that heals both the self and the wider community. From there, the video follows one main character in a UK setting as they process a breakup. We see their struggle with loneliness and temptation, before they make a small but powerful choice to focus on love: through self-care, helping others, and reconnecting with their surroundings. The visuals will shift from grey, isolated tones to warmer, golden lighting, symbolising growth and healing. The overall aim is to show that one small step — choosing love over lust — can ripple outwards to improve not only personal wellbeing but also the strength of the community

Link to brief (one small step to improving your community): 

My music video links directly to the brief, which is about taking one small step to improve your community. The narrative shows how a breakup can lead to either chasing the past or instead choosing love and healing. By making that one small step to focus on self-love and compassion, the character not only improves their own wellbeing but also becomes a more positive presence in their community — shown through small acts of kindness and connection. The message is that even personal choices, like choosing love over lust, ripple outwards and can strengthen the bonds that hold a community together.

Actors/performers you plan to use:

my friends

Locations: 

For locations, I want to keep the setting recognisably UK-based and relatable, so the audience connects with the realism of the story. The video will feature everyday spaces like a local park bench , bedroom to show the breakup aftermath and isolation, and a cosy café where the character starts to find comfort in their own company. I’ll also include street shots — like carrying shopping for a neighbour— to capture the sense of community. These familiar, ordinary places reflect how even small choices in our daily environments can contribute to healing and building stronger communities.

Costume/make-up/props required:

Costumes will be simple and everyday — hoodies, jeans, trainers — to make the character feel relatable. Make-up will be minimal to show emotions clearly. Props will include a phone for the breakup and texting scenes, a notebook for self-reflection, a takeaway tea cup, some shopping bags for the neighbour.

3) Statement of Intent

For my music video I’m using Frank Ocean’s Moon River. The idea is to follow one character after a breakup in a UK setting, showing how they deal with the loneliness and then slowly start to heal. It’s basically about the choice between love and lust, and how picking love and self-care can make you stronger and also better for your community.

For media language I want to use a mix of close-ups and wider shots. Close-ups on the character’s face and their phone will show how they’re feeling and the temptation of distractions, while wide shots of places like the park bench or the café will show them moving from being isolated to being more at peace. Mise-en-scene will be really natural and simple — hoodies, trainers, notebooks, takeaway cups — just normal stuff to make it feel real and relatable. The community side comes in with little acts of kindness like helping a neighbour. Editing will start off slower and a bit duller in tone, then shift into warmer lighting and smoother cuts by the end to show healing. The sound will mix diegetic (the “love or lust?” conversation at the start) with non-diegetic (the song itself).

The video represents young people in a realistic way, showing that breakups are hard but also that you don’t have to go straight into meaningless distractions. It flips the stereotype of young people always chasing lust, and instead shows someone choosing love and positivity.

The target audience is young adults, probably around 16–25, people who would already listen to artists like Frank Ocean, SZA, Daniel Caesar. The pleasures it offers are mainly personal identity and emotional connection — people can see themselves in the character and relate to the situation. It also has that dreamy, escapist vibe through the visuals and soundtrack.