Planning lighting and colour

Lighting and colour have great significance within a music video as both elements are able to connote specific meanings. They are able to depict certain emotions from the audience as well as infer certain aspects of the narrative which illustrates the lyrics of the song therefore allowing the audience to develop their understanding. Lighting and colour visible within videos can also potentially provide the audience with a representation of the artist and their environment i.e. the light evident in certain locations may connote varied meanings. By varying the colour and lighting used, a change in the mise-en-scene can be enhanced.

Both lighting and colour will be considered in detail prior to production and editing. Various styles of lighting and colour will be employed within the music video in order to infer specific aspects of a music video. The video will feature a scene filmed in a drama studio where no natural lighting is present due to a lack of windows. Technical lighting will therefore be used in the form of a spotlight to place emphasis on the artist and in turn the performance aspect of the video. Although a spotlight will be employed, the lighting in the drama studio will be primarily low key due to the black walls and flooring.

Naturalistic lighting will also be used when the location of a cliff will be visible. This will provide the audience with a realistic overview of the relationship between the male and female therefore allowing the audience to develop their understanding of the narrative. The naturalistic lighting will place emphasis on the location which symbolises the contrast between the emotions felt by the artist in the past and present. The location of a cliff will include sun light which will aims to highlight the artist performing with the guitar; a convention of the pop genre. Flashbacks will infer the happiness once felt by the artist therefore having a varied gradient to the performance scenes where the artist is the same location yet the relationship has ended.

In order to infer the breakdown of the relationship, naturalistic lighting yet of a darker tone will be used. The scene filmed in the room where the male and female are arguing will convey the negativity of the relationship. This will contrast against the flashback of the male and female playing cards where high key lighting will be visible. The high key lighting has positive connotations therefore displaying the positive emotions felt. This is conventional to videos of the pop nature therefore conforming to expectations held by the audience.

The burning of the cards will be made effective through the use of low key lighting surrounding the flames. However the flames will act as a burst of colour therefore enticing the audience. The cards burning have not only great significance due to being having dominant connotations i.e. the relationship burning down but also act as an effective visual.
The use of flames will mean colours such as orange and red will be visible within the music video. Red is significant as it is able to infer varied meanings such as the love and passion between the male and female. It can also convey the pain caused by the heated arguments that arose from infidelity of the artist's love interest. The colour of the flames therefore has a great impact on the audience's understanding of the narrative. The cards falling down and being set alight illustrates the instability of the relationship and so further presents the breakdown of the relationship.

The colours that will be visible within the music video in terms of the mise-en-scene will be primarily natural shades. The costumes of the artist will involve plain colours to emphasise the down to earth nature of the artist. This therefore maintains the image constructed by the record label and is expected by the audience. The artist's love interest can potentially be seen in darker clothing in order to convey the negativity she causes the male artist due to infidelity.

The lighting and colours chosen are conventional to videos of the pop nature. The naturalistic lighting enables the audience to focus on the mise-en-scene as opposed to the artist alone. It emphasises the location therefore having a greater impact on the viewing of the video for the demographic. The use of both high and low key lighting provides the audience with a variation of underlying meanings and aspects the video aims to infer. High key lighting of a bright nature will be employed to engage the audience, contrasting against the simplistic light used to aid the audience in understanding the narrative aspect of the video. A variety of lighting forms is conventional of the pop genre which are typically enticing and provide the audience with different aspects such as performance and narrative. The specific use of colours is also vital in terms of developing the understanding the audience has of the artist and lyrics; providing connotations that infer certain meanings. 

The lighting and colour chosen are vital in terms of creating a relationship between the audience and the target audience. The viewers are able to depict certain connotations which allow them to understand the narrative in more depth. This therefore enables them to gain a better understanding of the artist himself; forming a relationship. This is reinforced by the emotions which the use of lighting and colour evokes such as sympathy for the artist due to his experience that is displayed through the video.