One Direction- What Makes You Beautiful video analysis

One Direction- What makes you Beautiful

Cinematography
Establishing shot to show a beach at sunrise. We learn that this will be the main location for the majority of the video. We then get a fast paced cut to a close up on a hand tapping along to the beat of the song whilst the beach fades away. Then we are shown a long crane shot of the band, One Direction, throwing stones into the sea by a parked VW camper van. Then we are given a tracking ariel shot of the cliff side, still establishing the location of the video. The band is then shown through a long shot walking along the beach in which we saw at the beginning of the video. We then begin to get medium close ups of band members singing the lyrics. This allows us as the audience to understand who is singing and become to acknowledge who is who. We are then shown tracking shots of the camper van driving along the cliff side that indicates the band are going to the beach. These shots are also extreme long shots, still establishing the location. Throughout the video we continue to get these shots of the car. We also continue to get the medium close ups of the band members singing the lyrics. Another shot we get is medium long shots of the band members ‘dancing’ on the beach whilst singing. This is very conventional of a pop music video. All shots are fast paced to stick to the tempo and beat of the song. We also see a medium long shot of a girl, flicking her hair, which links and is in time to the lyrics. Not only are we shown shots of the van, but we also see tracking long shots of a VW beetle with girls in. We presume they are also going to the same beach. Later on we begin to get low angle long shots of the band on a balcony. This could indicate some power. We also get panning shots and low angle shot whilst they are walking on the beach singing. In the middle of the video we are shown a low angle panning shot of both cars parked side by side and the people in them have met. The low angle on all of them indicates they are now all on the same level of power.

Editing
In the establishing shot, the directors name is placed in the bottom left corner. The shot also looks as though a camera effect of ‘sepia’ /black and white has been used to create an effect of sunrise. Straight away the cuts are of a fast pace which stick to the tempo and beat of the song. This is like this throughout the video however, when the song slows down slightly, the pacing of the cuts also slows. Fading transitions are also used throughout the video to move from different cuts. This is very popular within pop music videos and it follows the main conventions. Towards the end of the video, there is an edit of 2 scenes overlapping with them both slightly faded. This can represent parallel narratives.

Mise-en-Scene
Location/s: The main location for this video is on a sandy beach with a beach hut. This is a very conventional location for pop videos as it’s seen as glamorous, relaxing and indicates summer holidays. For the majority of the video, we see the band in this location and in the water. This might attract the target audience of teenage girls as the location and the song has ‘Grease’ inspiration of the same beat, similar beach and similar scenes. Another location of the video is on a road on the cliff side in which we see the band and their girlfriends driving down. We understand they are both heading to the same place as they are travelling down the same road and in the same direction. The location is quite summery and relaxing, which would attract their target audience as it can be seen as romantic.

Costume: The band is dressed in fashionable spring/summer clothes, which are suitable for the theme and location of the video. They are all also dressed similarly such as close colours and similar shoes which are very typical for a pop boy band. However, they still have their own recognisable styles such as their hair. This allows the audience and fans to recognise them. The girls are also dressed in a fashionable style; however they are a lot more summery than the boys. They are wearing shorts, hats and sandals which the fans can relate to easily as they are simple yet fashionable items. They are also wearing their bikinis. At the end of the video, everyone is wearing jumpers, which shows that the day is ending as the characters are getting cold.

Props: The main props in the video would be the VW camper van, which is bright orange which sticks to the summer, beach theme and the old VW Beetle which also sticks to the theme yet is also very 1950s, which links to the ‘Grease’ theme. The cars can also represent freedom for the teens. Other props include a football, acoustic guitar and deck chairs/stalls which indicate that they would be going to the beach. The guitar is used for singing around the camp fire at the end of the video, which is a big chliqué and quite conventional. The girls also have straw beach bags, hats and sunglasses. This indicates they’ll be going to the beach and the Wayfarer sunglasses are sticking to the 1950s ‘Grease’ theme. There are also sparklers and a campfire towards the end which fade behind other scenes, which could represent a ‘spark’ between relationships. There is also a camera which is also quite retro.

Lighting: the majority of the lighting in this video is natural sunlight as the main location is on a beach. However, in one part of the video the camera and characters are placed so that the sun shines directly into the camera to give a glare. This makes a more romantic setting. Towards the end of the video, the setting becomes dark so soft/ish lighting is used so we can see what is happening. We also get light from the camp fire and the sparklers.