Amateur Vs Professional

In this post, I will be analysing the differences and similarities between a students music video, and professional one by a famous artist. I will be analysing group 13Q1-50 video on the song 'Thinking Man's Session' by The Nextman, with a professional video from called 'Dilemma' by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland.

Student Video



This video does not have a particular narrative, but amplifys the song with the micro elements fitting to the beat. The genre to this music video is Hip-hop, and stereotypes of it have been put forward into this video with the mise-en-scene, cinematography and editing, so the music video can be identified easily of it's genre.

Professional Video



Nelly is known for doing music mainly in Hip-hop, pop and R'n'B, and is a famous male singer and rapper. The song above can be considered as R'n'B or Hip Hop, which means both video's have music video's set on the same genre. Unlike the top video, this one has a narrative about a new girl who moves into town, and Nelly sets his eyes on her. They get together after a few complications, and it turns out to be just like a happy ending, like in the films. This has elements of film with the romantic narrative, and the use of text in the beginning to introduce the stars and the title of the song. It's similar to how actors and the main title are introduced in films. There is also film techniques used in the camera work and mise-en-scene to make the video look more professional. This gives the music video a Hollywood effect where the song narrates the video and the character's feelings.

 

Micro Elements	Similarities	Differences
Camera	Handheld camera movement.	Movement looks smoother in professional video.
	They both use different camera angles such as low angles.	The student video uses dutch angles to create tension whereas the pro doesn’t. The pro also uses high angles, where the student dosen’t.
	Variety of shots.
	They both use camera movement.	There’s more variety of camera movement in the professional video compared to the student, such as cranes. It is also smoother in movement.
	Both videos have the artists talking to the camera.
	The camera quality is not as good as ones used in professional videos as they are on a lower budget.	The quality of the camera is more professional in Nelly’s video compared to the student.
Editing	The camera footage is edited to the music.
	No text.	Text is used in the professional video to introduce artists and song title.
	Parallel editing is used to go from different locations and time periods.	There are more locations and settings in the professional music video compared to the student one where it is based around a housing estate.
	Dissolves
		Student video uses fast motion at times, while the professional one uses slow motion.
	They both use effects.	The student video uses more effects such as reversing and repeating movement
	They both use jump cuts and match on action.	The professional video uses more matches on action, while the student video uses more jump cuts.
Mise-en-scene	Costumes are very similar with the baggy t-shirts and trousers, with hats and ‘bling.’	There are females in the video, so girly and tight fitting costume is used to highlight their figures.
	Both videos are shot in a neighbourhood which will relate to the audience as we do not live the life of a celebrity.
	There are no definite female characters. One is seen in the music video, but is wearing clothes similar to the boys rather than tight or girly clothing like in the pro video.	There a female characters in the video.
	There is a duet in the video that take turns singing.	There is also a duet in the professional video, but one of them is a female. Both people in the student video are boys.
	There is a difference of location variety and characters in both videos. In the student video, they do not have many locations or cast as the professional.	There is more and bigger location in the professional video as they have a higher budget. This includes the amount of cast members because of the same reasons.
	There are gangs of men/boys in both videos.