Looking at an Amateur Music Video

This is the independently produced music video by a small local band called Slowyear for their song 'Baby Arms'. After all these months of research into professionally made pop promos and key theorists, it is shocking to me how negatively I see this video. Although it loosely follows the conventions of rock band performance shots (close ups of each performer, group shots etc), the camerawork is never dramatic enough to excite or elicit pleasure from the viewer. Seeing as any potential concept or narrative is disregarded, its use of performance should not have been this dull (little physical movement or dynamic camera work), particularly considering the energetic roots of the modern punk genre.

However, there are some redeeming aspects. Some shots are well constructed, such as the final guitarist;s image and a few cutaway closeups, although these are few and far between. Similarly, although the camerawork is indeed accurate and stable, and the editing is able to carry the pace of the music, neither is particularly exciting. The video does utilise some split screen effects however, which do generate some interesting clashes within the screen.

Essentially, this is not so much a music video as it is just a capture of the band's rehearsal from several angles, spliced up and forced through a black and white effect to give a faux-professionalist quality.. This is disappointing to see, as recent history has taught us that even the cheapest video can propel an artist to a global audience and unprecedented fame through YouTube, by simply having a unique and interesting music video.