Basic Visual Storytelling and Music Video Production

I. Introduction to Visual Storytelling

Visual storytelling involves conveying a message, emotion, or narrative
through images. In the context of a music video, visual storytelling is a
powerful tool to complement and enhance the music’s meaning.
• Why is Visual Storytelling Important?
o Visual elements can create a deeper emotional connection with the
audience.
o The combination of music and visuals creates a multisensory
experience, making the message more impactful.
Key Elements of Visual Storytelling:
1. Framing – How elements are arranged in a scene to guide the viewer’s
focus.
(The process of selecting and positioning the camera, the subject, and
the background in your scene. Framing determines what the viewer sees
and how they see it. You can use framing to control the focus,
perspective, and scale of your story.)
2. Composition – The overall layout of a scene, including balance and
symmetry.
(The process of arranging and balancing the visual elements in your
frame. Composition affects the harmony, contrast, and rhythm of your
story. You can use composition to create interest, tension, and flow in
your scene.)
3. Lighting – Used to create mood and emphasize certain aspects of a scene.
(Lighting helps the audience receive context clues about the scenes and
the plot line of a play or musical. Abnormal color changes can indicate
hallucinations, dreams, and past encounters. What the light focuses on
draws attention, like an important character in a scene. Intensity in
lighting can provide scenic context.)
4. Color – Different colors evoke different emotions and moods.
(Color elicits emotions; it stimulates the eyes and touches the audience
at the subconscious level. Color adds depth to a film and by gaining a
much deeper understanding why color is so important in visual
storytelling, you could learn how to use it to develop a character,
enhance a narrative or tell a story in the most compelling way
possible.)
5. Movement – Both the subject's movement and the camera’s movement help
direct the audience’s attention and enhance storytelling.

II. Camera Angles, Shots, and Movements

A. Camera Angles
• Eye-level: The camera is
positioned at the subject's eye
level. It creates a neutral
effect.

ICTCreativeTechHandoutQ1
• Low Angle: The camera looks up at
the subject, making the subject
appear powerful or dominant.

• High Angle: The camera looks down

on the subject, making them appear
smaller or vulnerable.

• Dutch Angle: The camera is tilted,

creating a sense of unease or
tension.

• Over the Shoulder - A popular

shot where a subject is shot from
behind the shoulder of another,
framing the subject anywhere from
a Medium to Close-Up.

• Bird’s-Eye View - A high-angle

shot that’s taken from directly
overhead and from a distance.
The shot is often taken from on
a crane or helicopter.

ICTCreativeTechHandoutQ1
B. Camera Shots
• Extreme Wide Shot (EWS): Used to
show the environment, often to
establish a scene.

• Wide Shot (WS): The subject

takes up the full frame, but the
background is still visible.

• Medium Shot (MS): Shows the

subject from the waist up;
commonly used for dialogues.

• Close-up (CU): Focuses on a

subject’s face or a specific
object, highlighting emotions
or details.

• Extreme Close-up (ECU): Focuses on an even

smaller detail, like an eye or a hand, for
dramatic emphasis.

ICTCreativeTechHandoutQ1
 • Cutaway - A shot of something other than the subject and away from the
main scene. It is usually followed by a cut back to the first shot and
is useful for avoiding a jump cut when editing down a section of dialogue
or editing together two separate takes.

• Cut-In - Like a Cutaway but shows a Close-Up shot of something visible

in the main scene.

• Point of View Shot (POV) - Shot

intended to mimic what a
particular character in a scene
is seeing. This puts the
audience directly into the head
of the character, letting them
experience their emotional
state.

C. Camera Movements
• Pan: The camera moves
horizontally from one
side to another.
• Tilt: The camera moves
vertically (up or down).
• Dolly/Tracking: The
camera physically moves
towards or away from the
subject or follows
alongside them.
• Zoom: Changing the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear
closer (zoom in) or farther (zoom out).
• Handheld: The camera is held manually, creating a shaky, realistic
effect.

ICTCreativeTechHandoutQ1
III. The Music Video Production Process
A. Pre-production
• Storyboarding: Planning out the shots and scenes by sketching them in
a storyboard format.
▪ Drawings, sketches, reference images or photographs to
represent each frame.
▪ A description of the shot — any relevant information on the
action, dialogue, or composition.
▪ Shot specs — shot size, lens length, two-shot, etc.
▪ Arrows to indicate camera and/or character movement or how
each shot connects to the next.
o A storyboard shows how each shot will look and the camera
techniques to be used.
o Storyboarding helps organize ideas and ensures that the team is on
the same page during filming.
• Location Scouting: Choosing where to shoot based on the storyboard. The
location should complement the song and fit the narrative of the video.
• Casting and Props: Deciding on who will appear in the video (actors,
extras) and what props will be needed.
B. Production
• Filming: Capturing the planned scenes using various camera techniques.
o Ensure continuity between shots (consistent lighting, positioning
of actors, etc.).
o Use a variety of camera angles and movements to keep the video
visually engaging.
C. Post-production
• Editing: Cutting and assembling the footage to match the rhythm and
theme of the song.
o Synchronization: Aligning the video clips with the music, ensuring
the visuals correspond to the beat and mood of the song.
o Color Grading: Adjusting the color to evoke a specific mood or
match the video’s theme.
o Transitions: Smoothly moving from one shot to another, often using
cuts, fades, or wipes.

IV. Practical Applications in Your Music Video

Your music video project allowed you to explore these filmmaking concepts in
a real-world setting. As you prepare for your written exam, reflect (you’re
not required to submit an answer) on the following aspects:
• How did you decide which camera angles and shots to use?
o Did you use a variety of shot types (close-ups, wide shots) to
tell the story?

ICTCreativeTechHandoutQ1
 • How did the camera movements contribute to the storytelling?
o Did you use panning, zooming, or tracking to enhance the emotion
or pace of the video?
• What were the challenges in aligning your video with the music?
o How did you ensure that the cuts and transitions matched the beat
of the song?
• How did color and lighting influence the mood?
o What mood were you aiming for, and how did your use of lighting
and color reflect that?

V. Study Questions for Review

1. What is the purpose of using a low angle shot in a scene?
2. How does a medium shot differ from a close-up, and when would you use
each?
3. Explain how camera movements (like tracking or zooming) can influence
the pace and emotion of a video.
4. What is color grading, and why is it important in post-production?
5. In your music video, how did you ensure that the visual elements aligned
with the mood of the song?

Tips for the Exam

1. Review the different types of camera shots and movements – Be prepared
to describe when and why to use certain angles.
2. Reflect on your own music video project – Be ready to discuss your
creative decisions, challenges, and how you applied filmmaking
techniques.
3. Understand post-production processes – Know the steps involved in
editing, color grading, and synchronizing music with visuals.
4. Think critically about visual storytelling – Consider how framing,
composition, lighting, and movement help convey emotions and narrative.

References:
https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-can-you-use-framing-composition-
improve-visual
nfyse#:~:text=Framing%20is%20the%20process%20of,and%20scale%20of%20your%20
story.
https://dramatics.org/storytelling-through
lighting/#:~:text=Lighting%20helps%20the%20audience%20receive,lighting%20c
an%20provide%20scenic%20context.
https://academyofanimatedart.com/using-color-in-visual-storytelling/
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/filmmaking-
101-camera-shot-types

ICTCreativeTechHandoutQ1