Music Video Analysis

Bullet For My Valentine are a metal core band from Bridgend in Wales. The band currently have Four releases and are working on a fifth in Singapore now. The first of their releases was a self titled EP which they released in late 2004. Then in 2005, the released their debut album called "The Poison". then due to the main vocalist (Matt Tuck) having medical problems with his vocals and his throat, it took them 3 years to record and release their second album "Scream Aim Fire" in 2008. and finally in 2010 the band released their third album named "Fever" and due to Matt Tuck having a side project of another band (Axe Wound) with some other friends who are also in different bands, then another album from Bullet For My Valentine is not anticipated until maybe late 2012 or in 2013. The video I will be analysing is "Hearts Burst Into Fire" from their third release and second album "Scream Aim Fire"



Alter Bridge are an American rock band that were formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida. It consists of lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, all of whom are also members of Creed, alongside lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman of Slash's current solo project. Tremonti named the group after an actual bridge that used to be located in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, near his former home on Alter Road.
The band currently have three releases consisting of the first album named "One Day Remains" in 2004, the second album named "Blackbird" in 2007 and finally their latest release that they named "AB III" in 2010. The song i will be analysing is from their third album and is the second track named "Isolation"



Rise to Remain are a London based metal band. The band have made appearances at Download Festival, Sonisphere Festival and have extensively toured the UK and Europe. The band have released three EP's, the majority of which have been "viral" releases, via their Myspace. The band have been praised by magazines, such as Metal Hammer and Kerrang!, with the former releasing a scaled-down version of their first nationwide-release EP, "Bridges Will Burn". They have received radioplay through the likes of BBC Radio One and Total Rock, as well as having their music videos regularly rotated on Scuzz and Kerrang! TV. The band was voted "Best New Band" at the 2010 Metal Hammer "Golden God Awards", an award decided by 400,000 votes across the globe, and the 2010 Kerrang! Award for "Best British Newcomer". On 16 March 2011 they signed their first major recording contract with EMI records, which was accompanied by the launch of their website and a free single download entitled "The Serpent". Their debut album, City Of Vultures, was released on the 5th September 2011, nearly a year after they had started work on recording the album. It was produced by revered metal producer Colin Richardson and Carl Bown.
The video i will be analysing is the third song on their full length album "City Of Vultures" and is named "This Day Is Mine"

In these videos, the first few seconds and clips are images of the bands setting up and getting prepared for a performance and then once the song properly kicks in, they show clips of the bands performing at a show/gig they have just been shown setting up for in the first few seconds/clips. Within these videos, they include lots of different clips of the bands performing in lots of different angles and shots including close ups, long shots, two shots, mid shots, groups shots and lots of other different shot types. They all include a lot of differnt shot types due to having loads of cameras set up everywhere in the stadium/gig that are no noticable by the other cameras so that they are able to get this wide veriety of shots to keep the videos less repetitive and more interesting. and keeping with the theme of the videos, they have shown the setting up, then the performances and then at the end of the songs, they have shown themselves thanking the crowd for their support and them walking off stage etc. So they have all kept with a kind of story line of coming to perform, setting up, performing to the crowd and then leaving. In this video, they also include a lot of mini home made clips/videos that show the life style of the band while they are on tour including clips of them with fans, getting tattoos, practicing, exploring the different places they go to while on tour, them with friends/girlfriends and all other different personal/home made clips.
These music videos are relevent as i am thinking about doing one just like these, that will show a band consisting of me, and some friends setting up to play a song together, then perform it to the camera and then show us leaving the room just like these videos show. I also like the idea of putting the whole video in black and white for either the whole video like Bullet For My Valentine do or just put the home made clips as black and white like the other two videos by Rise To Remain and Alter Bridge.

History Of Music Videos

A music video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. Although the origins of music videos date back much further, they came into prominence in the 1980s, when MTV based their format around the medium. Prior to the 1980s, these works were described by various terms including "illustrated song", "filmed insert", "promotional (promo) film", "promotional clip" or "film clip".
Music videos use a wide range of styles of film making techniques, including animation, live action filming, documentaries, and non-narrative approaches such as abstract film. Some music videos blend different styles, such as animation and live action. Many music videos do not interpret images from the song's lyrics, making it less literal than expected. Other music videos may be without a set concept, being merely a filmed version of the song's live performance.

The song "Bohemian Rhapsody" by "Queen" is considered to be the first music video ever created. this is the video below

Music Video Director - Scott Hansen

Scott Hansen

In 2000 Scott suffered a Highschool career ending football injury. His american football dreams withered away as Scott was looking to attend ECU in the Fall of 2000. On his back for 7 months with his leg in a machine Scott turned to what he knew best. Art. For years Scott had been drawing comics and paintings. After a year of drawing non stop, he applied to Savannah College of Art & Design, receiving a half scholarship for his skill in drawing and painting. 
Scott then later pursued interests to become either a comic book artist for Marvel one day or to work at KNBFX in La making monsters. Three years later on Scott's senior year he was looking to graduate with a degree in Motion Graphics when 5 months before graduation he decided to change his major at the last minute. Working with his roomate Rob Vose, Scott got a huge life turning interest, film. He helped Rob make a short film and was so enthralled by the process that he quickly changed his major to Broadcast Design.
After his graduation, Scott returned back to his native Virginia Beach and quickly experimented in many short film techniques and joined New Dominion Pictures as a creature fx artist for the Discovery Channel Show "A Haunting". Working full time at Home Depot and at nights on the TV show Scott trained and watched other professionals and took notes on how to do everything he could.
New Dominion then closed down due to the show being cancelled. Taking the money he earned there he was able to buy his first camera and shoot his first music video. Being in a band in college he knew music was his calling. Not playing it but filming it. He then decided to pursue being a music video director.

4 years later Scott has had over 65 music videos on MTV, BET and CMT.
In 2008 Scott's video for Carnifex was the runner up for Metal video of the year losing to Slipknot and Disturbed.
In 2009 Scott's video for A Day To Remember set a record for the longest run time on MTV2 and VH1 for 8 months on the countdown.
Also in 2009 Scott got hired to direct the infamous Willie Nelson.
In 2010 Scott's short for BOYZ was honored with best comedy by the Las Vegas film festival.
In 2011 Scott and his wife Elisa Meri (www.elismeri.com) moved to Sherman Oaks to play with the big boys.
in 2012 Scott is set to make the jump to feature films with two films already set. Follow as we climb to new heights in 2012.


Here are a few of the videos that Scott has directed.

A Day To Remember - "The Downfall Of Us All"

Vampires Everywhere! - "Imortal Love"

We Came As Romans - "To Plant A Seed"

Music Video Director - Robby Starbuck

Robby Starbuck


Robby Starbuck is an American Music video director from Los Angeles, California. In 2010 he was named to OC METRO's Top 40 under 40.

Artists that have worked and been directed by Robby Starbuck include: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Yellowcard, Escape The Fate, Smashing Pumpkins, Jeffree Star and Asking Alexandria.


Starbuck owns his own production company "RSM" He is also signed there as well. In 2011 Robby was nominated in two categories for the "Much Music Video Awards" (MMVA) for his work directing Metric "Stadium Love". In 2011 Robby's video for OTEP "Fists Fall" won an online poll for best video with a message on "MTV.com" for the VMA's.The first Music Video shot on the RED Epic Camera was directed by Starbuck for The Smashing Pumpkins. On February 27th, 2012 it was announced that his company RSM expanded to representing 15 directors including himself.

Below are a few videos that Starbuck has directed and are very influentual in rock/metal music today.

Asking Alexandria - "A Prophecy"

Escape The Fate - "Gorgeous Nightmare"

Falling In Reverse - "The Drug In Me Is You"

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Below is Robby Starbuck's filmography which will give a very good indecation of what type of artists he works with.

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Year	Artist	Song Title
in production	Black Veil Brides	"untitled DVD" (DVD) Unreleased
2008	Dance Gavin Dance	Me & Zoloft Get Along Just Fine
2008	A Skylit Drive	This Isn't the End
2008	A Static Lullaby	Toxic
2008	A Skylit Drive	I'm Not A Thief, I'm A Treasure Hunter
2008	Breathe Carolina	Diamonds
2008	A Skylit Drive	Knights of the Round
2009	Broadway feat. Craig Owens	The Same Thing We Do Everyday Pinky
2009	And Then There Were None	Reinventing Robert Cohn
2009	Silverstein	Vices
2009	Millionaires	Just Got Paid Let's Get Laid
2009	Quietdrive	Jessica
2009	Asking Alexandria	The Final Episode
2009	Agraceful	The Great I Am
2009	And Then There Were None	Thank The Watchmaker
2009	Impending Doom	More Than Conquerors
2010	Living Sacrifice	Rules Of Engagement
2010	KillMatriarch	Monotone
2010	Silverstein	Decade (DVD)
2010	Jonny Craig	Children of Divorce
2010	Jonny Craig	I Still Feel Her Part III
2010	Millionaires	Stay The Night
2010	Pierce the Veil	Caraphernelia
2010	Mother/Father	Order
2010	Metric	Stadium Love
2010	August Burns Red	Mariana's Trench
2010	Asking Alexandria	A Prophecy
2010	A Skylit Drive	Let Go Of the Wires (DVD)
2010	Chiodos	Illuminaudio album teasers
2010	I See Stars	What This Means To Me
2010	BOTDF	Believe
2010	Silverstein	American Dream
2010	Fight Fair	Pop Rocks
2010	Jamie's Elsewhere	Giants Among Common Men
2010	The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus	Choke
2010	The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus	Don't Hate
2010	The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus	Hell or Highwater
2010	The Dangerous Summer	Where I Want To Be
2010	Quietdrive	Way Out
2010	Seasons After	Cry Little Sister
2011	Times of Grace	Strength in Numbers
2011	Falling In Reverse	The Drug In Me Is You
2011	Ian Carey feat Snoop Dogg	Last Night
2011	Escape The Fate	Gorgeous Nightmare
2011	Millionaires	Party Like A Millionaire
2011	Smashing Pumpkins	Owata
2011	Silverstein	The Artist
2011	The Sounds	Something To Die For
2011	The Sounds	Dance With The Devil
2012	Jon Mclaughlin	Summer Is Over (feat. Sara Bareilles
2012	Blessed By A Broken Heart	Forever & Rockin All Night
2012	Demon Hunter	My Destiny
2012	Machine Gun Kelly	See My Tears
2012	Jeffree Star	Prom Night!

Prelim Task

Final Preliminary Task



For our preliminary task we were all put into groups made by our teacher. I was in a group with Ebony and Charlotte. Once we got started on working on our preliminary task, we all had different ideas that we put into it which also came out in the final edit. For example, one of the ideas either Ebony or Charlotte had was to do the cheesy spin around the camera cutting between the two people as if they were holding hands and spinning around with eachother. With this idea we had Charlotte and Ebony do this by both of them sitting on either end of a double seated spinny chair at a park near the college/school and when one films the other holds onto either side of the camera and they both spin together to make it look like they are holding hands and spinning with eachother. This is in the video at: 1:54 until 2:03 cutting between the two of them during that shot, reverse shot. One of the ideas i had for the video was that during the chorus, we should have signs either saying what the lyrics are or what they represent. So during the chorus at: 0:44 until 0:50 and also at 1:07 until 1:14 we had signs with a pig onit representing the "Babe" and words saying "I", "Got" and "You" so that during the chorus it would say "Babe, i got you babe" in time with the lyrics of the song. One thing that we decided on as a group was costume and that it would be that all of us would have a dark bottom half on and a light top half of clothing, so i wore a Grey jumper and dark jeans, Ebony wore black tights and shorts with a light blue top on and Charlotte wore Black Leggings with a light blue top on aswell.

30 Second Clip

Artist: Asking Alexandria
Song: Closure
Album: Reckless & Relentless
Director: "Thunder Down Country"