Research into black and white music videos.

As a group we have decided to film in black and white.By filming in black and white you can communicate different emotions  it can suggest pain and suffering,depression or in some instances it can symbolise glamour and wealth.Colour filters are often blended in black and white music videos  in order to contrast two different jutxposing  emotion such as sadness in the past and happiness in the present and vice versa.I have researched using these methods to see how these videos portray these.

Black and White films portraying  wealth and Glamour. 

(Jason Derulo It Girl)-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oGUHRXT-wA

                             
1)The characters dark skin the foreground of the shot with his dark sunglasses jutxposes against his white colour and his suit which with a black and white colour filter appears as a pale grey which jutxposes against the white and pale grey in the background.This make the singer in the foreground look more prominent in the shot which draws attention to his attire of his suit and sunglasses which suggests wealth and power.

2)Daylight is used which brightens the actresses face and the make-up is heavily applied  which causes her face to have an expensive glamorous shimmering  glow.The lighting  with the aid of then black and white filter softens the actresses dark skin so that it subtly contrasts against her black  hair which conveys happiness and contentment.

3)In this shot the light is blending in and appears blurry or slightly foggy in the background are pale greys and whites which accentuate the dark figure.The singer is wearing a pale coloured jacket that has grey on it that links with similar shades of grey in the background.This perhaps suggests that he feels  that the character is shy.Wealth is also suggested by his attire.

(JayZ and Alicia Keyes New York)-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjsXo9l6I8

1) The man is wearing mid tone shades of black and white which link with the similar shades in the background.

2) In the split screen the shot on the right features pale shades of grey whereas on the shot on the right black is a colour that is more heavily used this juxtaposition  perhaps shows the difference between wealth and a deprived life. This is  because the shot on the left shows busy city life which looks appealing and pleasant whereas with the use of black the shot on the right looks sinister and uninviting .The hostility  promoted is more evident because the two people in the shot,one is wearing black and the other white.

3)In this shot black is heavy used the singer in the foreground is accentuated by the rich use of black that is glammourised by the use of white  which appears as a  shining  shimmer.

Transition from black and white to colour.

          

(All of the Lights-Kanye West)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAfFfqiYLp0

                           
1) The black  and white a heavy contrast between bold use of black is harsh against the white element of the shot that appear almost a bleach white.This perhaps suggests depression or angst.

2)The colour of the flashing illuminating font that appears immediately after the first shot contrasts heavily with the strong bold black and white used. This does not  link but instead appears random and disjointed perhaps suggesting  either happiness or disorientation.

3)Black and white is featured in the foreground and the brightness  of the figure slightly contrasts  against this.However the sunglasses are black and the brightness of the light reflecting  on the rappers face appears white so the black and white colour filter is in effect used but with the slight introduction of colour that might suggest hope.


       

(EverythingEverything-CoughCough)-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjKcmZGhUrQ

                                 
1)Black is used by more mid tone grey and a pale grey white colour is used on his face the balance with the black and white filter unifies the shot.

2) The black and white used in this shot  is much harsher as the black is used  as an antagonist shade in this shot with slight strikes of white which conceal the singers face which appears sinister.

3) The use of the colour filter of really vibrant orange that from an illuminating light once again heavily contrasts against the colour filter used in the last shot suggest happiness.The change in the tonal value colour filter used in each shot with the illuminating colour introduced in the last shot perhaps portrays a mood change.

Black and white used to convey emotion.

(Beyonce-If I were a Boy)-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjKcmZGhUrQ

                              
1)The protagonist has dark skin mid tone and the dark grey along  with the dark grey of the singers hair  contrasts with  white wall.This perhaps shows that the character  portrayed  is being victimized and is hurt by something which is evident by  the sorrowful expression on her face.

2)Th heavy use of black completely covers the right hand side of the man's face causes him to look sinister like he is hiding something .The soft focus of the jacket blurrily blends into the background drawing  the actor  into the background which shows the character is deeply upset.

3)A close shot is used and the mid tone grey used on the fact with the dark shade of grey of the singers hair. However the singers hair dark grey is harsh against the pale tone of grey on her face. Select focus is used so that the bright white background is more dominant suggesting the naivity that has led to  hurt or perhaps lost innocence of the character the singer is depicting.

The character  is wearing a black clothing which indicates her depression. She is wrapped in a white sheet  which suggests vulnerability and this contrasts with the black that may also be associated with lust evil and death. The background surroundings are a mid-tone grey which causes the protagonist top be the central line of focus considering that she is positioned in the centre of the shot.