Music Video Analysis 2 Written By Heidi Nockels- Skrillex - Summit (feat. Ellie Goulding) [Video by Pilerats]

Skrillex is an American male electronic musician. His work has only become popular in the more recent years, and often only attracts the younger generations ranging from 16-25. His music is mostly enjoyed in clubs and within the younger nightlife, as a result of this, he focus' less on expensive music videos but on videos that can relate to his audience.

 The video starts by following the one character shown in the image to the left. The fast pace editing used to follow the beat presents a style that as if it is a collection of photographs. The quick shots are all taken from the same angle, therefore the only things that change are the background and what the character is wearing. The various shots suggest she is getting ready for a 'night out'.

What I most admire about this music video is its use of artificial light. Throughout the 6 minutes it uses only light from artificial sources, for example, street lights, shop lights, sparklers, glow sticks, sign lights, fairy lights and phone lights. The effect of this is it sets the atmosphere for the theme of a 'night out'. The advantage of using artificial light is that it can change colours to set a different mood and can focus on certain areas within the frame; for example, the screenshot on the left uses blue light from only around the skater to make her appear as black silhouette, making the character less important but the editing more so. 
Other uses that appear in this video is it focuses one coloured light on a certain area of the face to create shadows that give out misty, smoky effect suggesting the use either cigarettes or drugs.

As this is a fast paced song, throughout the video it uses a continuous amount of abstract shots to fit with the beat. No two abstract shots have a link, nor have a purpose, but it is that reason that makes it work. Within this genre of music, being electronic, the videos do not have to follow a story line, or have to follow any typical codes and conventions. The input of random shots, for example the skull, creates the idea that a teenagers night out is random and doesn't have to make sense. Switching from shots of groups of people to abstract objects/editing suggests that there is an influence of both alcohol and drugs, as if they are dipping in and out of reality. 

Other than the use of light, the only other bursts of colour is the use of physical objects, such as skulls, plastic play balls and glitter. The pop of vibrant colour works as a contrast against the dark setting of the night. The bright colours represent the youth, suggesting it comes alive when they are out at night.

What makes this video unique to many other popular artists within the charts, is that it is relatable to its target audience. Throughout this video it does not use extravagant locations or sets to film, but instead, everyday backdrops that a normal teenager of today would be able to relate to. For example, in a park, houses, the high street, bedrooms and car parks. By doing so, it is more real to life and identifiable with typical student life. As the music is fast pace, the variety of quick shots, filmed in everyday locations does not appear boring or dull. It then works to keep the audience entertained and allows students to relate to the artist.     

As previously mentioned, throughout this music video it takes a down to earth, student life approach. What makes it clear that this video had a low budget is the fact that it focus is less on the expensive locations and featured artists and more on the editing. The different styles of editing is what makes this video the most interesting to watch. The use of the quick jump cuts is most frequent throughout the entire video, as well as the focusing in and out. These two main edits worked along with the music to make the entire video flow well together, including making the most abstract and random of shots work to keep in spirit with the music. The editing style used on the left uses different areas of different faces to create one singular face. This represents all the different teenagers/students out on this one night and come together as collective to represent the age group. 

Most music videos either follow a narrative based style or a performance based style. However, Skrillex uses both to follow his random collective of shots. The first 4:40 minutes features the variety of different shots, linking by only the theme of student night life, then towards the final couple of minutes it features Skrillex performing at one of his gigs, focusing on both the audience and the artist. Although only occasionally featured throughout this video, Skrillex, much like Chase and Status chooses not to be made the main focus with the video. This makes it more relatable to the audience and fitting with the genre, that they focus themselves on the music, rather than publicity of the popularity charts.

A feature that was used in both music videos I have analysed is using the same character to both open and close the video. The effect of this is that it finishes the narrative side of the video. It then has a beginning, middle and an end; opening with her getting ready for her night out, the night out, then closing with her at home. This then makes the video less abstract and random, as it has the continuity of one character.

From this music video by Skrillex there are some ideas and styles that I am hoping to copy and develop into my own work. Some of the styles in which I most admired is the use of artificial light to create more dramatic images making some areas of the frame stand out to be more vibrant than others. The other style of editing in which I am hoping to recreate is the fast past jump cuts to fit with the electronic style of music. This is frequent feature within many music videos within the electronic/dance genre. I admire the way in which the fast pace cuts then allow there to be abstract shots to be included to make the video more interesting and visually attractive. I believe I will take more styles and features from this video, as apposed to my analysis 1 as I consider this video to fit more towards the age group I am targeting and style of music. 

     
Heidi Nockels