Ways in which a music video is a distinct video form

In what ways is a music video a distinct video form from other types- films, adverts, TV series, trailers? Compare and contrast qualities

A film should have a full story to tell to an audience which should be self-contained in that one film (although the plot may be expanded upon or added to within any sequels it may have).  There may be many different subplots and themes within one film, with different characters with back story and character arcs as the film goes on.  Contrastingly in music videos there is most often a very uncomplicated or even no plot, any story is very simple and usually only there to show a visual representation of what is happening within the lyrics. Although there may be characters in a music video they will not be very well developed, with only perhaps the members of the band’s being developed slightly in this way, and often anything which is shown of their character through the music video is used to promote them as a star brand and make it appear as if they have a personality which will endear them to a target audience. In both the main characters (in the case of film the main actors, in the case of music videos the artist/s) will have the most screen time in both pieces, in films this is because they are most often the characters most important to the story, while in music videos they receive the most screen time to make sure they are the stars of the video to create a star image and make the artist a recognizable brand.  Music is often present throughout a film, mostly through synchronous sound, but also from diegetic or background music. Unlike a music video the music is (or should) not be the focus in the film and merely add to the atmosphere already set by the film. It is not often in film where the music is in focus but sometimes it may work such as in musicals like Hairspray. 

But often when in films making the music the focus of the scene does not work- particularly when a bad song is used such as this one for Thumbelina, which won a razzie for worst song.




 The same idea applies to music videos, some music videos with a narrative work for example thriller. 




But many don’t for example crazy frog.

An advert is mainly a short piece made to create interest for the product shown in it. There should be many shots of the main product so that you can remember its appearance whenever you go out to but it. Similarly when a music video is shot lots of images of the artist/s will be used so that the audience will remember their appearance. As with music video there is not a lot of focus on character, with the exception being that in both cases the main characters in the piece we be given just enough development to make them likeable to the audience, in the case of adverts this will be their celebrity spokesperson or mascot, in the case of music videos this will be the artist/s. Adverts can also appear in more ways than video form such as in posters and billboards. Sometimes, as with music, in order to make adverts more memorable a story or music is added in some cases this works such as in this ad.

But in other cases making an ad memorable through music can backfire.


Most music videos do attempt to advertise the artist/s and the song and it works well, but occasionally this can be overdone and therefore some video seem like to much of an advert for the artist.

A tv series has a shorter time to tell a story than a film but a much longer time than a music video. As a tv series goes on for many weeks at a time both the characters and the stories are much more developed than those which appear in a five minute music video where the characters are much less developed, and there isn't much time to develop them anyway, and there is sometimes not even a story in some music videos. Lots of shots of the main characters are used in the opening of a tv show along with some music which is probably the most similar section of a tv show to a music video as this is how a music video would appear. Synchronous and diegetic sound are also used throughout a tv show although it is not usually the focus like in music videos. There is sometimes dialogue in music videos but not as much as there would be in a tv show. Most tv shows are not much like a music video but some are about music, include live performances and even show music videos which can make them more music video like, such as some MTV shows and Top of the Pops

Sometimes music videos are made to look more like a tv show, sometimes this works

and sometimes it doesn't

A trailer has a short time to hint at a much longer story without giving too much away, they are very short, being about five minutes at the most and as such there is not much time for things like character development or a fully formed story. A lot of shots of the main characters are used as there is not time for much else and it lets the audience see and know who they are. Music plays a much bigger part as it helps to set the tone of the film for the viewer.  Through these ways a trailer is a lot more like a music video than the other media forms I have talked about before, a story is only usually hinted at, only main characters get any development and even this is limited to the smallest amount there can be to make the audience interested in them, there are lots of shots of the main characters to help create their brand, and the music obviously plays a big part. Both may have some dialogue but it will be limited. Also like music videos they are both in the end advertisements for something else, a film and a song/artists(s).
Here are examples of when music videos were like a trailer and vice versa.