Shot count analysis

A2 Media: Shot count analysis

Track: All my life                                

Artist: Foo Fighters                                      

Director: The lead singer of the band Dave Grohl, directed the music video

Release Date: September 7^th 2002

Length of video: 4:45

Number of shots in entire video: 357

Average length of shot: 0.8 seconds long

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Number of shots in 30 second segment: (First 30 seconds) 14 shots

Number of CU: 4

Number of ECU: 2

Number of LS: 4

Number of MS: 3

Number of panning shots: 3

Number of tilts: 1

Other shots: 0

Analysis - what have you learnt from this process? 

• With this task I have learnt that most music videos do have a purpose behind them. In this specific video, I have found out in my research that Dave Grohl directed this video himself. The whole idea behind the directory of this video is to portray to their audiences watching it, that it is what they are like as a live act. There isn't an audience watching them live, The camera work is entirely edited and filmed purely on what the band members are doing.

• The quick cuts and edits are done to show every perspective and view that can be offered of the Foo Fighters. Shots are taken from backstage watching Dave walk out which isn't something that the majority of his fans get to see. The is done for intimacy between the band and their audience, building a better relationship. The video is very down to earth and simple, but the amount and also quality of the edits bring it to life.

• I have also learnt the amount of shots that are in a music video can vary but usually are a lot. I have watched many in the past and never consciously realised quite how as much shots there are. However, It can depend how many there are on the tempo or genre of the music. A slow, relaxing acoustic track wouldn't obviously have as much shots as a heavy, rock song like All my life but there are a lot more than a film or episode on TV. The shots in a music video have to cover much more, meaning more is required. I realised as well that the cuts are done to the music e.g - A cymbal hit would be when a shot would be cut to the next.
    
  

  •  I learnt that camera movement in music videos is dependent to what genre or tempo the track. With 'All my life' many different camera shots were taken from different angles but there is rarely camera movement. Only in both the pan at the intro and tilt there is camera movement. These both occur however when the music slows down or doesn't actually play, which backs up my point mentioned previously.

Shot number	Shot type	Shot length	Description	Edit to next shot
1	L to R Pan	5 seconds	Shows the surroundings of where the video is shot	Straight cut
2	Medium shot	2 seconds	Introduces the band from the stomach upwards	Fade out
3	L to R pan Close up	1 second	Shows the artists instruments in detail	Fade out
4	Medium shot	0.5 seconds	Portrays the other two bands mates behind the first two	Fade out
5	Slight pan, Long shot	0.5 seconds	Moving slowly with the band walking, can see their full body for the first time	Fade out
6	Medium shot	0.3 seconds	From behind Dave Grohl, capturing the moment he walks out on stage	Straight cut
7	Long Shot	0.3 seconds	Seeing the band preparing onstage, with camera filming it from backstage	Straight cut
8	Close up	0.5 seconds	Dave Grohl walking by himself up to the lead vocal microphone, not too much of a close-up but reasonably	Straight cut
9	Long shot	0.5 seconds	The same angle shot as shot 7, however the camera just watches Dave Grohl from behind slowly approaching the microphone	Fade out
10	Tilt from above into a long-shot	6 seconds	Camera tilts down from above Dave grohl when he begins singing and stops tilting once Dave's fully body from head to toe is in the shot for a second	Straight cut
11	Close-up	3 seconds	Camera focused on Dave's face slightly below the jawline looking up	Straight cut
12	Extreme Close-up	3 seconds	Camera looking side on to Dave and the mic and slowly moves out for proportion	Straight cut
13	Close up	1.5 seconds	Above Dave's head, looking down upon him singing	Straight cut
14	Extreme close-up	1 second	Showing Dave's Guitar and his hand action at which he is doing to show the audience a bit more intimacy for detail	Straight cut