Deconstruction of a student's work

1. Is there a controlled use of camerawork?

I think that the camerawork was well controlled throughout, especially the panning and tilting shots (for example at 2:25 where the sun is setting and the surroundings are almost silhouettes), and the types of shots that were used were effective and well thought of.

2. Are there a variety of shot types?

There is a variety of shot types, and although the video consists of a lot of panning and tilting, I do like the mid/long shots where the talent is training alone (e.g. at the beginning where she is doing press-ups underneath a street light) as I think they capture how hard she is working by herself and that she is independent and doesn't need anyone else to motivate her, which is part of the video's message. However, there are a couple of shots which are held for too long, for example towards the end where she is sitting down and waits several seconds before she starts to lip-sync.

3. Is there close attention to the use of mise en scene?

I think that mise en scene plays an important role in this video as it indicates what the talent is training for, and this is clear through her costume (she wears a basketball costume in most of the sequences), and the environment (the basketball court). I think the fact that the basketball court isn't the best around is key to the message of the video, because the talent is willing to practice there even if the facility isn't great. The student has also obviously thought about the weather and time of day, because the main character is prepared to train whatever the weather, showing how committed she is.

4. Is there a clear message? For example, is there a narrative?

The narrative, which consists of someone training to make herself 'stronger' and to get better at basketball, is clear to see. However, there isn't a conclusion and it seems that she isn't training for a big game, therefore it looks like she is training for nothing whatsoever.

5. Have they used a variety of shots, transitions and other effects?

There is a good variety of transitions and effects within the video, particularly at 3:09 where the scene repeats itself, before the ball being thrown ends up going into the basket, and I think this a good way of building up to the end of the scene. Other effects include jump cuts, which I think work although the camera moved slightly to the side, which made it seem a little unprofessional. Standard cuts and fades were used to transition from scene to scene, and I think they were used to good effect and to show the passage of time, especially at 2:32.

6. Do the images and sound work well together? For a music video, have they lip synced effectively?

The action that occurs in the video matches the song's personality, but I feel that at times the talent could've lip synced more effectively. The song used is passionate and fiery, and I think that the talent could've been exactly the same in terms of lip syncing.