Technical Analysis (Mark)

The video which i have technically broken down is P.Diddy and Faith Evans' 'I'll Be Missing You', a song made to the dedication of the late Rapper Notorious B.I.G. The song is all about missing someone and it is for this reason that i looked at this video as the mood and feelings in the song are similar to 'Before The Worst' as it is also talking about losing a loved one. Therefore despite being a different genre of music, the meanings behind the song are similar to ours and it follows a narrative story with locations and mise-en-scene which we as a group have talked about having in our video.

It opens with the lead singer on a hilltop, a LS is used to establish the fact that he is alone straight away which conveys isolation and missing someone close to him. The shots then alternate between these LS's and a number of CU's of the artist lip syncing. A crane shot may also have been used as the camera pans down on him and moves closer towards him. In addition, various LCA's are used in the video which can connote the artist being looked up to, This angle gives a backdrop of just the blue sky above which looks effective. Also, there are 360 degree pans around him as well as movements from the ground upwards (the artist follows the camera where ever it goes.)

On many occasions, the shots fade in and out from one to the other and often overlapping shots are used which shows the artist twice in one shot. Another scene is in a dark alley with the camera on a handicam behind the artist to add a sense of danger. The female singer is shot in an underground car park which gives effective directional lighting, the majority of her shots are CU's of lip syncing. P Diddy is shot ona motorbike which gives a sense of movement as the camera would be on a track following the bike. He falls and sits in the middle of the road looking in to the sky which again relates to the lyrics of the song.

There are various different studios used for the filming of this video; One which P. Diddy is predominantly in has many flashing lights directing on to him and changing colour. The artist is wearing a fashionable jacket and sunglasses as well as more LCA's which shows his star persona. Another studio is a black room with CU's of the artists singing behind a few candles, again relating the video to the song showing respect. Throughout most of the video and these studio scenes imparticular, the artists maintain eye contact with the audience so they feel involved. P. Diddy also often points to the camera as if he is singing to the audience.

Towards the end of the video, it goes back to the hilltop scene but this time the artist is with many children. Techniques used here include; undercranking as they run up the hill, Steadicams following them, 360 degree pan to connote the artist is lost and a collection of HCA's which could show that the lost one is looking down on them. Again, the predominant shot is CU's of the artist lip syncing and often making actions such as praying, relating to the lyrics.

Finally you get P.Diddy alone in the middle of a street with only natural street lighting used. He dances around yet a stedicam is still used as are various more HCA shots. It begins to rain heavily which adds effect and ties in with the mood of the song, smoke also comes from the floor and surrounds the artist which also links in with the mood.