Analysis Of A Music Video

50 Cent - Many Men

50 Cent - Many Men

The reason for choosing to analyse this video is because it is very similar into what we are trying to produce. The storyline of this video is that 50 Cent has been in his past has thrived through the wrong path and his enemies are after him.

In our video what we are trying to create is a similar type of theme but sending a much better message. We are hoping to send a message to young teenagers not to be easily influenced to join gangs or any type of activites which are wrong. In this video there are some very effective camera shots, there are a lot of close-ups used for the performer 50 cent to interact with the audience, there are also some very important camera angles used when the camera would pan from 50 cent to the person he is having a conversation to this is more effective as there wont be cut to the next character confusing the audience. some of the shots of 50 cent are framed in an effective way of it showing to the audience that he is trapped in a tough and violent lifestyle. the technique of the rule of thirds is also included in this video, this would reflect on the audience to pay more attention to the video and what the concept of the video is actually about.

Furthermore this music video has a illustrative narrative, we noticed this as the video is literally telling a story with performance taking place for e.g. with the police officers and forensics at a crime scene, however the editing effect on the illustrative narrative at the start of the video goes back in time revealing previous events. More so 50 cent lip synching his lyrics on the chorus"MANY MEN...".

There is an even balance between the narrative in the video with the aspect of the performance, the video tends to cut very fast between the two aspects cutting to the beat, the editing in this video has a fast cut rate which reinforces the fact that they are going through heart pounding experiences. This video of 50 cent is a typical rap video as it is shot in urban locations setting the ethos of a rap/hip hop genre, the mise en scene also emphasis's the hip hop/rap theme as the clothing represents the rap star image in the characters. The props such as the cars, weapons and jewelry also implicates the negative lifestyle throughout the narrative relating to the song. Throughout most of the video it has dark lighting signifying that the characters are in a negative atmosphere.

Use Of The Camera

Shots Used

The use of this extreme close-up is really effective; it symbolizes the true Christianity of 50 cent 'An eye for an eye'. You can see the reflection of his enemy; it shows in his eyes the revenge he is seeking. His enemy is centred in his eye showing he is the main person he is aiming for.

This is a close-up shot, it shows his expensive clothes and the fast food he just bought. This shot has a contrast as he is wearing expensive jewerely and just bought some cheap food from a corner shop. It can also show that the 'thug' life isn't as good as it's visioned.

This is a wide shot showing what happened after he left. He left wounded and with his blood on the floor. This shot shows the police at a crime scene. The police men in this scene are white and the people surronding the scene are black.

This shot is only focused on one of the two men, this shows the effectiveness of the shot and the detail used to shoot this scene. It maybe symbolizes the one focused is the main perpetrator, this scene gets really intense and leads up to the shooting in the video of 50 Cent.

This low angle shot shows him falling after he has been shot. In every shot of him being shot it is low angle. Even though he has been shot, the use of low angle shows he still has a high status. This shot also shows the location, a building of flats.

This is another close-up 50 Cent performs, he is looking up to the sky as if he is looking for a answer from God. Most people moving out of the 'hood' are religious, most of them find an answer from God and lead their life differently which makes them feel they are in a safer position.

This is a two shot, very simular to a medium shot, this one just includes 2 people. The people in the shot both have police badges on to show who they are. This shot is slightly low, again showing that they have a high status.