Artist: Rita Ora

Song: Poison

Narrative:

The visual to this song conveys a storyline to represent the lyrics. The scene opens with Rita Ora sitting outside a building in London with her friends, carefree, implying she isn't famous as she isn't recognised. Her friend, Dylan Hartigan notice a stranger, Maxim Anselin, photographing her. Upon confronting him, he tells her the directions to his studio where he wants to shoot her professionally, acting similarly to a model scout. She goes and suddenly is featuring in high end campaigns with glamour squads styling her to immaculate taste. A gallery is opened full of her photoshoots masked on the walls and she is surrounded by prestige professionals who do nothing but fuss over her. Her old friend walks in and is shocked at her transformation, hating how corrupt and dangerous it is to normal, impressionable people. Realising her newly accustomed lifestyle has affected her friends and regular life, she leaves to follow her friends, thus leaving the fame behind her and following reality. When she finally reaches her friend, she catches him in the middle of his own photoshoot with the same photographer, conveying ultimate betrayal. 

Visual:

The mise-en-scene consists of glamorous, high fashion costume to represent her expensive lifestyle. The camera also tracks to her noticeable red Dre Beats and Nivea Hairspray during the video therefore the editing allows Rita Ora to promote her sponsorships.

The editing also cross cuts from Rita singing along to the music solo back to the main storyline. This is a typical, conventional approach to the video compared to the deep, unconventional storyline.

Conventions:

In my opinion, this music video is very unique due to the many conventions used. For example, the storyline is obviously very personal to the artist. It accurately portrays the lavish lifestyle, one which the majority only dream of having, as corrupt and toxic. The photographer represents fame as Rita had a sudden breakthrough in 2010 and after that she has been featured in films such as Fifty Shades Of Grey and had number 1 albums and singles. Her friend's representation is open for interpretation. He can represent all the people around her who have kept her grounded and prevent her from changing into an egotistical maniac. However, they can also represent the fake people in her life who she has almost gave up her deserved career for. These people want the lifestyle for themselves which is shown near the end of the video when she realises just how heartless and selfish people and the industry can be. Her leaving the two men at the end and running away from them is a metaphor for how close she is to actually leaving the industry. It is a metaphor for her eventual fate if she continues on going how she is. Therefore the poison she's referring to in the song, is fame. She chooses to have that lifestyle, despite knowing how toxic and damaging it is to herself and those around her.