Ed Sheeran Thinking Out Loud Research 6

Camera/Editing/Mise en scene

This music video first starts off when a long shot of what looks like to be a dancer, it is just her shadow and the background is red curtains. The audience get the impression that a show is going to be portrayed about her but also it makes the audience think the hiding of the dancer symbolises how she can be invisible to some.. A connotation of the colour red is love so this gives hints to the audience about the themes of the music video which will be shown. The dancer then walks on and at the other end is Ed, a long two shot is used and this shows the dancer and Ed standing in two different spotlights which could represent their importance to each other. The dancer is wearing white laundry but she is covered up which shows the audience how she respects herself. Ed is wearing a suit which shows the audience how he dresses formally and this could represent his expectations as being high and well. There are many walking room shots as the two dance together; these shots show the audience how they dance affectionately and passionately with each other. This implies that they think highly of each other. The background looks like a ball room and small fairy lights are dotted around it, this makes the audience feel happy as a warm mood is created. The white lights reflect their happiness and how they think good of each other. When the two are dancing, a constant switch from close shots to long shots is used and this allows the audience to make the inference that this symbolises their relationship (constantly going back and fourth). The spotlight follows them around the ball room and we can see this through the long shots used; this shows to the audience that they have authority and importance as the spotlight continues to allow the audience to watch what they are doing. At the end of the music video, a high angle wide shot is used and it shows the audience Ed and the dancer both lying down with the spotlight on them. This shot implies that they are exhausted and have gave up.

Narrative

I think there is a story to this music video but it is told in a simple way. The whole storyline is about their relationship and this is shown through the dance moves portrayed. At first, the dance moves aren't as passionate this shows the audience that they are at the start of the relationship and are getting to know each other. As the music video continues, the dance moves become more close contact, this implies that they are comfortable in their relationship. However, there are some sharp moves but then gentle dance moves; the sharp moves reflect the conflicts they have had in their relationship but the gentle shots represent the good times and memories made in the relationship. As Ed sings "People fall in love in mystery ways" he suddenly lifts the dancer up, this implies that their relationship was a surprise but also a shock. The whole music video they are dancing together, this shows that even though they're are arguments in relationships they never left each others side. The end of the narrative is a happy ending, they lay next to each other happily. This shows that their relationship pulled through the problems from the past.

Conventional/Unconventional

I think this music video is conventional, as the song  which is based around love usually have two main protagonists so this shows how it is similar to other music videos. In addition, I think this is conventional because there is nothing that stands out clearly to the audience so it can seem ordinary where I think music videos should all have their own uniqueness which this lacks.

What works/doesn't

I think the best thing about this music videos is the way they dance. It is a clever idea because their dance moves represents the different things happening in their relationship, also the dance moves are entertaining to watch which keeps the audience intrigued. In addition, the music video has a clam mood throughout so this creates a comfortable atmosphere. However, I think the worst thing about this music video is the simple story line, most music videos are about relationships so this can be compared to many other music videos which doesn't make it unique.