Inspirational music video: Faded - ZHU

Despite not being in our genre, ZHU's video for 'Faded' serves as inspiration for us, in terms of editing. The use of a monochrome colour palette, illuminated with quick cuts of bright white lights looks effective as it startles the viewer and synchronizes to the beat of the song. This is something we could also use - lights could be used as insert shots to create a more fast-paced style.

The shots below are also effective, linking the white figure to shots of other people through separate layers. This creates a distance and alludes to the idea of solitude or withdrawal. We could mimic this effect, creating a link between the hooded figure and our performer to create a contrast in the two sides of her personality. However, we aim to subvert typical portrayals of women in music videos as objects of desire, which ZHU have done through their voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

 The random insert shots in the video also help to create a choppy editing style - framing and composition of these shots is carefully thought, as demonstrated in the shots below. The first POV shot of the stairs leads the viewers eyes into a white light, arresting the audiences thoughts. The second is framed to show a young woman in a small, isolated location which links to themes of seduction and reclusion in the state of being 'faded'. We could frame our insert shots similarly, to lead the eyes of our audience to elements of the frame which supplement the narrative focus.

Here is the full video, in which the fast-paced editing can be clearly seen: