Music Video Analysis Costume

Alt J Left Hand Free

In alt J’s music video Left Hand Free the costumes used in the music video help toward the description of the style of video that it is. The swimming costume style to the music video portray a relaxed feel to the video and that it is a party therefore there is a relaxed and mellower feel to it. It then pans to a shot of a man in a suit this is shown after a girl looks up at a helicopter. It shows a man stood holing a gun it then changes to a wider shot showing a girl come down some stars. It shows her in a star and striped swimming costume this gives the viewer the indication that there is same American connection to the video but more specifically the girl walking down the stars. As she comes down the stairs it shows a wider shot of men stood in suits holding guns this give the idea that these men are some form of security. This strong contrast in costume design and style emphasise the difference between he people and the meaning behind the video it’s self. By having a very basic costume style that matches the video style this enables the video to seem like real life and makes it look like something real. This is because all of the people are dressed in a style of clothing that is relevant to the location. This is what emphasises the difference between the people in swim suits and the people in suit.

The wide angled shot within the opening sequence is used as an establishing shot this is to allow the viewer to see what setting the video is in. this is an important shot because this is used to show all of the actors within in the video and what the majority of them are wearing which is mainly swim ware.

  Within the next two shots it shows more than two different men in suits looking over the pool where the majority of the people are. This is used to show how potentially they are there to protect them. This is then established when it shows a shot of a man holding a gun looking over them this is used to make the definite decision within the viewer’s mind that this is what is happening.

 It then changes to a wider shot of the people nearer to the pool. It shows two men and a woman stood up over the edge of the poo with people in it. There are tonal colours that match with the shot and its background. There are colours such as white and light blue used to create a pastel and muted sense this is used to create a larger focus point which is the red umbrella in the background. This is linked to the other man’s shorts that have a red band on them this is important as it gives a connection between the two pieces.