Research into Existing characters in Music videos

Here are 3 Music Videos that all feature distinct character in each of them. The first is the song 'Stressed Out' by twenty-one pilots features 3 brothers and the main character is the singer. The second Is the song 'Oceans' By Seafret and the main character is a small girl. Finally the Third video is 'From Eden' By Hozier and the main character is Hozier himself

How important are characters in music videos?

I feel characters in a music video are extremely important. They help the viewer interoperate what the true meaning of the song is through their actions and feelings. This can be more effective in some videos more than others because the song may have stronger emotions and feelings tied into it. For example, The video 'Oceans' By Seafret has a small girl that is clearly troubled and is getting bullied by some older kids. This makes us feel sorry for her and when she uses her new powers we get the feel good factor and this goes hand in hand with the song as its when the chorus starts and it emphasises the songs effect.

Character Profiles

Song - 'Stressed Out' by Twenty One Pilots
Character - Tyler Joseph

Tyler Joseph is the actual lead singer in this video and he plays himself in the video. He is a man who is trying to re-live his childhood and goes round his friends house who Is also in the band. The fact that they are showing the emotions of pain and regret on their face emphasises the song and also because he is the actual person that sings the song makes it even more believable.


Song - 'Oceans' by Seafret
Character - Child Girl played by Maisie Williams

Maisie Williams is a well known actor. She is most recognisable from Game Of thrones and other films. The effect this has on the video is that any fans of hers will be interested in the video itself. It also makes people see the character in a different way as they see the girl as Maisie Williams not just some girl in a music video.

The actual character is shown to have had a bad day and is a bit of an outcast. We then see her take out a costume that's presumably from her childhood and she try's it on and leaves the house. She then lives her normal lonely life and buys a drink and sits on her own clearly fed up with life. Later on she meets a group of people who laughs at her and punches her. She then uses superpowers to get back at them but she didn't realise she could do this. She then runs in fear and goes home to her mom who has now came home from work and symbolises that everything is better now.


Song - 'From Eden'
Character - Hozier by Hozier

This video is about a man and wife who have a child and there lifestyle is loving on the road and committing robberies for money. The interesting part about this video is that the parents are very professional in the robberies but they take there child along with them and when they aren't committing crime they seem just like an ordinary family.

The character Hozier plays shows a very expressionless face throughout the video and this suggests he knows what he's doing is wrong but he has to do it to support his family. It also suggests that there is allot on his mind.

A different character is this video is the little boy he seems really happy and joyfull all the time and the mum seems to be the one his is mainly caring for him. This is why the video is so interesting as it looks like such an innocent child witnessing people being held at gunpoint for money and he has no idea what is going on.

Conclusion

In conclusion I feel that characters are such an important part in a music video as it lets the viewer get a more in depth view on what may have been going on in this persons life before the actual video. Also characters can be used to help portray the story and the message of the song because they allow the viewer to visually see emotions and expressions that are in the song but they are hard to display.