ER: Technical Analysis

Foxes - Youth (2013)

#	Distance	Movement	Mise-En-Scene	Duration
1	LS	Track	Black and white, bare office environment, stationary figure, no eye contact	2 seconds
2	CU	Still	Full eye contact, 60’s style make up and costume. Foxes singing	2 seconds
3	LS	Still	Man using printer	1 second
4	CU	Still	Flickering  flame	1 second
5	CU	Still	Foxes singing	2 seconds
6	LS	Track	Foxes singing	2 seconds
7	CU	Still	Flickering flame	1 second
8	CU	Still	Foxes singing	3 seconds
9	LS	Track	Man on the floor, flickering image	2 seconds
10	CU	Still	Foxes singing	2 seconds
11	CU	Still	Flame flickering	1 second
12	LS	Track	Foxes singing	1 second
13	CU	Still	Telephone on fire	2 seconds
14	CU	Still	Foxes singing, fire in the background	2 seconds
15	LS	Still	Foxes looking into the camera	2 seconds
16	CU	Still	Foxes singing	2 seconds
17	LS	Still	Foxes looking into the camera	1 second
18	MS	Pan	Girl throwing glitter	1 second
19	MS	Handicam	Girl throwing glitter	1 second
20	MS	Handicam	Foxes walking towards camera, singing	3 seconds
21	MS	Handicam	Girl blowing flames	2 seconds
22	MS	Handicam	Foxes walking towards camera, singing	2 seconds
23	LS	Handicam	Camera light reflecting off a fire exit	1 second
24	MS	Handicam	Group of friends walking towards the camera, laughing	1 second
25	LS	Handicam	Large puddle, the feet of the friends walking past	1 second
25	MS	Handicam	Foxes walking towards the camera, singing	1 second
26	MS	Handicam	Man with a video camera	1 second
27	MS	Handicam	Girl doing a handstand	1 second
28	CU	Handicam	Man with a video camera	1 second
29	MS	Handicam	Foxes walking towards the camera, singing	1 second
30	CU	Handicam	Foxes running her fingers through her hair	2 seconds
31	MS	Handicam	Group of friends walking towards the camera	1 second
32	MS	Handicam	Group of friends walking towards the camera	1 second
33	CU	Handicam	Foxes walking towards the camera, singing	1 second
34	MS	Handicam	Man sitting down, avoiding looking at the camera	1 second
35	CU	Handicam	Man with a patch over his eye	1 second
36	CU	Handicam	Foxes walking towards the camera, singing	2 seconds
37	CU	Handicam	Boy smiling at the camera	1 second
38	CU	Handicam	Girl smiling	1 second
39	CU	Handicam	Boy wearing a dinosaur outfit	1 second

How many shots feature the singer?
Foxes features in 21 out of 39 shots in the first minute of this video, so roughly half, although a few of these are of Foxes, not as the performer as we know here but as an ordinary youth having fun with her friends . This ratio leaves the rest of the shots to include conceptual objects to imply meaning using signifiers.
How long are the shots?
The majority of the shots here are 1 or 2 seconds long, which is usual of most pop videos. This forms a montage effect which can be used to reflect memories or just to create a build up. The fast cutting rate matches the up beat music giving an illustrative relationship between the visuals and sound.
How is camera movement incorporated to create pace?
Handicam is used a lot in the first minute of the song which can create a home movie effect, as if the person behind the camera is also involved with the scene on camera. It also creates more of a jumpy and edgy effect which matches the on screen movement to form a more chaotic and lively feel to it, especially as a contrast to the very slow moving beginning where smooth stills and tracks are used.
What other framing is used?
The office scene at the beginning is very clean of mess and all the white space helps focus the audience on the objects and people on show, these shots are ordered in a rule of thirds, while close ups of Foxes singing places her in the centre. Once the more chaotic scenes start, there isn't much order to framing which helps with the out of control sense to the song.
Transitions?
Very plain transitions are used making the events on screen seem to always be ongoing and endless.