1. Music Video Analysis of Alt-J
Breezeblocks
Daniel Rayson

2. Scene 1 (bathroom)
This shot is a mid of one of the main
characters in the storyline of this
music video, showing her obviously
dead submerged in water.
The next shot in this scene is a close
up of the other counter part main
character in the music video showing
him portraying emotion.

3. Here an extreme close up is used
showing the man has a wedding ring
on his finger which is a significant
point in pushing the narrative
forward.
The next shot is another example of a
close up showing the woman in the
bath is not wearing a wedding ring
therefore cannot be the main male
characters wife, this throws questions
to the audience making them want to
carry on watching.
Here a mid shot of the whole
bathroom through the perspective of
the doorway showing the two main
characters having a fight.

4. Scene 2 (hallway)
Here is the use of another mid shot
showing the two main characters in
the hallway, she is running away from
him again throwing questions to the
audience.
Here is the use of a mid/long shot
showing the two main characters in
the hallway, she is struggling and
running away again.

5. This is an establishing shot of the
second scene showing the hallway,
the different thing about this music
video is that it is played in reverse so
the establishing shot is at the end of
the scene.

6. Scene 3 (kitchen)
Here in the third scene in the video
we are presented with a mid shot,
this shows the main female character
looking frightened.
A close up shot is used here showing
the two characters fighting whilst
holding a breezeblock which relates
to the name of the song
‘breezeblocks’.

7. Here another close up is used to show
the main male character grabbing the
breezeblock which again pushes the
narrative forward.
Here is a mid shot of a wall present in
the kitchen in which you can see a
bottle that has just been thrown by
the main female character.
Use of another mid shot here to show
the main female character grabbing
the bottle which pushes the narrative
forward, but due to this video being
in reverse you see this after she has
thrown the bottle.

8. Here is a mid shot showing the main
female character struggling on the
floor, continuing the on-going battle
between the characters.
Here is a mid shot/ close up showing
the main male character struggling on
the floor, continuing the on-going
battle between the characters.
Here is a long shot showing the two
characters brawling and falling over
the counter into the kitchen.

9. Scene 4 (lounge)
Here a mid shot is used to open the
fourth scene again showing the
continuous battle between the two
characters.
Here a close up of the main female
character hitting the bookcase with
force is shown to show the brutality
of the characters fight.

10. Here a close up has been used to
introduce a third character who looks
scared and upset.
This is a shot showing a knife
indicating to the audience the fight is
violent, also this pushes the narrative
forward.
Here is an extreme close up shot of
the third characters hand showing
that she too has a wedding ring, this
throws questions to the audience ‘is
she the male characters wife?’.

11. This is the use of another close up
showing the fight getting worse
between the characters.
Here is a mid shot being used showing
the third character hiding within the
wardrobe watching the fight looking
scared, again giving questions to the
audience.
This is the use of a mid shot showing
the first female character looking
down upon the male character and
the other female character with
despise.

12. A mid shot shown to allow the
audience to see the male character
trying to protect/comfort the new
female character. Questions to the
audience, ‘why is she tied up?’.
Another mid shot showing her with
tape over her face and him taking it
off. Someone has tied her up and he’s
going to save her.

13. Scene 5 (entrance/door)
A mid shot of the main male character
coming in the door looking worried
and leaving the door open.
Close up of him throwing his keys
down indicating to the audience that
it is his flat.

14. Extreme close up of the main male
character turning the light switch on
in the flat, again showing the
audience that the flat belongs to him.
The music video ends with the man
closing the door into a lighted hallway
letting the video end nicely into black.

15. Throughout this music video the main shot types are close ups and mid shots,
this is to emphasise to the audience the intensity of the video as it based
upon a fight between a man and woman which eventually leads to a murder. I
chose to do a technical analysis of this video due to it being related to the
music video I plan to be shooting consisting of a male and female character.
Also I think it is a clever music video as it is played in reverse to how it was
shot e.g. water goes back up the tap instead of coming out. Overall this
reversed effect adds a interesting twist on the whole video which is actually a
rather violent set of imagery.
Alt-J whom do not actually personally appear in the music video have created
a powerful and interesting piece showing emotion and also a horrific murder
crime which has taken place. I think it is effective of working with the song as
many words said in the song are actually mirrored into imagery on the screen,
notably the murder weapon used is a breezeblock which is the actual name of
the song.
This exercise has, especially within this music video highlighted how a male
and female character can interact within a music video to create a powerful
and emotional piece and also the relevance of props which push on the
narrative of the storyline and complete the music video.