Textual Analysis

Leona Lewis I See You



Shot 1

Shot types and Camera movement

No camera movement. This is an extreme close up.

Edit/transitions

Before this shot there is a quick cut edit to the eye and then another quick edit to a scene of jungle from the movie.

Analysis
This extreme close up of an eye is an extract from the movie, Avatar which this song is the theme to. This connotes a feeling of closeness and it also gives the target audience that connection between both the movie and the song. The lighting within the shot has a blue tinge making it look not of this world, or futuristic.

Music/lyrics

Walking through and dream/I see you

Shot 2

Shot Types and Camera movement

The camera stays stationary throughout the shots of the artist, however it tracking the jellyfish like animal when the picture dissolves to the clip of the film.

Edit/transitions
Dissolve to the next shot of the movie.

Analysis
This is a dissolve edit as the picture of the artist and the next shot are crossing over each other. This connotes the sense that the song and the movie are connected. The lighting is dim, with a purple tint like light through water; which gives the image an otherworldly look as the movie does. This would appeal to fans of the movie.

Music/lyrics
Now I live through you and you through me/enchanting

Shot 3

Shot types and Camera movement

Throughout this shot the camera is moving to follow the movements of the artists, which gives a slight movement similar to the way one would associate to flying.

Edit/transitions

Dissolve to the next shot of the movie.

Analysis
Again this shot is the beginning of a dissolve edit. However, this shot remains such as for 4 seconds. This is a medium long shot. Colour in this shot is key as it gives the shot mood.

Music/lyrics

I see me through your eyes/breathing new life flying high

Shot 4

Shot types and Camera movement

Establishing shot to show the audience the difference between Earth and Pangaea.

Edit/transitions

Dissolve to the next shot.

Analysis
This shot is used to connote to the audience the feeling of new horizons (literally) and that every world has beauty. The edits used in this music video connote the feeling of love and softness that is present throughout the film, even though it is about the destruction of a world. Just through this establishing shot the sense of preservation of our world is portrayed.

Music/lyrics

Now I give my hope to you/I surrender

Shot 5

Shot type and Camera Movement

Stationary camera on the artist.

Edit/transitions

Dissolve to next shot.

Anaylsis
This is an extreme close up of the artist. The mist about her is again another connection to the film and a shot of the main characters flying will be shown next. The intertextuality in this video is in high consistency. The lighting is dim, almost like natural lighting; this has a connection to make the video more real and in doing this more of a reality to the audience about the real problems the film beings up.

Music/lyrics

I surrender/I pray in my heart that this world never ends

Shot 6

Shot type and Camera Movement

The camera moves upwards away from the scene to give the audience a full view of how many people are on the screen.

Edit/transitions

This is followed by a straight cut to the artist singing.

Anaylsis
This shot is an establishing shot, but not to begin something new, it is to show the audience the how the film portrays and promotes togetherness and working together. The lighting is almost like a spotlight on the centre of this grouping, showing the main character.

Music/lyrics

All the colours of life and of love/evermore

Shot 7

Shot type and Camera Movement

The camera moves from focusing on the two characters at the front of the screen to then move up to the character in the background. The movement is like a tilt and is almost disorienting.

Edit/transitions

This is followed by a straight cut edit to the artist.

Anaylsis
This shot is almost like the crescendo of the song and the movie so when they are put together it fits well and is like a penultimate moment. The scene connotes feelings of loss and pain, a stark contrast to what the video has shown the audience so far. The image on the music video also contradicts the lyrics of the song, as this shot is shown the words, “into paradise” is heard.

Music/lyrics

Your love shines the way into paradise/so I offer my life as a sacrifice