Imagine Dragons I Bet My Life Analysis

Cinematography:
The music promo starts off with an extreme long
shot establishing the setting, it then proceeds to
use various mid shots and close ups. The close
up is of the vocalist, which adheres to the
conventions of a typical music promo, although
the vocalist is presented at the beginning of the
music promo, unusually the band are no longer
seen after this point. This specific technique
used in integrating a snippet of the vocalist is
again very typical in music promos, they often
use it to sell the band to larger audiences,
providing more recognition into the band and
emphasising the main singer. There is a
continuous use of mid shots, close ups and long
shots throughout, providing a clear view of the narrative, in which is used very
carefully to increase interest. Quick cuts in
between the narrative displays a view of the
setting again.
The narrative is then focussed to two men
fighting near the reservoir. A high angle shot is
used to display power differences as the main
character within the narrative is knocked down
into the water. The camera is handheld during the fight scene to put the
audience in perspective of the characters, making the audience feel integrated
into the narrative, making the lyrics and what is visually seen more personal and
so more intriguing to watch.
Editing:
A lot of special FX is used throughout the promo, especially during the chorus
when the tempo of the music increases significantly: this may be used to provide
more excitement when viewing the promo. In relation to the chorus, cuts are
more frequently used, adhering to the convention that the type of music and
tempo relates to the speed of what is seen. On the other hand, during the verses
the editing is mellow just as the music tempo provides. There is also a lot of
cross-cutting used, from the main character to a tracking shot over the reservoir,
maybe as a foreshadowing technique and hinting that the character is on his way
to freedom connoted by the large open space displayed.
As the chorus hits, visuals represent this. From the boy being sucked into the
dam, waking up on a boat usually, to falling down a waterfall. It seems that every
time the chorus is on, a key event in the narrative is shown. There is a lot of
references to dreaming and sleeping within the lyrics, so the audience are
already hinted that the boy may be dreaming earlier on. A graphic match is then
used at the end, when he is pulled out of the reservoir. Also motivated cuts as
also used, such as when the lyrics say thats the last youll see of me, the boy is
then submerged underwater.
Mise en scene:

Costume of the two boys seems to be typical old

farmers wear. The narrative is unusual yet
intriguing due to its setting in an underwater
house, the lighting is low key from the beginning
of the promo towards the middle section of the
narrative until the boy wakes up in a boat,
lighting become high key, connoting hope and
maybe forgiveness and understanding on the
dispute caused with his acquaintance. Overall the
lighting is set in relation to the melody of the song,
so more warm colours are used.
Narrative and Performance:
The music promo follows Todarovs theory. From an equilibrium to a disruption
(two guys fighting), to a recognition (during the boat scene, lighting expresses a
happy atmosphere) and attempting to fix damage to a new equilibrium where we
see the guy help him out of the water. In relation the Andrew Goodwins theory
the music promo is amplification, where what is said can sometimes be seen
within the visuals. It is overall an open ended, circular and singular narrative.
Intertextuality is used within the narrative, it relates to the story of Cain and Abel
within the Bible, where Cain kills his brother and is punished for his sins. In this
case, the character who is pulled underwater is Abel and Cain is punished by left
thought of guilt until he has the chance of forgiveness for his sins by pulling him
back up from the water.