(7) Lip-Syncing
To Lip-Sync or Not To Lip-Sync? That is the Question.
What is Lip-Syncing?
Lip-syncing is a technique commonly used in music videos in which a person featured in the music video moves their lips in time with the vocals of the song. Often, the people lip-syncing are usually the artist/performer of the song, however, occasionally, dancers or characters within the narrative can lip-sync with the vocals too. Lip-syncing is often used to separate narrative sequences from performance sequences, as the fictional characters that appear in the narrative tend not to lip sync.
How Effective is Lip-Syncing?
Lip syncing can be a very effective technique to separate music videos from short films by adding an element of performance that directly references and reflects on the song, rather than distracting away from the song with an irrelevant video. Furthermore, it creates a sense of professionalism as lip-syncing is a conventional practice seen in commercial music videos. It also helps promote the artist themselves because the audience can usually see the artist perform in the video, making them more familiar with them and therefore helping to promote them further.
Another reason lip-syncing is effective is that it can help convey mood or meaning of particular lyrics. For example, depending on the facial expressions etc. of the performer as they seemingly deliver a line, the line may have a different meaning or mood emphasised because of the way it was visibly delivered. Specifically, if the performer looks angered as they mime the lyric than it confers an aggressive undertone to the lyric, therefore emphasising the meaning behind the lyric. Furthermore, lip syncing particular lines may draw attention to that particular lyric. For example, if the performer only lip-syncs to a few particular lines than the audience is going to pay more attention to that individual line. This is because they're provided with a visual cue of the line as well as an audible one, therefore emphasising the importance of that particular lyric. This allows the audience to focus on the meaning behind it as they're more focused on this line.
Not only does lip-syncing confer mood and meaning onto an individual lyric, it also creates a mood for the entire video - particularly when paired with elements of mise-en-scene. For example, if the director was trying to create an unsettling effect then they'd have the performer act in a particular way to do so. Another way to make a video unsettling or unusual is to have the lip-sync artist appear completely different to the artist themselves, such as making them a different age or gender or perhaps use a character from the narrative. An example of this is in Cloud Control's 'Dojo Rising'.
On the contrary, it can be argued that sometimes lip-syncing is not particularly effective. This is usually when it isn't utilised correctly - for example, if the performer's lips do not move in time with the vocals and is out-of-time, then it does not look professional and therefore ruins the overall quality of the video. Furthermore, if lip-syncing is used too much through the entirety of the video, then the audience will likely grow bored of seeing the same thing. Therefore, it is most effectively used when placed in a balance between lip-syncing and other styles of shot. Another reason lip-syncing may not be effective is when the delivery doesn't suit the style of the music. For example, if the performer looks as though they are muttering or whispering the lyrics, when the music is a heavy-metal style, then the delivery won't suit the music and it would look unprofessional, therefore making the overall quality of the video bad.
Two Examples of Lip-Syncing in A2 Music Videos
How Effective is This Use of Lip-Syncing?
This use of lip-syncing is particularly effective. This is because, firstly, it is delivered perfectly in time with the music, despite being recorded in slow-motion. This, therefore, looks professional and improves the overall quality of the video as it looks convincing. Furthermore, the way the actress delivers the lines is effective because she compliments the emotional nature of the song through her emotional facial expressions. This is particularly effective as it is also paired with close-up shots, meaning the actress is really able to convey her emotion and emphasise the overall mood of the video. Furthermore, the appearance of the actress herself is appropriate because it looks convincing that she would sing the vocals, compared to if they had cast an elderly woman, for example, improving the overall professionalism of the video.
Moreover, there is an effective balance between performance/narrative, meaning that the lip syncing isn't used too much to make the video boring, but it also imitates a real music video in which there is an element of performance to promote the artist of the song.
Overall, the use of lip-syncing is effective because the students managed to maintain the professionalism, make it appropriate and also not use lip-syncing extensively, creating a perfect balance.
How Effective is This Use of Lip-Syncing?
In this student-made music video, the use of lip-syncing is less effective. This is because the movements of the actor's lips are slightly out-of-time with the music, meaning that it doesn't actually seem like they are performing the song and takes away from the quality of the video and makes it appear amateur. Furthermore, the facial expressions of each of the actors/actresses are not fitting as they're giggling and making mistakes, taking away the professionalism of their performance. It is clear that their performance is unrehearsed, particularly the character's featured in the holiday scenes who are clearly laughing as they mime, don't really know what they're doing and are very out of sync with the vocals. Moreover, although it is not lip-syncing per se, the performers do not look like they are playing in time with the music accurately as their hand movements and where they are playing doesn't look in sync.
Overall, although the students look appropriate for the role of the performers in terms of their age etc, the use of lip-syncing isn't effective because it is out-of-time and their delivery looks very amateur.
What Difficulties Can You Imagine There Are With Lip-Syncing?
The main difficulty I imagine will lie with the actor in your project. This is because they are being relied on to, firstly, sing in time with the music, which will be a particularly difficult task, especially if they're not overly familiar with the song. Furthermore, if the director chooses to film in slow motion then the actor has to deal with the complexity of singing a sped up version. Likewise with the editor, they have to perfectly fit the music to the footage. If they don't do it in sync with the music then it won't be convincing and take away from the professional vibe of the video. Secondly, the actor may not be very confident when lip-syncing or deliver the lines in a way that is not fitting to the nature of the song. For example, if they pull very sad facial expressions when miming to an upbeat song then it will be inappropriate.
Another difficulty that may be encountered regarding lip-syncing is the ability to use it in a balanced way. For example, the director mustn't use it excessively to take away from any narrative or make the music video boring, but it is best to be used to feature the artist and therefore promote them. The editor has to work out a correct balance to create an effective video.
Is Lip-Syncing Something You Would Use in Your Coursework?
Personally, I intend to create a short film so lip-syncing isn't something I would necassarily use. On the other hand, perhaps re-recording the dialogue off-set and syncing it with the footage is something I would do if the audio quality of my footage is not efficient, so it is something I would definitely consider using.
If, however, I did ultimately opt to create a music video, I would definitely incorporate lip-syncing as I feel this technique effectively separates music videos from short films. Furthermore, I believe lip-syncing, when done correctly, has the ability to create a strong sense of professionalism surrounding my video. It also has the ability to confer a mood depending on how the actor performs, which will heighten the emotive power of my video. This being said, I would likely pair the lip-syncing with a story-line and perhaps even merge the two together to create an original feel. In conclusion, lip-syncing is a technique I would definitely consider utilising in my main project.
What is Lip-Syncing?
Lip-syncing is a technique commonly used in music videos in which a person featured in the music video moves their lips in time with the vocals of the song. Often, the people lip-syncing are usually the artist/performer of the song, however, occasionally, dancers or characters within the narrative can lip-sync with the vocals too. Lip-syncing is often used to separate narrative sequences from performance sequences, as the fictional characters that appear in the narrative tend not to lip sync.
How Effective is Lip-Syncing?
Lip syncing can be a very effective technique to separate music videos from short films by adding an element of performance that directly references and reflects on the song, rather than distracting away from the song with an irrelevant video. Furthermore, it creates a sense of professionalism as lip-syncing is a conventional practice seen in commercial music videos. It also helps promote the artist themselves because the audience can usually see the artist perform in the video, making them more familiar with them and therefore helping to promote them further.
Another reason lip-syncing is effective is that it can help convey mood or meaning of particular lyrics. For example, depending on the facial expressions etc. of the performer as they seemingly deliver a line, the line may have a different meaning or mood emphasised because of the way it was visibly delivered. Specifically, if the performer looks angered as they mime the lyric than it confers an aggressive undertone to the lyric, therefore emphasising the meaning behind the lyric. Furthermore, lip syncing particular lines may draw attention to that particular lyric. For example, if the performer only lip-syncs to a few particular lines than the audience is going to pay more attention to that individual line. This is because they're provided with a visual cue of the line as well as an audible one, therefore emphasising the importance of that particular lyric. This allows the audience to focus on the meaning behind it as they're more focused on this line.
Not only does lip-syncing confer mood and meaning onto an individual lyric, it also creates a mood for the entire video - particularly when paired with elements of mise-en-scene. For example, if the director was trying to create an unsettling effect then they'd have the performer act in a particular way to do so. Another way to make a video unsettling or unusual is to have the lip-sync artist appear completely different to the artist themselves, such as making them a different age or gender or perhaps use a character from the narrative. An example of this is in Cloud Control's 'Dojo Rising'.
On the contrary, it can be argued that sometimes lip-syncing is not particularly effective. This is usually when it isn't utilised correctly - for example, if the performer's lips do not move in time with the vocals and is out-of-time, then it does not look professional and therefore ruins the overall quality of the video. Furthermore, if lip-syncing is used too much through the entirety of the video, then the audience will likely grow bored of seeing the same thing. Therefore, it is most effectively used when placed in a balance between lip-syncing and other styles of shot. Another reason lip-syncing may not be effective is when the delivery doesn't suit the style of the music. For example, if the performer looks as though they are muttering or whispering the lyrics, when the music is a heavy-metal style, then the delivery won't suit the music and it would look unprofessional, therefore making the overall quality of the video bad.
Two Examples of Lip-Syncing in A2 Music Videos
How Effective is This Use of Lip-Syncing?
This use of lip-syncing is particularly effective. This is because, firstly, it is delivered perfectly in time with the music, despite being recorded in slow-motion. This, therefore, looks professional and improves the overall quality of the video as it looks convincing. Furthermore, the way the actress delivers the lines is effective because she compliments the emotional nature of the song through her emotional facial expressions. This is particularly effective as it is also paired with close-up shots, meaning the actress is really able to convey her emotion and emphasise the overall mood of the video. Furthermore, the appearance of the actress herself is appropriate because it looks convincing that she would sing the vocals, compared to if they had cast an elderly woman, for example, improving the overall professionalism of the video.
Overall, the use of lip-syncing is effective because the students managed to maintain the professionalism, make it appropriate and also not use lip-syncing extensively, creating a perfect balance.
How Effective is This Use of Lip-Syncing?
In this student-made music video, the use of lip-syncing is less effective. This is because the movements of the actor's lips are slightly out-of-time with the music, meaning that it doesn't actually seem like they are performing the song and takes away from the quality of the video and makes it appear amateur. Furthermore, the facial expressions of each of the actors/actresses are not fitting as they're giggling and making mistakes, taking away the professionalism of their performance. It is clear that their performance is unrehearsed, particularly the character's featured in the holiday scenes who are clearly laughing as they mime, don't really know what they're doing and are very out of sync with the vocals. Moreover, although it is not lip-syncing per se, the performers do not look like they are playing in time with the music accurately as their hand movements and where they are playing doesn't look in sync.
Overall, although the students look appropriate for the role of the performers in terms of their age etc, the use of lip-syncing isn't effective because it is out-of-time and their delivery looks very amateur.
What Difficulties Can You Imagine There Are With Lip-Syncing?
The main difficulty I imagine will lie with the actor in your project. This is because they are being relied on to, firstly, sing in time with the music, which will be a particularly difficult task, especially if they're not overly familiar with the song. Furthermore, if the director chooses to film in slow motion then the actor has to deal with the complexity of singing a sped up version. Likewise with the editor, they have to perfectly fit the music to the footage. If they don't do it in sync with the music then it won't be convincing and take away from the professional vibe of the video. Secondly, the actor may not be very confident when lip-syncing or deliver the lines in a way that is not fitting to the nature of the song. For example, if they pull very sad facial expressions when miming to an upbeat song then it will be inappropriate.
Another difficulty that may be encountered regarding lip-syncing is the ability to use it in a balanced way. For example, the director mustn't use it excessively to take away from any narrative or make the music video boring, but it is best to be used to feature the artist and therefore promote them. The editor has to work out a correct balance to create an effective video.
Is Lip-Syncing Something You Would Use in Your Coursework?
Personally, I intend to create a short film so lip-syncing isn't something I would necassarily use. On the other hand, perhaps re-recording the dialogue off-set and syncing it with the footage is something I would do if the audio quality of my footage is not efficient, so it is something I would definitely consider using.
If, however, I did ultimately opt to create a music video, I would definitely incorporate lip-syncing as I feel this technique effectively separates music videos from short films. Furthermore, I believe lip-syncing, when done correctly, has the ability to create a strong sense of professionalism surrounding my video. It also has the ability to confer a mood depending on how the actor performs, which will heighten the emotive power of my video. This being said, I would likely pair the lip-syncing with a story-line and perhaps even merge the two together to create an original feel. In conclusion, lip-syncing is a technique I would definitely consider utilising in my main project.
Excellent post Wendy. Well detailed and shows a clear understanding. Also, great that you have adapted to your own ideas re-short film and re-recording dialogue, especially if windy etc on set. Level 4.
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