This music video is specifically special because it is a “vertical video”. A vertical video takes into account the device in which the video is being played. Being published on the platform “Youtube”, most viewers have access to it on a smartphone and share it usually through other forms of social media on their smartphone. It is very interesting to see how she caters to the viewer but also how a very important element/ prop in the video is a vertical full-legth mirror that Billie faces for the entirety of the video. This could have been the motivating factor to use the “vertical -effect”.
The opening shot is Billie EIlish in a monochromatic white outfit. She blends into the very light pink background and is standing facing a full-body vertical mirror. After establishing the scene, the camera begins to slowly zoom into Billie. Once Billie and her reflection take up the entirety of the vertical screen. The camera begins to zoom into Billie’s mirror reflection. Once the edges of the mirror disappear as the camera is continuously zooming into Billie’s reflection, we lose the sense that this is Billie’s reflection and are left with Billie facing the right side of the screen. This loses our senses in recognizing where the viewer is in the video.
This video’s clips alternate as the beat of the music speeds up and slows down. This is also the case with Billie’s movements. The storyline is very simple as she is singing the song to herself through the mirror for the entirety of the MV, but the way the video was edited creates a more complex storyline, almost hinting at a fight or internal conflict within Billie’s mind. The alternating of camera angles also highlights this conversation between herself and her reflection and allows the viewer into a very intimate moment between herself, her thoughts, and her physical reflection.
Ghida Dalloul 