The Storytelling Music Video

Rob Thomas - 'This Is How A Heart Breaks' (2005)
directed by Pedro Romhanyi

Hi all, I know it's been a while since my last blog. I've been wanting to do a breakdown of one video that I was having a lot of difficulties finding, until now. Enjoy!

I have not seen a video clip like this in ages and although it was made in 2005, I think it still holds strong as one of the great storytelling music clips. A combination of elements like camera movement, the evoking of emotion and anticipation, use of the location, the pace and energy and a simplistic idea work together almost flawlessly in this clip.

Setting the Scene

The first shots of an music video, TV show or movie sets the scene for the overall story. In this instance, the establishing shots move in time with the music. Establishing shots using this method, if executed well can really draw an audience in.

Note how the first shot is an extreme wide shot of NYC. It sets a place and time for the video, this is your basic establishing shot. Every shot there after brings you further into the story. Next you zoom into a section of the city skyline, then closer into the harbour, then you move to low angle street scape shots that build in time with the music. Just as the music get fuller and tempos start to build, the images correspond and the whole clip just reels you in. Have a look at the first few seconds of this clip (the instrumental intro) to better understand what I mean.

Keeping the Audience

After the establishing shot you see Rob Thomas walking down the somewhat empty NYC sidewalk doing a basic 'to camera' piece. Now if this type of shot was used for an entire video, without anything to keep the audience interested, then it would be unbelievable boring. However, when Rob cleverly looks up and stops singing and he has this look on his face, like 'what the?'. You can't help but keep watching to see what it is that makes him look like that. What the director has done here is quite smart, he shows Rob running away, but does not show us why. Right there you've got the audience hooked, they'll stay watching until they find out.

The fact that obstacles are put in front of Rob, the people at the restaurant, the elevator, the roof top and stairwell finally all leading up to this impressive crescendo of running up a parade of cars and a massive jump that eventually leads to a dead end and he is forced to face whatever the 'thing' is that he running away from. The instance that you see that he is running away from himself, you realise the magnitude of the lyrics in the song and the sheer ingenuity of the story as well. It's quite a retrospective moment that I think is the perfect 'cherry on top' if you will.

Although this type of story has been done before, it is not by any means a new idea, but the way the clip works as a whole is what really makes it so special. The setting of the scene - works, the build of suspense and intrigue - brilliant, the use of obstacles and challenges - smart, and the final moment when he jumps off the car and has to face his challenge head on - thank you and goodnight.

In summary, this video tells a story that you don't realise until after the fact, that you are right in the middle of. I really appreciate film clips that can evoke emotion and suspense and can tell maybe a well known story with a twist. This clip is enjoyable to watch and every time I see, regardless of the fact that I know what is going to happen I find myself getting enthralled with the chase scene, with the obstacles he faces. It is really well done, full stop.

Anyway I hope you've enjoyed my breakdown of Rob Thomas' - 'This Is How A Heart Breaks.' Enjoy.