Music Video History - Experimental Film

Experimental film began in the 1920’s, a small number of people were interested in experimental films, they were characterised as having a non-linear narrative. They were known as an individual genre with its own codes and conventions, these being; abstract images, out of focus images and rapid editing.  The main goal for experimental films are often to place the viewer in a more active and thoughtful relationship to the film. Experimental film is its own music video genre in itself and is still around today, in the 1960’s the longest experimental film was created being 8 hours long. Experimental films then led to the production of Soundies and Scopitones. Most films are made on very low budgets, self-financed or financed through small grants, with a small crew or, often a crew of only one person which would be the filmmaker.