Chroma key is a technique which involves a green screen to create visuals in a music video, this is usually shot in a studio. The reasons for using this technique is because it's a quick and cheaper way of creating visuals in a music video. This way you can have any location of your choice this may be space or in the sky something creative. The technique is used to create false surroundings so that it makes the music video more interesting to watch for viewers. For example a location such as in space which forms hyper reality for the audience. One of the main reason why producers chose to use this technique is because they don’t have to pay for things such as travel or any products to create your desire location, making it free of cost. For instance if you wanted to film your music video in a different country you would need to pay for your transport also may have to pay to thing in a certain place making it a more expensive option.

 Visuals are very important in a music video because it's what sells the image of the artist promoting them to their audience as well as their music by engaging the audience also encouraging them to buy their concert tickets. Artists chose to use chroma key in their music videos because it creates a clearer image for their audience representing their emotions in their music, as well as to create a sound and visual aesthetic focusing more on the artist. 

To create this technique you simply film your artist in front of a green screen playing the track in the background this may be where your artist lip synchs the lyrics directing facing the camera giving eye contact to the audience using camera shots such as close ups and mid shots. During editing you will use the footage, adding your chosen background for that scene. We see Chroma key has been used by the artist Kayne West for the track ‘Bound’, the background chosen for the music video is a deserted desert featuring his wife Kim Kardashian. The location of the desert is used to create the sense of an illusion of being somewhere else which links with the lyrics about being on a journey.

Another music video which uses chroma key is ET by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West. This music video has a setting of out of space with the use of chroma key creates a unrealistic location. The location of space is unavailable to be filmed at but with the help of chroma key makes it successful, you always can do this by building a set that creates the location however this means it will cost more whereas a green screen is free.

Chroma key is used to draw the attention of the audience into watching the music video, showing that the artist is a part of the music connecting with their audience further. Another reason to use chroma key in your music video is to help create the exaggeration of human ability this could be the illusion of someone flying. Without chroma key this will be very difficult to create this effect and will cost a lot money meaning that chroma key is the best option. 

A bad example of Chroma key would be by David Hasslehoff 'Hooked on the feeling, in this music video we see the use of chroma key being used in an unsuccessful way making it not effective for the audience. This is because it appeals to the audience that they are too reliable on the green screen making their music video have no meaning. The chroma key doesn’t relate to the track making it look more of a parody for the audience as they don’t see the relation between the location and the music.  

Effects

An example of effects is shown in the music video by Foal 'Mountain at my gates' the effect used allows you to move your screen along with the artists showing different views of the performance, this is an example of virtual reality. The effect is created by four different go pros which then are overlapped to show movement, this shows the use of creativity making it more interesting to watch for the audience as they feel as if they are watching the performance live encouraging them to buy tickets to their concerts.