This music video is used to promote Michael Jackson and his song. He uses varying techniques to sell him self. He mainly he uses dancing to sell him self and uses large groups to maximize the choreography. He projects an evil image onto other characters in the bar through dark clothing and lack of lighting. In contrast, it makes Michael Jackson look good as he is wearing white and is always lit up. This only changes when the cops arrive and the whole bar is united. They are all in the darkness at this point suggesting they are all evil. This is reinforces by the name of the song "Smooth Criminal," making Michael Jackson look good as he is considered smooth and stylish. These are the main things that make the video stand out from others. It is an unusual length and is more like a short film than a music video. The editing is used to highlight main characters and create different moods. They use mise-en-scene to show the time period, standing and profession. There are two types of people shown in this video, gangsters and police. The cinematography is used to create power within different characters.
The music video targets teenagers through his dance moves and charisma. This music video has had a large impact on the music industry as the video was revolutionary. The video is more like a short film and tells a story, so it keeps the audience engaged. The dance moves are a stage piece and is what the whole video is about. It is what drags the audiences in and his main fans. The video was directed by Colin Chilvers and was produced in 1987 in Los Angeles. It features and was written by Michael Jackson. It was produced by Optimum productions.
