Tips on how to shoot a good Music Video - anyone?

borgkingkong

borgkingkong

Active member
Alot of people in this forum have made some very cool music videos. I was hoping this thread could be used for people to start putting tips for those of us interested in making music videos.

Any starters?
 
uhrgl said:
pick a song you really love because you're going to have to listen to it about a million times.
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Love it or not, if this project gets stubborn, you will hate the song afterwards. "Were their lips out of sync there?" rewind, play, repeat... You will hear that song in your sleep for weeks. Just hearing it down the road will trigger flashbacks.

Aside from that, it's great ;) If you are shooting live shows, feed all the instruments and mics into a HD recorder/mixer. This way, you can bring out the vocals and solos better.
 
Always check for electric and be prepared for the worst! Always have a back up plan or two. Make sure to get permits if they're needed, and have them ready to show. Believe me cops, managers, etc.. can be a pain. Good luck!
 
uhrgl said:
pick a song you really love because you're going to have to listen to it about a million times.
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I agree and disagree with this statement. I agree if you are doing it for $0.00 or if you are just trying to get your foot in the door, then you should really like the song. I disagree if you are making reasonable ca$h on the project or if the band has a huge fan base that you can benefit from by using their base to spread your name as a music video director.

I am currently working on a music video that I really have no taste in the music, but the benefits outweigh the downside. I am making a little cash, but more than that I am almost gauranteed a spot on a national Christian network, because they really like the artists music. The biggest benefit is I'll be able to get my name out there to more potential clients. I gotta be honest, I'm not doing this as a hobby anymore, I'm trying to make this into career and if it's a paying job I'm going to take it even if the music isn't my taste.

There was a band a while back that had a huge fan base, and after they turned down my first treatment saying it was "too MTVish" I decided to not pursue it any further since I really didn't like the music and I didn't want to waste my time on writing another treatment. Well I ended up writing another treatment and they liked it a lot, but it would require me to spend aprox $1,200. out of my pocket to make the thing happen. So long story short, I now have a reel that is good enough to submit to their label and hopfully I can get paid to make the 2nd treatment happen.

More tips:

Do a performance only music video for your first couple music videos. They are much much easier to pull off. It's a lot harder to incorporate a story into a music video.

Do lots of pre-planning and put down all the angles you want to use and execute them.

If you are doing a music video for free or low budget chose a band that has some charisma and energy.

Get lots of close ups!!! I'm talking like chin to nose to mic and all in between. Not enough music videos have close ups.

Hope these help

-Kevin
 
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Everyone works differently. Crew is very important, it's not to show "POWER" every one should be treated with respect, you couldnt do it with out your crew and vice versa. I make shot lists not storyboards. Make sure you know what space you're shooting in before the shoot so you can envision it in your head. The more footage the better, we're shooting digital here people... I usually come out with 7hrs of footage to edit on a music video. If it's a serious video with potential, have talent sign release forms so no one goes homeless. Just love what you do! Hope that helps!
 
inspire84 said:
Everyone works differently. Crew is very important, it's not to show "POWER" every one should be treated with respect, you couldnt do it with out your crew and vice versa. I make shot lists not storyboards. Make sure you know what space you're shooting in before the shoot so you can envision it in your head. The more footage the better, we're shooting digital here people... I usually come out with 7hrs of footage to edit on a music video. If it's a serious video with potential, have talent sign release forms so no one goes homeless. Just love what you do! Hope that helps!
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7 hours for one music video??? Yowza! that's alot of time capturing and sifting through the shots to find a scene you like!

please keep this thread going. Your input has been useful not only to myself but also I'm sure to many an aspiring directors.

As additional info, I was surfing and found this and posted it on my blog. Music video director school in NY: http://borgkingkong.blogspot.com/2006/10/music-video-school.html#links

If only I lived in NY!
 
Kevin Briggs said:
Do a performance only music video for your first couple music videos. They are much much easier to pull off. It's a lot harder to incorporate a story into a music video.


-Kevin
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Got it and agreed. Story Mode would add alot of preplanning me thinks! but story mode should be something to aspire to in the future.
 
Kevin Briggs said:
I am currently working on a music video that I really have no taste in the music, but the benefits outweigh the downside.


Do a performance only music video for your first couple music videos. They are much much easier to pull off. It's a lot harder to incorporate a story into a music video.


If you are doing a music video for free or low budget chose a band that has some charisma and energy.
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On point one, I heartilly have to disagree. If you don't like the music, don't do it. Doing this to get more work, may just get you more work doing something you don't enjoy.

Point two is a pretty fair assessment. It isn't all that bad though, if you have music with a story to start with.

Point three is a no brainer. Energy and charisma is essential to a successful band, as is original music. If a band just plays a few small bars or parties, doing nothing but covers, pass on them.
 
if you've never shot a music vid before i would suggest watching a lot of videos - maybe on youtube - just to get a feel for how they flow. you can see some of the techniques they use in moving the camera and how the talent responds, etc.. then you can borrow some ideas and then build upon those ideas in your own way.
 
Capt Quirk said:
On point one, I heartilly have to disagree. If you don't like the music, don't do it. Doing this to get more work, may just get you more work doing something you don't enjoy.
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Hey Quirky,

I guess this statement might apply to me more than others. I am quite picky when it comes to music, and it's either great or its not in my book. Some artists have songs that fit both catagories. I decieded to accept the fact that my taste in music is more acute than most and It would hurt me to be so closed minded when taking on music video jobs.

One more point... I love video production, and I could be happy doing most anything in this medium. When I do make a name for myself and I have lots of potential work coming in then I will definitly be more picky with what artists I decide to work with, and I'm sure I will chose an artist with better music and make less money than chosing the artist that offers a great paycheck, but I dislike the music.

At this stage in the game it's very short sighted to be too picky.

-Kev
 
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I don't care much for rap or religion, so I tend to avoid anything within those boundries. Even pop "bubble-gum" type music will wear at you. I still have flashbacks to one video I did- Hot chicks in a bikini contest. How could that go wrong? The music I was given to work with was extremely cutesy and bubble gummish. Trying to ensure the music and video had the right rythym, meant runnining it over and over and over and... you know the drill.
 
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