Music Videos: Share some tips!!!

griffin86

griffin86

Active member
Well i've looked around and noticed that I haven't bumped across a forum that has some certain things I'd like to share or hear... But I would like to just start out with one (or a few) I've picked up over my short time...

1.) PLAN
2.) PLAN
3.) PLAN some more
4.)Conclude pre-production(planning) with thorough testing of equipment on location, technical aspects, shot execution, etc...(If possible- sometimes you may find that some stuff isn't necessary or some things really are)
5.) Be prepared for F*&%$-ups in the process
6.) Re-PLAN before shooting to work out mistakes...
*I learned that it is waaay better to map out as much as possible for a shoot to make it as efficient as possible... Some ppl may just "wing it" or whatever, but I believe that it is more professional to have everything in order before you record so no one has to waste valuable time while the video is being planned at the same time as principle photography...

just my 2 cents... Feel free to add!!! DVXUser is a goldmine of info! Share it and Empower!:happy:

peace,
Elijah:violent5:
 
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Great topic!

I would say prepare a back-up solution for every aspect of the shooting (material problem, location smaller than expected, lighting difficulties, etc.), this way you can avoid time losses during shooting. Remember the motto: if something can f**k-up, it will! On my last shooting, we encountered severe camera heads trouble. We lost nearly 2 hours trying to find another cam (it was on sunday and everything was closed).

Envisage buffer time in your shooting schedule. The more you can afford, the better.

A storyboard is also a great tool. I used too shoot videos like «Let's shoot a lot and we'll make out something in post». While this can work, a good prepared storyboard saves A LOT of editing time and helps to structure the shooting. It can also identify potential problems before shooting. I also cut the song in time bits (almost chord by chord) and identify the parts. This way I know that this riff is 2 sec. long and that part is 4 sec. That helps for the storyboard.
 
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Talk to the band and let them know your plan for the day - on the morning of the shoot. Explain set-ups, when and where, etc. I did this and it put everyone at ease or instilled some sort of cofidence in the band towards me. The day went fine, fun and relaxed.
 
Communication is key- Too many times i've seen people get frustrated over a lack of communication, which leads to eventual f-ups and then it's all back to square one...
 
Yeah u r right, Pre production is the key point.
Plan your music video , what u want and how u gonna put your idea in visual.
If it include special effect then its better to seperate the shooting process in two. Its better if u do your story board or pointing out all the shots will also help.
So Its better to take time in planing and maneging every thing before production.
 
It's not necessary for the band to play with playback. Just let them play the song, this way they will look more into it and less concentrated on following a recorded track. You can also use different playing speeds, this way you can accelerate or slow motion in post for creating effects.
 
It's not necessary for the band to play with playback.
Click to expand...
Really? I'm planning a video for a band this summer and it will be my first, they have a DAT player that I planned to use for playback, also will be trying some different speeds for overcranking. I suppose if you don't have too many shots of the band playing that would be ok. I got a lot of tips from a pro on here a while back, can't remember his name but he had some great ideas, like straping a mini dv cam to a guitar (which I tested and it is really a cool effect), he also told me to remember there are no rules in a music video, fog machines, women in wet t-shirts (or men if you prefer). I suggested to the band that they could come up with whatever they thought was cool, and they told me they got a set of hot twins and a limo and a whole storyline. Should be a lot of fun too, especially if your doing it for free like me. Once everyone see's my work maybe they will want to hire me (at least that's my plan).
 
Editing will be alot easier with real time playback..It's ok to ramp up or slow down footage, but keep the music consistant....your editor will appreciate it...
 
Back to some Basics-
This may not apply to all- but too often than not I see people who do whole shoots handheld... Bad idea! Unless you have one of the following- 1.) mastery of your inner Chi or, 2.) A stabilzer system like steadycam and the like or, 3.) A lot of practice and solid technique...

A side note on editing- having a band play back to a recording is what always works for me- mainly because I do different kinds of music videos- so one project may be an alternative type group (still playing to a recording for editing purposes) and several hip-hop performers don't have live intruments to begin with, so it's a different ballpark there... I say it just depends- and as a musician I notice that even a professional band doesn't always play in sync to the original speed of their recordings, so that's another factor to take into account...

So moving on, I'll focus on three a bit for a second. Now I can't bash all handheld shooting but I feel that shots are more stable if one's body is properly used to acquire stabilization while shooting... It may be common knowledge to some and probably has been said like a million times over but i'll point out some tips anyway-

-Use a tripod, just do it...or at least as much as possible- it makes a lot of shots better when there is a solid static shot depicting an environment and the like as opposed to some rattling movements of handhelds that always tags "AMATUER" on the work...

-try the "cradle" technique- hold the cam with two hands like a baby across the bottom with a firm grip and the arms extended in front of the body but bent at the elbow to take on/ even out the weight distribution abit; and make steady camera movements.

-For those who have a bigger budget to work with should utilize necessary equipment (i.e. dolly, tripod, crane...) so there isn't that much of a hassle with needing to make a full fledged purchase...Yet there are some inexpensive solutions that i am going to perhaps purchase for myself as opposed to renting- as low as $99.

just 2cents
 
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Let the band play but make them play live OVER the song so that they keep the timing perfect.
Even in a seizure enducing micro-cut video you want to make cuts where you feel you should make them artistically rather than making cuts to cover the fact that the in he footage the band isn't keeping the same timing as the CD version of the song.
 
I have made a couple music videos in my day, before I knew a whole lot about filmmaking or had decent equipment. They were pretty nearly run-and-gun and not very well planned out. They were a fun experience, but also a music video can be grueling if you are trying to shoot in sync with the song. You get real sick of the song by the end of the day. After shooting a master of the band, then close-ups of each performer, sometimes multiple takes of each performer. Sometimes all that stuff in one location then everything in another location. It's draining, and quite grating to sit there, especially when shooting close-ups of the drummer and all you can hear is this booming drum set.

Anyway, I look back and enjoy the ones I made, but I really respect those music videos where every shot is meticulously planned out like a short film. Where it is obvious that the director knew in advance what each shot would be to go with each line or part of the song. Great lighting and production values. In fact, I think it was on this forum or another that I saw a music video that took place mostly in an operating room, with all kinds of cool lighting and digital medical displays.

Music videos are also a great opportunity to get extreme in style and techniques. Check out this video for the band Gay for Johnny Depp. There is one that is deceptively simple with what looks like just a single on-camera light in a dark club, but the effect is amazing and stuck with me.

Oh, here are my music videos, if anyone wants to check them out:

http://www.727records.com/Random Kate (727 Records) - High School Sucked.wmv
http://www.727records.com/Cleary (727 Records) - Time Is My Crisis.wmv
 
I am planning some low budget shoots in the next few months and I need to know what are my options in terms of playback. I have heard some people say they use a CD player/Boom Box while others might use a DAT. I am mainly going to be shooting Hip Hop videos BUT I do have some possible bands lined up to do some work with as well.
 
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