Hey Need help with a music video treatment with a budget of 5 grand

renegadewill

renegadewill

Well-known member
I really do not know what I would do with that much money for a punk music video. I would want it to be gritty and hand held. Very minimalist, I mean punk ain't very technically advanced. A video should match the music, plus, this bands last video was very expensive. Help me out.
 
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I presume the sound is all prerecorded and you're simply making the video to go along with the sound, with them lip-synching a performance if necessary?

Then I agree that 5 grand seems a lot for a 'gritty' handheld type video, presuming you already have cameras etc - but if their last video was 'very expensive' and they're giving you 5 grand for this one, then it sounds like they're expecting more than 'lots of handheld shots of the band performing the song'.

You need to talk to them about some broad parameters, get some examples of videos they love and others they hate. Even if they're just wanting a performance filmed, does that mean:
- them 'performing' in their lounge/bedroom/backyard?
- them 'performing' in some public location, e.g. a street corner, knee-deep in surf at the beach, an old folks home (seriously, would be a great visual contrast)? Then you may have issues re permits, crowd control, etc
- them doing a real performance at a concert/bar/whatever, and you're expected to film it and make the pictures match the prerecorded version? Even more issues with crowd control and keeping equipment and everyone safe, plus editing could be a nightmare.

The latter two could easily soak up 5 grand in setup costs.

Or are they looking for something very non-traditional, e.g. the song performed by mean cuddly toy versions of themselves, or them wearing killer robot costumes, or in a mad scientist laboratory, or whatever? Again, that could suck up a lot of development and setup costs.
 
$5,000 is nothing for a music video anyway. The last video I did was very gritty, it was still in the $4,000 range. It's not hard to figure out a way to spend money, especially that tiny amount, which basically barely covers crew, catering, transportation, and rentals, haha.
 
dude, u can blow through 5g in a second.

High end camera: 1000/day
DP: 550-750/day
director fee: 1100-1400
AC1: 200/day
Ac2: 200/day
Gaffer: 250/day
G&E1: 200/day
G&E2: 200/day
Make-up: 250/day
location: 500-1000/day
lights: 500-800/day
edit: 500-1000/day

even at the low end of the rates u r already at $5000 line.
 
Dude, I met Dick Carruthers the other week and he's a firm believer in putting the budget back on screen.
If you spend the money on the video ie, locations, FX, grip, costume...even if it is a gritty video...You will end up with better production values/ ideas to showcase your talents=more work=bigger budgets/ concepts.
<repeat till agent signs you>
J.P.
 
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