Filming a Scene with a band

M

mcflyproductions

New member
Hi I am filming a short movie and one scene is a bunch of kids at a backyard party with a band playing while some dialogue is going on. Has anyone filmed a scene like this before? Any tips? I want it to look real like the band is actually playing, but I know in order to get good audio for the dialogue they can't be, right?

Any help or tips appreciated!


Thanks,

Mike Boylan
 
This is a very difficult thing to pull off well. It's almost impossible to keep the band's actions synched with the music when editing. Best thing is to keep the band out of focus in the background. Also frame your shots so the singer's lips, and similar things, are not in the shot. This will make editing much easier.
 
Yeah, show a few seconds of the band performing (with real sound), ideally with at least one of the actors passing in front, then cut to the dialogue (the band sound continuing in the background, but volume lowered in post) You may want the band in the background for some shots but keep them out of focus. The audio continuity will convince the audience that the band is still playing even though they're actually just miming.
 
Clangs option sounds good to me - if out of focus isn't an option, I would look into the idea of recording the band prior, have somebody with some headphones conducting them off stage so you get the tempo close enough to edit. (Somebody in their line of sight so it doesn't look like they're getting cued, and make it a really big hand movement so they don't have to look in one place) Or something like that would maybe be worth considering...Depends on the type of music the band is playing too. If the band is far enough away from the dialogue you may also be able to get away with having the recording playing out of a speaker near the band at a really low volume as well, since you'll be cutting the audiotrack in post and probably some background chatter etc, you can probably afford a little spill if its really quiet. Probably best to keep the audio as clean as possible but just some quick ideas..

EDIT: My bad. Didn't think that one through well.
 
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Chris, the problem there is that's putting all the effort into getting the band in sync... but then you'd also have to get the actors in sync with the song as well! Saying the same lines at the same point in the song on every take so it works in the edit. Which sounds fun and could lead to some very interesting scenes totally choreographed around the music... hmmm... interesting idea... but not what's happening here. :) It's really best to avoid it altogether as suggested before with focus and framing. As long as you don't see that the singer's off or any clear drum/cymbal hits, it usually works out fine.
 
Lol - I clearly didn't think it through. I was thinking more like having enough coverage in the wides, then obviously the other tricks will work for closer shots or any other cuts. I guess there is some sort of halfway point but yeah, best result seems to be what others have said. Peace.
 
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