I have a shoot out/killing rampage scene im going to shoot where primary audio is going to be music. My main worry is that its going to look like a music video. Its going to be about a 15-20 minute short so this is pretty much the main scene. Do you guys have any tips or general rules you like to follow?
music based scene
- Thread starter Rubop
- Start date
well, my advice would be to first plan your shots as a normal movie, even if you have shots where people appear to be talking, or shouting, give them lines, so on set you can make it intense looking.
In editing, the key thing is to use the song you want to use early on, and dont edit it during the obvious beats, make it flow independently, yet complementing the music with visuals, define 4 or 5 key spots where the music cue should fit the images and edit around those, keep in mind that you should keep the audience excited throughout.
for reference i'd say take a look at the "what a wonderful world" sequence in "good morning vietnam"
should give you some ideas.
good luck!
In editing, the key thing is to use the song you want to use early on, and dont edit it during the obvious beats, make it flow independently, yet complementing the music with visuals, define 4 or 5 key spots where the music cue should fit the images and edit around those, keep in mind that you should keep the audience excited throughout.
for reference i'd say take a look at the "what a wonderful world" sequence in "good morning vietnam"
should give you some ideas.
good luck!
j
Veteran
One thing to do is to have breaks from the music. Let's say the song is 3 minutes long, break it up at strategic beat points and just have nat sound during a tense moment, or an important piece of dialogue. Something to break up the pace. A moment of pause as a counterpoint to hectic can mean accentuating hectic rather than slowing it down.
Most music videos don't stop for a break, and those that do feel more like a short film than a music video.
Most music videos don't stop for a break, and those that do feel more like a short film than a music video.
Matthew B. Moore
Well-known member
I love editing to music. Take the thought of music video and throw it out of the window. Film was here first. Don't even entertain what you are doing as music video. With that out of the way, free your ideas up for telling your story the best way possible, music is part of that and it should be allowed to do so. There are times it is in the foreground and times where it belongs in the background. That is the real trick. All of the above comments explain many good ways to "guide" the scene through the music.
I always reserve areas in the music where the music and the images meet in a place to cause great impact. Depending on the feel of the film you may choose to ride with the beat or let the music and the image run independently. It's all about what you are trying to say.
One of my favorite mixtures is the scene in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" when all of the parties in the story are all moving to the "Zorba the Greek" music right before and durring the big shoot out.
Play with it. Make a rule that works for your brand of storytelling. Never let MTV tell you how to edit.
I always reserve areas in the music where the music and the images meet in a place to cause great impact. Depending on the feel of the film you may choose to ride with the beat or let the music and the image run independently. It's all about what you are trying to say.
One of my favorite mixtures is the scene in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" when all of the parties in the story are all moving to the "Zorba the Greek" music right before and durring the big shoot out.
Play with it. Make a rule that works for your brand of storytelling. Never let MTV tell you how to edit.
jpbankesmercer
Director Mod
All of the above and...
Long takes...breaks and Foley's/ audio. If you already have the music don't let it dictate, it should offer you creative possibilities. Some of the best scenes from the greatest movies use music. What does worry me is 15-20 using any directorial device will create a heavy impression on the viewer and could disrupt any pacing, so in my opinion chopping it up would be a good idea, remember to keep telling a story. Sometimes its what you don't say/ indicate that leave an impression. Also humor could play a part ala Rodriguez's From Dusk till Dawn.
Best of luck.
J
Long takes...breaks and Foley's/ audio. If you already have the music don't let it dictate, it should offer you creative possibilities. Some of the best scenes from the greatest movies use music. What does worry me is 15-20 using any directorial device will create a heavy impression on the viewer and could disrupt any pacing, so in my opinion chopping it up would be a good idea, remember to keep telling a story. Sometimes its what you don't say/ indicate that leave an impression. Also humor could play a part ala Rodriguez's From Dusk till Dawn.
Best of luck.
J
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