Music Video Ideas

Peter C.

Peter C.

Veteran
I recently had someone ask if I could reshoot a music video for sub $500. She was unhappy with because it was amateur and unflattering.
https://youtu.be/E_NBkbnDL30?si=0_dza8iPYB8Wq0Rv

She suggested to me a simpler approach where she isn't moving, film it in a studio like this But I don't have a location/studio like that

The other suggestion was front of a green screen. She showed me a example which someone must have been on a treadmill Cool idea, but don't have the green screen or treadmill

My idea was do an "infinite" black background sitting on a stool. This will be easier to do and it will focus on her singing. The only thing I'm worried about is adding enough movement or broll to make it not boring. Another issue is I'll be restricted with angles and movement because of the background.

What do you think.
 
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That second video is not a green screen. Clearly it was shot on-location with a gimbal of some kind. Maybe even a drone.

Personally, even if you overlook the crude production values, I don't think the woman in your first link has the charisma or lip-sync skills to make a really good video no matter how you approach it. But maybe you can draw a good performance out of her. I wish you luck.
 
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Doug Jensen said:
That second video is not a green screen. Clearly it was shot on-location with a gimbal of some kind. Maybe even a drone.
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Agreed. I'd say handheld gimbal as I can see the Z-axis bobbing, probably shooting out the back of a vehicle for the running stuff.
 
I think a simpler approach would definitely be the better choice.

The song is 6 minutes long and it's slow, and it would be a tall order for anyone to make a good music video out of this if you have to tell some type of story without really involving any other onscreen talent.

At least with something like a solid background it's basic and more consistent; especially because the chances of anyone sitting through the entire thing are extremely low because 6 minutes is way too long for a music video unless it's absolutely lit with insane production value (mini Hollywood film) and not just someone playing an instrument and singing.
 
Peter C. said:
IShe showed me a example which someone must have been on a treadmill Cool idea, but don't have the green screen or treadmill .
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Speaking of a green screen plus treadmill video, I really love this one. I have no idea what it is about but I've enjoyed it very much since M83 posted it a few months ago.

 
This is M83's best video, though. On my list of top 10 videos of all time. I think you'd need more than a $500 budget.

 
I used a treadmill on a music video years ago as a backup against inclement weather but we ended up shooting the exteriors practically anyway, thankfully. But it proved me to how viable it can be for certain shots. Some years later we had to shoot a character walking on a bridge in Paris using backplates. I pitched the treadmill but the director was dubious so I had to shoot with the actor walking practically. After my request for 100+ feet of greenscreen was shut down by production, I devised a traveling version that was a bit of an unholy mess, but we got it done. In the end the VFX team ended up blowing up past her feet because it was too difficult to match to the plates, not surprisingly. We were also made to shoot the foreground before the plates, which was ridiculous because the weather could have been sunny or overcast. I ended up splitting the difference as a guess, and it worked out well enough I suppose.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w8wq...reen.mov?rlkey=jyjfzsv6ykutjsd10petea7wx&dl=0
 
Doug Jensen said:
That second video is not a green screen. Clearly it was shot on-location with a gimbal of some kind. Maybe even a drone.

Personally, even if you overlook the crude production values, I don't think the woman in your first link has the charisma or lip-sync skills to make a really good video no matter how you approach it. But maybe you can draw a good performance out of her. I wish you luck.
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You're probably right that wasn't a green screen. She sent it as a sample suggesting it was a green screen, that's why I assumed it was.

On the plus side she has a decent voice and its not a bad song. But yeah when I looked at current music videos, they're all good looking charismatic people... That's why I was thinking of filming it like a stage performance in a sitting position and use camera movement to add interest. Otherwise she would need actors or friends to play out a story... I don't have the time to get involved in project of that complexity given the limited budget.

I think she wants this as a demo reel sort of thing to maybe get singing gigs. I don't have the experience for this type of work. Maybe I just film her on stage and have someone else film the story/broll to cut with it...

Btw I found a this bts making of a music video, completely different genre. The filmmaker is really creative and also noticed he was using Panasonic ff mirrorless.
 
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Well, more power to you for taking it on. I don't do music videos because: 1) I'm not creative enough; 2) I'm not patient enough; 3) There's a 99% chance I will not like the music and would rather poke myself in the eye with a stick than have to listen to it over and over again.
 
Doug Jensen said:
Well, more power to you for taking it on. I don't do music videos because: 1) I'm not creative enough; 2) I'm not patient enough; 3) There's a 99% chance I will not like the music and would rather poke myself in the eye with a stick than have to listen to it over and over again.
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Yeah, just go over to Reddit and read the horror stories from those that get sucked into the JV music world. Especially hip hop and rap.
 
I'd get a projector and any minimal semi-warehouse location (or wherever) and project interesting stuff onto a wall and/or talent. For example, rain drops on talent's face or people marching on the guitar body for a close up of hands playing. You can possibly be guided by the lyrics. But the 'trapped feelings' clip is way too literal vs. abstract metaphors would have been more powerful.

This would probably be easier than the black infinity background and IMO more interesting.

A shorter (2-4 minute) song might be the way to go.

It's funny in the video you linked, the warp stabilizer ALMOST comes off as a cool effect. Also, the black and white looks way better than any shots with colour (in your example). I'd be looking for a LUT that doesn't look like a true to life news package.

The other option is treat this as COMPLETELY unpaid and spend the $500 on something that will make a difference. An example could be crazy make up. I wouldn't spend anything on locations, lighting or any camera equipment because overall you'd still be struggling with production values, so you might as well lean into the arthouse vibe of it all and back yourself in terms of believing in the way you're delivering a message.
 
CharlesPapert said:
I used a treadmill on a music video years ago as a backup against inclement weather but we ended up shooting the exteriors practically anyway, thankfully. But it proved me to how viable it can be for certain shots. Some years later we had to shoot a character walking on a bridge in Paris using backplates. I pitched the treadmill but the director was dubious so I had to shoot with the actor walking practically. After my request for 100+ feet of greenscreen was shut down by production, I devised a traveling version that was a bit of an unholy mess, but we got it done. In the end the VFX team ended up blowing up past her feet because it was too difficult to match to the plates, not surprisingly. We were also made to shoot the foreground before the plates, which was ridiculous because the weather could have been sunny or overcast. I ended up splitting the difference as a guess, and it worked out well enough I suppose.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w8wq...reen.mov?rlkey=jyjfzsv6ykutjsd10petea7wx&dl=0
Click to expand...

This work is really impressive, but then the BTS where the screen is moving and it has markers on it just confuses me. How can it be helpful to have markers if they are moving by hand and the camera is moving by hand, too?
 
ProfessorU said:
This work is really impressive, but then the BTS where the screen is moving and it has markers on it just confuses me. How can it be helpful to have markers if they are moving by hand and the camera is moving by hand, too?
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I thought the markers were pointless as well, but VFX asked for them even after I mentioned this same thing. I do what they tell me!

If I had been allowed to do it with a larger static greenscreen the markers would have obviously made sense and surely made it far easier for VFX to track. But once again, the producer insisted on doing everything the hard way to save a buck. It also took probably 2 extra hours to put together that big rolling stand build and get it just right, which probably ended up costing more in overtime. But hey, why listen to the DP, what do they know.
 
I'm assuming you shot this by yourself, which wouldn't allow for much in the way of lighting. A Scrim Jim and bounce would have improved some of the outdoor shots, but it's not really feasible to set up by yourself.

Since a lot of people had Handycams with 20x zoom lenses, I think they perceive a zoom shot as amateur, since it's something they feel like they could replicate.

Was the artist just mouthing the words to the studio track? If so, try having them sing along with a click track; that would probably improve the lip sync and make it look like they breath once in a while.

I watched a live PBS classical music concert when I was a teenager; they had 3 or 4 cameras set up with different focal lengths, and one on a Technocrane. The different camera angles, focal lengths, and camera movement made for a more engaging video in a boring dark studio.

You could get some interesting footage using a DIY dolly paired with a DIY monopod jib, and avoid the bobble that you'd get with a motorized gimbal.

Here's an example of a slow song that does a good job making one location interesting:

They had a great location, but they still used different depths of field, camera angles, focal lengths, and movement to keep the video interesting. I just don't know how they prevented reverberation in a stone room.
 
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CharlesPapert said:
I thought the markers were pointless as well, but VFX asked for them even after I mentioned this same thing. I do what they tell me!

If I had been allowed to do it with a larger static greenscreen the markers would have obviously made sense and surely made it far easier for VFX to track. But once again, the producer insisted on doing everything the hard way to save a buck. It also took probably 2 extra hours to put together that big rolling stand build and get it just right, which probably ended up costing more in overtime. But hey, why listen to the DP, what do they know.
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Is she really your ex gf or was that just a joke about the subject looking like a high maintenance type of chick
 
Imamacuser said:
I'm assuming you shot this by yourself, which wouldn't allow for much in the way of lighting. A Scrim Jim and bounce would have improved some of the outdoor shots, but it's not really feasible to set up by yourself.

Since a lot of people had Handycams with 20x zoom lenses, I think they perceive a zoom shot as amateur, since it's something they feel like they could replicate.

Was the artist just mouthing the words to the studio track? If so, try having them sing along with a click track; that would probably improve the lip sync and make it look like they breath once in a while.

I watched a live PBS classical music concert when I was a teenager; they had 3 or 4 cameras set up with different focal lengths, and one on a Technocrane. The different camera angles, focal lengths, and camera movement made for a more engaging video in a boring dark studio.

You could get some interesting footage using a DIY dolly paired with a DIY monopod jib, and avoid the bobble that you'd get with a motorized gimbal.

Here's an example of a slow song that does a good job making one location interesting:

They had a great location, but they still used different depths of field, camera angles, focal lengths, and movement to keep the video interesting. I just don't know how they prevented reverberation in a stone room.
Click to expand...

It sounds like that is a studio recording and they lip-synced for the video. This is pretty basic approach - nice location, add a little lighting, run the song 3-4 times and get different shots, sync up the takes and cut.

Just curious, what would everybody charge to make this video?

I think this hits at the heart of it all. Peter's job is $500 and it seems too low. But what can these level of bands afford? If they are easy to deal with and pay up front, this could be shot in a day and edited in a day or less. Interested to hear the hypothetical quotes!
 
I haven't made any progress since I've been busy working on other projects but in my mind I've distill it down to filming her on stage . I'm going to try to black out the theater, use one their spot lights and concentrate on her doing an emotive performance with different camera angles. I'd also like to produce a shorten demo version that's only a couple minutes rather than 6.
 
Bassman2003 said:
It sounds like that is a studio recording and they lip-synced for the video. This is pretty basic approach - nice location, add a little lighting, run the song 3-4 times and get different shots, sync up the takes and cut.

Just curious, what would everybody charge to make this video?

I think this hits at the heart of it all. Peter's job is $500 and it seems too low. But what can these level of bands afford? If they are easy to deal with and pay up front, this could be shot in a day and edited in a day or less. Interested to hear the hypothetical quotes!
Click to expand...

If only shooting (not sourcing the location), then it's no different to whatever day rate you or you/x crew members comes to.

There's nothing that screams high end about the look (despite being a high end performance), I'm guessing a lot of the lighting already existed in the location.

In Peter's case, working with a solo artist is more challenging on the budget front because there's no shared costs with multiple band members.

Peter C. said:
I haven't made any progress since I've been busy working on other projects but in my mind I've distill it down to filming her on stage . I'm going to try to black out the theater, use one their spot lights and concentrate on her doing an emotive performance with different camera angles. I'd also like to produce a shorten demo version that's only a couple minutes rather than 6.
Click to expand...

If you're committed to shooting on stage, does the black infinity/limbo actually look better than the stage?
 
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