Music Video Lighting

[pmpworks]

Ok I'm planning this music video for a local band and would like to hear idea's from others for lighting this. I will probably have them on some sort of stage, or stage like setting. I will be doing steadicam shots of each member seperate and also other steadicam shots. I am also planning on some dolly shots. The band has a lot of lights themselves, colored jels in them. since I'll be moving around alot I wondered what was the best way to do it. I would really like to do long continuous shots, maybe go thru the song 5 or 6 times without stopping. Take all the gels out? external light from theirs? thanks.

 

[filmat11]

I would definitely use their lights. You might want avoid using "RED" as your MAIN light source.
Including these lights in your shot can make for a great effect, you might also consider using fog or smoke to enhance the "Live" feeling of a concert shoot, this also makes the lighting stand out . I would also include several other lights as well. Lights from below stage level as well as up high. Lights with a very narrow spot would be great for solos, and different light cue's through out.
A jib would be great for shooting any band, you might want to explore this option as well. Music videos don't have rules for lighting, and since ego's of band members need to be soothed
, I would shoot this from a wide, medium, cross stage,behind stage...ect,ect as well as close-ups of each band member." This shoot screams multi camera! " It will also be easier to cut later as well.
Laying Kino flos or other flourescent lights on the stage, while you dolly from below stage would be cool. Just have them out of frame...
Your imagination is the only thing holding you back on a music video.
Watch MTV or VH1 for a couple of hours to get inspired.... Take notes, and watch them with your DP....Good Luck.

 

[cinemakinoeye]

It's amazing, sometimes the simplest lighting approaches can yield amazing results. I was thinking of this because I recently watched Stop Making Sense again. The gentle hand of Jonathan Demme's direction and the subtle lighting and restrained camerawork of Jordan Cronenweth's cinematography make this a very unique film within the genre. Their collaboration with David Byrne and the rest of the Talking Heads has left a unique imprint in the history of the concert film (and for that matter, music video). No fancy computer controlled lights, no smoke machines, no sweeping camera moves on jib arms, no strong colors, restrained cutting, a celebration of minimalism in a genre known for excess. Not that every project should be done this way, for example, Jordan Cronenweth also shot the color segments of U2: Rattle & Hum, with a very different look and feel. As filmatt11 said, " your imagination is the only thing holding you back on a music video."

 

[pmpworks]

Thanks for the idea's (multi-cam shoot, would be sweet but only one HVX and I'd hate to ruin the footage with the 2 other small mini-dv cams I have so I'll probably have to do a ton of shooting, thank god I got a firestore and P2)

filmat11, I'm looking into making a jib to mount on a dolly, which I also have to make, (yea I know I got a lot to do, but I can pretty much make anything) so hopefully I can get everything made before we start. It's all pretty much up to me: DP, Cam operator, Director, and anything else I decide I can do. The guys in the band are really cool and don't carry the usual "ego" like other bands so I think we'll have a good time making it. I was originally going to add a storyline to the video but decided against it for my first. I did a multicam shoot for these guys a couple years ago all by myself, 4 cams (not the best ones) but it was fun, here's a clip from the dvd: VIDEO It was an all day shoot from a bunch of different bands called The Buckeye Jam, lots of fun, I was in the pit getting beer spilled on me, shirts coming off, and all that fun stuff. Anyway thanks again for your help, looks like you've done a lot of professional stuff and I think it's cool that guys like you can come on this site and help out.
Thanks again

 

[filmat11]

There are countless approaches to doing what you want on a shoot like this.
You may not need a story line per-say, but make a list of all the shots you want, and make side notes as to how you plan on attempting them/setting them up.
Pre-production , or the lack of it, makes the difference from a good film to " A Gig I did in High School, but sits un-edited in my underwear drawer."
You mention Steadi-cam...You have to be dead , to not agree that Steadicam shots are cool. But use this tool wisely. Since you have FULL-ACCESS to this band, plan some of these camera moves with the band to make the shots even better.
For example; You walk up the stairs of the stage, walk in front of the lead guitar player, follow his hands moving down the neck of his instrument, and then he lifts the neck into the air to reveal the drummer, and then you move onto him, then another... To some, this shot is WAY too overboard, to others, predictable, and seen it a thousand times.....I'm not suggesting you make this kind of shot..that's your call.
I can tell you'd like to shoot this whole baby with the HVX.. And I don't blame you.... I would still consider using other cameras, despite the different formats. Many videos are shot this way, and more and more Features are utilizing different capture methods to add / or enhance their footage. An odd camera angle, a camera mounted to an instrument, directly overhead, shot by a screaming teenage girl....JUST ramblin here.....Like I said in an earlier post, Just use your imgination... don't use any of these ideas....throw them out and show me something new. Perhaps the lyrics of this band's song will trigger an idea, perhaps think organic.. "Let's shoot it in the rain!"... Maybe the whole thing in the dark, and you just light their faces........Good luck , have fun, but drink after you shoot.

 

[cinemakinoeye]

[...] I would still consider using other cameras, despite the different formats. Many videos are shot this way, and more and more Features are utilizing different capture methods to add / or enhance their footage. [...]

this is very wise advice... multiple angles, textures, and techniques will make for a more interesting piece. From an editor's perspective, variety is the spice of good music videos (of course, there are no rules in the end).

 

[pmpworks]

have fun, but drink after you shoot

most definately :beer:
Thanks a lot, you are giving me great idea's, and I think I'll take both of your guys advice on the multicam thing, I really liked the beginning of the AC/DC video thunderstruck with the camera on the guitar, maybe we'll try some things like that. I think I'll also start writing my shots down and get some plans made up.
Thanks again