Writing for a Music Video
- Thread starter Jamaine
- Start date
P13
Well-known member
I ask the band primarily for their thoughts, ultimately they need to be happy with it. So although I ask for the lyrics, I also ask how they interpret the meaning plus the message they're trying to get across, I've only dealt with 1 band for videos (other than live where I've done over a dozen), they have asked for performance style videos which are I guess easy, compared to a doing a story style video (as that arguably needs more thought) that fits in with the song.
I'd be tempted to get an overall feel for the message, then present a couple of rough interpretations to the band/performer first before working the idea out in fine detail.
I'd be tempted to get an overall feel for the message, then present a couple of rough interpretations to the band/performer first before working the idea out in fine detail.
Last edited:
clang
Veteran
Yeah, the first thing you and the band need to work out is what type of music video they want. If it's a 'performance' video, where they simply perform (or at least appear to perform) the song, then there's very little writing involved.
If they want some kind of 'story' video, where a story is told and at some points matches up with the song lyrics, then you need to print out those lyrics then brainstorm a bunch of possible story ideas (just a sentence or so) that might fit.
Discuss the ideas with the band and try to agree on the best idea (although it's fine to also note that they like bits of other ideas). You definitely need to know whether the band want to appear in the video, and whether they can act. Keep in mind all resources (financial, time, settings, their and your availability, etc) so that you don't accidentally decide on something totally impractical.
Go away and try to match the lyrics with some proposed video shots - I suggest setting up a document with two columns, video and audio, and putting the lyrics (plus any intrumental bits) into the audio column - then try to fill in the blanks in the video column. You don't need a separate shot for each line, of course, but you do need to work out what will be onscreen for every audio line. This will become your script. Don't try to get it perfect first time.
Brainstorm the script with the band, shot by shot. Presuming they don't hate the entire thing (in which case you start all over again), there will be certain shots they like or don't like, or that sound too difficult or expensive or whatever, but hopefully you can together work out every shot needed. If you want to get fancy, you could even pre-viz the whole thing (really simple scribbled pictures, cut with the acxtual song as audio - this is likely to help everyone (especially non-filmy people) visualise what you're all trying to do.
If they want some kind of 'story' video, where a story is told and at some points matches up with the song lyrics, then you need to print out those lyrics then brainstorm a bunch of possible story ideas (just a sentence or so) that might fit.
Discuss the ideas with the band and try to agree on the best idea (although it's fine to also note that they like bits of other ideas). You definitely need to know whether the band want to appear in the video, and whether they can act. Keep in mind all resources (financial, time, settings, their and your availability, etc) so that you don't accidentally decide on something totally impractical.
Go away and try to match the lyrics with some proposed video shots - I suggest setting up a document with two columns, video and audio, and putting the lyrics (plus any intrumental bits) into the audio column - then try to fill in the blanks in the video column. You don't need a separate shot for each line, of course, but you do need to work out what will be onscreen for every audio line. This will become your script. Don't try to get it perfect first time.
Brainstorm the script with the band, shot by shot. Presuming they don't hate the entire thing (in which case you start all over again), there will be certain shots they like or don't like, or that sound too difficult or expensive or whatever, but hopefully you can together work out every shot needed. If you want to get fancy, you could even pre-viz the whole thing (really simple scribbled pictures, cut with the acxtual song as audio - this is likely to help everyone (especially non-filmy people) visualise what you're all trying to do.