Step 2 - Concepts
Hello and welcome to welcome to my videography blog: Video Pro with Andrew Tregoning.
In these series of posts I'm outlining how to make a music video if you're a total noob and have practically no budget.
In these series of posts I'm outlining how to make a music video if you're a total noob and have practically no budget.
So you’ve borrowed or rented a camera and you’ve taken some test shots and figured out how to use it basically. the next step is concepts or planning your video.
There are three basic kinds of music video: story or performance, or a bit of both. I like the videos that do a bit of both, it does double your work load but it just makes the video more interesting and watchable. Viewers are more likely to watch the whole thing if there is an obvious story, we are programmed to look forward to a resolution.
So the first thing you have to do is listen to your chosen track, is there a visual way you can interpret the lyrics? For example it may be the story of a break up, so all you need to do is get two of your most dramatic mates to act out a little break up play in various locations, film it, and you’ve got your story video! In my experience artists don't really have a problem with this part, they tend to be creative people who already have a story in mind. The only issue is usually the practicalities of actually filming the stories that artist's have in mind! Remember less is more, a very low key story done well will make a far superior music video to a high concept story done poorly.
Now performance, these are basically different photoshoot set ups, but filmed. What I do is find an interesting and cool looking location that suits the vibe of the track and film one long take of the whole song, about four or so times, then repeat in about four or five cool locations. Cut these two things together and you’ve got a music video on a budget!
What you must do is write out your story in detail and scout out your locations thoroughly, I use google maps street view for this. Put together a brief shooting schedule with your story outline or script and email it to everyone involved. Do this at least one week before the day of filming.
So that’s your step 2 done! We’re half way there that wasn’t too hard was it? Thanks for reading step 2, now good luck with step 3...