Music Video Study Day Top Tips

Planning 

• Research and planning is the key to the success to a good music videos.
• Do not choose a hugely popular song or current song as it may be easy to copy off existing music videos.
• Look at previous students work as it may be good to find inspirations and ideas on what you an do to gain full marks. 
• Look at a variety of inspirational videos to gain ideas. 
• Do some re-creations of websites, photographs, album covers etc also blog your skills development. 
•   Make a timeline of a song an mark out sections for example the performance (band, dance, location) narrative etc. 
• Plan everything - props, equipment, shot lists, location recces. costumes and costume changes, learn lyrics, dance routines, storyboard and flat plans, model release forms, call sheets as a minimum. 
• You should have between 70 - 100 blog posts - use previous student blogs as guidance. 
• Start early so you can re shoot and re work 

Lighting 

• Make sure all aspects of mise-en-scene are are visible and you can add depth by carefully positioning the lights and also try having the lights face the camera. 

On Set

• Check all your equipment is working and fully charged. 
• Ensure you have loud audio playing and the performers will then actually sing along rather than mime so that the music video can look at its fullest potential. 
• Do full length takes of songs, even if it is just at one camera angle.
• Costume and makeup should be already organised and ready to go. 
• Aim for at least 10 takes per filming day. 
• Ensure participants perform - its your role as directors to excite the performers. 
• Take photos of the shoot (performers,cinematographers, director etc)
• Make a time lapse video of shoots and reflect on it.
• Blog the shoot - what went well, what didn't, what will you do on the next shoot.

Editing

• Sync up audio and footage before editing.
• Do a full edit first then go back an tweak and play around with key frames, split screens etc.
• Continuity is key.
• Ensure cuts are aligned to the beat of the music. 
• Don't hold shots for long - follow the dynamic of the song (the higs and lows).
• Ensure location Variety.