I just started Work on a pair of Music Videos!
I just started filming on the first of two music videos I am doing with Mike Damn of Dormtainment (their comedy album hit #1 on Billboard comedy last year). I will include some images from the first day of shooting in another post, but I wanted to share some thoughts.
We all know that making a music video to support your song has to bring attention to you in some way. Or make the song seem even better with the visuals or just the performance.
Making this video started weeks before the first day of shooting. We had to begin the creative process--come up with ideas for the style, story, visuals. We had to find locations, find costumes, find props, begin scheduling with cast and crew, etc...etc...
In the end it is a very ambitious project and there will be a lot going on--sort of a short film that runs through two songs from Mike Damn's upcoming album. But at the end of the first day of shooting it was time to grab a shot of the artist performing the first song on a mic with a simple background.
I set up with the steadicam so that I could move around the performance and make it seem active. This was to be the obligatory performance that I will cut away to throughout the story portion of the video, but he is such a good performer that this alone really sells the song. I knew it in the moment. Other people knew it in the moment. I really didn't have to move camera at all, he did the work to make it come alive. He was bviously well practiced. His lyp synch was great. But more importantly he knew how to be comfortable in his skin in front of the camera and perform like a pro.
I mention this because everyone can do this at any level in front of any camera. It just takes practice and work. I remember thinking "somebody's been practicing in front of the mirror!" But that is exactly what we have to do to get a good visual performance of our song on video. Sure, we want to be honest. And certainly being solid as a musician and singer are very important. But when it comes to making any video--even just you in your bedroom singing your song for YouTube--an engaging, comfortable, professional performance can make the viewer love you, love your song and want to watch it more than once!
Just a thought I wanted to share as I was learning it (yet again) from watching a talented young performer.
Replies
Holly Carruthers
James Porterfield-- I've learned a lot from working with you on these shoots. One thing I will mention is that IF you're doing costume, give about 1/2 hour to prepare and dress each of the people you're shooting. I am no pro in this area. I'm learning as I go. This particular shoot (with 10 cast) was a tough lesson in time management.
8 years ago
