How to Get Into the Music Video Business

I began in music video production more than 12 years ago initial performing music videos for independent artists in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, but following my 4th "indie" music video I had my 1st significant music video for U-God of the Wu-Tang Clan which aired on B.E.T's Rap City.

I got into music video production simply because I would see music videos on Television produced with higher budgets that turned out crappy. I would usually say "I could do way much better with a reduce budget". So I place my funds exactly where my mouth was, brought a camera and an editing personal computer and 17 music videos later the rest is history.

Acquiring into music video production is really straightforward. Feel around it. No matter exactly where you reside, there are music artists searching to spend a person to shoot and edit their music video - so you currently have a starving industry. But when most directors get their 1st music video, no matter whether it be indie or celeb, they get 2 major items incorrect. Let me clarify.

Initially, if you need to have to get into music video production there is a single point you need to have to know. Hold It Straightforward Stupid. Once again, when I began I only had a camera (Canon XL1) and an editing personal computer. I did not have all the bells and whistles that most persons in my field had.

When I got my 1st music video I kept the notion easy.The song had three verses so I shot three unique functionality scenes (the scenes exactly where the artists are observed performing the song) for every single verse and we went to lots of distinctive areas and shot b-roll footage (scenes that you see in music videos exactly where no 1 is performing ie: car or truck driving in slow motion or attractive girl slow grinding on an individual in the club). It only took 2 days. By the time it was all mentioned and performed, I submitted it to B.E.T and it aired on Uncut and Rap City. You understood me ideal. My initial music video aired on national Television.

I am a firm believer in "generating it operate with what you got" and as a film maker, you should really normally Retain that in thoughts. Larger budget does not constantly imply improved final product. When you do not have limitless sources you are forced to Believe and make do with what you have got, and some of the hottest music videos are born from that seed.

Subsequent, you should really know that to make a great music video you have to have superior areas, extras, and props. Most importantly you require to know that you do not will have to spend for any of these; atleast I don't have.

Lets speak around my 1st music video and one particular of it is main areas, crazy props, and extras. I required a church scene exactly where a funeral was taking put and the choir was singing in the background. That meant I necessary floral arrangements, a casket, an extra to play the guy laying in the casket, a church, a Reverend, and around 20 men and women to fill in the pews. All I did to get these issues was just ask.

To get the casket I went to a funeral residence and told them I require a casket for a person to lay in for a music video shoot. Hold in thoughts when setting up a scene you've to Assume in real globe time. Make your scene appear the way it would in real life. That is when it hit me that I required flowers to go about the casket, so I asked the funeral residence exactly where could I get flowers to decorate the scene. They pointed me to a flower shop they worked with and they gave me a slew of floral arrangements produced merely for funerals.

My Subsequent feat was Acquiring a church. This was a tiny a lot more hard getting that it was a rap video and most churches never agree with that variety of music. Right after becoming turned down by three distinct churches, I identified a church that stated yes. I had access to the choir and their reverend.

I had anything I necessary for my scene all devoid of paying a cent out of my budget. To realize this, just say "I require to use (name of item) for a music video shoot but we have exhausted our budget. If it is OK we would like to use (name of item) for our shoot and we can give you credit at the end of the music video."

I have do not been told no (except for the three churches). Applying this statement, I have made use of stranger's cars, schools, resorts, hotels and lots of other props, areas and extras that most director's spend for when they do not should. All it requires is basically asking.

Basically recognizing these 2 items will make your entry into the music video production field as simple as mine was and if you're currently in the music video market place, use this information to Maintain far more of the budget in your pocket.