From an article in "Media Magazine", I have found some great tips that I think we should remember when it for the planning, shooting and editing stages of transforming our idea into a music video:
- We need to plan a lot, especially since the narrative part of it takes place in many different locations with several actors. This means we have to design a schedule factoring in things like transport issues, setting up the camera / lighting and so on.
- As well as this, we should really need to make a call sheet with contact details, locations, etc. Hopefully between now and half-term, we'll have had enough meetings with our cast and crew to get all the information we need.
- We need to know what to film, after having another, more refined reccie this weekend in our 5 main locations, we should be able to write up a shot list with a few photographs / videos showing exactly where we want to film from.
- Around about the same time we're creating our schedule, we have to make a storyboard that clearly shows our actors and crew what we want to film. As we're filming outside, it will have to be durable and portable.
- Although, we have most of them, we'll have to secure all of our props and costumes prior to the shoot.
- By the shoot, we'll also have to find a way to playback the music on demand in a way that is loud enough for the performers to hear but also with the capability for it to play loud enough for the band to lip-sync to it without feeling embarrassed.
- Ensure the camera is set for the best video quality. This means using manual focus if necessary or a different white balance to give the video a sense of 'warmth'. Also, the ensure the depth of field / exposure are good then the aperture and shutter speed may need to be customised.
- Check the tape regularly to make sure the footage recorded properly and that nothing has to be shot again.
- Shooting more than you planned can be extremely useful for cutaways in the editing.
- When we finally capture the footage, we should split up the clips and name them to make it easier to work out where everything fits into the sequence.
- We need to plan which special effects we're going to use if any and not just add them to create the entire music video.
- Avoid long shots and cut a lot of times, this is also why we need to film a lot of different shots on the actual shoots.
- Work to ensure our material is lined up for lip synced before anything else, in our case, the narrative.
- Apply filters to make sure the footage looks consistent.
- Consider transitions, cuts are advisable but perhaps fades could be good at other parts in the sequence.
