Planning A Video Shoot – Part 1

A Multi-Part Series to Creating Better Music Videos
By Jai Hutcherson

The price of video cameras and video editing software has fallen to an all-time low. More and more bands, artists, and musicians are making their own videos to publish on You Tube, websites, and if the stars line up, on broadcast television. This is a great time to be in the music business! Videos are the best music marketing tool an artist or record label can offer the public to gain fans. In fact, there is not a single released, by the major labels and most independents, that does not have a music video produced. Unfortunately, low priced video gear does not make a video director or producer out of the average user.

Videos are not “simply produced.” They are planned, rehearsed, reviewed, and storyboards are written before a single piece of equipment is set up, video is recorded, or talent is selected. Sure, there have been some successes from artists simply grabbing a camera and taping their friends dancing around to the music and making a quick party video. But, these types of videos do not have a lasting effect for the artist. They are viewed more for the entertainment quality - girls dancing, stupidity, or craziness. They are not viewed because of the song.  These types of videos are great to gain interest or draw possible fans to a website or My Space page - but they are not a substitute for a well planned music video. Remember, a music video is supposed to gain fans that buy music.

Directors and producers make their name in the planning stages of producing a video. Yes, the final video attracts people, but to get the final video to look good enough to gain interest, a director/producer must plan. Planning will take far more time than actually shooting and editing a video.  In fact, most major label videos are planned for months in advance of the actual shooting date.

An average person who purchases a video camera and software can create the next music video hit. It does happen everyday. It's because they understood the importance of planning and they knew how to plan. Simply knowing that a plan is needed is not enough if you don't know how to plan or what needs to be planned. This article will detail areas in which planning is needed and the steps to create a plan. Planning a music video is detailed work in progress. Therefore, this article will be created in a multi-part series allowing each phase to be completed before moving to the next. Future articles will discuss production techniques, talent, and location scouting.

Video Shoot Brain Storming

The first step to producing a music video is brain storming. This is where you can let your mind run free and think of all the cool things you want to do, have, or create in your music video. Do not limit yourself. Sure, you know that on a tight budget it might be impossible to get a “top model” to star in your video, but it is possible to get a local model. So don't limit your imagination or dreams. If a “top model” is desired then write it down. Later in the planning steps you will determine what you can actually produce from your brain storming session and what you will have to make do with based on your budget. But knowing you want a “top model” allows for you to plan for what you will need in future planning areas.

During your brain storming session, remember, you are creating a mini-movie about the song. You will need to convey the message of the song in a visual way. Think about the song and what it's about. How will you visually depict what is being said? Is it a sad and dark song? If so, then maybe you would want to have a rainy day. This means in your brain storming session you write down that you want to shoot video on a rainy day. NOTE: Rain destroys video gear. I would not suggest trying to shoot video on a rainy day until you have shot a lot of video and really know what will be needed!

Think about locations. If you are planning a rap video, do you want to have a club scene, park scene, and block scene? Do you want to have models, classic cars, and bike clubs? Will there be a party scene around a pool? All these elements must be considered in the brain storming session. You want to be as detailed as possible about locations. Don't simply state “ I want a club scene.” You have to think about the club scene and where and what exactly is happening in the club. This will lead to thinking about who will be in the club. Let’s take this example and expand upon it.

Here is the scenario: Club scene with artist on dance floor surrounded by pretty woman.

Here is what you must brainstorm about the woman to create this scene:

How many women will be dancing around artist?
What will the women be wearing?
What shoes will the women be wearing?
What will the women actually be doing while dancing?
What make-up will be needed for the women

Now, look at what has to be brainstormed, as well, to create this scene:

What club?
What is the artist going to be doing?
What is the artist wearing?
Who else is on the dance floor?
Can you see the DJ? If so, who is the DJ?
Who will be in the rest of the club?
-    Note: A club scene is very hard to do because it takes a lot of people to fill a club. You can’t just videotape at your favorite club on a Friday night. Each person in the video must sign a video release agreement. Plus, in order to get the shot right you will need to do the shot over and over again. The owner at your local spot will not be willing to disrupt his money making just for you to shoot a video.
Will you see the security staff in the video?
What are the lights doing?
Will the artist have his friends around? Who will they b?

As you can see, simply brainstorming that you want a club scene is not enough. You have to dive very deep into your desire and really get to what you want happening. It's best to simply brainstorm big. Then as you start to get a picture of what you generally want, cut the video into sections and begin to dive deeper into each section one at a time. Make sure you are writing this stuff down. You will be getting very deep into detail about a lot of things so you will not be able to remember all of it. Go to Wal-Mart and purchase a cheap twenty cent spiral notebook that is dedicated to the video. You will need use it for brainstorming, story boarding, etc. throughout the entire project.

Brainstorming is the first step in planning your music video. It might take days to get it right and to really figure out what you want in your music video. Do not cut corners or think you will figure it out on the fly. This is not planning and it will lead to a poorly produced video. Brainstorming is what the entire video is created from!

In the next “Planning A Video Shoot” article we will discuss what to do with your brainstorming ideas. Until then, keep brainstorming and really dive deep into your desires and find ways to make your video different and unique!

Good Luck,
Jai
“Love the Music in Yourself,
Not Yourself in the Music.”