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By Joel Fletcher
Music video Production
Music video production companies have had to lower their prices to be able
to compete with the lower profit margins the music industry is now facing.
But is that a bad thing?
Well, people still need and want music videos, TV channels still play them
and since the exponential growth in video streaming there is an even bigger
audience for them.
We all understand by now the problems the music industry are facing with illegal
downloads and the loss of physical sales, which has caused a price cut across
the entire industry. Companies are now looking to reduce costs wherever possible
and music videos are just one of those areas. The issue from this is that the
companies still require the same production standard and level of quality that
they are used to seeing. What this means is that the production company needs
to get creative. Here are a few tips on how to do this:
1. Pre Production;
It is vital to spend time on the pre production, creating
the treatment, storyboarding the shots, designing the lighting set up etc.
If you can't afford a storyboard artist, then try using some storyboard software,
most of them have trials so that you can decide which is the best for you.
If you can't afford that then a notepad always works. One important area of
the pre production is location scouting. Make sure that you spend time finding
the perfect location, on a limited budget this could take a lot longer but
will make all the difference to the final edit.
2. Production;
Choose your equipment wisely. Music videos are interesting
as they don't conform to any particular set model or format, they can literally
be whatever you can dream up. first look at your equipment, what camera are
you going to use? I realise that a lot of people still go on about it must
be shot on the RED camera. It really doesn't have to be. The camera is just
a tool and it depends on how you use it. A great HD alternative nowadays is
to shoot on a DSLR, which are very reasonably priced and allows you to hire
a range of lenses without having to spend a fortune. Look at your lighting,
what can you afford, if you only have a couple of red heads for example work
out in pre production the most effective way of using them to achieve the lighting
design that you want.
3. Post Production;
This is key to getting that big budget look. I would suggest
you take a couple of shots from different scenes and play around with different
digital grading techniques that will enhance the image of your music video.
Once you have done this put your offline edit together, and once you are happy
that the shots and the pace match your track create your online edit and your
away.
By utilising reasonably priced equipment, post production software and spending
time on the treatment that is feasible for your budget, there is no reason
why you can't compete with the top priced music videos, and create something
which is creatively unique at a high quality standard.
Dynomite productions are a video and animation production company, creating
work for public sector, private sector and broadcast clients.
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