music video fundamentals
TRANSCRIPT
FUNDAMENTALS OF
MUSIC VIDEO PRODUCTION
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes.
-Wikipedia
• Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings.
-Wikipedia
• Music videos use a wide range of styles of film making techniques, including animation, live action filming, documentaries, and non-narrative approaches such as abstract film.
• Some music videos blend different styles, such as animation and live action.
Many music videos do not interpret images from the song's lyrics, making it less literal than expected.
Music videos now approach the popularity of the songs themselves, being sold in collections on a video tape and DVD. Enthusiasts of music videos sometimes watch them purely for their aesthetic value.
FOUR BASIC TYPES
PERFORMANCE
Artist’s performance- based video Usually done for new artists launching their debut single/album
CONCEPTUAL
design-based in terms of concept, look and effects
NARRATIVE
Story-based
Actors / talents’ based
PARTY
Incorporation of a huge partying crowd
Typical Video Production Workflow Project Idea/Story
(Script, Casting, etc.) Shooting/Filming
(Video, Audio - Primary and B Roll, etc.) Editing
(Sequencing, adding music/VOs, etc.) Output
(Compression for Web, print to video - DVD, VHS, etc.) Posting
(TV, Films, Internet , YouTube, etc.) Public View Final Product
STAGES OF VIDEO PRODUCTION
Pre-production
Production
Post Production
PRE-PRODUCTION
Define project basics Brainstorm Gather information Organize Write the script Draw the storyboard Scout the location Choose jobs
PRODUCTION
Rehearse
Check lighting and sound
Videotape
Create graphics
POST-PRODUCTION
Log videotape
Edit
Create master copy
VIDEO PRODUCTION CREW
Screenwriter creates a screenplay either based on previously
written material, such as a book or a play, or as an original work.
• A Producer is given control over the entire production of a motion picture and is ultimately held responsible for the success or failure of the motion picture project; this person is involved with the project from start to finish.
• The Producer's task is to organize and guide the project into a
successful motion picture
interprets the script and unifies the components of the film into something that bears his or her signature
must be able to lead and control people, have them do what he or she wants them to do, yet remain on good terms
responsible for what happens on the set
DP, DOP, or Cinematographer is responsible for the quality of
the photography and the cinematic look of the film
transforms the Screenwriter's and Director's concepts into visual images
works closely with the Director to make sure that the Director's creative vision can be put on film
heads the Art Department, is an artist responsible for creating the overall visual appearance of the film—the proper feel, the appropriate costumes, the right setting
• Casting Director
• Location Manager
• Artists/talents
• Camera Operator
• Clapper-loader
• Gaffer (Chief Lighting Technician)
• Best Boy (Gaffer’s Assistant)
• Key Grip (supervises grip/cam. Equipment)
Fundamentals of the Shot
What is a Scene?
A combination of shots that shows the action that takes place in one location or setting
What is a Shot?
A continuous view filmed from one perspective
Shot Description
Camera framing How close or far a subject is from the camera
Camera angles Angling of the camera from which you view the subject
Camera movement The movement of the camera forward, backward, left, right, up, and down
Camera Framing
Extreme long (wide) shot Long (wide) shot Medium shot Close-up shot
Extreme close-up Two shot
Extreme Long Shot
Establishes the location or setting Example: Western landscape
Long Shot
Frames the entire height of a person, with the head near the top of the frame and the feet near the bottom
Shows the location, characters, and action
Medium Shot
Frames an individual from either the waist up, or from the knees.
Close-up Shot
Shows a character from the shoulders to the top of the head
Camera Angles
High-angle shot
Low-angle shot
Eye-level shot
Bird’s eye view
Worm's eye view
Canted shot
Three-quarter shot
Over-the-shoulder shot
High-angle Shot
A camera placed higher than the subject (not directly overhead) and tilted downward
Low-angle Shot
A camera placed lower than the subject and tilted upward
Eye-level Shot
The camera is positioned at eye-level with a character.
Bird’s Eye View
The camera is positioned directly overhead of the action
Canted Shot
The camera is tilted so that the subject appears to be diagonal and off-balance.
Three-quarter Shot
Positions the camera between a frontal angle and a profile shot.
Over-the-shoulder Shot
Positions the camera over the shoulder of one character, revealing part of the backside of their head and shoulders, and focuses on the character facing the camera in the background
Camera Movement
Pan
Tilt
Crane
Dolly
Track
Zoom
Static
Pan Shot
• A fixed camera pivots on its axis turning from left to right for the purpose of following the action within a shot
Tilt Shot
• A fixed camera that moves on it vertical axis, tilting up or down
Crane Shot
• The camera is positioned on a crane. It can cover great distances and produce unusual camera angles.
• The most obvious uses are to view the actors from above or to move up and away from them. It is a common way of ending a movie.
Dolly Shot
• The camera moves toward a subject (dolly-in) or away from a subject (dolly-out).
Tracking Shot
• The camera tracks alongside of the object or person.
Zoom Shot
• Camera stays stationary as the focal length of a lens zooms in or out.
– Framing gets ‘tighter’ if the camera zooms in.
– Framing gets ‘looser’ if the camera zooms out.
Static Shot
The camera doesn't move, although the objects within the shot may be in motion.
VIDEO PRODUCTION REMINDERS
Patience is a virtue,
but time is gold!
Perseverance
Love what you do!
First time? . . .
. . . More time!
Don’t be contented with something INFERIOR.
. . . but we can A P P R O X I M A T E !
Abhor LAZINESS!
You are not the group. You exist for the group!
The group does NOT exist because of YOU!