Trying to shoot a cinematic music video without “big studio” money? Follow this guide to get MTV-worthy quality out of your next shoot.
Cover image via Shutterstock.
If you work in the media industry, you’ll eventually find yourself in the scenario every videographer faces at least once in their career — a friend or relative wants you to shoot their band’s music video. The story is usually the same: they are an up-and-coming band who does not have a big budget to work with. But not to worry — creating a high quality music video with lower-end equipment is completely doable — and has created some of the most viral music videos on the internet. Here, we’ll explore what steps you can take to create the best music video possible on a local-band budget.
Tell a Story through Your Song
Before we get into the budget, we need to focus on one of the most important parts of the music video — making it interesting. Everybody and their mother has seen a music video with a rock band playing on a rooftop, or a rap video with a fish-eye lens shot of the artist pointing at the camera. Instead of ham-handing the song lyrics’ content into the video, try to tell a story that presents the theme and feel of the song.
Take the Run The Jewels video above for example: the song features aggressive and hard-hitting rap while the video features a man and a police officer seemingly fighting to the death. You get drawn into the video because it’s telling a compelling visual story while hitting the song’s themes. Think of the video more as visual commentary instead of a visual aid.
Taking this into account, talk to the artist and see what direction they wants the video to take. What were they thinking while writing this song? What emotions do they want to convey in the video? Open a dialogue and explore what story their song can bring to the table.
Limit Your Locations and Shots
Masters of the craft OK GO are famous for making stellar one-take music videos. Although their most recent videos have had crazy-large budgets, the viral hit “Here It Goes Again” may have only cost a few hundred dollars. The band shot one take in one location to consolidate their budget.
Limiting your locations and shots can save you both time and money. You cut down on shooting time, travel time, and editing time. If you are renting your gear, limiting your shooting schedule to just one day can save you hundreds of dollars.
Don’t get me wrong: I don’t expect all budget-sensitive music videos to be one-take wonders, but this video is an inspiration. You can still create an interesting and fun music video with a limited budget.
Don’t Shell Out Too Much for Your Camera
Image via Shutterstock.
Now I understand that an ARRI Alexa-grade camera for your shoot is awesome, but you honestly don’t have to spend that much on a camera to capture cinematic shots. A simple mirrorless DSLR like the Sony A7 or a Panasonic GH4 can get the job done at a much lower price point. If you own your own DSLR, perfect! Just use that and save even more money.
If you do want to spend a little bit on your camera setup, spend more on your lenses. Maybe rent a vintage lens to get a retro look, or get a high-quality prime lens to capture more cinematic shallow-depth-of-field shots.
Use Natural Light
Image via Shutterstock.
Lighting setups can rack up your budget quickly, but do you know what’s the cheapest light of all? The Sun! Shoot your music video outdoors and use natural light with a few reflectors to channel the direction. You can also use diegetic lighting such as streetlights or fixtures in your video that can add to the color palette of the composition.
Use Cheap Lighting Fixtures
If the band wants a traditional music video featuring them playing their instruments and performing the song indoors, lighting is where you’ll get the best opportunity to add your own artistic flair. Try experimenting with different kinds of cheap bulbs and lights to build an interesting profile around the artists. Tungsten bulbs and Edison Bulbs will fill your room with warm light that creates a cozy environment. Take a look at The Gray Havens’ music video below to see a simple music video with warm light in action.
Stabilize Your Shots
Image via Shutterstock.
One of the biggest signs of an amateur music video is shakiness from hand-held camera work. It’s astounding how much production value a simple tripod can add to your video. Since we are working on a budget, tripods are the most cost-effective way to get a stable shot. You can also snag an analog handheld stabilizer for around $60 that will drastically improve the stability of your shot compared to handheld.
Looking for more filmmaking resources? Check out some of our recent articles:
- Need to Shoot Overhead Video? Check Out This Setup
- The Perfect Run-And-Gun Filmmaking Kit Under $5,000
- Over 120 FREE Assets For Filmmakers and Video Editors
- Improve Your Cinematography by Using Your Phone