Make your own music video

Ten steps, ten tips

Step 0: limber up

do some exercises with ‘found footage’

learn to lipsynch with old student footage

do a karaoke multi-angle version of a track for fun

re-make an existing video frame by frame

Step 1: choose a track

Ideally provided by teacher as part of a selection

Can be a mistake to go for well-known artist/your favourite artist

MySpace as a good source of material

Make it short !

Step 2: write a treatment

Pitch for the material with a strong and simple idea

Have a clear concept which is workable !

Be realistic in your plan

Step 3: Plan for everything

Storyboard- you can always shoot extra

Plan people, places, props, costumes

Get everyone’s mobile numbers

Aim to shoot it early, not up against deadline

Make sure your performers have rehearsed and know the words

Step 4: set up a blog

Use it to link to ideas

Videos that influence you (YouTube)

research the genre in detail!

Photos that give you ideas

Take recce shots on location and post them

Do an animatic of your storyboard

Put up all your ideas as an e-scrapbook

Step 5: know your equipment

Do test shots to try out effects

Check any quirks of the camera

Make sure you have tripod (and ‘shoe’)

Is the tape loaded ?

Do you know the edit program? -experiment before the main thing

Have you got the CD and player?

Step 6: the shootShoot the performance at least three times with different set-ups

Make sure you have plenty of cutaways

Experiment with extra angles and lighting changes

Don’t forget: lots of close-ups !

Enthuse your performers- they must give it plenty!

Shoot more than you think you will need

Step 7: capture your footage

Label everything you capture

Organise it so its easy to find

Don’t capture stuff you don’t need

Break it into manageable chunks

Step 8: the edit

Synch up performances first

Get the whole picture rather than tiny detail

Cut and cut again

Aim for a dynamic piece of work

Do any effects work last

Upload a rough cut to your blog and get feedback

Step 9: screening

Hopefully you will have the chance for a big-screen premiere

Get feedback wherever you can

Upload it to your blog via YouTube

Get the artist to look at it and give you feedback

Step 10: analysis

Unlike the real world, you’ll have to produce an evaluation

Take advice about what is needed in your evaluation

Make use of your blog

Make your own music video

Ten steps, ten tips