Effective Music Videos for Any Budget

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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