3 Things I WISH I Knew Before I Started Filming Music Videos...

Summary

This video offers valuable insights to both seasoned and budding music video directors. The speaker shares the top three lessons learned from their journey, emphasizing the importance of lens choice for achieving desired shots and cinematic effects. They also stress the necessity of clear communication with clients, outlining a firm booking policy to avoid misunderstandings and ensure timely payments. Lastly, the speaker advises on the benefits of having a shot list to maintain creativity and efficiency on set, ensuring a smooth and stress-free production process.

Takeaways

• 📸 Lens Choice Matters: Starting directors should focus on selecting the right lens for their music videos to achieve desired angles and cinematic effects.
• 🔍 Understanding Focal Length: Knowing the focal length and aperture is crucial for capturing specific shots and working effectively in different lighting conditions.
• 📹 Kit Lens Limitations: The standard 18-55 kit lens may not always be suitable for creative shots, and directors may need to invest in additional lenses.
• 👀 Comfort with Equipment: It's important to feel comfortable with the camera and lenses being used, which can sometimes mean starting with a cheaper camera and better lenses.
• 📈 Business Scaling Challenges: Scaling a music video business can be difficult, especially in terms of client communication and managing expectations.
• 🗣️ Clear Communication: Directors should make sure to communicate all terms and conditions clearly to clients before any booking to avoid misunderstandings.
• 💰 Deposit Policy: Requiring a deposit ensures commitment from clients and helps secure payment for the director's work.
• ⏰ Punctuality Policy: Implementing a strict policy on late arrivals can prevent wasted time and ensure the shoot runs smoothly.
• 🚫 No Payment, No Edits: Some directors choose not to start editing until the full payment is received to ensure timely compensation for their work.
• 📝 Shot List Importance: Having a shot list, even for a run-and-gun style, can help directors stay organized and focused during the shoot.
• 🛠️ Preparation and Planning: Being prepared with a plan, even a simple one, can reduce stress on set and help achieve the director's creative vision.

Q & A

What are the three main things the speaker wishes they knew before starting their career as a music video director?

The speaker wishes they knew about the importance of lens choice, the necessity of clear communication with clients, and the value of having a shot list for music video shoots.

Why was the 18-55 kit lens difficult to use for the speaker's initial music video projects?

The 18-55 kit lens was difficult to use because it limited the angles and shots the speaker could achieve, especially for zoomed-in and wide shots, due to its focal length and aperture.

What is the significance of choosing the right lens for a music video director?

Choosing the right lens is significant because it allows the director to capture the desired angles and shots that match their creative vision and the style they want to achieve in their music videos.

What advice does the speaker give for new directors regarding the camera and lens?

The speaker advises new directors to focus on lens choice rather than just the camera itself, suggesting that a better lens can make a significant difference in video quality, even with a cheaper camera.

What mistake did the speaker make during their early music video shoots that they later regretted?

The speaker regrets not having clear communication with clients about the rules, timing, turnaround time, and deposit requirements, which led to misunderstandings and stressful situations.

What is the speaker's policy regarding deposits for booking a music video shoot?

The speaker's policy is 'no deposit, no booking', meaning that a booking is not confirmed until a deposit is placed, and the deposit is non-refundable.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of having a policy for clients?

Having a policy ensures that clients understand the terms and conditions of the shoot, including the timing, deposit, and cancellation policies, which helps avoid confusion and ensures a smoother working relationship.

What is the consequence for clients who arrive late to a shoot according to the speaker's policy?

If a client arrives late to a shoot by one hour or more, their booking gets cancelled, and they do not receive a refund on their deposit.

What does the speaker recommend for directors who want to ensure they get paid quickly for their work?

The speaker recommends not starting the editing process until the remaining payment has been received, ensuring that they get paid for the full project before proceeding with post-production.

Why is having a shot list important for a music video shoot, according to the speaker?

Having a shot list is important because it provides a structured plan for the shoot, helps save time, and reduces stress, especially during run-and-gun style shoots where spontaneity is common.

What is the speaker's suggestion for directors who are new to creating shot lists?

The speaker suggests starting with simple notes on a shot list, specifying the location and type of shots, and providing brief explanations for each, which can be referred to during the shoot for guidance.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 The Importance of Lens Choice for Music Video Directors

This paragraph discusses the crucial role of lens choice in directing music videos. The speaker reflects on their early days with a Nikon D3200 and the limitations of the 18-55mm kit lens, which hindered achieving desired angles and cinematic effects due to its focal length and aperture. The importance of understanding these technical aspects is emphasized, and advice is given to choose lenses based on the director's style, whether it's wide shots with 12-18mm lenses or a mix with 24-28mm. The speaker also stresses the value of a good lens over an expensive camera for beginners, advocating for comfort and suitability in equipment choice.

05:00

📝 Establishing Clear Communication and Policies with Clients

The second paragraph focuses on the importance of clear communication and setting firm policies when working with clients in the music video industry. The speaker shares personal experiences where lack of clarity led to stressful situations and misunderstandings. Key points include making all terms clear before booking, such as deposit amounts, turnaround times, and cancellation policies. A policy example is provided, emphasizing the 'no deposit, no booking' rule, non-refundable deposits, and late arrival penalties. The speaker also mentions their practice of not starting edits until full payment is received, highlighting the need for a shot list to maintain organization and efficiency during shoots, especially in high-pressure situations with many people involved.

Keywords

💡Lens Choice

Lens choice refers to the selection of the appropriate camera lens for a specific type of shot or visual effect. In the video, it is highlighted as a crucial aspect for new music video directors, as the right lens can significantly impact the aesthetics and style of the video. The script mentions the difficulty of achieving desired angles and cinematic effects with a basic 18-55 kit lens, emphasizing the importance of understanding focal length and aperture for different shots.

💡Focal Length

Focal length is a measure of the distance from the center of the lens to the point where light rays converge and form a clear image. It determines the field of view and magnification of the lens. In the context of the video, the director initially struggled with achieving certain angles and zoom effects due to a lack of understanding of focal lengths, which is key for capturing wide shots or close-ups.

💡Aperture

Aperture is the opening in a camera lens that controls the amount of light that enters the camera. It is measured in f-stops and affects the depth of field and exposure. The script mentions a 3.5 aperture of the kit lens, which was insufficient for low-light conditions, illustrating the importance of aperture in determining the quality of the footage, especially in varying lighting conditions.

💡Kit Lens

A kit lens is a standard lens that is typically included with a camera purchase. It is usually an 18-55mm lens, which provides a versatile range for various shooting scenarios. The video script describes the limitations of the kit lens in achieving specific cinematic effects, suggesting that directors should consider additional lenses to expand their creative possibilities.

💡Cinematic

Cinematic refers to the visual style and techniques used in filmmaking to create a movie-like quality. In the video, the director aspires to achieve a cinematic look for the music videos but is initially hindered by the limitations of the kit lens. The term is used to describe the desired aesthetic outcome of the video production.

💡Client Communication

Client communication is the process of effectively exchanging information with clients to ensure their needs and expectations are understood and met. The script emphasizes the importance of clear communication with clients in music video production, including setting expectations for timing, turnaround time, and payment terms to avoid misunderstandings and ensure a smooth working relationship.

💡Booking Policy

A booking policy outlines the terms and conditions for hiring a service, such as a music video director's services. The video script discusses the necessity of having a clear booking policy, including deposit requirements and cancellation terms, to protect the director's interests and ensure a professional business transaction.

💡Deposit

A deposit is a partial payment made upfront to secure a service or product. In the context of the video, the director requires a deposit to confirm a booking, which serves as a guarantee for both parties and helps in managing client expectations and commitments.

💡Turnaround Time

Turnaround time is the period it takes to complete a project or service after receiving all necessary information or materials. The script mentions the importance of setting clear turnaround times with clients to manage their expectations regarding when they will receive the final product.

💡Shot List

A shot list is a document that outlines all the camera shots needed for a video production. The video emphasizes the importance of having a shot list for organized and efficient shooting, especially for directors who work on run-and-gun style music videos. It helps in planning the shoot and ensuring that the director captures all the necessary footage.

💡Run-and-Gun

Run-and-gun is a shooting style characterized by fast-paced, on-the-go filming with minimal equipment. The director in the video initially did not use a shot list and worked spontaneously, which can be typical in run-and-gun scenarios. However, the video suggests that even in such situations, having a basic plan or shot list can improve the outcome and reduce stress on set.

Highlights

Importance of lens choice for music video directors, especially for beginners.

Challenges faced with a kit lens, such as difficulty in achieving desired angles and low light performance.

The significance of understanding focal length and aperture for better cinematography.

Advising new directors to choose the right lens based on their style and the look they want to achieve.

The struggle of scaling a music video business and the importance of clear communication with clients.

Establishing clear policies with clients before booking to avoid misunderstandings and ensure a smooth workflow.

The necessity of setting a deposit for booking and making it non-refundable to ensure commitment from clients.

Consequences of late arrivals to shoots and how to address them through clear policies.

The impact of not receiving full payment on the editing process and the importance of financial security.

The benefits of having a shot list for music video shoots, even for spontaneous 'run and gun' styles.

How a shot list can save time and reduce stress on set, ensuring a more organized and efficient shoot.

The importance of being prepared and having a plan, even for simple shoots, to maintain professionalism.

The potential stress and disorganization that can occur without a shot list, especially with larger crews.

The role of a director in managing expectations and maintaining control during a music video shoot.

The practical advice for new directors on how to handle client relationships and set clear expectations.

Encouragement for new directors to learn from the experiences shared and apply them to their own career growth.

A call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more content on music video directing.

Transcripts

so some of you have probably been

directing music videos for a very long

time however there is a huge percentage

of people that have just started today

so within this video I'm going to be

benefiting both sides by telling you

guys the top three things that I wish I

knew before starting out my business as

a director so when I first started doing

music videos I literally had no idea

what I was doing I was all over the

place my movement was off I was going on

sheets thinking I knew what I was doing

when I clearly didn't so the main thing

for me was all about lens choice now of

course when you get your first camera

you're going to get a kit lens in my

opinion that's what everyone goes for

because the Lens comes with the camera

so that's what I got I got 18 to 55 kit

lens on my Nikon D3200 I think it was

that camera man when I look back at that

now boy I don't know how I used that but

with that lens it was very difficult to

get the angles that I was trying to get

I watched a lot of music videos a lot of

examples on how to get zoomed shorts

zoomed in angles wide shorts and with

that lens I just couldn't get it because

I wasn't understanding the focal length

the aperture the certain angle I needed

it all came down to the one lens that I

had so what I tried to do is zoom in at

55 mm and think yeah I can get my zoom

shot now I can make this look cinematic

like all the directors I've been

watching incorrect in low light the kit

lens was just not working it had a 3.5

aperture everything was just completely

off with what I was doing so my main

thing about music videos when you start

make sure you choose your right lens and

you're choosing the right option because

a lot of us tend to just look up what

someone else has got and try copy

exactly what you're seeing try to go for

something that you feel comfortable with

it's not always about the camera you can

get a better lens with a cheap camera

and make some really nice clean work

especially if you're just starting out

of course having a nice quality camera

is good no one's complaining about that

but at the same time focus on that lens

choice to make sure you're benefiting

yourself and your videos within the sort

of style that you want to go with so for

example if you want your videos to look

like they have a lot of wide shots then

you got to make sure you're going for

the 12 mm the 16 mm and the 18 mm if you

want to be kind of in between the zoom

shot and the wide shot go for a 24 or a

28 so it all depends on what your style

is and what you're really trying to

capture and what you've seen videos that

you think looks best and you like the

way that looks go for that sort of style

within that focal length so when you

first start music videos it's actually

very difficult to kind of scale your

business in a way that you really want

it to be especially at the beginning

it's hard to communicate with clients

and the way that they want their work

and it's hard for them to understand the

way that you want to work so the main

thing that I wish I knew before starting

music videos was making everything clear

to the client before every single

booking when you're speaking with a

client you want to make sure that they

understand your rules your timing when

your turnaround time is how much your

deposit is everything everything you

want to make sure that that is all clear

and it's all in set for the client to

see within your Instagram page or when

they message you from experience I made

a huge mistake by just going on shoot

not knowing how long I needed for the

shoot not knowing how many locations

they wanted and not really knowing what

they wanted within the edit so I kind of

just went to the shoot

£150 I wasn't too sure on how long I was

going to be there for I was there for

the whole day I went to so many

locations they wanted it by the next day

or two days and because they had paid I

wanted to get this done quickly I was

really under a lot of pressure and I

didn't know how to handle these sort of

situations and not be too strict on

clients that are willing to pay me

because I just didn't feel right by

giving clients all of these rules and

being a little too strict I just thought

it just wasn't for me but this is what

business is about so the main thing I

would say is just to have a policy on

your page so that when they book with

you and ask you a question they know

exactly how everything works so for an

example on screen right now as you can

see I have placed my policy and what I

usually send to clients when they

message me it's also on my Instagram as

well for people to see but the first

thing is no deposit no booking and this

basically just means that if they don't

place a deposit there is no booking

there is no shoot I don't have to attend

to their shoot that they're telling me

to at whatsoever time they have to place

a deposit first without that deposit it

doesn't make things 100% when you get

that deposit you know that the shoot is

guaranteed to to happen I also mentioned

in the policy that deposits are

non-refundable doing it like this

basically makes the client know that you

are very serious to work and that

there's no messing around it's simple as

that it does sound harsh but at the end

of the day you need to make sure that

you're going to be paid so when there's

no refunds they know that they need to

make sure that they attend to that shoot

so then they can get their video and pay

the remaining half the deposit I usually

do is around 50% so I get half of the

booking if I have a package going for

400 they send me 200

that deposit gets placed the date gets

placed we shoot the video they send me

the remaining 200 and I get straight to

Editon that is the best structure that

I've gone by and it's helped me a lot

the next thing I have placed within the

policy is late arrival on shoot so for

example if someone comes to the shoot 1

hour late their book in gets cancelled

again by doing this this is just going

to make sure that your client doesn't

turn up late because if they see that

they're going to be 1 hour late and they

turn up late their shoot's going to get

cancelled they don't get a refund on

their deposit they've just lost a whole

ton of money so in my opinion that is

the best way to go about it in terms of

late arrival to make sure you do a cut

off time so that you're not standing

around all day at the location trying to

see where this client's at the reason

I've got this on my policy is because

it's happened to me plenty of times I've

been standing around for 2 hours Central

London waiting around and no one's

pulled up so from experience I had to

make sure I put this in my policy so

that it doesn't happen to me again this

next one is very optional no finished

payment no edits some people people like

to still edit the video even though

they've got the deposit and then they

tell the client that they're finished so

then they can get their remaining

payment and then send the video off but

in terms of how you want to run your

business if you want to earn money a

little bit more faster and you really

want to feel like you're running things

smoothly and everything is just going at

a really good rate then you want to make

sure that you're getting paid as fast as

possible so that is the way that I do it

I make sure that I'm not editing

anything until my remaining payment has

been sent so then I get paid for the

full project and then I get started on

the editing everyone's policy is a lot

different and everyone has their own

rules so this is just how I like to use

mine you can use this as a structure and

just go by this within the future so the

last thing I want to talk about in

today's video is all about having a shot

list for your music video shoot it's

very simple a lot of you guys probably

already do this as you're just starting

off but it's something that I didn't do

so if you know about run and Gun videos

that is literally my style within when I

shoot a lot of these music videos so

when I went on to the shoot I had no

shot list I would literally just do it

spontaneously I'll be at a location I'd

look at the side of a wall and be like

yeah just just lean on that wall and we

do a quick performance take I'll be very

spontaneous the video will still come

out nice but in terms of the creativity

and the vision it just wasn't there at

the start so what I started to do was

just to make a simple notes on whatever

shot list I wanted to create so I would

literally just do location one shot one

low angle shot two high shot and then I

would explain a a little bit more about

that shot in within my notes so then I

can read it on the way to the shoot on

my phone and then I can read it as we're

on shoot as well and I can explain it to

the client as we're there it doesn't

have to be anything crazy it can just be

very simple especially if you're doing a

lot of Run and Gun videos just having

that small structure can help you on

shoot and can save a lot of time you

don't want to be stuck on a shoot like

me at the first instance and just be

like what the hell do I do and kind of

be in a panicking moment especially if

there's a lot of people on shoot it

makes things a lot more worse trust me

it's happened to me before previously

where there's been a lot of people on

set on a shoot there's two artists but

you got a whole heap of people behind

them you don't know how to direct them

you don't know where to put each person

just becomes very stressful in the

moment and clients don't want to see you

like that because at the end of the day

they're paying you to do a job which is

to direct their music videos so you need

to make sure even if the video is very

simple just make sure you have a small

plan ready for your shoot on the day so

that everything can just go smoothly and

there's no stress now it's a lot

different if it's a big budget and it's

a huge storyline that you need to cover

then of course make that shot list make

that treatment mood boards screen grabs

everything but guys make sure you create

that small shot list to keep yourself in

check and make sure that everything runs

smoothly on set so I hope this video

helped you guys out a lot if it did

Smash that like button i' would

appreciate that a lot if you're new to

the channel hit the Subscribe button hit

the Bell notification that would be much

appreciated I appreciate everyone's

support so far on this channel and if

you guys are interested a little bit

more about my music video career and

what got me to where I am today feel

free to watch the video on screen right

now