It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to make a beautiful music film. You can make an epic music video that holds people’s attention if you are creative, clever, and plan ahead. How to do it:
- Come up with a creative idea
Why It Matters: A good idea can make a low-cost movie look interesting and professional.
Steps to Take: Come up with ideas Think about what story or idea your song is most like. On a budget, simple ideas often work best.
- Think About Your Resources: Use places, things, and people you already have access to to help you plan your idea.
As an example, here is OK Go’s “Here It Goes Again”: The band is shown in this movie doing a choreographed routine on treadmills. The idea is simple, but very clever and easy to remember.
- Make a budget
Why It Matters: Planning your budget well will help you pay for everything you need without going over budget.
What You Need to Do: – Make a list of your expenses Include the prices of the wardrobe, locations, equipment, props, and any permits that are needed.
- Set priorities: Spend your money on the things that will have the biggest effect on the quality of your movie.
For example: Wheatus – “Teenage Dirtbag”: The video uses simple high school-themed props and settings to support the story of the song without needing expensive sets.
- Use equipment that isn’t too expensive
Why It Matters: To make a good film, you don’t need expensive equipment.
Steps to Follow: – Smartphone Cameras: These days’ smartphones have great cameras that can make great videos.
- Rent Equipment: If you need professional gear, you might want to rent it instead of buying it.
- DIY Lighting*: To make good lighting setups, use things you already have at home, like lamps and mirrors.
Case in point: Shot on iPhone “Stupid Love” by Lady Gaga: Even though this example has better production values, it shows how smartphone cameras can be used to make music movies.
- Look for places that are free or don’t cost much.
Why It Matters: Locations that are interesting make things look better without costing anything extra.
Steps to Take: Local Spots: Use public places, friends’ homes, or interesting places in your area.
- Permits: Find out if you need permits to shoot in certain places and plan to pay for them if you do.
As an example, Alt-J’s “Taro” movie uses a number of real-life settings that make the story seem more real and give it more depth.
5. Hire a Skilled Staff
Why It Matters: Skilled people can make your movie better without spending a lot of money.
Steps to Take: Film Students: *Get in touch with local film schools to find students who want to get experience.
- Family and Friends: Use your network to find actors and crew people.
- Collaborate: Work with other artists who might be interested in promoting each other.
As an example, here is “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: The video has friends and local talent in it, which makes it feel more fun and approachable.
- Fix things like a pro
Why It Matters: Editing well can turn your footage into a polished final result.
What You Need to Do: – Free Software: Use editing software that is free or cheap, like iMovie, DaVinci Resolve, or HitFilm Express.
- Learn Basic Techniques: Take the time to watch online lessons that teach you the basics of editing.
DIY Effects: You can improve your movie without spending a lot of money on post-production by editing and adding effects in creative ways.
As an example, the video for Tove Lo’s song “Habits (Stay High)” does a good job of showing the mood of the song through clever editing and simple effects.
Final Thoughts
You can make an epic music video on a budget if you come up with a creative idea, plan your budget, use cheap tools, look for low-cost locations, hire a talented crew, and edit like a pro. Remember that creativity and resourcefulness, not a lot of money, are what make a great movie. Armus Digital helps artists do well in every part of their music jobs by giving them support and tools.
This is about Armus Digital:
Armus Digital is a platform for distributing music that helps artists get their songs heard all over the world. It lets you quickly distribute your music to more than 150 platforms, get paid every month, protect your content, earn performance royalties, and use label services. The platform lets artists upload their music, choose which stores to distribute it in, give collaborators, and make UPC and ISRC codes. Armus Digital makes sure that music can be heard all over the world and is properly made money by forming agreements with many digital service providers.