Starting in 2012, I am beginning a new experiment to test my skills at shooting and editing music videos quickly.
Two Day Music Videos
Here's the deal. I will shoot and edit music videos for artists and complete the job within 2 days. Or possibly even within a day. From this moment onwards or until I decide otherwise, all videos I shoot will now be two day videos. These will all be videos that can be shot within a short 2 to 5 hour timespan, and with a minimal number of takes to ensure that the edit can be completed within those 2 days. I work quickly, so this is plenty of time.
Why the decision to shoot music videos this way?
1. Having multiple jobs on the go at the same time has always made it more difficult for me to complete music videos promptly. By shooting and editing videos within a 2 day time span, there will be no chance of this occuring.
2. There's nothing worse than having to chase clients for money. All payments for Two Day Music Videos will be made in advance via the payment button (once implemented) at the bottom of this page. My current price per video is $300. This price will rise to $400 or more once I upgrade to a better camera.
3. Working quickly like this will benefit both myself and the artists I work with. No more procrastinating.
Why choose me to shoot and edit your music videos?
1. I recommend that all artists who have not worked with me before, view all my previous music videos. And possibly even my own personal videos where I edit to my own music. My previous work will give you an idea of the quality of my work.
2. When creating music videos I have my own unique look and style of editing. Essentially I edit to the music with precise cuts that occur on drum hits or changes in the music. Whilst also ensuring that the vocal performance is never misrepresented. Interesting cut away shots, funky edits and occasional effects shots are also utilised in many videos I have made. Colour grading is another important part of what I do.
3. I work alone and will not waste your time whilst shooting. I've attended a few more 'professional' music video shoots in the past and always noticed people with roles to play standing around doing nothing. I don't believe in roles when shooting music videos. Terms such as director, producer, director of photography, gaffer, assistant director, data wrangler and so on, all mean absolutely nothing to me! Seriously. I just make the videos, and that's all that matters.
4. A number of my clients are so satisfied with my work that they keep coming back for more videos. Nearly all the work I receive is via word of mouth. Not once have I ever paid to advertise my services.
5. I'm affordable, know, and believe in what I'm doing.
What do you get when hiring me to shoot a Two Day Music Video?
1. Up to 5 hours of my time for shooting the video including travel time. To give myself enough time to edit the video within 2 days, 5 hours is the maximum amount of time I can spare. As an example, if it takes me an hour to drive to a shooting location, and then an hour back again, that will leave 3 hours to shoot the video. Is that enough? Yes, that is more than enough. If you require more time, find a location closer to where I live. I'm around the Manly area in Sydney. For me to travel to the city and back from here will normally take between 25 and 40 minutes each way, or more during busy times.
2. A maximum of 8 vocal takes per shoot plus cut away shots. Cut away shots be anything from a wide shot of the location to a shot of someone's shoe. Anything that looks interesting I will shoot as a cut away shot. 8 vocal takes will enable a wide enough variety of close up, mid and wide shots.
3. A professional colour grade and noise reduction if required. The noise reduction helps keep the videos looking clean, and without colour artifacts that can make a video look unprofessional.
4. A simple text title if required, but nothing fancy. Titles and motion graphics are not something I normally do, but will do my best if I feel they're required.
5. HD web copy of the music video that can be uploaded to all video sites, and if required, a master HD avi copy. The master HD avi copy can be used for copying the video to a digibeta cassette that can be played by tv stations. This is not something I have the gear to do myself, but I can refer you to a company who do provide tansfers to digibeta.
6. Up to 4 re-edits or fix ups within 1 revision for all music videos can be carried out once the video is complete. Edits such as replacing one cut with another, adding or removing an effect, altering the colour grade etc. "I want the whole video redone" is not an acceptable response. In my experience when this happens, it's always a case of the artist not liking how they look on camera. I will always exclude unflattering takes when editing, but if someone doesn't like what they wore on the day or think they look ugly, that lack of self confidence is not something I can fix.
Two Day Guarantee
Videos will be completed within 2 days from the time I arrive home after shooting the video. This excludes the upload time required to transfer the video to the artist/s for approval via a file sharng service such s Dropbox. If I am late delivering the video, I will refund the artist $10 for every day I am late.
Terms and conditions
1. Advance payment to be made in full via the payment button (once implemented) on this page only. Once payment has been made, I will contact you to discuss a date to shoot the video, any specific requirements you may have and the location/s to shoot. If you don't feel comfortable paying me 100% of the fee in advance to shoot your video, either perhaps because you don't know me or don't feel you can trust me, then hire someone else to make your video.
2. I only deal with artists directly. No managers, record labels, referrals, agents or publicists. As an example, if you know someone who wants a video and think you can charge that person $500 for the video, pay me $300 to do it, and then keep $200 for yourself, that is NOT going to happen.
3. Songs must be less than 4 minutes.
4. No chromakey greenscreen or bluescreen shoots.
5. Props, make up, extras, models, costumes, hiring studio locations with lighting, public liability insurance (if required for a location), and any other similar requirements are the sole responsibility of the artist/s. My budget does not cover these things.
6. I will not work to a shot list or storyboard. My method of editing will not allow for either.
7. Professionally released music only. This means songs from albums or ep releases that are sold in retail stores, or sold online at stores such as iTunes and Amazon only. No 'free download', 'free mix tape', or unreleased tracks. Release dates must be provided for any 'soon to be released music'.
8. I reserve the right to choose what music or songs I will work with. If for whatever reason I don't feel your song is up to standard, or don't believe it is something I can edit to comfortably, I may refuse it. In which case you may choose an alternative song, or I will refund your money.
9. If I am unable to shoot and edit your video for any other reason, I will promptly refund your money.
10. Artist/s must supply me with a completed final master version of the song once a video has been booked. This can be emailed to me as a high bit rate mp3 after I've contacted you.
11. If for whatever reason an artist or group is not happy with the completed video, including or excluding re-edits, I will not provide a refund.
12. Permission from the artist/s is granted for me to post the completed video to all my online video accounts including YouTube, Vimeo, Exposure Room, and on my blog here. With my logo and URL appearing at the end of each video. Links to the artist's own website will of course be included as well.
If you agree to the terms and conditions above and wish to proceed in making a payment of $300 to have a music video made, click the pay now button below (once implemented).
PLEASE NOTE: Payment button will be added here once I've completed my remaining video work from 2011. Check back soon.
Tips for artists when shooting a musc videos.
Tips for artists shooting music videos coming soon.