Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Making a Music Video: Not as Easy as You Think (Process Essay)

"Where is the love?", by Black Eyed Peas, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, and "Down" by Jay Sean. These are examples of famous songs made known through their music videos. Have you ever wondered how they were made? Have you ever wondered how a normal video can have such an impact? People often see a music video simply as an advertisement, a way to publicize the song, but in fact, a music video is a lot more than that. A music video is not just a "video", but it is also an interpretation of the creator's feelings based on the thought of the song.


Making a music video can prove to be a difficult task as one must prepare all the necessary things carefully. The first thing that a person needs to do before making a video is to decide on the song. It is important to choose a song that the creator can relate to as this will make it easier for him or her to express his or her own thoughts. After selecting a song, it is best to pick out actors who can also relate to it. Afterall, a good actor is essential to a good illustration. Next to the selection is to decide on the setting and to direct events that will fit the song. Aside from the actors, the setting is also important as it strengthens the theme of the video. Just imagine the song "Love Story" being done on a cemetery, pretty awkward right? Although it can be said that it is creativity, it is still not right to shoot a song about love on a place full of dead people; it will just ruin the theme of the song. To cut the long story short, it is best to prioritize the thought of the song while planning a music video.


Preparing all the things needed for a music video is important, but editing takes the top priority. Afterall, a person cannot combine the clips with the song randomly; editing is similar to directing. All clips should be arranged to go with the flow of the song. This is not simple as all clips should be analyzed carefully before being edited. Without doing so, editing will not be as effective as it should be.


After video editing, it is natural for all contributors to be given proper recognition. It is also better if the video can be evaluated by some experts. If the need arises, final revisions should be made before distributing it.


In the end, the art of video making is not simple; it is all about illustrating the thought of a song through the video. It is difficult and challenging, but it can also be fun. Any person who is planning to make a music video should always remember that he or she will not make a normal video, but he or she will make a video full of emotions and feelings that will affect anyone who will be watching it.

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