The Music Video "Don't Forget This!" Checklist

Ro Panuganti and Peter Gillette

It’s finally showtime. You’ve arranged the song, revising and meticulously adjusting each section to your liking. The recordings are pristine, refined, and showcase your brilliance on the electric violin. The mix is unquestionably punchy, smooth, and your audience is waiting eagerly for the grand spectacle they know you can deliver on and… your camera has no batteries.

In the modern music-making day, creating your own music videos and filming performances is more than just an avenue for advertising works, it’s a necessity. Despite its importance to DIY artists it has consistently been one of the most daunting processes and the expectations to make an engaging, interesting music video only grow by the years. Through my experience filming my own music videos for 12 years and a variety of artists in the video game (music) scene such as DiscoCactus, Carlos Eiene/insaneintherainmusic, Joe Zieja, and speaking with other videographers, I set out to create the best possible walkthrough. The Prima Strategy Guide, if you will, to planning your next music video.

Feel free to bookmark this page, print it out, save it as a PDF, and share your successes with us!

🎸 MUSIC PREP 🎸

  • Song is finalized as needed to film performances and sync later

  • Song has been exported for necessary format for playback during performance

    • Exported “Playback” has a click-track, count-in, and lead time

    • Exported “Playback” is uploaded to playback device, storage, etc

  • Song has been rehearsed for accurate performance by all involved musicians

  • Instruments are packed, cleaned, with all necessary accessories for video

  • Loudspeaker or audio-sync device is packed for editing sync later

    • Charged and packed with necessary cables

🎥 CAMERA PREP 🎥

  • Camera Body Check

    • Resolution is highest necessary and desired for project

    • Set Frame Rate to desired (24/25 FPS is standard recommended)

    • Shutter Speed set (Set this to 1 / (2 times your frame rate) as a recommendation)

      • 24FPS = 1/50, 30FPS = 1/60

    • Set color-space, profiles if applicable (LOG formats, color-space)

    • Format your SD Cards and check enough disk space for your planned shoot

      • An hour of 4K Footage on a DSLR can average 45GB

      • Recommend a 256GB SD Card with a 100 Mb/s speed!

    • Keep a backup memory card in case of overheating or problems

      • LAPTOP for backing up between shoots for extra redundancy

  • Lens Check

    • Clean and pack all necessary lenses

      • Keep multiple ND Filters for the respective lenses, especially for outdoors

      • Pack FX filters and other tools

    • Pack a lens wipe, cleaning cloth, etc

  • Batteries Check

    • Charge and pack Batteries for camera body or AC-Adapter

💡 GEAR PREP 💡

  • Accessory Check

    • Stabilizer/Gimbal is tested, calibrated for 1st camera/lens combo

      • Batteries charged and packed

    • External Monitor

      • Batteries charged and packed

    • Slider

      • Batteries charged and packed, or AC/Adapter

      • Necessary Tripod/Stand is packed

    • Drone/Action Cameras

      • Batteries charged and packed, or AC/Adapter

      • Controller charged and packed, or AC/Adapter

      • Separate SD-Card/microSD is formatted and loaded

  • Lighting Check

    • All light sources are charged/packed

    • Portable Lights are charged/packed

    • RGB Colors have been tested on camera and/or chosen

    • Sufficient Lights packed for low-light shoots/indoors

    • Lighting has been mapped out for set(s) if applicable

  • Costumes/Props Check

    • All costumes are cleaned, prepped/packed, with back-ups for spills/tears

    • All props are cleaned, packed, with camera tests if necessary

If Green-Screening, all props/costumes do not contain non keyable elements

🧑 PEOPLE PREP 👧

  • Water Bottles for all participants, crew, musicians

  • Snacks for all participants, crew, musicians

  • Shooting Schedule/Shot List Created and reviewed

    • Storyboard or necessary shot information packed/stored

    • Sufficient break times, preparation, setup/teardown times

  • Set(s) and Filming Locations are Checked

    • Directions to all places noted and schedule is locked

    • Permissions granted for all locations and safety precautions taken

    • Gas in car, public transportation arranged, etc

    • Weather is acceptable and safe to film in

  • Cameraperson(s) and assistants are familiarized with gear/operations

Editor, if applicable, is familiar with footage format, sets, and objectives

FINAL PREP

Check your list twice!

Hydrate often and put safety first always!

If filming alone, have a friend/trusted person aware of your locations

Follow all local laws, rules, regulations, and be polite and patient!

Make an excellent video!

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