Pop videos - A set of guidelines
Created | Updated Nov 4, 2002
So you've written your song and you've practiced to perfection. Perhaps if you are only young and attractive, your manager may have employed a group of consultants to write the song for you based on focus groups.
Whichever way you did it, you have a well honed song which is just bursting to be imortalised in a video. You (or your manager) may think that pop-video making is as easy as not drinking too much beer before you start recording... In some cases, even this isn't that vital - people consider it trendy to have shakey camera-work. Below is a list of potential pitfalls awaiting the unprepared performer (or manager):
Storylines (or lack thereof)
Everyone likes a good story. Pop videos are no exeption to this rule. You may think that to entertain your audience (managers read: "Market share") you just need to stand up and continue to smirk at the camera. True, this may satisfy the 12-16 year old girl bracket, but what about the rest of us?
Stories make you want to watch the video through to its end. Michael Jackson and a number of well established pop groups always attempt to place storylines in their videos. The best part of this is that (like all aspects of the pop video genre) you can go wild. Snazzy effects (and often very cheesy effects) will please the audience and ensure their continuing viewing.
Video or film?
A tricky one. Film generally looks the business, but you are limited to what you can do. Due to the non-interlaced nature of film, fast panning becomes almost impossible. One potential solution is to record to video then do some fancy computer generated "film effects" just before release.
Synchronised dancing
Synchronised dancing is ok, if you can pull it off. Michael Jackson did. S-Club seven didn't. Perform at your own risk.
Singing in front of your group's logo
Nothing like a bit of promotion for your band. If you think your viewers have such bad memories that they need a constant reminder of who you are, perhaps you should consider changing your target demographic.
Covers of songs
Technical wizardry
Pretending to be a musician
Swearing
Miming
Selling with sex
Faking a task
Meaningful looks
Appropriateness
Humour
Whichever way you did it, you have a well honed song which is just bursting to be imortalised in a video. You (or your manager) may think that pop-video making is as easy as not drinking too much beer before you start recording... In some cases, even this isn't that vital - people consider it trendy to have shakey camera-work. Below is a list of potential pitfalls awaiting the unprepared performer (or manager):
Storylines (or lack thereof)
Everyone likes a good story. Pop videos are no exeption to this rule. You may think that to entertain your audience (managers read: "Market share") you just need to stand up and continue to smirk at the camera. True, this may satisfy the 12-16 year old girl bracket, but what about the rest of us?
Stories make you want to watch the video through to its end. Michael Jackson and a number of well established pop groups always attempt to place storylines in their videos. The best part of this is that (like all aspects of the pop video genre) you can go wild. Snazzy effects (and often very cheesy effects) will please the audience and ensure their continuing viewing.
Video or film?
A tricky one. Film generally looks the business, but you are limited to what you can do. Due to the non-interlaced nature of film, fast panning becomes almost impossible. One potential solution is to record to video then do some fancy computer generated "film effects" just before release.
Synchronised dancing
Synchronised dancing is ok, if you can pull it off. Michael Jackson did. S-Club seven didn't. Perform at your own risk.
Singing in front of your group's logo
Nothing like a bit of promotion for your band. If you think your viewers have such bad memories that they need a constant reminder of who you are, perhaps you should consider changing your target demographic.
Covers of songs
Technical wizardry
Pretending to be a musician
Swearing
Miming
Selling with sex
Faking a task
Meaningful looks
Appropriateness
Humour
