Music Video Production

Inspiration & Exploration

Music videos are short films that serve a song — the best ones make you feel the music in a completely new way. Start by studying them like a filmmaker: watch directors' cut commentary on YouTube for classic music videos. Search "music video breakdown" on YouTube and look for channels like StudioBinder or Film Riot that analyze visual storytelling techniques. Browse Vimeo for independent music videos — the production quality there is often stunning. Notice the difference between a performance video (band playing the song), a narrative video (a story that illustrates the lyrics), and a conceptual video (abstract visuals that evoke a mood). Utah's film scene is surprisingly active — the Utah Film Center and local productions through the Utah Film Commission showcase work from local videographers. You're ready for the next step when you can watch three music videos and correctly label each one as performance, narrative, or conceptual.

Tools & Techniques

You can shoot a legitimate music video with a smartphone. The key isn't the camera — it's understanding light, composition, and movement. Watch free tutorials on StudioBinder's YouTube channel about shot composition and the rule of thirds. Download the free DaVinci Resolve video editor (it's free, professional, and used on Hollywood productions). On your phone, download FiLMiC Pro or just learn to manually control exposure using your camera app's built-in settings. Study the difference between 24fps (cinematic look) and 30fps (video look) by searching "frame rate comparison" on YouTube. Lighting is everything: learn the three-point lighting setup (key, fill, back) with free tutorials on the Peter McKinnon YouTube channel. Utah's natural landscape — red rock canyons, salt flats, mountain backdrops — gives you free, stunning locations other states can't match. You're ready for the next step when you can set up a three-point lighting arrangement in your room and explain what each light does.

First Creations

Shoot your first music video — even a rough one. Pick a song (your own recording or a royalty-free track from Free Music Archive) and shoot a performance-style video of yourself lip-syncing or playing along. Focus on getting 3–5 different shots of the same performance: wide shot, medium shot, close-up on face, close-up on hands, over-the-shoulder. Import your footage into DaVinci Resolve and cut between those shots in sync with the music. The free DaVinci Resolve YouTube channel from Blackmagic Design has beginner tutorials for exactly this kind of edit. Don't worry about perfection — the goal is to understand how shots cut together and how rhythm in the editing mirrors rhythm in the music. You're ready for the next step when you've completed a 1–2 minute music video using at least four different shot types that are edited in sync with a full song.

Style Development

Now develop a visual style that's yours. Study color grading: DaVinci Resolve's free color tools let you transform the look of your footage dramatically. Watch Cullen Kelly's free color grading tutorials on YouTube. Try recreating the visual style of a music video you love — dark and contrasty, warm and golden, desaturated and moody. Study how directors use camera movement: static shots feel formal, handheld shots feel raw and energetic, slow push-ins create intimacy. The Utah Film Commission maintains a list of local film locations that are free or low-cost to access — Bonneville Salt Flats, the Wasatch foothills, and downtown SLC's architecture all look incredible on camera. Scout a location and plan a short scene that uses the environment intentionally. You're ready for the next step when you can color grade a clip in DaVinci Resolve to match a reference still, and explain the mood difference your grade creates.

Refine Your Craft

Go deep on the craft of visual storytelling. Learn to storyboard: sketch out every shot before you film it. Free tools like Boords or even Google Slides let you create digital storyboards. Study how music video directors like Hiro Murai (Childish Gambino's "This Is America") or Jonas Akerlund use subtext — visuals that mean something beyond their surface. Watch StudioBinder's director breakdown videos on YouTube. Practice continuity editing: making sure eyelines match, props stay consistent, and cuts feel invisible. Seek out local Utah filmmakers — the Utah Film Center's community events connect emerging directors. If your music video features an artist, write a one-page treatment (a creative brief explaining the concept, visual style, and references) before you shoot a single frame. You're ready for the next step when you can produce a complete storyboard for a 3-minute music video concept and defend your visual choices in a one-page treatment.

Portfolio Piece

Produce a polished, finished music video that you're proud to share publicly. Work with a local Utah musician — check r/utahmusic or post in local SLC Facebook groups to find artists who need music videos. Write a treatment, storyboard the shots, scout your location, plan your shoot day, and execute. Color grade the final edit in DaVinci Resolve and export in 4K if your footage supports it. Upload to YouTube and Vimeo with a full description crediting everyone involved. Submit the video to the Utah Film Center's student and emerging artist programs or to local festivals like the Salt Lake Film Society's community showcases. A finished music video for a real artist is the single strongest portfolio piece a video producer can have. You're ready for the next step when you have a publicly posted music video for a real artist with a credited treatment, and you've shared it with at least one film or music community for feedback.