Level 1
3-Credit Tuition
$1,545Non-Credit Tuition
$1,290At their best, music videos are mini movies that visually capture the emotional context of a song and can even expand on the story of the song’s lyrics. In this course you’ll acquire the skills to produce high-quality music videos that tell the story of a song in a visually compelling way.
Through the use of standard movie-production teams, schedules, lighting, camera, and post-production techniques, you’ll gain real-world experience on video productions before applying these techniques in your own productions. The class experience includes analysis of music video examples, hands-on practice in standard film roles, technical exercises with cameras and software, and creative experiments with innovative filming and post-production techniques.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Create compelling music videos for you or other artists
- Execute fundamental digital camera operations and shooting/composition aesthetics
- Operate lighting equipment and develop the skills to use creative techniques effectively
- Work with artists on story development
- Work on a multicam shoot
- Apply industry terminology terms throughout a project
- Clearly and effectively communicate your creative ideas to your team
- Use basic editing skills to create a rough edit of their work
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Camera Basics
- Choosing Your Cameras
- Frame Rates
- Exposure
- Shutter Speed
- White Balance
- Assignment 1: Camera Basics Practice
Lesson 2: Camera Language: Static Shots
- What Is Camera Language?
- Wide Shots
- Full and Long Shots
- Medium Shots
- Group Shots
- Close-Up Shots
- Assignment 2: Camera Language Analysis
Lesson 3: Camera Language: Moving Shots
- The Three Basic Camera Movements: Pan, Tilt, Zoom
- Dolly Shots
- Jib Shots
- Gimbal and Handheld Shots
- Assignment 3: Camera Language Practice
Lesson 4: Lighting, Part 1
- How Lighting Tells a Story
- Knowing the Lights
- White Balance and Light Ratio
- Types of Lights
- Three-Point Lighting
- Assignment 4: Lighting Techniques Practice, Part 1
Lesson 5: Lighting, Part 2
- RGB and Practical Lights
- Shaping Lights
- Sun Light and Shooting Outdoors
- Lighting with Single Light
- C-Stands and Light Stands
- Assignment 5: Lighting Techniques Practice, Part 2
Lesson 6: Conceptualizing and Shots
- Concepts for Music Videos
- Playing with the ‘Time’ of the Video
- Timelapse and Hyperlapse
- Creative Video Transitions
- Building Blocks
- Assignment 6: Filming Practice
Lesson 7: Storyboarding and Planning
- Mapping Out Your Shots with Your Song
- Storyboarding
- Creating a Shot List
- Call Sheets and Crew Management
- Assignment 7: Final Project, Part 1
Lesson 8: Directing
- Understanding the Emotions of the Characters
- Blocking
- Camera Rehearsals
- Continuity
- Slating Takes
- Assignment 8: Final Project, Part 2
Lesson 9: Shooting Performance Footage
- Working with Seamless Backdrops
- Preparing Audio Playback for Miming
- Director’s Tips for Miming
- B-Roll and BTS (Behind the Scenes)
- Assignment 9: Final Project, Part 3
Lesson 10: Shooting Live Performance in a Recording Studio
- Learning the Environment for Filming a Live Recording Session
- Lighting in the Studio
- Camera Placements
- Audio
- Being Aware of the Vibe
- Assignment 10: Final Project, Part 4
Lesson 11: Working with Multicam
- Matching Camera Settings
- Choosing Angles/Shots for the Cameras
- The 180-Degree Rule
- Working with Different Models of Cameras on a Multicam Shoot
- Assignment 11: Final Project, Part 5
Lesson 12: Editing a Multicam Shoot and Your Final Project: Producing Your Own Music Video
- Organizing Your Data
- Syncing the Performance Footage
- Editing Multicam and B-Rolls
- Exporting the File in Different Formats
- Assignment 12: Final Project Submission
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
Students should have a basic knowledge of video editing and be able to:
- upload and cut video clips
- line up audio and video properly
Textbook(s)
- Recommended: The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition 2nd Edition by Gustavo Mercado (Focal Press, 2022)
Software
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Free options, such as GarageBand (Mac) or Cakewalk by BandLab (PC), are acceptable.
- Video editor capable of working with three simultaneous video feeds, such as Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve (free version acceptable), etc.
Hardware
- Camera capable of recording 1080p videos. Options include DSLR, mirrorless, cinema camera, camcorder, or smartphone.
- If using a smartphone as your camera, one of Filmic Pro or Blackmagic Camera (free, iOS only) is required.
- Two or three movable light sources, such as LED panels, ring lights, COB lights, floor lamps, table lamps, etc.
- Tripod compatible with your camera, capable of pan and tilt
Important Technical/System Considerations
- Recommended: A dedicated storage drive (SSD or 7200 RPM HDD) with a minimum of 100 GB of available space
Student Deals
After enrolling, be sure to check out our Student Deals page for various offers on software, hardware, and more. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu with any questions.
General Course Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Chats. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Speakers or headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband Internet connection
Instructors
Author & Instructor
Simon C.F. Yu is a New York City-based director, editor, photographer, and musician who has produced hundreds of videos for musicians since 2010. His passion for music and video began early, as he was born into a family of musicians and film directors in Hong Kong. This early immersion in art inspired him to become a specialist working in both fields.
As a musician, he has toured with hip-hop legend Lauryn Hill as lead guitarist, performed with well-known Chinese artist Eric Mo, led his own band—the Exotic Experiment and r.O.T.i.—released three albums and performed around the world. As a filmmaker, he has worked with Grammy-winning artists Snarky Puppy, Terri Lyne Carrington, Steven Feifke, and many more on their music videos. Simon also directed and edited Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David Crosby’s Lighthouse Band Live at The Capitol Theater DVD. His work has been seen on networks like HBO Latino, and shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and NYC Life.
Yu is currently a faculty member and the head of video service at Power Station at BerkleeNYC. Read Less
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Music Video Production can be applied towards these associated programs:
Associated Certificate Programs
Questions?
Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
