1 Garage, 7 Music Videos, 7 Different Sets
Back when I used to shoot music videos, about 3-4 years ago…I started to notice the budgets going lower and lower
So before my final run with them, I worked out that if planned right...
I could probably get some fairly high quality looking set locations out of my garage
I mainly used my garage as storage, so i thought I may as well try and make something out of it
Here is a batch of music videos I shot in my garage before I built sets in it:
They were still decorated to match the mood of the artist, but no set build
Matt Lonsdale - Chemistry
involves posters, lens flares
https://vimeo.com/32558860
The Valiant - Home Of The Grave
involves use of projector on a garage wall
https://vimeo.com/21592203
Great Scott - Eyes Open
party vibe with ballons etc
https://vimeo.com/25656558
Next video I used Lots and lots of flour, took forever to do and was very messy….wont do it again haha
Ocean Red - Measures
https://vimeo.com/35522105
Then after these shoots, I thought…how can I continue to shoot in the garage but create even more looks
so people don't think its just shot in the garage. Til this day I don't think I told anyone I shot most of my music videos in my garage haha
SOooo…. let the set building begin!
I went to B&Q, bought some flooring, plasterboard, wallpaper, fixtures and started to plan the sets
Cuz I knew I couldn't afford to build a set for every band, I had to think of a way that I can decorate it over and over, that wouldn't cost me too much and still make profit.
Kinda like a house, you can make it new again just by a few adjustments
The tricky part was, one of the walls had to be built in front of the garage door
which then meant…I couldn't get in and out of the garage, let alone a band full of people and gear haha
in the picture below, you can see what I mean about the door
So I got hold of a builder, we talked about the best way we could build a wall on the existing walls…but being able to remove and attach it over and over again
I suggested we build a wall on a slider type of bracket, he came up with the idea of a latch so the wall can swing away inside the garage
so we could open the garage door.
Then once everyone was back in, after a break, lunch etc the wall could swing back into place when the garage door is shut
So it basically acted as a big door.
Then for different sets, bands…I basically built other walls to change the look, different wall paper, lighting fixtures etc
Bands at first thought the price for the shoot was pricy
but finding a location with similar looks was almost double just for the location…not including the price of me to shoot, direct and edit
or... we do what every one else was doing and…well shoot another video in another big open field
nothing wrong with that, but as you know…it gets boring
so this was still the cheapest way to have a set type video look within budget
I ended up creating 3 different looks for 3 different bands
Here are the looks, videos and some info:
One of the first ones came about after I saw a house in the woods. I couldn't get access to the house...
so I created what I thought it would look like inside, in my garage for the music video.
Also, always good to ask your Dad for help too, good bonding…just make sure you have Bacon Sandwiches and coffee for him, haha
My Betty also helped out and did an awesome job on the stencil, for the chalk scene
here is the video for that look:
Pavilions - Science & Gods
https://vimeo.com/38941906
...
2nd set I built was a lot of black sheets over the walls
As you can see in the pics, I didnt have a lot of room to work with with all these videos
so do plenty of tests shots before bands arrive, lens checks, angels etc
Here is the video:
Avagrace - Reading Pictures
https://vimeo.com/36651269
...
The last set was based around lightbulbs:
As you can see i left the sheets up to have a nice black fall off
Here is the video:
Aurora - Easily Broken
https://vimeo.com/42157794
Hopefully anyone who shoots music videos, this might help them out…creating different looks with not much budget.