Cinematography In Music Videos

What is a music video?  Is it a visual piece of art, a singer/band performing or a promotional device to help record sales.

In a way I say it's a visual art piece, but this is coming from someone who likes to make films for his living.

The kind of music videos I like, has to be when the video links with the song.  I like it when the song connects with the cinematography and art direction of the video.

I think story should play a small role, when trying to connect the song and the music video together.  If you put too much story, I say it will end up being like a Michael Jackson video.  Don't get me wrong,  Michael Jackson and John Landis did a great job on the Thriller Video.  But my thoughts are that they should have done it for the cinema and not for television, especially with their budget.

I think simple ideas, make a good video.  It doesn't have to be glitzy and glamourous.  If the song is good, make sure the video is good to go with it.

And to keep it on an indie/budget filmmaker theme.  This is one of my favourite music video on the net.

Valentine by Kina Grannis.  Directed by Ross Ching.

I think in the future I would be posting some of my favourite photographed music videos.  Once I find them I will post them up.