Dressing a set - any ideas?

Need some ideas. Need to dress a set for a music vid really quickly. All I have is a brick wall, around 30 feet wide... and that's it! The floor is wooden.

Last time I dressed a set, I used a combo of green screen and newspaper and did this: https://vimeo.com/paulrwalker/review/84971935/ccf932163f

Was thinking:

- White sheet - probably try to backlight it.
- Use the brick wall for some of the shots
- Need something quick - really fast I can put up. It doesn't really matter what, I just need something that looks great.

In terms of cinematography, I believe in shooting the background which happens to have a few actors in front of it. Just need something awesome.

Help! Any ideas?
 
Can you talk to the musicians, and if so, ask *them what inspiration they used for the piece. What did they envision during the writing?

Beyond that, brainstorming, I'd use anything thematic or dynamic. Instead of rain, falling scraps of paper in front of the brick wall and on them... Use the white sheet with a fan for undulations in the fabric/light... overlay a projected image or home/archived film (you have rights to)... and you could leave the brick alone, do close ups and macro shots of texture (if the song is right for it)...

Good luck!
 
Can you talk to the musicians, and if so, ask *them what inspiration they used for the piece. What did they envision during the writing?

Beyond that, brainstorming, I'd use anything thematic or dynamic. Instead of rain, falling scraps of paper in front of the brick wall and on them... Use the white sheet with a fan for undulations in the fabric/light... overlay a projected image or home/archived film (you have rights to)... and you could leave the brick alone, do close ups and macro shots of texture (if the song is right for it)...

Good luck!

Like it.

Just occurred to me I could graffiti the wall with something soluble.

Also, different coloured sheets with the fan. Fan's a good idea.

Falling stuff is good - can do that in post if it's shot right.
 
Just need a fan, some feather pillows & glitter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnTUSgHzZx0

Seriously though, when trying to dress up a plain background I always try to think in terms of creating depth. For instance, if you've got sheets don't just hang them like curtains on the wall. Maybe try tearing them into thin ragged strips, then tying those strips to strings that you can stretch across your set at multiple points to create layers. Backlight them, then have your lead singer move through them toward or with the camera.
 
Without any idea of the music style, lyrics, and any plan for the look/feel of the video it's impossible to answer this inquiry.

I tend to agree with this since what approach might work for a hip-hop track wouldn't necessarily be the same for a country or indie song. For me, it mostly comes down to the tone of the music and the personality of the artist.

Sure, having some interesting fabric and stuff falling from above would "look cool" :cool: but how does it tie into the song, the lyrics, the overall tone of the piece. Is it a dramatic song? Fun song? Slow? Fast? Big rock? Shoe gazer?

It doesn't really matter what, I just need something that looks great.

If it doesn't matter then... I guess it doesn't matter? Throw some balloons, streamers, and confetti bombs at the band and call it a day! :D
 
It doesn't really matter what, I just need something that looks great.

If it doesn't matter, why bother having the band in it at all? You could just do a series of timelapses or something. But really, if it doesn't matter, why bother with the video at all?

Are they paying you for this? I sincerely hope it's not much if they're not bringing any ideas to the table, and you're not really providing any either since, you know.. it doesn't matter..

:rolleyes:
 
Set design for music videos is something I can agonize, deliberate and obsess over for weeks on end and still feel there was room for improvement. If it's worth doing, isn't it worth doing well? Why does the band need to get this thing shot so hastily? Why is this a rushed project? Are they paying you "rush" rates?

And I'm not suggesting it isn't possible to put together a set on the fly and on a low budget, just that it seems like a good opportunity to make the most of the space/location with something that best reflects the spirit of the song and is in keeping with its tone/genre/vibe instead of just throwing it together willy nilly. Hard to know without hearing the track or getting a feel for the band.

Well, that's just one filmmaker's opinion -- and we all know the supply of those far exceeds their demand. :P

Good luck no matter what you do!
 
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Go back to early MTV 80's music videos. Many were done on a shoestring, so you may get some ideas there.

Here's a few random ideas...

Spray paint boxes and stack them randomly.

Use a projector of some sort and project images directly onto the brick wall (or the boxes mentioned above).

Use lots old TVs with random videos.

Mannequins, blow-up dolls, stuffed animals.

Hang items from the ceiling and let them swing.


What you really need to do is study the lyrics; they should give you some good ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98AJUj-qxHI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL31C1E3BE81125B95

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL31C1E3BE81125B95

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL31C1E3BE81125B95
 
Go back to early MTV 80's music videos. Many were done on a shoestring, so you may get some ideas there.

Here's a few random ideas...

Spray paint boxes and stack them randomly.

Use a projector of some sort and project images directly onto the brick wall (or the boxes mentioned above).

Use lots old TVs with random videos.

Mannequins, blow-up dolls, stuffed animals.

Hang items from the ceiling and let them swing.


What you really need to do is study the lyrics; they should give you some good ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98AJUj-qxHI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL31C1E3BE81125B95

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL31C1E3BE81125B95

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL31C1E3BE81125B95

Projector's a good idea as it's quick to get in and out of there. Stuff from ceiling's also good as I can do that fast.

Could just green screen it but want to try physicals.

Due to time constraints, can't get TVs etc... in there but working on ideas, ideas, ideas. No idea's a bad idea...
 
Just need a fan, some feather pillows & glitter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnTUSgHzZx0

Seriously though, when trying to dress up a plain background I always try to think in terms of creating depth. For instance, if you've got sheets don't just hang them like curtains on the wall. Maybe try tearing them into thin ragged strips, then tying those strips to strings that you can stretch across your set at multiple points to create layers. Backlight them, then have your lead singer move through them toward or with the camera.

Depth... good point. If I don't do a green screen - or even if I do, I will think about this. Keep 'em coming. And incidentally, love tape heads...
 
Use 9 foot black seamless to wrap the background and dress the band in all white (white instruments would be good as well). Project footage that coresponds to the theme of the song onto the band as they perform "in the void."
 
Hmm, projector... have a fog machine? A projector pointing towards the camera but behind the talent can give you an elaborate light show look depending on what you play on the projector. You definitely need some atmosphere to get it to show though.
 
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