Hollywood Cinematographer Analyzes Popular Music Videos

[@ThomasBloomLifeAdventurer]

That advice on getting a low view count to build your reel hits hard. I know we've all produced some amazing art that will probably never be seen, so if Indy Mogul is cool with it, take the opportunity to reply to this comment with a link to a video you're proud of, and I promise to watch every single one and will try to give feedback where I can. Maybe we can get a group discussion going. Easy on the spamming.

[@ReelBump]

Here's one of my favorite videos I've done over the last year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y56YgIN5nLine80 Hopefully this will get some more people to start adding their creations as well!

[@BlackWinterProduction]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKazfH-Hfdmdoa8

[@digital.mente.]

Go on then: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6uWXnRsoJmsgJI

[@ExpressiveImagery]

Here’s the video I’m most proud of with days of prep work and post, cheers Tony - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKaWimutpK2apc0

[@ThomasBloomLifeAdventurer]

@@ReelBump Thanks for jumping in and sharing. On first look, cool use of that kaleidoscope look. But on closer inspection, I really like the use of color contrast. Some think the orange/teal look is overplayed, but here is well executed. You also have some hidden gems with framing, horizons, and a-symmetry... the cuts make them hard to catch but the small added details are much appreciated.

[@AmmarLegato]

"Don't try to copy something unless you're sure you gonna surpass it in its greatness" My favourite quote from you ever !!

[@acorazado27]

"Good artists copy, great artists steal." Piccaso.

[@Leprutz]

I don't agree on that at all. Sometimes you just got to copy and fail to learn.

[@profundus8946]

The old Romans had this idea regarding art: 'Imitatio' - first attempt to copy (imitate) the works of others to develop the skills necessary. 'Aemulatio' - when the works of others have nothing left to teach you, surpass/improve (aemulatio) them.

[@khalifas4785]

The grey poupon line and catering to the lyrics was them recreating a shot from the original commercial of that product though

[@ejim941099]

Doesn't change the fact that its catering genius...

[@khalifas4785]

@@ejim941099 Damn, show me where I said it wasn't

[@liverman9000]

Yah that's what I got from that shot. I thought that was obvious.

[@ellax325]

I honestly think that part was genius. Kendrick was using Grey Poupon as a status symbol of wealth.

[@Soldier_Sean]

exactly, so its not a recreated scene, its a parody scene

[@Kudagraz]

"Don't cater to the lyrics"...they say. "Really polish it" *cuts to Aladdin polishing a lamp... 5:37

[@carlo9872]

this comment deserved more acknowledgement

[@anandjitrajbhar3910]

This is not a music video, those are not lyrics.

[@JoshNulty]

🇵🇱 ing

[@thatguywhois]

I had to disagree with "don't cater to the lyrics" I mean I haven't seen many music videos that catering well to the lyrics. When I heard music, I heard story but I also want to see the story and what's the best way of showing story of music if not music video?

[@ZacDonald]

@@thatguywhois I don't mind catering to the lyrics, works really well for Spiritualized - Hey Jane. When the lyrics match up to what's happening in the story, it adds emphasis and tension. But then again, some music videos are just short clips of literal depictions of the lyrics, which doesn't work as well, unless done somewhat ironically.

[@zacka161]

I feel like 90 percent of this is a Lyrical Lemonade Diss track

[@navigatingmadness180]

lol my thoughts exactly

[@jondoe853]

Lyrical Lemonades problem is that you have a bunch of kids who learned how to do one trick, it worked and theyre going with the "if it aint broke dont fix it". Their videos are shot in the most backwards ways as well, he said in interviews that sometimes he'll have no plans, he'll just meet a rapper at a hotel and shoot which is why they rely so heavily on effects, cus theres no theme, no story, no context, no focus, just a guy with a camera and a rapper high on lean.

[@KyleJay]

John Dew Although in no way are you incorrect, you cannot deny that Cole has created some amazing music videos that at their times of release were one of a kind but even better, inspired many young videographers.(line drawers and all lol) The funny thing is I always thought traditional film was boring and kinda nerdy but Cole was the first person that shed a new light on film that made me appreciate it the way I do now. Fast forward 2 years later and I’ve had the pleasure to be on multiple sets with Justin and and he’s the most solid guy inside and out! All love and cheers to the LL & IM communities 🖤

[@jondoe853]

Kyle Jay wasnt trying to come off overly aggressive and i wasnt attacking his personal character but a good bit of his videos dont have treatements, his more high end videos are ones that record companies have paid him to shoot, their videos come with pre made treatments thats how you get videos like the kanye one but his juiceworld, ski mask and smaller soundcloud rappers really dont do planned shoots. More examples would be the guys who do chiraq rapper videos, its a legit genre, its a legit style but just because something is popular doesn’t make it not lazy.

[@jondoe853]

Kyle Jay side note, how do you have 1 mil subscribers and like 40-200 views

[@markchase6096]

I actually worked on the Turn Down for What video. Its a great showcase on indie techniques at a high end level. The main guy humping everything is one of the 2 directors. He helped keep the on set energy up the whole time. The cop at the end was the Gaffer making a cameo. The effect for the mom's out of control breasts was actually just the actress from the first part of the video wearing a green hoodie (to key out), standing behind the lady, and using her hands to move the fake breasts around under her shirt. All the member movement under the sweatpants of the main guy was just a broom stick through a hole in the back of the pants. I was actually a special effect myself. At 11:20 on this video the dinner table gets launched. That was me laying on my back launching it with my feet. No wires or anything. The person falling down from the ceiling in that shot was done on a green screen separately.

[@SydneyAtinFilms]

Wow! Great to knw hw it's done! Great job on the vid..

[@Photographicelements]

Thanks for the BTS insight!

[@BA-uq2qv]

that video kept me watcing start till the end when it came out and i rewatched it too so intense how theyre sweatng and going psycho after a while really good video

[@aaronprimus1300]

u can even see the person in a green hoodie lol

[@Leprutz]

But we are still talking budget here. If you have a whole team and a set to build around it doesn't,t matter if indie or long time veteran, it is still a budget video. I actually want to know what can you do with no budget at all besides being original. Your story though is cool. It seems as if you all had a blast shooting that video. How long did the shooting take. How long preproduction and how long post? Do you still know and or remember?

[@ernestephraim8771]

there are no rules in film making . only sins.And the cardinal sin is dullness

[@lucinhas]

😂👏🏽👏🏽

[@mrbrnz001]

Thats all of Art!

[@Filmsdinamic]

👏👏

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Wish I could heart this.

[@midnightmenace8715]

"you should always strive to make something you can't because you might fall flat but, you are going to learn way more than if you stayed in your lane"

[@petelee]

I have some thoughts on a few mistakes that I've seen a lot that aren't covered: 1. over-promised treatment - sometimes a director overpromises in fear of the band backing out, resulting in either the production running out of time or money, or just a music video without any distinct identity 2. the artist doesn't actually sing out loud, and the result is a performance that looks clearly like a lip sync 3. the director falls in love with the design and doesn't create enough actions/ images that can be edited together, forcing the editor to re-use shots, or cut away to a bunch of pretty pictures/ shots of extras/ other weird editing tricks just to piece together something that's long enough 4. the management/ label way too concerned about the artist's image and forces the director to take the safest/ corniest route 5. the director really wants to make a narrative but the beats to the story don't actually fit the music (for a clever solution to this check out Miyazaki's music video "On Your Mark" where he creates alternate climaxes each time the song hits a chorus) but overall, most music videos are made so cheaply, even with big labels and artists, so it really takes a lot of planning to just make sure that you have enough footage at the end of the day. each mistake is painful, and the expectations are usually pretty high, good luck everyone!

[@Adrianinhd]

The Kendrick Lamar example is proof that even things we deem as “wrong” or “dull” can work when done right.

[@SacredMusicTribe]

Adrian Gooden I don’t get it . The grey pupon thing ?

[@Zehahahaa]

Its incredible when an artist is down to experiment and try out new ways of looking at Visuals rather than stick to the norm of the typical “Cool effects” those are the videos that crack through the most

[@kevinokai]

Rules were meant to be broken. Just make something beautiful regardless whether the person wakes up at the end or cheesy effects.

[@SacredMusicTribe]

Kevin Okai lol

[@jean3857]

Art isnt just about making something that looks good. It has to have essence for it to hold any sort of weight.

[@SacredMusicTribe]

Jean Y. I’m so wit that

[@kevinokai]

​@@jean3857 Art doesn't alway have to make sense or be meaningful. Picasso and Basquiat painted like kids yet considered legends. Art doesn't follow any rules. Art is forever evolving. The stuff these industry guys will consider the standard was once disliked by their predecessors who used different methods. they might have even called it a trend and now look at them.

[@kevinokai]

@@kidicaras2719 trends don't become rules, they shape the rule. everything was once a trend before it became the norm

[@keithwelker6956]

Best content out there loving the longer episodes!

[@indymogul]

thanks Keith! Really glad to hear it

[@mnemosftb]

The only time it's ok to cater to the lyrics: Riptide by Vance Joy.

[@640Studio]

Thanks for having me on this episode, really enjoyed it 🙌🏼

[@anhdvids]

Dang, Justin is such a treasure trove of knowledge. And I feel like the video's not bashing on other artists so much as it's trying to inspire young music video directors to think outside the box. The biggest thing I got from this is to make every decision in that 2-3 minute music video your own. If you choose to copy, then copy in a creative, innovative way and you good 😎

[@thejfoxxgaming3308]

I have zero desire to make music videos, but the video is so insightful and well put together! Love watching these.

[@hedarhee2002]

1:24 thank you so so much for showing this music video, its absolutely amazing

[@Artfulscience1]

This guy is so real and no BS, so helpful. Thanks for making this!

[@thai2go]

The grey poupon is an reference to the commercial that came out in the 80's. Honestly this sound a bit arrogant.

[@ejim941099]

It's still catering genius..

[@ace-smith]

@@ejim941099 imagine missing the point that hard, of course it's catering to the lyrics, the point is that isn't bad

[@ejim941099]

Sad's Channel who said it was bad?

[@thai2go]

@@ejim941099 the guy in the video...

[@theburninator888]

@@thai2go "He does it in a tasteful way"..."It's funny." The guy obviosuly liked the way Kendrick did it.

[@TylerCaseyProd]

This was 🔥 Very inspirational and helpful! I think we all get stuck in the same trends as music video directors and its good to keep pushing!

[@foeshizzel]

Marshmallow - Happier has to be the most unimaginative music video ever.

[@finitesound]

Marshmallow as an entity is uninspired.

[@jamescoz7469]

@@finitesound I'm sure you're very inspiring and musically gifted

[@johnathanmiranda9065]

James Coz are you?

[@DustyyBoi]

@@johnathanmiranda9065 are you dumb?

[@indymogul]

Seriously. What's the worst music video mistake that you keep on seeing?

[@H2o3G2a]

Neon lights.

[@costa97vm]

Red and cyan everywhere

[@vvvvvvaaaaaaa]

In my opinion the gif effect he's talking about is also very overused and he recommended it that's odd.

[@alex-botton]

MVC's that go live without a good color grade!!!

[@RandomHartz]

Chasing the latest movie lighting or visual trends. Dates a video instantly. From the producing side... 1. dealing with treatments that far over promise on the budgets the labels provide. 2. Labels/artist management playing it safe and forcing cliche and repetitive tropes beyond what is culturally needed to tell the story 3. Artist Management/Labels shorting budgets, causing top down decline in video quality, crew rates, etc. 4. Directors trying to be flashy rather than tell a good story. I get that a lot of songs are pretty crap so you need to polish the turd with flashy visuals, or gimmicks, but still try and have some substance. 5. Abuse of color grading. If it doesn’t fit the story then don’t force it.

[@Diminish12]

When a rapper says Lambo in a verse I cut to a Pink Flamingo. Makes more sense 🤔, Nailed it!

[@nickcage9686]

Yeah, that is a subjective opinion. i'd rather see a video that matches the song.

[@mccalltrader]

Right..what are they supposed to be doing...thats not a well reasoned critique

[@Battlecry45]

99% of the time youre ignoring the story the image is telling you when you force a cut to a lambo. Its pretty boring to see the exact same thing you already hear. Just look at what the Images are telling you and go where they take you.

[@mccalltrader]

Battlecry45 maybe our problem here isnt in the cliche’ but in the lazy directing and story telling of a director..I happen to like the audio and visual working together to say something compelling..which I guess eliminates most rap..lol A good director can utilize both and make a better product by synergizing the different elements of the presentation

[@SacredMusicTribe]

Diminish12 it’s just one dimensional like uhh where’s the creativity

[@AsiatiqueMedia]

12:15 shoot a test sample first before you come to set, really good tip!

[@mkkabi]

"Fix in post". Words I never wanna hear myself say.

[@Iskulaatikko]

As someone who’s in the beginning on this journey, i feel like you can’t avoid clichés, until you learn more and do more. Also a cliché is exactly that because some part of it works, that’s why it gets over used. I feel like i’m not gonna think too much about if it has been done or not, i’m here to learn and develop a style of my own at some point but all steps be it failing or succeeding are steps forward. Great video!

[@MLFILMSTV]

Many are offended because they think after buying a DSLR and watching 1 weeks of youtube videos you will be as good as a director who has studied the game for 10 years plus!

[@TheBuffNerds]

Would love to come on the show ted!!! Also shoutout to Justin for shouting out PrismLensFX although...he didn't quite shout us out... haha All love!

[@jamescooper2005]

TheBuffNerds they mentioned your filters too...

[@TheBuffNerds]

James Cooper yuuup

[@indymogul]

let's hang out! Justin mentioned you in the video and the podcast. We were just trying to keep the episode under 20 min. :)

[@healthyking9999]

I just now realized how EXTENSIVE it is to make a music video. Obviously I knew it wasn't just "point and shoot", but its the various details during filming, and lots of post production talent to deliver the public the final product of a music video. What initially got me into this "how music videos are made" rabbit hole, is I wondered how music videos were slowed down, yet the artist is lip syncing or rapping the song at normal speed. So many interesting nuances to music videos.

[@bobbyhennessy]

8:50 I mean, he neglected that the Grey Poupon scene in that music video references an old Grey Poupon commercial.

[@ThePlaceForThings]

my favorite episode of this series yet. loved the magnifying glass diopter hack 🧠 feel like he’s right about the laser prediction as well

[@davidjonescua]

that grey poupon reference in humble was from the old commercials they did and how thru those ads they've become a symbol of affluence in hip hop culture.

[@bryanmuro777]

That grey poupon shot from Kendrick's Humble is referencing the 1988 commercial about grey poupon mustard.

[@7DreamVisuals]

the style of the false alarm video that i saw first was Under Pressure by logic. Both were executed beautifully though

[@uknownothing5128]

eternally greatful for this series thank you for the high quality content!

[@viddythisthen]

I always dig your videos! This one is particularly informative and inspiring. Thank you!

[@onimeshdas9271]

I recently started watching your videos and tbh with every video i watch , i learn some new everytime, which i don't think I'll get to learn from anywhere else. I really appreciate your hardwork in making all these videos. Thanks alot🤗

[@jessoctavio]

Damn he just roasted cole bennet

[@stealthstar4]

He's trash. Real videographer's knows he is trash.

[@PerplexZ]

@@stealthstar4 lmao how

[@noelsoto4329]

@@stealthstar4 This comment is funny cause unlike Cole, we have never heard of you and you say real videographers know hes trash. Who are you? Are you a real videographer? do you have any work to back up your claims? Something you recorded that says youre actually better than Cole?

[@stealthstar4]

@@noelsoto4329 Look at the video again, and you'll understand what he means. He is saying, Cole doesn't have a cinematographer's eye, which I agree. People like you don't understand that. Cole hides his trashy work behind effects because he doesn't have a cinematic eye. Like I said before, you don't understand so you responded by trying to offend me....? Try again....

[@stealthstar4]

@@noelsoto4329 He is trash, get over it. Cole has a $80,000 camera and he shoots like he is using a $2,500 camera.

[@johnhambyphotography]

Great interview. Thanks!

[@szmaff]

omg. i just shot a music video where the main character wakes up at the end and it was just a dream. hm. maybe Its time to quit filmmaking? :D

[@joonamato]

Either that or go back and cut out the ending 🤷‍♀️

[@RunAndGunVisuals]

I did too lmaooo 🤣

[@revatronprime4120]

Or maybe it's time to get better

[@nave8347]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL, theres no rules to this sht bro but that was funny

[@miloradstrbacki4248]

No joke, i have been a rock/metal guy my whole life, and i saw Kendricks music video for Humble, watched ti a million times, and eventually started loving Kendrick, now i can't stop listening to him, and the dude has some AMAZING music videos!

[@kaiadaigle937]

TXT - Crown does the extra lines really well

[@Olufemii]

When you see the two bros owning... 🔥🔥💥

[@joenormanmusic]

Justin looks like a tired hipster Chris Pratt.

[@yot3842]

Joe Norman lmao facts

[@YCImaging]

🔥🔥🔥

[@JyzYorkeManifestKidd]

Outchea

[@denysfinney3803]

Re: the Quasar and Terra tube lights mentioned at the 5 minute mark DP Jan Le Bont did this with fluro tube practicals back in '88 for Die Hard

[@aLgProduction]

Nice, a maginifying glass. I can't wait to use this technique .

This video gave me a lot of insights! Thank you!!

[@MrMartena56]

Just FYI, most underrated music video of all time is Gesaffelstein - PURSUIT. Everyone should go look at it, an absolute masterclass in modern music video production, from concept to execution.

[@NormalAF]

I actually like catering to lyrics, it puts more perspective and vision to the story, it shows what the artist means when he/she says whatever, sure you can do something completely different but i enjoy music videos more when i dont have to think about a billion layers of what X or Y meant, sure a little of that is fine, but too much and i find myself spending too much time than comfortable with analyzing every detail

[@strauss2514]

Who else doesn't mind sleeping and waking up at the end 😂

[@jowa86]

I can’t believe you showed Rüfüs Du Sol and Bonobo 🤯🤯 I love those artists 💙

[@SEIJITV]

I'm really glad this video was made. Now I have something to send to prospective clients to disuade them from using these cliches and stuff noted in this video. It gets really tiring trying to explain on every project

[@thai2go]

Is not bad to use cliche. Is about how to use them in a different angle to make them look new. Let that sink in.

[@aspiresaadi]

Awesome video very inspirational

[@davidvandrunen3516]

I respect your ad & count down. Great way to do it.

[@zachphillips1154]

Bro I had no idea this channel was still around, but it looks like you guys are doing some really cool stuff

[@Jestunes]

Great video with Justin. The best information I got from this is to be original with concept, editing and post production. I'm just starting out and just using a go pro knockoff, but if I wait until I get enough to rent or buy a good camera I'll be too old to do anything. One producer I saw said "It's not the camera it's what you do with it." My motto for now...

[@Haddosan]

3:22 WOAH CHILL COLE BENETT IS ACTUALLY GOOD/AMAZING

[@exitallareas]

I really want to know how much the artists themselve had influence in the music videos you shoot

[@tylerhanley1409]

Best music video of 2019: Halloween’s “Hannah, you’re amazing”

[@elyketomoson2979]

Tyler Hanley kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHKXg55tobqnmrs

[@koolaidchick5555]

It would be interesting to see what he would say about a lot of kpop music videos. Not only exclusive to kpop even, but even artists like DPR Live have beautiful footage.

[@T3hTroll]

17:20 I hella envy other cameras; I used to use a canon that was able to do that -- but now I use a nikon which doesn't enable its shutter when the lens is off.

[@fabianjaschik2411]

Learnt a lot. Thanks guys!

[@victorngfilms]

I learned a lot from this video! Keep it up!

[@SpryEnd]

Oh Baby lets go again! Thank you for the good tips! cheers

[@mkkabi]

Love Justin's work on Illmind of Hopsin 7

[@adhunikmanav2638]

very rarely i watch a 20 minute video without a break.

[@antelopesurf]

15:10 "Ah he woke up at the end? Duh" 🤣

[@Hyminym]

This was a great interview!

[@p.p696]

Crazy! Been following him for a while

[@hmarci]

This was great. Talking about current trends, but with many visual examples... perfect!

[@nicholastoo858]

Great talks, always very relevant, keep it up!

[@johnaudio2024]

Great video, even bigger microphones 🤣😂🤣

[@jamieandrei]

Nice stuff chaps! Some good stuff in there.. esp the test discussion around 12.30 & lasers!

[@Trinergy-Livewire]

Thanks! Much value and ideas.

[@smiteshpatil3694]

I love how he placed the microphone right up on the face

[@StacksMediaGroup]

This video is 3rs old but still offers so many jewels, Thx guys

[@Gleebi]

fantastic video. Thanks for uploading.

[@kawaiineko099]

Most of his “mistakes” are simply his personal preferences. Seems pretty pretentious to me tbh. If the effect works for the video then it works. His rules are weird

[@aidan209]

100%!!!

[@lewis2442woods]

I lowki felt the same.........

[@jeffrymceden4423]

Me too

[@SSKMusicBeats]

That's film-makers in a nutshell lol

[@timguigon3450]

100% agree

[@davetinoco]

The first time I saw the multi camera stutter effect was Arcade Fire, Sprawl (Mtns beyond Mtns)

[@malster2375]

Great video! Time to make some refreshing videos 💯💪🏾

[@J.A.G790]

Learned a lot from this, thank you

[@TaiRo]

Where can I buy these lens effects on my camera?

[@loganhunt8029]

Prismlensfx

[@KristophTy]

This video was amazing! ❤❤

[@BlackProductionFilms]

Great video. You guys took a name at 14:38, talked about someone who used cinema4d to create previz, can you please mention it here. It wasnt clear, or mention a tutorial to make previz on cinema4d for music videos and fashion films

[@baggedreviews]

Nishika is an old 3d camera from the 90's. Vincent price used to be their spokes person. I still have the VHS tape.

[@Nathankinamorh]

Another quality interview.

[@TheColeSamsaraVideoShow]

Now Cole Bennett gotta pull up and make a diss video ☠️

[@inlovewiththeprocess3553]

Ted is killing it as always!

[@kjammy808]

Do these guys use story boards before shooting the music video?

[@MosKou2KH1]

Wow well that was very ...informative ! I learned a lot !

[@8happyperson]

Love hearing yalls perspective. It means a lot that y’all talked about baf.

[@sheikhspeare6637]

If there ever was a textbook on how to shoot a music video, Kendrick would have an entire chapter.

[@indymogul]

His videos are amazing!

[@theatifaks]

Learned a lot by this video 👌👍

[@CarterCreativeContent]

superb video. solid advice. great guest.

[@Fuzzmistro]

THIS WAS AMAZING.. I LOVE THESE SERIES @INDYMOGUL

[@Holtenstein]

I always love these

[@epicbossstudio2610]

4:50 Talks alot about creativity, seeing it the way others see it and doing it in a different way, so it becomes what no one else has done before.

[@ProbolStudio]

You all should go and watch The Blaze - Territory