DIY: Make your own video

Before you unfold your director’s chair to make the next big music video, make sure to consider these tips from telecommunications professors Jim Krause and Jo Throckmorton. Krause is currently teaching T351: Video Field and Post Production, and Throckmorton is a producer and director for Blue Ace Media Group and is currently teaching T436: Advanced Production Workshop.

Ask some questions
Think about who your target audience is and what message you are trying to get across. Then, ask yourself what they would like to see, Krause says.

Create a storyboard
Decide your sequence of shots before arriving at your location.

Scout your location
While you’re there check lighting and run some test shots. Planning is key, and if you don’t plan it in advance you’re going to find yourself wasting a lot of time and energy, Throckmorton says.

Shoot the video
If the performer will be filmed singing along to the lyrics, make sure to get a click-track of your song. This let’s the performer know the timing of the song and keeps everything in sync. “Everything that’s electronic does not run at the same speed,” Throckmorton says. 

Edit your video
Throckmorton recommends using Adobe Premiere because any IU student can download it for free from iuware.iu.edu.

Promote, promote, promote
Upload your video to YouTube and share the link with as many people as possible.

So what’s the secret to making your video stand out?
"Nothing. Lightning in a bottle happens because it's lightning in a bottle. Nobody knows where it's going to hit." Throckmorton says it's almost impossible to predetermine what will resonate with audiences enough to go viral. He says it's important to love whatever you're making, so no matter what, you're happy with the outcome.