(from the Run and Gun Videography Blog)
Well, normally one wouldn’t promote this sort of thing. After all, it takes quite some time and planning to do a music video…
But, as Abi Moore remarked, ‘if you want something done fast, ask a busy person”.
I’m not always this busy, but in the week before a trip planned to the US, I found myself with 3 scheduled shoots and one edit that absolutely had to be done before I left.
Then Abi messaged me urgently.
She needed a music video by the end of the month (when I would be gone).
She had sent me the song. A very nice song, though a sad Christmas song as it were.
I asked for the lyrics, got them, glanced it over and said, ” Come on over tomorrow. We’ll shoot you singing the whole song whilst driving a few times and then some more at our neighbor’s Steinway piano, a few additional shots in town, throw something together and see if we need anything else to polish it off.
So we did just that one evening.
For the night scenes I used the Sony HXR NX30. All hand-held, of course, though I utilised a bean bag on the car’s dash for most of the car shots.
For the piano scenes I used the NX30 and the X70; X70 on a tripod and the NX30 handheld.
And, for the first time ever, I found it necessary to add stars to a shot using an FCPX generator and FCPX color controls and shape masks to take down the white sky to a darker gray.
Also, for the first time ever, I added snow to a shot, using the Pixelfilmstudios plug-in. Two layers of snow–the foreground layer to which I added yellow as if lit by the foreground yellow light from the doorway. That was surprisingly easy.
Who says you can’t produce a music video in a couple of days cheap as chips?
You’ll be the first to see it as I’m only publishing it here.
(Best to watch in full HD, as it’s a rather sad–and therefore somewhat dark Christmas story.)
The Video Whisperer 
Lovely piece, Joe. Thanks for sharing. The stars and snowflakes worked particularly well – seamlessly in fact, as good production should be. It’s amazing that you produced this as a lone shooter.
I’m curious to know what you used for audio playback for Abi to lip-sync to in the car scene?
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Thanks Gerry, She had already produced the recording, so it was simply a matter of playing the CD in the car, in the piano room etc.
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A very nice result indeed. It’s always inspirational reading your blogs. it really helps drive home the point it’s not how much equipment and crew you have, rather how resourceful you can be with what you do have. And of course highlighting how flexible the HXR-NX30u is.
Would you say the Sony FDR-AX100 is the successor to the NX30u? It also has balanced optical steady shot although it does not come with the XLR interface. But if you add that accessory it falls slightly more but close to what the NX30u used to sell for when first introduced. Have you used this camera already?
Was thinking about that as a 4K complement to a NX30u that I am currently using.
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Actually my mistake. I thought it was the AX100 that had Balanced Optical Steady Shot, but it’s the AX33. It appears the AX33 also accepts the XLR2 accessory so it seems like it would be very close to the NX30u with 4K capability at around $1600 USD. Any experience with this camera? Would be interested in your thoughts for a 4K successor to the NX30u with respect to a portable yet capable handycam.
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No experience with it and it doesn’t really seem to be an upgrade/update to the NX30. Found this on quick search:
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Hi Joe
Nice video, amazing what can be done in a short time. Like the snow effect, works well. Just shows what can be done by a lone shooter. I used to shoot stills on music videos in the 80’s so I know how big a music video crew can be (I know you do too), and a lot of it wasn’t any better than yours. I’m always inspired when I look at your blog, so thanks for sharing it.
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