Have you tried the details window? You can display markers there, edit the marker text and cut and past the whole information.

You are right Leslie :)

Here is 50 sec. of the song - the tot. is 04:30 and it is the whole song:

http://www.webbroadcast.dk/Joanita/Sweet_Lord.mp3

There will be the singer and 4 dancers/backing voices. My idea is to shoot in 3 different outdoor locations in copenhagen city and then make 1 greenscreen version to put some stills/clips behind the singer from her homecountry, Uganda. My idea is to cut to those grenscreenclips when they sing in their own language. I think we will have some takes of the drummer too.
I would make 2 or 3 takes in every location and then multicam and sync to the org. CD track.

Is this far out? Any sugestions on scenes, locations etc. is most welcome.

Thanks in advance :)

/Ulf

Why do you need a script?

Take them to the various places you intend to shoot. Playout the song on ghetto blaster so they've got something to work to. Make certain you're recording the song in camera.

When you get back to the edit line up all your location video using the audio as a reference. If for some reason you cannot do the whole song at some locations then makeup a CD or whatever of each part you intend to do at each location with a lead in. Same as above though, record the audio so you can line it up for the edit.

If you've got the project with the markers where you planned to make cuts then use that to add all your video to.

I guess what I'm saying is think of the project as a multicam shoot, just that each "camera" is shooting the same thing at different times and places. I'm suggesting not to script it so you don't get hung up on what your script says should happen. You've got creative people in front of the camera so let them create. If you had a huge budget for sets, CGI and the like then you sure want a script and a storyboard and previz.... Go with the KISS principle and you'll be fine. Give the talent time to get wound up, make sure they're having FUN and do several takes from different angles at each location etc.

Bob.

sounds like a fun tune to work with!

bob's summation is better than mine - but you've got to have fun making it as well!!!

i'll only add - make sure every body eats, gets coffee / tea, whatever so they're HAPPY doing it, not, as i've seen some poor groups, washed out and haggard looking by the third take.

as bob says, throw away the idea of a script! (and from my pov green screen - (at least on your first 'low' budget fling)

i would do exactly as bob says regarding playing the song out for them to work to (make sure it's recorded on the cam tape!), but i'd opt for running through the whole song 2 / 3 times (at each location if poss) using whatever style you want (ie. first wide locked off, second cu's faces, 3rd instruments singers, whatever).

vegas is a wonder at ending multi cam - so forget beat markers for the moment - shoot FULL takes then simply line 'em up on the tl and cut to your heart / music beat.

and always remember, if you don't like it, you can simply back up and start again.

i only wish i'd had vegas back in the 70 / 80's rather than rocking 'n' rolling four vtrs with a sony 9000.....

Just one more tip.
These are probably going to be darked skinned performers. Don't overexpose dark skin. For my money it looks better under than over exposed. From memory Ugandans are deep brown skinned so there's plenty of color in it, don't let it get shiny from sweat. In my opinion dark skinned people can look really luscious if a bit under exposed.
They'll probably wear bright colors but watch out for reflective materials, you can rub them with beeswax to tame the shine. If anyone wants to wear white, tea bag it. That means dunk it in a bucket of strong tea and let it it dry without rinsing, it'll wash out later.

Oops that's two tips, too much coffee tonight :)

Oh and utterly agree with Ushere, can the green screen. Greenscreening a large group really needs a big studio with the right lighting and expensive cameras. If you want to put plates from Uganda behind them you really have to match what you shoot back into the plates to pull it off and that's a lot of work that I'd be hiring someone else to do.


Bob.

Regarding the markers, just Copy and Paste from the Details window to a text file.
The text file can also be used to import Vegas chapters (markers) to .m4v (.mp4) using the freeware Drax. That's super nice if you are producing your video for iPod and iPhone.

Thanks all for great suggestions - it's sure worth a lot to me. You are right Bob, they will all be african, I'll watch out. I'll post the result when finished.

/Ulf

I have thougth of two more things reg. this music video:

1. The singer has suggested that she wears different clothes during the different places we shoot. I am not shure wether it will confuse people watching or not? Do you have any input on this one?

2. If I'm going to use multicam I would need to transcode my AVCHD to something else to get best performance, that's obvious to me, but which format to choose? I have with good luck transcoded AVCHD footage to single/dual track projects using the Sony MXF, and on my i7 920 with 12 GB and win7 / Vegas 64 it has been ok, but is that the best when it comes to performance, og should I go with Cineform? So far I have only worked with dual streams in multicam and that was SD DV 'only'.

Thanks a lot again, guys :) Can't wait to get started :)

/Ulf

I only deal with your 1) . . . Changing clothes for each venue is a GREAT idea - if it is part of the narrative: "I can't Change . . only my clothes . . I can't change my love . . only my clothes . . I can't change the way I feel about you . . only my clothes" . . Plus there is the humorous imperative that would have her eventually getting all confused as she puts together different clothes from previous shots ALL mixed up together: "I can't change myself . . only my clothes . .and now I'm all mixed up!" - That kinda thing?

Put there is another/further option in that changing her clothes - like a chameleon - would add a reference to how adaptable she can be . .

Look, the fact that this has come to the front and centre isn't an issue. It is HOW it is managed by you in terms of getting what is wanted FROM the video and from her (?) lyrics. This sounds like great fun and if you wish to email me "Off Planet", then you are more than welcome.

Grazie

. . and the other thing is that in changing clothes EVEN IF IT ISN'T narrative lead, it is all well and good . . After all this IS an expressive art form (are there any other types of art form? - Twit!) so having an actor wanting to change clothes . . go 4 it! - And if it is appropriate then maybe a director's 5 second cut, at the end, of laughter about the changing and the idiotic combinations could be a neat finale/epilogue - yeah?

Grazie

Thanks for your input, Grazie - like the idea about directors cut, will be fun :)

/Ulf

"2. If I'm going to use multicam I would need to transcode my AVCHD to something else to get best performance, that's obvious to me, but which format to choose? I have with good luck transcoded AVCHD footage to single/dual track projects using the Sony MXF, and on my i7 920 with 12 GB and win7 / Vegas 64 it has been ok, but is that the best when it comes to performance, og should I go with Cineform? So far I have only worked with dual streams in multicam and that was SD DV 'only'."

As the piece is only a few minutes long unlike the hours long concerts I do I would not obsess too much over the "multicam" aspect of it.
Layout all your takes from all your locations, each on a its own track with Show All Thumbnails and hack out the bits you don't want to reveal the bits you do. Timing of your cuts is going to be important so take the time to contemplate them by RAM previewing them.

If things do get really sticky you could consider creating SD DV proxies.

Bob.

Thanks Bob - I'll try that when time comes :)

/Ulf

Use a good quality audio reference of the song and play it "live" at all locations so the camera mics can pick it up reasonably well.

Then, sync all the takes to the locked audio reference on the timeline using Pluraleyes.

Copy all your tracks and put them lower on the timeline before creating the multicam track. That way anything and everything is there if you need it.

Your task from that point on will be sooooo much easier, esp. if you want to maintain sync throughout, but still be able to grab video clips out of sequence to use as cutaways.

When you create your multicam track, don't enable multicam audio, but solo your reference audio, which will eventually be replaced with your final studio mix.

Basic advice I know, but planning this out in advance will make your editing go smooth as butter.

Ulf,
two alternate techniques to consider:

1 - change of clothes at each location for subsequent takes... you'll increase the options in post exponentially ... many more alternatives for each shot location ... so, if she wants to change clothes, let her change for each take as well...
2 - for the shots in her own language - try it with just the stills of her home country without any dancers ... unless that portion of the song is too long to be without the dancers...
Alternatively, you could have the country shots appear as smaller PIP images that float across a solid color (or gradient) background...

Just a two pennies of opinion from the peanut gallery . . . (grin)

Good luck with the project and please keep us posted...

Until that time... Earl J.

Thanks a lot Earl J. - good points from you too :)

/Ulf

Hi again guys

I have another question since it is my first musicvid.

I have allmost everything ready with music playing during the shoot etc. Obviously I will sync the CD track to the clips, so the actually shooting sound is not crucial.
Would you give the singer a mic. to hold while singing, or would you leave it out? I am planing of shooting takes where she is sitting and in other positions where it would not be ideal holding a mic.

Thanks.

/Ulf

That is purely an aesthetic choice. Assuming the vocals you want are on the CD, you do not want the singer (or the drums, etc.) picked up on the camera track. They will just mess up the sync.

Ideally, the singer would lip sync the track, but that does not always look good. So singing "under one's breath" so it will not be picked up is a common method. If a mic is used (as a prop), it should be turned off.

Thanks, musicvid.

/Ulf

didn't read everything, but in-case it wasn't said. Ultimate S has this ( Markers tab).

I use it all the time when I'm doing longer proejcts, enter in placement for lower 3rd with marker, put in my text, when I'm done with that pass of the editing, I pump that all out to a txt file via USPro, and spell check everything, and copy paste back into Vegas Text tool.

kills two birds with one stone, as I'm able to send off 3rds for approval on verbiage, etc..., and I can spell check it all.

Dave