Lights, Camera, Action: How I Made My Own Music Video

I’ve always loved music. My heart danced with joy when I sang and my spirits rose when I heard the melodic notes of my favourite songs. I’ve also always had a vision for filming. Scenes of imagined movies coloured my mind and creativity sparked from every new idea. Have you ever thought of making your own music video? Keep reading if you can relate to these passions and want to know how to build on your ideas. 

When I finished grade eight, I had two completely empty weeks before going on vacation. Fearing boredom, I frantically searched for movies to watch, books to read, and places to go. While I was thinking, a creative idea sparked and excitement and determination grew. Combining two passions, I decided to make my own music video. All I needed was a computer, an iPhone, and my imagination. 

I started by recording the song. While recording, I used a free sound editing app called SoundTrap, a microphone, and a pair of wired headphones. Songs can be recorded without a microphone, so don’t feel you must have one. I decided to sing “Far From Home” by Sam Tinnesz, an emotional song with meaningful lyrics.

Although it isn’t a well-known song, I was able to create something special by adding harmonies and vocal twists and finally, portraying its emotional intensity through a music video. 

After recording and polishing the song, I set aside a few hours to film in my backyard. Using a phone stand and an iPhone 14, I filmed myself. I choreographed a short dance for some parts of the video, and I would simply sing for others. I made sure to film from different angles and experimented with different backyard areas. My backyard isn’t big, so I had to use certain areas multiple times. Filming a music video alone can be done even if you don’t have a backyard. If nature best suits your favourite song, find a trail or park that isn’t very popular. Simply filming at home can also send a strong message. Your unique interpretation of a song is what matters.

The hardest and often overlooked part of the process was editing. I used Adobe Premiere Pro to edit, which can be complicated if you aren’t familiar with it. I took a few trial classes on Premiere Pro to get accustomed to the interface, but YouTube tutorials accomplish the same goal. Practice and knowledge are key to any software program. The more you use a program, the more efficiency you gain.

I imported the song I recorded into the program and aligned the media (what I filmed) with the song’s words. When I filmed in the backyard, I turned on my recorded version of the song and sang over it. In the final product, I would always remove the sound from the video and only keep the recording. Often, it would be frustrating to align the singing in the video to the song’s words.

During the editing process, I experienced a setback when I accidentally deleted the first minute of the video. Although disappointed and upset, I told myself it wasn’t the end of the world. I quickly remembered the effects I used and retraced my steps, remembering to hit “save” this time. The new version turned out to be better than the previous one! I incorporated effects and animations I hadn’t thought of before. Mistakes are part of the learning process. After this difficulty, I came back more resilient.

When I finished this video and watched it from beginning to end, a fire erupted inside me, fueling me with strength, purpose, and enthusiasm. I felt proud of myself for learning to record sounds and edit a video on a professional platform and making my creative vision come to life, especially during summer break. 

The final stage was to send the music video to various film festivals and competitions. This step isn’t necessary, as you may just wish to keep the video as a token of accomplishment. I decided to try sending it to a few film festivals to become familiar with the process for future projects. I made an account at FilmFreeway, the gateway to promoting your short films and projects. It is a website that combines thousands of film festivals and competitions around the world. It is easy to navigate and uses filters to personalize results. I searched specifically for music video contests and found that there were dozens! I applied to eight and was chosen as an official selection to the Central Ontario Youth Film Festival (COYSFF) in September. I drove to Barrie and saw my music video playing in Five Points Theatre before a panel of judges. Although my music video didn’t make it to the final rounds, the experience was eye-opening and life changing. I saw short films of high school students from many different categories all over Ontario. Those short films reflected the author’s thoughts, feelings, opinions, and personality. 

Lighting, acting, editing, screenplay, effects, and music are part of the filmmaker’s imaginative vision.

These elements are united in a beautiful work that teleports you to another world, where time and distance are not barriers but opportunities. I look forward to the future, where I will film more short films and hopefully fulfill my aspirations to become a filmmaker.

There is no one way to create. There is no one way to start. Something amazing can always be created from the resources you have. Even if you only have a room and a phone, magic can be made. Each filmmaker is different, and there are infinite ways to bring your vision to life. For now, ask yourself: Have you ever thought of making a music video?