our thoughts
3 Keys to Finding the Perfect Song
Music is an important component of every video production; conveying a subconscious message from client to audience on a level that can’t be said with all the other parts of a video. Music tells the audience what to feel, if anything at all. Some of my favorite moments in film are based on the music cues, from the use of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in Tarsem’s ‘The Fall’, to the church fight scene in ‘Kingsman’ set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Free Bird’. There are 3 keys to finding the perfect song, and it all depends on the purpose, audience, and client.
Purpose
Knowing the purpose of the video you are working on will make countless selections and decisions much easier than working in the dark. Picking music for a wedding film is a completely different beast than a corporate identity film. If the purpose of your film is to convey the strong emotions of family, love, and fun, you already have a starting point to your search. Is it supposed to be informative or emotional, are you supposed to be absorbing all of the words, or feeling the weight of the final one? The purpose of your video starts the process of finding the perfect song by starting with a broad selection of factors to consider.
Audience
The audience of your video is also indicative of what music to layer in your timeline. The CEO of a event planning service is going to be looking for something completely different than a mother watching a birthday video. Staying close to your audience’s tone and emotional level will make the video personable and unique to the audience. It sometimes helps to visualize your project as the audience, asking whether this particular song is supposed to evoke certain emotions. Are you supposed to be pushing back tears or learning how to use wordpress? The music will inform these feelings with the most direct method.
Client
And finally, the most important thing to keep in mind while picking music is the client. The purpose of the video might evolve, and the audience may fluctuate in size, but the client will always be the core of your music selections. The best thing an editor can do to pick the best music is to know the client inside and out. Personality, preferences, past work, particularities (I’ll stop now), are all ingredients to the perfect song.
arcpoint studios is a commercial film production company
based in dallas-fort worth offering branded storytelling and content creation
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What really happens in Post-Production
Post-Production, an all encompassing word. Every project is different and depending on the needs or editor, will require a different process or workflow. We’re checking in with our Post-Production Manager, Abby, to find out what really happens in Post.
What are some of the “Main” Categories in Post?
“Post encompasses A LOT. It is essentially the final step in the creative production process. There’s Pre-Pro (pre-production), Production, then Post (post-production). The most common categories, without diving too deep, are Storage, Editing, Conforming, Color Grading, Finishing, Mastering, Creating Deliverables, Sound Editing, Music, and Archiving.”
What are the steps or processes you take when ingesting new footage or working on a new project?
“The very first step of any project is always organization. Its a very simple process that saves so much time and energy in the later stages of post. Ingestion and reviewing all footage can sometimes be overwhelming, but making sure you have everything you need before cutting is the best way to avoid any problems in the later stages of your edit. You always want to check in with the producer or lead shooter of a project to make sure you as the editor are on the same page.”
What is your favorite aspect of Post?
“Post covers so many processes that my favorite part is something new or that I don’t work on in the regular day. I’m mildly obsessed with being versed in all things post production, so I’m always down to learn something new. Whether its a new program, filter, or workflow, I’m always looking for new ways to make Post a fun and precise process.”
What advice do you have for people interested in learning more about Post? What kind of resources have helped you?
“I would say not to underestimate yourself, or your capabilities. A lot of people my age are so interested in what I do, but they think it's completely out of their reach. There are so many resources and teachers out there, and not all of them can be found on a college campus. I tried college and quickly realized it didn't aide in my desire to learn post-production, so I went the route of YouTube and on the job training. I almost have to treat my brain like a sponge and take whatever lesson I can from everything I see and hear. I watch movies differently than I did in high school, and I listen to music differently. I may be an extreme case, but my main point is don't think it's outside of your skill set to get involved in post-production.”
