What Frame-Rate is used in the making of music videos?

Question

I've noticed that the cameras used to shoot music videos are more smooth than say, a camcorder. I'm thinking about shooting a music video of my own and I was wondering, how would I be able to film with that same smoothness? Is there a way for me to do it with my cannon ZR-100? What frame rate is used in the making of music videos?

Answer 1

Frame rate probably has little to do with the "smoothness".

If the director/producer/artist wants a video look, and are outside a studio, and on a low budget, then camcorders like the Panasonic DVX100B, HVX200, Sony HVRV1U, HVR-Z1U, Canon XHA1 and XHG1 might be used. These will shoot at 30fps. For a "cinematic" look, most of these camcorders will also shoot at 24p.

Under certain conditions when the shoot is done in a studio, huge dolly-mounted cameras - not camcorders - similar to those you might see in the background during the evening news.

Of course, in a studio, using camcorders is possible too.

In any case, probably 99.9% of the time, the camera is on a tripod or some other device to provide a stable environment. They are rarely (mostly, um... never) handheld. They typically use fluid head tripods. And they have very strict control over the lighting environment. And they rarely zoom or pan.

Occasionally, a film camera might be used - (like those from  CineAlta or Arris), but that's not too often.

It also takes a lot of experience, and generally a pretty big crew of folks - grips, gaffers, wardrobe, makeup, hair style, electrical/lighting... most of the same types of folks that it takes to make a decent movie... just because the music video is only about 3.5 minutes long does not mean the technical requirements are removed...

Shoot the scene. Shoot it again. And again. and again... And when you think you have it just right, shoot it a couple more times, just to make sure.

Then, once all the video is shot on the music is "in the can", the editing starts. This can be a tedious process... Watch a fun, upbeat, music video. There is typically a cut - on average - about every 2 seconds. Back that into a 3.5 minute (210 second) song.

Good luck!