How to Make a Music Video with Ikan and ECG Productions

The Freshest Facade
Anything goes these days with music videos, but you need the right lights, rigging and gear. Check out the video production equipment we recommend for music videos!

Many people wonder how music videos are made.  If you haven’t already, check out my post 5 Things I Learned Producing Music Videos to see specific examples of music video production in action.  After watching the Behind The Scenes Music Video many of you have asked more about the specifics of that shoot.  (I’ve included that video at the bottom of this post as well.) So, by demand, here’s the follow up!

On our recent shoot for The Bodega Brovas music video “The Freshest Facade” featuring Astronautalis, we were up against the biggest enemy of video production: time.  We had five locations in which we had to shoot four artists, who had flown into Atlanta from all over the country.  And their return flights were booked, so if we didn’t get everything we needed, that was it. No second chances!  Luckily, we had a great schedule, a great crew and some great gear provided by ikan.

music video director atlanta ga jason sirotin
Director Jason Sirotin makes sure the shoot keeps moving.

We used a number of awesome ikan products on the shoot, including the IDMX1500 LED Studio Light, IFB1024 LED Studio Light and the D7w LCD Monitor.  We were running all over town for this Atlanta, GA shoot and the effectiveness of these tools allowed us to shoot a great music video in a short amount of time.  Watch the video to hear Director of Photography Brandon Peterson of ECG Productions explain how we used all the ikan gear during the shoot!

Making The Freshest Facade with ikan Video Equipment & ECG Productions

Here’s some of the equipment we used on the shoot:

IDMX1500 LED Studio Light

This light is usually the first thing we put up on any set.  Its versatility in regards to color temperature, shape, and brightness make this an invaluable addition to our gear.

ikan idmx1500 led light on set music video production atlanta

D7w LCD Monitor

Our go-to monitor of choice, the D7w is the perfect balance of size and clarity.  Unlike some other field monitors, this thing feels sturdy and we don’t have to worry about the sunhood falling off since it uses screws rather than velcro.

ikan d7w lcd screen field monitor video production atlanta

IFB1024 LED Studio Light

At ECG, we use these lights for just about everything.  They’re great to use as backlight or just to add flair to any scene, and the fact that they can run off battery make their setup time faster than everything else we have.

ikan ifb1024 led studio light video production atlanta

Red Epic Tilta Rig

Though we didn’t feature it in the video, we couldn’t have done this video without this rig for our camera.  It’s solid, but not overly bulky.  It allowed us to get some good shots from the backseat of a car, which was cramped enough, even without all the gear.  If you’re in the market for a new rig, the Tilta series is a great place to start your search.  Check out our recent post, Building The ikan Red Epic Tilta Rig, to learn more about this great piece of equipment.

ikan red epic tilta rig music video production atlanta

Producing a music video is hard work.  You never know what might derail the production process, and having gear you know you can rely on is one more thing that won’t weigh on your mind.  Thankfully, everything worked out and the “The Freshest Facade” video shoot went off without any (significant) hitches.  All the little things that inevitably come up during production, our team was able to handle with the help of our wonderful Ikan gear.   Be sure to keep an eye out for “The Freshest Facade” music video, directed by Jason Sirotin of ECG Productions, coming soon from The Bodega Brova featuring Astronautalis.

Here’s the behind the scenes music video of the music video, shot and edited by David Wappel.  Spot the ikan gear and listen to “The Freshest Facade” by The Bodega Brovas featuring Astronautalis.

Behind The Scenes of The Freshest Facade

At ECG Productions, we’re always looking for new talent to work with on music videos. Whether you’ve got a concept in mind or you need us to help you develop one from scratch, we’d love to put our years of experience and skill with the moving image to work for you. Reach out to a member of our team today and get the conversation started!

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