{"id":124562,"date":"2019-12-17T07:00:29","date_gmt":"2019-12-17T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=124562"},"modified":"2019-12-16T13:32:40","modified_gmt":"2019-12-16T19:32:40","slug":"shooting-music-band-documentaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/shooting-music-band-documentaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Shooting Music and Band Documentary Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s dive into the ins-and-outs of the band documentary sub-genre and how to create something that looks \u2014 and sounds \u2014 awesome.<\/h2>\n

As far as documentary sub-genres go, perhaps my favorite one is the rock band genre. From The Band\u2019s famous farewell performance The Last Waltz<\/em><\/a> (directed by Martin Scorsese<\/a>) to the sub-genre lampoon This is Spinal Tap<\/em><\/a> (directed by Rob Reiner<\/a>) to a personal favorite of mine I Am Trying to Break Your Heart<\/a><\/em>, a film about Wilco (directed by photographer Sam Jones<\/a>), the tradition lives on and is closely tied with the art of filmmaking.<\/p>\n

If you shoot documentaries on your own, or even just have a camera, chances are you’ll come across an opportunity to shoot concert footage. And, if you hang around long enough, you might have the inclination (or will get a direct request) to shoot a documentary on one of your favorite bands.<\/p>\n

These projects can be some of the most fun and rewarding. But, as someone who has shot their fair share of band shows and interviews, I can say it’s quite tricky, requiring a great number of documentary filmmaking skills and approaches.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips and tricks to help you rock it when shooting music and band documentaries.<\/p>\n

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1. Find Your Story<\/h3>\n
\"Musician<\/a>

Before you begin shooting, decide the story you’re angling toward. (Image by kondr.konst<\/a>.)<\/p><\/div>\n

If you do your research and watch enough band documentaries, you\u2019ll quickly notice that many of them are pretty much the same. They\u2019re often centered on either a single show or a single tour. Many times, they\u2019re more akin to cin\u00e9ma v\u00e9rit\u00e9-inspired skate videos<\/a>, without much of a direction or purpose at all.<\/p>\n

However, the ones that are usually the most successful, making it to the bigger stages of distribution, all have a big hook. Whether that\u2019s a notable last performance, a rare reunion, or (sadly) a recent passing or in memoriam angle, it usually helps to have a greater narrative going on.<\/p>\n

Depending on the film plot, you\u2019ll need to decide what type of documentary footage you\u2019d like to shoot. We\u2019ll discuss several options below.<\/p>\n

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2. Sit-Down Interviews<\/h3>\n

While your first inclination might be to pick up a camera and run to the first show to start getting footage, I\u2019d recommend cooling your jets and organizing some sit-down interviews first. Yes, these might be harder to coordinate and require greater resources for cameras, lighting, and audio (if you\u2019d really like it to look professional), but it’ll also give you a good backbone to work with.<\/p>\n

If you can, shoot multiple interviews with all the key band members and those associated with them. This’ll assist you in your detective work, helping you understand them as characters in your story. It’ll also give you the narration for what you\u2019ll eventually need in any new concert footage (or reviewing old footage).<\/p>\n

Here are some good tips for shooting documentary interviews:<\/p>\n