How I Released Five Music Videos Filmed Around the World for Free!
How: I used an iPhone, borrowed a friend’s GoPro, accessed license-free stock footage from the internet, befriended professionals, and edited video content on iMovie.
According to the Pew Research Center, 85% of adults in the U.S. have a smartphone. Therefore, there’s a very good chance you can go out and shoot your own music video today, literally anywhere in the world! That’s right, with just an iPhone, I shot a music video with my friend in Southern Poland. I walked around cobblestone streets filled with ancient architecture, and filmed segments in gorgeous alpine meadows. When I returned home, I edited the content on iMovie, the free editing software found on Macbooks. I understand not everyone has a Macbook, but there’s a good chance you can either borrow a friend’s or rent one for a day. Also, you can create music videos simply by using free online content.
After a major album push, I had time in between tours, but no footage to edit. I did some research and discovered two sites where I could download stock footage for free! Granted, this takes time, typing in keywords and discovering that all the best 4K footage costs $$$, but there is still excellent footage out there for free! All you have to do is give appropriate credit in the comments below your video on YouTube.
The better quality recordings you have, the more successful your videos will be. Invest in professional quality production, mixing, and mastering! Furthermore, this will attract professionals who are interested in working with you. While I’ve paid for professional filming and editing, there were also times where I didn’t have a budget and/or wanted to hone my video production skills.
Below I highlight how I filmed, edited, and released music videos using stock footage, as well as video content from Bali, Poland, Wisconsin, and Hawaii.
• “Two Bucks” was filmed by Mike ‘Nomad Eng’ Naftali in Bali, Indonesia. While completely jet lagged, I discovered the beautiful Kahiyang coffee shop in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. After performing at Kahiyang, I befriended Nomad Eng and he offered to film and edit a music video from my Everywhere album. I chose “Two Bucks”, and we had a blast filming it at the coffee shop, in rice fields, and in the town of Ubud. You can check it out here: https://youtu.be/qeLNNbjxhvk.
Also, be sure to follow ‘Nomad Eng’ on the socials! His Instagram is @mike.eng.naftali
• “Cobblestone Streets” was filmed while on my Everywhere World Tour in Europe. My friend captured iPhone videos from downtown Kraków, as well as in Zakopane, with the beautiful Tatra Mountains as the backdrop. I also edited this for free using iMovie. We had a blast syncing my vocals with folks riding by on bikes and even horses in downtown Kraków! You can check out the official ‘Cobblestone Streets’ music video here: https://youtu.be/rsDoVLQYRO0.
• The “Midnight Train” video used royalty free clips from a few different online sources. My mentor Randy Gunter directed, filmed, and edited the video at The Gunter Agency. He had the idea to film the majority of the video at The Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin. The museum was kind enough to let us film in their railyard while their old historic trains were in action. Randy edited the video using Adobe Premiere, and added free stock footage from Archive.com and Videvo. We debuted the video at his place during a house concert in 3D! It was super cool wearing 3D glasses with all our friends. You can watch the ‘Midnight Train’ video here: https://youtu.be/TvRmJIvBj8M.
• The “Everywhere” music video used all stock footage from Videvo. Randy Gunter helped me put the final edits on the video in Adobe Premiere, after I edited it all on iMovie. Make sure to abide by all copyright laws! For example, I had to credit where I used the videos from, but not the videos themselves. This is called a Royalty-Free License. Definitely read through the credits under any free video you may use, as some fall under the Attribution License, which means you must credit the author every time you use the video clip. You can check out the “Everywhere” music video here: https://youtu.be/AHdT6BsIYZo.
• “Ocean Breeze” was a DIY music video I captured while I was on tour in Hawai'i. I just borrowed a GoPro from my friend at the time. I took it with me when I went snorkeling, while cruising the island, and asked friends at shows to capture live footage while I was performing. I edited it using iMovie for free. While iMovie can be frustrating at first, like most things, you just have to stay patient. I use YouTube videos to help with troubleshooting when I’m stuck. You can check out the “Ocean Breeze” video here: https://youtu.be/wwAkZkODbnA.
As you can see, anyone who has a smartphone and/or a GoPro with access to a MacBook, can record and release their own music videos for free. Once you’ve gained experience with your skills in your home country, you can do this anywhere in the world!
Thank you so much for checking out my blog. If you’d like to see my latest music video, “Tower Hill” filmed in Florianópolis, Brazil, being released on August 22nd, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIUI9ojibxdUUkb8wlMd4Aw.
Also, feel free to connect on social media. You can find me on Instagram @freesmilesproductions. For an inside look at my creative process, as well as one-on-one consulting, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeffreyjames. Happy filming and editing everyone!