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Production

This section is about LandscapeHD film productions. What music can be used, submitting music, rights clearances, submitting footage and creating broadcast LandscapeHD films.
  
Check back soon for further updates.   

The Producer Page

 
What is a LandscapeHD Producer ?
A LandscapeHD Producer is the name we have given to a film-maker that shoots and edits a music video for broadcast on LandscapeHD.
What do I need to do to become a LandscapeHD Producer?
  • 1. You will need to have a proven ability to shoot and edit sympathetically to classical or instrumental music. However if you are reading this it is more than likely you have been contacted by us after we have spotted your talent online.
  • 2. You will need your own HD camera and edit system able to edit the footage and output a good quality HD music video.
  • 3. You will need a good broadband connection to send and receive music/footage.
  • 4. You will have to have signed and returned our 'Producer' contract with all the relevant information filled in.
     
What do I get out of becoming a LandscapeHD Producer?
  • 1. You receive royalties from the download of your video. see HERE for info.
  • 2. You get an on-screen web address credit (watermark) that is embedded into the video that is broadcast. This has the potential to reach millions of viewers including industry professionals and will in turn lead them to your website.
  • 3. You get a mention in our LandscapeHD Hall of Fame and another link to your website from there too.
  • 4. You get a link to your website on your video's download page.
  • 5. Once you have created a music video and we are satisfied that you understand the principles and processes involved you are then free to make as many videos as you like. Creating what in effect will be promotional adverts of your film-making skills broadcast on a potentially worldwide scale.

 

 

Shooting
The key to creating footage that is going to 'cut the mustard' is down to 2 key elements. Firstly shoot long duration shots. We normally shoot clips that are 30 seconds plus (this can be reduced in the edit if need be). This is because the music we use is generally soft and slow and we try to emulate the feel of the music as much as possible. It is not unusual for us to use a 2 minute shot if the subject matter is compelling enough. Second Keep the camera steady. We don't use much handheld footage and anything shot on sticks or tracks must be smooth and consistent or it won't be usable.
 
 

 

The Subject Matter
The subject matter should correspond with what you think the music is about. If for instance the music is light and airy with a build up at the end then maybe a summers day catching the patterns created by the wind in a wheat field would work using a particularly windy shot at the end to correspond with musical build up. Alternatively for the same music it might work just as well to a shoot a macro clip of a flower on a window sill in the sun with a reveal at the end showing it's full beauty. The choice is up to you.

Historically we have tended to stick to one specific subject matter per video and created a story around it that we think compliments the music. When I say one subject matter I don't necessarily mean shoot one tree and stick with one tree, it can mean a whole forest a whole city or just one simple object.

It is best to avoid skipping from one subject matter to another as the subject should tell a story in much the same way as the music does.

The subject matter for the music video is again down to you but as a rule we stay away from things that cause anxiety - pain and suffering, death, morbidity, anger, etc are all things that are to be avoided:)



Editing
The key to creating a good LandscapeHD music video lies in a large part to the sensitivity of the editor and his/her ability to feel what the music is doing. With this in mind before you start shooting/editing listen to the track that you are concentrating on and get a feel for how the music flows. Once you have listened to it a few times start envisaging what subject matter would work and then in turn how that subject would flow with the music to create a simple story.

 

 

The Edit

You will find that a lot of the music that LandscapeHD owns the rights to is relaxing classical and instrumental pieces that the editor can breeze through. Traditionally for these pieces we would use 2 or 3 second cross fades (making sure that the fades match to the frame on each edit). However if the music has a sharp change in tempo or structure then another type of edit could be chosen accordingly.

 

The Flow

A great video will flow seamlessly with the music using visual aspects to build when the music builds and fall when the music falls.

A build in music would possibly correspond with a shot that is panning up or pulling out or it could be that the subject is expanding in some way like a timelapse shot of a flower opening quickly or an ariel shot going over a cliff etc...

A fall in the music would represent much the same but in reverse.



F.A.Q's

-We send one track at a time so we don't get mixed up as to who has what. If what you are doing is working well for us and what we are doing is working well for you then there is no reason why we can't keep going and do more:)

-There is no deadline. We'll stay in touch via email so you can let us know how you are getting on and if there are any problems. Obviously if we can't get in touch with you and we haven't heard anything from you for a long time we might have to use the music ourselves or reinstate it to another company/producer. This will only happen if we have been completely satisfied that we cannot contact you.

-We will inform you of your first broadcast but can't guarantee that you will be able to receive the broadcast for obvious reasons. If you keep visiting the LandscapeHD site you might find at some point that we are broadcasting on a channel local to you:)

 


The Technical Specs
Audio
The wav file that we supply you with is 16-bit Integer, Stereo, 44.100 kHz with a data rate usually around 1408.67 kbits/s. When you come to encode the clip it will need to be to be multiplexed Mpeg1/layer 2. The settings will need to be 16-bit Integer, Stereo, 48 kHz, and if you can set the data rate it will need to be 386 kbits/s.

Black
You will need to put a 1 second slug of black on at the beginning and at the end you will need to put at 1 second slug but you will also need to make sure the clip finishes on the sec with no spare frames. So if you track timecode reads 00:04:32;13 you will need to drag the slug out to 00:04:33;00 or add an extra part of slug to fit.

Start and End Fades
You will need to add a 2sec fade in on the audio aswell as a 2sec fade in on the video(not the slug) so that there is a smooth transition from black.

Watermarks
You don't need to add any watermarks your end as that will all be taken care of our end when we master encode your clip.

Frame Rate and Output
Always output your clip in the same frame rate as the source footage.

Output
The finished clip will need to be output as an uncompressed mov file.