First step, choosing the song. This is most important if this is your first Music Video. Putting your best foot forward and selecting what you feel is your best work. This will give you the greatest chances for wide market success and this is one of the most important and overlooked step of the production! Read More
Scheduling a date for your music video production.
Next, you’ll have to set the date that works with your schedule as well as your production team. The Global Filmz team works 7 days a week, so if we have a date that we are not currently scheduled to shoot than that date is available for your production. Once you have your production date set, it is time to have a meeting with your creative team / music video production company to go over concept, theme, lighting, color palette and production logistics.
Choosing your film crew for the video production.
Our video productions start with a 3-person crew (that’s our minimum) and that would be your film crew foundation consisting of: one DP (Director of Photography), one 1st AC (Assistant Camera Op) and one PA (Production Assistant). Due to the amount of heavy gear, we film with we have found this is the least amount of crew members we can have onset as a production team to accommodate lower budget projects (even for the smallest film productions). Anything less, would dramatically slow down production, in turn cost the client more money hourly and “burn-out” the crew members faster.
The 3-person crew is just a foundation, now you must figure out can you get the job done with the bare minimum or does your music video production require more film crew members. We employ over 30 crew members that are at the highest level of their craft from:
- Music Video Directors
- Assistant Directors
- Directors of Photography
- Production Coordinators
- 1st & 2nd Assistant Camera Ops
- Gaffers | Electric
- Art Directors | Set Designers
- Key Grips | Best Boy
- DITs
- Video Technicians | Audio Technicians
- Hair Stylist | MUAs | Wardrobe Stylists
- Production Assistants | Runners
- Dance Choreographers | Fight & Action Choreographers
Now, we just need to figure out what your production needs are and cater to them accordingly. Although our film crew can and will “wear many hats” and have been taught to work various roles/positions onset from grip, electric, lighting and audio. It’s always best to assign a specialist in that specific field to handle the job. If the production budget allows, consider adding a few more key players to the 3-person crew minimum such as a Gaffer that’s assigned to lighting, a Key Grip assigned to riggings for camera and lighting setups and a Director to oversee the overall production. This will not only move the production along faster & smoother (which in-turn saves the client money) but will enhance the overall quality of the finished product.
Do I need a Director for a music video production?
Although, our Director of Photography can play the role as a Director onset for smaller projects it’s always helps to have a Director involved in the process. Our DPs do not develop the treatment plans in the pre-production stages of our projects. Although, they will assist the Director with the shot list, lighting color palettes and composition portion of the treatment plan. If you have a medium to large scale production with various moving parts a Director is key to have involved in the production, to develop a solid treatment plan, lead the artist and production team through the pre-production, onsite production and post production stages of the music video production. For example: You can’t play American football without a Quarterback, the Director is the production’s Quarterback.
Do I need a treatment Plan for a music video?
The short answer to this question is: Yes, its always good to be prepared! At the same time, if you have a smaller production that you are planning on producing with not a lot of moving parts such as just a few performance scenes with some b-roll then it’s not absolutely necessary. Although, either way our film crew will always come prepared to shoot with their own shot-list to make sure there is a guideline to the shots that need to be captured.
What is a video production Treatment Plan?
A treatment is made up of a few elements such as a Storyboard, shot list, synopsis, and a schedule. A treatment plan is your production’s guideline, blueprint, framework to your upcoming production.
The Synopsis
The synopsis allows for everyone to be on the same page as far as the story concept and vision for the project.
Scheduling
Scheduling is one of the most important parts of a treatment plan. The schedule/call sheet provides the call-times, which determines who needs to meet, where they need to meet, and when they need to meet. This is important for the camera dept, G&E, on-camera talent, stylist, make-up, choreographers, dancers, set design, wardrobe, prop-masters, art directors, etc to all have this information prior to the production to get everyone to the right place at the right time!
The Shot list
The shot list is made up of various sequences of compositions (framing), from wide-shots to establish the surroundings of a person/place or thing in a story, to medium shots and ultra-close-up shots. The shot-list also allows the team to establish the mood of the scene from lighting and color palettes. A shot list can be made up of technical text information from framing, camera settings, camera rigs and shot fluidity as well as imagery to give the team a visual reference of the looks/shots we are going for.
Now that the Treatment Plan is complete, you can utilize the plan to finally begin shooting!
The Director will be the most important part of this. They are essentially, the manager of this shoot. They “shoot to edit,” which makes sure that the shots are achieved for editing and oversee the flow of the production. Continuity plays a huge part is this process and its very important that the Director makes sure there are no continuity-errors with the storyboard portion of the production. To prevent this from happening (if there is not a Script Supervisor onset), we normally setup the director with a large wireless video monitoring unit in a area that the director can focus on every composition being shot and request a playback if there is every a shot in question.
Post-Production.
After you’ve filmed all the scenes, you can begin the editing process. This is all the final necessary edits and touches that go into the video before it is ready for distribution. The editing process can be extremely intricate, which is why there are Video Editors whose primary function is to know how to use editing software and align that knowledge with their creative mind-set, while staying true to the initial vision of the production.
Making a music video is a challenging, but yet exciting and when it’s all said and done it’s a very rewarding experience! We will see you onset! Look forward to working with you!
Steps to Creating a Music Video Production in Missoula, Montana
At Think Global Media, we specialize in transforming music into visual stories. Missoula, Montana is one of our favorite places to do it—with its mix of rugged beauty, vibrant art culture, and creative energy. If you’re wondering how to create a music video in Missoula that captures your sound and makes an impact, we’re here to break it down step by step.
Whether you’re a solo artist, band, or label, our full-service team handles everything from concept to final edit. Here’s how we make it happen.
🧠 Step 1: Creative Discovery & Concept Development
It all starts with your music. We listen closely to your track—its message, energy, and emotional tone—then collaborate with you to build a strong creative direction.
During this phase, we:
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Analyze lyrics and genre to identify themes
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Brainstorm storylines, visual metaphors, and tone
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Choose between narrative, performance, or hybrid concepts
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Develop mood boards and references
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Draft a custom video treatment and shot list
We make sure the concept reflects your identity as an artist while connecting with your audience.
📍 Step 2: Location Scouting in Missoula
Missoula’s scenery is a director’s dream. From mountain trails and downtown murals to riverside parks and open meadows, it has a wide range of cinematic locations within minutes of each other.
Some of the locations we scout include:
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Clark Fork River & Riverfront Trail: Natural light and reflective water shots
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Downtown Missoula: Murals, alleys, and urban textures for bold visuals
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Mount Sentinel & “M” Trail: Panoramic views and mountain drama
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Rattlesnake Wilderness: Lush forests and quiet trails for earthy, acoustic vibes
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Old Sawmill District: Industrial-modern edge for stylized shoots
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Caras Park Pavilion: Open space for choreography and group scenes
We handle all the permits, scheduling, and logistics so you can focus on creativity.
📝 Step 3: Pre-Production Planning
Once we finalize the concept and locations, we lock in all the details for your shoot. Our production planning ensures everything runs smoothly and nothing is left to chance.
We organize:
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Production schedule and detailed call sheets
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Casting, if needed (dancers, actors, extras)
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Wardrobe styling and props
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Lighting design and equipment rentals
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Crew assignments and contingency planning
If you’re flying in from out of state, we also help with travel coordination and local accommodations.
🎥 Step 4: Music Video Production – Shoot Day
On the day of filming, we bring in our full crew, professional camera setups, drones, lighting kits, and creative direction. Our goal is to make the shoot efficient, fun, and visually outstanding.
During production, we:
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Direct performance and storytelling scenes
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Capture dynamic camera angles and cinematic shots
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Use drones for sweeping mountain or river footage
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Film B-roll for visual texture and narrative depth
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Adjust lighting and framing to enhance emotion
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Run multiple takes to ensure flexibility in post-production
We’re on set with you every step of the way, bringing energy, clarity, and creativity to each scene.
💻 Step 5: Post-Production & Editing
After filming, we head into post-production to shape your raw footage into a polished, engaging music video.
Our post-production services include:
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Syncing footage to audio tracks
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Professional editing and pacing to match song rhythm
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Color correction and cinematic grading
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Motion graphics or text overlays (if needed)
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Visual effects and stylized transitions
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Short-form edits for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts
We collaborate with you on revisions and make sure the final cut is ready for every platform.
📲 Step 6: Final Delivery & Launch Support
When your video is complete, we deliver it in all the formats you need for web, social, and streaming.
You receive:
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Full-length video in 4K and HD formats
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Vertical versions for social platforms
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Teaser cuts for promo rollouts
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Thumbnail graphics for YouTube
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Final assets optimized for Vevo, Apple Music, and more
We also offer strategy tips for launching your video, building hype, and driving traffic.
🎵 Music Genres We Work With
Missoula’s natural and urban backdrops allow us to create visually compelling videos for every music style:
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Indie & Folk – Soft, organic visuals in nature
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Hip-Hop & R&B – Street-style backdrops, urban flow, and energy
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Country & Americana – Golden light, wide open spaces, rustic storytelling
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Pop – Clean visuals, choreography, and stylized edits
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Rock & Alternative – Industrial edge, high-contrast visuals, fast pacing
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Singer-Songwriter – Intimate framing, minimalism, and emotional depth
🚀 Ready to Film Your Music Video in Missoula?
At Think Global Media, we don’t just create videos—we tell stories. If you’re looking to shoot your next music video in Missoula, Montana, we’ve got the team, the tools, and the local expertise to bring your vision to life.
Production offices in NYC, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Washington, DC, Salt Lake City and Virginia.
