Self-Shot Music Video

Self-shot music videos have never really been 'the thing' to do, especially for more popular artists, as they seem to prefer a more 'clean cut' looking video.

However, I have found some videos which have been filmed either by the artist(s) them self(ves), or just appears to be:


The first video which came to mind was 'One Way Or Another' by One Direction. They took a video camera around London and then to Africa to film a video for their Red Nose Day single. The boys took it in turns to film parts of the video themselves, and got members of their security to film clips of the whole group together; they even helped edit it themselves.
The group said the self-filmed music video also helped to get them closer to the fans, and makes it more personal to them as they did their own thing rather than acting in a music video directed by someone else.
The band filmed this video whilst they were on tour - some was filmed in London, some in New York, some in Japan, some in airports, and some was filmed in Africa where they were doing charity work.


At the start of the video, the boys film themselves talking about what the music video is being filmed for and why they decided to do it themselves...

 "This year, we decided to make a single to raise money for Comic Relief. Comic Relief are a British charity that do amazing work; helping people all over Africa and in the UK, living with really tough lives. So, instead of spending a load of money on a music video, we decided to make it ourselves while we're on tour, and give the money we saved to Comic Relief."

Throughout the video, the boys mimed their song whilst at different locations, each holding the camera when they mimed their solos.

Harry stood on the top of an open-top bus as it went round London, and sung his solos into the hand-held camera.

Zayn sung his solo in the airport.

Niall filmed himself singing his solo whilst standing through the roof of a car in New York.

Filming around the world links to the fact that the charity they're releasing the single for is in a country on the other side of the world - they see other countries other than theirs and they want to give something back. The places that are shown in the video (airports, London, New York, Japan) are all places which have been a huge part of the group's success and so they wanted to film something for them.


Harry then shows himself on stage and turns the camera round to show the rest of the group stood with their backs to the audience.

 The audience dance the same dance seen in several of the group's music videos, the boys mime along to the song, and Harry captures it all on camera.


At the end of the video,  the group are filming themselves in Africa, surrounded by children from an orphanage.

Niall films the rest of the group playing football with the children, taking selfies with them, and teaching each other their languages.

The fact that it is the group filming the music video and not external cameramen, means that the video is that little bit more personal and touching, especially as it was to raise money for charity. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to film my music video part self-shot; because it makes it more personal and meaningful.