The Vicious Brothers' tips for making a music video

The Vicious Brothers (Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz) are over here in the UK for the Halloween release of their new UFO horror flick Extraterrestrial. But before they dipped their toes into making full-length movies, Colin and Stuart were award-winning music video directors having worked with the likes of Protest The Hero on Divine Suicide and Papa Roach on I Almost Told You That I Loved You. Which is why we asked them to give us some advice on making killer music videos...

1. Don’t Make A Music Video For A Song That Sucks

Because if the song sucks who’s going to watch the video? No-one’s gonna watch the video on mute. On a side note, if you really need the money then shoot whatever pays the bills… Suck that label teat dry!

2. Less Is More

Don’t take yourself too seriously. You don’t necessarily need a high concept story. No-one cares about a pretentious plot, – something simple which is unique can be a lot more engaging. Remember that the music video is there to sell the song. Also, collaborating with the artist will make them more comfortable with your vision.

3. When In Doubt, Put A Hot Girl In The Video

Ideally in as little clothing as you can get away with, or none, because music videos are primarily seen online now so there are less censorship rules to worry about.

4. Look Good

Sex sells and not only for the actors in the video but for the band too. Make sure they look the money. Disguise a not-so-great-looking person with lens flares or put them in silhouette. Trust us, the record label will make editing a nightmare if you end up with a bunch of uglies in shot. One time we had to painstakingly digitally paint out a particular extra who was encroaching on the band.

5. Ignore Everything We Just Said

Sometimes the most interesting videos are the weirdest most off the wall concepts. Do your own thing. But no pop videos – keep it vicious!

Extraterrestrial is in UK cinemas now.

Luke Morton joined Metal Hammer as Online Editor in 2014, having previously worked as News Editor at popular (but now sadly defunct) alternative lifestyle magazine, Front. As well as helming the Metal Hammer website for the four years that followed, Luke also helped relaunch the Metal Hammer podcast in early 2018, producing, scripting and presenting the relaunched show during its early days. He also wrote regular features for the magazine, including a 2018 cover feature for his very favourite band in the world, Slipknot, discussing their turbulent 2008 album, All Hope Is Gone.

Latest in
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Mogwai
“The concept of cool and uncool is completely gone, which is good and bad… people are unashamedly listening to Rick Astley. You’ve got to draw a line somewhere!” Mogwai and the making of prog-curious album The Bad Fire
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
Latest in Features
Mogwai
“The concept of cool and uncool is completely gone, which is good and bad… people are unashamedly listening to Rick Astley. You’ve got to draw a line somewhere!” Mogwai and the making of prog-curious album The Bad Fire
The Mars Volta
“My totalitarian rule might not be cool, but at least we’ve made interesting records. At least we polarise people”: It took The Mars Volta three years and several arguments to make Noctourniquet
Ginger Wildheart headshot
"What happens next, you give everyone a hard-on and then go around the room with a bat like Al Capone?!” Ginger Wildheart's wild tales of Lemmy, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Cheap Trick and more
Crispian Mills and Bob Ezrin
“We spent seven months on David Gilmour’s boat and almost bankrupted ourselves. But Bob encouraged us to dream big”: How Bob Ezrin brought out the prog in Kula Shaker
Buckethead and Axl Rose onstage
Psychic tests! Pet wolves! Chicken coops! Guns N' Roses and the wild ride towards Chinese Democracy
Ne Obliviscaris
"Exul ended up being recorded at 10 different studios over two and a half years." Ne Obliviscaris and the heroic story of their fourth album