When I watch SNL, often on DVR the next morning, I often skip the music videos. Mostly because they haven’t had Weird Al Yankovic on (besides when played by Andy Samberg). When this happens, please pinch me, as I won’t believe it finally happened.

When I was told I’d have to direct a music video for the midterm, I firstly considered all the ways I could get out of it. Maybe I could buy a UPS for the studio so I have all the cameras available? Unfortunately, I don’t have a spare $2000. Could they all be bad? Unlikely, I have extremely creative and talented classmates. Should I call up my friend and have him invite another friend (raccoon) to nest in the studio again? Tragically, illegal and unethical.

Staring face to face with reality, I decided where better to start than SNL, which almost every year breaks boundaries for what a multi-camera performance limited by camera position can be. At least according to the Television Academy.

Where to begin, though? I’ve never been a big creative type. I’ve always been the type to be the technical gear on others creativity. Using technology to build what creative people imagine for a project. Today, I’d have to be the creative.

And if I had a lot of money and/or connections there would be a really cool interview here with the director of an SNL music performance, and I’d come out enlightened, and there would be no case study, just me humble-bragging about this interview. Unfortunately, this isn’t my dream from the other night, this is reality, and I’m simply starting with my favorite musical performance–technically part of a monologue–of all SNL time.

Paul Simon As a Turkey

There is no camera movement at all—only different angles. Yet, it’s still enthralling. I can’t take my eyes off it. Why? Because it’s graphically interesting. Paul Simon in a Turkey Costume doesn’t need a lot of camera movements and light changes, the turkey costume makes it interesting. Anything more, and it loses attention of viewers by being way too much. The lesson learned: Make the graphics interesting, and the lack of better motion can be excused. Too crazy, and any motion is overwhelming. Let’s look at one with a little more camera movement, and a bit less graphical interest.

Ariana Grande – Love Me Harder

This is a bit closer to what I’ll have available to me. Side-note: how many cat shaped head-items are in a landfill after this era of Ariana Grande had headbands, overpriced headphones, and much more based on her style and brand. But there is a background here, simple non-distracting starry sky, some lighting that does distract a bit, and movement of two performers. By the second half when The Weeknd shows up, there’s a lot more camera following rather than other options. There is still a lot of zoom ins, not many zoom-outs interestingly enough. This is generally the step just above what I can do talent and dynamic lighting-wise. So, for one last try, let’s look at one I think is perfect for my skill-set, talent, and lighting available.

Kendrick Lamar – Poetic Justice

There’s a bit of dynamic lighting—very simple—and a bit of camera movement—very basic—that captures this scene well. Honestly though, it visually fails to keep my attention. It’s interesting for sure, but so safe and basic that it almost gives it the vibes of the monitor at a modern-day church with a rock band. It creates the bar, though, a standard that I can say “hey, this is the bare minimum I should be pushing out. Any lower and it’s of lower quality than St. Paul’s of Smalltown, USA. So, as they definitely say, fourth time is the charm?

Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball

This video hits all the beats that create a fairly basic while visually entertaining multi-cam music video. Upon the first watch I yelled (sorry neighbors) “now hit the wide shot,” and the sensible director likely calls for the obvious and enthralling amazing wide shot. There is a diverse array of shots that would make me consider not turning off the TV because the music, performers, and video are all in sync. No fancy sets, no lighting perfectly timed to the music, just pure direction talent. Which, minus the pure, talent, and maybe call me back on calling my skills “direction”, is what I aim to create. Time will only tell if I will be uploading it with more self-admiration than critique.