At VivHaus, we’re all about storytelling—whether it’s for brands, businesses, or artists looking to visually express their music. Recently, we had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with De’An Keys of Unique Vibrationz on the music video for his song Hungry Tummy, and it was an experience that truly pushed our creativity. From planning to shooting to post-production, this project was a deep dive into the world of music video filmmaking, and we’re excited to share the journey with you.

The Vision: A Story of Hunger and Hustle

De’An Keys came to us with a concept that felt both personal and universal—the grind of an artist trying to make ends meet. The music video needed to reflect that struggle visually, showing a progression from raggedy clothes to a fresh outfit by the end. The lyrics spoke of hunger—both literal and metaphorical—and we knew we had to match that energy with compelling visuals.

A big part of our inspiration came from a retro aesthetic, aiming for a ’70s to early ’90s vibe, with a look that felt gritty but stylish. We took time to break down the song, line by line, brainstorming the best way to translate those words into powerful imagery.

Pre-Production: Laying the Groundwork

A strong video starts with strong planning, and we spent a lot of time in meetings with De’An, discussing what each scene should communicate. The challenge? Solidifying a plan while staying flexible. Ideas kept evolving, and some initial concepts were simply unrealistic. The key was refining them into something we could actually pull off while still staying true to the vision.

A major breakthrough happened when we went lyric by lyric, mapping out potential shots. This approach helped us all get on the same page creatively. Leading up to the shoot, we finalized a storyboard and locked in a location—a local Airbnb that fit the aesthetic perfectly (even though we almost lost it to another booking!).

On-Set Experience: Challenges and Highlights of Shooting a Music Video

Shoot days are always a mix of excitement and pressure. Everything you’ve planned either falls into place or completely shifts based on real-world conditions. The space was smaller than we initially anticipated, which meant playing with focal lengths and depth of field to maximize the visual appeal.

One challenge we encountered was time management. With multiple people on set, keeping things moving efficiently was tough. In the future, we’ll implement a stricter schedule for each scene to avoid unnecessary downtime. But despite the hurdles, the energy on set was electric, and the performances were spot on.

We relied heavily on key lights, spotlights, and tube lights to create the moody, stylized look we were going for. As always, we shot multiple takes with different camera techniques—handheld, gimbal, and locked-off shots—to ensure we had plenty of options in the edit.

Post-Production: The Magic of Editing a Music Video

Editing is where everything clicks. We started by laying down full takes of the song, syncing up a multi-cam sequence to make cutting easier. From there, it was all about layering in the B-roll—scenes like the bathroom shot, the ping-pong shot, and the sewing scene—to build the story.

One of the most satisfying parts of post-production was seeing how well the lighting and cinematography held up in the edit. Everything felt cohesive and visually engaging. For color grading, Ben took the lead and absolutely nailed the look we were aiming for. We experimented with different styles, but once we found the right grade, it brought everything together.

My personal favorite moment? The beginning of the video. It sets the tone so well and really pulls the viewer into the world of Hungry Tummy.

Lessons Learned: What We Took Away from Shooting a Music Video

Every project teaches us something new, and this one was no exception. The biggest takeaway? The importance of pre-visualization. If we had done a test shoot—even just on an iPhone—it might have helped us refine some ideas earlier in the process. That’s something we’ll incorporate into future projects.

But above all, this shoot reinforced why we love what we do. Collaborating with an artist like De’An Keys, who brings so much passion and vision to his work, is exactly what VivHaus is about—helping creatives share their stories in the most engaging way possible.

Work With VivHaus

If you’re an artist looking to enhance your visual branding, let’s talk! We’d love to bring your next music video to life. Check out Hungry Tummy on YouTube (link at the top) and reach out to us at www.vivhaus.com to start your next project.

Let’s create something unforgettable.