John Leonard

January 21, 2020

5 Tips to Maximise the Effectiveness of Your Next Video Production Project

5 Tips to maximise the effectiveness of your next video production project

Let’s face it when it comes to a video production project it generally is a large task involving many different facets and many different people so, if you’re going to do it, it’s always best to get the most out of the project.

It’s easy to concentrate on the desired end result, often in isolation e.g. you may need a customer testimonial video and you may decide it needs to be set couple of minutes in duration. But, one of the first things we advise, is to reconsider the project as a content generation exercise. What we mean by this is, as you have the opportunity to record talent (and in this case your client) there’s no better opportunity than to capture as much content as possible for a range of video productions!

Now depending on your marketing and communications strategy, this could include a number of different styles of production, for instance, a series of short soundbites for social media, a longer form video for a more captive audience and perhaps even breaking away from the actual testimonial content to record some topic or insight videos about a relevant subject.

Of course, all your content will be or should be, directed by the relevance to your audience and target market. By addressing their challenges, you increase the chances of better engagement for your video production.

You could even take things one step further and take the opportunity to video other projects that might be front of mind e.g. whilst you are set up, how easy would it be to jump in front of the camera when you’re finished with your client, to record a series of selfie style videos about a relevant topic. You would have to think about changing the composition i.e. the background for the framing but that could be as easy as turning the camera around to face a different coloured wall or scene!

You might also want to consider repurposing your video production it’s easy these days to get the audio transcribed and a transcription could break the ice for a blog or two! Perhaps you could even use the video production audio to create a podcast?

So, before you embark on your next video production project think outside the box and treat it as a video content creation exercise. You could come away with enough content to populate your social media channels for the next couple of months! Here’s a reminder:

Capture shorter video soundbites for social media
Video topical content for a different video production
Turn the camera on yourself to produce some selfie video content
Transcribe the audio to create a blog
Produce a podcast with the audio.

Preparation is key to the success of any video production and to help you get started please feel free request our draft video production schedule which will help you prepare both yourself and your team!

John Leonard

September 10, 2019

Video production with your iphone

Video Production with iPhone

It is possible to produce a high-quality corporate video using an iPhone and it’s just a matter of how you go about it that makes the key difference.

One of our clients has just done exactly that, using our new Uvideo production model! We gave training specifically tailored to using the iPhone to capture high-quality video. The company were able to produce a two minute highlight video explaining the company offerings – check it out below !

Here are four key things that you must consider before videoing high quality content on your iPhone or smart phone for that matter !

LIGHTING

We think lighting is perhaps the single most important factor to consider and get right when videoing content with your smart phone The phone’s camera and computer is hungry for light! Frankly the more you can light your subject the better the video quality will be. You will quickly see that failure to light properly will result in a grainy and texture on the video which in the video production world is called ‘noise’. You won’t be able to get rid of this in the editing process . The first place to start is to utilize as much natural light as possible. Are you videoing outside or in an office? If outside, consider shade and the changing light conditions (clouds) over time. If in the office is there a large window nearby that lets in a good amount of daylight ? Next consider using artificial light for instance LEDs to assist you. Try and use a simple three point lighting system this means firstly there should be a key light [the main light] and this could easily be a large window letting sunlight through . Secondly there should be a back light. Place this behind your subject just out of the way so that it is not in frame (not visible). Back lights really help distinguish the subject from the background . And lastly a fill light which does exactly that – it fills in the other side of the subject’s face where shadows can fall .

COMPOSITION

Spend time setting up your competition i.e. the look and feel that you are wanting to convey .
In our client’s video example in this blog they have opted for a warm friendly composition with a few props in the background (shelving and a bookcase] they have also opted for each person to be seated in a more comfortable posture and they alternate between left and right positioning of the talent. When we produce corporate videos we often spend many hours setting up prior to the shoot to get that look and feel right . In fact it starts in the studio where we storyboard and come up with ideas for the visual representation the client is seeking to portray. A great way to do this is to simply ‘Google’ and look at examples of other videos that you like. Of course if you have appointed a video production company to undertake the shoot then put the task to them and they will come up with examples and advise on the best look and feel for your intended audience.

STABILITY

Keeping the iPhone stable whilst videoing is critical we recommend using a tripod with an adapter specifically designed to hold the iPhone in place.
When you’re shooting B roll after the interview [overlay footage to help with the storytelling] allow yourself to get more creative and when you have videoed the shots that you require try some handheld movements but remember keep them slow !

SOUND

The onboard microphones on an iPhone are simply not good enough in our opinion to record sound of the quality necessary to portray your company . They may be acceptable for selfie style videos but when it comes to producing a corporate video we strongly recommend purchasing a separate sound recording device which will have a dedicated lapel microphone which needs to be placed near to the voice box of the talent. If you don’t have the budget for this then consider purchasing a lapel microphone which can be plugged into the iPhone but don’t forget you will need an extension cord and you will certainly require a adapter depending on the smart phone of your choice!

Last tip! don’t forget before the shoot to fully charge your iPhone and make sure there is enough memory space for your purposes otherwise you’ll find the shoot being interrupted which is frustrating from the talents point of you and the last thing you want to do is frustrate your talent !

John Leonard is managing director of Spotlight Productions and Uvideo – the new way to produce regular, high quality, branded video for marketing your business.

John Leonard

July 27, 2019

The Importance of Video Editing

Video editing is an extremely important part of the video production process. In Hollywood, Directors and Producers actually hand over the rushes (as they are called! – the video footage), together with the storyboard and script to an editor and give them time to edit a first cut – in isolation! This is a good approach as often the Director and Producers can become too involved in the video production process and restrict the creativity that is required to produce an epic blockbuster! With corporate video production, the method is a little simpler as the video content is often much shorter in duration.

A Wholistic Process

Any videographer worth their salt knows that editing actually starts from the concept stage. Editing at this stage, is really about structuring the story. e.g., it could be a simple video case study where immediately you know what you would like your client to say – perhaps it’s how good you were at providing that product or service, but then, if you think about it further, the video will need to be structured in a way that the introduction perhaps, would give some context to the product or service. Then how the client went about finding you and procuring that product or service. Then the solution and then perhaps to conclude with the outcomes and the difference it’s made to their business. So that is structuring and editing in your mind. It is then time to put pen to paper and you should start to develop a storyboard which will help guide the videographer or video production team.

When filming has been undertaken, editing in the studio (on a computer) plays a significant part in how we structure the story and make it engaging to the audience. We look at the storyboard and consult with clients’ and structure the story first, putting together the narrative (the spoken word), especially when it comes to video customer testimonials.

It’s important to get this stage right and approved in principle, because when you start the next stage of editing, which I call ‘beautification’, that can get quite time intensive and it’s important not to waste that time and budget on areas of the video production process that might change. Beautification may include adding B Roll Footage, which is the supplementary footage one takes to help tell the story e.g. you have a software product and when the client is talking about it, you could cut to screen recordings of that software in operation. Beautification also includes all graphical components to the video, the introductory title, the logo transition, chapter headings, name titles and a Call To Action at the end of the video.

The last stage of the video editing process is what I call the finishing processes of video production. So when all is approved, we will look very closely at colour and sound and make the necessary alterations to enhance and improve the video.

The final process is the rendering. When the file is compressed into a format that is required by the client. For instance, an mp4 file extension and a 1920x 1080 resolution, which is High Definition.

So, video editing is a big topic and editing starts from the concept stage, the more you can translate and communicate your thoughts through the use of storyboards , the easier it will be for a videographer to edit and produce something that not only meets but exceeds your expectations. Editing is a skill. It’s a professional skill. Good video editors in the corporate video production world, will have a good grasp of business and the outcomes that you want to achieve. They should also be highly creative and be able to suggest ideas for the video editing process, which will make your video engaging. They will also adhere to your brand guidelines and make sure that your video is on brand.

A Parting Thought

When I first started my video production Melbourne business 10 years ago, when I first accessed software like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere, it blew my mind. It was like entering an aircraft cockpit. I didn’t know where to start, but bit by bit and with training and education and experience, we now have a very good handle of the tools that this incredibly powerful software provides us to help tell our customers’ stories.
One last parting thought – editing is not necessary in some social media style videos as it can reduce the authenticity of a video and the rawness of a message!

John Leonard is Managing Director of Melbourne based Video Production Company Spotlight Productions and Uvideo.

John Leonard

B-roll and its importance in Video storytelling

The topic for this video production blog post is B-roll and its importance. B-roll is overlay footage that we put over the main narrative that does two things. Firstly, it will improve your customer or your user experience, the people watching the video.

For instance, if your content is about traffic conditions in Melbourne and we cut to some interesting video footage of traffic conditions in Melbourne, then the viewer is going to get a much richer experience. But also, B-roll does help disguise mistakes perhaps in the video production process. We can cut and place in the B-roll footage removing any mistakes or shorten the narrative where necessary.

So to go about collecting B-roll, it should hopefully become a habit perhaps in your workplace, because obviously with iPhones, sorry, smartphones, it is possible to record decent footage, and especially B-roll. The first thing we advise is always to prepare well in advance.

Perhaps, when you’re feeling creative over some Christmas turkey or in the evening when you’re trying to work it off, you can create a simple two column table and on one side write narrative as a title and on the other side desired content or B-roll, and then brainstorm.

I’ve thought of three examples that could give you a head start. If your narrative or your video topic is regarding the population growth of Australia, suitable B-roll might be a visual of numerous people walking past or going about their business. To capture this, you might well be sitting in a cafe and all you have to do is get your phone out, make sure it’s still and get some footage of people passing by. It is then up to the video production process, and ultimately the final product to tell that story.

Secondly, if your video is about wealth management for instance, or providing for the future, perhaps a wide shot of people and children playing in a local park is a good idea of some B-roll.

Or thirdly, if your video or narrative is regarding complexity, maybe some B-roll visuals of infrastructure like a freeway for instance, traffic passing by or maybe a complex construction project in the city.

We’ve created a simple template which we will drop in your Uvideo B-roll folder structure to help you get a headstart. Now, when you have prepared and you actually go out and start shooting B-roll, here are three technical tips to assist you.

Firstly, always aim to get a minimum of 10 seconds in duration. This gives us the flexibility to edit slightly as to what parts we will need. A longer duration is desirable, but 10 seconds as a minimum.

Next, if you’re using a smartphone, have a look at the camera settings. I know my iPhone Plus 7 has a slow motion function and that really does give me a little bit more creative control, particularly when I want to film or record a fast moving action.

Here’s an example of some footage I shot whilst on holiday in Italy. I was actually in a car going past a wind farm. The beauty here is that I only had to shoot for about two seconds and it would actually provide me with about 10 seconds duration of slow motion footage.

Finally, the time-lapse function. Most smartphones have a time-lapse function. I know the iPhone Plus does. The time-lapse function is very useful for filming, recording action that happens over an extended period of time. Time-Lapse does take longer to film and you do have to keep the camera very steady.

For instance, I would imagine that about two minutes worth of footage would probably give you about 25 seconds of actual real-time filming. Here, in this example, I’ve filmed some footage of some trains crossing on the Flinders Street intersection, railway intersection. I actually filmed this whilst waiting for a meeting in one of the CBD high rise offices.

So as you can see, B-roll is very important to make our videos engaging. And with a bit of preparation and armed with the right tools, you can take inspiration and film it when you go about your business.

John Leonard

How to get your client’s consent to a video testimonial.

How to Get Your Client’s Consent to a Video Testimonial

It’s often quite a challenging thing asking somebody if they wouldn’t mind appearing on camera. So straight up, there are three, in summary, three key things you can do to help.

3 Key Things

Firstly, ask in the moment. Once you’ve finished that project, that great result for your client, now is the time to ask. They’re much more likely to say yes. Secondly, prepare for their concerns. Listed below are actually nine concerns that we’ve come up with which they might have. If you can prepare and be ready to respond positively to those questions, then you’re more likely to get their consent. Finally, the most important one is to produce a video production schedule. Yes, I know this sounds like a thesis, but it’s really not. Please contact us if you would like a copy of our template!

A production schedule contains all the information, and you will produce this after you’ve had your conversation with the client. It includes information about the key contacts, the date, the times of the shoot, the instructions on what to wear and even the questions and the desired responses, i.e., the content, and it’s circulated amongst the team. This document normally helps our clients, especially in larger organisations, get the consent they need from their marketing and communications team.

The Detail

So that’s the summary. Now I will talk through the nine things. Yes. Sorry, nine! I know it’s going to be quiet long, but pretty important. Straight away then. Number one, prepare the questions and the desired responses in a document. That will assist them. We’ve discussed that. Don’t script it. The client will want the flexibility, and it will make for a much more genuine video if they do produce their own responses.

Number two, remind them that it’s a good joint marketing initiative. It really is. And give them the opportunity to tell the audience about themselves or their company depending on the topic just to help with getting this consent.

Number three, let them know that their ‘on set’ time will be reduced to an absolute minimum, even half an hour. You see, prepare by getting there in advance, setting up, choosing the room, etc. And then you can notify the client that you’re ready for them to come along, sit down and have the conversation, thereby minimising the disruption to their business.

Number four is ask them where and when is convenient? Don’t tell them that they should come to your studio or your office. Ask them, particularly, if it is preferential to go to their workspace, which it normally is. It adds context to the video and provides a better visual representation, especially when you’re gathering B roll, which is another thing you should ask them. So at their convenience, “What time would suit you and what date is convenient for you to shoot at your location?”

Okay. Number five, tell them that you will ask the questions. “Oh, so I don’t have to do one long take?” “No, not at all. It will be broken down into four or five questions, and I will ask them and prompt you.” That normally helps relax them. No one take wonders expected here!

Number six, state that you will comply with their brand guidelines. Normally, the marketing or the brand team have reservations about that. That might mean type of compositions, or even getting their logo placed appropriately in the video or using the correct font and brand colours.

Number seven, what to wear. Yes, that’s a key question. What do I wear? Tell them informal, casual or perhaps their work clothes. Make them feel comfortable.

Now if they still need convincing, there are two more tips to round off. Number eight, offer them the chance to review. “It’s okay. You can review the final publication, the final draught before it goes live.” That will often satisfy their communications or their internal communications team.

And lastly, number nine, tell them “Actually your screen time will be kept to a minimum. Because we’ll be incorporating other footage, B Roll, you’re actually going to appear for about 50% of the time. No big deal, eh?”

So all these things help get your client to agree to produce a video testimonial, which we all know are very powerful video production types for marketing and comms.