How To Make Great “Amateur” Videos

Posted on August 2nd, 2010 at 9:03 pm in Blog, Suggested, how to, technology by brody

If you have the budget for it, there is no more compelling medium than film. Use it. Pay for it. The combination of carefully crafted messages, with moving images, and enticing music is the most persuasive art form.

But even if you can’t hire a production crew and an editing team, you can still make great videos to communicate your message online. Be sure to read our first article on the role of “amateur” video production. Here’s how to shoot your video and get it online:

Step 1: Buy a great cheap video camera
A Flip video camera or an iPhone 4 is all you need. In each case, you really only need to hit one button for both “record” and “stop.”

Step 2: Plan what you are going to say
But don’t plan too hard. Remember, you’re shooting this, not an expensive film crew. Yes, you want to know where you’re going with it, but you also have the opportunity to screw up over and over. The point of planning things out is that you don’t want to spend much if any time editing your footage. Do it enough until you can get your message across all in one take!

Step 3: Frame you shot
A couple quick tips to make your video look better instantly:

• Don’t put your subject in the middle of the shot. Follow the rule of thirds.
• “Break the plane.” This means, don’t shoot from your eye level. Get your camera’s lens to an angle that might not be common.
• Add “interestingness” to your shots by shooting in a location where the background is more than just a blank wall. If there is a landmark that will be in the shot, don’t have your speaker right beside it. Instead, have the speaker near the camera, with the landmark, sign, or other item several yards behind you. This technique will also a) preserve your audio quality, and b) let you get more of the background item in the frame.

Step 4: Test your audio
If you can’t hear your speaker, your video will be nearly worthless. Shoot a 3-second test video and play it back. Make sure the speaker’s voice is clearly heard above the noise of your surroundings.

Step 5: Shoot it
Don’t move. Don’t zoom. Stand still. Anchor your shoulders to your body or lean against a steady object. Or use a tripod of some sort. If you do have to pan or turn, do so slowly. It should feel like your movements are awkwardly slow.

Step 6: Get the video onto your computer
On a Mac, open a program that is already on your computer called Image Capture. This will be able to take videos off of any device you have plugged into your machine. If you’re using a Flip Camera to shoot, don’t use the built-in Flip video software. Don’t even install it. Use the Image Capture program to download your video to anywhere you want to on your computer. If you have a PC, use a similar process (or just borrow someone’s Mac – it’s a LOT easier).

Step 7: “Trim” your video
Get rid of the awkward silence at the beginning and end of your best take. Use a program like iMovie to do this very simply.

Step 8: Add a title slide to the beginning and/or end of your video
This gives a very professional touch and can communicate essential information like the spellings of names, links of websites, and calls to action.

(Note: steps 7 & 8 are a little more advanced for this particular post. If you need help, most 15 year olds are better at those things than most adults. Ask them.)

Step 9: Upload your video to YouTube
Why YouTube? Because it can play anywhere, it keeps track of your play stats (views counts, where the video is being viewed, and other cool things), and has commenting features. When you upload your video, be sure to title it and tag is very well. Your title should be a clear description of what the video is. Your tags should be the items in your video, including speaker, topics discussed, location, and purpose of the video. Your description should be a summary of the message in the video.

Include all these details so your video can be easily found when someone is searching for it. Also, once your video is embedded on your website, your site’s SEO will improve based on the content in the Title, Tag, and Description fields in your video.

Step 10: Embed your video on your site
YouTube will provide you with the code needed to get the player to show on your site. Simply copy and paste that code to the proper place in your content management system and you’ll be ready to go!

If your website doesn’t have a content management system, or you’re not able to embed YouTube videos on your site, you’ll need to fix this. Contact us and we can help you sort out what that might mean for you and your organization.

Again, this process is NO substitute for real film production. However, if you want to get some video content on your website, this is the cheap and easy way to do it.

Here’s an example:

The Role of “Amateur” Video in the Corporate World

Posted on August 2nd, 2010 at 9:01 pm in Blog, how to, technology by brody

People are watching more video online than ever, and it’s a trend that will only continue to increase.

This is due to two main causes:

Cultural Condition #1: An improvement in technological infrastructure. Simply put, it is cheaper and easier than ever to have decently fast internet speeds and computers that can play videos.

Cultural Condition #2: The tools needed to create video content are cheaper and easier to use than ever. The barrier of entry is a $200 Flip camera, and sometimes a cell phone that you have already.

So what do these conditions mean to your organization?

If you’re not using video online, you’re missing a huge opportunity to communicate in a compelling way with your audience. One reason why you should take a serious look at this is because it can be very inexpensive or free to make a “legit” video.

What I’m describing is absolutely not a substitute for a carefully crafted filming process including pre-production (story boarding, scripting, shot selection), production (great talent and film crews), and post-production (artful editing, scoring, and finishing touches).

But there is a huge role for amateur video as you seek to communicate with your audience. Here are some tips on how to do cheap video production well.

If you would like training on some basic technological and artistic techniques that will help you get video content on your website, contact us. We also offer “real” cinematic short film production when you’re ready to step it up.

Our Latest Film Project: Steve Bailey for Baltimore County State’s Attorney

Posted on July 27th, 2010 at 2:48 pm in Blog, Suggested, client work by brody

This film will serve as keystone content for Steve Bailey’s campaign.

After working with Steve on his campaign’s message and delivery strategy, the goals for this film were simple. First, create a script that was both short and meaningful. The message gets to the core of who Steve is, why he is running, and what he will do if elected. Second, and maybe most importantly, create an aesthetic that positions Steve as an average guy who is trustworthy and has the skill set for the job.

Really, we wanted people to watch this video and feel comfortable voting for Steve for whatever position he would be running for.

Now, the fun part is going to be getting as many people to see it as possible.

Client Project: ANALYSYS Film on IT Outsourcing

Posted on July 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm in Blog, client work by brody

ANALYSYS, a full-service IT company in Baltimore and Washington D.C., commissioned Wordswell to create a film to achieve several goals.

The film was going to be presented to business owners attending a virtual trade show sponsored by SmartCEO Magazine. Those owners needed to know what ANALYSYS did, as it related to the purposes of the industry event. So, the film lauds the benefit of IT outsourcing.

But ANALYSYS knew that IT outsourcing can be seen as a bit of a commodity. To differentiate themselves, they hired Wordswell to use this film as an opportunity to tell a story bigger than just IT. In reality, ANALYSYS helps their clients achieve their mission. The case study in this film demonstrates it well. Because ANALYSYS handles the IT for the non-profit organization So Others Might Eat (SOME), SOME is able to complete their mission better.

Connecting IT outsourcing to feeding the less-fortunate was a challenge. But, by telling the story well and connecting the dots, Wordswell was able to position ANALYSYS as the brand they want to be.

Client Project: ANALYSYS Film on IT Outsourcing

Posted on July 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm in Blog, client work by brody

ANALYSYS, a full-service IT company in Baltimore and Washington D.C., commissioned Wordswell to create a film to achieve several goals.

The film was going to be presented to business owners attending a virtual trade show sponsored by SmartCEO Magazine. Those owners needed to know what ANALYSYS did, as it related to the purposes of the industry event. So, the film lauds the benefit of IT outsourcing.

But ANALYSYS knew that IT outsourcing can be seen as a bit of a commodity. To differentiate themselves, they hired Wordswell to use this film as an opportunity to tell a story bigger than just IT. In reality, ANALYSYS helps their clients achieve their mission. The case study in this film demonstrates it well. Because ANALYSYS handles the IT for the non-profit organization So Others Might Eat (SOME), SOME is able to complete their mission better.

Connecting IT outsourcing to feeding the less-fortunate was a challenge. But, by telling the story well and connecting the dots, Wordswell was able to position ANALYSYS as the brand they want to be.

The Idea: What Is Message Creation?

Posted on April 16th, 2009 at 10:00 am in Blog, brand development, ideas, must read, thought provoking by brody

Your BRAND

only matters if it has

INFLUENCE

only matters if it has a

VOICE

only matters if it adds

VALUE

only matters if it offers good

CONTENT

only matters if people can

FIND IT.

Message Creation isn’t just about getting you a website, logo, or brochure.

With Message Creation you bring into focus the value you offer your audience, establish your voice in a crowded world, earn the right to have influence, and deliver on the promise that is your brand.

Wordswell helps our clients do this. And we offer production leadership and creative consulting when it comes time to create your identity, website, email campaign, film, etc.

Need help?
brody

The Idea: A Bigger Sign

Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 7:31 am in Blog, ideas, story by brody

This Communiqué is written by Steve Smallman, Creative Director at 15four Integrated Media. 15four creates amazing films of all varieties. You can see their film portfolio here. 15four is a partner with Wordswell in creating great messages and distribution channels for our clients.

Our New Office Space
It’s funny that for weeks after we moved into our new office space, the sign of the previous tenant was still on the front of the building. It wasn’t really helping the cause, you might say.

We called a sign company to install our new 15four Integrated Media sign – and it looks great! The colorful character that installed our sign was also the owner of the sign company. I just had to talk to him.

“How’s your business holding up?” I asked.

“I hate to admit it ’cause I don’t wish bad times on anybody else, but we’re booming right now,” he replied. I was surprised. He continued, “We make signs. When businesses struggle, they need a bigger sign. So we’ve been building a lot of signs.”

Using Film as a Sign
A sign is anything that points to something else. The goal is to create ideas or images that point people to you.

Integrating short films on your website is a way of building a bigger sign. Companies are quickly realizing that their static web content must get a voice and a personality. Your message must be dynamic and engaging to be the biggest and best sign that it can be. This happens through film; film can be a sign that moves people to action. It’s available 24/7, on demand, and has world-wide distribution.

Convert your messages to short films. It’s cheaper than scattered marketing approaches. Integrated film content on your website gets you a bigger sign. We help you build it and hoist it up where everyone can see it.

Check out this example for the Ripken Foundation. You’ll see some familiar faces.

Let us help you hoist,
Steve

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