New Media Tech

I have believed for a long time, that we in the television production business have Techno-Lust.

We love gear, and when they come up with new tools and gadgets, it just gets our hearts a flutter. The problem is we get so reliant on gear, we miss the real tools of the trade. And they are tools you were born with..

Use Your Eyes
The need to create compelling Images, is what we are in this business for.
Always look for the “Money Shot”..The visual that will communicate your message for you, or your client.

A great shooter can still create the most stunning images, even if the gear is not top notch. And in the same way a run of the mill shooter will create mundane images, even with the latest & greatest gear.

You can learn to see in a new way, but you have to be patient , and slow down.. Get away for the minutia of your camera, and look at your scene as a painter, and as a painter, your tools are Light & Shadow.

Use Your Ears
One of the biggest mistakes that Directors and Shooters make is that they are absorbed with the Image, the Gear, the Time Constrains, and the forget to slow down and listen to the Talent, the Client, and the overall message that needs creating.

You Are a Storyteller
Every piece that you create has to tell a Story.
People relate to stories,, It is part of Human nature, and you need to hone you storytelling skills in new and interesting ways.

I don’t mean to minimize the obvious need for Equipment, but just because you mortgaged the House to buy the latest and greatest gear doesn’t make you a Professional.

You stay in this business, by creating stories, with compelling Images, and use the tools you were born with, before using the gear to capture them.

The 5 Myths of Corporate Videos
or “I WANT TO BE STEVEN SPIELBERG”

Corporate videos are here to stay. Every industry has myths surrounding it. The world of corporate video is no exception. Let’s go behind the curtain of Oz and dispel some fictional tales that will, ultimately, help you create the inspiring and authentic video your organization deserves.

MYTH #1:
WE CAN PRODUCE IT OURSELVES

You’ve seen them. I’ve seen them. Boring and poorly-produced videos have pervaded the corporate landscape for years. Why? Two main reasons: poor storytelling, and apathy or hubris on behalf of many in the Marketing Departments.

FACT:
You know your business, let a experienced Video Producer do theirs. The mini-documentary format powered by genuine and honest human interest stories produces amazing and compelling corporate videos anybody anywhere will enjoy watching… oh, yeah, and talking about.

MYTH #2:
WE DON’T NEED A SCRIPTWRITER.

don’t try this at home, folks. Saving a few dollars by having a “writer” (i.e. someone who does not write for the eye and ear) craft a television script is not worth the aggravation in the longrun.  Save now. Pay later.

FACT:
A seasoned scriptwriter can craft the most compelling story given all the demands of production (filming schedule, on-location logistics, unearthing the best story, budget constraints, corporate politics, etc). A writer who does not understand the production process can ultimately be a costly proposition.

MYTH #3:
OUR CEO NEEDS TO BE IN THE VIDEO.

nope. Of course, there are times when it will be necessary for executive management to appear on-camera, but not often.

FACT:
not every CEO can tell a great story and come across as “camera-friendly.” Your audience, in most cases, would rather see and hear stories from “the field:” their peers. Creating emotional connections with your audience is one of the biggest gaps to cross in producing a successful corporate video.

MYTH #4:
ALL INTERVIEWS LOOK 20 YEARS OLD.

For years, lifeless interviews were combined with uninspiring cinematography and became the lifeblood of corporate videos. It was easy, it was quick and it required little imagination.

FACT:
In most cases, you can capture an emotionally engaging interview with dramatic eyecatching cinematography in about the same amount of time it takes to set-up and film a stale and tired looking interview.

MYTH #5:
CORPORATE VIDEOS COST $1,000 A MINUTE.

Wrong. How long has this been going around? I’ve been hearing this for over 20 years and the dollar amount hasn’t changed a penny!

FACT:
every single corporate video is hand-crafted. From scratch. So is every video budget. It’s hand-crafted, too. no exceptions. Creating a corporate video that gets conversations started can be fun, exciting, and most importantly, lifechanging. Producing an engaging corporate video isn’t really all that difficult.What’s difficult is showing a video nobody cares about.

We all have people who have ideas that we grab onto and eventually become our own.  I want to thank filmmaker Thomas Clifford who writes what I have thought for so long…