There are some instances where a production can be shot “live to tape.” Seminars, concerts, conferences, church services, and various events come to mind.

A multi-camera shoot typically consists of two to three cameras depending on the client’s need. Another ingredient in the mix is a video switcher operated by a technical director who effectively directs the shoot. He gives instructions to the camera operators, “Camera 2, pull out to a Wide Shot ….Camera 1…stand by, start your zoom…Ready 1, Camera 1 you are up.” As he directs the shoot and operates the video switcher, the signal from the switcher is being recorded live to tape. At the end of the event…your program has already been completed, very little editing should be required.

The benefits of this type of production are countless. Turnaround time is fast, a client can review the program at the end of the day, and their are safety measures (such as each camera recording its own tape as a back-up) that can be taken so that you can go to Plan B if a wrong camera is punched up in the middle of the show.

When planning a shoot, make sure the production company that you hire weighs all the appropriate options and picks the best mode of production that’s right for you.

What makes a video project successful? Well, think of a puzzle…all of those pieces are equally important. If one piece is missing, your puzzle hasn’t been completed. The same thing applies to a video project. If one piece isn’t performing, or attended to, the project as a whole can be affected.

Let’s look at ten pieces of the puzzle.

The Client
The Producer
The Budget
Creative Direction
The Script
Pre-Production
The Spokesperson
The Crew
Production
Post-Production

Each of these ten pieces interconnect with one another. Each of these pieces are ultimately responsible in their own right for the overall success of the project.

Now some projects may not have a spokesperson, but most corporate films will feature some employees or company leaders that will “drive” the message of the video. These individuals are just as important as a paid actor playing the part of a company spokesperson.

We can’t forget about pre-production either. All the planning, staging, and coordinating that goes into a project starts here. If a budget doesn’t accommodate the work that needs to happen in pre-production…two pieces of your puzzle are falling short.

Having the client and the producer on the same page, effectively working together and communicating needs adds a level of cohesiveness that is vital. These two pieces set the tone for a successful project. A video presentation done right should come together perfectly from beginning to end.

Sometimes some shoots don’t go like clockwork. Before we go any further with this…just try to say “Sometimes some shoots” about 5 times real quick. Bet you can’t do it! We’ll just wait right here while you try. Cue the Jeopardy music. Hmmm…told you it was tough, alright then…where were we? Ahhh yes, challenging shoots.

In a perfect world, the weather holds up for your outdoor shoot; your talent is on top of their game and knows all their lines: backwards, forwards, and even in Lithuanian; your equipment performs flawlessly; none of your crew members car’s malfunctioned on the way to the shoot, and your client has all their ducks in a row. Most of the time, this is the norm. This is how your company came by the reputation that it strived to achieve. But sometimes, not everything goes right…what happens then?

In cases like that it’s best to keep a calm demeanor. True, it’s not always easy…we’re only human after all! It’s important to be honest with your client and be straightforward about the challenges that can arise. If this is a client that you have worked with before in the past and developed a strong relationship with, chances are they’ll understand and be more forgiving than a client that you’re working with for the first time. However, working through challenges and thinking on your feet to find solutions will show that first-time client that you’re the right group for their project.

In the most challenging of instances where a shoot needs to be re-scheduled because of an oversight on your part, your most valuable asset is your integrity to the client. Showing a client that you’re willing to sacrifice short-term profit for their best interest, and the project’s best interest will go a long way in developing a long-term relationship.

Instructional videos often have a not-so-great connotation. Truth be told, there isn’t anything stopping an instructional video from being an interesting, dramatic mechanism that propels your company forward.

Yes, dramatic mechanism. And yes…we are referring to corporate videos.

There are a number of ingredients that go into making a video a great tool. Let’s take a look at four of them.

1. The Script. It has to be good, no ifs ands or buts. The script has to be dynamic enough for your employees to watch. It also has to be “real” enough for the employees to follow. If your script is concentrating on training so much to the point that you are coming up with far-fetched scenarios, your employees are going to tune that out. It has to be….believable. You have to have the type of moments where employees watch and say to themselves or others…”That same thing happened to me!”
2. Visual Interest. It has to be shot well. There has never been a time in history where people have had so many programming options. Because of this, our eyes have become trained and sophisticated enough to understand what’s good, and what’s bad. We tune out what’s bad. Attention spans are shorter than ever! A viewer practically has to be kept on the edge of their seat because it is so easy to click to the next channel. Maintaining visual interest is done through a variety of methods…shot composition, dynamic editing, use of creative graphics…even background music directly relates to the action we see on the screen. All of these visual elements are imperative to a successful corporate video.
3. WIFM. What’s in it for me? A key to always remember…it’s the audience that counts. Many corporate videos spend time touting how great their company is. While that may be true…and it is OK to pat yourself on the back; the only audience you’re going to impress is the committee members in charge of getting the video produced. An employee viewing the video has to see the value gained from watching the video in order to follow-up on the message.
4. Sincerity and Passion. A direct derivative of ingredient #3. A message from a company spokesperson or CEO has to be from the heart. It has to come across as more than just a company initiative. Employees that watch corporate videos in the form of an instructional video or quarterly message have to believe that that message is being brought to them for their best interest. They must be moved to feel that it is not only worth their time to watch this video, but that they are getting something out of it. The only way possible to accomplish this is through sincerity and passion.

Soooo…looking at that list, do you see anything missing from your last corporate video? Do you see anything that might suggest you’re running on 4 cylinders instead of 6? If so…could be time for a tune-up.

About Bright Circle, Inc.

Bright Circle is an Orlando Video Production firm that offers a full range of media services. Bright Circle specializes in producing corporate video production.

The camera is all set. The lighting is good to go. The office looks great…everything’s in place. The crew is ready. It’s time to conduct the interview. One thing…your subject is a little nervous. It’s their first time on camera, they don’t know what to expect!

Conducting interviews for a corporate video is a highly effective technique. It enables your client, and members of their team to “tell their story.” It’s a chance to share best practices, recount how challenges were conquered, and let other team members know that their work is important, even vital to their organization. But still…it can be unnerving. Soooo…what’s the best way past that?

A producer’s number one responsibility is to their subject on camera. Plain and simple. Be warm, be inviting, be their best friend in that room! In fact a good video crew should be dedicated all to the same thing…making that person look great, and being their ally. What does that entail? Well, everything….making sure that their tie is on straight the whole interview. Taking care of any wild strands of hair….or that they don’t have any shine on their forehead if the lights get a little hot. Having some bottled water on set. A good interview starts with the producer though. They have to ensure that their subject understands that it is not the end of the world if they stumble during a sentence….because you know what? They get to do it again! This isn’t 60 Minutes, this isn’t an interrogation…this is their moment. This is their chance to effect change, to make a positive statement about their company.

A good interview is essentially a good conversation. It shouldn’t be forced. It’s an opportunity for our subject to talk about what they do and why they love it, why their job is important, what it means, what it entails, and how they help their company, and the people in it. The role of the producer in handling this interview is key. They have to be ready to deviate from their list of questions so that they can “move” with the conversation and extract the best material in a free-flowing method that is unnoticeable to the person on camera. Once you’ve done that you have the content you need to make a successful video. A well-executed interview makes the producer look smart, and the person on camera even smarter…and that’s the way it should be.

About Bright Circle, Inc.

Bright Circle is a Florida based media production company offering a full range of creative services. Bright Circle provides professional teams that offer support in convention video services, as well as commercial production.

Ok…so you have a project that your company is producing and it needs a little finesse. No one is exactly volunteering to be on camera to be the lead person to drive this project and talk about the product at hand. Where to turn…where to turn???

Pssst…a talent agency, that’s where! Talent agencies are a great resource in finding local actors to be the spokesperson for your project. An actor can make a world of difference in providing credibility and giving your project the edge that it needs. Whether it’s a spokesperson that you require or two actors to play out a training scenario, talent agencies generally offer plenty of actors that you can choose from. It’s as simple as going to their website and starting to choose from the selections online.

Hmmm…but what if I need a woman say in her early 50s and the project is geared towards a more ethnic and diverse demographic? What are my options? These are questions producers face every day. Talent representatives often provide a myriad of actors that fit in the range you’re looking for…and they’ll go to every means to provide you with the right talent. Emailing links with headshots and pdf’s of their credits for you to peruse is just one of the first steps taken to get the job done.

Auditions are the only true evaluator though. Before deciding on talent, provide the agency with a “test script” and schedule an audition with three or four of your finalists. You can have them come out to your office or the audition can be scheduled at the agency. Videotape the audition so that you have something to reference later on in the selection process.

Speaking from experience, the auditions that Bright Circle conducts are thorough and extensive. Whether that means holding auditions at two or three agencies here in Orlando or conducting them simultaneously in South Florida as well…auditions are a must-have to provide your project the talent it needs.