Creative Cuts for the Camera Shy

What do you do when your project has great content and talented people who can walk the audience through that content smoothly, but do not want to be seen on camera? You get creative!

The biggest draw to information rich productions is the information and not the person delivering the information. If your information is coming from content experts who cannot overcome their camera shyness to give their best performance there are other creative alternatives that can be put in place. Assuming the client has the budget to accommodate more editing time, what you end up with is a better product in the end for having taken the extra step.

1. Write a script around the concept of your main narrations occurring as a voice over. The script is written and recorded separately from other media elements in the project. Reading it in a controlled environment off camera takes away the pressure of feeling one has to “perform” for the camera. The voice over can be read by someone the client designates or by a professional voice over artist. Hopefully what you have in the end is a confident delivery of the content that keeps the audience focused on all the right things, which are the client and their message.

2. Use close-up shots. Close-up shots are great for capturing meaningful activity to support the narration without identifying a person on camera. Consider the video footage presented on news programs. There are close-up shots of money being counted, feet walking on sidewalks, hands stirring coffee and so on. Look at the script for the verbal section of your video and then write down all the possible close-up shots that could be acquired to provide visual interest to the message.

3. Find or hire someone who was born to be in front of the camera! The client is often the best person to develop the content but you may both conclude they are not the best to deliver the content. If budget is an issue the first step is to see if anyone else in the company is interested in going on camera. This person needs to be comfortable in front of the camera but also rehearsed enough in the subject matter to provide a confident delivery. If there is no such person available on-site, hire a professional if there is room in the budget.

4. Use slides and graphics for the more academic narratives. Even if you are working with someone who enjoys being in front of the camera it is a good idea to break up the video portion of the project with slides and graphics. It provides visual variety to keep the viewer engaged to the message. PowerPoint slides can easily be converted for use in video presentations. Use bullet points to provide a visual of concepts being discussed. Use photos where appropriate to further illustrate the message.

Copyright © 2011 Visual Clarity

www.visual-clarity.com

Adding Another Artist’s Work & Royalty Free Content to Your Production

It is common practice for producers to seek and incorporate other artists’ work into a new production concept. Why reinvent the wheel? When using other people’s work to support the creation of a new project it is ethically if not legally imperative to keep the following in mind.

1. Always ask permission before using another artist’s work in your production. The internet has served as a tremendous avenue for the dissemination and gathering of information and ideas. But the availability of this information for personal viewing and entertainment does not mean it is available to be freely incorporated in to a production without acknowledgment or payment to the original creator. Whether your production is personal or commercial in nature, always ask permission before incorporating another artist’s work into your production.

2. Get it in writing. Whether you are using a friend’s original recorded song or purchasing a stock photo from a royalty free site make sure you get the terms of use in writing. First and foremost clients and broadcast companies want to know they will not be sued for copyright infringement or invasion of privacy. Make sure the written contract gives you as the producer the most flexibility in using that production element. You may not intend to use the element in certain venues now but having the rights up front will save you time and money in getting new permissions for it in the future.

3. Royalty free does not mean payment free. There are countless websites that offer royalty free music, photos and video. Royalty free items generally come at a steep, one time only payment. What you get for the money is the right to use the element in your production and not have to pay the artist a percentage of your sales as a royalty. Most royalty free items are original works created specifically for purchase and use by production companies. Since these items are created specifically for production companies, the prices generally run lower than trying to buy the rights to use mainstream elements (like a billboard top 40 song) in a production.

4. Always read the fine print. When purchasing a production element, even royalty free elements, a contract of service is entered into. The terms of that service vary from company to company and item to item. Always read the end-user license agreement for purchasing a 3rd party production element. Some royalty free sites will charge one fee if the element is for personal or educational uses and will charge another fee if the element is to be used in a commercial product. Other sites cater more toward the broadcast business and have very stringent guidelines and stiffer fees for using their product.

Copyright © 2011 Visual Clarity

www.visual-clarity.com

Video Production for Businesses on a Budget

A picture speaks a thousand words but it does not have to cost thousands of dollars to create. It is possible to find a happy medium between hi-end, hi-budget works of art that cost more than they ever make in revenue generation and no budget videos which lack polish and necessary elements of quality control.

Consider these tips when planning your next video project.

1. Write a script. A script is like the road map to your finished product. It will help you refine your message to a digestible nugget of information, say between 2 and 5 minutes. It will also serve as your “to do list” of elements needed (video to record, photos to take, voice over and music to record and permissions to clear). This prior proper planning ahead of time will save you money in the long run when working with your designer or production team.

2. Keep it simple. Write a clear concise script that educates your audience about your product, services or idea. Plan for simple video that illustrates what is being discussed in your narrative and plan for simple graphics that enhance the message. A clear, concise message in a digestible, 2-5 minute timeframe will leave your audience feeling more connected to you and your product.

3. Everything you need may be right under your nose. You and your staff know your products best. It makes sense that members of your company be featured in your video. Newspaper clippings, graphics, photos and other video clips on hand may all be part of this new edited piece. Refer to your script to see if items already on hand make sense in your new project. This could save you production time and money.

4. Video quality matters. A well-lit, steady, crisp video image is important. A nice head and shoulder shot obeying the rule of 3rds will do for most interview and narrative situations. Avoid lighting pitfalls such as sitting in front of a window or using an uneven lighting source in the video. Use a tripod. No matter how still you think you can stand, the camera will move with every breath you take. This could be enough to ruin an otherwise acceptable video shot.

5. Audio quality matters most. People will be somewhat forgiving of less than stellar video quality. But, viewers will abandon the viewing experience if they cannot hear what you are saying. The way you sound in real life is how you should sound on video. A full body sound like this is achieved through using an appropriate microphone. There are many types of microphones on the market, each suited for a different use. If you are thinking of producing a video yourself, do your research before purchasing a microphone or camera.

Copyright © 2011 Visual Clarity

www.visual-clarity.com