Parc Entertainment - A Video Production Company - Birmingham, AL

It’s interesting to sit back and watch the ebb and flow of the marketplace. Regardless of your industry, markets will inevitably undergo various shifts and changes. Video production is no different. The way in which the public consumes video content is much different now than it was seven years ago. DVRs, video hosting sites, smartphones, the iPad, etc. have all contributed to this changing trend.

As a result, video producers have had to rethink how the content is created. Now, viewers want fresh content on a regular basis. They want something that feels authentic. They want businesses to converse WITH them, not sell TO them. They want valuable content that proves helpful in their own personal and professional pursuits. This change in viewer tastes means that businesses need to produce video content regularly, which is a good thing for a video production business. But it also means that businesses can’t afford to spend too much on each video. I’ve worked on a great number of video projects that involve three to six weeks of pre-production (research, pre-interviews, creative strategy sessions, script writing, etc.), five days of shooting, and up to sixty hours of post. This kind of video still has its place, but what about a client who is interested in producing a video podcast, or a quick online welcome video, or a product demonstration, or a testimonial video?

As a result of this shifting trend, we have developed a series of corporate video packages that are designed for the business interested in updating their video content on a regular basis. The packages are attractive and affordable, but most importantly, they maintain high production standards. If you’re interested in learning more, there are several ways to get in touch with us. You can leave a comment here, follow us on Twitter, become our fan on Facebook, or sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter.

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A few months ago I posted a couple of articles outlining ways in which you can help make the post-production process a little more efficient.  The foundation for a smooth post-production is laid during the actual shoot. If you are disciplined and organized in production, then the edit will get off to a good start. There are two major things you need to do throughout the shoot - slate each shot and maintain a shooting log.

Slating each shot means placing a clapboard, card, a piece of paper, etc. in front of the camera before each scene. Written on the slate is valuable information pertaining to the individual shot, like scene number, take number, production title, and date. Having this information appear before every take will help your editor keep track of all the shots throughout post. Even if you are working both as director and editor, a slate is an invaluable tool.

In addition to slating each shot, it’s important to keep a running log of everything you shoot. A log contains a description of each take and a record of what happened during that particular take. It will help you remember, for example, if the pickup truck blocked your main actor on the fourth take or the sixth take. It will help you to remember if the conveyor belt moved at just the right speed on the third or the fifth take. And it will help you to remember when your interview subject used that great sound byte.

This all sounds great, in theory. The reality is, sometimes in the hectic pace of a documentary corporate shoot, or low-budget indie project, it can be easy to get off track. However, the iPhone has apps available to help make the process easier and more convenient. iSlate, from iBuiltThis, is a digital clapper that allows users to conveniently slate and log their shots. It’s perfect for a run-and-gun project with a bare bones crew, because you will always have your phone with you. And since it’s only $3, iSlate is a great option when compared to actual chalk and dry-earse slates on the market.

I love my iPhone. It’s incredible to have that many resources and tools in one device. I’m always interested in learning about new apps that can increase productivity and make my life a little more organized and efficient. Last month I posted a video about Cinemek’s storyboarding application, Hitchcock. Today I wanted to post a little information about Helios. Released last April, Helios is a tool for cinematographers that will allow you to calculate the position of the sun for any given day, at any given time, at any given location around the world. This can be an incredibly useful tool for DP’s working with natural light. Let’s say you have an exterior shoot in Grand Rapids, MI next month, but it’s overcast and rainy on your location scout . With the Helios app, you can instantly calculate where the sun will be at the exact moment of your shoot. It’s a great way to keep track of the ever-changing lighting conditions when shooting outdoors.

While in college, I majored in film/video production and minored in art with a photography concentration. When it comes to sketching/drawing, I am capable, but by no means am I an expert. That’s why, when it comes to storyboarding my projects, I am much more comfortable writing out a shot list with simple diagrams. Drawing storyboards is just too time consuming for me.

Pre-visualization is an excellent tool for any video/film project, including marketing/promotional videos for a client. To have the ability to show a client what your vision is (rather than describe it) is a huge plus. That’s why my eyes almost popped out of my head a few months ago when I ran across a storyboarding app for the iPhone. It’s called Hitchcock and it’s from Cinemek. The app allows you to create professional storyboards by using the phone’s camera. Simply take a photo, add in camera directions, and lay it on your timeline. You can even insert music and other audio if you’d like. Once the storyboard is complete, you can export it as a pdf and email it to your client or others on your crew. Take a look at the demo below.

Hitchcock in action! from cinemek / Hitchcock on Vimeo.