they want to do what? hands on production tips to save your budget and your sanity

They want to do

what???Tips to save your budget and your sanity.

Mike Leon

mleon@brandheroes.ca

1.416.543.5292

Ever feel like your

colleagues see

video like this…

But then you see what

they come up with on

their own...

Colleague Tip

Kit…aka your

survival pack

But first a little

about you and a bit

about me…

Who am I?

• President and Chief Brand Hero of Brand Heroes

• Integrated Marketing Consultancy

• Brand Strategy and Design

• Marketing Communications

• Branded Content

• MBA and BBA Branding Instructor @ WLU

Some shameless self promotion

Survival Kit Details• Pre-Production Check-list

• Location Scouting

• Release Forms and dress code (well kinda)

• Equipment list, Interview Sheet and Shot list

• Production

• Shot Framing 101

• Interview Techniques

• Post Production

• Music – the bane of my existence

• Cheap or Free Stock Imagery (that’s right – free!)

• Donuts – not the kind you eat, but they’re still healthy!

Production Check-list – Location Scout

• Lot’s and lot’s of electrical outlets• You’ll be amazed how many you’ll use.

• Ideally some good natural light, but not too much

• Avoid a room with 360 degree windows

• But some are good, could help reduce the amount you need to

bring

• Optimal sound conditions

• No echo or cavernous environments

• No hum or murmur

• As a nice to have – close to a convenience store...

Release forms and Dress Code

• Multi-platform release forms are key. Also get on-

camera consent

• Prior to the taping, you want to provide your star with

some helpful tips

• Avoid clothing with stripes, tight patterns, checkers etc

• Avoid red and if you’re shooting on a green or blue screen, don’t

wear green or blue

• If you plan on shooting for multiple videos, bring multiple

changes of clothes

Interviews, Shots, Equiment Oh My!

• Write out your interviews in advance, but put a reminder

to your folks to ask their subjects for complete answers

• Important as your voice will likely be edited out

• Overwrite. Best to have more questions than less, but be sure

to prioritize your favourite 3 for time-sake. Don’t just read off

your sheet. Listen to their answers and allow for in the moment

questions based on the gold they provide

• Shot List: A, B and C Content!

• Equipment

• Bring external mic, tripod and at least one light

• Also keep in mind one camera isn’t optimal for all occasions

A Camera for every occasion!

• Vlog Recordings

• Which one to pick?• http://pocket-camcorder.toptenreviews.com/

• “Streeter Style”• http://bit.ly/m31j44

• Higher end Narrative• http://bit.ly/jtun2f

Production – Framing a Shot

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

http://vimeo.com/videoschool

Production tips that aren’t on Vimeo

• The soft side of production

• Give the “flight attendant speech”

• Let them know which direction you want them to look

• Let them know how the interview process will go

• Don’t be afraid to direct them...and praise them

• Same goes for B-Roll

• Keep time and give them progress reports. Let them know when

it’s the last question

At the end, ask them if there’s anything they want to say that

they weren’t asked – this is huge!

Your best friend – the shot list

Tape# (or

Card)

TC In: TC Out: Audio In: Audio

Out:

Descripti

on

Alternate

use

This will save your life in post!

Post Production

• Music

• Cheap ($30 – 50) – SmartSound - http://www.smartsound.com/

• Cheap ($30 ) – IstockAudio

http://www.istockphoto.com/audio.php

• Expensive – APM Music ($300) - http://www.apmmusic.com/

• Expensive(er) – Jingle Punks ($500) -

http://www.jinglepunks.com/

• Expenive(est) – ($500) Music for Productions -

http://www.musicforproductions.com/

Post Production

• Low Cost Graphics (or even free!)

• Stock.xchng- http://www.sxc.hu/

• FreeDigitalPhotos– http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

• FreeStockImages - http://www.freestockimages.net/

• Freestockimages.org - http://www.freestockimages.org/

• Dreamstime - http://www.dreamstime.com/

• Important Caveat – You get what you pay for! For better

images try

• www.veer.com

• www.istockphoto.com

• www.gettyimages.ca

Post Production

• Editing and Compression Software that won’t break the

bank

• Power Director

• Windows Movie Maker

• YouTube Editor

• Adobe Premiere

Donuts and Intros

• Good way to ensure quality and consistency

• Could create easily with a basic editing program

• I.e - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4gBxY9pNIM

Collaborating, Capturing, Sharing:

• Mediafire (my favorite) - www.mediafire.com

Dropbox - www.dropbox.com

Yousendit - www.yousendit.com

Vimeo – www.vimeo.com

• Live Desktop Capture (this runs in the background and

records what ever is on your desktop at a time). Perfect

if he wants to capture a demo of a site or an app for a

client.

Camtasia - http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/

Key Take-Aways

• Rome wasn’t built in a day, but a bookshelf can be!

• Work with them to set realistic, but ambitious goals

• 5 times measure, one time cut

• The shot-lists will be your MVP

• Be wary of the Starbucks factor

• Not every person loves every flavour – be careful about selected

which projects can be done by non-video folks vs. through a

trained in-house or external production unit

Thank You!

@BrandheroesMike Leon

(416) 543-5292

mleon@brandheroes.ca

www.brandheroes.ca