Author Archives: Nicolette Gosselin

How to Treat Lighting

Boston video production servicesOn Set with a Production Company

When working on set for a video production company, there will be a lot of different lighting equipment that you will work with. It is important to listen carefully to your Boston Videographer when they tell you how to set something up. Handling equipment is an important roll for anyone working on set. Lighting is a big part of a shoot set up or take down. Making sure to put care into the set up of a lighting system is the best way to ensure everything will run smoothly.

Lighting Set-Up

Boston Video Production works hard to prepare sets that are high quality for videos. There are many ways to set up the lighting system when it comes to your different video shoots. One of the most used lighting set up for our corporate video ideas is the three-point lighting system. This system requires three lights, and you want to make sure you are careful with each one with placement and setup. Three point lighting is a triangle set up that places the subject in the middle to help illuminate them for your Boston Videographer.

3-Point LightingHow to Avoid Shadows in Interviews

Working to create a shadowless shot is all about placement and angling toward your subject. You may also be using a corporate video idea that includes shadows or silhouettes, which can be created from where you place the lights. Make sure to use the natural light as you can, but also angle the lights you use to detract from any harsh lighting. Set up is a crucial part of the shoot date. The video production services all revolve around the quality of the shoot, and with the right lights and set up you can get great footage. 

What is a Gaffer?

Some of the shoots that you go on when working in Boston Video Production will have a gaffer. The gaffer works only with lighting. Helping to set up and create beautiful shots is the main goal for this person on set. Your Boston Videographer and Gaffer will work together to place the lights around to create the best view. Sometimes you may wear gloves to keep the equipment clean, and not disrupt the area where the set is being built. 

Set up and take down is one of the most important parts of the video production services and a way to secure a successful shoot. No matter what your corporate video ideas will lead your company to create, lighting will be a necessary source of success. Working in Boston Video Production company will allow you to learn more about all aspects of a video shoot. Keep track of everything you learn, and soon you will be creating videos on your own!

Skillman Video Group LLC is a Boston video production company. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.

4k vs. 5k Cameras

Should I Invest in a 5k Camera?

Videos are all about the visuals, and you want to make sure your video is up to par for the Boston Videographerviewers. Our Video Production Company in Boston shoots everything we do in 4k and 5k. There are many options for display when it comes to choosing your camera and what you want to shoot in. Your Boston Videographer might have a preference of what they want to use for their shoots, but today we are going to focus on 4k and 5k.

What is 4k and 5k?

Simply stated, the names 4k and 5k refer to the width of the footage, which means approximately 4,000 and 5,000 pixels. Being broken down further, 4k has a total pixel count of 9,437,184 with dimensions of 4096 x 2304. 5k is much larger than that and has a total pixel count of 14,745,600 with dimensions of 5120 x2880. Although 5k is larger, it isn’t always someones first choice. Your Boston Videographer will know what resolution will be best for the shoot you are working on. 

What’s the Difference Between 4k and 5k Cameras?

4k and 5k resolution are both used widely within the world of video production services. Each change in resolution throughout the years have allowed for videos to have more detail and become larger in size. The biggest difference between 4k and 5k are based on the pixels and Professional videographersize of the footage. There are many different resolutions that you can choose to shoot in. One thing you want to make sure is that it comes out clear. Both 4k and 5k will give you a clear and detailed shot.

Choosing your Resolution

As everything in technology and video are advancing, it is bringing people to upgrade their video cameras. The last thing any Video Production Company would want is to be creating videos that no longer pair with their audiences devices. Although it may be hard to change with the times, you want to upgrade before you miss the mark. 4k and 5k are very popular within the video production world.

There may be many reasons your Boston Videographer loves the display he or she shoots in. It is always important to use what you are most comfortable. Both displays are wonderful and create magic for any shoot. We stay true to the 4k display for shoots with our Boston Video Production Company.

Skillman Video Group LLC is a Boston video production company. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.

video production interview set up

What to Pack in Your DSLR Camera Bag

video production companiesWhat to Pack in Your Camera Bag

Take a look inside the bag of any Boston Video Production companies and you will find similar things. Each year with technology advancing, some equipment becomes more out of date and requires an upgrade for your camera bag. There are many essential pieces of equipment needed for a video shoot, and each year there is always a newer version coming out. Every professional videographer will have their own selection of favorite equipment that can be found in their bags. There are a lot of things that you want to remember to pack in your bag for your next shoot. Depending on the person, you may have different brands or style equipment but they all have similar equipment. 

  1. DSLR Camera

Whether you are a Sony or Canon person, you want to make sure you have a reliable camera for your shoot. DSLR cameras have made lots of waves and are great for shooting video. Now that the camera quality is at 4K level, it is easy to get great quality shots on your DSLR. Whatever camera you choose, we would suggest full frame like the Sony a7r mark 2. It is the perfect camera for all your shoots. 

2. Camera Lenses

It is always a good idea to bring a few different lenses with you when shooting on your DSLR, just to be sure you can get every angle. The go-to lens that most Video Production Companies in Boston would suggest is the 35mm 2.8 prime lens. The prime lenses have a great sharpness and focal length. It also is good when you don’t have to worry about zoom, because you can do that in post. A few other lenses you may consider are the 16-35 f4 for a wider shot or the 55 1.8 if you are looking for more zoom. Another thing that will help with your shoots is a ND filter, which will help soften an harsh lights when you are shooting.

3. Tripod

Working with a DSLR or any camera, one of the biggest worries is shaky hands. It is very important that you pack your tripod to keep shots still. It is nothing to worry about if you have shaky hands, every professional videographer will use tripods. When choosing your tripod, you want to make sure you think about weight and height. You want to have a tripod that is not hard to carry and easily to transport. K&F Concept has great tripods that fold down to fit into smaller bags and are light weight easy to carry. 

4. Professional Lighting

Boston video production servicesIt is always a good idea to add light to your shoot in order to better illuminate the subject or products of your video. When you are working on your own instead of with a professional video production crew, it is better to think small. A simple light that can be attached directly to your DSLR is a great piece of equipment to bring with you for a shoot. A 176 LED light is a powerful source that can be perfect for all your different shoots. With an easy way to add in diffusion, it is a very user friendly light set up. 

Professional Videographers Bag

Every professional videographer’s bag will look different from one another because each person has there own special touch. Doing shoots on your own or for beginners it is a great idea to look into different pieces of equipment that we have listed above. The video production services are changing each year but there are main pieces of equipment that some people will hold onto for a long time. Find those things that work best for you and start making magic. All video production companies Boston started from something small and have only grown bigger so keep on recording!

Skillman Video Group LLC specializes in video production Boston. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.

Video Production Services: Handling Video Equipment

Top Phrases to Know On Set

Boston video production servicesTop Video Production Phrases

Every person that works in Boston Video Production, and shows up to a set each day, should understand what is being talked about. There are many terms used to describe different actions or things on a video production set. Knowing what all of those terms are referring to will allow you to move about the set easier and work more efficiently. If you know all of these production terms you will be fitting in on every set of video production companies Boston.

Abby Singer “the Abby”

When you hear this on a set they are telling everyone that this is the second to last shot of the day. This term is named after Abner Singer, who was a professional Production Manager in Hollywood.

C-47 

You may think they are talking to you about a big plane, but they are actually just referring to a clothespin. It is said this term was coined to make a bulk order of clothespins sound more important on production bills.

C-Stand

This is a metal stand that holds mostly grip products. Your Boston Videographer may have it hold diffusion in place in front of the light sources.

Fly in/out

This term is meant to be used when bringing something on or off the set. “Let’s fly in an extra light” “Let’s fly out that chair” these could be phrases that you hear on the video production companies Bostonset.

Magic Hour

Lighting is a big part of a shoot, and natural lighting is a great source when you can get it. The magic hour is right before sunrise or after sunset and usually lasts around 20 minutes. In that time is when the sky is partially lit.

Martini Shot

Coming after the Abby Singer shot, the martini shot is the last shot of the day. It is called this because they said the next shot comes from the glass. 

video production companiesPicture’s Up

This is what the Boston Videographer will say when the camera is almost set, which means shooting will be starting soon. 

Running Cables Clean

This is just to make sure that the cables are neat and tucked out of the way.

Stage

If your Boston Videographer asked you to stage something, it means he/she wants you to place it somewhere out of the way. 

Stinger

This is the term used for an extension cord. Someone may ask you get a stinger if an extension cord is needed on the set of your Boston Video Production.

There are many more terms that you will want to be familiar with when working on a video production companies Boston set. If you are able to understand the production lingo, you will be more helpful on set. It is important to know your way around the set and equipment, especially as a production assistant, because it will make you more likely to get your next shoot lined up in Boston Video Production.

Skillman Video Group LLC specializes in Boston video production. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140

Terms for Every Boston Videographer

“Angle’s” isn’t just a geometry term, and is quite often used in Boston video production terms. Who would have thought we use geometry in video production. Well the truth is we use the term “angle” more than the actual mathematics. Options and angles work incoherently. As a Boston video company it is important to have more than one option of a particular scene, and even so having close-ups, medium shots, and wide angle shots of that scene (just to name a few). What is this point of all of this? Well, it’s simple all of these options are for our editing team in post-production.

As a Boston videographer for Skillman Video Group it isn’t just enough to have the top of the line equipment. Experience and a keen eye on detail makes the difference in an average marketing video and the best Boston marketing video. Although there is a lot of trial and error when first starting out as a professional videographer, knowing the types of shots and equipment needed to get the perfect shot.

Here is an overview of Boston Video Production Terms for Boston videographers just starting out:

  • Extreme Wide Shot (EWS)- Shot taken from far away where the subject isn’t visible.
  • Very Wide Shot (VWS)- The environment around the subject is still prominent and the subject is barely visible.
  • Wide Shot (WS)- The subject takes up the entire camera frame.
  • Medium Shot (MS)- Shows part of subject in more detail.
  • Medium Close-Up (MCU)- Closer than a medium shot but further away than a close-up on the subject.
  • Close-Up (CU)- A feature of the subject taking up the full frame.
  • Extreme Close-Up (ECU)- Shows extreme detail of the subject.
  • Cut-In (CI)- Shows other areas of the subject in extreme detail.
  • Cutaway (CA)- A shot of something that is not the subject.
  • Over-The-Shoulder Shot (OSS)- Focusing on the subject over the shoulder of another person.
  • Point-Of-View Shot (POV)- The view of the subject.

Besides types of Boston video company camera shots, here are some other terms a professional videographer should keep in mind while on set for a corporate video production company.

  • Color-Temperature- The red, blue, and yellow colors given off in the room. The different color temperatures from scene to scene must be consistent.
  • B-roll– Alternate footage to go with interviewees topic of discussion.
  • Depth of Field (DOF)- The distance between the nearest and furthest subjects that the camera must adjust to focus on.
  • Boom Microphone- A microphone attached to the end of the pole. This microphone is used to pick up more audio from the actors without getting into the camera’s frame. Used in conjunction with a lavaliere.
  • Lavaliere- A small microphone hidden under the actors or interviewees clothing.
  • Aspect Ratio-The size in which the film has been shot. 16:9 is most common.
  • Pan-Following the subject either vertically or horizontally
  • White Balance-The color balance on the camera. Before filming either make sure the white balance is on auto or it is adjusted using a blank white piece of paper

Being a Boston video company like SVG means having a production team that has experience and a great deal of knowledge surrounding everything from pre-production, producing, professional videography, and post-production editing. Although this is just a snippet of some of the most common corporate video production words, it will help any Boston videographer get started in the big city.

Tips for Novice Production Assistants

If you’re reading this post, then congratulations! You’ve found a new calling, or are stepping into the world of video production for the first time.

You’re probably someone who is interested in Video Production, Boston Video Production specifically, Video Marketing Production, or are a new student in a video production program. The world of video production is now open to you, and virtually everyone begins in the same role. Welcome to your new life as a Production Assistant, or PA for short. 

While the PA is the lowest position that you’ll ever find yourself throughout your career in Video Production, it will serve as your foundation as a video production or video marketing professional. Take this role seriously, because not nearly enough PA’s do.

We’ve written a quick list of tips and habits to avoid, which will help guide you as you step on to set for the first time.

1) Know Your Place

I’ll let you in on a little secret. One of the most effective ways to sabotage your newfound reputation as a PA is to think that you’re too good to carry gear, set up the craft services table, or run cabling around a studio. When you’re part of a video production crew, as a PA, you’re a cog in a machine.

You need to be reliable, humble, and completely aware that there are hundreds of people who would love to have your position. More likely than not, you were in the right place at the right time, and a video production crew needed an extra pair of hands.

2) Be Proactive

This recommendation is a little tricky, because being proactive prerequisites that you know how to help on a crew. In other words, you can’t anticipate a need that you weren’t ever aware of. That being said, after you spend a few hours on set you should gain a sense of who will need what, and when.

For example, is the Director of Photography setting up some lights? Find the nearest power outlet, and make sure there’s enough cable to reach from the camera to the wall.

Or maybe all of the shooting has been wrapped in a location, meaning the Director has exclaimed that all of the shooting has been completed in one area. Immediately start collecting all of the odds and ends that have become scattered around set (you’d be surprised how many clothes pins end up on the floor of any given set). After that, start helping take down lights and any scenery that’s been built for the shoot.

3) Only Ask Real Questions

I get it, you’re young, enthusiastic and bordering on earnest. Your brain brims with curiosity about everything related to cameras, lighting, acting, and gear. That being said, don’t ask a question simply because you want to look smart or to demonstrate you understand something. Video Production Professionals are a smart bunch who understand when they’re getting duped.

For example, if you already understand how to use a light meter, don’t ask someone to show you or explain what certain measurements mean. You should ask questions that you genuinely want to know the answer to, or require further clarification on.

At Skillman Video Group, we have a long history of getting the career’s of video production professionals started through our internship program. The internship program gives those beginning their career in video production the opportunity to get hands-on experience with our professional team of Photographers and Producers.

 

post-production

Intern: Post-Production

Knowledge and experience are the result of adversity and critiques. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect. Practicing video production is no different, and as Skillman Video Group’s intern, I was able to use my prior experience to produce dozens of articles on video production and video marketing.

Producing a video for Skillman Video Group can be intimidating, especially when working for a company that holds itself to the highest of standards. Although filming the video and interviewing our CEO and Creative Director Christina Skillman seemed like an easy task, the post-production editing proved to me that every little element makes a difference to the larger picture.

Color Correction

color-correction YouTube has proven to be a great video marketing tool, and when it came to learning about an unfamiliar program and color correction, YouTube again showed its worth. There are many different strategies for color correction in Adobe Premiere Pro. After tampering with a few, I found that the best color-correction workflow was to correct using RGB scopes. One problem that gave me the greatest difficulty in post-production was matching the color temperature of the b-roll shots to the interview’s. Again, I found that the RGB scopes gave me the best results and allowed me to better match the color temperature of the separate shots.

Also using the color scale is a handy tool when trying to match color temperatures. This gave me a better look at the RGB color data, so I knew which colors needed to be toned down and which ones needed to be increased. Overall, next time when filming I will make sure to better match the color temperature of the interviews and b-roll shots so it will make for less of a hassle in post-production.

B-roll

There is never too much b-roll. B-roll is an important element to a video especially when having to provide visuals for the interview topic. The audience doesn’t just want to look at the interviewee the whole time, so providing b-roll images that fits in with the dialogue. Going back through the b-roll shots I took, I wish that I had taken more. Having options is the greatest benefit of a video and will ultimately lead to its success. Although I had b-roll clips that worked, it wasn’t up to my standards nor SVG’s. SVG is all about high quality and though I had b-roll shots that would be considered as highly valuable, the rest were average.

B-roll

audio+ music

Deciding on background music can be tricky. I knew I wanted uplifting feel-good music in the background that wasn’t nostalgic or too aggressive. The video is meant to provide information to SVG’s clients on preparing for a video marketing meeting so the music should express the emotion of the video. After exploring different songs, and testing each in the video sequence, I finally found the right song on Premium Beat, which was uplifting and fit in perfectly with the video. When adding music into a sequence, the music audio and dialogue audio needs to be adjusted so that the music doesn’t overshadow the dialogue. Using keyframes allows the editor to adjust the audio in certain areas that are either to high or too low.

Details

After reviewing the video with Christina Skillman, there were areas of the video that I could improve editing wise, but and as a video producer I learned to look at the smaller elements of video production. Even a scrunched up shirt and messy hair can cause a distraction to the audience and can offset the video. Looking at every detail and making adjustments is what separates the high quality videos from the average. Though I am proud of the video I produced I learned that there are always areas to improve whether it be as a video producer or an editor in post-production

Skillman Video Group LLC is a Boston video production company. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.

Part of Google’s New Algorithm is an AI

Google Algorithm UpdateBack in 2013, Google did something that was pretty convenient for anyone who’s involved with video marketing or blogging about video marketing. The company named its search algorithm! Finally, we had a convenient phrase to refer to the mysterious code that determined our success or lack thereof online. Google named this algorithm Hummingbird.

Hummingbird is made of various parts, and one of these parts is an artificial intelligence known as “Rank Brain.” While Rank Brain may sound like something straight out of the laboratories of SkyNet, it’s actually a tool that allows Google to quickly process search results.

One interesting thing about Rank Brain, is that it learns over time. In this context, learning translates to finding relevant search results for specific keyword searches.

This information was first reported via Bloomberg last Fall, and along with the existence of Rank Brain, Bloomberg reported on the importance of this AI to Hummingbird. Here’s a direct quote from the Bloomberg piece:

“RankBrain is one of the “hundreds” of signals that go into an algorithm that determines what results appear on a Google search page and where they are ranked, Corrado said. In the few months it has been deployed, RankBrain has become the third-most important signal contributing to the result of a search query, he said.”

Without getting too off topic, signals are different elements of a web page that Google uses to rank search results. So RankBrain helps sort through information, which is neat! As a machine learning tool, RankBrain is primarily going to be used to pair results to searches that may not include specific keywords.

For example, say you’re looking for a Boston video production company and you search for “hire a professional video company in Boston.” RankBrain will sort through your search to show results for “professional video company.” Hopefully, RankBrain will send you over to Skillman Video Group, Boston’s premier video production company for corporate videos.

Skillman Video Group LLC is a Boston video production company. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.

Evaluating Success in Video Marketing

What do you do when you’re trying to figure out if a video on YouTube or Facebook is popular? Your first instinct might be to check out the number of “views” that the video has received. If you’re evaluating a video’s popularity, then this is a valuable strategy. But what if you’re not evaluating popularity? What if you’re a business that’s evaluating whether or not a is actually generating new leads or selling your product? The video marketing professionals at Skillman Video Group have a few criteria that can inform your next evaluation cycle.

1) Watch Time

Watch time is the measurement of how much of a video an average user watches. In other words, are viewers hitting the back button after a few seconds, or on average completing an entire video? This matters for two reasons.

One, you’ll get a sense of whether or not your audience thinks the video is valuable and or entertaining. Higher watch times translate to more perceived value.

Two, YouTube actually considers watch time a more valuable criteria for sorting search results than the number of views. Meaning, videos with a higher watch time get sorted to the top and vice versa for videos with a shorter watch time.

2) Conversion Rate

Conversion rate refers to the number of viewers that follow through with the intended action of your video. So, if you’re following standard video marketing protocol and embedding a Call to Action at the end of your video, Conversion Rate is the measurement of people who actually follow through with the CTA. If you’re not embedding a CTA into your video then we, as a Boston Video Marketing Company, couldn’t recommend this strategy highly enough.

3) Social Shares

This metric considers the number of times that your video marketing campaign is reshared on social media outlets. Consumers trust the advice of their friends, especially digital friends!

Skillman Video Group LLC is a Boston video production company. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.