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3 Fun Facts about Green Screens

What is a green screen?

A green screen is exactly what it sounds like: a screen that is green. And it’s purpose is to just sit there and be green. Because in post, it can be edited into an amazing background. If you recorded yourself singing in front of a green screen, an editor could change it to be you singing on the moon, standing in a field of cows, on set for a Boston video production company, or even on a big stage in front of hundreds of people! You could look like a famous singer without actually having to sing in front of anyone at all. Below, I will provide three extremely interesting and compelling facts about the wonders of green screens.

Fun Fact #1: Green screens take forever to set up.

Since the purpose of a green screen is to have another background overlayed on top of it in post, it needs to be wrinkle free. Otherwise if you are trying to look like you are on the moon, you will instead be on a very wrinkly “moon” that looks a lot like a cloth and not very much like the moon. At all. After you set up the stands for the cloth to hang off of, it requires about two hours of tightening the cloth and stretching it out in different places, and then steaming or ironing the fabric so that it looks pristine and beautiful. With zero wrinkles.

Fun Fact #2: Green screens can be made out of different materials.

Typically, there are only really two different materials that a green screen can be made out of: cloth and paper. Paper green screens are better for stationary sets that don’t need to be moved around a lot and have already been built on a sound stage. Cloth green screens are better for on-location Boston video production shoots where it might need to be moved. This way there is less of a threat that the screen will rip or tear, and there are usually less wrinkles.

boston video productionFun Fact #3: Green screens hate natural light.

Because green screens need to be used as a solid background, there can’t be any light coming in from behind it or next to it. Then, and I’m continuing to use the on-the-moon example, your lovely on-the-moon space background will be see through. And you won’t look like you are on the moon anymore, you’ll look as though you did a bad job lighting your green screen. Always getting rid of natural light when shooting Boston video production green screen is necessary.

As you can see, green screens are pretty darn cool. If you ever shoot with one, don’t forget to remember these fun facts so your shoot will be as successful as possible.

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

Five Helpful Tips to Know on a Video Shoot

Boston video production servicesTop 5 Tips for Video Shoots

When working on a video shoot, it is important to know ahead of time everything you can do to be as helpful and productive as possible to make sure the shoot goes by seamlessly for everyone.

Come Prepared to Set

Don’t be that person who doesn’t have everything they need. All you will be doing is making everyone else unhappy, and who wants to work on a video set where everyone is stressed and anxious? Bring water, SD cards, gaffers tape; bring whatever you need and make sure you don’t forget it.

Have a Positive Attitude On Set

Nobody wants to be working with someone who has a sour attitude all day. It lowers the energy on set, and all in all makes it unpleasant to work with you. Plus, you may not get hired again if nobody wants to be around you the one day you did get to work. Not to mention, if some things aren’t going as planned, you will stress the client out if your attitude is anything less than positive.

Bring Water and Snacks

Working all day can be tiring, especially if you’re stuck inside shooting with no opportunities to relax. This is why it is important to bring food and water with you. Bring healthy snacks to keep up your energy levels; aka a banana or some mixed nuts. Avoid foods like candy or chips, because they will give you a quick rush of energy and then you will go back to being exhausted.

Video production servicesKeep Your Cell Phone on Silent

Don’t let that call from your grandma disrupt the entire video production shoot. By keeping your phone on silent, you are making sure that nothing happens to interrupt the shoot, which is only a good thing. Also, having your phone start ringing makes you look unprofessional, and nobody wants that.

Have Fun and Pay Attention

Try to have fun! Enjoying working on set might be a bit tough considering you could be working a ten hour shift, but having a positive attitude can rub off on the people around you. If everyone is in a good mood, having fun on set and enjoying your job will be easy. Working on set can be stressful, but it can also be really fun. Don’t forget that!

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.

The Passion Behind Marketing Video Production Services

Marketing Video Production Services has become more prominent within the industry throughout the past years. With every form of communication being through social media or the internet, it is causing companies to change their marketing tactics. Strategies have to Boston video productionchange when the audience changes platforms. Everyone is working hard to get their video marketing strategy just right, but what is the best way to do that? Skillman Video Group uses a company’s values as our approach to making the perfect video.

Each company we work with is different from one another. They aspire toward different goals and have different responsibilities when it comes to their customers. We have worked with consulting firms, law firms, insurance companies, and many others types of businesses. The one thing every company that we have worked with has in common, is that they want us to help them tell their story. Video Marketing Production isn’t just about telling them story though. To create the perfect marketing video SVG video productionfocuses on your company’s values and the meaning behind the work done everyday. Looking into the values of your company will allow your customers to really understand you. They want to know why they should be doing business with you, and the best way for them to find out is to learn about the company and the people within it. Some of the main questions SVG likes to have our clients answer in their videos are; What drives you? What are your passions? How do your value transfer to the company’s? All of the questions allow the video’s audience to learn more about the company, and really understand why people get up and do their work everyday. There is always more meaning behind the work being done. Telling the customer the real meaning of all your work is the best way to pull them in.

Other professional video production companies have other focuses when it comes to creating Marketing content, but SVG likes to dig deep. We want your marketing videos to grab the audience and teach them what you are all about. Marketing Video Production isn’t just about telling a story. It is about revealing your passions and reasoning for getting up and doing what you do everyday. Video Marketing is the best way to show your audience the intent behind your company goals.

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

Target Audience and Market Segments

professional video production, New England video productionIn digital marketing, it is critical that a team or individual accurately and strategically targets an audience. This process of strategically placing an audience into separate categories is referred to as market segmentation. What segmentation does, as The Balance puts it in their blog post, is it allows a company to understand an audience in a way that makes them able to satisfy the needs of their customers more effectively. Segmentation strategically categorizes audience members based on characteristics such as geography, knowledge or lack of knowledge pertaining to the company/product, age, gender, religion, etc. Based on these categories, marketing teams can now begin to create specific messages that relate closer to each of the segments within their target audience. Perhaps a segment of their market, is recently showing a lack of engagement. What a team can do now is create specific content or copy this segmented piece of their audience. It is all about trying to strategically hone in on a specific group within a target audience.

 

In professional video production, this type of strategizing is critical in order create an effective piece of content that will truly speak to a group of people. For one of our most recent New England video production shoots, we Dr. Chang who runs her own dental practice in Natick, MA. While interviewing her, the conversation and questions were guiding her towards compelling and eloquent responses with a target audience in mind- that being current and potential new customers. During the shoot and interview, this was on the forefront of everyone’s mind, and so, the interview process was took shifts and turns in order to appease that specific target audience. With the questions we asked, the energy we invited Dr. Chang to exude and the responses we knew were critical to the project, it was all in spite of the target audience in mind.

 

When in the process of professional video production, audience is always key. Who is watching this? Who cares? And above all, why do they care? Keeping a target audience as the compass is something every professional video production company or marketer needs to learn. From our Boston video production, professional video productionexperience as a New England video production company, it has proven itself undeniably valuable to creating successful video content.

Editing Process on our DIY Series

At SVG each round of interns are asked to create a video project of their own. For this current Boston video production, video production services, DSLR video productionseason while on the Boston video production team.  As this current round of interns, we decided we wanted to make something that would be useful for current followers of SVG’s blog and for DIY/DSLR videographers. By creating something with these two audiences in mind, we hoped that we would be able to instruct current followers with their own personal projects while attracting a new audience towards SVG through DSLR video production. One thinBoston video production, video production services, DSLR video productiong we learned about video production services is that the processes before and after shoot day both play major roles in the projects. In video production services, a major portion of the work comes after and before the shooting day. The video editing process is half of the creation process in video production.

 

Editing a video requires a close attention to detail, imagination, and practice. After trying to begin learning the programs of video editing, it was clear that this expertise deserves its credit- things are complicated and extremely technical in this stage. With this in mind, one of our videos used iMovie as the main editing program since it allowed a much more user-friendly interface as it doesn’t possess the intense technical abilities like other programs such as Adobe Premiere. With a smaller project such as this, the editing program didn’t require such complicated tools, so we stuck to the more familiar and amateur friendly, iMovie.

 

One aspect of the editing process that took us by surprise was how effective clipping and trimming some of the footage made the project. Most of the video is an interview style setting. In these takes though, some of the dialogue and pauses went on for too long. After seeing the takes in order in full, we knew that we needed to trim. After beginning the trimming process we started seeing a clearer and more refined product. In the end, it created a more streamlined and entertaining piece.

 

In video production services, the editing process has proven itself to our interns as a dominant influence in the success of any video project. It is easy to assume that the main work and creative vision happens on the shoot day, as we quickly learned, this is not true at all. The work and creativity begins at collaboration and strategizing and continues all the way into the editing process.

 

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

Our 3 Favorites for Quality Sound

video production services, Boston video production, sound recorder As a Boston Video production company, we get that video primarily relies on visuals. But what sets video apart is the ability to accommodate to a numerous amount of senses at the same time. With video and with the human species, the second most relied on sense is hearing. This is why audio for any video or shoot needs to be closely tended to. With a number of years in the video production services business we have come to know and love a few of the audio pieces that we utilize. One of the most used sound pieces for our shoots are mics or sound recorders. Whether you’re in the market for a new set or are doing your research about what kind of mic/recorder you need for the job, here is a list of a few of our favorites for the different situations that require different sound options.  

1. Sennheiser 112-pG3    Boston video production, video production company, sound, audio equipment

Sennheiser is a trusted brand for us and these models are a constant go to when it comes to interviews and situations that need lavaliers. They easily clip on and adjust according to the environment while recording industry standard sound.

 

 2. Rode Video Mic ProBoston video production, video production company, sound, audio equipment

This may not be our go-to for classic interviews with little background noise, but when it comes to recording high-quality sound amongst a busy environment these are a winner. The shotgun style mic on these are dominant in their ability to zero in on the targeted source and neglect any surrounding noises. They also are a bit more budget friendly.

 

 3. Zoom H4nBoston video production, video production company, sound, audio equipment

This option is a bit more versatile and less specialized. It may not be as high-quality as a Rode, but the Zoom H4n produces incredible sound for a fantastic price. This recorder is also nice for a selection of different environments which makes it a better option for someone who wants quality sound for a number of different settings.

 

These are three of the trusted brands and models we have come to love in our experiences with Boston video production. For professional video production services, professional cameras and sound recorders are crucial. These specific sound recorders have proven their worth on our many different shoots and kept up with the ever-changing demands.

 

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

How Much B-Roll is Too Much?

In the production industry, B-Roll can be defined as supplemental footage that drives the story forward. It is correspondent to the A-Roll, which can be identified as the primary storyteller. No matter what you are shooting, the implementation of B-Roll is essential. For example, for documentaries, network news, or corporate videos, the A-Roll is the interviews. The B-Roll, however, would depict the footage that cuts away to shots of the subject, scene, setting, characters, and overall action, which is unique to every film. B-Roll shows viewers the story rather than simply telling it. It is responsible for presenting viewers with visuals to go along with the interviews.

Boston videographer

There is no such thing as too much B-Roll. The key is to film enough of it so that editors are able to insert the footage where it best fits. It is for this reason that there is no such thing as filming too many additional shots. The goal is to keep the story moving, to let it flow seamlessly. It confirms what the A-Roll is describing, making the visual aspect of the video all the more engaging. It would be unfair to categorize A-Roll as the more important, while it serves to establish and describe the film’s subject, B-Roll is what makes the story real, tangible, and comprehensible. Due to the advancement of editing software, the importance of each has become equal, yet the term “A and B editing” has stuck.

Regardless of the type of video, storytelling must be incorporated. They treat each set of footage as a team meant to shape a narrative, working together rather than competing with each other. If your video seems too monotonous, add in some B-Roll footage. Similarly, if the visual component is too distracting from the principal story, scale back. It is all about achieving a balance. Sometimes, there is a misconception that a shot may look better than it actually does, and there are lack of footage in the editing room. If all of the shots are out of focus, set up incorrectly, too light or dark, the video will not be visually successful.

boston video production

SVG, a video production company, partakes in shoots on a regular basis. Therefore, our video crews try to shoot as much B-Roll as possible. Naturally, a filmmaker wants their piece to reflect their best work. To do so, it is imperative to have options. Taking the extra time to film the same shot two or three more times, getting some additional footage of the video’s subject or its surroundings, truly makes all the difference. The more the better. When it comes to shooting, it is important to gather as much as you can so that there is no last minute panic in the editing room. If anything, you want a surplus of imagery to choose from to create a beautiful piece with a central theme and subject.

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

Live Shoot at New England School of Acupuncture

boston video productionOn April 4th, Skillman Video Group, a Boston video production company,was asked to shoot a presentation at the New England School of Acupuncture. The presentation was made by Robert Gracey. Mr. Gracey earned his Masters in Acupuncture from the Watertown school. The footage is to be used in helping Mr. Gracey with his video marketing. He will use it on his website and social media accounts to help build his brand. The live event took place over two hours and was shot in two parts: a lecture and a demonstration.

Lecture

The lecture lasted about 40 minutes and Mr. Gracey went through his background, education and methods. It was filmed on an iPhone 7 from a seat in the front row of the class. We didn’t want to get too close to Mr. Gracey as he spoke because he planned on moving out from behind the lectern as he spoke. If we were positioned too close, the camera angles would’ve been bad and the footage would’ve suffered. After he finished speaking about his methods, it was time for a volunteer to go through a demonstration of his treatment.

Demonstration

When the lecture was over and a volunteer chosen, it was time for Mr. Gracey to go to work. He is only one oflive event five acupuncturists in the United States that is certified to practice the Shakuju-kai method from Japan. At first we shot from another desk up by the demonstration. As the demo went on, it was important for us to stand to gain the best footage we could as all the students gathered around the massage table to watch up close. As the treatment was coming to and end, the students retreated back to their seats and we did too to finish up the live event.

Challenges

Since this was a live shoot, a few challenges were presented along the way. During the filming of the lecture, some late arriving students kept walking in front of the camera blocking some shots. Also, as the demonstration was being filmed, the students gathered around the table to watch Mr. Gracey perform. This caused for a quick rearrangement of the camera while trying to maintain a good shot. These challenges were minor but do underscore the nature of a live event. No matter what, you have to be prepared for anything.

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

L.E.K. Live Webcast

Recently, the consulting firm L.E.K. hired Skillman Video Group for their Boston video live eventwebcasting services. They needed us to webcast an important meeting of all their managing directors. Not all of them could be present, as L.E.K. has offices all over the world.  There was a lot of work that went into the production of this live event but our team was up for the challenge. The work was spread out over two days, the first day being used for setup. The second day was the live webcast.

 Set Up

boston video productionThe day before the meeting, out Boston video webcasting team was on the scene to set up. The set up look all day as there was much to do if we wanted to turn their meeting room into a television studio. The room was a large conference room with three rows of tables forming a semi circle.  The setup was broken down into 4 major parts: Lighting, Audio/Visual and the Control Room. Here’s how it was done:

  • Lighting-Three open faced lights with diffusion panels were used. This arrangement helped us capture the speaker in the right light during the presentation.
  • Visual-Alongside each of the lights were the cameras. The two cameras on the side of the room were to be used on shooting the audience when they spoke and for closeups of the main speaker. The third camera was set in the back of the room and was used for “safety shot.” Safety shots are taken by the director when the other cameras are establishing their shots.
  • Audio– Each seat in the room was equipped with their own microphone. The main speaker used a lavalier mic while he addressed the room. Getting the proper audio out of the room was integral to the people watching the webcast.
  • Control Room-Just outside the conference room was where we had our control room. It was a small unused office that we turned into a command center. All the cable we ran(and taped down for safety!) came out of this room and to its appropriate component. The director and webcasting engineer sat in here during the webcast. The director was calling the shots and the webcasting engineer was ensuring that a good signal was going out over the internet.

The Meetingboston video webcasting

The following day was when the actual meeting took place. Our Boston video production staff arrived around 6 a.m. to get ready for the long shoot. The live event started at 8 a.m. and ran until 5:30 p.m. Overall, the shoot went pretty well. There were some audio issues when the audience forgot to turn on their seat mics but otherwise there were not many hiccups. The director made sure we were getting good shots and our Boston video webcasting engineer was on top of the signal.

Breakdown

After the meeting concluded, it was time to strike the set. Everything we moved had to be moved back. The room had to look the way it did two days earlier before we set up. All the cable we laid down had to be wrapped back up and the gaffing tape had to be thrown away. Any set you break down should look like your video production crew was never there. After we finished, it was a wrap and time to go home!

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