Tag Archives: Boston

L.E.K. Live Webcast

Recently, the consulting firm L.E.K. hired Skillman Video Group for their Boston video webcasting 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

The 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 Meeting

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.

Live Event Shoot at M.I.T.

On March 17, Skillman Video Group shot a live event at the M.I.T. campus. It was for the Sloan School of Business Docotral Research Forum. Even though it was a quick and simple shoot, a lot of hard work still went into it.

Set-Up

Arriving at 8:30 a.m. for a 10:00 start time, the crew got to the room and immediately started to set up. Using a total of three cameras, the team from our Boston video production company got them in place. Two of the cameras were to be used to shoot the speakers while the third one was focused on the projector screen as a placeholder. This was going to be helpful in the editing process. We also had to white balance the camera so that the video we captured was the right color. For lighting, we used two open faced lights and one LED fixture. One of the open faced lights was placed in the back of the room, looking down on the subjects. The other two were placed off to the right of the presenters and helped kill any shadows. Another important aspect of the set up was the blocking. We marked an X on the floor with some gaffing tape in the spot we needed the speaker to stand. This also helped with eliminate shadows by blocking out back light. The audio was sourced through the house system but we still had to test the levels to ensure that the quality was top-notch.

Shoot

The shoot itself took a little under two hours to complete. Each student presented their thesis and then took questions from a panel of three judges. It was integral to the shoot that our camerapeople were able to get the necessary footage while not taking away from the experience itself. That is true for all live event shoots. Soon after the last speaker presented, the shoot was finished.

Breakdown

Whenever you are breaking down a set, you want to make it seem as if you were never there in the first place. If you moved a table or chair, move it back. If you use gaffing tape to hold down cables, make sure it goes in the trash afterwards. After our Boston video production team cleaned up and packed up all the equipment, it was time to go. The project was not finished however, as there is still plenty of work left to be done in the editing room. Syncing the PowerPoint slides on the projector screen with the sound of the speaker is no easy task. No project is ever fully finished until the client is delivered the tape.

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

Tips for a Video Marketing Shoot

For a video marketing company, it is important that the videos you shoot are effective at conveying your message. The first step towards having an effective video is having a successful shoot. As a leading Boston production company, Skillman Video Group can provide you with some tips to make the most out of your video shoot.

Plan Ahead

Preparation is key. Knowing what you want to shoot, where you want to shoot, and the style of the video are important aspects to your video shoot. What kind of video do you want? Draft a storyboard so you have an idea of what the video should look like when it is all done. If you are shooting outdoors, scout the location beforehand. Take note of anything that may hinder your shoot so you aren’t surprised the day of and have to readjust on the fly. Bring backup equipment in the event something breaks. You can never have enough batteries. Having enough equipment on hand provides insurance if something goes wrong. Also, have a clear goal in mind. If your Boston video production is to be successful, you have to know what you want your audience to take away from it.

Stick to Schedule

Time is of the essence so try not to waste any during your shoot. Try to give yourself as much time as possible for the shoot but with the understanding that the unexpected can happen so you may end up being pressed. It is important to have a production schedule available to work off. It will provide you with the “whos, whats, wheres, whens and hows” of the shoot. Staying on schedule will go a long way to ensuring a successful shoot.

Get Good Value

Your video marketing company may have the best plans laid out for the shoot, but if the quality of the video is not any good, it will be hard making the video a success. Be sure to check your cameras white balance so that it captures the true colors of the shot, and is not affected by the light. Use a tripod when possible so that you have a steady shot. Also use any filters necessary for lighting as natural sunlight can cause a negative affect to your footage.

Let it B-Roll

Before going into any shoot, your Boston production company should know what kind of B-roll footage you will need. B-roll is any video that is shown during your production that is not of the primary subject. For example, while your subject talks about their product or services, B-Roll is the footage that is shown of people using the companys’ product or services. It could be used to show your office or town that your company is in. Planning out your B-roll will help prevent you from needing footage you do not have. Also, you can never have enough B-roll so shoot as much as you can.

When it comes time to shoot for a video marketing company, there are many factors that go into making it a success. These tips are just a few that will help you get there.

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

Boston Videography

With all the advances being made in mobile technology, it seems like anyone with a phone can become the next Scorsese. While it is true that more and more videos are being shot on phones these days, there are still certain tips and tactics to take advantage of to become a great videographer. Here at Skillman Video Group, a Boston video production company our Boston videographers utilize a variety of methods to ensure the highest quality video.

No Shake in Your Take

Unless you are shooting an earthquake scene, the camera should be held steady. Using a tripod is the most effective way to take the shake out of your scene but is not necessary. Mounting the camera on the wall will also help keep a steady shot. You can obviously hold the camera in your hand as well, but make sure that any body movements or breathing do not cause your Boston video production to suffer.

The More the Merrier

Just like with anything in life, the more options you have, the better. Most first time Boston videographers will set up the camera, take the B-roll they want and call it a day. Do not do this. Get creative. If you are shooting a conversation, try from over the shoulder of each participant. It will give a real feel to the video that you might not achieve with a standard wide shot. Taking many different shots from various angles of the same scene will only serve to help you in the editing room. No one likes to see a two hour movie all shot from the same perspective so keep that in mind as go out on your shoot.

Bright Lights, Big City

Having the proper lighting for your scene is very important. You want your subjects face to be lit, but not too much so position your lights in a way that sheds the right amount of light. Sometimes you have to deal with the elements and shoot outdoors. While the sun is an obvious great source of lighting, always know where the sun is. Try to shoot with the sun behind you. If that is too bright for your subject, try using different filters to help shield the sun. Working in a Boston video production company also means dealing with less than ideal conditions outside. Be sure to have waterproof equipment and all the proper rain gear to keep yourself dry out there!

Zoom Out!

If you’re an amateur Boston videographer, you might think the more the camera moves the better. However, constant zooming and panning can leave the viewers of your video feeling as if they just took a trip down whitewater rapids in a milk crate. Let the action on film dictate where the camera goes. Your pans and zooms should have a purpose and be of benefit to the viewer, not a distraction.

Shooting a high quality video does not need to be tough. Incorporating these tips into your shoot will help you create the video that you want.

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

Representing Our Client and Ourselves

Client Testimonial Video Production from Skillman Video Group on Vimeo.

When a business hires Skillman Video Group, there’s an implicit trust that comes along with the arrangement. The business trusts that we are, first and foremost, capable professionals who are able to bring out the best stories from other people. This trust is especially important when our client is based in St. Louis, and our job is to remotely produce a video for them in Boston.

A few weeks ago, we had the privilege to film a client testimonial for Stackify at the gorgeous, downtown-Boston offices of Carbonite. Since we were hired by Stackify, not Carbonite, we were there as ambassadors of the Stackify brand, and this is a responsibility that we took very seriously.

So, after we had our equipment rigged, our frame composed, and our white balance… balanced, our CEO, Creative Director, and Producer Christina Skillman sat down with our contact, Carbonite’s Chief Engineer, to get a sense of Stackify’s influence in the work place.

Now, we at Skillman Video Group were not give the chance to check out the Carbonite offices prior to shooting, so, once we got there, we needed to employ a series of smart judgments to get the most out of the space. It takes a certain level of experienced judgment and familiarity with process to come into an unfamiliar area, and still produce something that looks fantastic. We have enough experience to know what to expect, and we always bring the right gear to get the job done.

Our content speaks for itself, and wow did we get a lot of material to work with. See how the embedded video is roughly two minutes long? It’s been cut from roughly thirty minutes of back and forth interview, and we couldn’t help but get tons of B-Roll of Carbonite’s beautiful office. The way we construct narrative, tell stories, and show these stories visually requires the skilled, intuitive understanding of how audiences connect with the people and media they engage with.

In video, the construction of narrative first happens on set. A big challenge with this shoot was producing content that appealed to both highly skilled, technically oriented engineers, and also managers who lack the technical expertise. Simultaneously appealing to both audiences is obviously very difficult, but we were able to get enough personality and raw, technical content out of the interview to construct a powerful narrative.