Tag Archives: corporate video production

Shooting a Live Event

Skillman Video Group did a shoot on Wednesday, August 15th, for a medical malpractice insurance company called Coverys. Coverys is a consistent client of Skillman Video Group, and continues to be a client through the years. We filmed a talk for them during a live conference. And now, I am here to tell you all about what happened during the shoot, and what I learned from it.

Video Production Lighting

Lighting during live event shooting for Boston video production can be tricky. During the shoot for Coverys, the lighting was not very good. The lights on the ceiling for the room were not very powerful, but the light coming in from the half-covered windows was ridiculously bright. This resulted in some very interesting shadows on the speaker’s face whenever she would walk to the left side of the stage. However, we were able to adjust the camera settings so that the actual footage was not that bad. So if you plan on shooting a live event, be aware of the lighting in the room. It could make or break your video.

Audio for A Live Event

When filming a live event, sound is kind of a problem. You can’t use your own sound feed from your camera, because it would be picking up the entire room sound and everyone watching the speaker, as well as the actual speaker. Basically, the sound would be messy and awful. For video production Boston, it’s important to make sure the venue of the event can provide the sound feed for you. That way you can hook up the microphone on the speaker to your camera, which is what we did, and the sound will be a lot better.

Location of the Camera

Funnily enough, the location of the actual camera during a shoot for a live event is more complicated than one might think. Because guess what. The shoot comes second to the live event that is going on. Which means that you can’t just put your camera in front of the stage and block everyone’s view, even if it means you’ll get a better shot. And you can’t film from the audience, because the angle that the speaker would be being filmed at in video production companies Boston would be absolutely awful. So we put our camera on a riser platform at the very back of the stage. That way nobody is being blocked by the camera, and the camera can get a lovely eye-level shot of the speaker. I recommend that if you are filming a live event, you make sure your camera is on a riser platform as well.

I learned a lot from participating in a live event shoot, and I hope you learned something as well!

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

What to Expect on Shoot Day

Recently, I filmed a YouTube video that I had written for my internship with Skillman Video Group. And building up to the shoot day, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I made sure I was prepared, and I made sure my actors were prepared as well. However, I still didn’t learn what was really going to happen until it did, so here I am to teach you a few things you should expect on a shoot day for Boston video production.

Actors

Now, if you’re filming a YouTube video, odds are you don’t have professional actors. I definitely didn’t. However, the actors I did manage to convince to be in my video did an excellent job regardless. But because they were not professional actors for video production Boston, none of them were completely confident in their lines. They all knew their lines, but they were still nervous about performing them once the camera started rolling. What I needed to do was make sure they were as comfortable as possible, and once they were, they did an amazing job. So don’t get frustrated with your actors for not doing something a certain way. Most people don’t perform well under pressure, so try to instead be encouraging and patient, and odds are the shoot will go smoothly.

Sound

I am going to be completely honest. I don’t have a ton of experience with sound in video. I usually just don’t film many videos with sound in it at all. I’m more of a put music in the background and silence the video type of person. However, for this shoot, since I wrote in several lines, sound was a huge priority. I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a camera that I could record the sound on separately. My camera does not have decent sound recording, so this was extremely helpful. I would recommend doing this for anyone who doesn’t have access to an external microphone or camera with better sound recording.

Shooting a YouTube video for video production companies Boston can be stressful, but in the end it’s worth it. If you know what to expect, you stay organized, and you make little to no mistakes, you will end up with a product you are proud of, and that is all that really matters.

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

Tips For Interviews

How To Film an Interview

Last week Crown Visual reached out to Skillman Video Group to produce a corporate video. Christina Skillman Interviewed the owners of the company asking them all kinds of questions from the history of the company to the cleaning process. So, What are the necessary steps you need to take when conducting an interview?

Top Interview Tips

Interview Location:

When filming an interview, one of the most important factors of is it the location. Depending on the location, it can make a video interesting, it can help set a mood, and even help tell the story. By shooting b-roll of the location, it can also help the viewer get a better understanding of a company and how it runs. Even if a location isn’t great, it’s always good to prep the room to make it more interesting for the viewer.

Camera Setup for Interviews

One of the most important things you need to have when shooting an interview is two angles on a subject. Although we only filmed with one camera for the Crown video shoot, it’s helpful to have two cameras because it allows different angles and shots. It can not only make a video more interesting but it can help establish the story.

Lighting and Audio Tips

To get the right shot, one thing you need to think about is the lighting. For a film, it’s important to know what 3 point light system is. The 3 point light system is a standard light set up often used for interviews. It is a system that allows light to focus in on the subject. It can make a difference in your video for it puts your subject in better focus. For audio, you can have something look great, but if you don’t have great audio, you won’t have a great video. Audio and visuals go hand in hand. You need to be able to hear the subject clearly and make sure that the audio levels are just right. You don’t want to film something and then have the audio levels way too high or too low. There needs to be a balance. Audio can make or break a video, without crisp sound than you are already losing the quality of your video.

Next time you have an interview to film, think about these steps to have a great outcome on your video!

Skillman Video Group LLC specializes in Boston video production. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-014

Jobs of a Crew Member in Corporate Video Production

One of the most important components of a video production crew is teamwork. In order to achieve a productive workflow on set, and in order to lessen the possibility of a stressful environment, it is important for every member of the production crew to know, understand, and execute their role to the best of their abilities. This is especially important when working with a deadline, or for a client who is expecting their brand to be portrayed in a professional light.

Regardless of the scale of the production, there are a few key members that are part of every video crew. They include:

The Director is in charge of the video’s creative aspects, and has input on its plot, tone, and the actors’ performances. The director also has a say in the video’s lighting, camera composition, and possible soundtrack, as well as location and maintaining an organized set environment. The director has a direct relationship with the producer, and oftentimes the responsibilities of each overlap, which is why open communication is so important.

The Director of Photography manages the camera crew, lighting equipment, and grips. The director relies heavily on the DP in order to execute the perfect shot, especially because the DP controls and chooses the camera, lenses, filters, shot composition, and light design. All this is done in order to ensure the director’s vision is carried out, and to produce a successful, professional video for the client’s brand.

The Sound Engineer records sound on set and mixes the audio footage accordingly in post production. They are responsible for developing a clear, audible video that allows viewers to hear every word. Sound is one of the most important features of a video, as an audience must be able to hear what is taking place in order to understand the overall message.

The Gaffer controls the lighting. It is important for a corporate video crew to have an AC in order to ensure a clear image and a visually successful video. The room’s temperature must be taken into account in order to film in the correct setting, and the aperture, white balance, and level of exposure must also be modified according to the set’s appearance.

The Hair and Makeup Team is responsible for making the video’s subject look appropriate and put together, which establishes professionalism and a businesslike tone. In order for a video to resonate with an audience, the talent must look proficient.

The Production Assistant assists other crew members on set with any additional duties. Usually, they are there to learn about the dynamic of a set and crew relations, and are responsible for making the shoot run smoothly by accommodating any requests that may come about.

The Teleprompter

Every video shoot is different, and depending on its scale, several members may be assigned the same role. A professional crew can be as little as 1 or 2 members, or as big as more than 10. Nevertheless, it is important for every person to know what their job entails in order to produce an outstanding video.

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

Equipment on Set: Acupuncture

This past week, Skillman Video Group filmed on location at a local health club and gym and aromatherapy and acupuncturist office to create video content for our client- Acupuncturist Robert Gracey. The goal of the shoot was to film short videos of Gracey in action and interview him and his patients about the healthcare services that he offers. In order to pull this off our team of Boston videographers had to film a variety of shots including interviews, action shots, and some B-roll of Gracey at work with his patients. Each of these shots required a different set up for the camera and different equipment, but luckily SVG is a top Boston video production company and is always prepared for anything.

Interviews

To get an inside look at the services that Gracey offers our Boston video production team arranged a series of interviews with Gracey himself and a few of his acupuncture patients. This group of people is better than just a single interview with Gracey because it provides multiple perspectives of the services that he offers and potential patients who view this video will be able to learn about the treatments from actual patients.

Equipment Needed

Large room with adequate lighting
Lighting equipment with extension cords and adjustable stands
High power microphone that is easily attached to a shirt
High quality video camera and playback screen
Tripod for video camera

Our team of Boston videographers were lucky on this shoot because we were able to conduct our interviews in a large exercise studio in Watertown that provided the perfect backdrop for our healthcare professional. Because the lighting equipment and camera were on tripods we could easily maneuver the equipment to create a variety of shots and backgrounds for each of the different people that were interviewed. This technique allows our corporate video production team to make a large space look even larger!

Action Shots

After the interviews were finished it was time to film Robert Gracey in action. The next step was to get footage of Gracey working out in the gym and doing meditations in the studio. Our Boston video production team also followed him to his personal acupuncture studio to get some shots of him working on a patient. The interviews were just telling the viewer of the video what services he offers, but these action shots are actually showing us what kind of person Gracey is and what the services that he offers actually look like. This can be very reassuring for potential patients who are on the fence about acupuncture. Seeing a video of Gracey working with a client and then hearing the client speak about the treatment is a great way to showcase Gracey’s healthcare methods.

Equipment Needed

light-weight and powerful lighting that can be repositioned depending on location
Steady-cam rig for the video camera for smooth moving shots

Audio recording and microphones are less important for these clips because they are more focused on looking at Gracey rather than hearing what he has to say. These clips are showing, not telling. Rather than placing the camera on a stationary tripod, our Boston videographer used a steady-cam set up. This is a tool that is attached to the body of the videographer so that the videographer become the tripod. The camera is able to move smoothly without bumps or shaking because of the extensive rig so that the videographer can shoot graceful footage while walking around a subject. This was extremely useful while filming Gracey working out in the gym or chopping vegetables in the kitchen.

Professional video production companies love working with friendly and kind healthcare professionals like Robert. He was engaged, energetic and ready to work as soon as he stepped on set. This video shoot was complex because it involved a variety of gear and each shot was unique, meaning that each shot involved a different combination of gear and positioning. Our team of Boston videographers came to set prepared and was able to get each shot and deliver a final product that accurately portrays this skilled acupuncturist.

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

Your Video Shoot Checklist

This week, Skillman Video Group showcased their professional video production talents on a video shoot in Beacon Hill to shoot a series of interview style videos. The location of this shoot was indoors, on the fourteenth floor of a large, Boston office building to be exact. Our team was provided with a small office building overlooking the skyline of South Boston. Despite the size of the room, our team was able to organize multiple different angles and backgrounds for each interview, giving the illusion that the room was much larger.

In order to pull off this shoot, our Boston videographers needed a specific amount and variety of video equipment. Luckily, SVG is experienced in on location shoots and we are always prepared for whatever situations arise.

Cameras

For this particular shoot our team decided to use two cameras. One would film the primary footage of the interviewee and face them head on (this camera is also filming in higher quality). The other was positioned at an angle to get a side view of the interviewee. Our video production service’s advanced audio visual technology automatically linked the footage together so that during the editing process it the two angles would share a synched audio, allowing for a much simpler editing experience. On this shoot we used a Sony FS7 Ultra High Definition Camcorder and a Sony FS 100 Camcorder. The Sony FS7 was the main camera for the interviews and footage was shot in 4k. The cameras were positioned on two different types of tripods. The FS7 was on a Manfrotto tripod made of carbon fiber and the FS100 on a Miller aluminum that was made in Australia.

Using two cameras of the same brand is recommended by corporate video production companies because the software and equipment is more compatible when it is of the same manufacturer. The picture quality will also match between the main view and the side-shot even though the cameras are filming at varying qualities.

Audio

On this particular shoot, our Boston professional video production company brought over $24,000 in professional video equipment. Our professional videographer, Chuck brought two different types of microphones. We used a Sennheiser shotgun mic for more straightforward audio recording and a wired Sony lavalier microphone to clip onto the lapel of the interviewees. This provided us with the highest quality sound for our interview videos.

Lighting

Just in case the natural light coming in from the windows in the background of the interviews was too harsh, we brought along Gels. Gels are screens that soften the light and create a neutral density that reduces sunlight for shots against windows. The key is to flood the subject with so much light that it balances out the shot. Gels are attached with a squeegee and sponge.

Accessories

You may think that the only things needed on set for a video shoot are the basic, camera, microphone and lights, but every professional video production company knows that you need a lot more than that in order to have a successful day on set. One unexpected item that is always needed on set is sandbags! These heavy sacks are used to weight down tripods and stands that hold up important and expensive equipment. If it weren’t for sandbags, a lot of equipment would be knocked over and broken or moved out of place and this would disrupt the entire shoot in a major way. Another important tool to have on set is extension cords! If you are filming on location you never know how many or how far away the outlet will be, so it is very important to bring plenty of extension cords that that electricity is close by and bountiful! When filming interviews, make sure to keep a limited makeup kit near by. This is useful because sometimes the subjects will sweat and their faces will appear shining and glaring on camera. Just a touch of make up on the nose and forehead will completely solve this issue!

Not everything that a successful video marketing team brings with them to set will be needed, but it is important to have everything that you could possibly need because you never know what will happen on set when you’re filming corporate video.

Skillman Video Group, LLC specializes in Boston video production. Please call 1-800-784-0140 to learn more.

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.