Video production is intimidating for any recent college graduate, but with help from experienced professionals any concept can come to life. Through the past two months I have learned a lot working with Skillman Video Group like the importance of storytelling, being organized, and not settling for average. Working as the head student producer for my college was nothing compared to the real world of professional video production.
Skillman Video Group has high standards and I didn’t want my video to be anything less than great. Editing has always been my forte but professional cinematography and lighting was slightly out of my realm of expertise. I was able to borrow some filming equipment from my former professor at university, which would make the filming task easier because I was familiar with the equipment.
Equipment:
- Sony XD video camera –Filming the interview
- Nikon DSLR d3300 camera- Filming B-roll
- Tripod- Camera stability
- 2 high voltage lighting fixtures- Illuminate room and interviewee
- Lavaliere- Record interview
- Headphones-listen to audio
Concept
The concept for this video was to provide helpful insight to SVG’s potential clients regarding what businesses should consider before setting up a meeting to discuss a marketing video. After some discussion we decided interviewing Christina Skillman, SVG CEO and creative director, would be best. Besides, any business wants to be informed directly from a producer.
Set-up
For the interview setting I wanted the style to be documentary. I had worked with documentary style videos in the past and SVG had recently done a shoot using this technique. Fortunately, Christina Skillman was the only person I had to interview so we wouldn’t have to continuously change up interview spots. The interview would take place in an SVG office located in Faneuil Hall. However, filming in an office can have its difficulties. For one we are constricted on space, and second the sound from the busy Boston streets and conversations from the offices next door. Sound a lack of depth would be an issue to overcome, but the rustic brick walls as the background made up for it. Because it was a sunny day in Boston natural lighting illuminated the room enough that we only needed one lighting fixture. Though we had the brick wall as our background, it’s also important to include props. We angled the chair Christina would be sitting in so the brick wall would be seen as well as the shelf with props. With any interview setting it’s important to have enough room between the seating of the interviewee and the background. Fortunately Jack, SVG’s Marketing Coordinator, was there to help run the camera while I asked Christina the questions.
Once settled into the setting we adjusted the lighting. Yes, natural lighting is great but clouds can cause problems. We puts the shades up over the windows which allowed some natural lighting to come through but we used the lighting fixture to provide the most illumination.
Sound
Headphones are the best tool to have on set when listening to audio. If background sound is picked up from the lavaliere we are able to detect it right away and start the interview question over. Though we were concerned with street noise and conversations happening in the offices next door, we only had to stop once to redo a question.
Before filming I made a list of the B-roll I needed to capture that would relate to the interview questions and answers:
- Person writing notes
- Person walking and pondering (soul searching)
- Person pretending to work at desk in front of computer
- Person sitting down with their clients
- Person looking out the window pondering
- On the computer plugging in numbers or has a spread sheet open
- On the computer looking at SVG videos
- Walking into the SVG building
- Talking on the phone
- Christina shaking hands with client (person)
- Christina talking with the client (person)
- Person at their place of business
Before capturing b-roll with Christina, I decided to take some b-roll of myself pretending to be the client. I was able to film at a family friends office where I gave off the impression that I was working and pondering. Overall the b-roll was average. It’s difficult acting and filming at the same time especially when you can’t see how the image looks. Nevertheless, I was able to capture more b-roll on the day of filming. However, instead of using the Sony XD video camera, I opted to use my Nikon DSLR camera just in case I ran out of card space on the video camera.
After moving desks, chairs, and video equipment around, Christina and Jack pretended to talk while I filmed them seemingly having a discussion about video marketing. I took different angles of the two looking at the computer and going through the SVG homepage, shaking hands, and having a conversation. Once that was finished, Jack took the reigns on filming and shot me pretending to work at my desk and taking phone calls. This b-roll would also be incorporated into the video.
Once filming was finished we found that we had enough content and subjects to make two videos. Each would be around the two-minute range and would incorporate the first concept of knowing what to have in order before creating a marketing video, and the benefits of a professional video marketing company. Though editing is my favorite part when it comes to production, finding a program that would support the video and allow a wide range of tools was difficult. Moving into the final stages of post-production my goal is to create perfection and export a video that is visually effective and informative for the SVG clients.
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. 
