Tag Archives: Post Production

Preparing Equipment for an Upcoming Shoot

Equipment for a Video Production Shoot

Are you planning a video production Boston shoot? Do you want to know all about how to find and/or use equipment for the shoot? Well lucky for you, I am here to provide that information!

Video Cameras

When creating a video project, you will definitely need a video camera. There is absolutely no question on this matter. Now, if you are doing this project for school, it is probably fine to use a smartphone. However, I would not recommend that method, as smartphones fill up storage quickly and the video quality is not as good as it would be on a regular camera.

Personally, I would either borrow a camera from a friend, or depending on the importance of the project vs. how many more videos you will have to take, invest in a nice beginner camera. Learn about DSLR Cameras

While preparing for my video shoot for Skillman Video Group: a Boston video production, I decided on using my Nikon D3400, even though the sound quality is terrible. The video is perfectly decent, and I was going to use an external microphone anyways.

Lighting Set Up

Making sure you have good light quality in your video is important. You don’t want your video to look like you took it in a dark cave in the middle of the night, so make sure your lighting is decent. Using natural light can be tricky in video, because of the sun changing and clouds. Overall, the sun is very fickle sometimes. You could be filming and then all of a sudden have to stop because the sun went behind a cloud. Or maybe you started filming when the sun was behind a cloud, but now the sun is shining in everyone’s faces and creating a glare on the camera. You can make natural light work, but artificial lights are always helpful. A couple soft box lights here and there would be a good idea if you’re planning to film indoors especially.

Audio for Video Production

Unless you have a professional video camera, like production companies Boston do, you might want to think about the sound quality on whatever camera you’re planning on using. Investing in an external microphone could be important if you’re going to be filming with a beginning camera like myself. This is especially important if you’re planning to film outside. With background noises whipping everywhere, having a microphone that can focus on the sounds you need in your video will be vital in ensuring that your video turn out good.

Preparing your equipment for a video shoot may be stressful, but as long as you think of everything you possibly could have and you stay organized, you’re all set!

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

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 season 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 thing 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

The Importance of Backing Up Footage

For any professional video crew, backing up footage, or, saving it in more than one place, is an important step in the production process. In doing so, it ensures that in the event of an emergency the footage that is irreplaceable can be salvaged by saving it someplace else. There are several things that can go wrong with a computer, including:

Hard drive failure
Theft
Physical damage to the computer
Infection from a virus
Computer crash

A normal backup is creating a duplicate copy of all the footage, which is especially useful if the original becomes damaged, corrupted, or lost. There are several examples of backup devices, but since video occupies so much data, the best option is to invest in a more extensive option. The price depends on how much space is needed, but even the most expansive options are relatively inexpensive. The three best examples are as follows:

Canon EOS 650D

An SD Card is the first form of protection. When footage is recorded, it automatically saves to the SD Card. For the entirety of the post-production process, it is wise to keep the footage on the SD Card in case something goes wrong. As a last resort, the original footage can be found on the card, and the editors can start from scratch.
Flash-Drives often hold megabytes of data, a good choice for sound footage, music, and footage for smaller projects. A flash-drive can be distinguished for each project, or each component of a video, therefore allowing for easy organization. A flash-drive’s contents can also be accessed through most computers, truly a portable and lightweight necessity.
For video production, an External Hard-Drive is the most thoughtful option. It has the capacity to hold terabytes of data, a very important feature, due to the aforementioned fact that video takes up a lot of space. An external hard-drive can hold footage for several projects, which is beneficial because they can be accessed in one place, but risky because if the hard-drive is lost, so is all of the data. For this reason, many video makers invest in several hard-drives.

Another option is online backup, a service that is offered through services such as Google Drive, iCloud, Raid, and BullGuard Internet Security. The benefit of utilizing the internet to save data is that it is accessible from any device, and it provides the option of backing up fully or in increments. Saving fully should be done prior to any modification to the footage, as well as after a full day of editing to make sure the latest changes have been saved. Saving incrementally should be done hourly during the editing process. A computer crash can occur at any time, and it pays off to be prepared.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when keeping footage safe is to be organized. Keeping track of data is just as important as backing it up. The more devices that are utilized, the more that maintenance is required, especially for an important project.

Skillman Video Group LLC specializes in video production Boston. 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.

Summer Intern Video “Dos Equis”

While being the summer intern at SVG, I learned some interesting new skills that improved my overall knowledge about video production. One of the tasks of being an intern at Skillman Video Group is that at the end of your terms, the intern must create a marketing film that will be used to promote the Boston video company . I was tasked with working on one of the videos this summer, which we decided would be a parody to the famous Dos Equis commercials. After planning and writing the script for this future production made by the summer interns, it was time to film.

Video production was going to remain generally simple for the actual film. The commercial was going to be a minute long with clean cuts throughout the whole video. This was the key to making such a simple but professional looking film. All the shots needed to be filmed in the best fashion so that the voiceover could accurately represent what was happening on screen. The iconic commercials that I’m sure so many of us are familiar with have been etched in our minds because of the comedic value. This was part of the production process that we focused on intently while representing SVG as a Boston video production company.

When we started on the video production day, the crew that we decided to use looked over the shot list to see the general idea of what we wanted to attain for this video. Once the camera started rolling, it took several try’s to figure out what movements and framing would work best and look the most professional. This took up a lot of time but it was necessary for making sure that the end product would have the clean and polished look that it deserved to exemplify what Skillman Video Group is all about. By working with such a talented video marketing company , my intern experience helped exemplify how a production day should run and how to properly get the shots needed for post- production.

All in all, the marketing video turned out to be a success. The video shots filmed were exactly what I needed for editing in post-production and it turned out being a fantastically easy process. This was all thanks to the amazing preproduction work done which included all the planning and time management organized prior to filming. SVG provides video production services that can be tailored to any companies needs with such amazing professionalism and creativity.

Boston Video Comedy

Ready to add some flair to your Boston video production? While comedy is a challenging beast due to its subjective nature, there are a few tried and true methods that can appeal to broad audiences. Here are a few tricks and tips to try during and after a Boston video company shoot to get some laughs.

Improv

As funny as a witty line of dialogue may be, after a certain point, the actor responsible for said line will no longer find it as funny as when they first read it. This can be counterproductive to comedic impact; eventually, the delivery of said line will feel disingenuous and lose its initial power from the first few takes. To get around this, try encouraging an actor to spitball a few different versions of the line with a few word changes or additions in the heat of the scene. If you’re forced to call “cut,” because the actors break into laughter from the improvised lines, you’re on the right track for a funny Boston video production.

Entering/Exiting

Comedy often sparks from the disruption of the status quo, which translates to a scene being interrupted or derailed by a sudden occurrence. An easy way to do this is to have a character barge into a scene, unannounced and unwarranted. “The Office” and “Parks and Rec” love to do these kinds of character entrances, thanks to their quick timing and sense of spontaneity. This also applies to characters exiting a scene. In one of the SVG intern videos, Jason’s character dashes out of a room as Nicolette is trying to warn him about his vain video attempt, but he leaves too quickly to hear what she has to say. British comedies will sometimes have characters exit frame by crashing through an object, such as a window, just to give another example.

Break the 4th Wall

The “4th wall” refers to the metaphysical concept of the barrier between performer and audience member. This concept is typically not meant to be addressed during a work of art, (especially film) because it can completely eliminate the sense of immersion. However, when used effectively and regularly, there is great potential for comedy. This is something that Martin Scorsese does in many of his films (ex: Wolf of Wall Street) by having the main character address the audience, thus breaking through the wall of the film medium. A quick note: this trick only works for fictional projects, so don’t expect an everyday Boston YouTube interview to be able to pull this off.

Rhythm of the Cut

For comedic video production services, post-production work must also be given apt attention. Editing becomes crucial because it decides the pacing of jokes in a given video. Sometimes, when this pattern is broken or interrupted, a particular joke can become even stronger. A great example of this is the power of the awkward pause. The audience is used to a cut for each punchline, but if you just extend the shot and don’t make the cut, the awkwardness in a scene can become palpable and really add to the humor.

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

After the Video Shoot

After being on a few sets with Skillman Video Group, a Boston video marketing company, I have learned as an intern why it is so important to have advanced equipment on each project. There were a couple pieces of production equipment that were very important to the day that SVG used while shooting enabling better film quality. Every film site can require different gear to make the Boston video production that much better and here at SVG, we make sure that our video production services meet any environments needs.

Microphone set up

At one particular Boston video production shoot that SVG was hired to film, our Boston videographer Chuck Green used various forms of microphone equipment to capture excellent sounds quality. Though it may seem normal to have several microphones in play to capture the interview recording, its important equipment like this that makes or breaks specific shoots. One of the microphones used was a mounted boom poll, which was set up right in front of the interviewee but out of the frame. The second one used was a lavaliere microphone that was attached to the collar of the subject being interviewed. These two forms equipment helped amplify the sound recording enabling a better quality to work with in postproduction.

Steady Camera Suit

Several weeks later I was on set at a Boston video production site that SVG was hired to film. This was a big warehouse full of large equipment making a set up traditional camera very difficult to maneuver. Luckily the camera used that day was mounted on a steady camera suit. This enabled the cameraman to quickly adjust his position while filming but still providing a smooth, steady shot. This suit was like an armor that was strapped on to the cameraman and was pretty heavy after 4 hours of filming. But the major benefit was the mobility that is permitted. The shots for that specific Boston video production were clean and fluid with the movement of the technology being recorded. Our post-production team will have plenty of material to work with when working with specific client all thanks to the handy camera suit.

There is a lot of fancy equipment available this day and age and technology is only getting better. Focusing on the necessities that make a shoot better for the client and our Boston production company are a key factor as to why we at SVG are prepared for all types of productions. When it comes to the day of filming, you can rely on the equipment and the production team to ensure a great final product.

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

How To Improve Audio Recordings

It is a challenge for many Boston video production sets to make sure the audio is set to the right levels and that the back ground noise isn’t picked up. This is a difficult thing for many technical production crews and producers to eliminate because let’s face it, unwanted noise can happen in even the smallest amounts. There are a few ways to help eliminate this undesirable noise while filming on a production set and as a Boston video company, Skillman Video Group is here to help with some tips.

Mount the Microphone

Figuring out the best way to configure a microphone to eliminate the background noise on a production shoot isn’t simple. One way to get rid of the vibration sound is to mount a microphone on a stand. By holding a microphone in ones hand, there is a possibility of picking up movement from the fingertips during a recording.

Pop Shield

Certain sounds are known to release a burst of air while being recorded during a video production. This can be extremely difficult to remove in post-production, but while on set there is a way to eliminate any excess noise. By using a pop shield that covers the microphone, unwanted sound can diminish. The pop shield is just a circular frame with a fine sheer material stretched across it, which eliminates the excess popping noise.

Pop ShieldCertain sounds are known to release a burst of air while being recorded during a shoot. This can be extremely difficult to remove in post-production but while on set there is a way to eliminate any excess noise. By using a pop shield that covers the microphone, unwanted sound can diminish. The pop shield is just a circular frame with a fine sheer material stretched across it, which eliminates the excess popping noise.

Room Environment

Room tone or room environment can be a huge contributor to and source of background noise. Recording environment needs to be quiet meaning any fans, electronics, and people are silent during production. Sometimes a video marketing company can be hired for a project that does not require sound to be recorded; in these cases the audio levels do not need to be monitored and the producer can focus on the shots needed. On the video production sites where sounds does matter, the producer and director have to pay close attention to the sound that is being emitted on set. Many editing programs have ways to manipulate the external noise in a room but it all comes down to what the raw footage captured.

Ken, boom mic operator

Audio is a difficult part of production because sometimes a set cannot control every aspect of the sound. It is the job of the producer and the director to problem solve and work to the best of their ability to obtain the shots and audio desired for a client. Through the use of these specific tips along with many other sources, audio can be controlled and mastered in most situations. The key is to come prepared and have all the equipment at the set just incase it is needed as part of the video production services.

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

The Boston Video Production Blog