Tag Archives: Video Production

Writing a Script for a Video

How to Write Script for Marketing Videos

Part of the work of a summer intern at Skillman Video Group is to create a video for YouTube that you write, direct, and edit all by yourself. Now, this can seem pretty simple, considering it’s just a five or six minute YouTube video depending on whatever topic you choose. But no, this is just simply not the case.

Creating an Idea for a Marketing Video

If you’re interested in making a YouTube video, you should choose whether or not you want it to be funny or serious. Personally, I chose to make a funny video. You could also decide to make something serious, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Lots of amazing videos and short films are serious, but I personally would rather make something fun. Something that makes everyone laugh…hopefully. You also need a concept: a topic for your video. I decided to make my video an SVG-themed parody of a popular reality tv show called “The Bachelorette”. I picked this because most people know what it is, and it’s extremely easy to make fun of. Sometimes important sacrifices have to be made when it comes to Boston video production humor.

How to Write a Script

Next, if you want your video to be the least bit successful, you will need to write a script for it. This is the hard part. You have to make sure your story makes sense whilst creating characters, jokes, and ironing out all the details. You need to be thinking about locations you can use, people who can play your characters, and what is funny and what isn’t. Writing the script for my marketing video took a while because I had to figure out which contestants could be funny yet sensible options for my parody show. However, since the show already exists, I basically just followed the layout of a typical Bachelorette episode, which made my job a little easier.

Video Concept Ideas

Coming up with a concept for a video is easier said than done. However, once you come up with one, turning that into a script is a lot more complicated. We didn’t even discuss what shooting and editing one is like! But once you have all of your details ironed out, you will have created something you’ll be proud of for a long time. Forever, actually, since once something is on the internet it never really goes away.

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

Target Audience and Market Segments

In 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 experience as a New England video production company, it has proven itself undeniably valuable to creating successful video content.

Our 3 Favorites for Quality Sound

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

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 Pro

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 H4n

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.

Our Most Recent Corporate Video Shoot

Professional Video Equipment

There were two Sony FS7 cameras set up, one for a wider shot, and one for a closer shot of the talent. They were the two primary cameras used on set. Then, in order to shoot the B-Roll, the professional videographers on set used shoulder rigs and mobile tripods to get shots of the animals at the clinic, the facilities, external shots of the building, and the doctor performing various actions, such as lecturing, performing checkups, and brushing the pet’s teeth. One of the plans for B-Roll footage was to attach a GoPro to one of the dogs in order to get a POV shot.

The Audio Equipment

For the audio setup during the interview, a shotgun microphone was placed above the talent just outside of the shot, which made sure that her voice was picked up clearly and in a reasonable decibel range. For extra coverage and clarity, a lavaliere microphone was attached to her clothing. An audio booth was set up towards the back of the room so that the crew member, with the use of headphones, was able to gauge the varying levels and clearness of the talent’s voice. Moreover, the audio had to be directed three ways, which is called a video village. The audio had to be sent to the two FS7 cameras, and then to the actual audio recording device.

Lighting for Production Shoots

For this particular interview, there was an extensive lighting setup. Several LED lights –Lite Softboxes — were used to counteract the backlight, which was coming in through the window behind the talent. The key and fill lights were strategically placed so that the interviewee was evenly lit, which gave the video a professional look. Since LED lights are quite harsh, it was important to diffuse some of the light and reflect it elsewhere. For the B-Roll, there was a battery powered mobile LED box, which was used as needed when moving around the hospital.

In order to produce a successful video, every element of the production process has to be harmonious and planned with great detail. While the set had not been seen until the actual day of shooting, and while there was some troubleshooting with regard to positioning certain lights, there was still a cohesive plan that coordinated with the schedule. Every member of the crew was aware of their respective on-set roles, which made for an incredibly adept day of filming.

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

My Brand Video Shoot at SVG

As a Film and Television major at Boston University, most of my assignments include video planning, production, and editing. However, producing a video for SVG is different because I must always keep in mind that I am speaking on behalf of SVG’s brand, and not my own vision. When I saw the work that previous interns had done, I was struck by how they were able to combine wit, humor, and professionalism. In the weeks leading up to shooting, I was struggling to figure out how I could also incorporate these elements, until I decided to take a more personal route.

The discovery process for this project consisted of a Q&A discussion about SVG’s history and brand identity. While I have been on a few shoots, and have witnessed the discovery process firsthand, doing it myself asserts its importance, and how much efficiently a project can be completed when there is a pre-existing communication between the subject and the producer. The answers from the interview are going to be a voiceover over various shots of the city, in order to emphasize SVG as a company centralized in Boston. On the actual day of shooting, which was last Friday, I gathered about half of the B-Roll that I plan to accumulate, so that it can be playing simultaneously with the voiceover. While the voiceover provides the information, the B-Roll presents nice visuals which make SVG’s message real and tangible. This brand video is a good example of how video is used to tell a story, and how it can convey a message that attracts a wider audience, one that people are able to relate to.

By optimizing the video, I can finally grasp the importance of SEO and social media marketing. Disseminating the video through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, it has a high chance of reaching our primary audiences, as well as potential clients who are drawn to SVG’s history and overarching message – which is explicitly stated in the video.

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

My Pre-Production Process

What is Pre-Production?

For any video, the pre-production process is inherently unique to every individual. As an intern at SVG for the summer, I have been given the opportunity to make a video that depicts SVG’s message in an original fashion. As a Film and Television student at Boston University, I could not be more excited, because this is the first time I will be producing content for a company, rather than for a class or personal project.

Pre-Production Planning

For this particular endeavor, I want to make sure that my style as a content creator is apparent, and the first step is establishing the message that I want to communicate, and then figuring out the most creative or captivating way to achieve that goal. After developing a few ideas, I decided to shift towards a personalized direction, in which SVG’s story is told from an intimate perspective. I believe that every business has a story, and touching upon the moving and engaging aspects that they are built upon brings to light the values, traditions, and hopes that are not always visible to a general audience. The video’s format will be interview-like, and some of the talking points are as follows:

SVG is a Boston Video Production Company, why was this business started? Why Boston?
What makes video the most important medium of communication? Why is it so impactful?
What are the biggest obstacles SVG has faced? How have they contributed to our success?
What story do we want to tell as we help others tell their own? What is the most important aspect of running a business?

Why is Pre-Production Important?

Once the idea is developed, the next step is organizing shoot dates, gathering equipment, and recruiting people to help on set. Even though this is a corporate video, the equipment will be relatively simple – a DSLR camera and audio equipment that I will use to record voiceover and any other sound effects I might need. The shoot should take a full day, and will take place in mid to late July, in time for the editing process to be finished by early August. In addition to having a developed idea, maintaining organization both on and off set is essential. For anyone producing a video, an extra measure to take is making a call sheet to give to the talent and crew, which accounts for starting and wrap times, weather, location, and any other important details.

Skillman Video Group LLC specializes in video production Boston. 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.

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.

Different Types of Audio Equipment

While every video shoot is different, whether it be an independent project or a shoot that requires a team of videographers, recording sound is still one of the most important aspects to create a successful video. Whether it is a how-to, corporate, or entertainment video, there is an overwhelming amount of technology to choose from. Audio equipment is designed for recording, mixing, and reproducing sound, but the most important device on a video shoot is a microphone, which is solely responsible for picking up sound at an appropriate decibel, so that the footage is able to be heard and edited successfully. The most popular microphones are as follows:

Built-In Microphones

As the name implies, built in microphones are found in the camera. While there is a wide range of cameras to choose from, chances are that this type of microphone will be too far away from your subject, and the sound will not record as well as it could with a separate piece of audio equipment. Instead, this microphone will pick up every sound that occurs between your subject and the camera’s placement, which might be useful for ambience. This is why audio equipment, apart from the camera itself, is so important. In order for the video to resonate with the audience, they need to be able to hear it.

Lavalier Microphones

Perhaps the most useful for professional corporate videos, and most used by news anchors and interviewees, lavalier mics are small, portable microphones that can be attached to a person’s clothing, allowing them to speak and be heard clearly. When using this type of microphone, it is important to have a windscreen to protect against any frequency. Clothing is the most commonly used protection, but the subject may also use their body to deflect the wind or any background noise.

Ken, boom mic operator

Shotgun Microphones

The most common piece of audio equipment, that can be found on almost any set, is the shotgun microphone. It is not attached to the camera or the subject, but operated by a boom operator. Due to its shape, and its directionality, shotgun microphones are able to pick up very specific sounds, ones that happen right in front of the blimp (the cage covered in fur, meant to mask any wind). This type of microphone is most effective on the sets of interviews, but are versatile enough to be used anywhere. The sound has to be constantly monitored in order to keep up with the ranging frequencies.

Handheld Microphones

Handheld microphones, for the most part, are used by news anchors, infomercials, or any talent lecturing or performing on stage. These microphones can also be used to pick up surrounding sounds in order to create ambience. Rarely, during an interview, if a lavaliler mic is not available, a handheld microphone can be placed out of frame. This is an innovative, successful way to pick up sound.

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

LED Lighting vs. Natural Lighting

For a video production company, there are many factors that contribute to a project’s success. One of the most important being lighting. Video crews spend countless hours making sure a scene is well lit in order to make the viewing experience more enjoyable, and so that audiences are able to see what is taking place. Lighting has a component of cinematography and setting up the shot, one of the most instrumental aspects of the production process since the beginning of video production. Two of the foremost lighting methods are LED lighting and natural lighting. Each has their respective pros and cons, the overarching concerns being time consumption, cost, and that the lighting is appropriate for the setting and tone of the video. While mistakes can be made in the editing process, it is best to address most of the issues during shooting.

SVG Lighting for Cable TV Pioneers Banquet

LED lighting is very popular among independent production crews. They are less expensive than tungsten lights, they require less power, they are portable, and they are safer because they take much longer to heat up. LED lights are an efficient way to light any set. Scenes in which they would appropriate include a corporate training video, a formal PSA, or an interview. With them, a videographer can engineer the perfect shot. However, they are still relatively expensive compared to alternative methods, and do not emit a full spectrum of color, which requires more lights to be brought on set. Cumulatively, it would be very expensive, especially if the production is on a smaller scale.

Natural lighting is a favorable choice for those with a budget, or for those who are shooting outside. There is no equipment necessary besides a reflector, which allows for the light to be manipulated. By utilizing the sunlight (or moonlight) already present, it creates a far more natural appearance. The only real difficulty with natural light is how unpredictable it can be, as well as the different colors that are more exaggerated depending on the time of day. If a crew chooses to use natural light, they must plan accordingly, taking into account the weather and scheduling.

Every video maker has their own style and preferences, which is what makes video production such a versatile medium. The lighting simply depends on what looks best, and how much authority the crew wants to have over it. For professional videos, however, LED lighting allows for greater control, which demonstrates proficiency and evokes a positive response from both clients and anyone who watches it.

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

The Boston Video Production Blog

Tag Archives: Video Production

Writing a Script for a Video

How to Write Script for Marketing Videos

Creating an Idea for a Marketing Video

How to Write a Script

Video Concept Ideas

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

Target Audience and Market Segments

Our 3 Favorites for Quality Sound

1. Sennheiser 112-pG3

2. Rode Video Mic Pro

3. Zoom H4n

Our Most Recent Corporate Video Shoot

Top Corporate Video Production Shoot

Professional Video Equipment

The Audio Equipment

Lighting for Production Shoots

My Brand Video Shoot at SVG

My Pre-Production Process

What is Pre-Production?

Pre-Production Planning

Why is Pre-Production Important?

The Importance of Backing Up Footage

Jobs of a Crew Member in Corporate Video Production

Different Types of Audio Equipment

LED Lighting vs. Natural Lighting