More Live Streaming

Live streaming your event will be essential in 2017 and will greatly increase the size of your audience because the Internet is quite literally available to everyone. Live streaming is a great, cost-effective way to get eyes on your event from viewers who may not be able to attend in person. Consider using it if you are trying to reach investors with busy schedules, potentially interested clients, and if there’s inclement weather at an outside event. Not to mention your venue for the event may only have a maximum capacity of so many people, so adding live event streaming may be necessary to add that last few spectators. Live streaming is also a very social platform. Broadcasted across the Internet, it can be easily shared and enjoyed instantly by countless numbers of people.

The platforms and delivery of live-streaming has changed rapidly since its inception. There are several streaming apps, among the most popular are: Periscope (Part of Twitter), Stringwire, Meerkat, Hang w/, and Facebook Live (Source). Videos on the Twitter platform have become much more popular since its initial inception. In fact, “82% of users agree that they watch videos on a regular basis”(Source).

360-degree Video Format

This immersive way of filming involves using a virtual reality camera in order to capture a 360-degree experience. On YouTube, while you are watching one of these types of videos, you can use your cursor to move the video while it is playing so you can see all angles that were filmed. This VR type of filming will be used much more frequently in order to immerse the audience in an interactive experience.

The technology is so engaging that one source indicates: “70% of marketers who have used 360 videos say it has increased engagement for them.” (Source).  A marketer could even live stream an event using this technology to expand the effectiveness of the video and increase the size and scope of the audience.

Infotainment

In 2017, people will gravitate towards a trend that is gaining traction called: infotainment – videos that both inform and entertain. Viewers no longer just want to watch news or learn something new, they also want to be entertained.

Video Storytelling

Storytelling is nothing new, but using compelling storytelling as a way to market your company or sell goods and services is a growing avenue. Telling a story in a video and creating an emotional connection with your viewer and target audience, rather than hard selling will be a key trend in 2017. Everyone likes a good story that they can relate to. A strong emotional story hooks your viewer early and keeps them watching.

In 2016 we’ve already seen many commercials that use the same techniques you see in dramatic films. The following is a video compilation of several commercials that are extremely dramatic:

Bottom Line

These four techniques will both change the way video marketers do their marketing and improve the effectiveness of their campaigns. From capturing the excitement of a live event to feeling the drama of an emotionally connecting commercial, there are several new methods of delivering content and new technologies that you will see marketers use next year.

Video Marketing and Attention Span

In today’s world, people have a short attention span or not enough time to click and read through your website. That is why 2-4 minute videos are the best way to market your product. In fact, 51.9% of marketing professionals believe that video marketing is the form of delivering content that has the best return on investment (Source).

Videos are dynamic and moving rather than static like an article, which means they are inherently more engaging. When watching a video there are few, if any, things on the screen that can distract you. Consider this: videos on a phone actually cover the entire screen. In the case of a traditional website the user is constantly bombarded by distractions. Videos succinctly express a brand of a company – in only a few minutes or less – which is faster than an article.

Effective Marketing

Whether it is to limit distractions, deliver content efficiently and effectively, or offering professional quality content, it’s essential to add video marketing to your marketing toolkit. Clearly, using video content for your marketing is an extremely effective way to reach a wide range of audiences. In fact, we at AVP recommend making it one of your primary tools to deliver content.

Uses in Your Business

Now might be a great time to add a video component to your marketing plan. Using video will give your company an actual voice and face in the virtual world of the Internet. Consider creating an introduction or welcome video for your website, viral videos to engage with your social media followers, or a mini documentary to entice donors and build goodwill with the community. Using video properly can support your business or cause in a variety of ways. So whether you have an established web presence or are just starting to put together a plan, include video into your strategy.

Camera Techniques and Equipment

The professional videographer has experience, skill, and the required equipment to accomplish the job outstandingly. The pro takes a variety of different types of camera shots, making a significant difference in the quality of a video compared to that of an amateur-made video. Often professionals work in teams bringing with them several years of combined knowledge. This type of atmosphere creates a professional setting that allows the team to be incredibly creative and for each crew member to collaborate and learn from each others’ different past work experiences.

A professional videographer also brings professional equipment to the table that amateur videographers may not have the budget or knowledge to properly and safely use. For example, professionals utilize multiple cameras, tripods, and camera stabilizer systems. By having this equipment, professionals can easily avoid some of the amateurs’ most obvious pitfalls: shaky footage, and a lack of depth and perspective. Something can also be said for the look and feel of the production as it is happening. Would you want someone showing up to your office with homemade camera gear that is cobbled together with pvc-pipe and roller-skate wheels?

Recording Good Sound

Director Danny Boyle, best known for his film Slumdog Millionaire, once said in an interview: “… 80% of a movie is sound”(Source). So basically, if you have a bad audio recording, regardless of how the video looks, no one is going to watch it.

There are several different tools and techniques that a professional videographer uses when recording high quality sound that an amateur may not. But before even starting to film on set, the professional will survey the area to determine whether the surroundings provide an optimal environment. A professional will exclude a setting that has noticeable background noises, something that can be easily overlooked or not be noticed by an amateur.

A professional will often use a combination of different microphones and microphone placements to record the best possible sound, while the amateur may only have the standard onboard camera microphone.

The Value of Editing

Editing is essential when creating a high-quality video, and the pros spend many many hours editing to polish and perfect their videos while working within a predetermined budget and deadline. Amateurs, on the other hand, may be: working on a small budget (or worse, doing the job as a favor), not accustomed to deadlines, and considering editing as an afterthought.

The finished, edited video is your baby. It’s what you have spent days thinking about, hours in meetings discussing, and countless emails back and fourth crafting your vision.

The Character of a Professional Videographer

A professional videographer is intrinsically motivated by his passion and desire to perform well at his job. He has integrity, professionalism, and pride in his work. A professional works closely with you every step of the way, setting up a game plan right from the beginning and delivering your vision as planned.

In a nutshell, amateurs simply lack experience and this frequently means that producers lack the time and equipment to produce a professional video. If you are planning on making a YouTube or corporate video, Facebook Ad, film, television commercial, etc. consider not only what you want the final video to look like, but also what you want the entire process to look like.

Basic Color Moods

• Green – this color often promotes a vile or sick emotion.
• Blue – this color promotes controlled, calm-trustworthy emotions.
• Orange – this color promotes a warm and social emotion.

Color Moods in Film

Horror films have a blue color. Blue is used to give a more overcast feeling toward the film. This color allows the story teller to control the mood of the audience by eliciting a fearful response from them.

Catastrophic or apocalyptic films tend to have a grey wash. This color produces the feeling of loneliness or unpleasantness. Again, when this color is used the audience reacts immediately. Storytellers have the power to influence how they want their audience to respond.

Mixing Color Tones

Intense sci-fi dramas are often shot with a green filter.  Audiences react to this hue with a disconnection from reality.  For example, The Matrix uses a bright, orange filter to convey the dream reality that people experience while not in “The Matrix” reality, but uses a green filter when characters enter “The Matrix.”  This change in filter separates that digital universe from reality and is an ingenious use of the color green in film because it subtly changes the viewers emotions.

In horror films, when it’s bright outside with natural color, one can assume nothing is going to happen. Once the color tone changes to blue, however, viewers can expect that something horrific will happen.

Mixing color tones throughout your project elicits your intended reaction from your audience. Capturing those emotions and making that connection will keep your audience intrigued and satisfied. People like to feel connected to what they are watching.  If you use color grading in your films to target emotions and elicit a reaction from your viewers, your projects will become much more interesting.

Types of Focus Range

• Deep focus range means everything in the frame is in focus

• Medium focus range means the subject is in focus and a some of the background is in focus

• Shallow focus range means only the subject is in focus and the rest of the image is blurred out.

Why is it Used?

The purpose of using different focus ranges is to determine what appears sharper or blurrier in an image or video. It is also a way to isolate the subject so that the attention is directed towards only one area of the shot. Showing everything in focus is distracting to viewers and causes their eyes to wonder. For example, if it were a scene in a film where two characters are speaking in public, it wouldn’t be necessary to see in vivid detail people who are walking in the background. Overall, the focus range visually tells the viewer what they should focus on.

When to Use Focus Range

• A deep focus range is used for landscape scenes when it is important to see everything in focus. For example, when you need to establish shots and photos that show specific areas like a trail or a city street.

• Medium focus range is similar to how the human eye focuses on things. We see what we want to focus on, so the objects and things that we are not focusing on in the background are partially blurred.  By filming in medium focus, because the background is not completely blurred, the viewer can get a great sense of the surroundings.  Even though viewers cannot see the faces of people walking in the background, just the idea that they are there is enough.

• A shallow focus range is used to make one subject or object stand out. Using a shallow focus range separates the focal point completely from the background. This technique is commonly used in wildlife and sports photography to isolate the animal or athlete from its surroundings. The purpose is to bring your attention to a small focal area.

How AVP Can Help

By varying your focus range depending on the context, you can take your photography skills to the next level.  Whether you’re in the business of taking photos of professional athletes or action shots of wildlife, filming a movie, or taking photos of the natural landscape, AVP can help you achieve your goals.  We have a team of professionals who can guide your business through all stages of the video production process.

2016 has been a monumental year for new video production trends.  These new trends have significantly changed the industry. Marketers are now budgeting differently in order to create more content, adjusting content so that it is compatible with social media platforms, and creating content that has high image quality and incredibly creative visuals.  Making more cost-effective videos will lead to more entertainment without sacrificing quality.

Live Event Streaming Using Multiple Cameras

This new trend has been around for a while but has recently become very popular. Live streaming events makes content more accessible to the community. Live streaming events has become the new “must do” thing in today’s society. The NFL offers live streaming, as does Apple for their new releases and talks, and many more companies and organizations also offer this amazing feature. By adding multiple cameras when live streaming an event, you can reach people anywhere. This trend shapes the marketing strategy because events are made accessible to those who cannot personally make it to an event.

Drones are improving video shoots and budgets

Most video production companies are able to squeeze enough money into the budget to add drones as a must-have part of the film. Drone footage is used to take aerial shots. In the past the only way to get them was via helicopter. However, for video production companies to hire a helicopter to take shots would be much to expensive. By using drones, companies can add some truly captivating shots in a cost effective way.

High Quality Imagery is Essential when Shooting a Video

Marketers are demanding higher image quality in videos. This is something that marketers have used more often this year. Being able to produce videos with increasingly higher image quality has improved viewer retention ratings. Video production companies should be producing videos with higher image quality. Higher image quality means that more people are likely to want to watch the videos that the company or organization is creating. When it comes down to why this helps marketing, it allows viewers to see that the company creates high quality videos. When viewers believe the videos are high quality they will assume the products are also of the same value.

Animated Videos Are Making a Comeback

Using animated videos to your marketing campaign significantly improves the quality of your marketing. We have seen many more animated videos used in marketing in 2016. These videos help to deliver a specific marketing, product description, or other type of message to viewers.

For example, an animated video is used to keep a viewer’s attention when a concept or idea isn’t incredibly exciting. A marketer can use this tool to help their marketing campaign. These videos offer an engaging experience for all types of viewers. Animated videos help to attain the attention of its viewers unlike any other type of video. This is the main reason why these videos are trending in 2016.

Here at AVP we have experienced staff in marketing, video production, and graphic design that can help you get started right away!

There are a few things one should always remember before beginning any new film project. Always have a positive attitude when venturing out of your comfort zone. A positive attitude can go a long way in this world. In the video production world, it gives you an opportunity to try new things with confidence.

Planing is Crucial

Always plan it out. Planning out an idea by putting it on paper before making that big step of creating it through film is important. Being organized and planning everything out in great detail during the pre-production phase is important to the success of your film. Write a script, create a storyboard, and create a shot list. Creating a storyboard is a way to help you figure out what shots you need before actually starting the process of filming. Even rough sketches or stick figures will work for this.

Make Short films First

Something else to remember before starting your film shoot is that everybody starts somewhere. Shoot something simple and build from there. Almost every great film-maker started out by making some short films.  You can be indirect, just let the audience fill in the gaps. Use all the resources that are available at the time; this means props, locations, and even actors!

Remember to tell a story.  People will watch what you’ve created if they feel a connection to it. People are constantly looking for a way to connect with other people on a deeper level. Being emotionally appealing to an audience by telling a story is the most important aspect of the video.

“A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing.” ― George Lucas

What We Can Do for You

Here at AVP we offer a wide range of services to satisfy your needs.  Our team of video production professionals can help you get started!

One major, but often overlooked, angle of the film-making process is the post-production side of the business. This ingredient creates moving picture stories that are more watchable.   We all know that moving pictures bring stories to life. In the marketing arena, from the dawn of the Kinetoscope, marketers learned that moving pictures could drive sales. Today this is truer than ever before and those who aren’t on board will literally miss the train. As attention spans are reduced and free time becomes more valuable, the short how-to video, explanatory videos, and the promotional commercial have taken on more prominent roles.  While some companies are missing the train ride to good marketing, AVP is constantly adapting to new marketing techniques, and we can make your films better with our expert professional video production services.

Yes, the amateur smartphone video has its place, but the more professionally made video or film will always capture a larger audience. What separates the men from the boys here is how watchable your video is.  Does your video well represent your product or service?   Will it keep the viewers attention?  Impress him or her about your mission?   Will it persuade the viewer to share the visual experience with others?   If it doesn’t, and has excellent storytelling, try employing the following post-production techniques.

Post Production Techniques

The production stage is important to capture and record the best images, and the narrative and camera-technique make for wonderful raw material.  The post-production stage, however, is becoming increasingly important. For example, manipulating time in films, using computer-generated imagery, and 3D modeling are all aspects of the post-production stage that make the end product much better.

How AVP Can Help

Keep in mind the impact that the individual techniques have on the overall story. These techniques can be effectively used to tell a compelling story.  Storytelling makes a good impression on the viewer about your mission, and your product or service. Here at AVP, we have a team of video production professionals that can help you to make that winning film or video.

Have you ever witnessed time manipulation? Of course you have! Think about a fighting scene between the hero and villain in an action movie. Just when they are about to fight they slowly and intensely run towards each other. This is a time manipulation technique that builds suspense and anxiety. The following is the three ways video editors manipulate time.

3 Ways Video Editors manipulate time

Slow Motion

Slow motion is an effect that is applied to make movement appear slower in a film than it would in reality. When film editors want to create a slow motion affect they record the scene at a faster pace. Afterwards, the editor manipulates the pace by bringing the film to normal speed. By doing this the clip will appear to be moving slower than normal.

In a typical high school movie, you may see the popular teens walking slowly in the hallway as everyone watches. Everything from their hair blowing in the wind to the speed of their body movements is slowed down. This time manipulation is used in almost every movie, but why? Slow motion creates an effect that allows the person viewing the scene to see everything in great detail. When filmmakers use slow motion they usually want to direct the viewer’s attention to details they would have ignored had the scene been played at normal speed.

Fast Motion

Fast motion is an effect that, when applied, makes action appear faster on film than it would in reality. Have you ever watched a movie and the camera somehow moves through a crowd of people very quickly? If you have, then you’ve witnessed a fast motion affect. Filmmakers will often use this technique to build excitement. It also helps a movie get through certain details that are not necessarily significant to the story, but are shown to help create a setting for the scene. In order to create a fast motion effect, the film editor must record the scene at a slower rate and then manipulate the pace by bringing the film to a normal speed. By doing this the clip will appear to be moving faster than normal.

Time lapse

Time lapse is a unique and interesting film editing technique that makes films more exciting.  It is the process of taking a sequence of photos and recording them at a slower rate, without moving the subject, and then editing the footage by accelerating it. Think about the last time you saw a movie. You may have watched a clip where the sky transitions from light to dark. Without any of the subjects being moved the viewer understands that the scene would start during the day, and end at night. What is interesting is that even though you see it transpire over a few minutes, the movement actually happens over a few hours. When creating a time lapse effect the film editor must take a series of pictures that reveal the evolution of time while still allowing the position of the subject(s) to remain steady.

How AVP Can Help

If you are looking for time manipulation techniques to spruce up your commercials look no further! Here at AVP we not only make commercials, but we professionalize them with our modern editing skills. When using our techniques, we’ll be able to help you stand out against your competitors and attract more customers. So remember, the next time you want to make a commercial, call AVP and get the assistance you need.

PLANNING:

DO have a clear and concise strategy ahead of time

Before actually shooting your video, plan your shoot to prevent a lack of direction. For example, know the message you are trying to convey to the audience. Also, hire a production company to plan out technical aspects prior to the production, such as the equipment and locations necessary for your production.

DON’T just pick up a camera and go for it.

Picking up a camera with no set plan or direction for where you want your video to go will lead to unwanted headaches and setbacks. Without a plan prior to the production, problems quickly will begin to pile up. For example, perhaps you start to film and then you find out you are missing a very important piece of equipment or part of the script.  These dilemma’s can be avoided with proper preparation before the shoot.

TEAM BUILDING:  

DO have people around you that can record sound, shoot film, and set up lights

Problems encountered when producing a video by yourself are easily avoided with the help of a professional. They can bring so much to a  production that you may not have, such as creativity, knowledge, and expertise. They can also can give you fresh and better perspectives about the production that you may have never envisioned.

Having a team to help your video production will make a significant difference in what you want your final product to look like.

DON’T do everything yourself! 

Video production at its best is a team oriented process. Producing a video by yourself is a tremendous amount of work and stress. You would have to control so many things that, over time, hinder the creativity and execution of the production. Also, if you were doing it all yourself then the production would be limited to the knowledge of just you, and although you might be able to operate a camera, you might not know how to do audio, or vice versa. Problems like these can be avoided with the combined knowledge of others.

SHARING:

DO allow others to see your work and let them give you feedback.

Allowing people to view your films is a great way to get constructive outside feedback on your work. This constructive criticism will open your eyes to aspects in your production that may need to be cleaned up or polished. Don’t take this criticism personally because it gives you other perspectives to work from and will make your production better.

DON’T share your work before allowing team members to first observe what you have.

Sharing your work with a public audience without first letting your coworkers see and review it would be detrimental to your finished product. What would happen is that your product would be bias to your own views, and aspects that you may have thought were good because might not resonate well with others.  Even the greatest film makers need outside feedback on their work before they release their film to the public.

ARCHIVING:

DO copy and back your footage up when finished shooting.

When you are finished shooting make certain your production company is copying and backing up your work.  Be sure that your work is saved in a minimum of two locations, for example on a hard drive and an external hard drive kept by you. This step is important in the production process because the actual shoot will guarantee that your work is safe and secure, in case any problems arise.