The Way We Watch

Making Great Video Stories Part 2 - The Obsessionist Video

As a video story teller, I'm always looking for a way into the story.  How can I tell this story in a way that is interesting?

In Part 1 of Making Great Video Stories, I wrote about the Process video.  Another way to ensure you're telling a compelling story is to tell your story through someone who is obsessed.

People who are obsessed are fascinating.  They usually have to juggle their obsesson with their daily lives, money, their family, and their job so there is an inherent conflict right there.  Conflict good.

The other thing that is great about telling a story about someone driven by something is that they have amassed, most likely, a huge treasure trove of assets.  The assets could be record albums, or business cards, or love letters.

How does this help us?  B-roll!  Great b-roll makes for a great colorful story. 

At Wheelhouse Communications, I pitched to the The Daily (the iPad only newspaper) a video about the release of a new Dr. Suess book, The Bippolo Seeds and Other Stories.  The way into the story was to focus on Dr. Charles Cohen a Dentist by day and a Suessologist by night.  What is a Suessologist?  Click the video to find out. Can't see the video? Click here.

The original Daily story appears here. 

Now go out there and find the obsessed ones!

Photo credit CC: Rachel C

Another Priceless Video Tip: Don't Use That Chair

I've talked here about ways to get a better looking shot.  There's the The $4.95 Solution To Make Your Videos Better and remember the importance of showing a philtrum.

But here's another one.  Don't use an executive chair when you're doing an interview.

(can't see the picture, go here: http://youtu.be/FIYnDo9BxgM?t=10m)

Executive chairs are super comfortable and make you feel regal. However, on video they make you look small.  The backside of the chair goes up to your ears and kills the needed seperation between you and the background.  Plus, your talent is going to end up swiveling and that's going to make your talent look impatient as well.

Use a bar stool or use a chair with a short back.  Sit back alll the way and keep your back straight. 


(can't see the picture, go here: http://youtu.be/JecJzrIfdHg?t=3m37s)

That feels better, doesn't it? 

Cell Phone "Portrait" Aspect Coming To A Video Near You

Since we watch videos on computers and mobile devices and slates - the notion that a video must be presented in a landscape aspect is going away quicker than your cable TV bill. 

TVs are landscape.

But we are so close up to our computer devices that Portrait mode is coming down the pike as a new way to view moving images.

Have you been taking cell phone video on your iPhone?  It just feels natural to hold it in one hand in portrait mode.

Take adavantage of Portrait mode in your next video...

I found this little film by Rick Hamilton on vimeo that takes advantage of being vertical. It feels like 4x6 home photos come to life. 

New Survey: Executives (Like Everyone Else) Are Watching More On-Line Video

Forbes Insights recently published results of a survey conducted with Google.  The news for video makers is good.  Over 80% of Executives surveyed said they are watching more video than they did a year ago.

The answers were most encouraging for video content creators.

Over 50% of the respondents said they took action after watching a business related video and 60% of the under forty crowd made a business related purchase after viewing on-line video content.

But here was the stunner, 30% of the under 40 crowd preferred video to text for "business information you need."

I see that number only getting bigger in the months and years ahead. 

(click to pop out)

Download the full survey here. 

Working With Kids and Animals...

The old saying that working with kids and animals on the set can be hazardous was not the case on this recent Wheelhouse trailer we did for Random House Children's Books.  Thanks to Tad, the author, Lee the publisher, Linda and Scott, the clients and my creative team.

What Makes Someone Watchable

Watch Young Adult fiction writer Gary Paulsen in this interview Wheelhouse and I did for Random House Children's Books.  He has a great face for video, for sure.  But what makes him immensely watchable is his intelligence.  Some people I could listen to and watch for hours.  Mr. Paulsen is one of them.  Documentary film makers, here's a subject worth finding, tracking down and getting on film.

What makes someone watchable? View in 720P for best results.

If I Had To Make A Web Marketing Video Today

If I had to make a web marketing video today, I would think in terms of concrete images and language (see principle 3). 
 
I would think about sound as a hook to keep you attentive.

I would think a about a surprise that you'll want to wait for.

I would think about giving you choices.

I would leave you wanting more...


Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onkel_wart/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Three Essential Tools For Conversation Video

   Web marketing video is moving away from viral video to conversation video.

It's a natural off shoot of what is happening on the social web right now. 

Tweets, twitpics, Facebook wall postings, blogs are all adding to the conversation and video is just another element in your marketing tool bag to continue that conversation.

There will always big and small companies shooting for that elusive viral video status.  And to keep watch on them here's a new link from YouTube that archives great viral ads: http://www.youtube.com/ytshowandtell

But, the long tail prize goes to marketers that are conversing, helping and inspiring their prospects and customers with content. 

I'll be writing and talking about this more but if you want to jump in to making conversational video here are some inexpensive tools:

1. Flip UltraHD Camcorder Still the easiest way to tape an interview for the non-professional.
2. Screenflow.  An economical and fairly easy editing program and screencast recording program.
3. Call Recorder  For less than $20.00  you can record your Skype calls into stand alone video clips (via Quicktime).

I also suggest you buy the most expensive mac your budget can afford. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/advocacy_project/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0