Mike Kochenour, President of York Traditions Bank, on the set of a TV commercial spot in our studio.
We’ve conceptualized, directed, and shot video for clients to use internally, at trade shows, for training, on social media, and even on TV. As with most projects, pre-production meetings and planning can make the project go much smoother (saving time and money). People often wonder where to begin when thinking about creating a video for their company, so we’ve created this helpful guide to get you started.
When you’re done reading make sure to check out the TV commercial we shot for York Traditions Bank and the spot we did for The Cultural Alliance of York County at the bottom of the page. It was a great project to work on, and incorporates footage shot both in our studio, and on location.
Getting Started With Video
There are many questions to ponder when preparing for a video shoot, but it is most important to answer these questions first: Who is the target audience, and what message should the video deliver? Then, continue to develop your idea with the guide below, and remember, the team at Hayman Studio is here to guide you through the process.
Length and Engagement
A minute is a long time. Imagine a car commercial on television. Think of all the angles from which you see the car. Did you see the car speeding down a winding road, effortlessly ascending a mountain, gracefully breaking through deep snow and finally, gleaming on a showroom floor? There may be 30 different camera angles and 4 settings in that 30 second commercial. The camera angles and changing settings are both methods used to capture and keep attention of the viewer. Our goal is to make a video that is concise and engaging. The last thing we want is for our viewer to get bored, lose attention, or turn off the video. While it may not be realistic to use 1 different camera angle per second or build 4 different settings, keep in mind these methods of engagement.
Audio, (Voice over, music, in video audio)
There are essentially four options for audio: 1) on screen audio in which the person speaking is on camera, 2) Voice over in which the person speaking isn’t featured on screen, 3) Music and other sounds and 4) a mix of these options. If someone will be speaking on camera or as a voice over, there are two very important considerations: who will be speaking, and what will they be saying? Have you considered hiring a professional voice over specialist?
Dave Riebe, President of Pennex, on set of a recent video shoot.
Scripting
While it is important to know who will do the talking in your video, it is even more important to know what they will say. People learn and connect visually and auditorily. It’s important to make sure the message you desire to convey is communicated in both of these ways. If you need help writing a script, we’re happy to offer our experience or bring a professional solution to bring to the project.
Story Board
This is the “What am I seeing?” counterpart to the audio. It’s important to think about what will actually be on screen while a certain auditory point is made. This can be a mix of video, graphics, and still photography. Style is very important. We can work with you to make sure that your ideas are applied in the best possible way. Or you can come to us with story board in hand. Either way, we can always devise shot ideas, camera angles, and techniques using our specialized equipment to get the special look you want.
Additional Graphics and Logos
If you need an introductory slide that has your logo and other important information, we can take care of that. Our goal is to create videos that are professional, intelligent, high-quality and informative. Those same standards apply to any graphic elements we may create for your video.
We’re here to help, every step of the way.
We are available for brainstorming sessions, to review your script, answer a question or offer suggestions. Video is a great way to get your message out to your target audience. If you’re looking for a fun atmosphere, and quality product, you’ve come to the right place.
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