video production Archives

How Enterprises Are Creating Video More Easily

Posted on May 18, 2022August 21, 2024 by Fiona Ashe

The old way of creating video is broken

There’s no denying the domination of video with more than two billion monthly active users on YouTube and one billion on TikTok.

In our last post, we looked at trends in the acceleration of video management technology, which is driven by factors such as remote working, the ever-increasing demand for streaming content, and the rise of video content creators.

However, the ‘players’ who are creating video — streamers, creators, and enterprises — have had to face the reality that the old way of working with video simply isn’t viable anymore.

The impact of the pandemic on creating video

The pandemic sent video creators and enterprise employees scuttling back to their houses where they had to rustle up home offices. That, in itself, was a challenge but then they faced the hair-tearing-out problems of collaborating remotely on video projects: how to find clips they needed, how to enable shared access to different versions, how to get reviews/approvals, how to execute simple edits, etc.

Streamers and video creators scrambled to find technological solutions to these challenges. Initially, these were solutions designed to “get by”. But now the new, more efficient media pipeline management workflows are being adopted as the new status quo, and technology has improved to fulfil those needs.

The result of that technological innovation is proven: Silverwood Partners’ Media Technology: Strategic Industry Analysis 2022 states that 84% of businesses reported their company’s video content output increased over a 12-month period in 2020/2021.

That trend is set to continue: the report also illustrated that in the subsequent 12 months, 44% anticipating a significant increase.

How video technology is improving

Traditionally video content creation, broadcasting and distribution required skilled practitioners and specialist equipment. But there’s a growing demand for technology that simplifies those processes and makes them accessible to people who don’t have video production experience: 83% of respondents quoted in the report believe their company would create more video content if technology made it easier to do so.

However, “easy” doesn’t mean “low quality”. Consumers demand high-quality video, so creators are seeking technologies that facilitate them to make professional-grade content to integrate into a tech stack, as illustrated in Silverwood Partners’ report:

How to manage your media pipeline

A media asset management platform empowers your team to collaborate on video projects effortlessly. Overcast’s SaaS platform future-proofs your video production operation, and you can simulate your costs before investing.

We’d be delighted to give you a demo of our platform — please click here to request one.

Video Production (Part 2): Filming Your Enterprise Video

Posted on July 8, 2021August 28, 2024 by Fiona Ashe

Video production

It’s said that video content is made three times: once in the scripting, once in the filming, and once in the editing.

In the first part of this blog post series, we delved into the planning stage of video production: identifying your audience, scripting and shoot prep.

In this second part of our blog post series on video production, we’ll give you tips and tricks for a successful shoot.

Choosing your shooting format

You’ve probably heard plenty of publicity about 4K — and that PR might influence you to believe that you need to shoot in 4K.

If you are creating content that will be screened in cinemas or on an UHD (ultra high definition) TV channel, then you will need that 4K resolution, which is four times higher than HD (high definition) resolution.

4K is very accessible — even smartphones will film at this resolution — but you need to factor a few things into consideration when planning your shoot: the amount of storage (and back up) space required, the bitrate required for colour grading, data speeds for transferring video files, speed of playback in your edit suite, etc.

So, if you are shooting a promo video for online distribution, it would be worth having a chat with your videographer and editor about whether HD (1080p) would be a better fit for you.

Filming

The preparation that you did throughout the pre-production phase will significantly influence the success of your shoot.

Shooting style: Your storyboards and shot lists will inform everyone on your team about the style of shots that you want to capture. If you want to create a fast-paced video with lots of cuts, you might choose to film static shots. Whereas if you are trying to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere in your video — for example, if you are promoting a seaside resort — you might choose lots of movement within shots (pans, tilts and tracking shots).
Lighting: Another key element of the style of your video will be lighting. If you are shooting interviews, the standard style is three-point lighting, which creates a slight shadow on half of the interviewee’s face. There are very distinctive lighting styles used in films; however, these are rarely used in enterprise videos. If you are shooting guerrilla-style without artificial lights, you can still leverage natural light to create contrast within your frame. A note of caution, though: although most modern cameras handle low light conditions very well, the footage will look grainier than if filmed with plenty of light.
Directing the on-screen talent: If you are the director, you’ll need to direct the performances of the cast, for example, if you need them to be more animated, or calmer, or speak more slowly, etc.It’s important to ensure there is continuity from one shot to another, for example, if an actor’s hair is tidy in the first shot, ensure it is not tossed by the wind in the second shot — unless the first shot is in a building and the second shot is on a beach. Otherwise, you’ll run into problems in editing.If an actor/interviewee is delivering lines or speaking on camera, you’ll need to do multiple takes to ensure you get the performance you want. It will probably require a few takes for the actor/interviewee to settle into the performance. Patience is a virtue!
Order of filming: You may need to shoot the scenes out of order. For example, if your first and last shots are in the same location, it’s more efficient to shoot these consecutively. It’s best to consult with your crew in advance of the shoot to devise a filming schedule. Unexpected things can delay the progress of the shoot (weather, road works, etc.) so it’s a good idea to shoot the most important shots first, so that if you run out of time and can’t film the last few shots, you can still edit the video in a way that’s close to your original vision.

Next step: editing

So, once the shoot is over, you’re ready to take it to the edit suite, where a new type of storytelling magic will happen.

In our next blog post, we’ll delve into the post production process, including how to collaborate effectively with your team on video projects.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do reach out on info@overcasthq.com or click here to contact us. We’d be very happy to answer any questions you have about managing video production effortlessly!

Video Production (Part 1): Pre-Production

Posted on July 1, 2021August 21, 2024 by Fiona Ashe

Video production is arguably one of the most effective and powerful video tools available to businesses these days.

“88% of businesses that use video report a positive return-on-investment.” — Renderforest

Why use video for business?

Consumers watch a lot of videos. A lot! Which makes video an invaluable business tool! It used to be primarily employed by the marketing department, but it is now used to fulfil key functions throughout organisations; for example, videos to train staff, communicating internally with stakeholders, building credibility through video testimonials, “how to” videos to share information with a mass audience and position your brand as an expert in your field.

Another major advantage is that social media platforms prioritise video content over text and static images. You can share videos in posts to keep viewers riveted to your feed, or as a cover video that visitors to your social profiles will see immediately, or create video ads.

Stages of video production

Anyone can shoot and edit video clips on their smartphones. But storytelling through video is a craft, so the more you learn about that craft, the better your videos will serve you.

There are three stages to video production: pre-production (preparation phase), production (filming) and post production (editing).

In this series of blog posts, we’ll give you insights into how to create great videos!

Pre-production

The first stage of video production is pre-production. This is the planning stage — it’s where you put together your strategy on how to maximise the effectiveness of your video.

Who is your video for?

First of all, you need to decide on the purpose of the video and who you are targeting with it. Most business have multiple target clients, so ask yourself whether your video is an overall promotional video that needs to reach all of them or whether it’s for one product/service, which has a more defined audience.

The key to a captivating video

While viewers will partly judge your video on the picture/audio quality, the pace and the editing style; it’s the story that will retain viewers’ attention until the end. A great script is absolutely essential! This is where most businesses fail with video.

You could hire an experienced professional to write the script for you…or if you feel you have the skills, you could study other videos that maintained your attention and analyse why the story works.

Video production budget

Once you have your script, then you’ll need to do a breakdown of it in order to draw up a budget i.e. itemise each item required for your shoot and determine the cost. Once you have this list of logistics, you can start sourcing cast/presenters, crew, equipment, props, and wardrobe.

Location, location, location

If you are not planning to film in your own premises, you may need to seek permission for your desired location. It’s advisable to do a recce — a location scout — to check for accessibility, noise, potential shots, and where the sun will be at different times of day.

Keeping everyone safe and well fed

Arrangements for catering, transport and insurance need to be put in place, ensuring they are in line with your COVID protocol policy. There’s also a bit of paperwork to be prepared in the form of contracts for crew; plus release forms for cast and locations — all of these documents will ensure you retain the rights to the footage and should include details of how you will adhere to GDPR legislation.

Shotlising and storyboarding

In preparation for filming, a shortlist and a storyboard are very useful tools, especially if you will be filming the shots out of order — i.e. they will be filmed in a different order than they will appear in the edit.

Great communication is key

When you are close to the filming date, send a call sheet to everyone involved. This should include the title of the production, names of cast and crew, contact numbers for key people, address of locations, times for hair/make-up/wardrobe if relevant, start and end times, details of parking, and any other relevant information.

It’s also a good idea to have a plan B in place for things that could go wrong e.g. the weather, road works, etc.

Next step: filming

So, now that you have all of this preparation done, you’re ready to shoot your video.

In our next blog post, we’ll delve into the production phase, which is when it all comes to life on set.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do reach out on info@overcasthq.com or click here to contact us. We’d be delighted to have a chat!

The Secret To Great Remote Working Video Collaboration

Posted on May 5, 2021August 27, 2024 by Fiona Ashe

Remote Working Video Collaboration

Innovation is essential in today’s fast-changing technology-dependent business environment. An ever-increasing number of companies are using video for marketing, sales, internal communications, training, tutorials, and many more business functions.
But video requires collaboration and we’re in an age where remote working is more the norm than the exception. So, how can teams collaborate effortlessly on video if they are in separate locations? Introducing

DPP Innovation Week

At DPP Innovation Week 2021, Overcast CEO Philippe Brodeur made a presentation about Media Workflows — in a line-up that included Red Bee Media, Reuters, PBS, BBC, RTÉ, ZDF (German broadcaster), BT, Signiant, and A+E Networks.

In just 3 minutes, Philippe explains how your team can collaborate on and manage video easily and cost-effectively.

Get in touch

Overcast provides services at all budget levels. So, to find out more and get a demo, contact us on info@overcasthq.com or click here to get in touch. We look forward to making your life easier!