How Corporate Video Production Affects Your Engagement

One of the most important things to keep in mind when conceptualizing corporate video is audience engagement.

Retention, interest, and engagement are all things that most companies compete for.

In fact, it’s what drives the competition. With so many competitors in multiple sectors and industries, how on earth do you grab a hold of a piece of the pie?

Well, for one, you’ve got to really understanding who they are and how they consume content. This means investing in ample research to find where your audience is at, what channels they go through, and what trends they might hop on next.

To take it even further, it’s worth investigating their engagement.

What’s that, you ask?

According to Business 2 Community, there is no “one size fits all” formula when it comes to setting up tried-and-true engagement methods. It’s even harder to define what ‘engagement’ means in the first place. For the purposes of corporate video, perhaps it can be described as:

• content that promotes direct user interaction with the product, brand or service
• content that users/viewers find helpful in their search for information

To some, it’s less about what message the brand wants to send, and more about what the audience takes away from it. A user who reads a product description or watches an informative video may find it of value, though there sometimes isn’t a tangible way of knowing this.

Business 2 Community defines engagement as “something that successfully inspires the action it was designed to instigate.”

In a previous post, we highlighted how video stimulates our senses. By having a visceral reaction to a visual, we’re more prompted to respond to information presented to us.

How will your corporate video engage your audience?

Here at Key West Video, we specialize in creating content for optimal audience engagement. For more information on the services we provide, visit our website today!

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Should You Use Corporate Video As A Recruiting Tool?

Sometimes, a company with a tough position to fill might find the recruiting process a little difficult.

And sometimes HR might need a little help finding interest during their recruiting process.

Visual content has become an integral part of the recruitment process. Candidates in search of a new job are more likely to gloss over your job description – no matter how eloquent it may be.

Interested candidates may want to know more about the faces behind your brand. This means creating content that will give them a sense of not only what the job entails, but also who they’d be working with. A corporate video is an excellent way to showcase your corporate culture.

A corporate video is an excellent way to showcase your corporate culture.

Companies can leverage this opportunity to their advantage by creating different types of corporate recruiting videos. For example, a company may use a recruiting video to explain why a candidate should want to work with them. Traditional companies with outdated job descriptions might fail to keep a candidate’s attention. Videos, on the other hand, give a potential employee a first-hand look at what they can expect from the job.

It’s important to think about what information a video can convey that cannot be described via text. If you’re iffy about investing into a corporate video, consider alternative ways to best portray your corporate climate visually.

We’ve found that many clients lean towards corporate recruitment videos for the sole purpose of garnering attention. Some of the most prominent and effective videos inform us, engage us, and make us want to be involved in some capacity.

Here at Key West Video, we provide a plethora of services including corporate recruitment videos. For more information on the services we provide, visit our website today!

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7 Expensive Corporate Video Production Mistakes To Avoid

Take it from us – corporate video production can be exhaustive work. But in the end, mapping out every minor detail of your video can help avoid expensive mistakes.

And some mistakes can be fatal to your production company. After all, your goal is to make money from the production, not run into additional last-minute costs due to a lack of preparation.

It happens to the best of us. Sometimes we leave the production house with everything checked off, only to realize minutes into the shoot that we’ve forgotten a vital piece of equipment. Or maybe we’ve charged our batteries and cleared our SD cards only to find them fried or faulty. Whatever the case may be, we’ve listed some of the top, most expensive corporate video production mistakes that we’ve learned to avoid – the hard way.

1. Casting Mix-ups

There’s nothing worse than having a cast that doesn’t reflect their headshots. From background talent/extras to principal actors, each face that will be on camera should be at least somewhat reminiscent of their headshot. This means early casting and (if your budget permits) wardrobe.

2. Technical Difficulties

Test, test, test. You’d be surprised at how many freelance videographers don’t test their equipment before stepping out onto a set. This not only impedes a production shoot – it also screams unprofessionalism. While some technical difficulties (typically on set) are unavoidable, you should aim to minimize any technological risks as soon as possible.

3. Sufficient Crew

An important thing to remember is that no matter how much fancy equipment your production crew may have, you still have to have the skills to operate the equipment. A wise filmmaker once said, “Just because you have the tools doesn’t mean you have the craft.” No truer words have been spoken.

4. Parking

Another important (but often forgotten about) aspect is parking. The last thing you want is to shoot in a location that has no parking. You run the risk of having to park far away from your shooting location (which can be a pain when it comes to loading and unloading equipment), or parking illegally, resulting in potential fines.

5. Permits

Make sure you’ve designated someone to look into the permits necessary for shooting. This means all locations should be secured prior to stepping out on set. Otherwise, you run the risk of being shut down or potentially fined.

6. Proper Art Direction

Make sure you’re hiring someone who is qualified for the job. This means someone who knows the ropes and has ample experience in communicating information to set designers and/or art department. The last thing you need is people who don’t stick to the shooting schedule or run the production efficiently.

7. Post-Production

“We’ll fix it in post” is a problematic phrase that we’ve heard all too often.

Avoid it all costs.

This phrase is thrown around when the crew has either given up or doesn’t know how to fix a problem. Something that could take just a few minutes to adjust on set could save hours in an editing suite.

Here at Key West Video, we prioritize the needs of our clients to take care in how we prepare for shoots. For more info on our services (or our portfolio) visit our website today!

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Our Top 3 Animation Styles In Corporate Video Production

With so many animation styles out there, it can be difficult determining which one to go with – especially in corporate video.

And with all animation styles comes their own look.

At Key West Video, we offer a number of services – including animation. But sometimes our clients aren’t sure which ones best apply to their brand or product. Here we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular animation styles we find ourselves using in our corporate video:

Whiteboard

Photo credit: Joseph.Morris via Foter.com / CC BY-ND

Whiteboard, one of the more popular animation styles, is the process of creating a story using drawings and storyboards with pictures on a white backdrop (or whiteboard). most often used in television, whiteboard can also be seen on internet video services such as YouTube or Vimeo, as well. It’s often used interchangeably with animated doodling or video scribing.

2D vector style animation

Photo credit: (AZ) via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

2D vector style animation (also known as motion graphics) are another type of animation style that we use often. Using bitmaps and vector graphics, it is more suited for computer animation software such as Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, or Flash. As opposed to 3D (or three-dimensional) animation graphics, 2D vector style animations have a lesser appearance of depth. 2D also consists of flat animation as opposed to 3D, which has an extra dimension of ‘realism’ and sits on the z-axis. 2D animations are made by drawing each frame out.

Infographics

Photo credit: GEEKSTATS via Foter.com / CC BY-NC

Though many understand infographics as still images, they can actually be animated, as well. In a process similar to interactive video, infographics can be brought to life in Adobe’s After Effects software. Animated infographics are a fun, easy way to provide vital information to an audience. Here’s a simple guide on how to create basic infographics onscreen.

Here at Key West Video we provide the best in animation for video. For more information on the services we provide, visit our website today!

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The Five Most Recent Trends in Video Production

Video production is always in a state of change. Staying on top of recent trends is the only way to remain relevant amidst fierce video competition.

At times, it can be hard to keep up with the constant fluidity in the video production world. Here we’ve identified some of the more popular recent trends that have helped us stay on top of our game.

360 video

Photo credit: fusion-of-horizons via Foter.com / CC BY

360 videos are videos that shoot surrounding areas simultaneously. In other words, this spherical camera is able to shoot a particular scene from all angles (aka 360 degrees) at the same time, making for a well-rounded, all-encompassing view. Here at Key West Video, we look for avant-garde technology that helps us stay on our toes with the latest trends.

VR/AR

Photo credit: AstroSamantha via Foter.com / CC BY

As we move further into the world of alternate reality, it’s clear that the future of video production lies in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). With the use VR glasses/goggles, viewers can see [un]real versions of video content. Operating similarly to 3D glasses, VR goggles take users into an alternate world manipulated by their senses.

Interactive

Photo credit: Robin Hutton via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Interactive video, while not exactly the most recent trend, has taken the online video world by storm. With subjects inside the video being able to manipulate animated objects, interactive video has become one of the more popular options when it comes to creating corporate video.

Perfect for instructional video, infographs and charts, and tutorials, interactive video is an incredibly fun way to not only engage your audience but inform them, too.

We first saw glimpses of this when every brand from McDonald’s pop machines to bank ATM’s started using touchscreens

Animation

Photo credit: ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓ via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Without a doubt, animation is yet another popular recent trend in corporate video to really catch fire amongst the production company community. It offers a great opportunity for companies to develop a dynamic visual component to their corporate video, while including fun or visually appealing characters for a more enjoyable viewing experience.

At Key West Video, we make it our duty to stay on top of what’s trending in the video production industry. For more information on the services we provide, visit our website here.

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How You Can Improve Your Video Marketing Campaign

When was the last time you invested into a proper video marketing campaign? Did you know what was ahead of you?

So you’ve made an attention-grabbing corporate video campaign that speaks directly to your audience.

You’ve done all the research, brought on the best possible team, and have shot your best footage.

You did all the work you thought was necessary for a great campaign, but for some reason, it doesn’t go as expected. So you reassessed.

And after you swept through all that could have gone wrong, the problem was there, staring back directly at you in the face.

You were missing five key components that could have made the world of difference had you recognized them the first time around.

They were:

Script

People often underestimate the importance of having a strong, air-tight script. In the corporate video world, not only do most corporate videos require an adequate amount of information, but they also require poignancy, brevity, and an enticing way to keep an audience engaged.

Graphics

Of equal importance are graphics. You’re most likely a corporate company striving to expand and maintain a professional image. It only makes sense that you want your  video marketing campaign to reflect as such. With that being said, graphics play an instrumental role in adding overall professionalism to your video content.

Footage

No matter how dry you may think your content is, any good corporate video production company (like us) should be able to pinpoint and identify the strongest, most compelling shots to go along with your video’s message.

Call to Action

Arguably the most forgotten-about segment of a video marketing campaign is the call to action. And by forgotten, we mean there is a significantly less amount of emphasis placed on a call to action when video marketers are trying to persuade their audiences to purchase their service or product.

Here at Key West Video, we specialize in customizing our video marketing strategies to suit our clients’ needs. For more information on the services we provide, visit our website today!

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Why You Should Have Updated Stock #Footage Just In Case

Most companies should have a heavy roster of stock footage on deck for rainy days.

And like anything kept in bulk, stock footage should be well-maintained.

Whether you’re looking to purchase footage, or get rid excess footage from a production, there is something both buyers and sellers should take note of; and that’s the type of footage they’re dealing with.

Photo credit: zimpenfish via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Stock footage, at its core, is throwaway footage. Usually accumulated from a multitude of sets and locations, the footage is stored away to use for other productions. In the long run, having a heavy roster of stock footage can benefit both companies and filmmakers alike when it comes to having additional pre-shot content ready to use.

For those behind the scenes, it can be cost-effective; having that content can save time and money as production companies or brands won’t have to go through the process of rescheduling extra days for production. For videographers, editors, and virtually anyone behind the camera, keeping note of stock footage also means it can be made available for purchase online. In the past, we’ve mentioned a few resources for purchasing footage.

The word ‘stock’ itself is not limited to just one medium. Though it quite often refers to video, stock can also include music and images as well.

Ultimately shooting fast-motion content at a higher shutter speed makes for cool imagery, and in the long run, it gives it a wider appeal. Consider a waterfall: it can be difficult to capture each water droplet at a low shutter speed on a digital camera. Shooting at a higher shutter speed can give the illusion of a moving image or time-lapse, and removing the otherwise inevitable blur that comes with shooting moving objects.

Here at Key West Video, we strive to provide the best quality product available. Whether this means purchasing additional stock footage or shooting our own, we do our best to give you the best. For more on our portfolio or services, visit our website today!

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Things to Consider When Mapping Out Your Marketing Strategy

A foolproof marketing strategy is essential to an effective marketing campaign.

And a sound marketing strategy, though essential, is also highly subjective depending on your company’s needs. Whether you’re a local bakery or a major tech corporate, one thing that most companies share in common is their need for a large enough reach for their business.

Here we take a look at some of the key factors involved when planning out what your video marketing strategy:

Resources

Marketing Land, a digital marketing publication, pointed out that knowing what resources you have is instrumental in the process. Identifying your resources will help you tell your story. That pre-planning will allow you to figure out what kind of message or story you can tell with the resources available to you.

Platform

Companies sometimes think that posting their videos on a video streaming platform such as YouTube or Vimeo (or worse, their own website) is the be all end all of video marketing.

This could not be further from the truth.

Creating a video and then launching it into the universe simply isn’t enough. Companies must be strategic in choosing which social media platforms best stream certain content. For example, Facebook has proven time and time again that it can be an invaluable source of potential visibility when users share content. Judging by the sheer amount of content online, Facebook users have shared videos with compelling, entertaining or informative content in the thousands. How can your company create something specific to this platform that users will want to spread across their feeds? Is it universal enough? Does it appeal to their audience? What sort of impact will it have? That will determine the message, content length, and overall aesthetic to the project.

Analytics

Companies who assess how their videos will be received are the ones who are able to make effective strategies. Usually, these are companies who’ve had success in the past with content creation and have an understanding of how to measure video metrics.

Many marketing gurus will point out that simply getting a high number of views (or going viral) is not enough. Instead, companies would benefit from really understanding video analytics. On average, how long are people sticking around to watch your video? This affects how long you can make the next one. How many times were your videos repeated? This will determine the type of shareability of your content. What was the drop-off rate (or visitors flow)? The more you narrow down your analytics (even to individual user patterns), the better you become at understanding them.

KISS

Keep it simple, silly.

No, really.

Audiences nowadays have shorter attention spans, making it difficult to create content longer than a few minutes.

This is not only important for audience retention. It’s also cost-effective for production. Sticking to concise videos makes it easier on both a production crew to create premium quality in a tighter timeframe.

Here at Key West Video, we specialize in working directly with our clients to develop the best possible marketing strategies through a visual medium. For more information on our services, visit our website today!

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Social Media Storytelling and Corporate Video

We often overlook the ways corporate video can utilize the power of storytelling. What would happen if we took full advantage of tools to improve our marketing strategies?

Storytelling is in everything we do. We as humans crave the drama in a good story – we ache for details, cringe at tragedy and long for happy endings. We require some persuasive appeal to make a decision.

We have an unconscious need to be nudged.

Here are some ways your company can improve its social media marketing strategy through online storytelling:

1. Following Story Structure

Social Media Examiner references Freytag’s pyramid as a powerful tool for story structure. It separates a story into five major arcs: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Like most narratives, social media storytelling must follow some flow. Otherwise, the message becomes lost. Think of ways in which your company can emulate these aspects. How can you best explain your marketing initiative in a subtle, but succinct way? What sort of investment can your business draw out of its audience? What is the gratifying climactic point? Is there an emotional payoff? And how will your story conclude?

For marketing campaigns with clear intentions, creating a solid story structure not only sends the message home but keeps viewers coming back for more.

2. Using Story Ads

By telling your ads in story-form, viewers are more likely to engage and interact with your content. Online ads such as Facebook advertisements are great ways to expand your reach.

It only makes sense that companies should take advantage of this opportunity to engage with their viewers. With compelling content and a clear call to action, story ads can prove highly beneficial to corporate companies looking to expand their online presence.

Check out these awesome social media advertisements that utilize storytelling in the most creative ways.

3. Adding Audience Value

By incorporating an interconnected system, you distance yourself from just branding and allow your business to cater to your customers’ values. What do they care about? And how can you include this in your company’s brand packaging?

This is your opportunity to develop your core audience, develop a communication strategy that speaks directly to them, and create a forum in which there is a two-way avenue for extensive outreach and connection. Give them an incentive to interact with you.

4. Telling Familiar Stories

…is yet another strategy based on your audience. Familiarity humanizes your brand and shows your audience that you are not only paying attention to what they care about, but also indicates that you care about what they do. It’s a way for audiences to familiarize themselves with a product or service that might be entirely new to them.

5. Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

Last but not least, you’ll need a Unique Value Proposition (UVP) to drive the message home. At its core, a UVP describes why consumers should choose your company. It’s a clear statement that offers the benefits of selecting you, how you can solve others’ needs and why you stand out. It’s a repeated message all over your brand and should be on virtually every aspect of your company including your website’s main page and social media.

Here at Key West Video, we specialize in curating our client content to help them better reach their audience. For more information on the services we provide, visit our website today.

 

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Why You Should Repurpose Your Corporate Video

What happens when the corporate video you’ve already made and shared it with the world doesn’t get you the results you want? Repurpose it!

Many think that when their videos don’t get the traffic or views that they want, that there’s something wrong with the content. In a panic, they immediately take it down. In some extreme cases, they act as if the video never existed and shelf it. What they don’t realize, however, is that a repurpose is all it takes to get their video to where it needs to be.

In the marketing world, copy is constantly written, edited, and rewritten. More often than not, it isn’t completely taken down. Copywriters understand the value of words and how necessary it is to have those digital crumbs seeded on the internet.

But for some reason, this same approach isn’t applied to corporate video.

Why?

Well, for one, many think it simply isn’t possible. They don’t even realize that videos can be repurposed to improve its SEO, better reach their target audience, or refresh outdated information. Here we list some ways in which you can repurpose your corporate video for a better reception:

Transcribe

Transcribing your videos has its benefits for obvious reasons. Not only is it inclusive of those who suffer from hearing loss, but it’s also an added benefit to able-bodied persons as well. By transcribing your video, you’re making it easier to digest your content for your viewers and can serve as the source for potential blog content.

It also has the added benefit of becoming more search-friendly since it can be indexed on Google and YouTube.

Shorten Videos Into Clips

Millennials are known to have shorter attention spans than ever. In fact, it’s hard to engage us after 2 minutes. That means that in 120 seconds, you’ve got to capture and keep your audience’s attention long enough to make a call to action. This is a lot harder than it sounds.

When creating video content, map out where you’d like your video to go. YouTube virtually has no limit to the length of the video you can upload. Most users upload their content to social networks like Facebook to increase their view count. Companies can also look to Facebook as a direct uploading video source, as Facebook allows longer videos than those of its competitors (Twitter and Instagram). However, this doesn’t necessarily mean your audience will stick through your video to the end. Twitter and Instagram knew this and quickly took advantage of creating a short video sharing limit to their already popular platforms.

Some ways you can tighten up and repurpose already existing content is by:

• Stringing explainer or testimonial videos together
• Captioning video to provide additional onscreen information
• Using poignant interview clips and quotes in a series of FAQs about your company

For more information on how you can repurpose video content, visit ReelSeo’s blog post here. We at Key West Video work directly with our clients to ensure their content is quality. Visit our website for more today!

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Types of Corporate Video: Which One Should You Be Using?

Sometimes our clients aren’t sure what types of corporate content they should be putting out.

If you’re like most progressive companies, you’re looking for ways to increase your online reach. Creating corporate videos are one way to engage your audience in an interesting, visually compelling way. But what types of video should you be using?

A lot of non-creative companies find themselves at odds with the type of content they want. After all, it can be hard to decipher the best way to showcase your product or service when you’ve never had to create a video clip, write a script, or reach out to a production company like us.

We’ve got you covered.

If you’re ever at odds with the kind of corporate video you want, consider the following types of professional video:

The Explainer Video

The ‘explainer’ video (otherwise known as a video tutorial) is a powerful visual tool that can be used to get to the nitty gritty of your product or service. With compelling visuals, quick shots, time-lapses, and enticing voiceover, any brand can turn an otherwise dull instructional video into a highly intriguing explainer video.

The Product/Service Overview

An overview can supplement an explainer video, or stand alone. Generally, overview videos ‘review’ your product or service. They show your audience how to use your brand and show how user-friendly it is. Practicality is essential when introducing new product.

The Presentation

Another type of corporate video is the presentation video. A lot of times, this means a corporate video production company will attend a live presentation. Whether it is live-streamed or recorded and edited later, larger corporations benefit from video showing the inner-workings of the corporate community. It’s also a direct way to spread company knowledge to its viewership – especially when it comes directly from the source.

The Event Coverage

Event coverage is an easy way to expand viewership and create interesting content. Event coverage is almost always entertaining, with high energy and fast cutaways. They’re meant to show the fun in corporate climates.

The Testimonial

Nothing beats a good testimonial. Usually coming from customers, testimonials are a powerful tool meant to boost the credibility of your company. They are a direct way of showing off the results of your product or service, and can sway unsure buyers into choosing you. Testimonials from high-profile guests, valued customers, or those with social media pull can greatly elevate your presence both on and offline.

The Interview

Lastly, we have the interview. Like the presentation, this type of corporate video gives audiences information directly from the source. But unlike the presentation, the interview can either be a lot more (or less) formal. It’s also a lot more personal, giving your audience an up-close view of what employees have to say.

Here at Key West Video, we do all types of corporate video. We work with our clients to ensure their corporate visual needs are met. Visit our website for more information on our services today!

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How Corporate Video Is Artistic, Too

People sometimes forget that the very medium of video – be it corporate or feature film – is artistic, too.

No matter how you spin it, capturing a shot on video serves its purpose in the art world as creating a moment onscreen. The ability to shoot video alone is an art in itself.

Corporate video calls for corporate clients to call on corporate video production companies. Only makes sense right?

Only where do you draw the line between vague corporate video requests and fulfilling an artistic vision? Often, companies like Key West Video are left with the guesswork. We are indirectly asked to come up with imaginative scenarios, informative (yet intriguing) scripts, and compelling visuals. Ideally, a corporate company (read: client) wants to use the video for educational, promotional or instructional services. Our job is to do just that. But do it well.

The trick is to infuse an artistic vision, even if it’s minimal.

Of course, this means working directly with our clients. We work with our coordinates step-by-step to ensure that their vision is realized and put into action. When requested, we guide unsure clients through our creative process to ensure we’re all on the same page. When requested, we present storyboard options for our clients to choose from. Sometimes they present us with their ideas and we develop them. Other times, we pitch them our own.

No matter how closely we work with a client, one thing that it always comes down to is artistic direction. We may see eye-to-eye on a given aesthetic, but it is almost always the videographer who actualizes ideas. This means using his or her artistic, creative eye to bring a client’s vision to fruition.

Typically, we deal with corporate clients who look for:

• Training/Instructional videos
• Promotional videos
• Stories (accompanied with b-roll and/or voiceover)
• Music videos

Though most of these types of content come with their own level of artistry, we are able to add our own personal ‘Key West flair’ to the video, separating us from the pack. We create stunning video quality that speaks to your audience. By creating visually appealing content, we believe that you as the client are better able to spread your message through this platform.

For more on the artistic work we do, visit our website and check out our portfolio today!

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Is Transmedia the Future of Corporate Video Marketing?

Transmedia is making more and more companies reconsider the way they reach their audiences.

Gone are the days when media relied on a single platform to get their message across.

Though transmedia storytelling typically relies on just that – storytelling – a lot of corporate companies can take away the tactics transmedia uses. Often, companies with larger budgets are able to create a movement with their marketing campaign. This means reaching mass audiences with content marketable enough to make it easy to carry across platforms.

In the entertainment world, a transmedia marketing campaign could mean building an entire world. Think of the Matrix franchise or popular DC or Marvel; they’ve built an entire universe dedicated to continuing the world. Their franchise is carried through merchandise, books/graphic novels, films, video games and more.

If you’re grappling with whether or not you should take the transmedic approach, consider weighing your options first. 

Cons

First, let’s start with some of the reasons why companies would not want to go the transmedic route. One reoccurring reason might be that some companies fear their message not translating well across the different platforms. Undoubtedly, more work is required to format campaign messages to specific mediums. Some companies simply do not have a sizeable budget.

Understandable.

Another worry is when it comes to partnering up with other companies for marketing campaigns and promotions. It can be difficult to come up with a unified message in the first place when it comes to dealing with big corporations. When transmedia is involved, the message must not only be unified – it must be simple and strong enough to be understood by all parties involved.

This is the reason why a lot of artists operate independently with cross-platform market – it is easier to retain a singular, consistent message.

Pros

Some upsides to transmedia marketing are, of course, the reach. You are now reaching your audience in a multitude of ways. What’s more is that you are now also able to expand your audience. This means a wider range your brand can now access. It also means shaping your content for each platform in order to cater to different audiences. For example, if you were offering an online service, it would be safe to assume that a lot of your traffic would come from mobile users. This could translate to creating an app specifically for those users who are, on average, the Millennials and Generation Ys of our time.

Another upside is the idea of hiding clues in multiple areas. With a wider reach, you’re able to incorporate elements of your brand on different platforms. This adds a bit of fun to your marketing campaign; by planting ‘clues’, audiences are forced to participate differently in order to grasp your full outreach. Audience participation is essential to transmedic storytelling. It ensures that your audience is fully engaged. It gives the audience a sense of purpose by providing specific roles and goals for them to achieve. It is a way of fragmenting a message to really push your audience to think critically in a fun way.

Audience participation is essential to transmedic storytelling. It ensures that your audience is fully engaged. It gives the audience a sense of purpose by providing specific roles and goals for them to achieve. It is a way of fragmenting a message to really push your audience to think critically in a fun way.

So what will you choose? While transmedia comes with its own set of perks and downsides, it’s important to determine what platform(s) fit your message best and which audience you’re servicing. Here at Key West Video, we offer a multitude of services in order to best serviced our clients’ needs. To check out more on who we are and what we do, check out our website today!

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Corporate Video: Why Lighting Matters So Much

Don’t believe what they tell you – lighting is everything.

Despite what you may have thought, lighting can make or break your corporate video. You, a consumer of media (and probable selfie-taker), should know the importance of good lighting. It highlights our best facial features. It hides our loathed imperfections. It complements who we are…well, at least aesthetically.

Key Light

A key light is your main source of light. Assuming you’re doing an interview (or something to that effect requiring the use of a static subject on camera), you will need a strong light to pick up your interviewee. Many camera operators and cinematographers will state that the best area to place the light is roughly 45 degrees either side of the camera. However, because it is such a strong light, it will undoubtedly cause facial shadowing. Key lights must be counter-balanced with other lights, such as the following:

Fill Light

Placed on the opposite side of the key light, the fill light is also situated roughly 45 degrees from the camera. While sometimes it is impossible to eradicate all traces of facial shadowing, fill lights serve to eliminate as much shadowing as possible.

Back Light

This is the light that goes, well, at the back. Slated to light your subject from the rear, it is intended to help your subject stand out from the background. It is all too easy for your on-camera talent to become a ‘part of the background’, making it imperative that he or she doesn’t disappear into the scenery.

Diffused and Direct Light

For dramatic effect, direct light is the best way to go. More often than not, many corporate clients find that diffused light – light that requires a gel or diffuser – is the best way to go for informational and training videos, as well as interviews. Gels and diffusers reflect a softer, less harsh light on the subject.

Here at Key West Video we offer exceptional full videography services – including lighting. For more information on our services, visit our website here!

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How to Make A Persuasive Corporate Video

Making a persuasive corporate video can be tough.

We often forget how much is actually involved with creating a persuasive video. It is one of the few things that has an art and a science to it. When it comes to creating corporate video, one must use visuals in order to really send a point across. However, it’s not always as easy as telling your audience what to do. You’ve got to convince them that buying your product or service is something they’ve wanted – or even needed – to do all along.

When you think about it, the language of persuasion is really the art of rhetoric.

What does that mean, you ask?

Ultimately, persuasion is the subtle recognition of how you will appeal to in your audience. It’s how you convince an audience to see things from a certain perspective. In the corporate world, this means convincing your audience to make a decision

Let’s take a look at the following factors to consider when creating persuasive video:

Ethos

Ethos is an appeal to credibility. It reinforces your believability and trust. In the corporate video climate, this means creating a video campaign that boosts your audience’s trust in your brand.

Pathos

Pathos, in the simplest of terms, is an appeal to emotion. We’ve spoken before about the importance of appealing to your audience’s emotions and showing your company’s human side. Audiences need something they can connect or relate to. An emotional appeal is most universal

Logos

Arguably the most popular of the three, appealing to your audience’s logic is of utmost importance. It is what will drive a consumer to buy your product out of necessity and not excessive need. It is what will keep them coming back after they realize they need your service. It incorporates tangible results from previous testimonials and should show off your expertise. It can also include statistical facts to make your brand impressive.

Here at Key West Video, we work with our clients to create the ultimate compelling corporate video. Our aim? To incorporate some level of these elements to help expand your brand through corporate video. Visit our website and contact us for a quote today!

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Does Your Company Need Billboard Ad Video Marketing?

Static billboard marketing made waves when they first arrived. But since then, our culture has shifted the way we consume content, forcing marketers to follow suit.

What better way to do it than on the big screen with billboard video advertising?

Times Square, arguably one of the most popular sites in the Big Apple, sees a whopping 3-400 000 people each day.

That’s a lot of people.

Regardless of age, race/ethnicity, gender or economic background, that’s also a huge potential market.

Filled with bright lights, enticing street performers and a multitude of shops to choose from, it can be difficult to really take in all of what’s around you. One thing that stands out, however, are the massive billboard video advertisements surrounding the central square.

It isn’t surprising that our very own Dundas Square followed suit, as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billboard video advertisements add that extra level of intrigue. In high-density areas like Times or Dundas Square, a video (and a good one at that) grabs people’s attention. At the very least, a company’s video advertisement will be visible to many. And if your company’s ad is actually good, even better – that could translate to increased sales.

They also stimulate the senses. One notion is that highly populated areas such as these are high stimulant areas. With so many different sounds, smells, and new things to touch and taste, our senses are at an all-time high. If we factor in bright lights and high-action video, it’s almost sensory overload.

An important thing to consider is location. When shooting for a billboard video ad, where will it be? When it boils down to it, you want people to engage with your brand.  British Airways recognized the importance of location and incorporated a brilliant billboard ad:

Highly populated areas mean higher competition, which also means a higher production value which means a higher budget. Are you prepared to create high-quality content that can stand against the competition and make waves?

Here at Key West Video, we create top-quality video for all mediums. With an emphasis on creating compelling corporate content, we strive to make our clients happy with stunning video quality. Visit our website for a quote today!

 

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Popular Myths About Corporate Video

Every industry comes with its own set of myths and truths.

With corporate video production, this is no exception. For some reason unbeknownst to the corporate video world, there are certain myths and misconceptions revolving around corporate video that we at Key West Video simply could not ignore.

We’ve touched on it before, but here’s to refresh your memory. According to some, corporate videos are:

1. Costly

People often assume that video production will cost way more than they can afford. This simply isn’t true. Depending on your corporate needs, any video production company will quote you based on industry standards. What’s most important is getting value for your return. Think of corporate video as an investment into your company’s brand.

2. Boring

Not only are we living in an evolving age with innovative technology, we are constantly looking for new ways to tell stories. We are using linear and non-linear storylines. We are reshaping the way we do comedy. We are abandoning HD for 4K resolution. There is now a multitude of ways to grab an audience’s attention. There’s really no reason corporate videos cannot reflect as such.

3. Inauthentic

Nothing is worse than a CEO talking-head with an obvious emotional disconnect with his or her audience. Corporate videos with dialogue should speak to, not talk at. This is not to say that corporate companies should not use management or executives in their videos, but rather create an engaging way for someone to relay a message. This, of course, is at the discretion of our clients, but we recommend creating fresh ways to spark your audience’s interests.

4. Not In Need a Script

People often underestimate the importance of having a script in a corporate video. Not only does it supplement any speaking gaps in the video, but it also adds a sense of direction. While you’re not exactly shooting a Hollywood blockbuster film, you will still need certain important information relayed to your audience. A script eliminates any chance of missing or inaccurate information.

5. Able to Be Done Without Actual Production Company

This is one of our favourite myths. There really isn’t a reason a corporate company shouldn’t invest into an actual video production company – especially if they want high-quality production quality. A full-service production company will not only help you map out video concepts, but also help you create a solid production schedule, use its professional videographers and equipment, and often include post-production editing services. Video production takes well-seasoned and skilled producers, videographers, editors, professional equipment, and much more. With their expertise, you will have a polished product you can be proud of.

Here at Key West Video, we offer the best in corporate video production. Check out our portfolio for some of the services we offer and contact us for a quote today!

 

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Why Location Scouting Is So Important

People often underestimate the importance of location scouting. Finding the right location for a shoot is as imperative to the pre-production as it is to the final product.

When it comes to any sort of video – be it for corporate or creative purposes – one thing that must be solidified before shooting is location.

Location is where the overall aesthetic of your video will come from. It’s what will set the tone for your video and provide depth in your shots.

In the past, we’ve talked about the benefits one of the services we provide: location consultation. One obvious upside to location scouting is preparation. Clearing a location prior to shooting not only gives you an idea for how you can frame specific shots, but also prepares you when you’ll need to bring along equipment.

For example, if it’s an outdoor shoot, you’ll be able to decide what lighting you’ll need based on where you’d be shooting and what time of day. This saves time, effort and possibly even money when you’re able to plan.

Another benefit of location scouting is sound. If the shoot is heavily reliant on sound, it’s important to decide what the noise levels will be at the time of the shoot. If it’s in a loud industrial area, a mid-day shoot is not ideal. On the flip-side, if a corporate company requires a recording of ambiance, then that could work. Production and corporate companies need to work together to decide the specific sound needed before shooting.

One last – but major – thing to consider is your location perimeters. Both distance and space are incredibly important when determining a location. After all, you’ll need a lot of “wiggle room” to set up your camera, audio and lighting equipment. You’ll still need adequate room to get your shot without any interferences. Distance is also another thing to consider when location setting – especially when there are multiple locations involved. It’s a no-brainer that distance and time should be accounted for in a multi-day shoot.

This article displays Game of Thrones’ on-set location in the beautiful country of Croatia. We can only imagine how long it took to find the perfect King’s Landing.

Here at Key West Video, we have done a location consultation with many of our clients. For more on what services we offer, check out our website.

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Key West Video Is Now Offering Workshops!

Here at Key West Video Inc., we offer a myriad of services to our corporate clients. From post-production to speciality services like voice dubbing, our goal is to give our clients the best in corporate video production.

But now we’ve expanded our services to better accommodate you. How, you might ask?

Workshops.

We now offer two different types of workshops for our clients and customers: acting and production.

Acting Workshops

We’ve broken our acting workshops into multiple parts:

Part I: The Fundamentals of Auditioning for Camera:

With roughly 8-10 class participants, Marvin Karon is an acting coach who brings almost 20 years of experience to the table. This acting class is for upcoming actors who are already on the road to a professional acting career and looking to move up from the actor level or small principal roles to larger parts.

Through this class, participants learn how to understand the technicalities behind acting. Participants are also taught how to make emotional adjustments and develop intimacy with the camera.

Part II: Advanced Audition Technique

In the second part of the class, we offer participants in the workshops a more in-depth learning session. Through this class, we offer insight into some of the following:

• Finding A Character
• How to Score A Scene
• Finding the Tempo and Rhythm in a Scene
• How to Find the Connectives Between the Beats in a Scene
• Establishing relationships
• Exploring the idea of “losing yourself” in the scene
• How to respond more quickly and fully to direction
• Call backs: What you want to do differently; what you don’t want to do differently

and much, much more!

Scene Study Fundamentals

Never underestimate the importance of an individual scene. A single scene can be pivotal in a film or television show, and for actors, it is especially important to know how they can bring value to the big screen. Our class also offers scene analysis; this means identifying key factors in what makes a scene “work” based on the direction and emotional intelligence of the actor. It will also teach aspiring professionals how to make interesting, compelling choices to enhance the effectiveness of their work.

Advanced Scene Study

For the intermediate actor, this workshop is designed for the more experienced actor with at least some professional credits to their name. This class incorporates compelling and challenging content from feature films and TV shows as source material to reference from. By this, students will learn what works in a particular scene and how to enrich their acting through the use of dialogue, body language and emotion.

Master Class

This class is geared for those who have worked with instructor Marvin Karon in the past. With less of an emphasis on the craft of acting, it focuses on the pressures of performing on a professional set.

Production Services

Key West Video is also providing production services for those interested in video production. We offer a variety of classes including:

Lighting and Camera Techniques: Interviews and Green Screen

A relatively small class of 5 participants, eager learners learn how to set up documentary and corporate video interview in a 6-hour session. Participants will gain knowledge and experience in professional lighting, audio equipment and camera operation. They will also learn the difference between practical and green screen backgrounds, and how to properly equip for both.

DJI Ronin 3 Axis Gimbal: Basic Setup and Operation

This class is all about the technical. After setting up the system with two different camera configurations, participants will rotate crew positions, (Camera Operator, Remote Operator, Spotter, Talent) having a chance to operate the Ronin with a walking subject.

Photography Basics

This class focuses on the most basic elements of photography: aperture, shutter speed, focal length, format (sensor size), and colour temperature. In a 6-hour session, participants will exercise their newfound knowledge in a controlled studio setting with an industry-standard DSLR.

Photoshop Essentials

This 6-hour workshop will begin by discussing differences between raw camera files such as .CR2 versus more compressed files like .jpg and how they compare during the post production workflow.

For more information on our other services, visit our website today!

 

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5 Things We Can Learn from Video Games

We’ve all come in contact with video games at some point in our lives. Whether EB Games was your second home or you spent your lunch breaks streaming games on Twitch,  it’s safe to say that we’ve all at least seen a game in action.

One might ask what the carefully – yet wonderfully – created worlds in role-playing (RPGs) and first-person shooter games have to do with corporate video. One might even go so far as to ask what it could have to do with anything marketing-related, either.

Well, fear not friends. We’ve finally connected the dots.

Believe it or not, video games say a lot about the way we communicate and interact with others. From a marketing standpoint, video games can provide the framework for a lot of company campaigns.

Here are some of the top takeaways from video gaming to corporate video marketing:

1. Immersive Storytelling

One of the most important things when delving into the world of video games is how immersive the storytelling must be. Video games often act as an escape from reality – an alternate way to experience things. Therefore, the storytelling must take its users to another place.

This is not to say that your company needs to engulf its audience in a completely immersive experience, but it definitely does help create for optimal audience engagement.

2. Character Development

Good video games show character progression. The higher the level, the more the character must evolve. The stakes become higher. The challenge gets greater. There is now a bigger risk involved. It’s not absolutely necessary to feature a particular per se, however it does add extra amiability to your marketing.

If taking the character approach, it’s equally important to note how there are people behind your brand. Making a personable appeal by showing your team is made up of a collective of individuals goes a long way to establish a relationship between your product and your users.

3. Strong Storyline

We’ve mentioned before how important storytelling is. Any good video – from commercials, to feature film, to corporate infomercials, must have some sort of narrative framework. We’ve seen it in nerd culture. We’ve experienced it on paper. Now, as our culture leans more and more towards technology, we’re seeing it more in the way we reach others.

This can be translated in the stories we tell through marketing. Who is your target audience? What is the best way to get them to identify with your brand/product/service? Will a storyline help tug on their emotional strings?

4. Educational

Ever feel slightly enlightened after playing a video game? When it comes to virtual realities, seldom do artificial worlds lack context. These worlds often have their own set of rules, traditions, taboos and values. Even if they technically don’t exist, they still serve as a strong reflection of the society (or societies) we live in.

Video games are an enticing, sometimes fantastical way of educating us on how our own world works. Video marketers can take note of how we can get alternate, fictional arenas to send a message.

5. Graphics

Last but not least, this leaves us with graphics. It goes without saying that graphics have undoubtedly progressed in the last 10 years with all areas of video production. From Lara Croft to NBA 2K, we’ve seen how video games specifically have moved with the times to create some of the most stunning graphics we’ve ever seen.

Our advice? When creating video for marketing purposes, use the best, most stunning video quality you possibly can. Because in a few years, it might just be outdated.

Here at Key West Video, we offer the best in corporate video production services. Visit our website to contact us for a quote today!

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