Marketing Brands: All 5 Senses Through Corporate Video

You’d be surprised at just how many companies are simply unaware of the importance our five senses have on their potential clients. They are equally unaware of how sensory marketing can affect their current customers. While it is important to generate a pleasing aesthetic, sometimes this simply isn’t enough.

Here at Key West Video, we like to think that our clients deserve the best quality work that money can buy. Going above and beyond with our services like video production and animation, our mission is to ensure our clients are receiving just a little more than our very best.

Advertising in our day and age strives to make an emotional appeal to its viewers. We want to feel how a product will change our day-to-day activity – not just see it. We want to know how a certain service will impact our quality of life – not just hear about it. We want assurance that by spending money on a certain brand, company or organization, we are making a worthy investment.

Thankfully, technology today allows us to do just that.

According to marketing expert Martin Lindstrom, brands should be connecting with their audiences through all their senses. Here are some ways we can connect our senses with corporate video:

Sight

Sight is probably the most obvious sense of the five. It’s a vital marketing tool that affects the way we visually interpret brands. Think sports commercials: brands like Nike and Adidas often use high-speed action, athletes wearing sports equipment, and fast-paced camera shots to get our attention. Our brains subconsciously match sight with feeling, even if we don’t fully understand what it is we’re looking at. Nike does a great job of creating that “cool” factor. We don’t actually know what “Just Do It” means, but we certainly get the idea that it’s cool to mimic the commercials (or maybe that’s just us).

Sound

A close second is sound. Many of us recognize distinct companies by their jingles, soundbites, or specific clips.“Brands with music that ‘fit’ their brand identity are 96 percent likelier to prompt memory recall,” says Lindstrom. Sound helps “dull” visuals beef up their effect by adding a sense of familiarity to what we see. Sound is also strong enough to tell a story all on its own.

Smell

Smell is a bit tricky; in corporate video advertising, it depends on what the viewer interprets after seeing or hearing something. It also has the power to evoke memories. Lindstrom states that “test results have shown a 40 percent improvement in our mood when we’re exposed to a pleasant fragrance—particularly if the fragrance taps into a joyful memory”. He might be on to something. Our sense of smell is powerful enough to attract or repel us.

Touch

Another interesting sense is touch. Like smell, touch also depends on visual and audio elements for it to work effectively. We can get an idea of how something will feel by the way it is presented to us.

Taste

This sense is usually stimulated most when we view images of food or beverages. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes difficult to appeal to this sense when you’re not a food or beverage company. It depends a lot on sight and sound to get an idea of what something will actually taste like.

What are some other ways your senses can be stimulate through video? Comment or share below!

The post Marketing Brands: All 5 Senses Through Corporate Video appeared first on Corporate Video Blog.

The Importance of Video Testimonials

One of the most valuable tools you can have for your business is to have your clients speak of your work through video testimonials.

At Key West Video we understand that businesses big and small still grow by word of mouth, except in this digital age of ours, most of this happens online. Video testimonials about your company are a very powerful instrument to sing your praises in an online forum because they have a well-grounded human element.

Consumers are cautious and tend to do online research these days before investing their time or money in what they desire. They want hard evidence. Think of it as researching a job applicant’s references after a job interview, except your interview is NOW. Putting your best foot forward online with client video testimonials will help skyrocket your company’s presence far beyond other businesses that do not. In the past, written quotes have been used in printed materials and online as evidence from previous clients but it is much more powerful to actually see and hear these recommendations coming directly from the source.

Video testimonials are recorded statements of your clients talking about your company, not only in their own words, but their own voice. Being able to see and hear them as real people and not just written text brings their recommendations to life as it personalizes your client’s experience of working with you. The fact that your client was so pleased they want to tell others about your company “in person” is invaluable to your business. It is this human element of the medium of video that emotionally draws in prospective customers because it provides a greater understanding of what they can expect from you.

Having clients who are willing to lend their credibility to support your business bolsters your reputation and will lead others to want to work with you. A positive video testimonial not only helps to captivate cautious consumers, it quietly strengthens your position in their mind and therefore your opportunity to work with them.

If you are looking for a priceless promotional tool to add to your corporate business marketing, video testimonials are the answer. Let #KeyWestVideo be your guide.

Don’t take our word for it– check out what our client Pamela Labelle, CEO of The Business Exchange has to say about us:

At Keywest, we have over 25 years in the business, work for the Fortune 500, and have won 9 Consumer Choice Awards. Catering to clients worldwide, we strive to solve your biggest challenges with amazing video. 

The Importance of Video Testimonials

Office Environments Matter

Here at Key West Video we understand the importance of our office environment. It needs to be conducive not only to hard work, focus and results, but also creativity, innovation and fun!

An office environment says a lot about a #company. It can tell you whether working with that company will be straightforward and regimen, or whether the #staff is lighthearted and lively. We try to push our #office space to fall into the latter category.

Not only due to the nature of our work, but also our individual personalities, we think it is best to germinate a specific vibe in our office. This feeling that we are going for is one that forges a space for #creative thought, individual reflection, and peace of mind. Check out some of the ways we do that below!

Recreation

We are all aware that good health fosters many positive side effects. But we may forget just how important a healthy body is to increasing #productivity in an office environment. While many of us spend a significant portion of our day sitting in front of a computer, we don’t realize the negative impact this has on our body.

Julie Boehike wrote an article on LiveStrong.com entitled ‘How Does Exercise Improve Productivity’. The article speaks to the benefits, including alertness, energy, improving mental and physical health, and also illness prevention, which all are great reasons to find ways to bring exercise into the office.

We have a small trampoline in our #production office. Whenever any of us are feeling the need for a little pick me up, instead of grabbing a cup of java we hit the tramp for a jump. As Julie says, “when you exercise, you are also increasing blood flow to the brain, which can help sharpen your awareness and make you more ready to tackle your next big project”. So we are not only helping shed the pounds, but sharpen our minds too!

Reflect

Our team has had the pleasure to travel all over North America for work. We have gone as far west as Vancouver, as far north as Fort McMurray, as far east as Halifax, and as far south as North Carolina. So we thought it would be nice to put up a map in our office, not only because it looks cool, but so we can reflect on the distances we have traveled.

It is also a great way to see the potential that is out there in this big world. We regularly take the time to stand around and talk about the exotic destinations that our ideal job would take us next.

This form of reflection is a nice change from the hectic pace of our busy lives. Taking this time is essential. You can get so caught up in work, that it is nice sometimes to strike up a conversation, take your mind off of things, and then hit the ground running when you get back to your desk.

Relax

When we moved #locations in October 2014 we not only got a larger office space, but we built a #studio too. Our studio space has insulation to help block out noise, and is painted black to block out any light. Therefore it is not only the perfect studio to film in, but as some of us have found, it is the perfect place to conduct an afternoon #meditation session in as well.

A few employees have developed a regular habit of closing the door, turning off the lights, and putting on a 5-10min YouTube guided meditation session during their lunch hour. It helps them unwind from the events that have taken place already that day, and gear them up for everything to come in the second half of the afternoon.

Meditation, our map or ‘water-cooler’ space, and the trampoline all provide different outlets for decompression and allow staff in the office to re-energize themselves. We all spend more time at the office then we do with our loves ones at home on a daily basis. Therefore we think it’s important to foster an office space that allows each team member to feel at home. If one or any of the techniques described above help our staff then we are happy.

Office Environments Matter

Consistency & Standards in Production

Consistency creates a level of standards, and standards breed consistency. Of course, you can have one without the other, but it is the power of the two together which create a level of professionalism and trust which keeps clients coming back again and again.

We have come across clients who ask us if we can hire freelancers to film at their different locations or events across Canada, instead of sending our own crew. The answer is of course we can. However, it is not something that we recommend. Here’s why.

At Key West Video we have have a certain level of standards which we apply to our everyday interaction with clients. Whether in a meeting, on a shoot, or during the editing process. We want our clients to feel well taken care of, and want them to be assured that they will get the premium quality service which they have been delivered in the past. One of the salient ways we do this is maintaining a level of consistency throughout all of our projects, and throughout the projects life cycle.

Maintaining consistency means training our staff in our specific branded fashion. Above all else we ensure our employees understand that great customer service is at the heart of our business. Creativity and attention to detail are important as well, but being able to accommodate and be flexible with our clients is one of our top priorities.

Elizabeth Halford wrote in her post on Consistency in Post Production, on the Digital Photography School website.

“It is less likely that you will be hired as a photographer if your potential clients can’t look at your work and know what they’re hiring you to do. By all means, experiment experiment experiment! But keep your portfolio of work easy to ‘read’ so there is no confusion about what you have to offer.”

Ms. Halford perfectly sums up just why we find it so integral to keep our work consistent. We want our clients to feel comfortable that every time they come back to us, or advise a colleague or friend to use our services, they will be provided with the same experience they previously had.

Zak Pines in his article Why Consistency and Standards are so Important – Production and Production Management, details his thoughts on the matter. He provided a great list which explains the why. Why are consistency and standards so important? This list can practically be applied to any industry, but I believe it is especially relevant in video production where costs can be great, and timing is often crucial. Here is his list:

1. Standards ensure customer expectations are met around the quality of deliverables


2. Standards give customers predictability of deliverables that allow them to better plan programs – critical since our goal and measurement of success is always around customer outcomes


3. Standards reduce turnaround time (by reducing the amount of cycle time spent on revisions and rework) – faster content time to market


4. Standards ensure our costs are managed carefully on projects, resulting in the best possible rates for customers – cost savings


5. Standards ensure our customers’ time is well-managed on projects – and our customer’s time is incredibly valuable, particularly when working with subject experts


6. Standards ensure consistency (of brand, of voice, of presentation, of formats) across communications channels and content types

Standards and consistency should go hand in hand. When they do, they create a formula for a successful business which is able to deliver on it’s promises to their clientele, and build lasting relationships.

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Consistency & Standards in Production

Internal Videos: Top 5 Benefits

Corporate videos are used for a number of purposes. Internal videos are an excellent communication tool that often get paid less attention to videos directed at consumers. Here are the top 3 reasons why we believe you need to pay more attention to internal videos.

Top 3 Benefits of Internal Videos:

“93% of Internal Communications Professionals believe video has become essential” -Melcrum Study 2011

“54% of employees expect to see video in the workplace” -Cisco “The Network” 2011

1) Quick & Efficient:

It is a lot more likely that an employee will be willing to watch a 2 minute long video highlighting key moments from the past quarter, or learn about a new procedure, rather then a boring 3 page memo about it.

Video is an efficient medium. It can provide a lot of information a detail in a short amount of time. Through the use of graphic text, voice-over, visuals, addresses to camera, photographs, b-roll etc. internal videos can express a great deal of information. Internal videos can even save your company time and money by eliminating the need for long and boring meetings, e-mails, and documents.

3) Create a Personal Feel to Your Company:

Tom More, in his post entitled 8 Tips on Videos to Leave Your Competition in the Dust, on ViralBlog’s website states,

“Video communications are a great tool to add a personal touch to company-wide communications”

This is because internal videos allows you to express what you need to, but in a way that showcases your company’s unique style. Whereas text alone may fall short, video literally lets you show who your company is.

4) Highlight Achievements:

When you have a qualified staff that works hard to help your company’s image, client relations and bottom line, it is important to highlight those achievements. A great way to let employees know that you care, is to take the time and resources to showcase who has done great work in the organization lately.

Internal videos are a great way to highlight staff achievements, because you can utilize a variety of mediums from photographs, graphic text, and even testimonials from co-workers. When you package them together in a short video to show at a company event, or on your internal website, it is a wonderful way to build company moral and really show employees they are valued.

Video communications are a great tool to add a personal touch to company-wide communications. Slidelys can also be a great way not just to connect with your consumer audience but also to reach out to your company.

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week.

- See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Video communications are a great tool to add a personal touch to company-wide communications. Slidelys can also be a great way not just to connect with your consumer audience but also to reach out to your company.

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week.

- See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpufvcdsfvfd

Video communications are a great tool to add a personal touch to company-wide communications. Slidelys can also be a great way not just to connect with your consumer audience but also to reach out to your company.

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week.

- See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Video communications are a great tool to add a personal touch to company-wide communications. Slidelys can also be a great way not just to connect with your consumer audience but also to reach out to your company.

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week.

- See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpufvgdfvdfb fdb

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

Start out with a weekly Slidely message that says thank you, recaps the best moments from the week, sends photos from the most recent company gathering, or highlights the achievements of some of the star players or teams that week. – See more at: http://www.viralblog.com/viral-social-videos/8-tips-on-videos-to-leave-your-competition-in-the-dust/#sthash.mfFz0F2s.dpuf

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Internal Videos: Top 5 Benefits

Keywest Video Blog: Professional Production

This week’s video blog discusses the benefits of professional production quality.

Technology has changed the landscape of video production. We are now at a point where it’s easy for a company to make their own corporate videos for social media use. Most portable devices such as an iPhone, have HD video cameras, and sites like YouTube and Vimeo make hosting and embedding easy. So you might wonder why anyone would hire a production company to produce corporate videos for their business.

For starters, HD is actually a very ambiguous term. While a $400 point and shoot camera and a $10,000 DSLR may both film in high definition, professional video cameras have superior image processing and color rendering capabilities. This becomes extremely evident under direct comparison with those consumer products.

And even though the type of camera used is extremely significant when it comes to image quality, possibly even more important than the camera itself, is professional lighting equipment. As well as the skills needed to use it effectively.

This level of production quality will impress, and impart a sense of professionalism to your potential clients.

Want to take it a step further? Multiple cameras really help when it comes to seamless dialogue edits… sorry can we take that line again? Multiple cameras really help when it comes to seamless dialogue edits and can be very useful when filming larger scripts.

No matter how simple or complex your project is, a professionally produced video leaves viewers focused on your message, and not distracted by quality issues.

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Keywest Video Blog: Professional Production

Projects: The List Goes On

When it comes to production work you can never be too prepared. No matter how hard you try, this industry is unpredictable at its core. Which is why schedules, timelines, and an endless amount of lists are the key to successful projects.

At Keywest we take the pre-production phase of all our projects very seriously. It is within this stage where we define the concept and direction of our clients productions. It is also during this phase that we plan out all of the details of their project. There are a variety of different documents that we utilize in order to ensure we are on the same page as our clients, have a clear vision of where the production is headed, and are able to keep track of it’s progress every step of the way. Here are some of the items we use in order to do just that.

First Call Sheet

The first call sheet is where all of our projects begin. In this document we accumulate any information that we have received from the initial call, email or meeting with our client. The document is a reminder of all the different services that we provide, as well as the variety of options they can choose from. Ex. half day versus full day, voice-over, number of camera operators, shoot day and time, video length, editing details… and the list goes on. These call sheets are kept on file, so even if our potential client doesn’t go ahead with the projects until months after the initial point of contact, we still have all of the information they provided us.

Tracking Binder

The main details of each project are then written down in our tracking binder. This allows us to have easy and quick access to our list of current and potential projects. The binder is very useful in following-up with our clients and making sure we are on track with their project.

Stages Document

Once a project is green-lit we put together a stages document. This form has a list of all the main information regarding each stage of production. All client and crew contact information, location, video type and audience details are outlined in the pre-production stage. Within the production stage, direction details, timing, equipment lists, and client comments are highlighted. The last stage outlines post-production, including length of the video, graphics or animation direction, and delivery options. This document is very useful throughout the entire project life. It is created and then sent to the client for review. Once approved the crew gets a copy so everyone is on the same page before production begins.

Shot List

One of the last major documents that we create to ensure all of our projects are successful, is a shot list. This is where we create a list of all the content we wish to capture during the shoot, and outline the location, talent, direction, and timing involved. It is not only useful to ensuring we have all the footage we need, but it also keeps us on schedule during the shoot.

These are just some of the ways Keywest makes sure we are overly prepared for our productions. Our clients projects are of the utmost importance to us, and we know that a successful job begins with the pre-production phase.

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Projects: The List Goes On

Product Videos: Why They Work

Have an amazing and unique product but no video? Here is the scoop on why product videos should be an integral part of your marketing campaign.

Studies have shown that online users who watch product videos are generally 85% more likely to purchase something than visitors who do not. (Internet Retailer, April 2010)

The proof is in the numbers. Numerous research groups have shown that video does have a large impact when it comes to the sale of #products and services, and especially when coupled with an online retail site. Customers today need to be wowed. There are so many different products on the market, and with fierce competition comes the need for companies to stand out from the pack. Oh, and you better do it quickly because our attention spans are forever shrinking. Here is why product videos can be so lucrative.

#Videos are a simple, quick and effective way to showcase your products. In a 30 second to two minute spot you can highlight its features, talk about its benefits, and find an interesting way to target your key #consumer. And if you are able to do that in a great package with a little pizzazz, you can truly impress and turn online visitors into purchasers.

Companies large and small have known about the power of video for decades, but within the past few years, and with all the studies being done, it seems that no organization wants to get left in the dark. The success of many of these video campaigns is evident.  Zappos, the online fashion site for example, reported a jump in sales of their products between 6% to 30% with the use of video. (ReelSEO, December 2009.)

Beyond the Traditional Benefits

The benefits of product videos go beyond the traditional as well. We all know that product videos can attract attention, increase awareness of a product, and even turn eyeballs into sales. Adam Hayes from Wyzowl Blog tells us, product videos are also useful in reducing customer queries.

“Product videos give customers a great amount of information at the earliest opportunity, giving you the chance to proactively answer many questions that may otherwise have ended up in your support team’s inbox.”

There are numerous other benefits as well. Andrew Follett, Founder and CEO of Video Brewery says,

“Explainer videos keep track of what product or service potential customers are interested in by displaying the number of views on each video”

This is an important asset when deciding on which products should stay, which should go, what ones would be good to promote, put on sale, sell to a specific market etc. Video stats are an amazing analytics tool, which can help you track the excitement for your products.

Over the years Keywest Video has been privileged to aid numerous companies in the production of their product videos. A recent client we have worked with, Ryan Design (click on the link to check out the video), contacted us to create an informative and promotional video for their latest innovative product “Touch Film”. The goal of this video was to not only promote the product, but also showcase its functionality and usability in the appropriate setting. The final video was not only an excellent illustration of the product’s capabilities and functionality, but also its ease-of-use and sleek design.

Contact us today if you’re interested in getting a quote for your product video!

 

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Product Videos: Why They Work

Location , Location , Location

 Ask any Producer, Videographer, or Director of Photography, and they will tell you that one of the most important aspects of any video is the location in which you film in.

A location can make or break the look and feel of a video and thus either create a dynamic and visually engaging space, or one that bores or doesn’t reflect the needs of the video’s content. Here are some tips for scouting a location for your corporate video shoot.

1. Focus on the Content

Whether you are planning on highlighting your firms upcoming events and past accomplishes, or you plan on creating a promotional video for a new product, you need to zero in on what setting makes the most sense for your video. Don’t choose a location simply based upon what is most convenient, or even the most visually attracting. While a great attractive location can be a huge asset, if it doesn’t lend itself to the content, then the message and meaning behind it is lost.

2. Double & Triple check

While the location you find to shoot at might seem like the ideal place, make sure you are not hasty in your decision. You may find the location on a quiet sunny weekend, but then go back to film on an evening during the week, and the noise level, shading, etc. can be completely altered and not your ideal circumstance. To ensure your chosen location will work, go visit the location multiple times on different days and times of the day in order to be certain of what you will get.

3. Lighting & Power

Whenever we are going to a shoot at a new location lighting is always one of the most important factors to consider. Is the location you plan on filming in indoors or outside? If outside is there a nearby power source? If not do you plan on simply utilizing natural light? If filming outside you need to check the weather for that day and whether the sun will affect your shots or not. When indoors is there light coming from a window? If it is a sunny day you may want to bring ND filters in order to shield your subject from some of that harsh light. If using professional lighting, ensure that the location has the capacity to use that much light without blowing a fuse.

4. Audio

In addition to lighting, audio is just as important if not more important to the overall look and feel of the video. When deciding on a location listening to the space and the diegetic noise within that space is integral. Often when not accustomed to listing for small noises, one would think they are listening to silence just because no one around them is making noise, yet in reality we never really hear true silence. Our computers, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. all make a lot of background noise which we simply take as part of life and tune out most of the time. When recording audio though you want the quietest space possible, and those diegetic noises can then be inserted later in post.

5. Space

Don’t take space for granted, because when you need it you will wish you had it, and more. Space is something that individuals not accustomed to filming don’t often realize the importance of. Especially when conducting interviews and trying to blur out the background so the on-camera talent is the focus of the frame, space is a necessity. You may see a space and think it is adequate, but once you get the talent, crew, and equipment all into the space it may not be as viable. Keep this in mind when deciding which location to shoot in.

6. Permission

Last but not least, ensuring you have the appropriate permission required to shoot in any location is a must. If you are filming on private property which is not owned by you or your client, or on public property, you must try to acquire the appropriate permits or permissions. Having your shoot interrupted and/or shut down is not pleasant and can be avoided by making sure you take the appropriate steps in pre-production.

Keywest Video is a proud corporate video producer, and has a variety of producers, talent and crew on-hand which can aid your next video shoot. We also do location scouting for independent producers or our valued clients.

 

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Location , Location , Location

Corwhin Tool: Case Study

Corwhin Tool & Manufacturing approached Keywest Video to create an informative and visually appealing video which they could utilize at trade shows. The result is a video that will captivate the attention of passersby, and paint a picture of the company that will entice and draw new customers in.

When deciding on what direction this #Video should go in the initial meeting with the Corwhin Tool team, they had expressed the need for a video that would be able to tell a story simply through visuals. The sales team at #Corwhin were utilizing a powerpoint presentation with images of their products embedded within it, in order to highlight what their company does for potential clients at #TradeShows. So they were interested in a video that could replace their current offering, in order to attract new clients to their booth.

After that meeting and subsequent site survey, the Keywest producers put together a shot list that captured the essence not only of the company’s products and services, but their additional and very beneficial offerings. Things such as custom engineered solutions, delivery services, rush orders, as well as their diverse staff and specialty equipment were all highlighted.

The completed project is a video which does exactly as it is supposed to. With just enough content to not bore or overwhelm, but just enough to get a good sense of the company and their offerings, it is a wonderful description of their company.

Take a look at Corwhin Tool’s new #PromotionalVideo.

Corwhin Tool & Manufacturing is also in the process of revamping their website. Once complete, they have the intention of re-working this video in order to promote their services with this great spot. Some adjustments would be made in order to tailor the video for an online audience, including cutting down the length to a shorter 1.5 – 2 minutes, as well as adding a voice-over to aid with the flow of the video.

Keywest is very glad to have been able to work on this project and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the Corwhin team.

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Corwhin Tool: Case Study

Instructional Videos: Challenge Accepted

Thinking of creating instructional videos for your product or service? It may not be as straightforward and simple as you image. Here are some key things to consider before you accept the challenge of creating an instructional video.

Over the years we at Keywest have helped numerous organizations produce instructional videos to help aid their employees, clients or even vendors to better understand their product or service. Instructional videos can be an integral asset to companies marketing strategies and service offerings. When done correctly they will help boost sales and be something which sets you apart from the competition.

However, time and time again through our experiences working on these type of projects, we have stumbled across individuals who see instructional videos as a simple endeavor.  The biggest mistake people make is thinking they can just film someone going through the motions, and that will be good enough. When it comes to video production, and getting across the message to an audience in a clear and concise way, so much more is involved. Here are our top 5 factors to consider before delving into your instructional videos.

1. 
   Write a good script - Do not take an instruction manual and use it in place of a script. Those things are written by individuals who don’t necessarily understand the product/service, and certainly don’t know how to explain it to the general public. Therefore it was not written to be engaging and easily understood. Take the time to think of the best way to describe each and every step in the process.


2. 
   Go through the motions – Too often I have been in the middle of a shoot only to learn that the step we are currently filming could only have been preformed in an earlier step. Although things can sometimes sound good on paper, you need to perform a dry-run to ensure nothing was looked-over. If you take the time to do this in advance of your shoot, you will save a lot of time and budget over-runs on the day.


3. 
   Hire a professional – If you are planning on using a host in your video opt for a professional actor rather than an employee. It doesn’t matter how great they are with hand tools or arranging flowers, it is unlikely you will find an employee who is great at their job, and also miraculously fabulous at speaking to camera explaining what they are doing at the same time. The exception comes of course if the task at hand is way too complicated or dangerous to get an actor to perform. In this scenario another great option is to utilize the employee performing the task, and then hire a professional voice-over artist to explain the process.


4. 
   Have someone on standby – If you decide to go with the route of hiring a professional actor, don’t just bank on them reading the script and knowing exactly how to do everything as if it were their day job. Having an employee from your company on hand in case any questions arise is always a good idea. That way the actor can take tips from the person who knows what their doing, and look as though it were second nature.


5. 
   Schedule enough time – This is one of the biggest mistakes I see individuals making when planning their instructional videos. If something normally takes one hour to perform, schedule 4-5 hours to film it. Film is not real life, and you want your instructional video to not only by easy to understand, but easy to look at as well. Therefore time and effort needs to be taken to ensure your video looks as best as it can. Factors such as lighting, staging, hair and makeup, all need to be factored in. If you can film everything from one angle then you will save a lot of time, but most often you will want to film a wide shot, then a close-up to punch into certain aspects of the process. A detailed shot list will save time on the day, and also can give you a sense of timing in advance so you know what to schedule.

Contact Keywest Video today to learn about how we can aid you with your instructional videos.

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Instructional Videos: Challenge Accepted

Politicians and Smartphones

The smartphone. Virtually everyone with any technical skill and several hundred dollars to spare has one. In this week’s video blog, Keywest discusses the implications that smartphones have had on politics, and especially politicians.

The political world has been filled with great story tellers for as far back as has been recorded. Those men and women who are able to spin bad situations and look like the golden child that saved the day. But in modern times, it has become increasingly difficult for the arrogant and deceitful ones in the bunch to hide their infractions. And one of the major reasons for this is thanks to these wonderful little devices.

It seems that no one is safe anymore, the least bit politicians. With their track record for drama and transgressions, they are the ideal target for civilians equipped with a smartphone and a desire for more YouTube hits.  Anyone is able to take pictures or video on their phone and sell it to the media for a profit. Therefore it’s the individual responsibility of that politician to behave in a way that is becoming and respectable.

As a politician, or any form of celebrity, they’ve essentially given up their right to freedom. Legally speaking, it is perfectly fine for individuals to snap and share photos or videos of public figures for commercial gain. As, the person stepping into that political position has in a way consented to the use of their persona by putting themselves out there to represent a public body, and they themselves are benefiting financially from that position. Another legal factor stems from the fact that video of anyone can be put forth to the media if it is a matter of public interest.

For example, Mayor Rob Ford’s alleged crack video, and all the videos that have been distributed online of him in a “drunken stupor” that have been released, could be put under this category. As a representative for the city of Toronto, it can be argued that it is in the public’s best interest to know how he behaves when in public. It’s another story to try and record footage of his family, or him in a private location such as his home, but when it comes to public property, any right to freedom of not being filmed without his permission goes out the window.

How do you feel about this issue? Would you be okay with someone filming you and gaining profit from that footage? Does your view change if you are in a more vulnerable situation, say after a few drinks at a bar? Now what about if you were running for a political position, or say starring in a television show? Canadian law tells us there is a distinction between individuals based on their career choices. Let us know what you think by connecting with us on Facebook or leaving us a comment in the section below.

Politicians and Smartphones — Corporate Video Production Toronto

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Politicians and Smartphones

NABS Honor Roll 2013

Keywest Was Inducted Into the 2013 NABS Honor Roll & Couldn’t Be More Proud

Keywest has been working with NABS, The National Advertising Benevolent Society, over the past several years. NABS is a great organization which helps those in the advertising industry who are simply down on their luck and need a helping hand.

Keywest values and appreciates the work that NABS has been able to do since their inception. That is why we have chosen to partner with them to help support their efforts through the power of video.

Video as we all know can reach into the hearts and minds of individuals and help them gain a better understanding of a certain message. Which is why video has been such an important tool for the NABS team, and many other non-profit organizations.

This past Thursday, January 30th 2014, NABS held an appreciation event at the Rosewater Room in downtown Toronto. A lovely location, with delicious food and a warm and receptive crowd. The Keywest team had a wonderful time, and was happy to join in the celebration of all that had been achieved during the 2013 year, as well as to hear who had made the 2013 NABS Honor Roll.

At the event Keywest was pleased and honored to be awarded a plaque, and to be inducted with great company into the NABS 2013 Honor Roll. We even decided to tweet about it.

Had a lovely time at the #NABSParty! Thank you for making @keywest_video a member of the @NABS_Canada 2013 NABS Honour Roll.

And they tweeted back!

@keywest_video Thanks for joining us tonight! Congrats on making it onto the #NABSHonorRoll

A sizzle reel showcasing clips from various events NABS has held over the past year, as well as clips from other videos, was created by our team and shown at the event. Check it out below.

NABS Honor Roll 2013

The Business Exchange Testimonial

The Business Exchange’s CEO and founder Pamela Labelle talks about her experience working with Keywest Video.

The Business Exchange Testimonial

Canon 5D Mark III

The Canon 5D Mark III is one of our favourite cameras to use here at Keywest.

With supercharged EOS performance and stunning full frame, high-resolution image capture, the Canon 5D Mark III is designed to perform. Here are 3 main reasons why we love shooting with the Canon 5D Mark III:

Canon 5D Mark III

1. Depth of Field

We just adore the Canon 5D’s shallow depth of field when shooting most of our footage. The camera allows us to really focus on a subject in the foreground, while maintaining a beautifully out of focus background. In many cases, it enables us to smoothly shift focus

between foreground and background, for a more aesthetically pleasing look.

2. Low Light Conditions

We sometimes encounter situations in which we aren’t able to create the ideal lighting setup, be it within an office, boardroom, etc. The Canon 5D is a remarkable asset in these conditions as its low light capabilities are absolutely out of this world.

3. Easy to Handle

Unlike many large, bulky video cameras, the Canon 5D is an excellent camera when you’re on the go. Since, it’s a DSLR, it’s significantly smaller than a video camera and has a great deal of user-friendly features that allow us to capture amazing video.

Did you know?

It recently came to our attention that the Canon 5D was even used to shoot an entire episode of the television series House.

Canon 5D – House

The 5D allowed the production team to work in very tight spots in a collapsed parking garage with minimal lighting. They used Canon prime lenses along with the 24-70mm and

70-200mm zooms and they didn’t even use an image stabilization rig for any of the non-tripod shots. They even used 300mm lenses, only using the built-in image stabilizer feature, something Gale Tattersall (director of photography) referred to as “…a Steadicam in the palm of your hand.” Tattersall used the 5D Mark II to film the newborn baby scenes for “Lockdown” in Season 6. He eventually convinced the producers of the show to film the whole finale episode with them, and even brought back the Canon 5D Mark II for the entire Season 7 of House, making it the first network television season filmed entirely on an DSLR. http://canon5d.wonderhowto.com/inspiration/canons-5d-mark-ii-invades-hollywood-0129387/

Canon 5D Mark III

Stock Footage Uses Video Blog

Stock Footage: What is it and how do you use it?

Stock footage, what is it? What are its uses? And how have we at Keywest Video been integrating it into our larger video offerings? Those are the questions that we want to answer for you through this week’s video blog.

Stock footage simply put, is footage that can be used in multiple videos. When a production company shoots a video for a client, that footage is most often used for the sole purpose of that video. But sometimes, when the time or money is not available, producers will utilize footage that was shot previously, not with their specific project in mind. This footage, is stock footage.

Stock footage is therefore mostly of general things, with no specific branding, so it can be utilized in various productions. Things like nature, landscapes, and general office settings are very common.

Stock footage is beneficial, because it can save on the resources required to film certain shots. For example, the costs involved in filming an aerial shot of the CN tower can be quite substantial. So you can save on these costs by purchasing from an online library, where the price would be more affordable.

At Keywest, over the past year we have been actively filming, and building up our own library of stock footage. The reason for this being, it will aid our clients in cutting down costs for their own video projects. We usually film with a theme in mind, and have now done several shoots focusing on getting nice shots of downtown Toronto, nature, wildlife, and even some shots of our film and office equipment. Then, when we see a need in one of our client’s videos, we will be able to utilize footage that we have already shot, thereby saving time and money for our client.

This is just one of the avenues Keywest is actively pursuing in order to make sure our clients are getting the most for their money!

Stock Footage Uses Video Blog

Nabs Testimonial

Keywest Testimonial From NABS

The National Advertising Benevolent Society kindly provided Keywest with a testimonial about our services.

Nabs Testimonial

Corporate Video Preparation: Audition

Corporate Video Preparation: How to Prepare Yourself for A Corporate Video Audition

Yesterday we gave some tips and techniques for how to prepare your company for an interview/testimonial style shoot. Today, in part two of our series, Corporate Video Preparation, we will look at how actors should prepare for an audition. This segment will delve into the do’s and don’ts for preparing to audition for a corporate production.

Do – Dress the part. With any hints that the production company gives you as to what type of character you will be playing, come prepared. Dress the part, just like with any dramatic audition. It will most often be easier in corporate auditions as the roles may be based around average looking people. With any insight you are given into the character, take the time to dress accordingly. If they say 40′s business man, then definitely wear a suit. If they say you’re a doctor, whats the harm in bringing a white coat? Although the role might not actually call for it, at least you’re showing initiative and your dedication for the part.

Don’t – Forget your lines. As much as possible all of your lines should be memorized. It is a sign of disrespect if you waste others time by not showing up prepared. Here are some tips for memorization. The only exception is if they don’t give you the sides (script) until the minute before. In some cases, especially when a teleprompter is to be used during shooting, a casting director will want you to read off the teleprompter with no previous review of the script. This is to test your skill with working with a prompter and ensure your ease of use. If you know this is the case ahead of time, test yourself out first. Practice on an ipad, computer or your phone. Bring up a random script and read off the screen just like you would be delivering the lines.

Do – Be confident. First impressions matter. If you walk into a room with confidence and approachability you are guaranteed to be noticed over someone who is shy and demure. Make sure to make eye contact with the casting director and their assistants, or whoever else is in the room. Be friendly when you introduce yourself, but ensure you remain professional, remember you are here to perform a job.

Don’t – Be Late. The worst thing you can do before you are even given the opportunity to give a first impression is to arrive late. There is often a tight schedule on the day with multiple individuals auditioning back to back and only several minutes to spare between each audition. I would suggest arriving at least 10-15 minutes before your call time, to ensure you have time to find the right space, go to the bathroom and calm your nerves if you need to. If you are someone who is known to be late, then plan to arrive even earlier.

Do – Follow-up. While depending on the project you may hear back right away, other times you have to be patient. Sometimes these things take time as companies need to go up the chain of command to get approvals. Although this might be the case there is no harm in following-up with the production company which you auditioned with. Sending them a friendly reminder that you are waiting to hear back is not uncommon and shows your interest. Do not however, continually call and email even after they have told you they will follow-up with you once a decision has been made. It is good to assert your interest, but bad to annoy those in power.

I hope that these do’s and don’ts will treat you well when going on your next casting call for a corporate video production. If you have any questions or tips of your own please connect with us in the comments section or on our facebook page.

Corporate Video Preparation: Audition

Corporate Video Preparation: Interview

Corporate Video Preparation: How to Prepare Your Employees for an Interview or Testimonial

Keywest has worked on hundreds, if not thousands, of corporate videos. A large chunk of our business revolves around company profiles, product videos, events, and the like. Within these types of videos interviews and testimonials are most often utilized in order to get the message of the video across. Whether you are planning on using your employees, valued customers, or yourself on-camera, ensuring that your location and talent are prepared correctly can go a long way to enhancing the videos overall production value.

There are a variety of different things that should be taken into consideration, specifically when preparing your office space and employees for the upcoming production. Here are some of our most important tips and techniques for; work space, appearance, staging and dialogue.

1      Work Space

Your work space is a representation of you and your company, so you want it to look organized and professional. In any and all rooms that will possibly be filmed in tidy up that space. It will save you, and the crew that is there, time on the day of the shoot. Anything non-essential (i.e. mugs, loose paper, pens etc.) should be removed or hidden away for the day of the shoot, as the clutter can be distracting. Personal items that you feel are a representation of your personality are fine to remain.

In the case that the background needs something more visually appealing, you and probably more often the director of photography, may choose to add in certain items such as a lamp, flowers or picture from another room. The rule of thumb is you don’t want anything in the background to distract the audience from the focal point which should be the interviewee. On the other hand you don’t want the background to be a blank wall. Something small and inconsequential placed in the background and out of focus usually works best.

2      Appearance

Clothing

• No stripes
  
  
  
  • Busy shirts/ties can be a distraction
  
  
  • If the stripes are thin and close together it can create a weird visual effect on camera
  
  
  
  


• Try to wear color
  
  
  
  • It comes across well on camera
  
  
  • If your interview is inter-cut with others in your office, try to coordinate with your co-workers so you don’t all wear the same color
  
  
  
  


• If wearing a white shirt should have a suit jacket and/or tie to break it up

Hair

• 
  Neat and professional


• Just before you go into your interview make sure there aren’t any flyways happening

Make-up

• 
  Ladies – on-camera make-up requires more coverage, yet still aim for a professional look. You don’t want to overpower the visual with blue eye shadow (unless you are promoting a make-up line). Otherwise you want just enough coverage that you look great, but not so much that people begin focusing on your make-up


• 
  Gentleman – even though most make-up is designed for woman, on camera, men require make-up too. The famous Nikon/Kennedy debate is a perfect example. Like with the ladies, you want the audience to focus on what you are saying, not a shiny forehead. If you are not hiring a make-up artist, often production companies will provide powder to stop shine, but if they don’t I would suggest bringing your own.

3      Staging

Quite often, in addition to the interview/testimonial, b-roll footage will be filmed to be inter-cut between the interviews in the final video. B-roll is simply staged ‘beauty’ shots of the on-camera talent, office space, company branding, other employees at work, etc. B-roll is nice because if someone doesn’t say something perfectly correct in the interview, or the editor wants to edit together two clips, instead of putting in a transition, they can easily cut away to footage. B-roll footage also helps give viewers something interesting to look at, and ideally a good sense of the company and its values.

In order to prepare for b-roll, you need your team members to be prepared to stage certain shots. Sometimes the production company will prepare what’s called a shot list before hand which outlines exactly the type of coverage they are looking to get. Ex. Wide shot of the building from the street view, close-up of employee’s hands typing on computer, medium shot of employee 1 & 2 shaking hands. Some of these shots require certain locations or talent to be available and willing to participate. Making employees well aware of this in advance is always a good idea, so on the day you aren’t scrounging for people to help out.

4      Dialogue

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is DO NOT OVER THINK what you/your team members are going to say.

If you plan out exactly what you want to say in advance, often you can set yourself up for failure. The goal of any video is to give the audience a glimpse into the company/product/service and what makes it so great. Ideally the interviewee will be relaxed, authentic and honest with their responses.

When you think of what you want to say, think broadly and try to remember key terms or ideas. This way when the producer asks you questions during your interview on the day, you will have a general idea of phrases or terms that will be good to incorporate into your answer, but your response won’t sound scripted. In terms of managing interviewees, give your interviewees a general idea of what type of questions they are going to be asked instead of a list of questions. This way they can’t over-prepare and run the risk of scripting every sentence and then possibly failing miserably on the day. I only say this because I’ve seen it happen many times.

As well, if your answer is not to your satisfaction do not be concerned. In the world of video interviews there is always the option for a re-take.  Also keep in mind that hours of footage will be shot and then often edited down to only one or two minutes. So although your entire response might not have gone flawlessly, a small portion of it may be absolute perfection and will be a great addition to the video. Another rule that helps aid this point, is to try to keep responses concise, and break ideas up into sections instead of running away with one point. This will make it much easier for the editor to break up the interview and inter-cut it with others responses, or utilize only a part of your answer.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN with it!

If you are interest in getting a corporate video produced then contact the trusted team at Keywest Video today!

Corporate Video Preparation: Interview

Keywest Video: Our Year in Review

2013 Through the Eyes of  the Keywest Video Team

January: At the start of 2013 Keywest kicked off the new year with the launch of a fresh design to our website. Although tweaks and adjustments have been made all throughout 2013, it was in this first month when the new style of the website took form and went live. We think it’s important to continually optimize our website and make sure we are always looking for ways to improve the site for ourselves, and of course our clients.

February: It was in February when we produced a video for one of Keywest’s friends Renaldo Gairy, highlighting his personal training company Way2Fit. Renaldo is a well known body builder, and uses his personal expertise in order to help others reach their physical goals. The final product was not only an excellent depiction of Renaldo’s personal training abilities and fitness knowledge, but also an indication of his personality and success rate with his clients.

March: We acquired a new Producer/Project Manager. Her name is Shivani if you don’t already know her, and she is wonderful. Shivani is talented in many ways, and has improved various aspects of Keywest’s business. From her exceptional organizational and management skills, to her flare for web design, and very handy technical knowledge, Shivani is a valuable asset to the team and we are all thrilled to have her.

April: We continued to develop our relationship with NABS (The National Advertising Benevolent Society), which is a great organization that supports those in the marketing and communications industry who are facing a difficult time, due to illness, injury, unemployment or the like. NABS is a non-profit which approached Keywest several years ago, and since then we have donated multiple live action and animation videos in order to help spread the message about their cause. In April we created this testimonial video for them.

May: We utilized a remote controlled helicopter for the first time on one of our clients shoots where they wanted to get aerial footage of their building in downtown Toronto. We had been wanting to use a drone for some time, knowing its capacity for cost effective aerial shots, and the results were everything we ourselves and the client expected, and more! We continue to recommend this route to our clients who are interested in getting a different point of view that is sure to impress audiences and create a truly professional corporate video.

June: We are proud to say that Huawei Canada has chosen Keywest Video to produce several of their video projects over the past year and a half. In June of this year we were very happy to once again be working with the Huawei team, this time on the production of a promotional video commemorating the company’s fifth year on Canadian soil, which was to be shown at their event commemorating the occasion. Returning clients show us that our commitment to customer service and the quality of our productions is really paying off.

July: We added another amazing team member to our roster of talent. Hiram is a 2D and 3D motion graphics animator. He loves what he does & we love him for that. Hiram has increased the quality of animation work that Keywest produces, and is always ready with fresh and interesting new ideas to aid our clients’ videos. Hiram has been working on a number of different projects over the past few months and looks forward to what lays ahead in 2014.

August: This was the month when Keywest completed several promotional videos for Century 21 Aberwin Realty. They wanted to showcase their agents, and emphasize that their team was “smarter, bolder, faster” then the rest. The Keywest team was delighted to work on the project, as the real estate market is one that we have wanted to tap into for some time. Since this project, we have produced videos for a Remax brokerage, and have had several meetings with other agents and brokerages across the GTA and beyond.

September: In September we produced our first weekly video blog. Since then we have been creating video blogs on a wide array of topics, and plan on continuing this throughout 2014. We have found video blogs a great way to reach out to those with similar interests who want to learn a bit more about the corporate video production industry, are interested in getting a video for their own company, or simply find the content interesting. We are happy to share our knowledge at Keywest, and we hope that these video blogs have been a useful asset for our viewers.

October: Although weekly video blogs were something that we just started producing the previous month, holiday videos were a Keywest Video classic. In previous years though, December was the month where we really ramped up our game and created a cute/silly video to share with our clients, vendors and friends. But due to our recent commitment to make videos for our own use on a regular basis, we had decided that each and every holiday should have its own special Keywest holiday video. This gem was the result.

November: November started out like any other month, but half way through it seemed as though every client we were speaking with wanted to film on the last week of the month. We ended up having two shoots booked almost every day on that last week of November. There was a lot of extra planning and organization involved to ensure that everything went smoothly and without a hitch. In the end no equipment was lost, all of the footage looked great, and our clients were truly satisfied that we were able to work around their schedules. We proved a lot to ourselves this month.

December: This was a busy month for us. There were quite a few shoots, lots of editing, both live action and animation, and of course the holiday’s create a busy atmosphere with holiday parties and endless amounts of fruit cake. But in between it all we managed to produce another holiday video, to add a little extra cheer to the month. While many in our office groaned about the prospect of lip synching, doing the can-can and blowing fake snow into the camera, I think it was all worth it. If you haven’t already seen it please take a look!

Happy New Year from everyone here at Keywest Video!

Keywest Video: Our Year in Review