Professional Videographer vs Man with a Camera

Why Hire a Professional Videographer?

These days it might seem pointless to hire a professional videographer. Video cameras are readily available, and further more, people know how to use them. So why pay a professional videographer hundreds of dollars for something you think you can do yourself?  Is it really worth the investment? How about hiring a recent film grad? In this post, we will tell you what sets apart professional videographers vs someone with a camera, and why a professional videographer will be worth it.

Professional Videographers are more than a guy with a camera. They are trained and experienced in their field.

Firstly lets explain what makes a professional videographer different than someone with a camera.

Professional Videographers come with the latest professional equipment, and know how to use them. They will come to the shoot prepared, and have all the necessary equipment needed for the shoot to run as smooth as possible.  Shooting a video is more than just having a video camera. Do you have proper mics? Proper lighting equipment? A slider? Tripod? Monopod? Teleprompter? If not, the video will end up looking simplistic and amateurish.

Professional Videographers are problem solvers. They know the ins and outs of shooting a great video. If there is an audio or lighting problem, they will know exactly how to solve that problem –and fast, not to miss a moment of that shoot. Could you say that about yourself?

Professional Videographers are trained to have a keen eye. They know the best lighting for different shots and knows the best and most creative angles. If you decide to shoot the video yourself, the video could end up looking boring, dull and lacking creative direction. You’re trying to promote your business; is all your hard work worth it for a shaky, badly lit video?

Another option can be hiring a recent film grad – for a lower price. But there’s always a reason the rate’s are lower; the lower quality it entails. Both the recent film grad and professional videographer have training; but what makes a professional videographer the proper choice, is the years of experience he has in the field.

If you want a great video, hiring a professional videographer is definitely worth the investment.

Here at Keywest, we have a well-seasoned professional videographer who knows the ins and outs of everything that has to do with videography.

The starting rate for our Professional Videographer is $499 for a half day. That includes a lighting package, lav mics and camera mics, tripod and your choice of camera.

Visit our website for more information on a Keywest Professional Videographer.

Keywest Video Inc. -Corporate Video Blog -Why hire a Professional Videographer Toronto

Professional Videographer vs Man with a Camera

Tips for writing a script

Writing a Script for Corporate Video:

What does every great video, commercial, or film all have in common? A great script. The script is the foundation of every type of video, big or small. To get started on scriptwriting you don’t even need a specific format or program. A computer and/or a pen and paper will work just fine.

1. Keep in mind the budget for your video. Your budget will dictate the amount of production that will be involved in your corporate video.  This includes your location, your talent/actors, video equipment, etc.


2. How long do you want your video to be? There are around 150-200 words per minute of video. So if you want a two-minute video – your script should run around 300 to 400 words.


3. What is your core message? Think of one simple message you want to convey in your corporate video. You will be basing your whole script around this one message. If you try and add more messages, this will only leave your audience confused at the end of the video.


4. You must determine a tone and style of script writing before your first draft. Do some research first. This will help you properly reach out to your audience and engage them.


5. Who is your target audience? Remember to keep them in mind during the whole writing process.


6. Remember to avoid industry jargon. You and your company might understand the meaning behind those terms, but will your audience? If you aren’t sure, avoid it at all costs. Also, try and avoid complicated words. The last thing you want to do is to bore or confuse your audience with words that they may not know of, thus causing them to tune out that much faster. Instead, use simple and effective words that they will be more likely understand.


7. The last part of your script needs a call to action. This is where the viewer takes the next step after watching your video. It should be crystal clear to them at the end of the video exactly what it is you want them to do.

Here at Keywest, we can help with any of your scriptwriting needs. We have been producing corporate videos for over 20 years, and we know exactly how important the script is for any video. Contact us for your next corporate video!

Keywest Video Inc. -Corporate Video Blog -Tips for scriptwriting for Corporate Video

Tips for writing a script

5 Myths about Corporate Videos

Common myths when it comes to corporate videos:

Every industry has myths that are tied to them. Corporate video production is no exception.

Here is a list of the top 5 myths out there:

1. 
   Myth 1: Corporate video will cost an arm and a leg. Producing a great corporate video does cost money, but it’s not as bad as you think. If produced right, the proper production value put towards your video can greatly improve your company’s message – bringing your company more business in return. Having a corporate video is always a great investment. For a quote on your next corporate video, simply visit our website.


2. 
   Myth 2: Corporate videos are all the same. Unfortunately, we have all seen that one boring corporate video, which may have made a lasting impression on us. Corporate videos today are more lively and interesting then ever before. Why? Because of newer technology, creativity, and resources. A corporate video doesn’t have to be a talking head in a suit. Here at Keywest, we don’t produce boring corporate videos. Check out  our previous blog post for more information about what sets us apart from the other corporate video production companies.


3. 
   Myth 3: You need to use your CEO/boss. Again, a talking head in a suit is not necessary to make a corporate video.  If a company wants to do a profile video, there are more options than just using their CEO. One available option is showcasing real employees in the field. This not only makes it more interesting for the viewer, but it also draws in more emotion than seeing a CEO speaking directly to the camera.


4. 
   Myth 4: You don’t need a script. It’s not like you are making a huge Hollywood movie right? So you think you won’t need a script. Wrong.  The script is the most important part. Even if you spend millions of dollars producing a video, but have a poorly written script, you will likely end up with wasted time and money. Why? Because without a well written script, your message will not be clear to your targeted audience. The script outlines your message clearly and determines what important information you must include in your video. What exactly is in a script? The script contains the concept, format, structure and style of your corporate video. A well-written script will grab the attention of the audience from the beginning of the video, hold their attention while relaying the message, and present a call to action at the end.


5. 
   Myth 5: You don’t need a video production company. This may be one of the biggest myths when it comes to corporate videos. You have a video camera and think that’s all it takes to produce a corporate video. Perhaps that might be true, but that ‘video’ will end up looking dull, boring, and low budget. Is that how you want your company being represented? In the end, it would be a waste of your time and energy. Why? Because video production takes well-seasoned and skilled producers, videographers, editors, professional equipment, and much more. Producing a good corporate video takes professionalism. Here at Keywest we are professionals when it comes to producing great corporate videos.

Keywest Video Inc. -Corporate Video Blog -5 Myths about Corporate Videos

 

5 Myths about Corporate Videos

Corporate Video Trends for 2013

Corporate Video has transformed over the past few years. With newer technology available today and the growing trends taking effect at a rapid rate, it’s important to keep up to date so your corporate video doesn’t look out of date.

Here are the top 5 recent Corporate Video Trends for 2013:

1. Corporate videos are becoming shorter. A few years ago, the ideal length was 3 minutes, and now the standard has changed to anywhere between 60 and 120 seconds, and that number is continuing to shrink. Why? Because the attention spans of people are shrinking. There is so much happening on the web right now that people are moving onto the next video at a faster rate.  Now, prior to watching videos, people are beginning to check out the length of the video itself. If there is another video available with an even shorter time, people will choose to watch that video instead. Mobile video viewing is also growing at a substantial rate. People on the go don’t necessarily have as much time to watch a longer video as they do while sitting at a computer.


2. Corporate videos are becoming more social. Corporate videos have teamed up with many different online social platforms (i.e. YouTube).  Corporate videos are now known as second – only to word of mouth – in its power to influence consumers on their purchasing decisions. This growing trend is an important component of marketing corporate videos, and should not be overlooked by businesses.


3. The use of animation in corporate videos are becoming more popular. Animation is not what it used to be.  It is now used to spruce up corporate videos while bringing a high quality look and feel to them. For more information, visit our blog on animation.
   


4. 
   The style of corporate video. The recent trends for style in corporate videos are slowly changing. This includes using larger sensor cameras to attain the shallow depth of field look, adding more movement, as well as masking office settings through green screens or backdrops. With this changing trend, the divide between amateur and professional corporate video has grown substantially.


5. The focus on having a good storyboard. It use to be all about having a solid script, but now storyboards are becoming a huge part of the pre-production stage. Check out our previous post about the importance of storyboards, and why they are essential when it comes to corporate videos.

Here at Keywest, we keep up-to-date with all the current corporate video trends. We know the importance of each growing trend, and strive to utilize all of them when producing our corporate videos.

Keywest Video Inc. -Corporate Video Blog -Corporate Video Trends for 2013

Corporate Video Trends for 2013

Keywest Corporate Video Blog: The use of internal Corporate Videos

Keywest Corporate Video Blog: The use of internal Corporate Videos

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

This Ad was released a few months ago, but after watching it, I knew it had to be posted.

For the first part of the video, I thought this was just about an FBI trained forensic artists’ ability to sketch out a persons face; with that person behind a curtain describing their features. I was really puzzled how they were going to try and tie Dove to a sketch artist’s ability.

It moved on to numerous people also describing to the sketch artist the features of a stranger they met prior to the sketch.

At the end, people are shown two different sketches side by side; the first sketch is how they described themselves and the second sketch, is the strangers descriptions.

The stranger’s descriptions were regularly more stereotypically attractive and similar to what the subjects actually looked like.

With this Ad, Dove was trying to prove that women really do  see themselves dramatically different compared to what other people see them as.

Dove Real Beauty Sketches Ad:

• The most watched online ad ever, according to Unilever, with over 163 million views globally


• 4.6 billion media impressions; reached 275,000 followers on Google+


• #1 on the Cannes YouTube Ads Leaderboard and won Titanium Grand Prix at 2013 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

Why did this Ad do so well?

It did a great job of using  emotion.  You can literally see the tears in the women’s eyes when they saw the second sketch. Which elicited a strong emotional response from viewers.

David Waterhouse, the global head of content and PR at viral tracker Unruly Media agrees that this video received an intense emotional response of ‘warmth, ‘happiness’ and ‘knowledge’ from its target demographic —which is one of the key factors behind a video’s sharing success.

I loved the message at the end “You are more beautiful than you think”.

Keywest Video Inc. -Corporate Video Blog -Dove Real Beauty Sketches

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

Keywest Corporate Video Blog- Online Videos

Keywest Corporate Video Blog- Online Videos

Kickstarter coming to Canada!

Kickstarter will be available for Canadians starting September 9^th!

The Rolling Stone calls it “Funds for the Future” and CNN is calling it “Paradigm-shifting”. What exactly is Kickstarter? Kickstarter is an online platform that helps to raise funds publicly for creative projects that need financial backing.  They raise funds for projects ranging from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology.

Since 2009, over $769 million dollars have been pledged to fund more than 47, 000 independent projects. Kickstarter’s mission is to help bring creative projects to life.

Starting September 9^th 2013, Kickstarter will finally be available to Canadians.

Kickstarter is an innovative platform, which creators could receive 100 percent of the donations pledged.

How does Kickstarter work?

Creators sign up and set a funding goal and a deadline. It works as an all or nothing: creators either reach their goal and receive all the funding pledged or don’t reach their goal and receive nothing.

This is a great platform for anyone who has an innovative project and needs further funding. But how are projects able to stand out from the thousands of other projects on Kickstarter? How do they effectively get enough pledges to reach the funding goal by the deadline?

It’s all in the creator’s video. People who view product videos are 85 % more likely to buy that product than if there is no product video at all.

Online videos are increasingly being watched more often, as much as, or even more often than watching television.  In our society today, people are infatuated with watching videos for everything. When showcasing a new product, a well done product video will surely capture the attention of consumers.  How often are people really watching online videos? And does that have an effect on businesses that don’t have a product video? Keywest went out to find the answers to these questions and more.  Check out the video below to find out more.

The most funded Kickerstarter projects all have one thing in common; they all have great videos showcasing their innovative products and services.

High quality commercials and video ads (worth thousands of dollars) have already been seen by the general public. What does this mean? After watching a poorly produced video, the conclusion is simple; Kickstarter backers will come to assume that the product is a direct reflection of the video.

Here at Keywest Video, we are professionals when it comes to producing high quality product videos. We have been producing corporate videos for over 20 years. We can help any business big or small produce a product video that will get the product noticed, and if for kickstarter, can help it achieve the funding goal it needs by the deadline.

Keywest Video Inc -Corporate Video Blog -Kickstarter coming to Canada!

 

 

Kickstarter coming to Canada!

Teleprompter for Corporate Videos

Is using a Teleprompter necessary when shooting a Corporate Video?

Maybe you are hesitant in using a teleprompter because you want your corporate video to seem unscripted and natural…and think using a teleprompter will make it look like your presenter is reading directly from the screen.

It will be an added expense on your budget, but let’s find out if using one will be beneficial for your corporate video.

Time Efficient

It saves time for everyone. Let’s say your presenter is a senior executive, and he will be delivering a long presentation. Senior executives are usually on a tight deadline, and just don’t have hours of time away from the office to be spent in a shoot. Using a teleprompter  would save hours of his time. Even if you hired a professional actor, and they memorized their script beforehand -that doesn’t guarantee you a fluid read like a teleprompter would.

Professionalism

We are all human, and with that comes a natural stumble when we talk (ughs/umm’s). Reading from a teleprompter just brings a fluid read. You’re already investing thousands of dollars in this corporate video, so it wouldn’t make sense not using a teleprompter and having your presenter look unprofessional and unknowledgeable.  Using a teleprompter will make your talent look and sound more professional.

Sounding Natural

If you think that using a teleprompter will make your presenter look like he is directly reading from the prompter -think again! Its all in your script. If you want a more natural speech, make sure its written out like that for your presenter. To avoid the “directly reading from the teleprompter look” make sure that your presenter goes through the script and practices his lines before the shoot. Even though there is a teleprompter there the presenter should always know the material.

The only CON with using a teleprompter is the added expense of it on your budget. Although when you use a teleprompter, in the end you will save money on the production cost because you wont need as many shooting days.

For corporate video, not using a teleprompter just makes the overall look unprofessionally done and sloppy.

The difference between sounding and looking natural or looking like a deer caught in headlights is completely in your control.

Here at Keywest, you can use our teleprompter services for your corporate video for the low price of $250.

 

Keywest Video Inc -Corporate Video Blog -Teleprompter for Corporate Videos

Teleprompter for Corporate Videos

Voiceover for Corporate Video

Voiceover for your Corporate Video:

We have all seen that expertly produced video, perfectly executed down to the very last detail… But something was missing. There was no voiceover, making this high quality video seem kind of dull. But why is voiceover so important when it comes to corporate videos?

Here are 5 reasons why all corporate videos should include a V/O.

1. 
   To help carry out your message: Adding voiceover in your corporate video sets the mood for your video, and adds a certain style your video might have been lacking (like an upbeat, smooth, or warm style).  It can work really well if the voiceover actor not only has the vocal skills to carry it through, but also has the right type of voice for the piece. Voiceovers create the effect of a good story telling, which instantly connects the audience with the video.


2. 
   Voiceover can also fill in the gaps in your video: If an interviewee wasn’t overly articulate or failed to use a noun that would have made the subject more comprehensible– there is a simple solution: Grab a half sound bite to put a face on the screen and give the piece credibility, and then explain the rest of the point in a narrative track. Using voiceover can really help to fill in the gaps in your video, and it allows you to hide the awkward moments that an edit can’t fix.


3. 
   Better understanding for your audience: Voiceovers can be a great tool to use to provide your audience with a better understanding of what’s happening in your video. If your video isn’t so straightforward, your audience could get easily confused and thus lose interest fast.


4. 
   Not interesting script: Sometimes with corporate video, the subject might not be that earthshaking, so your script might seem a little dull. Using a voiceover would definitely help with that because  the sound and tone of the voice is greater than the actual content of the words used – 38% sound compared to 7% words. The audience’s attention would be more engaged with a good voiceover than just having to listen to the actual words.


5. 
   Quality: Adding more elements to your corporate video will immediately up the quality of your production, and voiceover is a simple enough production technique that should not be over looked.

Now that you have read through all the reasons why using a voiceover for your corporate video is beneficial, here is another tip: when using voiceover, leave it to the professionals. You think, “Why pay all that money for a professional actor when you can get any person that can speak decently read over a script?” While most of us can speak pretty well, doing a VO (voiceover) is a very specific skill, best left to the professionals. (A microphone can be as scary as a camera).

Here at Keywest, we know that a voiceover can be an essential part in your corporate video, and will make the whole production process – including the voiceover process – as easy and efficient for you as possible. We will send you samples of voiceover actors, help you choose which one will bring the right style and set the right mood for your video, and then help piece your video together to produce a video that gets your message heard.

Keywest Video Inc-Corporate Video Blog- Voiceover for Corporate Video

 

 

Voiceover for Corporate Video

KEY Points on 3 Point Lighting

You’ve bought the expensive video camera; you have your interview subject, now what comes next? The location appears to have good lighting, so does that mean you don’t need any extra lighting?

Lighting brings productions to a more professional looking level, so it’s definitely necessary if you are shooting an interview. Without using artificial lighting, your interview could look very poorly done (even though it was shot on an expensive video camera). So why waste hours of shooting time when you can hardly make out the outline of your subject’s face?

When it comes to lighting, Three Point Lighting is one of the basics. It’s the easiest to set up, and doesn’t take that much time and sweat.

As you might have guessed, there are three lights being used. Now the lights can be the same wattage and bulb size, what actually makes them differ is the position you place them in during the interview. Don’t try turning all three lights on at the same moment. You should turn them on one by one, starting with the Key Light.

• The Key light is the dominant light source, as it illuminates the subject. It should be placed at about a 45-degree angle above and to either the right or left of the subject’s face. You will soon notice that shadows appear on your subject’s nose and neck giving them a three-dimensional look. Don’t worry this is actually a good thing, this means you have set up the Key light properly. Now it’s the job of the second light to fix that problem.


• The Fill Lights’ job is to fill in the shadows created by the Key Light. The Fill Light is placed on the opposite side of the Key Light. The Fill Light should be on a similar level to the subject/camera. You may have to play a little with the fill light as in where it should be positioned exactly, as it is the direct reaction to the key light. The fill light should be about two or three stops dimmer than the key. You can achieve this by either moving back the light or by using a diffuser.


• Last but definitely not least is the Backlight. And as its name suggests, it is positioned in the background –aimed towards the back of the subject (head and shoulders). It’s the final light that completes the whole set up. Its main job is to separate the subject from the background. It produces a sense of distance between the subject and the background, giving it a sort of third dimensional look on screen. And if you have a nice background to work with, you can also aim the back light at that. The back light should be at least as bright as the Key Light and in some situations often brighter.
  

When all three lights are properly put together, you will have a very natural three dimensional looking shot. And if used properly you could look like you have shot like a pro (even if you aren’t one yet).

Here at Keywest we are professionals when it comes to Lighting.

 

KEY Points on 3 Point Lighting

Why Your Corporate Video Failed: 5 Common Mistakes

You’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars and invested all of your time and energy into this Video thinking thousands will watch it. The internet is so accessible that you assumed everyone would come across it. Makes sense right? However, after all this, you don’t notice any change in your business. Why is no one watching this video you put all your sweat into? Why did it fail? Here is a list of 5 common mistakes you may have made that contributed to the failure of your video:

1. 
   No clear message. Sometimes too much information is really too much information. What did you want your audience to do after watching that video? If you don’t know, they probably don’t know either.  There should be one clear straightforward message – any more than that would be too confusing.  A good video can be summed up in one sentence.  Therefore, sometimes a written script is essential (even when there is no voiceover) to map out the framing and delivery of your main idea. 
   


2. 
   The video didn’t touch your audience. It simply failed to tell a story; your video didn’t make the audience feel something and keep them engaged. Clearly you want to promote your product/business and the most obvious way would be through facts and more facts. But if done the wrong way facts can be dull, boring, and lose the attention of your audience on the spot. Therefore, you need to know your audience andwhat they want so that you can better understand them and reach out to them on a more personal level. Remember: your audience comes first. 
   


3. 
   All About you. “Our company has this, or does this well  …etc” = dull. Don’t make it all about you. This doesn’t connect with your audience at all. You need to try and introduce something of value to your viewer. When Steve Jobs introduced the iPod, he could have said, “Apple made a thing that holds 5 gigs and is amazing and lightweight and just the zippiest thing ever!” Do you know what he said instead? “You can put a thousand songs in your pocket.”
   


4. 
   Budget isn’t big enough. Video production can be very costly. If you want an amazing video, you are going to have to fork over the dough.  Sometimes, people think that they can just hire someone who has all the equipment to make a video, and this person will provide them with the same quality of video as that of an actual professional production company. There is a difference, a vast one, and your audience will know. Remember that your video reflects directly on your company, and elements like bad lighting, bad actors, and bad photography, etc. reflect badly on your image


5. 
   Video is too long. Keep your video short.  Due to the ever-shortening attention span of the web audience (after less than 30 seconds, if not interested they can simply move on to another video without fully grasping yours), videos need to be as short as possible. The audience can only really be engaged for a short period of time, and then they start to lose their focus. But what if your video requires more time? If this happens to be the case, produce a primary video and support it with supplementary videos to get your message across.

Here at Keywest, we have been producing corporate videos for more than 20 years. We are aware of the above mentioned mistakes and more; therefore, we are committed to ensuring your corporate video doesn’t fail. 

Why Your Corporate Video Failed: 5 Common Mistakes

5 Things to Look for in Choosing a Corporate Video Company

Corporate Video Companies… they all make videos. So, does it really matter WHICH Video Company you choose to go with? Without any guarantee of how it will really end, you will be parting with a large sum of money.

So, you should consider being a little finicky when it comes time to choose one.  Or you could end up with an amateur video, with wasted money and time, which can ultimately reflect badly on your corporate image. Once you have found your company –after much patience, you wont need to repeat the process for your next project. Here are 5 tips and guidelines to look out for when choosing a Corporate Video Company.

1. Make sure this Video Company is actually Professional. Do your research. How long has this company been in business? What make’s a professional is their training, skills and their countless years of experience on the job. These days many people are calling themselves  ‘professional’. Just because you might own a camera and a laptop with editing platforms doesn’t make you a pro. If you want a good video, you will also need a company that has high-end equipment – green screen-teleprompter’s etc. Although, even though the company may have the most high-end equipment, that’s not all that matters. What really matters is the ‘professionals’ running it

2. Reputation.  Does the company have an online reputation? Are they found on any social media sites? If so, pay close attention to what people are saying about them. A great Corporate Video Company should have testimonials and reviews http://www.keywestvideo.com/rave-reviews.html from previous clients posted on their website. Check that out. Also look out for repeat clients. If clients keep coming back, it can only mean one thing: they were clearly more than satisfied with their work.

3. Quality of Work. Have you seen any of their work? They should offer recent samples of their work pertaining to the style of video you are interested in. A clear sign the company isn’t legit is when they have no samples to offer you, or offers you dated material. Looking at their previous works will also give you some sort of idea as to if they have fresh and creative ideas. If you see the same boring style of videos, that’s a sign that your video most likely wont be any better than that.

4. Customer Service? Do they even seem like they care about your vision? At first you may think there doesn’t have to be that’ chemistry’ when we first meet; business is business. Think again. You will be working with these people for weeks. There will be those long days of countless hours of shooting and editing- and it wouldn’t be half bad if you were hanging out with people you actually enjoyed working with.

5. Budget. Avoid companies that don’t provide you with a clear and comprehensive quote after your meeting.  Some production companies offer packages of their services in addition to being able to add on even more services.  You will most likely find quotes all over the map, but make sure to take careful note of the breakdown of the prices in the quote. Don’t make price the one and all deciding factor in choosing a company. Some companies guarantee a ridiculously lower price compared to others, but then slowly adds hidden costs during the later stages, which in the end can end up costing you more.

Here at Keywest we embody all of the above mentioned and more. We have been producing corporate videos for over 20 years. We are experts in corporate videography and post-production.We offer countless samples of corporate videos from clients whom we have yet to disappoint. Check us out on our website for more information or for a quote on your next video.

5 Things to Look for in Choosing a Corporate Video Company