Film & Video Production Blog

Laser Pico Projector Microvision \”SHOW\” on YouTube

All I can say is hallelujah!  A projector the size of an iPod could soon be projecting near-HD quality video.  With a price tag of around $200, this could be the beginning of a whole new era for business presentations.

I can’t tell you how many times the following has happened.   We’re invited to present our video work to a prospective client.  We ask if they have a good system for playing back video, either from a DVD or a computer.  “Oh, no problem,” we’re told.  We show video in our conference room all the time .”  When we arrive to make our presentation, we usually discover one of two scenarios.

In Scenario A, we connect our computer to their projector and — voila — a washed-out, weak-looking excuse for video appears on the screen pretending to be our gorgeous HD footage.  Or, in Scenario B, the twelve clients crammed in the conference room make small talk until someone from IT shows up 15 minutes late with an ancient 13″ combination TV/DVD player on a cart that no one but the closest four people can see anyway.

Actually, there’s a Scenario C, which is the absolute worst.  We arrive at the client’s conference room and, alas, the projector or DVD player isn’t working, so now 12 people are huddled around my laptop craning to see and hear.

The thing is, you don’t have to be a video and web site production company to run into this exact problem.  Anyone who has ever had to use a PowerPoint or video as part of a presentation knows what I’m talking about.  Disappointing doesn’t begin to describe the feeling of seeing your hard work reduced to mush — especially in front of an important audience.

Time will tell if this latest projection technology is all its cracked up to be, but I for one am very excited about the possibilities of having control of my own projected images!

PART ONE:   THE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

No doubt the old adage “Time is Money” is true in your world,  but in the world of film and video production it’s what we live by!  At the very beginning of a project, a good production company will provide you with a comprehensive Production Schedule.  This schedule is very important, because it lays out the plan for meeting your deadline needs and keeping the production on-track and on-budget.

As soon as possible, be sure to take a few minutes to study the schedule and make note of when there are landmark events to be met by you, the client. These could be things like:

• input meetings with your subject matter experts
• delivery of existing visual assets
• script approvals
• talent approvals
• scheduled shoot days
• rough cut & final cut approvals

If you see something that won’t work with your schedule — let your project manager know right away.  He or she can adjust the schedule NOW much more easily than after the production has begun.

The reality is, delaying a production or needing to speed it up are part of life in the corporate world and a good production company will move heaven and earth to accommodate your needs with as little impact as possible to your budget.

But there are some schedule changes that are more expensive than others.  Say, you want the production company to capture some footage of your company’s operations, but you forget to check if the day in the production schedule actually works for the rest of your company.  The crew arrives and your operations are silent because of a planned overhaul of the computer system.  Result?  An extra day of shooting when operations are up and running.

Maybe you forgot to mention to the project manager that even though the deadline is Nov. 1st, you actually need the film complete and ready for viewing a week earlier because your CEO is out of the country the whole week prior to the first.  Result?  Editing goes into overtime everyday, to finish a week early.

How about that great commercial footage you want to get from your Asian operations, but you forgot that it might take a week or more for them to get it to you?  The edit starts tomorrow.  Result?  Extra editing days when the footage finally arrives.

The Production Schedule is your best friend.  Read is soon.  Refer to it often.  Let your project manager know ASAP if the schedule needs to change.

You get the picture.

1. Position Your Company as a Leader. It’s not a new idea – innovative companies have been using film and video for decades to communicate with customers, investors, employees and the general public. But in this age of YouTube, viral videos and downloading your favorite TV shows – a company that doesn’t utilize video is perceived the same way as a company that doesn’t have a web site: not a serious contender.
2. Increase Sales with Video Testimonials. Nothing sells like a satisfied customer. When a person is so happy with a product or service that they’re willing to promote it to others – other customers take action. After all, who wants to take a chance on a big purchase or investment? That’s what video testimonials can do for your company or product. Whether they’re on your web site or part of a marketing video or presentation – honest, unscripted testimonials from your existing clients are one of the single most powerful selling tools available.
   
3. Make complex ideas easy to understand. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video demonstration, dramatization or motion graphic is priceless. In just seconds, your audience can experience a product or process in action and witness the results. This is especially true if your product works in a hidden or microscopic environment – or if your service offering involves a process or intangible.
   
4. The Corporate Overview Video. How long does it take you or one of your sales reps to adequately describe your company and it’s various divisions, products, services and industry expertise? Or worse, how many times have you or one of your sales reps given a presentation about your company … and you ended up wishing you could have a “do-over”?Corporate Overview videos are powerful because in as little as 3 to 5 minutes, they give the viewer a quick and concise, high-level understanding of what your company does – while at the same time using music and carefully chosen testimonials and/or narration to give your viewers a sense of your company’s size, industry leadership and overall personality. All that in just 3 to 5 minutes!
   

5. Recruiting Videos. Finding the right job candidates can be extremely challenging. The best ones are hired quickly and often receive multiple offers. For the candidate who’s considering two or more job opportunities, the final decision frequently comes down to intangibles like a feeling that he or she would fit in … that the company values its employees and offers them opportunities to grow … that the company is a respected industry leader or innovator … that other employees like working there. A recruiting video is an excellent tool for both attracting and securing top candidates. The candidate can “meet” other employees through brief interview clips and get a feeling for the camaraderie and work atmosphere at your company. They can also hear from top management and key customers who have good things to say about the company and it’s products and services.
   

6. Investor Relations and PR. Whether you need to position and explain the tough news about a bad quarter … or generate excitement about a major accomplishment … video is unsurpassed at stirring up exactly the emotions you want your audience to feel. Music, narration, interview clips, exquisite scenic footage, vivid graphics – these are just a few of the elements at work in film and video productions to move your audience into the perfect frame of mind for hearing exactly what you have to say.
   
7. Training & Internal Communications. It’s been said that the single best investment a company can make is in the training of its employees. After all, to the customer, your employees are the face of your company. Using video as a major part of your employee training has a number of very important benefits.
   • Consistent message. Every employee hears and sees the same information, presented the same way. This means fewer chances for misunderstandings or omissions by a live instructor. Need a refresher? Just select the video and watch it again whenever you need to.
   • Clarity of message. Remember point number 2? Video and film are especially good for making complex ideas simple to understand.
   • Accountability. Many companies have employees sign-off on a form to indicate that they have viewed the training contained in a particular video. This means fewer disputes about just what an employee was or wasn’t trained to do.
   • Availability. Now you can train and orient employees whenever and wherever you desire. Gone are the days of waiting weeks or even months for the next available live training session.

8. How-To Videos for Customers. You’re about to install a new hardwood floor – for the first time ever. Which would you prefer? Four pages of printed instructions … or a video with a real person who demonstrates each step and explains what to look out for? What if all you had to do to view the video was go to the company’s web site? I rest my case.

Did I say eight reasons? There are probably a hundred. But these should be enough to get your company thinking about how video can improve the bottom line …. boost employee morale … get customers excited about your next software release … tell the world about the great quarter you just completed … etc., etc., etc.