Recent Questions and Responses:
David W. Do you have any tips for up-and-coming video producers?
David, the key is to focus on and think about you company as a business first and a creative outlet second. Make what people will pay you to produce and dedicate your creative juices to fulfilling their needs in creative ways. Never talk about yourself or your goals unless asked, stay focused on what the client wants and direct the conversation to exploring and understanding their needs. Also, and you may already be doing this, if you are the creative force and budgeting/financing/marketing makes you queezy then consider teaming up with someone who has business experience. We all have strengths and assembling a team that compliments your weak areas is the genesis of a great organization.
My advice is always live within you means, and don't invest heavily in technologies which are always becoming outdated. Rent your gear instead of buying in the early stages and resist the urge to buy into expensive rigs or editing suites. Focus on the product not the technology, it can swallow up your time and money. Great productions come from great storytelling, even in productions that don't outwardly seem to lend themselves to a "story" approach.
JL: Questions about Mondo Floors
JL, We are not a distributor of Mondo floors, we produced the video detailing the installation of the sport flooring products. Any questions that go beyond the scope of the video production should be directed to Mondo Technical Support: Erika Marcoux, Technical Advisor, Phone: (450) 967-5800 Ext.: 5838 technical@mondousa.com . Also check the www.MondoUSA.com website. They will make sure you get the information you need.
Stephen: (paraphrased) How is the GPE idea different from other testimonials?
We coined the term GPEVideoTM (Genuine Personal Endorsement Video) to differentiate the concept from other productions which contain testimonial material, but are still percieved by audiences as sales "pitches". GPEVideoTM projects are not simply marketing videos with elements of client testimonials. In Genuine Personal Endorsement Video projects the client endorsements are the presentation. Narration and scripted content is severely minimized or eliminated entirely. It is also important to note that the people speaking on camera are not actors or celebrities and they are often not the CEOs and COOs of the client organization, but rather the actual front line users of your product or service. These professionals relate compelling stories of the process not simply authoritative recommendations. Viewers don't just learn that a client chose your company, but they learn why they chose you and how the results unfolded. These candid, credible observations by people your target audience can identify with are the key to the effectiveness of GPEVideoTM. TDI Productions has developed the skills and techniques necessary to help people untrained in on-camera presentation to come across in a likeable way. We have also developed the methods necessary to weave these endorsements together into concise and persuasive presentations. The result is a watchable, informative presentation which is percieved by the viewer as relaxed, informal and above all, genuine.
Joanne: Can you pull still photos from video once you have filmed it?
Yes, but the images are not the quality you would need for brochures or other professional applications. This is why we always recommend a separate digital still camera for those applications (we have a great deal of experience with digital still photography. See the section about Still Photography under pricing here.) Still cameras capture 6 to 10 million "pixels" or picture elements in an instant, freezing the action in time. A video camera captures 720x480 pixels (or 1080x480 for HD video), but it actually only captures half of those pixels 60 times per second. When these are played back at high speed our mind interpets them as 30 full "frames" per second giving us the illusion of crisp, clear motion. If we look at one of those "half" images alone it appears fuzzy compared to a professional digital still image. So while it is possible to capture both types of image in one "shoot" it must be done with a separate camera. The only time we really wind up pulling stills from video is for legal and accident investigation cases often for courtroom presentation.
Bill, NJ: Can training webcasts be broken up into chapters or modules?
Certainly, we can even set it up so that employees or contractors can log in remotely, watch a segment and then take an online test on the content. The results can be logged or e-mailed to you. This is great for liability protection because it shows that a particular person was properly trained and you went the extra mile to verify that the training was understood. For more on our training productions (click here)
Dave M.: If we started tomorrow what is the fastest you could put together a simple trade-show video?
Our record is one week (for American PowerScrape Corp.) but that is not to say we couldn't trim it down from there. It really depends on what you mean by simple. If we can have immediate access to the subjects you want to film and there are limited graphic elements (3Ds and such) we can put it together pretty rapidly. Give me a call and we can map it out.
E. Flynn: How much do medical education videos like the one you did at Johns Hopkins cost?
Well, while we never kiss and tell, pieces like those are rarely under 10K and top out at about 35K. The travel and timeframe affected the cost of those webcasts and so did the extensive pre-production work. Your project could be substantially different so don't shy away from the idea because you are afraid the budget will get out of hand. We guarantee our pricing and delivery for your particular project before filming begins so there is no fear of a runaway budget. (See TDI's pricing policy here)
BA Guy: How soon before the Glencairn documentary is done?
We are putting together the special features section now which will include vintage family film clips, an interview with a Pitcairn family member and sections on glassblowing, stained glass painting and manuscript illuminations. Once these are complete the final edit will take shape over the summer and we hope to have it off to the duplicators in the fall.
Rob: Is that your voice doing the narration on several of the online samples?
From Chris - Yes, that's me. I was an actor and voiceover artist before I was a director. Many times I read the scripts into the editing timeline for timing purposes. Sometimes the clients like the way I read it and decide to keep it. It is always their choice though, we have many voice artists available in the area.
Juan: I am looking to get involved in the video business, I am a high-school senior, do you have any openings?
Call our toll-free number and find out how to send over your resume and any samples of school or community projects you have done (even if they are simple). We have no openings at the moment, but that doesn't mean we won't in the future. In the meantime keep creating and learning about the craft. Read Writing, Directing and Producing Documentary Films and Videos by Alan Rosenthal.
P: Is the Gyllenhaal involved on your Cairnwood project related to Jake Gyllenhaal?
Yes. They are cousins, but they have never met.
