Different Accessories Needed on Set

By | Video, video production | No Comments

To create the best outcome possible in your video production, there are a few tools or accessories that will make the process easier. Some of these accessories can also help increase the quality of your results. There are so many different kinds that you can find and use to create successful videos, but we are just going to touch on a few notable different accessories that may be needed on a video production set.

Lighting

You already have your camera to film on, so what else are you going to need to create an awesome video? If you are shooting inside, a lighting kit is super useful. Typically a three point kit will create the lighting you need within the studio. These lights will help the quality of your video significantly increase. The best part of the lighting? It doesn’t have to be expensive. You can get these types of lights for pretty cheap.

Microphones

On a video production set, microphones are a necessity. It is one of the easiest ways to separate the experienced from the ammeters. Microphones help to produce a super clear sound. If you happen to be filming a group or a crowd, have a mic boom is super useful. It will allow you to pick up the specific voices and noises you want from the crowd.

Camera Lenses

Did you know there are hundreds of different kinds of lenses you can use on your camera? There are different lenses you should use in different situations to get the best result. For example, you can use a wide angle lens if you have a lot of things to fit in. Or you can use a macro lens if you need a close up shot. There are even specific lenses you can use for different lighting.

Green Screens

Green-screens can be important on your video production set if you need to digitally add a background. Like the lights, green-screens aren’t too expensive. They can transport your set to literally anywhere in the world.

Fun Stuff

If you are looking to splurge a little bit on a fun accessory for your video production set, things like drones or go pro types of cameras can create great content. These tools are not needed on set by any means, but they can be really fun if you are looking to step up your video production.

Accessories on video production sets aren’t always necessary. They do however help to create even better videos and can make the filming process easier on you. They can help to add to your video and make you stand out as a videographer. There are endless numbers of different kinds of film accessories and they are constantly coming out with new ones. Try out a few new accessories today to see if you can see a difference in your videos.

What Makes an Award-Winning Film?

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Did you know that academy award winning films are not necessarily the films that make the most money in box-office sales? That’s because the people who judge films for Academy Awards are anywhere from 30-100 (they’re not teens or young couples on dates), and there are only 6,000 of them (They’re a relatively small percentage of the population that judge these movies). Also, Academy Awards are like, literary awards. They depend a lot on emotional impact, not necessarily action quality or actor attractiveness, even though those things are somewhat important. So, what is in film production that makes a film award-winning quality?

First, the film must be compelling. For example, dramas are emotionally captivating—they make an audience feel emotions more deeply than comedies do. In film production, scenes need to make an audience hold their breath and clench their fists tight. What makes a drama an even more emotionally powerful film? A true story. If the film is based on something that actually happened, audiences are sucked in even more. That’s the stuff that the judges eat up. It’s one thing to watch something fictional, but another thing entirely to watch something real. Knowing that the film is based on true events triggers empathy. When an audience realizes that the scenes flashing across their faces portray REAL human beings, it deepens the film’s impact in a way that nothing but reality can.

To win an award, a film must send a widely accepted message, or in today’s world, a progressive message. This is of vital importance. Your film production will not win any awards if the message you’re sending is widely offensive or directly combative toward public opinion. For example, WWII films consistently do well. By and large, most people agree that Nazis were bad, American soldiers were heroes, and the slaughter of innocent Jews was horrendous. If, however, your film portrays Trump as a national savior and Obama as a dangerous criminal, no awards for you. Public opinion varies too widely.

Furthermore, famous people play a huge role in film production. The reasoning is two-fold. Celebrity directors, actors/actresses, and studios attract more attention, and Academy Award judges do have favorites. Secondly, celebrities are often famous because they’re talented people. Talented people make excellent films. Excellent films win awards. Basic.

The last element of award-winning films is the quality of the film production. Brilliant writing, screenplay, and soundtracks define Oscar-nominated movies. Films that feel too experimental or too predictable just don’t do as well. Your film should surprise and delight your audience while remaining mostly inside their comfort zone. Also, films that are obviously “Oscar-bait” (cliché Oscar material released at the end of the year) are sometimes less liked because they’re trying too hard. 

In short, real-world dramas do best because they engage audiences. Controversial messages in movies divide and offend the Academy Award judges. Celebrities actors and directors can carry the film into prominence/nomination. And movies whose film production flows flawlessly stand out.

No matter what film you are looking to create, the same principles can be applied to everyday videos. moving stories/emotion, real-life connection, great talent, and etc. The film production team here at Fusion 360 understands these things and apply them to the videos we make. If you have any film production needs, do not wait to contact us!

5 Video Production Tips for Beginners

By | Video, video production | No Comments

If you are starting your video production journey, there are probably some things you don’t know or just aren’t quite sure of. There are a lot of things to learn and remember when making a video, so looking at production companies can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Here are our top five production tips for beginners to make it a little bit easier for you.

Plan, Plan, Plan

One of the biggest tips we can give for beginners is making sure to take the time to plan out before filming. A few of the things you are going to want to plan out are your goals, what audiences are you are targeting, what specific things you want to be included, who you want in it and more. There are really no limits on how much you can plan, and the more you plan, the more likely your film will turn out the way you want it to. Production companies are always emphasizing the importance of planning, with good reason.

Backgrounds are Important

A lot of beginners don’t really put much thought into the backgrounds they are using for their videos. There are actually two different kinds of backgrounds used in film production. You can use real backgrounds like living rooms and parks or fake backgrounds like green screens and curtains. If you are using real backgrounds, it is important to make sure only the things you want to be shown are in the background. If you want to use a green screen but don’t have one, production companies are often willing to rent them out to you.  

Don’t Use a Camera Mic

This tip may seem like an unnecessary one to beginners, however, it is actually a pretty big deal. Using a real external microphone will make the sound you produce a thousand times clearer and overall better than using the simple microphone that comes with your camera. Again, if you don’t have an external microphone, production companies can be a good resource to look to for rentals.  

Lighting is Everything

This tip is no joke- lighting can make or break your film. If you are filming outside, filming on overcast days, an hour after sunrise, or an hour before sunset are some of the best times to do so. If you plan on filming inside, choosing a room that has good natural lighting is a great option. If natural light isn’t available for you, using film lights like those at production companies is the best way to achieve the same look.

Film in Small Segments

Filming in shorter clips is great for multiple reasons. It is a lot easier to remember enough stuff for a short clip rather than for a huge one. By filming short clips you can also make it easier on yourself or whoever is going to edit your film. This makes it a lot easier for editors to make smoother less choppy cuts and therefore creating a better overall end result.

Sources:

http://blog.visme.co/video-tips/

5 Traits of a Successful Video Production Team

By | Video, video production | No Comments

When it comes to hiring a successful video production team, it can be tough. There are so many different teams to choose from! What makes a good and what makes a bad production team? Here are the five traits of a successful video production team you might want to look for before deciding on your production team.

Reliable

The first trait you will want to have in your video production team is reliability. You don’t want a team that is going to bail last minute, start late, and maybe even not finish the project by your deadline. You want a team that you can trust 100 percent. All of your time and work you have put into your project should be rewarded with a team that is going to put their all into it and makes you a priority.

Full of Ideas

Coming into a production set with your own ideas is great, in fact, it is preferred. However, If you have a video production team that offers no input at all you should have a few red flags go off. Production teams are experts when it comes to making videos. So having a team that offers no new ideas or alternatives shows that they either aren’t qualified or aren’t fully interested in your project- both negative things. You want a team that is going to use your ideas, but if they see a better or easier alternative they are going to speak up and share their expertise with you.

Passionate

When hiring a video production team, passion should definitely be something you keep an eye out for. Hiring a team that is passionate about not only film but about your project specifically will help to create a great end product you will be proud of. Passionate teams will be will to work late or take the time to re-shoot certain scenes if needed. They are willing to put the work in to get the result you deserve.

Team Players

Teamwork is beneficial in every single aspect of life. This is no different when it comes to video production. Though some filmmakers can create amazing products by themselves, when they work as a team with other people it offers a different pool of ideas, skills, and results. It can also help the filmmaker be less stressed and able to create higher quality content in a short amount of time.

Creative

One of the last important traits to look for in a video production team is creativity. Again, you can come in with all the ideas in the world, and they can be really good ideas! However, having a pool of other peoples perspective and creative ideas can come together to create a result you could have never imagined! When it comes to video production, the more creativity, the better.

 

Sources:

http://blog.mitchcommgroup.com/jamesonsheppard/five-qualities-of-a-great-video-producer

The 5 Pre-Production Stages

By | Video, video production | No Comments

Pre-production; sounds like a pretty broad step in the whole video production process, right? The word itself tells you that it is what happens before you actually start production and filming. But what exactly do you need to do before filming that is so important it requires this whole step? Here are the five stages of pre-production that need to be completed before filming.

The Script

This step may seem obvious. You can’t really film if you don’t have a script and a plan of what you are going to say and do. Creating a script can be a pretty long process, especially if you are including all of the drafts and re-writes you are going to do. Video production teams are there to help you write the script too. It is important to solidify and perfect your script before you move into the production phase as it will save you time and money to do so.

The Crew

Choosing your crew is a big part of pre-production too. You’ll have to make sure you choose a video-production team that have desirable traits, reviews, and that you are comfortable around. Choosing your cast is important as well. You want to select people that represent your brand and products the right way. You will also want a cast that you get along with to make the production phase a lot smoother for all of you.

The Location

Where you decide to shoot your film is a huge decision. Inside or outside? Studio or house? Morning or evening? There are endless options of where and when to film, which can be overwhelming. Your video production team should be willing to help you make the right decision. Once you decide where you want to film, you will have to figure out what kind of equipment you will need in that specific place. For example, if you are shooting inside you may need lights, and if you are shooting outside you may need camera covers to in case the weather changes.

Budget

Though this may be one of the least exciting steps of video production, it is easily one of the most important. Budgeting sets the tone for both the production and post-production stages of filming. Doing so ahead of time will make sure you don’t accidentally spend more than you have, which is very easy when it comes to film production.

Rehearse

The last stage is video production is rehearsing. This step also can take a long time, it depends on the length of your video. Scheduled rehearsals along with individual ones are some of the best ways for everyone on the team to learn their lines. Having everyone be confident and prepared when it comes to the production phase makes it a lot easier for everyone.

Sources:

https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/9-stages-of-pre-production/

Gearing Your Content Toward Your Audience

By | advertising, content marketing, digital marketing, marketing, Millenials, Mobile marketing, Social Media | No Comments

One of the most important things when it comes to digital storytelling is understanding your target audience. If you’re wanting your blogs to generate results, you can’t just go in writing blindly, you have to know who you’re trying to reach before your fingers even touch the keyboard to make sure your content is as engaging as possible. Digital marketing companies know this all too well, which is why they take the time to create guidelines for each of their clients.

If you’re struggling to pull in readers, you may want to consider taking a different approach to your style. Here are some of the ways you can tailor your content to your target audience.

 

Determining Who That Audience Is

 Of course, the first thing you’re going to want to do is pinpoint who your target audience is. Digital marketing companies often times produce content for multiple clients at a time, so it’s important for those companies to make sure they keep each of their client’s voices and brand styles separate. For example, if you’re writing for a technology manufacturer, you’re going to tailor your content to millennials, seeing as how this generation uses more advance technology than the previous one. Of course, you’ll still get an older demographic that consists of professional scientists, medical practitioners and engineers, so throwing in a few blogs for them may also benefit you.

The best way to determine who your target audience, is by sending out a survey on the your clients’ social media platforms. Digital marketing companies can’t succeed without the right research.

 

Creating Brand Guides

As we lightly touched on in the previous paragraph, you’re going to want to create brand guides for each one of your clients. Digital marketing companies benefit from this because it allows their employees to be able to know exactly what the content should look and sound like. If the marketing company is successful, the client they are working for is more likely to use their services further, and this is what separates great digital marketing companies, like Fusion 360, apart from the rest of the competition¾ it’s all about the quality of the content and how it will benefit the client in the long run.

Your brand guides should have things such as the clients writing style, target audience, color scheme, font style, vision, core values and their mission. This guide helps digital marketing companies produce content that is on brand and on voice, something that clients will appreciate more than you can imagine.

 

Find Out Where Your Core Demographic Spends Most of Their Time

 Along with determining who your target audience is and creating efficient brand guides, you should also determine where your target audience spends most of their time online. With all kinds of social media platforms out there, you don’t want to be focusing the wrong one, as this will lead to wasted time and poor results. For example, it is important to know that younger audiences are more inclined to use Twitter while Facebook has a much more mature audience. Instagram can have a healthy mix of the two, but it is not a bad idea to send out a survey to determine where most of your audience is at to make sure you’re targeting the right platforms.

In the end, gearing your content toward your audience is all about the research. Digital marketing companies are expected to keep their clients afloat, and bulletproof content is the best way to make sure your company stands out from the competition.

Different Stages of Your Video Production

By | Video, video production | No Comments

You are ready to create the film you have been envisioning for months. The only problem you face is how you can even start this process. What do you do to start filming a video? Film production is more of a process than some might think. Though there are a ton of small steps taken to create the end result, we can normally group all of these into three main steps- pre-Production, production, and post-production.

Pre-production

Pre-production is everything you do before you actually start filming. In this stage, some of the things you do are first meeting with producers and production teams, researching, writing your script, casting, re-writing your script, hiring all the crews you need, and so much more. For film productions, pre-production is a super vital step to the success of your film. If you don’t have a successful or at least useful pre-production time, it is likely that your film won’t end up the way you want it to. Putting in the time here is how you get the good results at the end. This stage can vary in length big time. Some big factors of how long pre-production will take is how long of a film you are trying to produce and if you are trying to incorporate a lot of effects.

Production

Production is when all the pre-production work and planning starts to come to life. This is when the director finally shouts “action” and you get to film. Camera crews, casts, lighting crews, directors, and producers all have to work together in this stage. If they aren’t communicating or working together, the film probably won’t turn out well. The film production stage can take anywhere from a day to a few months to complete, depending on what type of video you are filming. Though it seems like the biggest stage of video producing, it is typically one of the quickest.

Post-production

Post-production includes everything you do after filming is over. One of the biggest steps in this stage is the editing of your film. Depending on what type of video you just made the editing process can take different amounts of time. Music, visual effects, sound effects and other graphics being added are just a few of the things editors will do. Post-production will also include clean up of the set which can be quite the task depending on your set size. Post-film production can be a longer stage, but it is also one of the most exciting stages because your film is almost done.

Film production stages and steps can vary based on different set teams and films. These three stages, pre-production, production, and post-production are the three umbrella stages though. It is the most effective way to get your film scheduled, planned, filmed, and edited. Now that you know the steps to create a successful film production set, you can get started on creating your dream film.  

Hiring a Film Production Team

By | Video, video production | No Comments

You may think that saving money on your next production by doing it yourself is a great idea, but sacrificing quality isn’t always worth it. Film production companies are full of experienced video marketing professionals and choosing to “hire” your friends over people who do video for a living is like trying to eat a steak with a spoon: it just won’t cut it. If you really want to create the highest quality video available, you should look into film production companies. They will help bring your vision to life, without sacrificing quality.

Here are some of the reasons you should look into hiring a film production crew as opposed to trying to create something professional on your own.

You’ll Be Working with Professionals in Each Role

By hiring a production crew, you’re going to find that you won’t be stressing about having to do everything on your own. Film production companies have crews that consist of multiple professional individuals who cover everything from directing to styling. Rather than trying to juggle operating the camera, microphones, set up lighting, and still getting in front of the camera, you’ll have a professional for each role.

You’ll immediately notice the difference in energy if you choose to hire a film production crew; you won’t feel as stressed about multitasking, and you won’t be as worried about your video quality being poor.

Professional Equipment

Along with working with a professional crew, film production companies also offer professional equipment. It’s important to film with equipment that can create the highest quality of content that will look great plastered all over the internet. If you’re wanting to cut on the cost of hiring a crew, talk to the company and see what you really need in terms of equipment. This can vary depending on what type of project you’re trying to shoot, and sometimes you may end up needing less than expected. Talking with the production company and trying to figure out what will work is better than not using them at all.

A Film Production Crew is Dependable

Sometimes, friends flake, and it sucks. While your buddy may text you last minute to tell you that he won’t be able to make it to the shoot, you won’t have to worry about that with film production companies. These professionals value your time and hard work, so they will be there when you need them.

Hiring a film production crew is the best way to ensure a high-quality video. Don’t hesitate to do your research on film production companies if you need help shooting your next projectyou won’t regret it.

How Digital Marketing Became the New “Traditional Marketing”

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Today, nearly every household across the nation has access to some sort of digital media. whether that’s through a smartphone, computer or tablet, less people are taking to newspapers and tv for their news and product needs. The way that marketing reaches an audience is changing, and digital marketing companies are adapting to those changes. When it comes to reaching consumers, digital marketing companies now have to start creating content that can be used online; though traditional marketing may put images of tv and newspaper ads into your head, digital marketing has become the new “traditional” form of advertising.

 

Technology Has Impacted Marketing

 Marketing is a tool designed to amass attention for certain products or services, and in order to get that attention, digital marketing companies have to be prominent in the right places. As technology advances, people tend to dedicate more of their time to these new forms of technology; whether it’s a new phone model or a new tablet, technology has become a huge part of our modern world. This leaves advertising agencies with one choice: connect with that digital audience to produce more results.

People aren’t going out of their way to read the paper anymore, and not everyone has the time to sit and watch tv, so how exactly do people stay in touch with news and media? How do people shop for new products when they’re in a rush and can’t make it to the store? The internet.

There isn’t anything you can’t do on the internet, in fact, you can even do groceries online now thanks to things Walmart curbside pickup and Amazon Pantry. The way people consume media, purchase products and interact with the world has become more digital than ever before, and technological advancements in the near future can make this even more possible.

 

Job Titles are Transforming

Digital marketing companies today are also changing the way consumers view their employees. It’s rare you’ll find a marketing company with someone with a job title such as “printing manager,” even if that’s what their job consists of. Companies want to appeal to this new wave of consumers, so you’ll often find that traditional titles have been changed to things such as “content strategist”, “social media manager,” or even “community manager.”

People want to know that their advertising needs are in the hands of media geniuses and these new steezy titles help digital marketing companies lure in potential employees and clients.

 

Traditional Teaching Methods are Being Phased Out

 When It comes to preparing the next generation of marketing specialists, schools and universities around the nation are adapting to the new “traditional” marketing. Many schools offer certificates and degrees in digital advertising programs to meet the rising demand of jobs in the digital advertising field.

Traditional marketing today means something completely different than it might have meant a few decades ago. Digital marketing companies today have become the new form of traditional marketing, changing the way consumers interact with the world.

 

 

Marketing Companies Vs. Advertising Agencies: What is the Difference?

By | advertising, Brand marketing, content marketing, digital marketing, marketing, marketing agencies, Mobile marketing | No Comments

Whether the closest you get to the business world is about as close as an athlete is to a paintbrush or you have been a part of a business team for over a decade, it is still difficult for people to explain the difference between marketing companies and advertising agencies.

In a way, they both work towards the same goal: help their client grow.

This goal is common for a lot of businesses, but the reason marketing and advertising is so intertwined are because there is quite a lot of overlap. You cannot take a marketing 101 class at college without going over advertising, and that is what creates all the confusion—advertising falls under the wing of marketing. The reason advertising is not always under the management of marketing companies is because advertising has too much depth and importance to simply ask marketing companies to include it within their other services; this is why many colleges have advertising tracks separate from marketing degrees.

Ultimately, the difference between advertising agencies and marketing companies comes from the different purposes and roles that each firm seeks to fulfill. 

Marketing Companies

To put it simply, marketing companies aim to enhance sales and profits for their respective clientele. In order to do this, they will create in-depth strategies that entail product sales, retail distribution, pricing discounts, and more. Instead of simply creating content for their client to use, a large portion of their work comes from consulting. In order to fulfill these services, marketing companies have communication managers, product managers, research analysts, and marketing directors on their team.

Advertising Agencies

A lot of the same work is done at advertising agencies (such as research, consulting, and etc.), but the overall focus is ever so slightly geared differently. Instead of profits and sales, ad agencies focus on branding and the company’s reputation. Advertising agencies work towards this improved image for companies through creative content and written and visual media. In an advertising agency, you are likely to find video producers, photographers, writers, graphic designers, and web designers working together for the client.

The contrast between purpose and position is enough to distinguish a marketing company and an advertising agency even if there are some overlaying goals and roles. In this article, we have not mentioned social media managers, but you may find them at both types of firms. Not all agencies are the same and their specialties alter what service they perform, and this only adds more confusion. However, if you can recognize the difference between marketing companies and advertising agencies purpose and positions, then you will likely be able to tell the difference.

Whether you are looking for a marketing company or advertising agency, if all you want is to promote your brand or product, look no further than Fusion 360. We have talented teams that will fulfill your needs and take your company to the next level.