I can’t help but think about what’s ahead for video production in 2018
As far as I’m concerned video is moving full speed ahead. In fact, with one more year of technological innovation and creativity behind the camera, the world is in for more captivating video content over the next year.
From virtual reality to live streaming, marketers are creating ever more immersive content for their customers. Consumers are now able step into beautifully crafted HDR real-world views and virtual experiences like they have never been able to before.
What producers are now able to create is only limited to their imaginations and with rapidly changing marketing trends producers are able to meet the demands faster than ever before and create truly astounding videos.
As for me, there is one thing percolating to the top as trends to look out for in 2018 and that is good old-fashioned film making. I sense that customers are returning to that cinematic style of film making and video production that really draws you into the message.
At Uptown Studios, we are striving to create cinematic videos that look like they should be shown at the theater versus the television and assembling a skilled crew is essential for a successful video shoot.
A big focus for me is the lighting. Good lighting is a must when it comes to the look and feel of any video and having an experienced director of photography on the set to make those subtle lighting and camera angle decisions can change an ordinary shot into a masterpiece.
Someone with a good eye for lighting can take a shot to a whole new level. It’s a true skill to light the set naturally, fitting it into the environment around it, avoiding an over-lit look. Think Game of Thrones, you know it’s lit, but you can’t tell. It just looks the way it’s supposed to look.
I think the last few years, with the onslaught of new support gear such as gimbals, cranes, sliders and drones, we have started to substitute solid, tried and true film making techniques for fancy camera moves. Sometimes the best thing to do is lock the camera down and let the lights and action tell the story. Don’t let all the bells and whistles stifle your creativity.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m one of the biggest proponents for keeping the camera moving, but don’t let the cool factor of flying a camera around pull you away from lighting it right. Once you’ve set the scene and have your lighting in place you can decide if a dolly move or jib would be the appropriate way to tell the story. Let the camera move enhance the shot, not be the shot.
Take your time to make it look right. Plan your shoot day properly, so you can take the necessary time to be creative with your lighting. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in a properly planned day. It’s all part of the process and your clients will love the end result.
Oh, and have a plan. Hold creative meetings, write scripts, draw up story boards with a real story behind it, so when you arrive on the set, your time can be spent on what the video looks like rather than hashing out details that should have been taken care of behind the scenes.
Creating an atmosphere where your viewer can truly connect to the message and put themselves into the video is what we all should be striving for.
And that’s why I say getting back to the basics of film making, lighting, creative camera angles, solid sound and great directing are fundamental keys to successful video production.
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