We're proud to announce that we've added more than 300 fresh tracks to our royalty-free music library for use on your StudioNow projects.
Be sure to visit the music tab of your project page and browse our selections for the perfect choice for your video. From Latin and Bluegrass to Reggae and Techno, you have every possible genre at your fingertips to match the tone and atmosphere that you and your customer are seeking.
One of the things StudioNow expects from our filmmakers is excellent sound quality. Here are a few tips on how to ensure that you get good, clean sound on your shoots:
• When you arrive on location, put the "Filming In Progress" sign on the door so people entering the business are aware you’re shooting a video. Hopefully they’ll take that as a cue to pipe down.
• Next, choose a quiet location for the interview. While you’d ideally like to have a completely silent place to do an interview, chances are you’ll be in a busy place with background noise. (A little bit is OK, and may in fact help the viewer really experience the atmosphere of the place.) Try shooting in an office or hallway if the background noise is overpowering.
• If you have to shoot outside, choose a location with the least amount of wind. You can also add a small windscreen to the mic.
• Use a lavalier mic. For most StudioNow shoots, a lav mic is your best bet. It allows you to focus on your camerawork rather than worry about holding a boom mic in place. (For aesthetic purposes, be sure to hide the cord.)
• Test your mic before the shoot.
• Aim the mic toward the interviewee's mouth.
• Do a sound check before each interview. Adjust your levels accordingly (Techie Note: your primary audio for interviews should peak at -6 db, with ambient sound peaking between -12 to -18 db).
• Remove dangly earrings or jewelry. Even if it isn’t touching the microphone, jewelry such as a charm bracelet can compete with a good sound bite.
• Pull clothing back from the mic. As the interviewee shifts around, so does their clothing, creating a chance for it to rub against the mic.
• Bring your headphones to the shoot. Listen for any mic hits or frequency interference. Adjust during the interview if you need to.
• Don’t be afraid to ask a merchant to repeat a line.
• Be aware of outdoor noise like thunder, airplanes, traffic.
• This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worthy of being included here. Throw in a couple of extra batteries, just in case yours decide to conch out during the shoot.
NASHVILLE, TN, July 16, 2009 – StudioNow (www.studionow.com), the premier online platform for video creation, today announced that it has been selected to the 2009 AlwaysOn Global 250 Top Private Companies List.
The AlwaysOn Global 250 Award is given to private, emerging technology companies creating new business opportunities in high-growth markets. StudioNow was selected by the AlwaysOn editorial team based on demonstration of growth, market opportunity, quality of innovation and customer traction.
"We are honored to be named to this prestigious list of innovative technology companies," said David Mason, co-founder and CEO, StudioNow. "This recognition acknowledges the breakthroughs we've achieved in delivering affordable, cloud-based solutions for video production, asset management and syndication of content."
StudioNow and the other AlwaysOn Global 250 winners will be recognized at the AlwaysOn & STVP Summit at Stanford, taking place at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, on July 28-30. This two-and-a-half day executive conference is co-presented by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program and will highlight the significant economic, political and commercial trends affecting the global technology industries.
The AlwaysOn Global 250 winners were selected from among more than 800 technology companies nominated by investors, bankers, journalists and industry insiders. Previously known as the AlwaysOn 100, the 2009 Global 250 list was finalized by the AlwaysOn editorial team after conducting a rigorous three-month selection process, with assistance from KPMG's emerging business practice, KPMG VC Practice.
Since its founding in 2007, StudioNow has partnered with a variety of top-tier organizations to build custom online platforms for the creation, management and distribution of high-quality video content, including Ford Models, Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books, Citysearch, The NewsMarket, CBS Radio, ClearChannel, Playboy, Yahoo!/Rivals.com and others.
The StudioNow production platform provides dynamic end-to-end management of the entire content development and production process, connecting customers with thousands of expert videographers, editors, directors, producers, animators and voiceover artists for the creation of top-quality digital content at the most-affordable pricing available in today’s marketplace.
A full list of all the AlwaysOn Global 250 winners can be found on the AlwaysOn website at http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/3271
About AlwaysOn
AlwaysOn ignited the open-media revolution
in early 2003 by being the first media brand to launch a global blog
network. In 2004, AlwaysOn continued to lead the media industry in
innovation by introducing a social network where members can connect
and engage. AlwaysOn is also revolutionizing the media business by
applying its open-media principles to its executive event series
(Summit at Stanford, OnMedia, OnHollywood, OnDC, GoingGreen East and
West, Venture Summit East and West) and quarterly print "blogozine" by
empowering its members to post and share their ideas and meet each
other online. As our loyal readers know, AlwaysOn is committed to the
free-market, merit-driven approach to reporting and event programming.
No other media brand has dared to create such open interaction with its
readers and event participants.
About StudioNow
StudioNow is the premier online platform
for video creation and distribution, aggregating thousands of editors,
videographers and creative individuals to provide professional, 24/7
on-demand video content at affordable prices to businesses of all sizes
across all markets. From major media organizations to Internet
marketers to local advertisers, StudioNow's proprietary high-volume,
Web-based marketplace and custom production management platform meets
the rising demand for high-quality, original video material. For
additional information, please visit: (www.studionow.com).
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We're so excited to receive this recognition from AlwaysOn! We thank all of the Members of our Network for the hard work that you put into each StudioNow video. It's because of you that SN is on the forefront of high quality web video production.
My (Ansley typing here) first job out of college was a video editing job at a production company. My boss taught me that if a video doesn’t turn out how a client expected, it’s because we didn’t ask enough questions beforehand. It’s our responsibility to make sure we’re doing our part in producing a video that the client is happy with.
One afternoon, at that same job, I got a call from a middle-aged gentleman. We’ll call him Joe. Below is the conversation I had with Joe:
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Joe: “Hi, is this a video store?”
Me: “Well, we’re not Blockbuster, but we do produce videos. What can I help you with?”
Joe: “See, I got this video shoot coming up tomorrow for my business, and the video people mentioned some fancy piece of equipment I never heard of. I’m calling around to different places tryin’ to figure out what it does so I don’t look like an idiot when they get here.”
Me: “OK, what piece of equipment did they say they’re bringing?”
Joe: “They said they’re showin' up with a videogeyser.”
Me: “I’m sorry, a what?”
Joe: “A videogeyser. I've been calling around and nobody can seem to tell me what it is.”
Me: “A videogeyser... Hmm, that doesn’t sound like any piece of video equipment I’ve heard of before…” (I think for a few seconds) ”Do you think they might have said, ‘The video guys are coming out tomorrow for your video shoot?’”
(There’s a long pause while I’m stifling laughter. Slowly it dawns on Joe what they had really said…)
Joe: “Ohhhhh… Yeah, that makes more sense!” Click.
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We can all learn a lesson from Old Joe: If you don’t know something, just ask! All that time calling around to different production companies could have been avoided by asking one simple question.
Clarification is especially important in the video production business when communicating with clients.
• Feel free to call your merchant ahead of time- you can find their contact info on the project page.
• Google their business name, check out their website, do a little research on the business.
• Use the communication tool on the project page for messages to your merchant regarding directions to the location, or any questions about their particular business.
• Contact StudioNow for any questions regarding compensation, technical specs, etc.
• You should also proactively check the project page for messages sent to you.
• Take the time to fill out our Pro Video On Site Production Checklist.
• Ask if there are any particular shots they’d like you to get, or if they have any questions for you.
And, of course, don’t forget to bring your videogeyser. ☺
If you end up having to edit video shot in XDCam and you are not using the latest version of Final Cut Studio, you may run into issues using/playing/editing these files.
Calibrated Software has released a product (Windows and Mac compatible) that may prove immensely helpful - Calibrated{Q} XD Decode. Calibrated{Q} XD Decode will allow you to view and convert these files to a usable format using Quicktime Pro. Unfortunately, it is not free, but $79.95 seems like a small price to pay to overcome such a major obstacle in your workflow.
Disclaimer: This product is not copyrighted by, authorized by, or otherwise affiliated with StudioNow.
StudioNow offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, but we'll all be back on Monday.
All of us here at StudioNow wish you a safe and happy 4th of July. To help celebrate, we give you an organization that truly represents the great melting pot that is America...
The Muppets!
Thanks to everyone for your hard work.
I wish I'd seen this earlier, but there is still plenty of time.
One of our Senior Developer's, Patrick Altman, forwarded the info on Amazon's 'Your Amazon Ad' Contest to me last night, and I wanted to make sure everyone was aware of it.
The basic idea is to create a short video advertising Amazon.com for a chance to win $20,000 in Amazon.com Gift Cards. We'd be proud to have the winner be a Member of our Network, and we know you have the talent to do it. Click here for the details. Good Luck!
It’s no secret that video production tools and equipment can get expensive. What you may not realize is that there’s a world of apps FREE for the taking if you know where to look. Below are some of our favorites we thought we’d share:
Acorn
What it does: Say you need to edit an image, but don’t have the fancy-shmancy Photoshop suite to do it. Acorn is a great image editing program that has all the basics.
Where to find it: http://flyingmeat.com/acorn/
Flip for Mac
What it does: Allows Mac users to play Windows Media files in QuickTime.
Where to find it: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/flip4mac.mspx
Handbrake
What it does: Need to “rip” a DVD? Use Handbrake to pull video straight from the disc. (We know you wouldn’t use this for copyrighted material ☺)
Where to find it: http://handbrake.fr/
IShowU
What it does: Allows you to screen capture in real time for those customers who want you to use animated portions of their website.
Where to find it: http://store.shinywhitebox.com/home/home.html
MPEG Streamclip
What it does: Allows you to open .VOB files (and others) and convert them to a Final Cut Pro compatible format.
Where to find it: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html
Perian
What it does: Adds native support for many popular video formats (i.e. allows you to play flash video in QuickTime).
Where to find it: http://perian.org/
We hope that these programs are helpful to you as you continue to create top-notch StudioNow videos!
Disclaimer: These products are not copyrighted by, authorized by, or otherwise affiliated with StudioNow.
Today we look at another Citysearch business profile... this time for Jimmy's Burger Joint in Costa Mesa, CA.
Jimmy's is brought to you courtesy of StudioNow Network Member Roger Timm of Los Angeles, CA (and sometimes Austin, TX). Roger is a part of Ugly American Entertainment and has been a video and film creator for the better part of 10 years.
SN: What unique challenges and opportunities do you feel like restaurant shoots provide vs. other kinds of businesses? We'd love to know if and how you approach different categories of businesses. Salons, restaurants, clubs, plumbers, etc...
RT: Restaurants are tricky, but can be the most rewarding. You get lots
of visually stimulating shots, but many times they are dark and must be
managed because most places WILL NOT let you bring in external
lighting. I approach each job individually. Clubs always need extra
lighting and usually need seperate areas for interview, so I always get
there early. Salons are usually the easiet to showcase because they are
concentrated, self contained. The key to a good restaurant shoot is to
get to know the owner, or manager on the phone before the shoot. Also
get to know the style of place and food involved. This will let you
create a video based around the person rather than just the place. This
is critical to a good documentary approach.
SN: The lighting on this piece looks great and the production value is high. Please elaborate on any specific techniques (either on location or in post) that you used on this or other shoots to help achieve this kind of look?
RT: To get the best look, I attempt to set subjects in the best balanced light for a sharp and complete exposure. Sometimes this takes a little extra time finding the right spot, but it is always worth it. When that is not available, I bring in my own lighting if the client allows.
SN: What do you have in your standard kit of gear that you take for a Citysearch or business profile video?
RT: I use a Panasonic HVX-200 camera with a lens adapter kit and 2 16 gig
P2 cards (review). I use a Bogen tripod with a fluid head. I also use an
arriflex light kit for some shoots, but not the Jimmy's shoot that was all
ambient light, and I have a bescor and a lowell interview light, one of
each. I use an e series wireless lav kit by Shure, the beta, and I use Sony Pro headphones. Other miscellaneous items include multiple charged batteries and backup power supply, lens filters and
gels and paperwork with clipboard. Also, always remember a pen!
SN: If you could offer one piece of advice to a fellow StudioNow filmmaker about creating a really awesome, compelling business profile video, what would that be?
RT: The best way to make a great video is to remember that this is a video for a person/business and that this is that person's livelihood. If you take the time to showcase the personality and best traits of a particular place, the editing is easy. Also, patience is very important. These are not actors, but most times they know what they do far better than you do. So let them help you craft the video by bringing out the best in them.
This week we shine the spotlight on the Barre3 business profile video done for Citysearch.
StudioNow Network Member John Morgan of Portland, OR. shot and edited Barre3 along with a number of other great looking and compelling business profile videos. John has been in the tv/film industry for 15 years and just opened his own business, StereoEye Productions, a year ago.
John has provided some great information regarding his own technique and process along with a lot of advice and suggestions that are dead-on:
SN: We've noticed that in many of your videos you include several (more than the usual 1 or 2 that we see most of the time) customer testimonials. Having multiple testimonials, even if only brief, is extremely effective at enhancing the message of the featured speaker as well as providing added authenticity and improving the overall pace of the piece. How do you approach people about giving a brief testimonial so as to encourage their participation and also minimize the inconvenience to them? Also, what do you do to put your speakers at ease?
JM: The best way to acquire testimonials is to call ahead. Contact the client and suggest that they have some of their favorite customers drop by to appear on a "commercial". Sometimes clients will have scripts written out for their customers when you show up for the shoot. This is great for people who are experienced at working in front of a camera, but not so good for the average person. Have the customers deliver the lines given to them by your client, then have them answer questions you ask, or even better, have the customer say what ever they want. You will find out what method produces more natural testimonials as soon as you start logging. Stand next to your camera and have the customer look at you while they speak, make eye contact, and look relaxed. Of course, tell them they were great!
For Barre3, I have to confess, one of the speakers was a reporter for a local TV station, and another was a professional PR person. Sometimes you really hit the jackpot. For the other speakers, I asked them some standard questions like, "what do you think of the staff here?", and, "what is your favorite thing about Barre 3?" Then I asked them to tell me what they would tell one of their good friends about the business. I also edited the bites down to the word, eliminating quite a few repeated words, uhms, ahhs, and sentence fragments. I then used video to cover the jump cuts created by these edits.
SN: In many of your business profile videos, including this one, you mix the music and the sound bytes, with the ambient/natural sound of what is going on in the room in a very effective way (ie. the portion of the video where you can hear her teaching her class). This provides added energy and atmosphere to the overall piece. Many pieces we see simply just use music and the soundbytes as the audio. Can you talk about what you feel the live sound can bring to the piece overall, and how you incorporate it into your pieces?
JM: For Barre3, I made sure the instructor/owner had a wireless mic on as she taught the classes. This does not always result in any useable audio, but it is always worth a try. She just happened to say some things to her class that she had mentioned in her interview, so I just spliced them together as tightly as I could. Sometimes, I will ask the owner to wear a wireless mic as they meet and greet customers, you can capture a lot of personality that way.
Keep an open mind as you log. Save sub clips of anything at all that could highlight any of the primary messages on your production checklist, as well as anything interesting. Be thorough. There might be 18 frames of gold in that 6 minute clip. If you log and label carefully, it will be easier to pair bites, video and nats. Nat pops, and music swells can also serve as an easy way to accomplish otherwise awkward transitions.
SN: The lighting on this piece looks great and production value is high. Please elaborate on any specific techniques (either on location or in post) that you used on this or other shoots to help achieve this kind of look? Of particular interest are the camera moves and techniques that you used on the exteriors and signage.
JM: Use natural light when you can, and use a white card! If you don't have time to white balance, at least hold the card up for a second so you have a white reference to calibrate with in post. You might not have time to set a 3 or 4 point light scheme, so concentrate on the face. I use a 42" reflector disc for head shots. Bouncing a good tungsten Fresnel light off of that will give you a nice smooth light. If you are not good with scrims, use a dimmer. Sometimes the direct light from that fixture will sneak through the barn doors, there is your fill light!
When shooting exteriors, I use a tripod and get as many kinds of zooms, pans, and tilts in various speeds. Use a fast shutter speed if possible, this will improve the result if you use any slow motion, or motion smoothing effects. Once you have spent your precious 5 minutes shooting from the tri-pod, you can then go hand-held and try the fancy stuff. In this video I shot through the business front window, getting the city in the background and the logo (which was backwards to the camera). In post I flipped the image so the logo was readable, who was going to notice that the city was backwards?
SN: What do you have in your standard kit of gear that you take for a Citysearch or business profile video?
JM: I take the following with me:
SN: If you could offer one piece of advice to a fellow StudioNow filmmaker about creating a really awesome, compelling business profile video, what would that be?
JM: When you finish a project, you will likely have realized one or six things that you wish you had done during the shoot, or even in editing. Remember these things, write them down if you must. This might include things like how you relate to the client, including more close-ups for easier editing, asking more open ended questions, or using manual focus instead of auto. If you can make each video better than the one before it, you will be a pro before you know it.
