"What Does Your Mom Say?" - Parody of the Fox Song for Thanksgivukkah

Enjoy! Have a Great Holiday!

"What Does Your Mom Say?"

Parody of "What Does the Fox Say?" (Ylvis)

You Never Know Who's Watching!

On a planet of six billion plus it's hard to separate yourself from the masses.  However, for such a large universe it can also be "A Very Small World."  Now with the digital revolution, the ability to zap things through space instantly with unlimited content, you just never know who's watching.  Which, begs to argue why it's important to have video on your website, for your business, in-house or otherwise.  It could be that one person who recognizes your service, product or skill, that hires you, that not only will pay for the production itself, but can ultimately be a stepping-stone to growing your business to where you want it to be.

Here is a perfect anecdote. In my other life as an actor I had the fortune of auditioning for a certain producer over the years, one that proved to be a big fan and always welcomed me warmly in what is often a cold and tentative situation.  Over the course of 15 years of auditioning for the producer, I was too young for the part, he wanted me, the director wanted, but the client wanted the other guy...on and on this went and not once was I cast for this particular producer.  Enter the power of digital video and all it's exploits.

So a few years ago I audition with an East Coast Casting Director for a popular amusement park.  Just me and the CD in the room.  Little did I know my audition tape was being sent to the director, now living in Colorado, who was reviewing my work and heading back to his origins on the East Coast for this particular production with that particular producer where the stars finally aligned and we would finally work together.

So it just goes to show that "You Never Know Who's Watching."  Just like any business where today's lead might be next year's business or where it might take 19 times for someone to see something before they respond to it, so too does it apply with your video production.  By just the mere fact of having content present, it automatically opens you up to a world that might otherwise be missed.  With quality, focused content it now puts you ahead of everyone who has yet to take that plunge.

Blueye | Productions
www.Blueyeproductions.biz
Blueyeproductions@Yahoo.com
Ph: 917-749-4583 F: 856-685-7396

Don't You Just Press Record? Making A Great Video for Your Business or Event

Don't you just press record? If only it were that easy.  Sure, if you're going to film your kid at soccer or
for my daughter's upcoming dance recital, I can place the camera and press record.  At least I'll have something.  But when creating that great marketing video for your business, rehearsal dinner short or event catching some great footage at the little league game, there are some tried and true methods.  Especially when planning for your business.

Budget is always a good start, but that's from an early blog.  The big question is what is the story you want to tell?  If I am from "Joe's Vacuum Cleaner" Business and I want to post a great video on my website I have to ask myself what am I selling?  Great prices, great services, the fastest service?  What is my story?  My idea, my concept? Video is much like building a building...one brick at a time.  Start with an idea and tweak until it's focused.  Then you must determine the best way to execute.  HD video is standard these days and though your budget may be limited you want to create the best product you can.  Do you need a commercial with professional talent?  Can you be the product demonstrator or spokesperson?  What location will you use to shoot your footage.  Once you have that great concept it's time to flesh out all the details of your production.  If you have seen a video that might be similar to your vision be sure to share.  Or if you are struggling with your idea, see if anything you have seen lately has resonated with you.  Then you can apply some of those elements to suit your needs.

You always need a certain quality of camera and sound to provide a certain level of quality...throw in even some basic lighting and you're already ahead of the game.  Other elements that can also be over- looked are location, hair and make-up and wardrobe.  Anything that can add to your production value will ultimately make for a better video and ultimately add to your end game, whether its more sales, more laughs, more tears or catching that great stroke from the home run your kid hits.

A good director/producer will lead you down a path of success from the concept, to the shoot, to editing in post-production, where you are able to enhance and focus your story even more.  So when you are ready to make that great video take some time to consider some of the building blocks:

• Pre-production:  Concept/Location/Tone
• Production:  Camera/Sound/Lighting/Wardrobe/Hair & Make-Up
• Post-Production: Titles/Music/Graphics

So whether it's your first video or tenth, take the time to properly consider all the elements involved and how to best apply and execute, so your vision is realized.  Anything you can do to raise the value of your production will separate you from the pack be it for your business, affair or personal archives.

Blueye | Productions
www.Blueyeproductions.biz
Blueyeproductions@Yahoo.com
Ph: 917-749-4583

Why Do I Need A Budget, Can't You Just Quote Me?

So you've finally decided to bite the bullet and add that long over-due web video to your company's site . We live in a video world and now is the time to take that ride.  But where do you start?  You say to yourself, I don't know anything about video, don't they just press record and voila I have the perfect marketing tool for my Youtube page?  I'll just send it out into the cyber-space, my Facebook buddies will all "LIKE" it and even my mother will think I look great. Hey, I discovered, I'm not a bad actor either!  So you Google a bunch of places to choose from, talk to a bunch of people and they keep asking you for your budget.  You think, can't they just quote me?  Well, not really.  Really? Why not?  Here's why not.  

Video production comes with such a host of variables (camera type, crew, talent etc.) it might be better trying to win the Pick 4 then trying to decipher all the options.  That's where we come in.  Sure I could quote you the stock, it'll be this much for this.  I'll edit something, toss in a title and voila, there's your video!  But you say to yourself when all was said and done, well that's kinda nice, but it's not exactly what I was thinking.  Well, of course not.  How could I possibly know what you are thinking if you don't share it with me, especially where your budget is concerned.   Instead of being a part of the process you just let someone else be the process, which is why it's important to understand the process.  

Having a budget might actually save you money, will produce a better video and in turn get you more business.  But, I really don't want to spend a lot you say...sure, no one does, but if you have a budget in mind we can work together to find the right options to fit your needs.  Otherwise it can be one big guessing game trying to determine what you envision and how to make that happen.  There's a big difference between, "I have $500 to spend" and $5000 to spend.

Let's say you do want to produce a short Web video to enhance your site, show off what you or your products do, etc.  and you happened to have a budget of $20,0000.  I'd quicker say, hey this isn't a broadcast commercial, no need to spend so much and here are a variety of thoughts on how to best use what you have.  Like, let's take a percentage of that $20K to get your feet wet and produce a nice,  sharp, one-minute video to liven up your site.  Another option might be to produce a series of videos that can be used in your marketing throughout the year and drive traffic to your site. Still, another option might be to produce a video that can be used on the Web and even used as a Cable commercial with a large portion of your budget going to the strategically planned Ad-Buy.  Cable is much cheaper than people realize and can often get you a lot of bang for your buck. 

Inversely, if you ask me to just quote you, I'm left guessing.  Can they afford to shoot on a high end camera?  Do they want professional talent or do they plan on using their friends and family?  What kind of production value do they really want?  Sure I can ask all these questions and quote you with the answers received, but again several variables exist.  Just as there are Local, Regional and National commercials of variable quality, so too are there variables for your video.

A big budget does not always make for a great video and sometimes less IS more and often forces creativity, like a great Indie flick or that simple Youtube video you liked on Facebook.  Ask yourself, is the three-minute video I envisioned on my site really what I need?  "I mean, the longer my video the better, right?"  "If it's longer I'm getting more."  

Well, maybe that elusive budget is better spent making a nice, sharper, one-minute video that will shine, than a lower quality three-minute bore that just takes up space with lesser production value and no story.  Attention spans are scarce these days and you should always shoot for the highest quality you can afford.  Video is forever, why not make it nice?

So, having options and a sense of where you are jumping off from is important.  It immediately identifies what level of production you are comfortable doing or can afford,  then we can work together with some cost-effective options pending on your vision.

So, when you decide you are ready to take the plunge to make that great video, don't be afraid to share your thoughts and especially your budget, you might be surprised how much more you actually get.

BLUEYE | PRODUCTIONS
www.Blueyeproductions.biz
Blueyeproductions@yahoo.com
ph: 917-749-4583