GRAPHICS

Well designed and thought out graphics can lift any video from a basic information tool to a 
dynamic and interesting programme. We use graphics in our videos in many different ways, from animated company logos to detailed data flow graphics.

So, how should you use graphics effectively?

Grab the audience from the start. An animated company logo with music makes an important statement at the start of your video. It grabs your viewer’s attention and sets the tone for the rest of the programme. We can incorporate all of your brand guidelines within the graphic and even supply it to you as separate file for use in your own powerpoint and multimedia presentations.

 

Say it with pictures. A clear, concise graphic is a very quick way to impart lots of information. It could take an interviewee almost twice as long to verbally explain the same information. A video can be paused while the viewer looks over your graphic, but an interview must be replayed again and again to re-listen.





Be bold. Graphics can powerfully convey an emotion or personality. We have created bespoke cartoon animations that have been used at the forefront of our client’s marketing campaigns. These have worked alongside a printed campaign.

Don’t forget the audio. Many of our clients are amazed when they see their graphics for the first time and a lot of the impact comes from the correct use of sound. A successfull graphic will grab your attention.




 


Cost-effective. State of the art graphics can lift the production values of any video but won’t take up your whole budget.









Content can change. We archive the whole process of making our graphics so that you can update any information at a later date if statistics, content or branding changes. This means your video will have a longer shelf-life whilst reflecting your latest message.

If you would like to talk through your ideas for a video please contact us and we would love to share some thoughts with you. 

THE INTERVIEW

There are many styles a company video can take, it could be a clear instructional video, a dynamic promo or the announcement of the latest financial results.

What nearly all of these videos have in common is the interview. The bedrock of thousands of hours of filming. The interview allows you to communicate directly to the audience, there is no-one mediating your words, everyone can see your body language. 

Some of our new clients are nervous before we film interviews, but there is no need to be. You are in control, you decide which answers make the final edit and of course we can record more than one version of an answer. 

We run media training courses with all levels of employees and a lot of our attendees are surprised when we don’t recommend that you practise your answers in too much detail, a good interviewer will be able to listen and edit possible answers in their head as we record. As you get warmed up we often go back and ask the first few questions again.

Talk through how the interview will fit into the programme with the director.  Will the interview be the first item or is it one of many voices? A quick informal chat will help you understand the pace of your answers.

Your answers will be edited. Try not to answer with long elongated sentences. This makes it very tricky for the editor to find the exact few words they are looking for.  We talk on average at a rate of three words per second. The average statement form an interview is often only 40 seconds to a minute, which means that you need to answer the question succinctly, stick to the core subject.

Allow plenty of time for your interview. We want you to feel comfortable and not be planning your next meeting in your head. Give yourself time to say hello to the crew.  The sound recordist will want to check how loud you speak, the cameraman may want to tweak the position of a light if you are taller/smaller than they expected.  Give them time to make everything perfect, after all you want the best results possible.

We are often asked what our interviewees should wear. Audiences will expect an executive in a formal video to wear a suit. Plain colours are preferable, try to avoid thin stripes. Most interviews are filmed in a mid-shot where the frame cuts off just below the chest. This is a comfortable shot for the viewer as it allows us to see your hands while you speak. If  you are making a very important point we may also frame tighter to your head and shoulders so that the viewer can focus on your eyes.

Where should we film your interview? We can cope with most visual situations but our nemesis is a noisy environment. We want to focus on your words and hear you clearly, so please bear in mind any sound issues when you suggest a location for the interview.  The most popular location we end up in is the company boardroom. This is understandable but often visually very plain. Take a walk around your office with fresh eyes, you may see a great backdrop you wouldn't normally have considered.

We hope that these tips will help you when you are asked to be part of a video. Take your time and enjoy the process, we are interested in what you have to say.

If you would like to talk through your ideas for a video please contact us and we would love to share some thoughts with you.

From start to finish with Boadicea the Victorious

It has already been an exciting journey working with one of the UK's most exclusive perfume companies, Boadicea The Victorious, and we were privileged to be involved in their latest launch at Harrods. 

The Boadicea range of perfumes are highly sought after and sell all around the world. We were first approached when the company wanted to use video to promote their range of perfumes. From designing a style for the videos to advising on the best possible way to use them online we were able to offer a full package for them.

The intricate and beautiful bottles were shot in a studio against a black backdrop on a turntable. This created controlled, smooth motion which, combined with some intricate macro filming, created a polished feel to the videos.

When we discussed the launch of the latest perfume Legend we wanted to emphasise the exclusivity of the range and the hand crafted work that goes into producing each element from the bottles and their unique pewter badges to the design of the fragrances.

The film highlights in particular the fantastic work of the perfumer in the Cotswolds and the team at A E Williams who are responsible for creating the pewter elements.They are one of the worlds' oldest companies and proud to show off their skills.

The final element of the Boadicea process was to show off the sales counter within Harrods. Inside the perfume hall at Harrods was a perfect location to showcase the finished Boadicea product to its full potential.

Items like perfume are a luxury and often a brand is selling a feeling or lifestyle as much as they are selling a scent.  The team at Boadicea wanted a big statement to begin the launch and so we produced a mood video for the brand. This short one minute video was designed to evoke an emotion and set the scene for the perfumes.  We brainstormed a storyboard of images that we felt reflected the brand.  Working with the team at Boadicea we finalised our choices and set out into some great forest locations armed with spears, cloaks and a smoke machine! The music was one of the most important elements here and of course we played it very loud for the audience.

Boadicea now have many different edits which they can use in many different ways for both live audiences, intimate one-to-one discussions and as an online showcase. 

Within this project we used several unique skills and techniques to deliver a polished final film

• We used a lot of motion within the shots, keeping the camera moving. We also shot on very high frame rates so that we could slow the footage down in the edit.
• Stylised camera movements were used but also work was done to reflect the lighter, brighter atmosphere of the different locations.
• During the Harrods shoot we brought in our mini jib to create sweeping shots which celebrate the look of the environment.

If you would like to chat with us about any ideas you have for your product or service we will be more than happy to explore with you the power of video.

Weather Briefing for World's Best Sailors

Go Media Video has been working with world-leading marine electronics manufacturer, Raymarine for many years.  One of the highlights of the year is working with them on the weather briefing for the J.P.Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, one of the largest yacht races in the world and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK.

In the days leading up to the race we work with top sailor and meteorologist Chris Tibbs. Chris has sailed around the world many times and works with some of the world’s best sailors advising them on routing and weather tactics. Chris presents a series of Forecasts and tips which we shoot at various locations on the Isle of Wight and are then edited and uploaded by the end of the day.

Over the past few years we have learnt a lot doing this job. Huge amounts of preparation go into this project and we have learnt that the pre-planning time can often be as crucial as the actual shooting process. The whole crew stay together ina shared house for the duration of the shoot and this gives us great flexibility and camaraderie whilst working.  

On the eve of the race we present a live weather briefing on stage at the Island Sailing Club, organisers of the race, which is also streamed live on the Raymarine website. Our experience of live production means we have always delivered a high quality product for both the live and internet audience.

As it happened the 2014 race, which had over 1500 entries, saw very little wind but the thousands of sailors who took part at least knew in advance to carry plenty of sunscreen!

Tasks we completed for the project:

• The pre-live videos contained animated graphics and screen grabs from Raymarine equipment - we enhanced these in the edit to highlight important areas of the image.
• Pre-planning - gathering new graphics, music, name straps, equipment etc. 
• Today's technology means we can travel light but have all the equipment we need - this means we can deliver a fast turn around but always maintain a high quality production.

If you need advice on how to create a fast turn around location edit please give us a call and we would be only too happy to show some examples of our work and how this process could work for your production too.

TOP FIVE TIPS FOR HOSTING A FILM CREW

You've finally decided to get your corporate/company video made to show the world what a fantastic business you are. You've found the best production company in town and they're turning up tomorrow. While you want to get the best possible results you also want it to be enjoyable for your staff and team so here are a few tips to help you get the most out of the day.

1. Take a tour of your work place with fresh eyes. We all get used to our surroundings but remember your potential viewers will be seeing you all for the first time. Will a quick clean and tidy do? Is that old Pirelli calendar really appropriate or the photos of the works Xmas outing on the reception wall?  It won’t take long if everyone pitches in to give it a once over before they arrive.
   
   The camera can hide unsightly marks, carpets etc but help the crew by giving them the best opportunity to make you look your best.
   
   
2. Who will be on camera? Too many times we have arrived on location to film some dynamic interviews with a top team only to find out that the interviewee has been "persuaded" to appear on camera but is quite clearly uncomfortable. It's hard for even the best director to get a great interview from an unwilling participant.  Check with your team who really wants to be on camera. Go through some question with them, give them time to think about what they might say. On the day there's plenty of time to change and adapt questions. Some people may prefer to be in the background, that's great as they are needed too.
   
   
3. Are there any hazardous areas? 
   
   If there are health and safety procedures the crew may need to know build that briefing time into the day. If they need extra protective clothing either let them know beforehand or make sure you have plenty of spares for them. Modern cameras are basically computers with lenses and may be susceptible to very dusty areas. Think ahead for the crew as they may not have experienced your environment before. Many companies will provide a 'minder' to look after the crew and we always feel a lot safer when we know we have someone who is looking out for us.
   
   
   
    
4. Be open to ideas. Hopefully you will have spent some time chatting with the director about the shoot and the editorial content of your upcoming film. Plan A is great but when we're filming we often end up exploring plan E, F OR G! When onsite the crew may spot a great visual you didn't think of or find a better (or quieter) location to film the big interview with the MD. The filming process is very fluid and it's important to gather enough elements to give the editor plenty of material to work with.
   
   
   
5. Look after the crew. We know that a filming day is an expensive outlay and we want to offer the best value to our clients, but we are human too. Would there be some natural tea breaks as the crew move locations?  If your building is in a remote location do you have catering for the crew? Perhaps you could take a lunch order early in the day to have everything organised for a break later. We don't thrive off mochachocalattes but there's not much better than seeing a tray of teas on their way to you to refresh those creative juices!

These are just a few points that highlight how a film crew will work with you. Go Media is always happy to hear about your new and upcoming projects and would be happy to chat through in further detail with you.

Contact us on info@go-media.co.uk or follow us @GoMediaVideo

Hot Firey Filming in Portsmouth

This week (Wednesday 4 June) we headed to the Little Duck Forge, Portsmouth for a day of location filming.

Fire, hot metal, sparks, steam - the aim was to capture live blacksmith techniques to go with something we are working on for premium perfume brand, Boadicea The Victorious.

Known as Iron Maid, Lucille Scott is a qualified blacksmith and at the Little Duck Forge specialises in traditional forge metal work. Lucille was very helpful and we were able to get everything we needed.

Filming with -  Sony F5, shooting high frame rate 150fps, it may be 6 times the normal amount of data but the final effect is fantastic.


Watch this space for more news on where this footage will be used or follow us @GoMediaVideo

Blackmagic Design

Last year at the Southampton Boat Show we tried something a little bit different. The release of the Blackmagic ATEM Television Studio enabled us to set up a studio at the show entrance called Boat Show TV. It was a huge success and ever since we have been thinking of ways to make it even better. So we decided to try out the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 in a new way. 

The Shuttle is a great device that would typicall be used to record a live show onto its solid state drive. By doing many tests, firmware updates and twiddling our thumbs we have found a brilliant ways to use the Hyperdeck Shuttle with the ATEM TVS as a play in source. We found by recording a show to the Shuttle we could reverse the process and instead make our own clips such as title sequences, animated graphics, VTs and play this out the Shuttle into the TVS and use it in the show! This is a fantastic tool and will be perfect for a live studio environment. 

Not only have we been experimenting with the Hyperdeck Shuttle but also with line Internet streaming. So now we can record the event and play it out live and the audience can interact while the event takes place. This is very exciting for us here at Go Media and we look forward to putting it in to practice. Take a look at our pictures from the PSP Southampton Boat Show and us hard at work in the studio with the Shuttle!