Oct 26
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SFilms Assists TopPup

SFilms Assists TopPup in Opening of NTE

By Tips/Techniques, Uncategorized, Video Production

After more than three years, and nine months early, the construction has all but come to an end in Northeast Tarrant County, home to Fort Worth and neighbor to Dallas.  NTE, the North Tarrant Express, is a project to widen a heavily congested portion of roads through six municipalities near Fort Worth, connecting to Dallas.  TopPup Media was called on to video document the construction over the past two years, and SFilms partnered with TPM to make that happen. Construction video is extremely different than the normal corporate video shoots.  First, all crew people out in the construction zone had to be safety trained and wear the proper safety equipment.  Also, the type of shots for showing construction are different– the story is told through aerials and timelapse, with a little standard video shooting. We have really enjoyed shooting for NTE…

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Aug 30
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One Person Shoot and Edit

By Uncategorized

Shooting And Editing Sometimes, we get a call for us to send one person on a client’s job that requires shooting and editing.  In this post, we’ll discuss the best practices and tricks/techniques to help it go smoother. What to Take on a Video Shoot and Edit: For a recent job that required the Shooter/Editor to be on a tour bus with the client, our shooter took five cameras, a MacBookPro and several USB powered harddrives.  In addition to support equipment like tripod, etc, he also took a drone for aerial footage.  The cameras were a C100 for main recording, a 5D mark 3 for additional shots and the ability to shoot stills for the client as needed, and three GoPros. The biggest hit for the client was the drone– we were able to get those “wow” shots that pulls…

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Jul 31
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Going On-Camera for Corporate/Commercial Video

By Corporate Video Production, Tips/Techniques, Video Production

Tips and Suggestions for being interviewed on camera Congratulations (or condolences) on you being selected to be in front of the camera for that corporate video.  Maybe you’re a client and are doing a favor for a company with a product or service you love.  Or you’re employed by a company and have been selected to tell the corporate story.  Here are some tips and things to keep in mind to help you out. Most interviews are conducted “documentary” style—you’re being asked questions by an off-camera interviewer, so you’ll look at them and not the camera.  When you look directly at the camera and talk, it’s usually a “spokesperson” role, and is very different to the interview we’re talking about here. Many people desire to have the questions beforehand.  There are pros and cons to this.  Most likely, you’re being…

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Jul 25
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How To Use Video Marketing to Generate Business Leads

By Uncategorized

Today more than ever having a web presence is essential to building a strong brand, qualifying prospects, and generating more leads. One of the most effective ways to promote your business on the internet is through videos. Visual media is shared more often than traditional text, using the power of video you can deliver a more contagious and effective message that spreads through social networks. Video marketing is one of the most underrated methods for lead generation; if used correctly, however, videos can be the most significant part of any online marketing campaign. Here are a few tips that will help increase your lead generation with video marketing: Create engaging videos that educate or inform A lot of the time when you see videos for service providers, product owners, and other companies you see self-promotion videos. While these videos have…

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Jul 07
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Unconventional Warfare in Corporate Video Shooting

By Corporate Video Production, Tips/Techniques, Video Production

Video Recording Equipment and Specialty Tools We Use As technology forges on, new tools and techniques are being created that have made a recent dramatic impact on the corporate video landscape.  In the army, you have a soldier and a rifle.  In special forces, you have all sorts of different weapons and ways to get the job done. At Serendipitous, we feel that in addition to a strong “standing army” to cover your corporate story, that a “special forces” group is imperative to give the video an edge in this highly competitive battle field for the attention of the viewers.  This means thinking outside of the box– and in video production, the box is a static camera, about five feet high (where the cameraman’s eyes are).  Many video production companies tell the majority of the story from this point of…

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Jun 23
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Tips for Being Interviewed On Camera For The First Time

By Corporate Video Production, Important Info for Your Corporate Video, Tips/Techniques, Video Production

Telling your story for your company’s video Congratulations (or condolences) on you being selected to be in front of the camera for that corporate video. Here are some tips and things to keep in mind to help you out. Most interviews are conducted “documentary” style—you’re being asked questions by an off-camera interviewer, so you’ll look at them and not the camera. When you look directly at the camera and talk, it’s usually a “spokesperson” role, and is very different to the interview we’re talking about here. Many people desire to have the questions beforehand. There are pros and cons to this. Most likely, you’re being interviewed because you’re an expert in the subject matter—speaking off the cuff will have a more natural feel. However, you can be more prepared if you were given the questions before the interview. Also, many…

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Jun 09
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The Hero’s Journey Storytelling Part II

By Tips/Techniques, Video Production

  Continuing the Story with Part II of the Journey This is part II of the journey, a continuing story that allows us to break down the pieces of a story to craft a message that people will remember for the way it made them feel. The power of a story comes from people being able to relate to it and share it with others for generations to come. 6 Last Steps of the hero’s journey Approach for the Inmost Cave The Hero must make preparations required to Approach the Inmost Cave that leads for the Journey’s heart, or perhaps central Ordeal. Maps may be reviewed, attacks planned, and maybe the Enemy’s enforces whittled down, before the Hero could face his greatest fear or perhaps the high danger lurking within the Special World. The confident Hero could bypass these preparations…

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May 28
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Better Storytelling Through The Hero’s Journey

By Tips/Techniques, Video Production

 Using The Hero’s Journey As A Guide This is a 2 part post about using the Hero’s Journey as a guide to become a better storytelling. The Hero’s Journey is a model for creating a stories that is often used to create compelling story lines. It can be a pattern as well as many myths from different cultures throughout history. It isn’t the only method to tell a narrative but, as it has a very ancient lineage; stories based on this model seem to be especially satisfying. Let’s check out the first 6 Steps in the hero’s journey: The Ordinary World Since the target audience usually experiences the Journey over the Hero’s eyes, we have to be able to relate with him. The Ordinary World offers us the chance to identify with the Hero’s urges, drives, as well as problems,…

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May 12
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Find a Niche Market to Make Your Videos Stand Out

By Video Production

  Break Through The Clutter With A Specific Target Market A big drawback to the myriad information available on the Internet these days is that the majority of markets are saturated to the point where the competition is so high it’s difficult to break in unless your marketing very clearly stands apart. This is why we recommend the use of video, and more specifically videos that target a very specific niche or target market. While one solution that is always crucial in any type of marketing is to develop unique and creative content, another way to get around the crush of marketers out there is to find a little-known yet high-demand niche and cater to it. Don’t limit your marketing, raise the bar Often when marketers hear the word ‘niche’ they get a bit antsy; indeed, a ‘niche’ is often…

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Apr 28
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Two Tips for Stellar Results Through Video Marketing

By Uncategorized

Video Marketing is no longer an option Over the past several years, consumers have become more and more inclined to watch videos online and as a result, video marketing has become both an effective and popular way of marketing to consumers. Many companies are finding that video marketing is no longer an option for them, rather it is an essential marketing tool that customers expect them to use; if you’re just beginning with video marketing, here are a few quick tips to help you reach out to your market with more effective communication and a higher possibility for success. Use powerful hooks to attract and retain your audience  The titles you use, as well as the first bit of copy in your video or sales letter are called ‘hooks.” Hooks should be specifically designed to entice potential clients into obtaining further…

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