For those of you who forget birthdays and anniversaries, the Rubik's Cube turned 30 this year -- and our camera crews were in Manhattan to celebrate with some of America's rising stars in puzzle resolution.
Most of us on the Award Productions creative team consider the Cube a pivotal toy from our childhoods, so it was an absolute honor to witness a competitive tournament.
It was also a bit humilating to see the kiddies solve the Cube in mere seconds. Because we have no formal training in the Rubik Arts, it can take many of us hours to reach completion. (For the record, we do have formal training in video editing, shooting, producing, writing and graphic design).
Back in our wonder years, we recall the strategy of forcing one cube block to pop out and then having a pile of Rubik's pieces to rebuild like LEGOs. You could always tell the cheaters because their Cubes were always loosely rattling from having been taken part too often.
Check out these brilliant kids:
Turns out that there is also another kid who can do it blindfolded.
And if that isn't impressive enough, check out these amazing artists who craft mosiac murals out of disassembled Rubik's Cubes!
One of the bonuses of working as part of a camera crew is the opportunity to sample gourmet cuisine at the end of the shoot. Oh, it doesn't always happen. Many a time, our camera crews live on Powerbars and Gatorade.
But producing how-to cooking demonstration videos -- such as this assignment for New Hampshire Magazine -- is always a pleasure.
What can we say? Folksy restauranteur Jim Borbotsina's classic Saganaki dish melted in our mouths and got us hooked for life. The Greek delicacy is "Flaming Cheese," and the kitchen theatrics is half the fun.
Do you have a product or service you'd like to promote in a how-to or demonstration sales video? It need not involve either fire or cheese, but if it does, expect our camera crews to stick around a little longer off the clock!
(Jim Borbotsina serves up Saganaki and a variety of Greek/Italian specialties at The Way We Cook restaurant in Manchester, NH. Download a free copy of the Saganaki recipe here).
Whenever our camera crews and producers are working out of the office, one of the most stressful parts of the day is trying to agree on just one take-out restaurant to provide lunch.
During this documentary video shoot about herbal medicine in the South Pacific jungles of Vanuatu, there were no such arguments. The choices were coconuts, tarot root and whatever animals happen to be killed that day. Killed in front of you.
We have tremendous respect for vegetarians, but we deliberately didn't send any on this assignment.
Cameraman Peter Koziell almost looks like he's ready for some Rocky Balboa-style training with raw meat. However, we typically train with DVD and on-line tutorials when it comes to learning the nuances of new video production technology.
Whether you need to travel around the world, or just next door, to tell your story, our HD camera crews are used to delivering the goods on tight deadlines.
Drop us a line to share your upcoming projects and your advice on lunches everyone can agree upon.
As in many professions, having eight arms would certainly make life easier in the world of television and video production -- especially when we are at the airport. However, based on this amazing footage taken by a kleptomaniac octopus off the coast of New Zealand, we're sticking with human cameramen.
At the risk of sounding judgmental, the footage from this octopus is a bit too shaky and randomly scattered for our tastes. If he or she (how do you tell the gender of an octopus) truly wanted to capture the scene, we would have seen some wideshots and closeups of the diver chasing after his precious camera.
We do have tremendous admiration for the diver, Victor Huang, who was not intimidated by the ocean beast and fearlessly chased after his equipment despite the octopus' obvious superiority in swimming and upper body strength.
It's the kind of never-ever-quit attitude that would make him a great fit on the Award Productions creative team.
The price of HD camera equipment has dramatically dropped over the past few years as the quality has significantly risen. Consequently, there are hardly any barriers anymore to making a documentary film -- except, of course, the all-encompassing time and money.
Student filmmakers are blessed with unlimited time, but naturally lack experience. Here are a few tips for those of you about to take the plunge into your first documentary film:
1. Get out of Talking Head Land as soon as possible. Sit-down interviews are fine for background and to string together missing pieces of your narrative. BUT, if you happen to be following your subject for an extended period of time, try to get a series of shorter interviews with them commenting on events IN THE MOMENT.
2. Creatively Frame Your Interviews. Getting people sitting in a chair with a lamp or books in the background provides boring visuals, regardless of how fascinating the material is. If you have a scientist, interview him in a lab and frame the shot with beakers. If you are with a yoga instructor, have her sit on a giant rubber ball. Be creative but not goofy.
3. Start living with your subjects. There are two schools of thought on this, and some filmmakers warn about the dangers of becoming "friends" with your film's characters. We say that you can always be "friendly" without ever dropping your role as an outsider, as an observer.
If you are documenting the lives of a construction worker, a politician, a daredevil or a paramedic, what do they do when they are not on the job? Just shooting some token b-roll of them having breakfast with their family doesn't do it for us. Put an HD flip camera in your pocket and go socialize with your subjects. Soon, they'll lose the distinction from when the camera is turned on or not. And you'll capture the most precious stuff of all.
Good luck! Documentary filmmaking is all about spending countless hours waiting for stuff to happen, with the hopes of getting a few minutes of footage that viewers will never forget. Your patience will pay off in dividends.
(At Award Productions, we've made six documentaries -- one which was nominated for an Emmy, four which premiered on PBS, and one that was optioned as a reality TV pilot for Country Music Television. Check out a few of our select documentary clips.)
By now, many of you have watched the awkward scene of the sassy film producer hogging the microphone at the Academy Awards after practically giving her colleague a body block. Here's how the Miami Herald described the Miss Manners Teaching Moment of the Year:
"A day after the Oscars, the Internet was blowing up with all sorts of snark directed at former Miami Herald features writer Elinor Burkett.
You know, the loud redhead who pulled a Kanye West, providing the one quirky moment in an otherwise tired telecast. Those who remember Burkett from her Miami days were hardly shocked by her outburst.
There was director Roger Ross Williams, a few words into his acceptance speech after winning Best Documentary Short. Then out of nowhere, Burkett's butting in: "Isn't it just like the man to never let the woman talk?"
The woman went on and on, unintelligibly, not letting the man get another word in."
Salon Magazine got the scoop and interviewed each filmmaker about their interpretation of the incident. Turns out they are not on speaking terms and split up almost a year ago over creative differences about the focus of their film, "Music by Prudence."
Award Productions takes no sides in this dispute. But we do regard this scene as a valuable example of how NOT to act at a prestigious documentary film event.
We believe in creative collaboration. And here's our promise to you:
When you hire our HD camera crews and editors -- either to capture a corporate event, a breaking news story or an educational seminar -- our directors and producers will be on speaking terms.
When you commission our Reel Profiles filmmakers to create a personal documentary, we will not embarrass you at your tribute dinner or film premiere with childish microphone-hogging antics.
We promise.
Oh, yes! What you see above are authentic stress-free clients in the midst of a live studio shoot in our new production facility.
They are relaxed because they now have more work space, more leg room and large, easy-to-read monitors. Ultimately, we seek to be the JetBlue of Video Production.
The roomy environs can accomodate multiple members of your creative team to brainstorm, offering a far more comfortable place to collaborate than our previous digs.
The glass-enclosed control room also gives boy and girl scout groups something to stare at if we ever decide to open up Award Productions for educational tours. Seriously, though, it will make you feel like you are not in a cave -- the traditionally favored work environment of editors worldwide.
Our main edit suite can also be converted to an intimate screening room for reviewing project rough cuts and hosting focus groups.
We look forward to collaborating with you here soon!
Let's push politics aside, because quite frankly, we serve clients from every point on the ideological spectrum.
It's easy to understand why U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) decided to announce his decision not to run for re-election through a video press release. Video allows him to completely control his message. And it avoids any awkward moments in front of live cameras when the media would bombard him with questions about "the Scott Brown effect" and his fears of getting rejected by voters.
It's also easy to understand why he would release the information on a Friday. Heck is ANYONE even reading this blog post on a Friday night? I know for a fact that our boss isn't. He's thinking about a fun-filled family winter weekend. Snowtubes, woo-hoo!
But what is incomprehensible from a video production perspective, is why Patrick Kennedy chose to announce his political retirement with sad piano music edited underneath his statement. Sometimes it is better to let the words speak for themselves and music, any kind of music, can undermine the message.
Can you imagine President Lyndon B. Johnson adding piano music to his speech announcing his decision not to run for re-election in 1968? (WARNING: If you click on the above link, please note that LBJ is a dreadfully boring orator).
Let's just say that our old production facility was feeling a little cramped.
Our clients who prefer to be in the edit room for short and long-term projects never complained once to us. But things were beginning to feel like we were doing our work in airline seats or the no-leg-room grandstands at Fenway Park.
We also have a brand new sign in our lobby, as our lovely graphic designer Ursula meticulously fine tunes above.
Our new production studio has been up and running since January 18.
The biggest change? An enormous expanded editing suite with enough workspace for clients to camp out overnight if they wish. The glass-enclosed studio also doubles as a video screening room for clients and focus groups -- with adequate space for a wine-and-cheese reception.
Our enthusiasm for the new carpets aside, our new office has a more logical layout and expanded work stations to make the collaborative process smoother and much more comfortable for all.
Stay tuned to this space soon for photos and an invitation to our Studio Open House!
For out-of-state and international clients who communicate with us only by phone and email, there obviously will be no noticeable difference. But we look forward to seeing the expressions on the faces of our clients who do consider us a second home.
Our Search Engine Optimization friends at HubSpot have a fantastic post offering up "Five Video Projects You Can Do in 25 Minutes or Less."
Their title sounds a little too Cosmo magaziney to me, but there are some great suggestions as to how to infuse your blog and Web site with some quick-and-dirty video.
HubSpot's mantra is that on-line video need not be a multi-million dollar Hollywood production, that you can just point and shoot your cheap HD flipcam at your subject and immediately post it to enhance your content. Think sprint, not marathon, they say.
We agree that grabbing your video camera should be as instinctive as bringing your laptop wherever you go. However, there are many projects that should be treated like a marathon rather than a sprint. When video is an integral part of your long-term marketing campaign, it doesn't make sense to just slap something together and put it on YouTube.
Although top marathoners don't hit the finish line in 25 minutes, they do only take two hours and change. A well-planned video project need not take forever, but the extra dedication to detail can make all the difference.
Here are some factors to consider when weighing the options of hiring a professional HD camera crew, video producer and video editor versus doing everything yourself.
1. SHOOTING -- We've seen our share of "Blair Witch Project" footage, but even if your do-it-yourself cameraperson has a steady hand, there's still compelling reasons to upgrade to the pro. It's about the ability to mix up shot angles and instinctively sequence them in your head. A professional shooter is already anticipating the way he or she will piece the video together in the edit room.
The results? It's the difference between watching a funny cat gymnastics video on YouTube and watching "60 Minutes." And if you are shooting all-purpose B-Roll or stock footage for the media, you'll want a broadcast cameraperson to deliver the goods.
2. EDITING -- You know that theory that people really only use 10 percent of their brain capacity? We don't know how true that is, but we can attest that many editors only tap into 10 percent of the power of Final Cut Pro. Experienced editors usually seize every opportunity to keep learning from more experienced editors. What might take a novice hours to edit, may take a professional editor only minutes. But more importantly, creativity is only one part of the equation. You need the skills to apply that creativity -- especially when there are complex graphics.
If you've never done it, sitting in the edit room while your project is being cut together is an AMAZING experience. It's quite remarkable how the editor and Final Cut Pro almost merge into one creative engine. We invite all our clients into our edit studio, and would be delighted to host you.
3. PRODUCING -- Network news shows and entertainment programs routinely use field
producers whenever there is not a “live” interview with the host. But it also makes tremendous sense to use them behind-the-scenes for corporate videos,
video news releases and other marketing projects.
A talented producer brings the talents of a journalist and a talk show host to each interview, maximizing the chances of capturing your subject's true passion and personality. Click here to learn when you should -- and should not -- consider adding a field producer to your video crew.
4. LIGHTING -- There's certainly such a thing as overkill. You don't need to prepare the set of your on-line video like you might prepare for the Oscars. But especially when the viewing screen is tiny, poor lighting can be a distraction, it can downgrade your subject's appearance and also undermine the whole mood of your video.
We've seen WAY too many CEOs look like they are being forced to read prepared statements by kidnappers. A few basic lighting tricks from a professional cameraperson can flatter both the interview subject and the setting.
5. PICTURE QUALITY -- HD flipcams are fantastic for reality TV confessional interviews and quite frankly, anything you'd want to post on YouTube. But if you want to maintain a rich, vibrant picture on those huge flatscreens, your best bet is to stick with high-end broadcast quality cameras. But back to point #1 above, the camera itself is often secondary to the person behind the camera.
6. CONTENT DEVELOPMENT -- Any creative team worth hiring must be able to take your ideas and effectively present them better than you can. Otherwise, why bother? Choose a production company that thrives on collaboration. The ideal situation is to have a cameraperson who thinks about the editing, an editor who can improve the writing, a sound technician who makes suggestions about the content, etc.
Collaboration also means teaming up with your best talent. A full-service media company -- one that takes a project from script development to post-production -- should be able to suggest plenty of ways to keep costs down.
Sometimes doing some of the production work yourself does make sense. Other times, it can be disastrous.
Going back to HubSpot's running metaphor, Award Productions is also well-suited to serve you when you do need a Olympic sprinter. Our camera crews all have broadcast newscast experience, which means that if you have an event or an interview you need to capture on a tight deadline, we are battle tested.
(Although to be frank, we do appreciate as much notice as humanly possible...)
Drop us a line and let us know what you're working on!