I was 11 years old when my dad taught me how to shoot clay discs with a shotgun at Boy Scout camp. That’s something you do as a Texas boy. I must have missed a dozen times in a row. My shoulder hurt from the kick of the padless old shotgun, but the frustration of missing the target hurt more. My dad noticed and asked me one simple question: “What are you aiming at?”

With a level of sarcasm that would usually have gotten me in a lot of trouble I spat back, “The disc!” My dad smiled and said, “Try aiming in front of the disc. Give it another shot.” Irritated at the simplicity, I followed his advice—and wouldn’t you know it, the next shot, bam! The clay disc shattered in the air. Again and again the clay showered down from each successful hit.  I kept hitting my target because I knew where to aim.

I think of that principle every time we make a video. You have to ask yourself, “What are you aiming for?” More specifically, “what audience are you aiming for?” Whether you're working in internal communications or external marketing, understanding your viewers’ needs, challenges, and motivations is what turns a video from just another piece of content into a strategic tool that drives engagement and action.

It was late January, freezing cold on the North East Coast and we were called to a power station to make a video telling the story of a near-disaster. One evening a few months back, the power plant was on the verge of exploding. If it weren’t for the quick thinking and bravery of the technicians, an entire town could have been destroyed. It was a chilling tale of ingenuity, determination, and heroic action.

In today’s digital age, where consumers are constantly bombarded with information, standing out requires more than just a catchy slogan or a flashy website. It demands a deeper connection—a story that resonates on an emotional level. Enter the brand film, a powerful marketing tool that companies and nonprofits alike are increasingly using to build their identity, connect with audiences, and convey their mission in a way that’s both impactful and memorable.

It’s been just five years since we got a glimpse behind the scenes of The Mandalorian and its groundbreaking use of a new filming technique known as "The Volume." But what exactly is The Volume and virtual production? Simply put, it’s a cutting-edge video production technique that combines traditional filmmaking with digital technology to create dynamic backdrops in real-time. This method is being adopted across various industries, from film and television to video games and advertising.

The smell of diesel, the sounds of roaring engines, and the heat of a Texas summer filled our senses. The team and I were filming for a drag racing team for a new branding film. As the nimble team navigated the frantic and often dangerous environment, I stopped to admire our producer and how he had put together such a tight team to execute a high-level project in such tough conditions. Not every project has the crew neck-deep in grease, but every shoot has its own set of challenges.

In today's fast-paced digital world, authenticity has emerged as a buzzword that permeates nearly every aspect of life, and video production certainly is no exception to this trend. Authenticity plays a crucial role when it comes to creating engaging and impactful video content that truly resonates with your audience and builds a genuine connection with them. Here we will delve into the vital importance of authenticity in video production and explore several practical tips on how to successfully capture this elusive quality on camera for your projects.

"CUT! Great work, everybody. That's a wrap!"

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So, the shoot days are done, and you've got a ton of great footage: interviews, B-roll, product shots--everything you need for your video.

Now, it's time to go into the edit.

But, how can you be the most efficient, and maximize your impact (and dollars!) in the edit suite?

Two of the best tools in your edit session toolbox are organization and communication.

That's the question we'll ask you when your project is complete. Don't panic! If you don't know we'll help you figure it out. Raw video makes for very large file sizes. There's a lot of information in each frame and a lot of frames. Those big frames aren't going to playback smoothly in most places. In order to make the video file smaller and more manageable, it must be compressed. But then, to playback that compressed video, you have to know what method was used to compress it. That's where the file format comes in. Essentially, it is the instructions for playing the video file. There are many, many file formats out there. In fact, it breaks down even further into codecs and wrappers with different codecs for video and audio. It can be a dizzying array. Let's make it a little simpler.

As a writer and producer for South Coast Media Services, controlling and shaping a client’s story is at the heart of any project I undertake. There are a lot of reasons for a scripted narrative versus a narrative based on interviews with key people: tight running time (think a : 30-second broadcast spot), lack of interest, and interesting, on-camera candidates, facts, and information that will likely change, high turnover of employees.

“In these uncertain times…”

By now we’ve heard this phrase thousands of times.

This has had over 1.3 million views! Imagine how much money these companies spent, only to have their message become a punchline.

Those were the right things to say early on, but audiences and the situation have moved beyond that.

Now is the perfect time to start telling customers how your business is going to help them in a post lockdown world.

You and your team have worked hard to build your brand and over the last few weeks, everyone has had to pause to get their Covid-19 message out. While that is getting out there you still have work to do. Pivoting back to your core business message can be difficult when resources are tight. But you have an audience desperate for things to watch. Now is the time to get creative. Dust off that old footage and let's make something fresh.

Major organization meetings canceled. Travel restricted. The triple whammy of the virus pandemic, markets falling, and an oil and gas crisis. But, employees, wherever they may work, still need reassurance and critical information. How do you get information to your employees quickly, globally, all at once?