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Video Production Notes
For
the tenth year in a row, Solana Productions, Inc. was called on to capture
the action at the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala.
Video Production Testimonials
"Thanks
again for the remarkable video production services provided for our series "Animal
Miracles with Alan Thicke." Each time we are more and more impressed
with your team when we shoot at various locations throughout the western
United States."
Client Video Production experiences...
Video Production Awards
A
magazine show feature on children with Autism was chosen for a national Gracie
Award. The story, shot by Solana Productions, focused on dads trying to solve
the mystery of their son's illness.
Banding together, they raised enough funding and enough consciousness to become the "founding fathers" of a unique facility -- the M.I.N.D. Institute at U.C. Davis Medical Center near Sacramento -- a Manhattan Project for autism research and treatment.
Video Production Tips
Working with Kids
If
your video production calls for working with kids, whatever
the age, it pays to make the child the most important person
on set. Treat children with respect, guidance and generosity
to get the performance you desire.
When working with young children, it's necessary to provide them with fun games, age appropriate snacks, meals and drinks as well as a "treat" for a good performance. Try to work with a Director who has experience with children as they will be more open to kid lingo and personalities.
Older children often take acting very serious and will want to learn as much as possible. They will be more likely to work with you if you give them a tour of the set and introduce them to the "grown up" crew and make them feel special to the production.
Regardless of age, make sure to abide by state laws concerning time restrictions and on-set schooling. Kids can enhance your production value so make it a fun experience for all!
Pre-interview Your Subjects
One of the best ways to improve your on-camera interviews is by conducting mini-interviews with your subjects before the camera rolls. Ideally, this is done in person with the subject a few weeks or days before your production. That way, they'll become comfortable with your interview style and you'll have an idea what they'll look and sound like on tape.
But if time doesn't permit a personal visit, a phone conversation is the next best thing. This is when you can determine whether your subject is long-winded, lacks energy, etc., so that you can find a better interview subject. It's also the time you can help your subject to be succinct and clear (i.e., "Am I understanding you correctly when you say..." or "Do you mean to say...").
Pre-interviews can also help you formulate better questions because you'll know what your subject is going to say. At the very least, take a few minutes before the camera rolls, while the crew is setting up, for a mini, pre-interview to find out what your subject will say and to help him or her relax.
Get Close-ups
Television is a close-up medium, but you'd never know it by watching a lot of the video shot today -- wide shots of action, interviews framed at the waist, etc. Don't be afraid to call for meaningful close-ups or your subject or product -- just make sure to allow enough time for the crew to set up on a tripod to shoot these sometimes hard-to-get shots.
Good close-ups of facial expressions at a business seminar, for example, can turn an otherwise run-of-the-mill corporate video into an effective marketing tool. And when it comes to interviews, there's nothing more effective than a well-lit, close-up of a person delivering a testimonial - it's much more memorable than a wider shot of the person with a banner or sign in the background.