How to produce your own videos like a pro!

One of the things I like about this community is a sense of eagerness to share and learn new information with each other.

As an experienced video producer, I help small business owners get more exposure to the web in an authentic way. Hopefully, in the near future, I will be posting some of my own video modules to teach you about certain aspects of video production. While the efforts will be focused primarily on developing and delivering content, I will also spend a fair amount of time on production technique.

A fascinating thing has happened after I first created this post. I have received quite a few inquires from people interested in learning more about about my topic. My original intention was to announce that I was about to start production and I needed more input from you to make sure I was on the right track. Please continue to ask away! I use some of this information as a guide on what to topics to develop in what order. I love to answer your questions and I regularly check this post on daily basis. You can count on me to answer your questions promptly. In fact, as long as Diane is cool with it, we can just keep this thread going as long as you like.

You can ask me technical questions on audio, lighting, editing and even shooting techniques. Not sure how to develop your message? Ask me and I'll give you honest feedback. - Mike

Tags: business, create, for, marketing, production, small, techniques, training, video, videos

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Geoff Ennis on October 10, 2008 at 1:49pm: Mike,

I know absolutely nothing about video production, and that is why I clicked on your link. I know it is something that I have to get a grip on to be successful. I definitely need to learn the basic do's and do nots because I am so green, but even more specifically how to get those videos out there once we have produced them. I would also like to learn about the different ways to get my message across to my audience. I need to learn how to produce not just videos of me, but videos of slide shows, tutorials etc. and the different ways that video can be used. Looking forward to your training.......

Geoff; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Garr on October 10, 2008 at 6:18pm: Geoff, Thanks for the feedback. You've already illustrated what my friend was trying to tell me. You see, what I think you need to know may not be exactly what you want from me. So, you've already got me thinking about four more training modules! :) I'm going to go back into my vault and see what video modules I might already have pertaining to a couple of things you ask about. (stuff I personally bought or downloaded over the last couple of years) If I can legally post it without getting in trouble I'll upload them for everyone. Thanks again for the feedback. Please keep it coming folks - six days left before I get to work on these.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Blake Hill on October 11, 2008 at 2:25am: Mike,

Great idea, appreciate your sharing.

Btw, wise friend there. Because video is such a new emerging technology there is definitely a "gap" in knowledge for most marketers. I suspect a lot of marketers feel like me. I am pretty much clue-less however to take my business to the next level I will have to learn video basics and probably even more. For instance, I may want to do a video involving an animal as talent for one of my upcoming projects. I know probably a little more advanced but dont know where to start or what can be done. I could just video of a dog and freeze frames at certain points to do voice over or can i actually do some special effects to make it seem like the dog is actually talking. Even thinking that the more silly it looks (fake lips or something) might even look better? Can you help give me some direction on what can or can not be done with something like this...also can it be done cost-effectively?

I also just pre-launched my own site www.preMLM.com - "New" Social Networking web site, similar to Myspace/Facebook, EXCLUSIVELY for Network Marketing. Network, add friends, upload video's & photo's, write, add events and more! JOIN TODAY..IT'S FREE! www.preMLM.com. Diane's even there. Would love to see you start a Video Production Group & add blogs, forum discussion like this, etc. Should be at 2-3K members in next 30 days.

Thanks,

Blake Hill
Co-Founder, www.preMLM.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Garr on October 11, 2008 at 9:57am: Blake,
Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it. And, I would love to check out your website.

Here is some quick feedback on your animal video. The use of animals always works well when you make them humorous. In fact, during the 2006 Superbowl, you might recall (my favorite) the chimpanzees in the Careerbuilder spot. Anheuser had several with bears, a Clydesdale, and sheep. For some reason, it was the year of animal spots . But, I can tell you some of my writer friends have always told me that good humor is not easy to write. I totally agree.

I would recommend that you invest some time or even some money first in finding a writer who can help you write your spot as effectively as you can. If you want to see one of the funniest most effective (and most abundant!) uses of animals I've ever seen go to this American Experess commercial

This one's up on a very high level and expensive of course to produce. I want you to observe how good humor written well and delivered perfectly and some good editing make this an excellent commercial for American Express. I'd also like to add that this spot is TWO minutes long which makes it even more amazing. You should strive to do the same albeit on a much smaller scale but definitely keep it short or try to find a way to break into several. Focus on the writing and everything else could fall in place...a lot easier. You can find writers with experience writing comedy for about $65-75/hr. Six to seven hours of a professional writer's time would go a long way for you and be worth every cent. I can recommend one for you if you want. My friend Rowell Gorman with Voices2Go is really good at humor.

If you have no money to spend, also keep this in mind: Using animals in comedy is about capturing a piece of their personality and metaphorically transposing it to a human person you might relate to immediately. If you have more questions about this let me know or feel free to contact me direct. - mg; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken on October 16, 2008 at 3:56pm: Hey Mike,

Glad to through some stuff your way. Basically when it comes to video I know enough to create a youtube video...and that's it. Here's a short list of things I would like to know more about.

*Body Language
*Where to get music or pictures cheap or even better free
*what is the best format to save files in for YouTube...from time to time my text doesn't look as good on yoiutube as it does on my computer. Here is a sample of what I mean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DqPSBmrOZo.
* What type of camera works best
* I have windows movie maker and roxio, is there a better software to use
^ Green Screen would be good to learn as well.

Hope this helps; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Garr on October 18, 2008 at 2:49am: Hey Ken,
I really appreciate your feedback...exactly what I'm looking for.
Let me give you several quick tips:
1. Here is a free place for pictures: StockXchng Set up account and you can download many low rez pictures for free. This site was originally created for photographers and graphics people as a free exchange (if you take, you give back). Last year I noticed it was bought by a larger company so I'm not sure how much their system will last. For now, it's worth poking around.
2. Music is different story. It's never cheap. I use music from a variety of websites but I recently found these guys who seem to have affordable options: Soundrangers Perhaps they might have something you
3. Making green screen look good requires some advanced skill in lighting and editing. I don't really recommend it for you. But, if you are ambitious, hunt around on the web for an older version of Serious Magic. It had an amazing ability to make just about any chrome key look good. Two years ago Adobe bought the company and now calls it Visual Communicator. Unfortunately, I don't think they sell it individually anymore. I think it is only available bundled with other Adobe products.
4. I looked at your YouTube video and you did a very nice job. The content was right on point. Technically speaking, I'd have to know more about your original output.

For more personal evaluations like body language. I do have a webex meeting room. If you'd like to set up a meeting one day, I'd be happy to give you some feedback although I really don't think you have issues here. Actually, you project very well on video. But, you can also share your desktop with me so I can see what you're doing with your video output. For those of you uploading videos to YouTube, understand that the videos are being compressed to flash or FLV and the quality is much lower than the original. It's just part of it. If you want to maintain the highest quality prior to the upload then you'll have to upload in format like AVI, MOV or high bitrate MPEG4. Keep in mind that for many of the search engines you will have a 100mb file size limit. Also, compression tends to darken the video anyway so it's an added technical issue. I generally will boost the contrast on my videos a bit knowing that. I'll take another look at MovieMaker and Roxio and see what options you have. I use Adobe Premiere and Final cut. - Mike; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken on October 22, 2008 at 1:04am: Hey Mike,

Thanks for the feedback. I would love to get together and work out a few kinks.

Thanks Again,

Ken; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Garr on October 22, 2008 at 11:39am: Sure Ken,

Anytime.

My email is mikeg@nuwebber.com

Send me a note with your contact info and we can schedule a video call.

Mike; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mari Torres on October 18, 2008 at 3:47am: Hello Mike, I am very interested in your Video production class, I tell my clients that video marketing is the way to go, I taught myself a lot in the past 5 years but everything I have learned has been trial and error. I am eager to learn from a professional. My strength is content development, story lines, copy the more creative stuff. I have learned a lot on the technical side but I am ready for some real training.

I will certainly stay tuned.

Mari Torres; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Garr on October 18, 2008 at 11:55am: Good to know! I'm always looking for people to work with. We should talk offline sometime.

Thanks for responding!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Laurel Nicolosi on October 18, 2008 at 10:33am: Some GREAT discussion here MIke - and great suggestions too! I am glad to know you and your genuine helping spirit - you are a big help to people on here and this is the best way to promote yourself and your services. Let me know any way I can help! :)

Laurel; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JoAnn Donahue on October 18, 2008 at 12:39pm: Hi Mike,

I would love to be a student..

I know pure basic only.. You don't have

to get it right just get it going! So that is where I am..

I would love some tips and tricks, uploading, editing,

music added and then silent when warranted then again

Oh yeah can you help with camera shyness! I am so not shy

but on film I am.. any suggestions? I don't want to come across

as "weak" because I am NOT!

Thanks Mike..

Peace,
JoAnn; ▶ Reply to This

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