Time for a "gut check." Ready?

If your company video story disappeared tomorrow, who would miss it?

Everybody? Just a few people? If your gut is starting to sink, you're not alone.

Corporate videos have a long tradition of being lazy. Why? Steve Pressfield in "The War of Art" shares two main reasons:

• Resistance
  

• Rationalization

Resistance sounds like:
"I know what needs to be done...but I'll start tomorrow. Maybe."

Rationalizing resistance sounds like:
"Let's justify the resistance. Not many people will see this video, so let's take the easy way."

Defeating these two forces will help you tell your video story in a way that will get people talking about you.

If your video story won't be missed by your community and audience, it might be due one or more of the "7 Signs." There are more, for sure. But these seven always raise their ugly head on every project.

Here are the seven common signs of laziness you need to watch out for when getting ready for your next project.

7 Signs of Lazy Corporate Video Stories

2. Lazy Emotions. Even a little emotion can go a long way in helping your story connect with others. Find a hero with a problem that is overcome, and you'll instantly create a connection you'd otherwise not have.

3. Lazy Storytelling. Think about this: every product or service has a story associated with it. There was a time when a product or service did not exist, then it did. I call that "The Gap." A great place to find one of your stories is in that "gap."

4. Lazy Cinematography. There are times when you can capture remarkable footage when it's not planned. But don't count on this technique to carry your entire story. Spend time thinking, planning and designing scenes or transitions that will make your video "pop" and be memorable.

5. Lazy Music. While custom music score is ideal, you can't always afford one. Create a compelling soundtrack by digging deep into the vaults of stock music. Find unusual and different sounding tracks. You can't do this quickly. It takes time but is well worth the effort. Once you find a number of tracks, change the music every 30 seconds. Our brains are programmed to see and hear different things often, and music is no exception.

6. Lazy Narration. Avoid using a narration track all the way through the video. The ear will begin to tune it out and your mind will begin to wander. Use a narrator sparingly and purposefully. Change the sound of your audio track using different voices frequently, just like your music soundtrack technique.

7. Lazy Graphics. Design rules. Work with a dedicated motion graphic artist to weave your company's logo, colors, fonts, themes, etc. together into an organic looking story.

I hope you're not too lazy after reading this to drop me a note :-) I'm interested in hearing your stories.

What keeps you awake while watching a corporate video? (besides a cup of coffee!)

• What techniques worked for your corporate video?

• What didn't work? Why not?

• What would you do differently next time?

Feel free to post your thoughts here.

---Tom

7 Signs of Lazy Corporate Video Stories

I spent two unforgettable years, 1994-1996, co-producing a one hour, exclusive, worldwide documentary featuring the airmen who flew the atomic missions to Japan.

It's been 11 years since I finished co-producing "The Men Who Brought the Dawn."

And now, I am pleased to announce its return to television through The Smithsonian Channel. It is part of America's War Stories.

Enola Gay and Bock's Car crew members seeing Enola Gay for the first time together in many years. 1994.

The one hour documentary features most of the surviving servicemen who were commissioned to fly the atomic missions over Japan. The film aired worldwide in the mid-to-late nineties, but has since been relegated to The Smithsonian archives. It is the only film of its kind to highlight the atomic mission crew telling their story in their own words.

Enola Gay pilot, Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, during his interview for the documentary. 1994.

Enola Gay Radio Operator, Richard Nelson. Richard during his interview. 1994.

Col. Thomas Ferebee, Bombardier of Enola Gay. 1994.

A 15:00 version of the one hour program played at The Smithsonian while Enola Gay was on display, marking the 50th Anniversary of Hiroshima.

Now that the Smithsonian has launched its own network on Direct TV, their archives are becoming available for public viewing on the Smithsonian Channel.

The program is scheduled to air this Saturday at 9:00PM. You can check The Smithsonian Channel TV schedule for air dates and times.

I hope you get a chance to see it.

---Tom

Smithsonian Channel Airs Atomic Mission Documentary

Here's a short video clip from my worldwide documentary, "The Men Who Brought The Dawn," which I co-produced in 1995.

It's currently running this Veteran's Day weekend on the Smithsonian Channel and Direct TV.

The timing is remarkable. Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, the pilot of Enola Gay, just passed away November 1 at the age of 92.

---Tom

Atomic Mission Documentary YouTube Excerpt

I've seen them. You've seen them.

Boring, unemotional videos from companies.

You roll your eyes, look at the clock and check yourself out.

If branding is about creating emotional experiences and connections between you and your audience, it's no wonder boring corporate videos haven't been an integral part of the branding conversation.

But now it's your turn. You've been charged to produce a video for your company. Perhaps you need to tell your product story or service story.

But you have a small problem: you're not a filmmaker and you don't know anyone who is. You're also not sure what ingredients are needed to go into a memorable film. What do you do?

Discover a hero who shares a problem that changes the world.

Here are three simple and easy things you can incorporate into your video to make your brand story jump off the screen and into your customer's hearts.

1. DISCOVER A HERO.

In "Elements of Persuasion," Richard Maxwell and Robert Dickman share the role of the hero as one who "grounds" the audience.

Where do you discover your heroes? Right under your nose!

Say for example, Human Resources needs a film. If the goal of your video story is to attract and retain top talent, then discover three or four employees whose personal story reflects those stories of potential candidates whom you want to attract to your company. Those three or four personal stories are actually holograms; tiny slivers of the larger talent pool you are seeking.

2. SHOW ME A DRAGON!

Easy. Find a dragon. Ask, "What's at stake?" Every hero needs a dragon or an obstacle to overcome. Without it, your viewers will secretly be wishing for it. Besides, they probably won't talk about it because the story is "sugar-coated."

Following our HR example, let's say one of your heroes:

• Discovers a medical condition limiting their career opportunities.

• Discovers the future business of a large client is at stake.

• Discovers they are overwhelmed with their new job; perhaps it wasn't the right job.

• Discovers their project funding is being severely cut.

While each "dragon" takes a different shape and form, your hero creates an emotional response for your audience in each situation. That is exactly what you audience is hungry for!

3. REVEAL A TRANSFORMATION.

Whether the dragon has been successfully defeated or not, does not matter. What matters is that your audience gains a deeper appreciation of your hero. They now understand the hero's journey. The audience has a sense of empathy they did not have a few minutes earlier. Their world has been changed.

And that, in the end, is what telling your video story is all about.

There you have it. Three simple steps to make your corporate video story jump off the screen:

1. Discover a hero who is comfortable telling their story.
2. Show the hero's struggle.
3. Reveal a new world.

Jumping off the screen isn't THAT hard :-)

---Tom

3 Steps to Make Your Corporate Video Jump Off the Screen