Gaia Community: Director Tom's Blog

One Email No Video Client Should Ever Write

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:54:45 GMT

One Email No Video Client Should Ever Write

Imagine this.

You're thinking about building a new home. You decide to send an email to a general contractor. You write a note that goes something like this...

"I'd like to have a new home built. How much would it cost to build a home with six rooms, two bathrooms, a small garage, and a nice yard? Please tell me how long will it take to build it. Thank you."

It's pretty likely you won't get a response that is helpful or accurate. And chances are it won't move your vision forward.

Believe it not, I've seen emails like this requesting how much a video project will cost. So have many other producers.

The simple solution, of course, is to pickup the phone and call a producer. Share your idea to see if your vision can be turned into an opportunity.

When it comes time to begin a new video project, a model worth considering comes from marketing expert and Fast Company writer, Nick Rice. Nick has a fabulous riff on determining the reality of an opportunity. Nick calls it "The Opportunity Framework."

Nick's framework has three components.

1. Determine if there is a real problem that needs to be solved.
2. Determine if there is an opportunity to move the project forward.
3. Determine if enough resources are available.

I think this is a great framework to quickly evaluate weather or not to move the conversation forward.

Send an email?

I've found most filmmakers love a good conversation :-)

---Tom

P.S. This post was inspired by another headline challenge from Brian Clark over at Copyblogger.

P.S.S. Brian's first headline challenge inspired "My 22 Best On-Camera Interviewing Tips Ever" also featured on LIfehacker.

One Email No Video Client Should Ever Write

Tags: story, email, clients, budgets

Huh? A "YouTube Video?" What's That?

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:23:56 GMT

Huh? A "YouTube Video?" What's That?

So what the heck is a "YouTube video?"

Beats me.

And my film crew. And editors. And writers.

But as filmmakers we hear this more and more. Hmmm. So I got to thinking....

When someone wants a "YouTube video," what does that mean from a producer's point of view?

Is a "YouTube video:"
Professionally created?
Consumer created?
Expensive?
Cheap?

Does a "YouTube video" include:
Actors?
Non-actors?
A call to action?
A great story?
No story?
A weak story?
Interviews?

Does a "YouTube video" look:
Slick?
Beautiful?
Home-made?
Hollywood?
Campy?
Mysterious?

Does a "YouTube video" feel:
Funny?
Serious?
Sad?
Optimistic?
Negative?
Surprising?
Joyful?
Scary?

Is a "YouTube video:"
Musical?
Poetic?
Educational?
Inspirational?
Thought-provoking?
Staged?
Captured live?

Phew! I'm just starting. But I think you get the idea.

The next time your producer looks confused when you ask for a "YouTube video," remember...

YouTube is a distribution channel...not your video story.

---Tom

Huh? A "YouTube Video?" What's That?

Tags: branding, story, youtube, distribution

Corporate Videos. What's Your Belief?

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:31:02 GMT

Corporate Videos. What's Your Belief?

Seth Godin has us thinking about bad judgment vs. beliefs.

Which reminds me...

In 1983, I was pulling cables as a grip. A far cry from producing.

It was a Tuesday night. I saw a short film that captured the dedicated staff of a local hospital making a difference in their patient's lives. It was incredibly moving.

In an instant, during that fade to black, I knew my life would be different.

I knew the rest of my life would be spent capturing an organization's soul to create and promote positive changes in the world.

I believed in the power of personal stories then.

I believe it now.

Bad judgment distorts the potential healing power of a video story. Perhaps a new belief can create a new story? Perhaps without bad judgment we can see the inherent greatness each of us have.

Believing in the transformational power of a video story can change someone's life in an instant. Like mine.

Or yours. Or your customer's. Or your employees.

---Tom

Corporate Videos. What's Your Belief?

Tags: bad judjment, beliefs, corporate videos

5 Temptations of Every Corporate Video Client

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:41:26 GMT

5 Temptations of Every Corporate Video Client

In an earlier post, I mentioned the five temptations of every corporate video filmmaker.

This post will take a brief look at the five temptations from the perspective of a potential corporate video client.

1. Commodity? Story? It's Your Choice

Temptation: To turn your story into stuff.

If you think about it, stories are living ideas. They can remain in consciousness for a very long time.

Your corporate story is no different.

Commit to capturing your corporate video story in a way that will survive the ups and downs of everyday business cycles. Imagine five years from now showing your story; will it will be as fresh and alive as the day you produced it? If not, it's time to re-think your message. (Making it last is what it's all about, right?)

2. Deadlines. You're Kidding, Right?

Temptation: Sooner is better than later.

Not always. Sure deadlines are a part of life. But rushing into a project with a false deadline without understanding the complete picture can potentially weaken the power of your story. Providing realistic deadlines will serve your story well in the long run. (And a powerful story is what it's all about, right?)

3. Guess How Much I Have?

Temptation: Let the producer guess what our budget is.

Thinking you'll save money by having a producer guess your budget is counter-productive to teamwork.

Entering a video project requires an incredibly high level of trust. Guessing games deteriorate that trust.

Engaging in open and honest conversations about budgeting will help a producer capture the best story for you, the best way. (Fiscal responsibility is what it's all about, right?)

4. Just the Facts, Please

Temptation: Hide emotions.

If most boring videos can be attributed to a lack of emotions then it seems obvious that capturing emotions will create a more memorable film. Obvious, but rarely done.

For example, emotions can show themselves through:

frustration

passion

overcoming obstacles

leadership

values

Capture your audience by capturing emotions. (Your audience is what it's all about, right?)

5. I Get to See the Questions Ahead of Time, Right?

Temptation: Revealing questions to your heroes beforehand.

A good way for your hero or interviewee to freeze up on camera is to show them the questions ahead of time. Resist the temptation! Why?

By showing questions ahead of time, the brain immediately wants to memorize the answers. When it comes time to the actual filming, the hero can't get a sentence out. All the answers they memorized becomes a blur. Not good.

The secret to a perfect interview is to give your interviewee a few ideas about what you want them to share. From their heart. From their gut. (The heart is what it's all about, right?)

Remember...

A video story is exactly that.

A story. In video.

Which is what it's all about.......right? :-)

---Tom

5 Temptations of Every Corporate Video Client

Tags: temptations, corporate video

5 Temptations of Every Corporate Video Filmmaker

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:33:38 GMT

5 Temptations of Every Corporate Video Filmmaker

I bet you didn't know that a filmmaker telling a corporate story has temptations, did you?

It's true.

Temptations are simply everywhere; in meetings, on phone calls and writing emails.

Temptations are constantly present and just simply impossible to avoid. So, how do you handle them? Easy. Acknowledge them.

Here are five temptations almost every corporate filmmaker will face at one time or another.

1. Faceless Scripts

Temptation: Write a script without a hero or "face."

Writing a "faceless" and unemotional script instead of capturing personal and interesting stories is easy. This single strategy has given corporate videos a bad rap for many years.

Instead, capture personal stories from heroes within the organization. Personal video stories are compelling, emotional, engaging and of course, memorable. (Making it memorable and remarkable is what it's all about, right?)

2. Fast Budgets

Temptation: Quick! Throw out a number!

Thinking you can provide incredible customer service by turning a budget around in an hour to a client from an email they sent you is a serious and rising temptation in the digital age.

A conversation is really what the client is trying to engage us in. It's just that email technology got the better part of them. What do you do? Simple. Pick up the phone and...D'oh!...have a conversation! (And having conversations is what it's all about, right?)

3. Forget About the Future

Temptation: This video story won't matter later on.

Thinking short-term, not long-term, is easy to give in to.

Remember, digital stories have a long shelf life. Critical thinking in long-term planning with clients is important to get the most bang for a client's buck. (Fiscal responsibility is what it's all about, right?)

4. Razzle! Dazzle!

Temptation: Think fancy.

Using tricks and effects to "wow" the viewer is especially tempting what with so many technological advances in the camera and editing room.

Tricks and effects do not tell stories. People tell stories. (The story is what it's all about, right?)

5. Being Selfish

Temptation: Thinking of yourself.

Thinking only about yourself, your demo reel and possible future awards while forgetting about your audience is a disservice to the power of storytelling.

Remember...a video story is the beginning of a conversation for a client and their audience. (Which is what it's all about, right? See #2 above.)

It's easy to give in and do the minimum. Fight these five temptations relentlessly and the video story you are about to tell for your client will capture the imagination of your audience.

Which is ................ Right? :-)

---Tom

5 Temptations of Every Corporate Video Filmmaker

Tags: temptations, corporate video filmmaker, corporate video

Why the Format Doesn't Matter

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:36:31 GMT

Why the Format Doesn't Matter

Ever wonder what all these formats have in common?

35mm
16mm
2"
1"
3/4"
1/2"
Betamax
Laserdiscs
D2
Betacam
Betacam SP
D-beta
8mm
HI8
DV
DVCPRO
DVCAM
DVCPRO HD
HD-DVD
HDV
Blu-Ray

STORY.

Seems like the more things change, the more some things stay the same.

Story. Beyond formats. Beyond time.

Is 2008 the year for you to "remarkabalize" your story?

---Tom

Why the Format Does Not Matter

Tags: story

Creativity: 5 Qualities of "Divine Discontinuity"

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:48:33 GMT

Creativity: 5 Qualities of "Divine Discontinuity"

Today's leading mind-body teacher, Deepak Chopra, spoke today at the United Nations.

His topic? "Consciousness and the Pursuit of Peace." In the hour plus talk, Deepak shares his insights about the power of creativity, the creation of joy at work and the evolution of human consciousness.

Here's a few take-aways in case you're interested...

There is a new paradigm currently underway. It's called "consciousness." What will be the next phase of human evolution? The survival of the wisest.

Physical stuff is not physical. The essential nature of the physical world is non-physical...it's non-stuff. Yup.

Energy and information is the raw material of the universe.

The physical world is as proportionally void as intergalactic space. Read that again...that's a lot of space!

We are flickering in and out of existence! We are in a state of discontinuity that appears continuous.

Since we are perpetually going in and out of existence, this creates the illusion of continuity. It's the same effect as watching a movie. The frames move fast enough for our eyes to experience continuity. In fact, the movie is nothing but a series of "on" and "off" signals. The exact same thing is happening in "real" life.

Where do we "go" in the "off?" What is in the "off?" What are the qualities of being in the "discontinuity"?

Here are the five attributes of the "off" or discontinuity that leading scientists so far agree on:

1. There are infinite possibilities! There is "all that was, is and will be." Since there is no energy, no space-time, no information in the "off," only an infinite amount of possibilities can exist.

2. Non-correlation. Everything is in harmony with everything else. Everything in nature is perfectly synchronized.

3. Chaos abounds! There is a proliferation of uncertainty.

4. Quantum leaps of creativity occur through that chaos.

5. The "Observer Effect." You cannot have a physical world unless there is a consciousness to witness it.

Through cyberspace, we have for the first time the ability to gather insights from the most forward thinkers alive to achieve critical mass to heal our world.

Perhaps this gives us a glimpse into where our creativity "comes from."

If you don't get it first time around, don't worry. The lecture in not for the light-hearted.

Grab a cup of tea, folks. Do not miss this.

---Tom

Creativity and the 5 Qualities of the Divine Discontinuity

Tags: deepak chopra, creativity, consciousness, discontinuity, the gap

Selling Peace Like Soap

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:11:38 GMT

Selling Peace Like Soap

"Our product is peace," John Lennon riffed. "Let's sell it like soap!"

That was almost 40 years ago, folks.

Imagine. Just imagine.

---Tom

Selling Peace Like Soap

Tags: peace, branding, john lennon, imagine

My 22 Best On-Camera Interviewing Tips Ever

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:50:14 GMT

My 22 Best On-Camera Interviewing Tips Ever

Have you ever spent a lot of time preparing for an interview only to walk away less than thrilled with what you captured?

Don't let it happen again.

Since I've been blessed to interview hundreds of heroes over 23 years and in an earlier post, I shared my one big secret to capturing a great interview.

So now, here are my best 22 interviewing tips to help you make every interview your best story possible.

1. Create a comfortable place for the interview; have water ready for your hero and be reassuring.
2. Ask open-ended questions to get the person talking in depth. Avoid asking questions that create a “yes” or “no” answer.
3. Be a “story steward.” If you will be editing your hero’s story, tell them that. They will feel more comfortable knowing that and open themselves up to you. If you are not editing their words, tell them who is so they understand the process.
4. If your hero freezes up, remind them you are their “story steward.” It is you who will be taking care of their words and story.
5. Do not interrupt! Nod your head in acknowledgement while they answer.
6. Ditch your list of questions when your hero says something surprising. Ask new questions based on what was said, not necessarily what is next on your list.
7. Keep you questions short: ten words or less!
8. Ask: “What’s at stake?” This is an excellent question to end your program. It could be interpreted any number of ways, so let your hero choose how to answer.
9. Ask: “What does the future hold for you/your company?”
10. Ask: “How did you get into this business?
11. Ask: “What do you think your story tells our audience?”
12. Ask: “What’s the most amazing part of your life?”
13. Listen 100%. Stop playing your tapes. Listen to theirs.
14. Ask the first few questions again at the end of the interview. Everybody’s warmed up by then and you’ll likely get better, as well as, different answers.
15. Try not to give the questions ahead of time to your hero. Most likely, they will wind up memorizing answers and come off stiff during the actual interview.
16. Ask “throw away” questions when first starting. This gets everybody warmed up. Try, “What are your hobbies?” “What books are you reading?” and the like.
17. Imagine hearing the type of answers you want. This helps you focus precisely on the question you need to ask to create the answers you want.
18. Be completely open to “infinite possibilities.” Anything can, and will, happen!
19. Repeat questions, if necessary, to capture the answer you really need. Do not be afraid to say, “I liked that answer a lot. Can you give me a shorter version of it?”
20. At the end of the interview, ask “Is there anything we missed?” Invite your hero to say whatever else might be on their mind.
21. Allow the crew to ask questions, if it’s appropriate. You can count on being surprised!
22. Share gratitude to your hero for the unique opportunity of capturing their remarkable story to help change the world.

Got a tip? Share it here.

---Tom

P.S. This post was inspired by Brian Clark over at Copyblogger. Brian challenged his readers to take one of his Cosmo headlines and apply it to our blog. Check out the comment section for other amazing posts.

My 22 Best On Camera Interviewing Tips Ever

Tags: interviewing, heroes

Tapping Into The Power of LinkedIn's "Answers"

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:56:31 GMT

Tapping Into The Power of LinkedIn's "Answers"

We ask questions. We answer questions.

We do it all the time.

Seems simple enough, right?

But Jason Alba thought differently.

Jason is the CEO of the highly successful career management tool JibberJobber and author of "I'm on LinkedIn: Now What?"

Jason invited me to write a guest post about using LinkedIn's "Answers" section to our benefit. Of course, I couldn't refuse the offer :-)

If you have a minute, check out "The Power of Questions: 5 Secrets to Strengthen Your Brand" on Jason's companion blog for his book.

Thanks, Jason, for the opportunity!

---Tom

The Power of Questions 5 Secrets to Strengthen Your Brand

Tags: jibberjobber, linkedin, questions, answers

7 Random Facts About Director Tom

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:54:03 GMT

I've been tagged by Kathryn R over at Pogo Design to share seven random/weird facts about me... here goes :-)

1. I was very close to becoming a monk in 1980; either a Benedictine or Hindu monk. That never came to be.

2. I started playing guitar in first grade and played professionally in rock n roll bands since 7th grade. I quit playing in 1990 to focus on filmmaking and my family.

3. I love The Beatles. They changed my life in so many ways, like having music be a central force in my life.

4. I was raised Catholic but when people ask what I practice, I'm prone to say Hindu-Christian or interspirituality.

5. I've met a lot of rock n roll stars. The most unusual one was bumping int Todd Rundgren at Chicago O'Hare airport. I just saw the Ringo Starr All Star Band a month earlier with Todd performing. Todd was coming back from the European tour so we had breakfast together and we shared a few great moments together.

6. I also bumped into Cheap Trick at O'Hare. All four members just came into the gate seating area and sat right next to me. I struck up a great conversation with Rick Neilsen, the guitarist, about filmmaking and the band's plans for the future.

7. I chant and enjoy singing bhajans, Hindu devotional songs.

Note: You can find more interesting things about me on my site, Bringing Brands to Life!

These are the rules of the game of tag:

1. Link to the person's blog who tagged you.

2. Post these rules on your blog.

3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.

4. Tag seven random [?] people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.

I get to tag seven people...here we go:

C4 Chaos
Navyo
Burt
Kare Anderson
Layne
Adam Kayce
Vincent Wright

Tags: meme, 7 facts, thomas clifford

3 Steps to Make Your Corporate Video Jump Off the Screen!

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:37:39 GMT

3 Steps to Make Your Corporate Video Jump Off the Screen!

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.

Every corporate video needs a "face" or a "hero" to provide a point of view. Without a hero, your audience is easily confused. Your hero should be someone your viewers can identify with; someone they can quickly feel connected to.

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!

The single biggest issue facing your corporate video is the lack of emotions. How do you generate an emotional response from an employee, or hero, in your film?

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

Tags: corporate video, hero, dragons, transformation, emotions

My Atomic Mission Program: "The Men Who Brought The Dawn"

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:57:20 GMT

"The Men Who Brought The Dawn" Documentary

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

Smithsonian Channel - 'The Men Who Brought The Dawn'

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

Tags: enola gay, bock's car, atomic missions, Japan, WWII, Paul Tibbets

Smithsonian Channel Airs My Atomic Missions Documentary

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:09:42 GMT

Smithsonian Channel Airs My Atomic Missions Documentary

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

Tags: atomic missions, the men who brought the dawn, enola gay, bock's car

Caution! 7 Signs of Lazy Corporate Video Stories

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 18:02:48 GMT

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

1. Lazy Purpose. Clear intentions create clear goals. Be absolutely clear in what you want to achieve when your video story fades to black. Most videos pack too many objectives into it with the result of confusing the viewer. Remember, one goal per video works beautifully.

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

Tags: lazy, corporate video stories, corporate videos, story, storytelling, resistance, rationalization

7 Lessons Learned from Directing Corporate Videos

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 23:40:07 GMT

...or, "Everything I Know I Learned from Being a Filmmaker." Well, almost everything!

The power of corporate videos has taught me many things over 20+ years. Here's a handful of "power tips" I've learned along the way.

1. THE POWER OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES! While planning is obviously a critical component in pulling off a project, I've learned not to over plan. Film crews have what we call "Magic Moments." They're surprises nobody was counting on while filming. The cool thing is they happen on every job. Sometimes these are moments filming an amazing personal story never shared before, capturing that "hidden" smile that few ever see, filming a team working on a project and suddenly, out of the blue, someone shouts out a solution to a long-term problem. Magic, for sure. Deepak Chopra's work on infinite possibilities and coincidences can help you be more open to the "magic" of life.

2. THE POWER OF ORGANIZATION! A typical corporate video can have hundreds of separate elements that need to be quickly accessed during production and editing. I've used the Franklin Covey system for about 17 years now and it has been a life-saver. Being ruthlessly organized serves two purposes: one, it saves clients money and two, you can get on with the business of telling the best story without struggling to find things.
3. THE POWER OF QUESTIONS! One thing I'm convinced of: most people want to help you. They really don't want to say "no!" if you are seeking help or need assistance. BUT...they can't read your mind so the burden is on you to ask. Fear of asking questions will actually dampen your progress in life. Learn the power of asking questions and how to reframe your questions from my good friend, Rajesh Setty.

4. THE POWER OF STORY! Storytelling and business narrative is a big industry now. I think personal stories are holograms for corporate stories. A hologram is simply a piece of a whole that naturally contains the entire whole. Capturing personal stories for companies is a remarkable way for organizations to strengthen their brand. Annette Simmons thinks "Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins." I couldn't agree more. And knowing the "Elements of Persuasion" will help you get your message heard through the on-going noise we face everyday. You never know whose life you will change because of your story.

5. THE POWER OF DREAMING! Directing requires an intense amount of visualizing. The easiest films to direct are the ones I've visualized clearly and early on. Recent research has show that the brain actually has a hard time differentiating between what we call "reality" and previsusalizing a scene with our eyes closed. Hmmm...if the brain "thinks" what it's "thinking" is real, imagine how your life can change by incorporating previsualizing regularly into your life. Check out Dr. Joe Dispenza's work to understand more about the power of previsualizing.

6. THE POWER OF THINKING BIG! Nelson Mandela said it best:
"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, fabulous, gorgeous, talented? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You're playing small doesn't serve the world."

Our ability to think big and to live with purpose is quite a responsibility. In my humble opinion, it is the duty of all those involved in creating corporate videos to create with purpose and meaning. Thinking big works!

7. THE POWER OF KINDNESS! Telling stories, regardless if it's video or any other medium, has the remarkable power to bring out the best in people. Everyone I've ever been involved with in a video story, from clients to celebrities to employees, has demonstrated our capability for being kind.

Powerful stuff, indeed!

---Tom

Tags: lessons learned, corporate videos, directing videos

Have You Hugged Your Corporate Video Lately?

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:09:15 GMT

No? Well, now you might want to.

Let me explain.

IT'S BLOG ACTION DAY!

This is it! Today is Blog Action Day. Blog Action day is about 14,000 bloggers reaching 12,000,000 people to raise awareness about one issue: the environment.

Now that the digital format is commonplace, I started thinking how much this industry has changed in the past few years and how television is "turning green." (Leaving aside for a rainy day the amount of electronics being produced.)

For years, the television industry relied on physical tapes and films to view programs. Just think about the costs associated for every single production created:

Gather raw materials.
Ship raw materials to manufacturer.
Manufacture the videotapes.
Ship the videotapes to distributors.
Ship the videotapes to customers.

When television programs were finally duplicated onto tape, they were ~~again~~ shipped to their destinations. Talk about leaving a carbon footprint!

THE FOUR R's OF "GREEN" VIDEO

The video landscape is "turning green" through the help of what I call, The Four R's:

1. Reduce, 2. Reignite, 3. Recycle, 4. Regional.

Reduce
The video production industry today uses considerably less materials than years before. If weight matters, then we're heading in the right direction. Most productions still use tape to capture footage but we are seeing an increasing amount of digital cameras capturing images on hard drives, eventually eliminating tape, and discs, altogether.

Distributing finished programs digitally through the web has literally wiped out any traces of tape...a huge step for Planet Earth.

Reignite
It's time to reignite television. Remember, TELEVISION = communicating visions over distances. TELE (over distances) + VISION (the ability to plan the future with imagination and wisdom).

I believe television has an obligation and duty to educate, inform and enlighten. The proliferation of "reality television" programs is actually taking us further away from "reality." At a very subconscious level, these programs empower major studios with the ability to weaken and corrode our discriminative skills.

On the other hand, we do have much to celebrate. The enormous number of documentaries, including the sudden spike in environmental videos, and education channels is inviting audiences to see the world from a different point of view. Ultimately, this impact is about raising one's consciousness to create a better world.

One of my heroes, Journalist Edward R. Murrow, said it best:

"This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful." RTNDA Convention, Chicago, October 15, 1958

Recycle
Most productions require "work tapes." These tapes are used for reference or backing up shows temporarily and can easily be recycled for future programs. Often times, we can reuse work tapes thereby avoiding using more raw resources.

Regional
Tight Budgets = Local Crews. When video productions require travel, hiring as many local crew members not only saves production dollars but drastically reduces the total output of green house gases.

The future is clear. Zeros and ones not only change how we interact with each other, they just might help save the planet.

Pretty powerful stuff for "wires and lights in a box."

---Tom

Tags: blog action day, corporate video, recycle

What question do you believe is unanswerable?

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:35:23 GMT

What does being enlightened feel like?

Tags: QaR, life, questions, question, answers, living, enlightement

Finish the sentence: "My destiny involves...."

http://thomasclifford.gaia.com — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:51:17 GMT

...enabling the voices of others through remarkable stories on film."

Tags: QaR, destiny, future, fate, corporate video, film, video, enable voices

Gaia Community: Director Tom's Blog

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1. DISCOVER A HERO.

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Have You Hugged Your Corporate Video Lately?

IT'S BLOG ACTION DAY!

THE FOUR R's OF "GREEN" VIDEO

What question do you believe is unanswerable?

Finish the sentence: "My destiny involves...."