YouTube is five years old. And whilst many five year olds consider tying their shoelaces to be a great achievement, YouTube has managed to achieve world domination.
Try to think back to those dark days before video became part of our online furniture; when video was the preserve of broadcasters and businesses had to shell out a small fortune for advertising airtime. Tricky isn’t it?
Video is now as much a part of our visual culture as print media. We can watch it on our phones; we can share it with our friends and even easily produce and upload our own content.
The arrival of YouTube and similar video sharing websites (like Vimeo) has had a huge impact on business marketing, as has the associated shift towards accessible video technology (such as pocket HD video cameras and simplified editing software).
Businesses can now get their message ‘out there’ at rapid speed, and if done correctly, the results can be staggering.
Commercial video producer Elke Theissl said: “When Mediacove Productions started out five years ago it was all about DVDs with fancy cases, now we’re finding that businesses want their video online. It makes good sense.”
This isn’t just down to the rise of YouTube, developments in streaming technology have allowed businesses to host video content on their own websites. Conference footage, major announcements and information clips are displayed on many a homepage.
With a shift towards multi-platform news media, potential clients are becoming increasingly aware and discerning of the online face and content of companies and organisations. They want websites to be updated regularly and expect a rich mixture of text, pictures, videos and interactivity.
Good video marketing is creative and hooks in the viewer. Video is not the place for the blatant hard sell – it is a genre that relies on the ‘water cooler’ factor; though it could be argued that the tired old water cooler has now been replaced by Twitter, Facebook et al. In short, your video needs to get people talking; otherwise it will become white noise, a lost and unloved file floating in cyberspace.
Once your video is uploaded you need to let people know that it is there – this is when you can really benefit from a good social media network. You can post links to the video on Twitter or allow blogs to link to your content. If you have eye catching and interesting content, word will spread quickly.
Take care not to overuse video; what you produce needs to have meaning and significance. Viewers are smart – give them information that they can benefit from and mean it. Bombarding them with hastily prepared video clips is a guaranteed turn off.
If internet legend is to be believed, the first ever video posted to YouTube was of a guy talking about elephants. There is no doubt that your business has something far more interesting to say. So, go on, grab a camera and try it out.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Ways to avoid holiday video hell!
With summer holidays inching ever closer, now is a good time to start thinking about the best ways to capture your sunkissed memories.
Good quality digital video cameras have become cheaper and more accessible over the years. This has lead to what can be a baffling array of options for those new to digital video.
Before you purchase your camera, do lots of research online and check out what people are saying about various camera makes and models in forums. Consider what your needs are – is shelling out a little bit more cash for HD going to be worth the investment? Do you want something you can fit in your pocket? Or are you prepared to carry something bulkier around so that you can enjoy more features?
Once you’ve navigated your way through the minefield of picking the right camera, there is the problem of what to do with it.
We’ve all sat through people’s boring holiday videos, with shaky camera work and the predictable accidental shots of people’s feet.
With a bit of knowledge and thought, you can make dull holiday videos a thing of the past.
Here are some top tips from the video production experts at Wolverhampton’s Mediacove Productions:
1. Don’t shoot too much!: This is the downfall of many a holiday videographer. Overshooting means that you will spend a long time transferring your video to your computer and even longer sifting through the footage and deciding what to keep and what to trash.
2. Use a tripod: You can now get hold of cheap, convenient and compact tripods. Using a tripod will make a big difference to the quality of your footage and help you make those shaky shots a thing of the past! You can also use them to experiment with different shot types, like pans and tilts.
3. Be aware of light: Sunny days are glorious, but they can be a nightmare for video cameras. Always shoot away from the sun – otherwise your subject will be in silhouette. Over-exposure is another menace, causing your shots to look washed out. Fix this by using the ‘white balance’ settings on your camera.
4. Review your footage: There is nothing worse than arriving home to find that the glorious sunset you filmed is but a blurry mess. Try to do a quick test shot of your important memories and watch it back. That way, you can be assured that you’ve got memories to last a lifetime.
5. Be creative in the edit process: Even the simplest of editing packages will offer some basic graphic options. You can add some simple captions to remind you of the names of places you visited or maybe create some fun basic opening and closing credits.
Good quality digital video cameras have become cheaper and more accessible over the years. This has lead to what can be a baffling array of options for those new to digital video.
Before you purchase your camera, do lots of research online and check out what people are saying about various camera makes and models in forums. Consider what your needs are – is shelling out a little bit more cash for HD going to be worth the investment? Do you want something you can fit in your pocket? Or are you prepared to carry something bulkier around so that you can enjoy more features?
Once you’ve navigated your way through the minefield of picking the right camera, there is the problem of what to do with it.
We’ve all sat through people’s boring holiday videos, with shaky camera work and the predictable accidental shots of people’s feet.
With a bit of knowledge and thought, you can make dull holiday videos a thing of the past.
Here are some top tips from the video production experts at Wolverhampton’s Mediacove Productions:
1. Don’t shoot too much!: This is the downfall of many a holiday videographer. Overshooting means that you will spend a long time transferring your video to your computer and even longer sifting through the footage and deciding what to keep and what to trash.
2. Use a tripod: You can now get hold of cheap, convenient and compact tripods. Using a tripod will make a big difference to the quality of your footage and help you make those shaky shots a thing of the past! You can also use them to experiment with different shot types, like pans and tilts.
3. Be aware of light: Sunny days are glorious, but they can be a nightmare for video cameras. Always shoot away from the sun – otherwise your subject will be in silhouette. Over-exposure is another menace, causing your shots to look washed out. Fix this by using the ‘white balance’ settings on your camera.
4. Review your footage: There is nothing worse than arriving home to find that the glorious sunset you filmed is but a blurry mess. Try to do a quick test shot of your important memories and watch it back. That way, you can be assured that you’ve got memories to last a lifetime.
5. Be creative in the edit process: Even the simplest of editing packages will offer some basic graphic options. You can add some simple captions to remind you of the names of places you visited or maybe create some fun basic opening and closing credits.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Interns Press Release
Three graduates are gaining a competitive edge in their media careers thanks to internships with a Wolverhampton media production company.
Lauron Farr, Rupinder Kaur and Jas Sogi have joined Mediacove at City of Wolverhampton College for six months, during which they will be able to develop their video, design and marketing skills.
Lauron said: “The internship is a brilliant chance for me to put the things I learnt at university into action. It is really inspiring to work alongside professional editors and producers.”
The internships have been offered by Mediacove as part of the West Midlands Graduate Internships (WMGI) scheme.
Managing Producer Elke Theissl said: “It is harder than ever to get that first break into the media industry. By providing the internships we are helping the graduates boost their CVs and opportunities, whilst benefiting from their creativity, knowledge and fresh ideas.”
Since joining the company, the interns have been involved in all aspects of office life and taking on their own projects. They have also been tasked with writing weekly blogposts and twitter updates charting their experiences as interns.
Jas said: “I am doing a Post-graduate Degree in Marketing but this experience has opened my eyes to video production. I have learnt so much in such a short period of time.”
Photography graduate, Rupinder Kaur added: “My confidence is constantly growing – I hope that this internship will give me an advantage in today’s competitive job market.”
After the six month placement, all of the interns hope to go on to employment in the media and marketing industries.
The first MCP online tutorial
We have just launched our first ever online tutorial! We'll be adding new clips once every two weeks - so watch this space.
You can view the tutorials and loads more of our fantastic videos by visiting our YouTube page: http://youtube.com/mediacove
To find out more about professional training with Mediacove visit:
http://tinyurl.com/mcptrain
You can view the tutorials and loads more of our fantastic videos by visiting our YouTube page: http://youtube.com/mediacove
To find out more about professional training with Mediacove visit:
http://tinyurl.com/mcptrain
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Meet the MCP interns – Jas says 'Hi all!'
I have recently graduated from University of Wolverhampton with a BA (Hons) Business Information Management course. My course gave me the qualifications and skills needed to succeed in business. Upon completing my course, I decided to specialise in marketing. I am currently studying a CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing. For the next 6 months, I am working at Mediacove Productions through the West Midlands Graduate Internships (WMGI) scheme. This scheme is aimed at graduates who are out of work and provides a valuable opportunity to gain industry experience.
I started my marketing internship with Mediacove Productions in March. This placement has given me an insight into the worlds of marketing and video production. The internship has given me hands-on experience of promoting Mediacove and the services it offers. It has also allowed me to explore the creative industry and the innovative tools, equipments and software.
The placement has been a great opportunity for me to gain experience and work on real projects with Mediacove. My duties range; from market research and managing the client database, to promoting services we offer. My favourite task so far has been planning and preparing training tutorials to help people use various software packages. This has allowed me to explore new software such as Final Cut Pro and Photoshop etc.
I am looking forward to getting more involved in Mediacove as I have learnt so much in such a short period of time.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Interns join the Mediacove Team!
The easter holidays are now but a distant memory here in the Mediacove Office. All of this lovely sunshine has given us an extra spring in our step and we're looking forward to a busy and exciting summer.
We have been joined by three fantastic graduate interns: Lauron, Jas and Rupinder, who will be working with us over the next six months.
They'll be writing regular posts for the blog about their experiences as interns - so watch this space for updates!
We have been joined by three fantastic graduate interns: Lauron, Jas and Rupinder, who will be working with us over the next six months.
They'll be writing regular posts for the blog about their experiences as interns - so watch this space for updates!
Quick video training for businesses
Small businesses in Wolverhampton are being offered an opportunity to learn valuable video marketing skills.
Online video is a powerful and cost effective tool for marketing – as illustrated by the huge popularity of websites such as YouTube and Vimeo.
With this in mind, Mediacove Productions are running a series of two-day courses that will teach busy business owners the basics of quality video production in a short space of time.
Elke Theissl, Managing Producer said: “You don’t need to have years of experience and loads of expensive kit to be able to create effective and professional looking results. You can now buy a pocket-sized HD camera for less than £100.00; we can train you in how to use such basic equipment to maximum effect.”
The two day course will offer total novices an opportunity to get to grips with cameras and editing software. Experienced trainers will also explain how to avoid many of the common errors and pitfalls faced by first time film-makers.
Elke Theissl said: “There are a host of basic mistakes that people make when starting out with video – maybe the sound isn’t clear or the lighting is wrong. We can give you simple solutions to these problems”.
Participants will be guided through the production process, from conceiving and developing an idea, through to editing and uploading the finished clip to a website.
The next ‘Quick Vids’ course will be held on 1st and 2nd June 2010 and again on 12th and 13th July. Places cost £300.00 and are limited to 10 per course. For more information call the Mediacove office: 01902 317646 or email mediacove@wolvcoll.ac.uk.
Online video is a powerful and cost effective tool for marketing – as illustrated by the huge popularity of websites such as YouTube and Vimeo.
With this in mind, Mediacove Productions are running a series of two-day courses that will teach busy business owners the basics of quality video production in a short space of time.
Elke Theissl, Managing Producer said: “You don’t need to have years of experience and loads of expensive kit to be able to create effective and professional looking results. You can now buy a pocket-sized HD camera for less than £100.00; we can train you in how to use such basic equipment to maximum effect.”
The two day course will offer total novices an opportunity to get to grips with cameras and editing software. Experienced trainers will also explain how to avoid many of the common errors and pitfalls faced by first time film-makers.
Elke Theissl said: “There are a host of basic mistakes that people make when starting out with video – maybe the sound isn’t clear or the lighting is wrong. We can give you simple solutions to these problems”.
Participants will be guided through the production process, from conceiving and developing an idea, through to editing and uploading the finished clip to a website.
The next ‘Quick Vids’ course will be held on 1st and 2nd June 2010 and again on 12th and 13th July. Places cost £300.00 and are limited to 10 per course. For more information call the Mediacove office: 01902 317646 or email mediacove@wolvcoll.ac.uk.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Mediacove Training
For more information or to book your place please contact Mediacove on:
mediacove@wolvcoll.ac.uk or 10902 317646
visit us: www.mediacove.com
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