Since early 2009 I’ve been experimenting with video and continue to be impressed with how easy and relatively inexpensive it is to create near professional quality video. I got lucky in February of 2009 when I collaborated with Joe Sorge of AJ Bombers to create the video below about filling his restaurant with folks in search of the FourSquare Swarm badge. It’s been watched more than 10,000 times since we created it.
That video took a bit of work. In addition to being on site to capture the video, I spent several hours reviewing the clips and editing in iMovie on my MacBook Pro. While iMovie is easy to use, there is still a learning curve involved and you’ll probably want to shoot a few practice videos to learn about the features that matter.
You’ll also want to track down a good quality, yet inexpensive camera. I’ve been very pleased with my selection, the Kodak ZI8 (Amazon Affilate Link). If I was starting over, I’d buy an external wireless microphone at the same time. As a matter of fact, that’s the next item on my video production wish list.
It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Another video that continues to surprise me is this one about packing my messenger bag before leaving on a business trip. It was done in one take and required no editing. As corny at it is, surprisingly almost 800 people have stopped by to watch it.
Don’t go it alone
I’ve been lucky to work with Shelby Sapusek most of the past year. She’s got some experience producing videos and does a great job of storyboarding and shooting video. Her preference is to work behind the camera. This is helpful because on shoot days I can just focus on what I have to say and do.
While it was far from free, we were able to create these last two videos for a small fraction of the cost a professional production company would have required. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to have professionals reshoot these someday. We just don’t have the budget for it right now. Instead, we jumped on a plane and visited our project partner Mutoh America to utilize their facility for the shoot. When you add it all up, there is about 40 hours of work in these two videos. However, the cost was really only two airline tickets.
The only appropriate way to end this post is with a thank you to Steve Jobs for changing the world and making video production and editing so easy that a common man like me can handle it. Thanks Steve. I’ll keep stretching and reaching each day thanks to you.