Field 1 Post Blog

Are you selling your services too cheaply?

2012-02-23T14:36:00.003-08:00

In this economy, many ask for everything but want to pay nothing. Well maybe nothing is a little extreme, but I think you get what I mean. The professional editor or D.P. or Audio Engineer earns his or her living off of their professional skills. It is good to stay busy, with what I call "Base Runners" or small clients, but at what cost to your business. For the businesses that simply cannot afford your rates, move on to bigger fish. By the time you finish wining and dining those who do not have the budget for your services, you could have landed a much larger client. In today's digital world, a smart business owner should have video production as part of the advertising/marketing budget. Youtube is the #2 search engine, shouldn't everybody who owns a business have video on there. And what quality of video is it. The quality of video is a direct reflection of the quality of their business.

Remember, as film and video professionals, we offer a high quality service and charge for it. Ask you customers if they would "cheap out" their dental services, or auto repair services...or even their equipment purchases to save a few bucks and in the end get left with a horrible smile, a car that does not work or a piece of equipment which is faulty and causes their business to suffer, they simply would not. Film and Video Production is no different. If your customers wish to be taken seriously and be viewed as experts in their field, then their films/videos should show it.

I have a friend in the business named Dave Figenshu who is a DP of the highest caliber. I think he said it best, "We are in a professional business. We do not claim to dabble in real estate or dentistry or any other profession. We create digital media for professional uses. We can negotiate to a limited extent, but I have found that when working with other pro's on a business level, there should be little negotiating."

-Jonathan Donley, Field 1 Post Film and Video Production, Havertown PA 610-789-2882 jonathan@field1post.com

Why do I need video on my website?

2011-10-24T07:40:00.001-07:00

Professionally produced videos create memories. For this reason, video has a very long shelf life in terms of promoting your company.

A Consistant video production plan will boost your google and youtube rankings making it easier for your potential and current customers to find your company information.

Forrester, eMarketer and ComScore all support video as a tool to boost sales.

9% sales conversion rates
Video clips are 53 times more likely to be listed first on search results when compared to text pages (Forrester, Jan. 2009)
Products or services which use video as support are 95% more likely to be purchased (Internet Retailer, April, 2010)
Videos increase visitor duration on websites by up to 2 minutes.
With the right search engine optimization, videos can increase the chances of a web site being found on Google's 1st page by up to 96%

A viewer is more likely to make some kind of buying action after viewing a video when compared to a text page.

Video has the ability to build trust between your company and your potential or existing customers. Video is captivating, engaging and therefore motivational. A properly created video can increase your sales...ask me how.

Field 1 Post makes videos to support your company. Here are a few examples.

Product Launches and Commercials - A face to face meeting between you and your customers is the best way to demonstrate an existing product and/or promote a new product. With video, you can do that meeting to many more customers at one time on their schedule.
Testimonials - Building trust in your company or product is going to require some proof of trustworthiness. Testimonials are hands-down the best way to provide that evidence by using real customers. Additionally, using your own staff members promoting your company provides positive evidence that your company is trustworthy and a great place to work with happy employees.
Video Newsletters - Put your company leaders in front of the camera so your prospective customers can see who they will be working with. Make announcements about the latest events, products that your company is promoting so your current customer base can stay in touch. Video newsletters keep you on your customers radar and helps with referral business.

There are many other ways to use video to promote your company. Hire a professional to do the work, they know what works and are happy to help. Companies like Field 1 Post are well aware of the budgetary requirements this economy has placed on business owners. Producing a series of videos for your web site is not expensive and does not take much of your time...Ask Me How.

www.field1post.com jonathan@field1post.com

Final Cut Pro X, Like It or Not?

2011-09-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Ever since Apple released Final Cut Pro (FCP) at NAB in 1999, it has drawn significant attention from the professional editors, producers and videographers in this crazy Film and TV industry. The price difference between FCP and Avid Technology's Media Composer (MC) was in the 5 figure range back then. Why wouldn't it be popular, it is cheaper and from the dude's at Apple...what more reason do you need, right? I remember working in my linear GVG/CMX suite back in 1989 and hearing about this new software called Avid Media Composer and it was using something called Quicktime. What was the big deal, it was just a computer program right, but it has become so much more than anyone could have imagined. Suddenly in 1999 when FCP was released at NAB there were now 2 packages battling for the top spot, FCP and MC. Who knew?

Now that Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) has been released there is a big disturbance in the force. The criticisms include items such as window placement flexibility, no sdi support, no tape support, lack of a traditional timeline, inability to open FCP 7 projects to name a few. Why are we surprised? As in the past, Apple is leading the charge of innovation and that is often met with criticism. The trend in the video industry is to go tapeless, ask any tape distributor and get your tissues ready. While many stations and duplication houses still use dbeta and beta, more and more work from ftp servers.

The honest truth is simple, like the Final Cut VS Avid competition in the early 2k years, editors will use what they are comfortable with or what earns them a living. If they want to work at a facility which uses Final Cut Pro X, they will learn it. If they do not keep up with the new software, they may lose their clients and jobs to younger editors who were weaned on FCPX in college and highschool.

I would like to know more about FCPX from those who have positive things to say about it. Is it really doomed to fail? Will it be the contender that FCP7 was? Holy Jump Cut, leave your comment and your e-mail (in the follow this blog box) and stay tuned for more exciting dialogue.

-Jonathan Donley

Choosing an NLE (Non-Linear Editing) Software Package

2011-09-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

This Blog was updated 9/30/2011 to include current Avid product information.
The competition for NLE (Non-Linear Editing) software is fierce. Whether you are trying to decide between Apple's Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, or Avid Technology's Media Composer, you should know that all of them are leading applications in the field of video editing. The choice between one or the other is mostly based on the end user's abilities and preferences. These software packages are just tools, no different than a screwdriver or hammer. The question is what kind of hammer do you prefer for driving nails...and why?

A little History

In the late 80's and early 90's, Non-Linear Editing emerged as a replacement or augmentation tool to linear on-line editing suites. Many users started with either Avid Technology's Media Composer or Adobe Premiere depending on how much they could afford and what their needs were. Both were launched on the Macintosh platform. Avid's first few versions of their software (Media Composer) were released in 1989 as offline editing software and were heavily hardware dependent mac systems with proprietary boards and drives sold with the software. Avid Technologies has evolved and now Avid Media Composer can stand alone without any hardware accessories and can be installed on most standard pc's and mac's on the market. There are still several hardware accessories available including ds nitris, mojo and up until recently, Adrenaline. With any of the hardware accessories, the base Media Composer software becomes more powerfull, providing more real time effects, quicker rendering, multiple formats on the timeline and multiple audio and video inputs and outputs. Having been the industry leader in editing since the early 1990's, this recent move to hardware independency leveled the playing field between Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere.

Adobe released it's first version of Premiere on the mac in 1989 and has been growing in capability ever since. Adobe's big selling point is it's integration of Premiere Pro with the other Adobe Creative Suite software. Tied directly to Adobe Photoshop, After Effects means rendering of any animation or complex titling sequence does not have to happen until the final output from Premiere Pro.

Enter Apple's Final Cut Pro. Final Cut (not pro) was a more powerful solution to I-Movie which came installed on the wildly popular and Macintosh Savior I-mac (Image left). Final Cut Pro was developed by Macromedia, then Apple bought it to make Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro quickly gained popularity amongst Mac enthusiasts largely due to their devotion to the Macintosh line of products in both the consumer and professional forums. Final Cut also has related editing software for creating animations and titles. Again, the rendering can be delayed until final output.

Not to be outdone by Final Cut, Adobe decided to upgrade their editing program (Premiere) to compete with Apple's Final Cut Pro. Adobe released Premiere Pro in 2007 on both the Mac and PC platforms. Premiere Pro and Final cut both link to original graphics and audio media files in their software, rather than importing the graphics and audio files and then converting them to a proprietary format like Avid originally did with it's omf and mxf formats. In the early versions of both Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro the primary digitizing/capturing format was through firewire and the popular DV and DVCam/DVCPro recording formats.

So, where was Avid all this time. Avid was watching, planning and supporting it's current broadcast and corporate producers while the buzz amongs avid users was that Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro were for the pro-sumers and Avid was an application for professionals. Coincedently...or not, when Apple released it's own editing solution, Avid started started to move away from Macintosh systems and more towards the PC platform.

Avid Technologies is now the front runner in the NLE Race for professionals with the implemention of AMA (Avid Media Access). One of the criticisms of Media Composer from users of Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro was that everything imported had to be converted to the MXF or OMF file format by Media Composer. With AMA, the files which come from tapeless formats as well as animation and audio files are linked to within the Media Composer interface...just like Final Cut Pro and Premiere. The MXF format is an OP Atom format which the exact same file type that Panasonic P2 cameras record with. The MXF format is an industry standard and a part of the AAF (Advanced Authoring Format). The Avid DS is now standalone software and no longer requires the Nitris hardware. Additionally the Avid DS works with the AJA Kona hardware for monitoring and i/o operations. In addition to DS software, Media Composer software, Avid also has Symphony software. Well known initially for its powerful color grading tools, Symphony initially only supported the Nitris Classic hardware. Symphony is an extremely powerful editing package. When Symphony Nitris and Media Composer Version 3 were released, the Nitris Classic hardware was discontinued and now Symphony now supports the same Nitris DX hardware as Media Composer.

With all of this talk of video editing, what are the audio engineers and sound designers going have to work with. Avid makes Pro-Tools which is fully compatable with Media Composer. Complete timelines can be exported directly from Media Composer into Pro-Tools for mixing, then sent back. Each audio track remains entact.

Making Your Choice

Try them each on for size: Each of the 3 software packages have demo versions available, download each of them and try them out. Of the 3 packages, only one of them is Mac only and that is final cut pro (current version is Final Cut X). Here are some links: Media Composer, Premiere Pro, Final Cut X.
Match the software to your level of expertise: After you try the 3 packages, pick the one you are most comfortable with. There is nothing worse than trying to tell your story and having to wrestle with an interface that is to difficult for your experience level.
Match the software to your computer: Final Cut will only work on an Intel Mac so if you prefer the PC, Final Cut is not an option for you.
Integrating other software packages: Premiere Pro does integrate very nicely with their other suite of products, however in their own way, both Media Composer and Final Cut Pro X use adobe's products nicely as well.
Speed: Premiere Pro now supports the 64 bit architecture and with it's support of the Mercury Playback Engine and GPU, it really works faster than Final Cut Pro. However, Final Cut Pro X is about the same speed as Premiere Pro. Media Composer also supports 64 bit architecture through Windows 7 and with the increased memory capacity that comes with 64 bit architecture and AMA, the Media Composer software is extremely fast.
Support: Adobe and Apple make many products, Avid is a highly specialized company dealing almost exclusively in the video market. Avid is going to be your hands down winner in support due to it's focused field of expertise rather than a company that deals with other areas of creative software as well as office tools.

Other Options

Besides the sofware listed above there are other options. I am not experienced with them, but if you want more info, you should check out their links as well. Sony Vegas, Editshare's Lightworks, Canopus Edius.

If you wish to discuss your video editing options or book us for your next editing project, contact us: jonathan@field1post.com or 610-789-2882. www.field1post.com

Managing Challenging Productions (and Clients) Webinar

2011-09-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

In my time in this crazy video industry, I think I have seen just about every personality in existance. I have seen the producer who thinks that beating up the editor over what color the sepia tone is supposed to be, then totally changes their mind to go with a blue tone instead is ok. I have also seen the producer or corporate client who tells you to go ahead and be creative, then comes back to reedit everything and refuse to pay for your "creative" version.

Let's face it, you need to protect yourself and have good project management tools in place to ensure your project goes as smoothly as possible and you get paid what you agreed upon.

In this Webinar we will go through a series of essential management tools to assist in keeping your production on course and practical methods for communication and motivation when working with the many character types that we encounter in our productions. We will look specifically at warning signs that a production is in trouble and how to get it back on track and keep team morale alive in the process. Even in the midst of chaos, you will learn some tried and true techniques that will allow you to succeed and be a hero to your clients and team.

This webinar comes from Zac Hogle who is the eMarketing Coordinator at NewMediaWebinars.com. Zac is also the Producer / Senior Editor at Dynacor Media in Edmonton Canada. The name of Zac's company is ANP entertainment. If you want to know more about Zac, visit his public Linked In Profile by clicking here.

Webinar Date / Time:
September 22, 2011 @ 10:00 AM PDT to 11:30 AM PDT

For a free preview and more information visit:http://www.filmmakingwebinars.com/webinars/managing-challenging-productions-and-clients/

Where are Those Pesky Clients Hiding?

2011-09-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

     Business ownership is a wonderful concept. It is often very attractive to indivduals such as myself who had a job for over 15 years. A business owner can pick and choose their clients and have control over their schedule. When a piece of equipment goes south, or new software is needed, there is no need to wait until the company can afford to fix it or until they decide your problem is a priority. Yes, you can do whatever you want, when you want and how you want. That is, as long as you have cash flow. Without cash flow, it is more stressful than having a job.

     So, how do we maintain cash flow each month? The simple solution is to get more clients. So, you just walk on over the the client superstore and get a few, discounted of course. Well, I have not found a client superstore and if anybody finds one, I would gladly pay them a percentage of the profits. What I did was join the local Chamber of Commerce. Besides having many networking events where you can meet clients, they also offer advertising in their newsletters and on their website. Usually you can get great insurance plans at a discount through your local chamber.

     So your networking skils aren't so great or you don't like crowds. You can also find marketing professionals in the chamber directory. Give some of them a call and see if they have more tips or can market your company for you. Often times a talent agency will market businesses in the creative fields

     If you don't like networking or making calls to marketers, then you may want to consider social networking sites like facebook, twitter and Linked In. I have had most of my success on Linked In.

The honest truth is that all of the suggestions above work for some people and not for others but I have always found that a phone call followed up with a meeting and a warm friendly smile are the best marketing tools available and they don't cost a cent. Friendliness and courtesy are skills which can be practiced anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances. Remember, everybody wears a sign on their head that says "ask me about me". People really don't care how much you know until they know how much you care and that is where business realationships come from.

-Jonathan

Why Hire a Professional

2011-09-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

Successfully marketing your product or telling your story is much more than just shooting and cutting it together. A Professional Editor has client skills which have been honed over the years by working with a wide variety of clients. Life experiences with these clients are what separate the beginner/amateur from a Professional. Oftentimes, an individual is emotionally tied to his/her story or product and may believe that the only way an audience will buy their product or believe their story is if they do the work themselves. What that individual is missing is the opportunity for a set of fresh and experienced eyes working on their project. The video will be completed quicker and have a much more professional polish to it. Sure, my buddy next door could offer to edit the video for me, but when would it be done? Most likely it will take much longer for the amateur to complete a video than a professional and it will not look nearly as professional which means it will not be nearly as effective as if a professional editor had done the work.

Professional Editors or DIY

2011-09-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

So, you have a product or service to promote and you need a video but those professionals cost way too much.

If you are like most of the world you want to save money doing your own product video and put it up on the web to generate sales or get it on your local tv station. You can get a video camera, editing software and a microphone to make your own video. The other option is to hire a professional who can do everything from Script to Screen (beginning to end). Ask yourself how much time will be spent learning everything you need to learn to make a video instead of making sales. The money gained making sales may be enough to pay for a professional Producer, Camera Operator and Editor. In most cases, the editing of your video happens while you are out doing business...multitasking, what a great concept.

Some points to consider:

Recording the video

Put in the battery, insert the tape (if it uses tape) turn it on and press the record button. However, if you are going to impress your audience with a high quality video to go along with your high quality image, you need to consider lighting, background, clothing and content. This is information that a professional will provide and you won't have to take the time to learn it.

Editing the Video

There are a many editing applications put out by big name software manufacturers (Apple, Adobe and Avid to name a few) and they are terrific...once you learn how to use them. Graphics design, edit timing, color grading, music selection and sound effects are very important to a quality video. A professional editor knows how to do all of this and can work while you go out and make more sales.

Sound considerations

There is no reason why your big product debut should sound like you recorded it in the bathroom or in the middle of a windstorm. Choosing a microphone can be fairly simple for the consumer, but that is not the challenge. To present your product in the most professional manner possible, you need to know how to place the microphone, whether to use wireless or wired microphones depending on the rf interference in your area, what recording level you should use. These are all concerns that a professional Audio Engineer, Editor or Camera operate can handle while you go ask your local businesses if they will move your product.

The Budget

Most likely your decision to do a video production yourself is because you are worried about the money. Let's look at it from another angle, how much money will you lose in lost sales beacause the commercial or promotional video sounds and looks like a 3rd grader did it. Your budget should be as important as the product or service you are promoting. If you are cheap and try to do all of this yourself without at least consulting an expert, then you may need to reevaluate just how much you value your product or service.

As an associate of mine said, "I have a saw and hammer, but I wouldn't build my own house." You can have the gear and be a beginner, then a hobbyist, then move in to professional status but that can take years. Just how important is your product or service to you. Do you think it is important enough to put your best foot forward. [shameless self promotion starts here] If you really want to make a great video and still have a bank account balance when you are done, give us a call or send an e-mail. We are focused on the client's sales goals and their budget. Repeat business and client satisfaction is our top priority. With over 20 years of experience editing videos, we know more than the 3rd grader mentioned above. We will arrange everything from Script to Screen for you in a way that meets your budget.

Field 1 Post (U.S.) (610) 789-2882

www.field1post.com

jonathan@field1post.com