Of course!. Think about what a rich communications environment we would have!

Phillip is a very well respected and talented video professional and I hope his rhetorical question resonates in that community. It actually gets to the core of what we talk about here at DoingMedia.

ALL media production disciplines are necessary to fully communicate your messages. That includes video but also, audio, websites and blogs, even live (eww, PowerPoint) presentations.

The semiconductor chip has made all of this possible. The availability of cheap machines that enable sophisticated functionality allow anyone to be a video maven. Of course, that’s the risk. Anyone CAN create video (or other media) because so many people (the Digital natives) have never known a time without that ability. But there’s literacy and then there’s Literacy.

Knowing how to shoot a bunch of scenes of video and then assemble them into a persuasive piece of communication is a distinct skill set. Anyone can learn it and some have great talent in it.

The point really is having at least a passing understanding of the visual language. That will allow you to “write” at least basic pieces of video communication or, be able to talk to and explain your communications needs to one of the video “linguists”.

Let’s take that language metaphor one step further. Don’t assume that if you talk LOUDER that people will understand you. Talking louder here is the equivalent of shooting somthing quickly and throwing it together and calling it quality communication. Start with simple sentences (short, well planned clips) and then as you get more skilled expand them into longer paragraphs with richer vocabulary. And if time or skill set or priorities don’t allow go out and find a translator (a media professional) to help you out. You’ll get from Point A to Point B much faster and with much less misunderstanding.

These come from the June 2009 Larry Jordan newsletter who got them from Ric Viers, author of The Sound Effects Bible.

1. Thou Shalt Have a Pre-Roll and Post-Roll of Two Seconds on Each Recording.
2. Thou Shalt Record More Than You Need.
3. Thou Shalt Slate Every Take with as Much Information as Possible.
4. Thou Shalt Check Thy Levels Often.
5. Thou Shalt Listen to Thy Work by Always Wearing Headphones.
6. Thou Shalt Eliminate All Background Noise.
7. Thou Shalt Not Interrupt a Take.
8. Thou Shalt Point the Microphone at the Sound.
9. Thou Shalt Check Thy Equipment Before Going Into the Field.
10. Thou Shalt Remember the Copyright Laws to Keep Them Unbroken.

Many of these are actually good for any kind of production such as 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, and 10.

Enjoy!

Sometimes you have content that needs the web just to get the right distribution to the right audience. But reading, like writing, for the web is different than for print.

I would use this article as your starting point. Then start thinking like your visitors and then do the common sense test.

It wasn’t birthed and hasn’t always been here. Somebody figured it out and it’s the guy in this video clip, Philo T. Farnsworth. (If you wanted to find out which inventor you are on Facebook wouldn’t you want to be Philo T. Farnsworth? I think Daffy Duck is playing him in the biopic.)

Actually there is some controversy about who and when was television invented. Some contend it was RCA’s Vladimir Zworykin.) But Philo has the best story. He was plowing his father’s field when he noticed the lines that the plow made. And he thought “That’s how we’ll do it!” Why was he plowing his father’s field? Was his dad sick? No, Philo was only 14; it was one of his chores. 

Watch til the end cuz you don’t want to miss the prizes. Oh, I’ll tell: it’s 40 bucks and a carton of Winstons. That’s cigarettes. 

So here you go: Philo T. Farnsworth on “I’ve Got a Secret.”

Thanks Alliance for Community Media list!