The Value Multi-Cam Approach Brings to Client Relationships

Source bins and project timeline for multi-cam production using Adobe Premiere CC 2017 editing workflow.

Every client is looking for value, and by adding additional camera angles, and initially including it as a special introductory offer could help to establish new business relationships.

You can be smart though; you don’t have to give away the store and incur more expense than you feel comfortable with.  Those cameras can be unmanned as long as you plan well. And the added coverage will take your interviewee or presenters’ stand ups to another level in post-production.

Remember, to save yourself time when you get to editing, make sure you do a sync clap, slate or lock timecode on set, at minimum, have all camera mics on in addition to your your lavalier mic or mixer feeds.

In the edit, creating multi-cam sequences is as easy as logging all your clips from all camera angles, audio sources like a zoom recorder and, then taking a methodical approach to scenes, subclips and segments.  Adobe Premiere does a great job of creating a fully synced sequence, which you can then open up in your timeline to do a live on-the-fly multi-cam edit, while also flexible in tools and techniques to adjust all facets of the video and audio tracks.

As content creators, adding value while working smarter, not harder should be your goal.  Offering clients solutions that meet their needs and, being willing to grow with them as their projects increase in complexity, concepts and budgets is all you can ask for.

Thinking On Your Feet

The interview set when we arrived on the left. After on the right.

When looking for the right production company, you, of course, want to hire people with relevant experience and a track record of success…and you also want to hire people who can roll with the punches and think on their feet.

Such was the case, when we were recently hired to shoot what we were told was “just an hour or so…” of video interviews for an international law firm. This was in preparation for their annual summit, near our offices in Palm Beach. Although we participated in numerous calls in preparation for the shoot, our point person, an associate who was out of state, knew just a bit about the vision of her internal client. We arrived on location with our standard field package, including two cameras, lighting and sound gear.

When we walked our assigned conference room, we were shown all the props and set pieces (contained in the photo on the left…1 chair), but were quickly told that the real vision had not been properly relayed.

“Can we shoot interviews with a moderator and a guest, and if possible to make it look like a network news ‘talk show’?” the client asked.

Our team exchanged looks, smiled, and got to work.

The in-house catering manager and “destination management pro” on site kindly dropped everything to help us. Within ten next minutes, we pulled together potted plants, vases, and candles, reconfigured the set to make use of a corner, and found some framing elements, such as a portable wall. Within thirty minutes, we had our base-lighting scheme, props, and talent in place. Then it was just a matter of directing the talent through their interviews.

The take-away? Thinking on one’s feet is part of every producer’s job. Preparation is key, but we must always also be prepared for the unexpected, and, when it does, find creative solutions that work.

Shaping The Brand

Fiala PR needed a new website and dynamic content to communicate its message.

One of our favorite tasks as multimedia producers is meeting companies at various stages of their business cycles. Helping them share their stories, while shining a spotlight on their allocated service or product is quite an honor. Getting behind-the-scenes peeks into corporate cultures, styles, and business process is fascinating.

This past quarter we helped launch a fresh new look for a company in Las Vegas, Nevada that specializes in providing Certified Project Management Professionals to both municipal and private organizations. Their website, www.FialaPR.com , has recently been launched, their new video is in the works, and their position in the Southwest U.S. is now rapidly growing. Exciting!

Every Business Has a Story to Share... But When?

Our studio is an interesting mix of video and film production with eye candy classic muscle car collection and memorabilia.

Promoting oneself or one’s company is tricky business. We all have a story to share and things that we’re proud of, but we never want to come across as… bragging. It’s a fine line, and South Florida Media Group knows how to tow it. We are successful at creating visual media that tells business stories which motivate, inspire, and impart valuable life lessons.

This is exactly what we are now doing for Scott C. from For Ever Green Landscape Services. Scott has entrusted us with his new initiative (which involves website development, video and audio production, and social media). He is an example of a business leader whose resilience and determination not only helped him create and build a successful company, but also, now enable him to share his influence and great success with others.

Scott is an outgoing, very personable man with a large staff that he likes to share the spotlight with. His Lake Worth, Fl business provides landscaping, design, and maintenance services to Home Owners Associations and Commercial Property Management properties throughout South Florida.

Scott’s interest in his business began developing when he was just a teenager, cutting neighborhood lawns. Even back then, he saw that a little bit of maintenance really enhanced the appearance of a property, and just made people feel better about where they lived. While today, Scott’s business has exploded and employs a full staff of technicians who make his clients’ properties immaculate, Scott also has a desire to help other parts of his community. So, in addition to servicing his loyal clients, he also donates his resources to maintain properties for his local YMCA and JCC, and provides a helping hand to less fortunate youth in his area.

The focus of our messaging will be to balance both aspects of For Ever Green’s mission, while providing a call to action to enhance Scott’s professional and personal goals. Shooting the founder on green screen at 4k will preserve our ability to brand his messaging in a way consistent with the look and feel of our social media efforts.