Video Chat Interviews
Now I’m sure by this point that many of you reading this will have had video chats and video meetings using services like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet. It’s a great tool for connecting with members of your team who are working from home, or to have meetings with clients. But aside from being used as a communications service, it can also be used as a powerful tool to capture interviews to tell real, authentic stories for your brand.
Just like a traditional video interview, you can structure a Zoom interview to capture footage that can then be edited together into a cohesive story.
In a lot of ways, using Zoom opens up many opportunities to tell unique stories. You can use zoom to set up interviews with key stakeholders within your company, to reach out to external voices from around the world, or to add a candid touch to your current messaging.
It demonstrates that you’re taking responsible steps to stay safe as an organization. This means that your audience will be forgiving about things like video quality, which in a lot of ways, is a freeing way to tell your story. Be real, be authentic, and your video will resonate with your audience.
Animation and Motion Graphics
The second technique that you can leverage to stay socially distant is animation and motion graphics. With animation, we get to take ideas, concepts, and stories, and bring them to life by animating characters, shapes, and text frame by frame.
Animation and live action videos can both accomplish the exact same things. They have the power to inspire, educate, and entertain. They can do everything from tell your company story – your reason for existing, to explain your services in a super effective way.
Check out this animated New York Ad Week installation video we made for Namaste Technologies that showcases the customer’s journey through Namaste’s products. We think this video showcases how you can create engaging content with animation while staying on-brand.
We love animation and motion graphics because truly anything is possible. Also, the beauty of it is that it’s just us and a computer so staying socially distant is no problem at all.
Repurposing Existing Content
The last technique that I want to share with you is repurposing existing footage into something new.
This can be a great way to breathe some new life into projects you’ve already completed. It all starts with taking a look at your content library and seeing what you have to work with. Sometimes, all it takes is recording a new voice over for one of your existing videos to update your messaging. Other times, it’s possible to craft entirely new stories using old photographs, videos, cell phone clips, news appearances, acceptance speeches – the list goes on and on.
We used this ‘found footage’ technique in a video for Taiga called It’s What We Do. We were able to showcase their rich history in the aviation space by cutting a montage of old photographs, GoPro footage, cell phone pictures, thermal camera footage, and more. And while we didn't create this particular video during COVID, that just shows how great this option is - it's just a powerful approach to tell an authentic story – because it’s about as authentic as it gets.
Stay Safe, Creatively
So that’s it! 3 ways to make videos during COVID-19, even when traditional productions aren’t an option.
If you want to start planning a production and have any questions about how we can make it possible, feel free to reach out to us – we’re happy to help.