In this episode of The Creative Brief, Josh sits down with marketing professional Matt Lesinksi to discuss the inbound marketing methodology, how you can use video to support it, and how it can heighten your marketing efforts and sales process.
The Creative Brief | S1E1: Episodic Content
In this first episode of The Creative Brief, Josh speaks with Emily Butz Austerberry, editor for the Lighthouse Mission Ministries’ ‘Hope for Bellingham’ 5-part series and mini-documentary. They discuss episodic content, its value, and tips for creating episodic content for your brand.
Our COVID-19 Policies
Quick Links
The COVID-19 prevention and response measures adopted at Veritas Media and outlined in this document are based on, and fully compliant with, the existing government requirements in Washington State and Whatcom County.
Visitor Expectations:
- The Veritas office is open to visitors by appointment only, including on-camera talent during production and current contractors
- All visitors will self-monitor their health, and will not visit or participate in in-person shoots if feeling ill, or if they were in contact/suspected contact with someone with COVID-19. They will alert Veritas staff as soon as possible if they will not be able to participate in a shoot.
- All visitors will:
- Use hand sanitizer upon entry
- Wear a CDC-approved mask at all times (Please note that face shields alone do not meet this requirement)
- Remain at least 6-feet away from others at all times
- Additionally, all on-camera talent will:
- Wear a mask at all times, with the exception of when the camera is actively rolling (Veritas staff will help advise you)
- Provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test result received within 24 hours of the shoot if they will be appearing on camera with others
- Agree that refusal to comply may result in the shoot being terminated. Additional fees may apply.
- Additionally, all contractors will:
- Disinfect gear and/or workstation (including drives) before and after use
- Agree that refusal to comply may result in termination of the work contract.
Production Measures:
- When on a shoot/production (in studio or on location), all staff and visitors (on-camera talent and/or contractors) will:
- Use hand sanitizer upon entry
- Wear a mask at all times, with the exception of on-camera talent, only when the camera is rolling
- Remain at least 6-feet away from others at all times
- When multiple people will be appearing on camera together, we require that each person show proof of a negative rapid antigen test within 24 hours of the shoot, regardless of vaccination status.
- All high-touch areas are to be disinfected before and after each production, including (but not limited to):
- Tripod handles, latches, knobs & dials
- Camera lenses (focus/aperture rings)
- Camera bodies (all buttons, handles, grips)
- Media (SD cards, SSDs)
- Batteries & chargers
- Case handles, latches & zippers
- Teleprompter & controlling computer (power buttons, cables, keyboard, mouse, monitor)
- A designated staff representative will be present at each production to ensure all safety requirements are being met
In the event of a positive test:
- Veritas will fully comply with current Whatcom County Health Department guidance, outlined here. We expect all visitors and on-camera talent to follow this guidance as well.
- If on-camera talent has a positive test:
- Veritas will work with the client to see if another individual (who has not had contact with the person who tested positive) can fill in to be on-camera talent
- Shoot(s) may need to be rescheduled or cancelled
Other Day-to-Day Preventative Measures:
- When present in the office, staff will:
- Use hand sanitizer upon entry & throughout the day
- Wear a mask at all times
- Disinfect workstation and surfaces before and after use
- Social distance & limit room occupancy whenever possible
- Staff will monitor their own health, and will not physically come in to work when feeling ill. If experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, staff will notify management, and get tested as soon as possible.
- Veritas will be in contact with contractors, to gauge availability to step in and cover work in the event that a staff member falls ill.
- The Veritas office is open to visitors by appointment only, including on-camera talent during production and current contractors
Tips for DIY-ing your video
Whether you’re working on a budget, or just looking to flex your creative muscles, there may be times you want to record some of your own video for a project with us. That’s great! Here are some tips to make your video look its best. (And when you’re ready to send your videos our way, check out our post on the specs we need to work with!)
It all starts with pre-production
Pre-production is the phase where we document and plan what the final video is going to look like. It’s the most important step in our process, and we highly recommend you start there, too! Take a few minutes to write out what you want to say and show, and the order in which you want to do it.
If you’ll be presenting from a script (as opposed to an interview, for example) a teleprompter can be a useful tool. Here’s one you can use on your phone when recording!
Use plenty of light
The rule is just like taking a good selfie: lighting makes a huge difference in the quality of your video. Whenever possible, record near a source of indirect natural light—by a window, or outside on an overcast day, or in a shaded area on a bright, clear day.
Capture clear, crisp audio
Audio quality is arguably more important than your video quality—it doesn’t matter how good your video looks if no one can understand what you’re saying! Record in a quiet, isolated space that minimizes background noise like road traffic & sirens, HVAC units, etc. When recording audio only (like for a voiceover) record in your closet where clothes and carpet can absorb echo and excess noise.
Another quick note on audio: If you have a specific music track you want to use, send that to us separately—don’t add it into your video. This gives us more control on editing the volume of the spoken portions of the video, then we can add your music track under that.
Camera handling
If you’re recording on a phone, remember to rotate it and record horizontally. You can also avoid “shaky cam” by having your camera operator anchor themselves on a surface like a countertop, table, or a wall. For a more flattering angle, try to get the camera just above your talent’s eye level, and slightly tilted down.
Got budget?
If you plan on doing a lot of DIY video and have a bit of money to spend, these minor purchases below will be well worth your investment!
Phone tripod stand | For less than $20, you can eliminate shaky cam (and, sometimes, the need for a camera operator, too) with a tripod made to hold your phone. Most models will also work with a small DSLR, action cam, or point-and-shoot camera.
Here’s one option from Amazon.
Bonus: some tripod stands come with a ring light that can add flattering, even lighting to your subject. Check out this one on Amazon.
Starter lapel mic | Instantly improve your audio quality with a simple lavalier (aka lapel) microphone. Simply clip onto your shirt, hide the cable behind you or under your clothes, and you’re good to go. There are models out there that can connect to your phone, computer, or tablet. We like this model by PowerDeWise, available on Amazon.
Recognizing your sponsors with video
Many of our clients have sponsors that they need to recognize in their videos and events. We’ve put together this menu of Sponsor Value-Adds that we can implement in your next project. Pricing varies; chat will our sales team to learn more!
As you evaluate how to recognize your sponsors, keep in mind your sponsor ship levels/tiers. This can influence the logo/brand prominence, duration and frequency of recognition, and more. We are happy to provide recommendations and help you determine the best way to give value to your sponsors!
Sponsor splash slide
List all of your sponsors on a slide/title card that can be displayed at the beginning or end of your video, during a pre-show slide deck, or as you verbally recognize sponsors in your program.
Duration: varies
Sponsor bumper
Feature your sponsors with video clips of their location and/or services, their logo, and professionally recorded audio.
Duration: 5 seconds
Sponsor ad spot
If your sponsors have an existing 15- or 30-second ad spot, we can include it in your program as part of a brief “commercial break.” (If your sponsor doesn’t have an ad spot, we can produce one at additional cost.)
Duration: 15 or 30 seconds
Sponsor bug
In broadcast, a “bug” is a small on-screen graphic at the top or lower third of the screen (think network logos, or the score of a sports game). Our sponsor bugs animate in and out, and feature the sponsor’s logo and tier of sponsorship.
Duration: 3 seconds
Sponsor snipe
Snipes are similar to bugs, but include photos and/or footage. They are also larger than bugs, and have a longer duration.
Duration: 7 seconds
Custom Thumbnails
Feature your sponsor(s) on a custom thumbnail for your videos. We recommend these for videos in a series to visually tie the whole project together.
