Blog
QR codes for Video
We always suggest adding QR codes to the end of videos but did you know how flexible they are? (more…)
Proud to be working with the Beverly School for the Deaf
Duchin Productions supports numerous local and national non-profit organizations, and we’re proud to announce we’re now assisting the Beverly School for the Deaf and the Children’s Center for Communication. (more…)
How long should a video be?
You can read all over the internet that videos should NEVER be longer than two or three minutes. When we get asked the same question, our response is “a video needs to be as long as it needs to be,” length should be the last thing on your mind. There’s no doubt that most videos are about three minutes long since that tends to be the limit of many people’s attention. (more…)
QR Codes in videos
QR (Quick Response) codes are those funny square boxes you can find on all kinds of product. Invented back in the early 1990’s, they were initially used for inventory tracking. Companies are (more…)
Make your videos Timeless
Make your videos Timeless!
One of our goals is to create videos that get used for years and years. The following tips will hopefully give you ideas to extend the shelf life of all your content. (more…)
Making Videos without Video.
We frequently get calls from people wanting to do videos on a limited budget. The following example shows how creative use of still photography and Photoshopped graphics can make really decent video. (more…)
Surprising results from Facebook video tests.
For some time now, we’ve wanted to test the limits of uploading video to Facebook. We’ve learned some really interesting things that we wanted to share with our followers. (more…)
Tips for Production Assistants
Breaking into the world of production can be tricky but one of the best ways is to start as a PA (production assistant). Historically, the smaller the crew the more responsibility you’ll have but that’s not always the case. (more…)
Video at NPR
(L to R) Jay, Monica Brady-Myerov, Ron Steenbruggen, Matt Eddy
Many of you who follow our blog know we’re big supporters of Matt Eddy and officialmattsplace.org. In June of 2011, Matt and Ron Steenbruggen were interviewed by Monica Brady-Myerov on the NPR program Here and Now. We decided showed up (more…)
Google uses video to recruit
We frequently hear companies complain that it’s hard to find good people. The fact is good people want to work for great companies. So let’s assume you have a great company but it just doesn’t sound credible coming from you, the employer. There’s probably no better place to hear the truth than from (more…)
How to add video to your Linkedin profile
Linkedin continues to be one of the strongest ways to build your business or personal connections. New features are always being added and it’s important to check your profile frequently to see what the newest offerings are. What many people don’t know is you can have videos play directly on your profiles. There’re an array of ways to accomplish this but our favorite and easiest way is with YouTube and Google.
The steps are pretty straight forward. You’ll need the following: (more…)
Guinness World Record Success
Back in 2010, we got a call about building a custom camera system for a world record attempt, crossing America in a wheelchair. The requirements were pretty extreme but as we learned more about the person and the purpose, we couldn’t say no. (more…)
Video Helicopter services
We saw lots of great equipment at the 2011 National Association of Broadcasters trade show. One of our favorite products wasn’t a camera or lens, it was a helicopter. We couldn’t resist it and ended up buying one. (more…)
Super Slow Motion Video
Duchin Productions is excited to now offer high speed, super slow motion video production for research, development and marketing applications. Companies no longer need to purchase and maintain these $200,000 cameras systems because we now bring the technology, expertise and equipment right to your door. (more…)
How to make a viral video
Viral videos can really be a fantastic way to get your business noticed. The problem is you can’t make a viral video, it all happens outside your control. There are a number of things you can do to (more…)
Video Tip: Working with bad video
Technology keeps coming up with ways consumers and businesses can record their own video. Everything from the mighty Flip-type units to Smartphones now allow people to capture events with the push of a button. When used properly, these tiny cameras can yield great results. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case. We’re often (more…)
Green screen location shooting
Green screening, also known as Chroma Keying, is a special effect technique for placing people or objects in otherwise impossible locations. Production studios are truly the best places to capture this effect, but it’s not always feasible. Location green screening can be done with proper planning and equipment. (more…)
10 tips for video recording presentations
President Bill Clinton in New Hampshire
10 tips for video recording presentations
We wanted to share some tips for recording people. No doubt everyone has seen dark, blurry, shaky camera shots of CEOs giving important speeches. This is often the result of someone saying “It’s just a presentation, we don’t need anything fancy.” If it’s important enough to have it recorded, then it’s just as important to do it correctly. Below are some suggestions for recording people when there’s no time to hire a crew. (more…)
Ten tips for recording great audio with your SmartPhone
An external microphone for the iPhone
Today’s SmartPhones are really, really smart. We often forget all of the things they’re capable of doing, like recording audio. We’d like to share some simple tips to get fantastic results with these hand-held marvels.
1. Turn off the phone and alert features.
The first thing you must do is turn off all things that could interrupt the recording such as calendar alerts, text messaging, reminder alarms and most importantly, the phone feature.
2. Place the device close to the sound source.
If there’s a sound system, try getting the phone near a speaker. If there’s no sound system, consider leaving your phone at the podium to get the best results. Placing the phone on a napkin can reduce unwanted noise from finger tapping or computer clicks. Anything you can do to prevent the phone from sitting directly on the podium will help. (more…)
Professional Voice Over Talent Saves Money
It sounds crazy but spending money on professional talent will almost always save clients money in the end. When a voice over is needed for a production, people often feel they can save money by using someone in their office. Here are a few reasons why we encourage clients to go pro:
1. Pros can be directed on inflection, feel, speed, warmth etc.
2. What is the cost to your business to pull someone away from what they’re paid to do?
3. Non-professionals often require numerous takes to get right. More takes means more time editing all the pieces together
4. Many voice professionals work by the hour. We encourage clients to prepare additional read material such as a corporate telephone greeting. It’s all about getting the maximum for your investment.
Whether you need a male or female voice, child or elderly person, we have many, many pros that we work with and do a spectacular job.
How to Make Big Facebook Page Images
Facebook works great with video however we wanted to share with you a non-video tip. One of the goals of our blog is to offer general marketing tips in addition to video suggestions and ideas.
Have you ever wondered why some profile images are tiny and others look downright enormous? Well there are some hidden secrets for maximizing you Facebook Page that we’re going to share with you.
Let say someone gave you a giant billboard to put your information on, completely free of charge. Instead of using the entire space, you just upload a tiny logo. Facebook actually allows you to place a pretty big profile image up but many don’t understand how to do it. The unknown secret is you can place a 200 x 600 pixel image up there. To get an idea how big that is, take a peek at our FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duchin-Productions-Inc/73069796717
Web video vs. TV Video Advertising
One of the main challenges with buying TV time is you have to get lucky with your audience. Did you buy enough media on the right channels and during the right times to get your business noticed? With the Web, your video content is up 24/7. If you’re like most, you go to the web when you need products and/or services. Having great video on your site greatly increases your natural search engine results. According to eMarketer it’s 52% easier to get a first page ranking through video than via any other optimization strategy
The following article says it all.
http://www.emarketer.com/blog/index.php/tv-online-video/
We offer a number of video solutions for all budgets. Call today to learn more: 978.338.5699
Create employee video testimonials to attract top talent
Just about everyone today understands the value of customer testimonials. There’s really nobody better to convince prospective buyers that you offer great products and services than your own happy customers. The same is true when it comes to hiring great people. (more…)
Converting Radio Ads into Video
We recently posted information about converting print ads into video and here’s another suggestion. Convert audio from your radio spots to video. Radio ads tend to be really well produced and have strong messages and call-to-actions. The down side (more…)
Converting Print Ads into Video
Don’t waste your print advertising! We have an inexpensive way to make your print ads available 24/7 by turning them into videos. If you’re tilting your head sideways and thinking we’re nuts, let us explain. Chances are, your ads have the following: (more…)
Good questions to ask during customer video testimonials
We received a call from one of our good clients who was conducting a series of customer video testimonials out of state. She asked if we could put together a list of generic questions to ask the interviewee. Even though we weren’t the vendor, we always want to help our clients in need. The feedback was great so we thought we’d share these common interview questions with the rest of our client base.
Questions:
- What differentiates _______ from (more…)
LED Location Lighting: Faster, Better, Greener
So for anyone who’s ever been involved in a video shoot, you know there’s a lot of lighting involved. Indoor shooting, outdoor shooting, daytime or night, there are lights. Hot lights. Heavy lights. Lights with bulbs containing dangerous chemicals like mercury and phosphorous. What’s a video production company like Duchin Productions to do?
Invest in LED lighting, that’s what. You’ve probably heard the term LED lighting for some time now, but what’s it all about? Well, first off, LED stands for light-emitting diode. To fully explain that, we’d have to get into recombining electrons, a discussion of photons, and the nature of electroluminescence. Yawn. (more…)
An alternate approach to videotaping customer testimonials.
There are numerous advantages to having video testimonials on your website but what many don’t realize is they can actually improve search engine results. The traditional approach is to get a room, set up some lights and bring your customers in to talk about your business. The downside of this is it’s not always convenient for your customers to come to you. An alternative is to use the Man-on-the-street approach during user conferences or trade shows. Clients find this is easier on their customers and limits the need of their valuable time. The following is an example from a networking event where we encouraged people to talk about why attending the gathering is helpful and why others should start attending. You’ll notice a few things: (more…)
Video Branding Strategies
Video branding means different things to different people. For some, it’s simply a watermarked logo in the corner of the video frame, while for others it’s ensuring a consistent look and feel.
Videos that we produce historically fall into two distinct categories: marketing and educational. (more…)
10 Tips to Make Webcams Look Great
We get many questions about webcams so we’re going to share some tips about how to get great images from your cameras. There’s a big misconception that you need an expensive camera to get great looking video. The truth is you can make just about any webcam look professional by following these simple tips.
#1. Turn on the lights.
Cameras want light. The darker the room, the harder your camera has to work to make a picture. If your video starts looking grainy, then your camera is working extra hard to make the picture. Make it easy and turn up the lights. (more…)
Video production at hotels
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Hotel rooms and conference room suites are great for shooting video testimonials. They’re often easy to find, have all kinds of amenities for talent and crew and they’re often much more affordable compared to renting studio space. |
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Before bringing anything into the room, we look around to see what existing elements can be used in the shot. Positioning talent near existing lighting fixtures often means less equipment needs to be brought into the room. For this particular shoot, we used the overhead chandelier for a soft, global light but also to hold the back-up microphone. If no one’s available to stand in for prelighitng, a pillow can be a great substitute |
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Hotel rooms are also handy for food. We often encourage clients to have a basic coffee, tea, water set up. It not only shows your appreciation for their time it’s also great should someone get a coughing attack, has a scratchy throat or is just plain thirsty. |
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A still frame from the final video |
Food Network Video Shoot
Thomson Communications of Middleton called with a delicious project. Jay Duchin would be filming the owner of Cakes for Occasions, Kelley Delaney, in her natural habitat… a bakery! Cakes for Occasions is a nut-free bakery creating the most delectable gourmet cakes and pastries for all milestones. Duchin has been a fan of Cakes for Occasions for many years (especially because he has a niece who is allergic to nuts) and he was thrilled to have the opportunity of working with them. (more…)
Shooting Video with Motorcycles
My multitasking wheels were really turning at the Whitehorse Press Publishers motorcycle shoot. I had the honor of working with internationally recognized motorcycle expert Ken Condon in filming a companion video for his new book “Riding in the Zone”. “Riding in the Zone” is a book that will help early-intermediate to early-advanced riders learn the physical and mental riding techniques in order to become more confident on their bike. (more…)
Krissy Mercurio, Social Media Pro
Krissy Mercurio is really such an amzing asset to my business. Smart, creative and always a smile. She comes in to do a wide array of things from updating my blog posts to brainstorming ideas for videos. She’s one of the best independent contractors out there. If you need help getting your marketing and communications out, give KM a call. I wish I could take credit for all I do but I’m always getting by with a little help from my friends. If you’d like to hire her for your own business, just send me an email and I’ll forward you her info.
Wheaton College Edit
Tim Morse (left) of M&M Films edits a DVD project with Tim Cunningham for Wheaton college in the edit suite.
Setting Up For A Video Shoot
This post provides a visual story on what it take to set up for a video shoot. Setting up for a shoot like this can take several hours and don’t forget to factor the load and unload time. One of the biggest challenges for video it the lighting and Duchin Productions has invested heavily in a full complement of LED lighting.
Here is a shot of Guy Holt hanging 4 bank Kinoflos using Porta-Grid clamps (guy is also the inventor of the Porta-Grid clamp). The low ceiling made this shoot pretty challenging. (more…)
Dressing for the camera
A few tips, tricks and ideas for making the best of on-camera appearances.
- First and foremost, ask the producer what to wear. It shows you want to look your best and that you want to make things go smoothly. (more…)
Video Tips and Tricks
Hello friends of Duchin Productions,
I’m planning on using this space to list the tips and tricks I’ve recently been Tweeting about. Hope you find it helpful and please let me know if you have any specific questions you’d like answered.
Thanks,
Jay
- Most hotels now use compact fluorescent bulbs, bring minus green gels to correct or add a 60w tungsten bulbs your kit when you need a background practical
- Pillows work great for pre-lighting without a stand in. http://twitpic.com/469aa
- When shooting video testimonials always have something for the guest to eat/drink. Photo from recent shoot http://twitpic.com/4695r
Small budget tradeshow booths can still have great impact.
Duchin Productions has been creating video for trade shows for years. In that time, we’ve learned some great cost saving tricks to maximize exhibitor space and exposure regardless of the size of the booth space. One of our clients recently exhibited at a large trade show and despite a modest budget, they were still able to make an impact. We decided to share these tips with everyone: (more…)
Save money and don’t videotape your seminars!
Why on earth would a video company tell you not to videotape a seminar? Duchin Productions always wants to provide the best solution for every project, regardless of the financial impact to us. In fact about 80% of the time, we recommend that clients to skip videotaping seminars and simply record the audio content. Here’s a breakdown of the reasons why: (more…)
NY Times Lotus Exige Review
I know Blogs are supposed to be written by the person who’s blog it is but Jeff Cutler did such a great job with this write up, I’m leaving it as is.
Jay Duchin – The New York Times/Lotus Exige Shoot
By Jeff Cutler, www.jeffcutler.com, http://jeffcutler.com/jeff
If you know Jay Duchin, you realize he’s a car and cycle nut. Not bicycle, motorcycle. He’s got a need for speed. So when the New York Times – yes, that New York Times – called him to shoot a speeding car at an empty airstrip, he was stoked. (more…)
