Blog
Welcome to the Duchin Productions Blog
Recruitment videos for companies with sensitive information
Recruitment videos are great for attracting top talent. The challenge comes when you sell or make something that can’t be discussed publicly. So how do you convince prospects your company is a great place to work without telling them details about what you do? Our experience working with science and technology companies has taught us an array of tricks to get around the challenge. We’d love to show you the video we recently completed for one of our great clients but it can’t be shared here. The good news is we can...
read moreImmunizations Required for Video Production Personnel
We often have to shoot inside operating rooms that can expose us to bloodborne pathogens and an array of other concerns. Many hospitals and medical organizations are now requiring all video production personnel have proof of immunization for insurance and general protection purposes. Below is a current list required by one of our clients: Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) – documentation of one dose Tuberculin Skin Test (TST/MDPH): • 2 Step TST upon entering healthcare or • TST done within last year plus TB Skin Test/Questionnaire...
read moreChallenges of video recording in Anechoic chambers
It’s no secret that we love science and technology. On this particular day, we knew we’d be shooting some RFID technology but we didn’t know we’d have to shoot inside an Anechoic chamber. We’ll skip the details on what the room is and just tell you it’s really, really, really quiet inside. This particular room was filled with pointed foam acoustic tiles everywhere. This might not seem like too much of a problem until you consider lighting. Normally we have lots of flat floor to place our hot lights...
read moreThe glamour of shooting in exotic international locations
This is often the reality of our travel to far away places. We got the call to go to Morocco and shoot segments for a reporter covering the launch of a new Land Rover. We were only staying two days but we were excited to explore this mysterious destination. Our client flew us out first class and put us up at the finest hotels around. The reality was we had torrential rain each day. If you look closely, there’s a cat sleeping on the pillow of what should have been Jay’s outdoor patio. At least someone could enjoy the...
read moreShooting hand held video
The camera is as heavy as it looks. When you start to add on batteries, microphones, wireless receivers and other pieces, things quickly start to get heavy. For this particular project, going handheld was our only option for getting the shot. One of our biggest tricks in getting smooth, sharp handheld footage is to use a wide angle lens. The wider the lens, the more stable your shot will appear. This particular lens is one of Jay Duchin’s favorite. The lens alone costs over $8,000, which is more than some companies spend on their...
read moreVideo recording in stores
There are huge advantages to some of our shoots. Besides working with great people on this training video, we were also able to do a bit of food shopping afterwards. This particular food store remained open during our time there but we wanted to avoid getting customers in the shots. One trick is to raise the camera to the maximum height which limits how much is in the background and at the same times makes for some great perspective...
read moreTraveling with video equipment
Going on remote locations around the world often isn’t a glamorous as many people think. It takes more time to get through security lines and the really expensive pieces like cameras should all be hand carried. Sometimes we’re able to take smaller cameras but it’s now always feasible. On this particular trip, the camera fit in the overhead bin. One trick we’ve learned over the years is to pack along some inflatable neck pillows. These can be inflated and used to help protect the camera and other spare parts we...
read moreMaking people comfortable
This particular shoot was about a companies 10 year anniversary. There were some items we wanted to show in the background which meant setting the camera at a very specific height. This meant we had to put our interviewee on a tall stool to get them at just the right height. We gave our person a box to put their feet on so they could be comfortable. If your talent isn’t comfortable, they might not give you what your looking for and their tolerance for being in front of the camera is greatly...
read moreTurn Software Demos into Videos
Web based demos are great tools for prospective customers and both your internal sales and training departments. We’re frequently asked to create these software demos or sometimes just tweak existing materials. Our experience has taught us a few tricks to make them really effective and we love sharing them. Here are a few: Script: People who can do an effective software demo are hard to find. The successful ones laser focus on the topic at hand, and they’re able to control the annoying “ums” and “ahs.” We always suggest creating a...
read moreVideo Special Effects on a Budget
Want to add special effects to your videos but don’t want to spend a fortune? You may be surprised to learn that it can be affordable if you’re up for trying some unconventional approaches. Below, we’ve detailed a project where we created an invisible whiteboard. We’re fortunate to work with some really wonderful people. One of our favorites is Dr. Woodie Flowers, emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. If his name sounds familiar, he was the original host of the PBS series Scientific American Frontiers. We’ve created many videos...
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