Events

October 13 2022

Nonprofit Storytelling Lines to Cross

With gala season in full swing, nonprofit storytelling is at the forefront of our minds. However, is there such a thing as crossing a line with the content? When a story becomes uncomfortable, should you stop, or is that the point at which the audience truly engages?

The fine line of nonprofit storytelling, explored by Helen Saks, CEO of Striking Media.

It wasn’t so many years ago that nonprofits protected their grantees fiercely with regards to sharing their stories at fundraising galas – they didn’t want to talk about their experiences – it was demeaning – they didn’t feel good about accepting support so we shouldn’t ask them the difficult questions. It was a subject I always wrestled with, as a keen supporter of the nonprofits in our community but also as a lover of a good story. Never wanting to ‘expose’ anyone or to put anyone in an uncomfortable position, in fact quite the opposite, I always saw it as empowering to share.

The strength it takes to sit in front of a camera and in front of an interviewer and share a story never fails to amaze and humble me. To have the dignity to say ‘I fell on hard times, I sought support, but today I’m in a better place and I’m thankful’ will always inspire me.

I’ve interviewed hundreds of non profit grantees at this point and maybe it’s COVID related, but I feel like their stories get more and more powerful. Nothing is being held back. The truth is being shared in all its glory.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia every year tells a number of heartwarming community stories showcasing the results of their grants for their annual gala. The grants are wide reaching and impactful and are meticulously planned to reach those who may otherwise be overlooked. This year, for their first in-person gala since COVID, the community grantee videos include some incredibly moving stories.

United Community created a program to teach recent immigrants to the US about the tax system – a mystery to many who live here for years. Taught in their mother tongue, tax rebates were one of the issues on the agenda. Led by community ambassadors – folks who inspired confidence as they came from the same neighborhood as those who were learning – these workshops turned out to be life changing. From the individual who came to the workshop simply because she had some time on her hands, only to find out that she was due a $6000 tax rebate, to the ambassador in tears as she’s living “the American Dream” by helping her friends and neighbors access funds that they had no idea they had the right to. This is tear jerking stuff. Who knew a story about tax would make you cry!

A Farm Less Ordinary – a great name for an extraordinary business. Set up and led by Greg Masucci, inspired by his autistic son. A Farm Less Ordinary creates employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. It provides dignity, friendship, opportunity and a paycheck, as well as much needed respite for carers. Watching the ‘growers’ at work is inspiring and uplifting but hearing Greg’s story of his non verbal son’s successes on his journey moves you to tears. Not least due to Greg’s passionate, loving delivery that could never be rivaled by a board member telling the same tale from a distance. It HAS to be Greg telling us this story. His perspective is that of a loving father who recognized a great need in our community and took impressive actions to create opportunity. It is deeply moving. Thank goodness he was allowed to share his story and that he was brave enough to do so. Did he cry, yes! Did we cry, yes! Do we care, no!

Thirdly, SafeSpot. SafeSpot provides hope and healing for children who have been sexually abused in Fairfax County. A shocking statistic of one in ten children. It’s a place where children can feel safe, and share their story once, so that their abusers can be prosecuted without the endless, traumatic re-telling of the abuse. For many of us, it is unthinkable, but sadly, it is a much needed center. But how to tell their story in a compelling, compassionate manner? Never has Striking Media been more in admiration, than in this instance. A board member who had discovered SafeSpot by coincidence had her own history of child abuse to share, explaining why this center is so essential and why we must do everything we can to ensure that no child is turned away due to a lack of resources. Her story moves, it makes the hair on your arms prickle, even after multiple viewings. It is uncomfortable to watch, you get a sense of what is coming and you don’t want to hear it because we don’t want to believe it could be true, but it is as compelling a story as you will ever hear.

But herein lies the question, is it too much? How do you present such a story at a gala event while respecting that it may be triggering for some guests in the room? How to maintain dignity and respect at all times? All of these things were front and center for The Community Foundation to ensure that everybody who heard the story felt protected and directed if they needed support. The video has a warning ahead of it on screen, and the master of ceremonies carefully worded script contained a warning of the powerful content to come.

Our feeling at Striking Media, from the outset, was that this is a special story. From the pre-interview chat that had the interviewee, the interviewer and the client in tears. From the moment we shared in the studio in capturing the story, with minimal people in the space and every effort made to make it as comfortable as possible, given the circumstances. We always felt like this story would move the audience in an unprecedented way.

On the night of the gala, the story played out to the 500-strong audience and more than a few tears were wiped away, as a pin could have been heard dropping in the ballroom. Following the conclusion, a gentleman approached the interviewee and said to her ‘Your story was so powerful. I just donated $15,000.” The interviewee cried, the interviewer who happened to witness this moment, also cried. It was a breathtaking moment and one that we will never forget.

In our opinion at Striking Media, it is essential these stories are told. Some interviewees have described it as like therapy. Almost all express their desire to give back. It is hard to watch these stories and not be inspired to give. They are so emotive they provoke a response, which is exactly what our nonprofit friends need.

People are incredible, they survive the unimaginable and they focus their energies on giving back and making the world a better place for those that follow, even if they wished with all their heart that nobody would follow in their footsteps of victims of abuse or misfortune.

In Striking Media’s role as storytellers, we encourage the nonprofits to share their stories with the world, to inspire, to raise awareness and to raise much needed funds. In our hands, these stories will always be treated with the utmost respect.

helen.saks@strikingmedia.com

www.strikingmedia.com

Striking Media is a woman-owned business with over 25 years experience offering visual communication services, specializing in videography and photography. We are based in Falls Church, VA.

If you’re looking for a video producer in Virginia, DC, or MD please reach out!

For more information on our services, please click here. To get in touch with us, click here.

July 25 2022

Corporate Video Production

Blog: Corporate Video Production

Whether you are a small, medium or large company the rules of corporate video production remain the same.There’s no doubt about it, corporate video production is a valuable marketing tool that will differentiate you from your competitors and help you to stand out from the crowd. If people don’t know what you’re doing you lose an audience that could bring you business and help you to grow.

Our strong advice is to consider the value of customized imagery on your website and other platforms. Yes, it’s a pet hate at Striking Media, we admit it, but nevertheless, when we see corporate rebrands that feature stock photography or videography it leaves us sighing a great big sigh. Why, oh why not invest in customized visuals? They showcase your team, your brand, your ethos and that is exactly why you have platforms to talk about your work. In a recent survey by HubSpot, 81% of marketers say their primary company budgets specifically for video marketing. It is an investment you simply can’t afford not to make.

So, what kind of corporate videography would best represent your brand? This could come in a variety of forms from a loop reel, a branding video, product videos, a ‘how-to’, or just a warm welcome from the leadership team.

Let’s start with the loop reel. A loop reel is a series of planned videography shots that give an insight into the company, often placed at the top of your website. It could show the team at work in a series of formal and informal situations, in a conference room, at the coffee machine, in meetings etc. Essentially, as soon as the website visitor clicks on your website they are seeing your team, the faces you have chosen to represent your brand and this is an invaluable marketing tool.

Here’s an example of a loop reel bringing a company to life. The Alliance Group an executive search team based in Tysons, asked us to customize their website and the first step was a loop reel. They are all about the people – they have a charismatic team – and they are in the business of tireless searches to find the right individuals to place in senior roles. So showcasing the team was a natural step. The team actually made it so easy for us as we set the camera rolling and they naturally chatted and laughed together and those images were captured for the loop. We carefully planned a series of shots so that as many of the team could be represented as possible in a variety of different scenes, including one featuring a client. See the final product here. (The Alliance Group Corporate Website Opener)

Another recent project for Arlington Neighborhood Village

was supporting a website rebrand. Previously the management introduction video was self shot and on the new look website this video was begging to be re-done. A teleprompter read helped to make the presentation look more professional and with good lighting and audio, the team are thrilled with the result. The video is coming soon – watch this space!

Corporate videography is also a key tool for smaller entrepreneurs. Realtor Erin Mendenhall of Mendenhall Properties is a dynamic powerhouse and she contacted Striking Media with a need to update her visuals to present herself to potential new clients. Erin’s business is firmly situated in Arlington and as her tagline “It Starts With A Connection” suggests, she knows a lot of people! As we built her customized video, it was clear that a number of locations were needed to showcase her brand and as such we were able to showcase other local businesses including The Italian Store (create link), who generously allowed us to film some scenes of Erin out and about, at their Westover location. We also personalized her story, by sharing the love of her life, her dog Mason, who connects her to the community and helps her to make friends wherever she goes! See the final video here. (Erin Mendenhall Brand film)

Ultimately, corporate video production will always look different to each and every client. The important first step on Striking Media’s side is always to look and listen, in order to create customized works that speaks to the client’s brand and helps to elevate their messaging to the next level.

We will ask questions so that we have a full understanding of the client’s brand and needs. Where is the video going to be placed? Who is the target audience? Often, corporations have multiple audiences, perhaps partners and clients and new team recruits and one video can rarely serve all these audiences.

Striking Media can help to create sets, to enhance the space you have, to guide on wardrobe and props. The detail is always in the planning and the impact of a well designed space or colorful dress can bring the visuals to life.

Where you place the video will be a key to its success and it’s worth re-evaluating where you place your marketing tools. According to HubSpot, 67% of markets say that sharing their corporate videos on social media has the biggest ROI. Seventy percent of corporations set up their own YouTube channels – and we can help with this – and 60% use Instagram and 35% TikTok. TikTok is the platform currently increasing its visibility at the greatest speed with 54% of companies planning to put more investment in this direction in the coming year.

Another key focus will be on the video duration. We’re mindful of the viewer’s attention span. Our goal is always to have 100% attention, we’re not fighting off cell phones and other distractions. Did you know that the attention span of a goldfish is nine seconds, but according to a new study from Microsoft, people now lose concentration after just eight seconds? This serves to highlight the effects of an increasingly digitized lifestyle on the brain, meaning that our job is to create narratives that are nuanced, easy to digest, that provoke a reaction quickly. In a recent HubSpot survey, 64% of marketers surveyed say the optimal length of a short form marketing video is 20-60 seconds. Corporate videography can be simply a hook, created to provoke the first reaction – your call to action – send an email – get in touch – and then you can seal the deal.

A conversation is free and we’re always happy to chat. If you’d like to talk about your corporate videography needs – get in touch today.

June 10 2022

6 Key Storytelling Principles to Supercharge Your Videography

One of the things Striking Media’s clients worry about most is their video’s script. Many of our videography clients know that they want to invest in a powerful video that will help them meet their organization’s goals. But outstanding videography is more than just visuals – the script is the kernel at the center that brings the whole piece to life.

Whether our clients are using our turnkey scriptwriting services or are writing their scripts themselves, we find it’s most helpful to think not in terms of writing a video script, but in terms of telling a great story. Here are some of the key storytelling principles we use at Striking Media to help our videography clients’ audiences glued to the screen from beginning to end.

Plan for a “wow” moment – if you capture the audience’s attention at the beginning, you’ve won half the battle already. In order for your viewers to stay engaged with your video, you need to have a great start.
Think of your video script like a plot – as you may remember from English class, a good plot has some initial exposition, then rising action, which leads to a climax, followed by a resolution. Using that structure can help add the excitement that keeps people watching.
Use the magic videography formula – we’ll let you in on a secret that keeps our clients coming back: the magic videography formula, or “the four Ms.” Each video should include four Ms” a moment to laugh, a moment to cry, a moment to feel inspired, and a moment to give. Try it in your next script!
Do your homework – Before we film any interviews, Striking Media’s video production team connects with the client for a pre interview interview. Talking with the client before the camera is rolling gives us a big advantage. It helps us lay the foundation for the story, so that we can plan thoughtfully to create, and elicit, the building blocks of a compelling story from our interviewees.
Look to the classics – the great storytelling archetypes are woven into each of us at a deep level. The appeal of a “journey” story, or a “rags to riches” tale, endures. We draw inspiration from sources all around us to enrich and enliven the story’s we’re telling through videography.
Think it through – each video, like each story, must have a beginning, middle, and end. Paying attention to each phase of the narrative is key to using them to your advantage.

Supercharging your video with outstanding storytelling may sound difficult – and it can indeed be a challenge. If you want to make a video, but you’re stuck on the script, give us a shout. We can help you make your organization, and your message, the star of the show.

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Striking Media is a full-service media production company with over 25 years’ experience. Our passionate team of creatives work with brands of all sizes to create engaging visuals to boost visibility and raise awareness. Contact us today to find out more about how video can help you reach your business goals.

May 10 2022

Lighting

Understanding lighting dynamics for video can be a head scratcher. You want to stand out from the crowd with bold lighting that takes in your best qualities, but you don’t want to overdo it either. Too often selfshot videos feature people using odd colors for their skin palette or have harsh lighting either in front or behind them. You need to look good to get results!

So what principles can we implement to make an impression on your audience? Whether you’re using Zoom or making a DIY vlog, proper lighting can make or break your video.

Whether you realize it or not, you are dealing with practical forms of lighting on a daily basis. It blends into your daily routine, turning on the bathroom light, drawing a shade in the afternoon when it gets too bright. The first comment most people make when they wake up and look outside is a statement about the weather. They either say “Ahh what a beautiful morning!”, or “Ugh what a dreary day…”. This comment is a direct response to what the light outside looks like.

Golden hour is a term many of you have heard muttered by your photographer friends droning on about its charming qualities. But what makes the golden hour so special? The Golden Hour gets its name from the bright orange and red colors that are present during this period of time. This warm color temperature bathes everything in a soft golden glow. This is very flattering for portraits and creates a warm and cozy look (we’ll get into why later).

Now I’m not suggesting that you record every video and Zoom meeting at the crack of dawn! But understanding how we can apply this magic light to our videos might just be the game changer you’re looking for!

1: Back to the Basics – Three Point Lighting

Three point lighting is the bread and butter of video lighting. If you can understand how to master this simple yet powerful lighting setup you can make any set look like that beautiful morning!

As the name suggests, there are three main points of light with this setup each with their own unique job. First, you have the “keylight”. This is your main source of light on your subject, highlighting form, dimension and surface detail. If we were going to apply this to an everyday light source this would be the light on your bathroom mirror, or “beauty light”. You want this light to be large and soft (we’ll get to why soon). Next, you have your “fill light”. This light is normally set up perpendicular to your keylight and its job is to fill in the shadows. The third light is known as the “hairlight”. This light is set up opposite your keylight and helps your subject stand out from the background of the scene by lighting its back.

Now that we’ve discussed these lights, let’s get into how you can use this setup in your daily Zoom meeting!

Setting the Keylight

The keylight is arguably the most important light in this set up. The angle, color, brightness, and relative softness of the light all need to be taken into account. In the three-point (formula) lighting the key light is placed at an angle of between 30- and 45-degrees from either the left or the right of the camera. 45 degrees off to one side is best because, among other things, it brings out optimum form (dimension) in the subject. Does it matter if the key is on the right or the left? Possibly. There are four things you need to think about in making this decision.

Follow Source: Is there an apparent source of light in the setting such as a window or nearby table lamp? If so, be sure to light from this direction.
Consistency: In most settings it will look a bit strange if two people are sitting next to each other and one is keyed from the left and one from the right.
What’s your good side? (Yes, everyone has a goodside) Put the key on this side. It will emphasize the positive and downplay the less flattering side.
What’s most practical? If there is a wall or obstruction on one side of the subject — a possible problem when doing on-location shoots — you will generally want to key from the side that will enable you to use a 45-degree angle.

As mentioned before, you want the keylight to be as large and soft as possible. Like that morning or evening “golden hour” light. Soft light prevents hard shadows from diminishing the form and dimensions of your subject. Making sure the light source is large prevents pin lighting which can make eyes look small, and further softens the light. Just think about how big the sun is, that’s a big keylight!

Setting the fill light

Now that we’ve finished setting the keylight we can move on to the fill light. This is your most subtle light source, but not to be underestimated! The fill is there to make sure the shadows from the key light aren’t too dark. The fill light is usually about only about a quarter as bright as your key light. You place it on the opposite side from the key light, at about the height of the camera. There may be a temptation to put it at the same angle as the key — after all, we like symmetry — but don’t do that. One thing we’re trying to do here is use shadowing to make the two sides of the face look different, so try your fill light at an angle of 15 or 25 degrees, and adjust it to suit your aesthetic.

Setting the Backlight

We’re almost there! Now that we’ve set the key and fill lights, it’s time to put a little flare into your shot! The back light, sometimes called a hair or kicker, is aimed at the subject’s back, and, like the key light, it is usually 45-degrees off the axis and shines down upon the subject. This creates a bright rim around part of the subject, creating an outline which then appears to separate the shoulders from the background. The back light should be at least as bright as the key, often brighter.

Now you know how to use three-point lighting in your next video project. You understand why 3-point lighting is important, and what are a few of the fundamentals. Hungry for more content? Next, you’ll want to check out our blog on how to start your next video project. We’ll go over the ins and outs of the production process and how you can take these new lighting skills and hit the ground running!

Interested in starting a new video project and letting the professionals do the work? Get in touch with Striking Media today.

helen.saks@strikingmedia.com / www.strikingmedia.com

April 10 2022

Nuts & Bolts

Good visuals should be Striking. They should make people stand up and take notice, right? In this age of constant noise, nobody wants to blend into the background!

So how to go about creating a video that serves your needs? Everyone’s got an opinion! “Film it yourself, your iphone is awesome,” says one voice. But where to start? The self shooting option certainly is one route, but bad production screams unprofessional and you want to be taken seriously.

So we know that the idea of making a video can be overwhelming. Not everyone enjoys the spotlight on them, but in this age of social media and constant messaging, if you want your business to thrive, you have to have a presence and you have to be seen.

So, how does it work? We take it in stages, make it manageable. Kind of like eating an apple in chunks …

Chunk 1 is the pre production. A personal favorite of the Striking Media team because we believe in the power of the planning. In essence, you talk, we listen. We read the unconscious signs and try to give you what you even don’t know you want. Like the peanut butter dip! Slightly more tricky with the COVID need for distance and much preferred in person but still, as long as we have the gift of time, the pre production can be well planned and thoughtful.

A key part to the planning is the pre production interviewee calls. We’re all too aware that a set can look intimidating. Cameras, lights, expensive equipment. It’s not exactly the ideal situation to expect our interviewees to reveal deep, dark personal insights to their soul or to turn on the news presenter charm! We find a warm friendly bond building phone call in advance of filming day goes a long way to building trust. Time well spent. Always.

Once the content plan is in place the technical planning begins. What kit do we need? Are we in a studio? We have studios to fit all budgets and requirements in a variety of locations across DC/ MD/ NOVA so we will make it easy for you. Or if we’re on location, do we need permits for filming? All of this will be the role and the responsibility of Striking Media, never the client. Our goal – to lift the responsibility from your team to ours.

Chunk 2 – now it’s our turn to shine – we will present you with the ideas that will connect you to your target audience, the right voices to portray your message to make a true connection that will get results. This may involve storyboarding, scriptwriting, question writing, or just collaborative meetings to make sure we’re on the same page. We’ll talk make up, clothing, whatever questions you have, we have answers and we are available for our clients. No question is too silly!

And we know our clients like to be pro-active, so this is the time to practice. Bear in mind that a one minute script is 130-150 words so plan accordingly. Time your script, read it with a stopwatch. You’ll be amazed at how fast the time flies by.

People often ask, “How can I come across as good as possible on camera?” Great question. No simple answer. As with all things in life, it takes practice and … practice. If you’re reading an autocue, practice it. There are apps to download that will help you. Smile, relax, drop those shoulders, do some voice warm up exercises. Smile again! Your energy levels need to be high, and your voice speaking with emphasis. Go through your script and highlight words, speak like you mean it. You will have an audience, as if you are on stage – perform!

Show Day will roll around before you know it! There’s always a little bit of adrenaline running through your veins on show day and that’s a good thing. That feeling helps the performance. Whether we’re in studio or on location, by the time you show up the team will be all set. Cameras in place, lighting and audio ready to go. And the crew fed and watered, like the finest racehorses, or something! We can often be found listening to a bit of Dolly Parton to set the mood!

There’s an excitement in every type of production. With the live shows, you’ll always find there is one key crew member who is your point of contact. They will be making sure everyone knows what’s going on, the countdowns, the cue – they’re basically holding it together. Often they’ll be on talkback to the streaming crew, so if it looks like they’re talking to themselves … well, don’t be surprised! As you hear the count down – the 3,2,1 – you know the audience is watching. Smile, go big, and put that practice into place. Once it’s over, that’s it … we always debrief (more on that later) but it’s done. Glass of champagne and off we go!

Pre recorded is different. The atmosphere will be welcoming and you just need to focus on yourself and your answers or performance and let the crew work their magic. The beauty of pre recorded is we can take our time, ask the questions multiple times to garner different responses. Try to focus on yourself, block out the noise, the kit etc, but feel free to ask for a BTS shot for your social media!

Chunk 4 is the editing part, so you get to go home and …eat cake. We will bring the footage back to our studio and bury our heads in it. We will log all the footage, and timecode it, focus on the parts we want and build the video, like a jigsaw puzzle, piece by piece. With access to music libraries and stock footage we can work with a ton of resources to create the most dynamic possible product.

And in a short window of time, voila, ping, your video will appear in your inbox! We aim to make it easy, to serve you, the clients, and ultimately for you to see the benefit of your investment.

And that pre-mentioned debrief – well we believe that’s how we grow and learn. So we will debrief internally and we welcome external debriefs too – and we promise we’re after more than just a glowing testimonial – although we’ll take that too!

Ready to take that first bite? Get in touch with Striking Media today.

helen.saks@strikingmedia.com / www.strikingmedia.com