Top 5 Corporate Video Trends of 2021
Top 5 Corporate Video Trends of 2021
2020 was unpredictable to say the least! It lead to many sudden and drastic changes to the way that business is conducted. Forcing businesses to adapt and really evaluate what is important, to and for them.
Thankfully for us, video became a crucial tool in helping businesses adjust and thrive in the current global situation.
By utilising existing video technology businesses were able to move their communications online; everything from training, meetings and even large events. This is obviously not a new idea, but 2020 saw this happen on a scale never seen before.
Based on what we saw in 2020 and our experience in the industry, we have compiled a list of the top 5 corporate video trends you are likely to see in 2021.
So let’s jump in!
1. Virtual is still the way to go!
In 2020 we saw a dramatic rise in the use of video software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. This will continue to increase through 2021 as physically attending meetings or events continues to be problematic.
There are other reasons why this trend might hang around a lot longer than is necessary; in a lot of cases this is an easier, more cost effective and simply better way of operating.
A great example of this is the rise in webinars, which we have been commissioned to edit a lot of in the last 12 months.
The virtual webinar lets you bring together people from any location for a face-to-face chat, relatively easily and inexpensively.
We recently edited a STEM related webinar where professional engineers from all over the UK spoke about their experience in engineering and took questions from school students. This was an extremely inspiring video and an excellent use of the technology.
The opportunities for these kinds of applications are limitless.
Another additional benefit to the use of video communication software is that it can be easily recorded and turned into instructional or marketing material.
That’s where we come in 🙂
We take the recorded videos, add our magic – which could take the form of professional editing, cleaning up the audio, grading, adding music, slides, captions & graphics, animations and much more – and return you your polished video that you can use anywhere!
2. Remote Directing
Remote directing gained a lot of popularity in 2020 and that popularity does not seem to be slowing down in 2021.
This should come as no surprise as getting a professional team to remotely direct your shoot is still the best way to maximise your video quality when it is impossible to get a professional video team in.
These shoots have worked really well for us, producing some great results!
If you are new to the concept, we have outlined below how a typical production may run.
Typical Remotely Directed Shoot
The key to a remotely directed shoot is the same as a regular shoot; work out the kinks before you film!
Through discussions with the client and presenter, prior to filming, we work out the details, such as: What camera do they have to film on? What microphone will they be using? Where is the best location for them to shoot? Will they be reading from a script? All in an effort to help them look their best!
On the day they can either film it themself or we can call in and be there via video link. Here we will work with them on delivery, eye line and basically help them record a professional looking, high quality video.
3. Making the most of your content
With the statistics for screen time increasing year on year, 2021 is an important time to ensure you are releasing enough content and that it is being seen as much as possible by your targeted audience.
Each platform has its own specific video format but if you plan the video right, you can either make a universal video that can be used across all platforms or differently formatted versions that can be used on each specific platform. Either way it’s not much effort for something that can be extremely advantageous for your business or brand.
Another way to make the most of your content is something we do a lot of at Croft TV, which is localising and translating videos.
We do this by taking your video and depending on your requirements, translate, re-voice, re-caption and/or subtitle it.
This way for a fraction of the cost of a new video you can hit as many markets as you need – win-win!
4. Self-shot material to increase in popularity
No doubt you have seen a lot of self-shot video content these days, just watch 5 minutes of the news and you’ll be bound to see some.
It has grown in popularity for a number of reasons including the fact that it can be more cost effective, it allows you to create video without having to be around people outside of your bubble and people often think less crew means less pressure.
It can however have its draw backs and is no replacement for a professional crew when it’s possible to have one.
On this, we’ve written an entire blog post on the pros and cons of self-shooting vs hiring a professional film crew which you can find HERE!
This point leads us onto our final trend…
5. Quality is less of an issue than it used to be
Since self-shot material has taken off, people have naturally become more forgiving of the quality of the material, so you can stress less!
This is due largely to the fact that a lot of us are now working from home and can relate to issues like a little bit of household, background noise (or the odd attention seeking child or pet making an appearance).
The caveat to this is that it mainly applies to video that looks self-shot such as interviews or piece to cameras and not so much to more promotional styles of video.
Something also worth mentioning is that if the quality is too bad then it will have the opposite effect to what you intended. We have explored this in our article Professional Film Crew vs Self-Shooting: What’s Best For You?
If you are looking to improve your self-shot video and get them looking their best, we’ve created a free, easy to follow guide that will walk you through everything you need to know in getting your videos looking and sounding as good as they can. You can find it by clicking HERE; or download a PDF version by clicking the link below!
Self-Shooting Video Tips by Croft Television
1 file(s) 3.54 MB
That’s it, thanks for reading and good luck for the year ahead!
A little about us, we offer no-obligation, free quotes and are always happy to discuss concepts.
If you would like to get in touch, send us an email at info@croft-tv.com, use our contact form here or give us a call on 01628668735 and if you found this post useful then please share it!
– The Croft TV Team
Categories
Professional Film Crew vs Self-Shooting: What’s Best for You?
Professional Film Crew vs Self-Shooting: What's Best for You?
The global pandemic has changed the world in a lot of ways and has been a massive driver for innovation in every industry.
From our perspective, in video production we have seen a big increase in people self-shooting.
This article will discuss the pros and cons of self-shooting and why/when you’d still want to use a professional film crew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Let’s begin!
No doubt you have seen a lot of self-shot video content these days, the news being the most prevalent source. It has taken off for a number of reasons including the fact that it can be more cost effective, it allows you to create video without having to be around people outside of your bubble and people often think less crew means less pressure.
However, self-shot video is not always suitable for every application; this is often due to its quality.
The quality of self-shot video can suffer for a number of different reasons, from technical issues such as camera quality, framing, exposure, focus, lighting and sound, to more experience and acting related issues such as eye line, clearness, confidence and flow, to name a few.
Sorry for this interruption, but…
If you are looking to improve your self-shot video and get them looking their best, we’ve created a free, easy to follow guide that will walk you through everything you need to know in getting your videos looking and sounding as good as they can. You can find it by clicking HERE; or download a PDF version by clicking the link below!
Self-Shooting Video Tips by Croft Television
1 file(s) 3.54 MB
Now, back to the article…
Because of this, self-shot video might not always show your brand in the best light.
While we can polish your video with professional editing, grading, the addition of music, slides, captions & graphics, animations, and fix certain issues such as cleaning and mastering your audio or cutting around a mistake, there are certain problems that professional editing just cannot resolve.
We do provide a service where we video-call in and direct our clients while they self-shoot their video and this works really well in eradicating these issues. If this is not possible then as a general rule of thumb self-shot videos are better for internal uses and professionally shot video is better for external, i.e. client and/or customer facing media.
We had a prime example of this recently when a client had sent through a self-shot video that looked a lot like this…
…and asked if there was anything we could do to save it as they needed it for an event on the afternoon of the next day.
Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done, the problems were baked into the footage – the focus was out, it was so over-exposed you couldn’t see the product they were advertising and to make matters worse the audio was so noisy you could barely make out the presenter’s voice.
So, as fixing the video was impossible we went back to the client with an offer. We could professionally film their presenter in front of a green screen, in our studio the next morning for a competitive price and still have the edit to them that afternoon.
They agreed and the resulting video looked a lot more like this…
…the audio and visuals were clear and crisp, the delivery was confident and strong and the overall video was great, the client was extremely happy with the end result.
We had even lit the presenter in such a way that, coupled with the ‘green-screened’ background image of a lounge room, the presenter looked as though they were in that room.
Another benefit of getting your video professionally shot is consistency, this is especially important if you are looking to produce a series of videos. We have over 30 years’ experience and have produced countless programmes so, you can confidentially hand us a video project and know that we will hit your brief every time. This leads us on to the last point…
…a professional film crew will allow you to stress less. We know our clients are busy and we pride ourselves on providing a stress free video-making experience, allowing you to get on with your actual job.
If you are interested in how we are conducting our shoots during the pandemic then please read our ‘Croft TV’s Video Production Protocol During The COVID-19 Pandemic’ and find out how we keep our crew and clients safe.
That’s it, thanks for reading!
You now have all of the information you need to make an informed decision whether you should self-shoot or hire a film crew.
We offer no-obligation, free quotes and are always happy to discuss concepts.
If you would like to get in touch, send us an email at info@croft-tv.com, use our contact form here or give us a call on 01628668735 and if you found this guide useful please share it!
– The Croft TV Team
Categories
Croft TV’s Video Production Protocol during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Croft TV's Video Production Protocol during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Now that live filming is possible again the following article will outline how we (Croft Television) will conduct our shoots, ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and our clients.
Let’s start at the beginning…
Pre-Shoot
Our employees know and can recognise the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus in themselves and others, so if they are presenting any of these symptoms they will not be attending the filming assignment and instead will go into self-isolation for 14 days, as per the government advice.
We own a temperature gun and so, temperatures will be taken of each employee regularly on the lead up to a shoot, and on the morning of the shoot. If these readings show that any employee has a ‘high’ temperature, i.e. 38°C or above, they will not be attending the filming assignment and will go into self-isolation for 14 days.
Other pre-shoot precautions we will take include ensuring any gear that will be taken with us is thoroughly cleaned using antibacterial solution, which could take the form of a wipe or spray and making sure we have enough safety equipment such as masks, gloves and hand sanitiser for all of our crew members.
During the Shoot
To minimise the risks of a live environment during COVID-19, masks and gloves will be worn at all times and social distancing rules (keeping a 2 metre distance apart) will be adhered to, also hands will be washed as frequently as possible and equipment will be sanitised regularly.
Other shoot precautions include using a longer lens to allow us to maintain at least a 2 metre distance. We will also instruct our talent on how to apply their own tie mic.
We will keep the details of anyone we come into contact with in line with Track and Trace guidance.
Once the recording is completed we will pack up quickly and neatly, disinfecting our gear as well as any surface we have used/come into contact with.
That’s it, thanks for reading!
If you have any further questions or would just like to get in touch, send us an email at info@croft-tv.com or use our contact form here!
We are always happy to have a chat, answer questions, discuss concepts or give a no-obligation, free quote.
– The Croft TV Team
Categories
TV Commercial Production London, Bucks, Berks, UK, Worldwide
TV Commercial Production London, Bucks, Berks, UK and beyond!
“THINKING TV? THINK CROFT TV!”
TV Commercial Production London, Bucks, Berks, UK and beyond!
Since 1941 television advertisements have graced our screens. It is no secret why they are so popular… they are one of the most effective ways to reach a large and targeted audience on a local, national and even global scale.
Though companies may find the process of getting a TV commercial filmed and aired quite tricky, due to the many technical and scheduling requirements that need to be met, each channel having its own technical specifications, Clearcast approvals and so on.
But don’t worry, this is where we come in…
We are Croft Television.
For over 35 years we have worked in the industry with some of the biggest brands in the world: Mars, RB, GSK, 3M, you name it, we’ve done it!
We offer a London video agency service at a local production company price. This means you will still be getting the high standard of work you expect for your business, without paying those high ‘London’ price tags. We are conveniently located on the borders of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, just 25 miles from central London and a 25 minute drive from Heathrow airport.
Our friendly team is experienced, driven and highly proficient at what we do, so you can feel comfortable knowing your project is in safe hands.
We are a full-service video production company, which means that our expert team will help you every step of the way. You will be assigned a project manager whose friendly face will be your one point of contact and will guide you through the entire process; from idea generation and script development, to filming and Clearcast approvals, all the way through to the airing of your television commercial.
Your brief can be as simple or as detailed as you would like. You may have developed a solid idea that you would like us to create. You may not have an idea at all and would like to work with us in coming up with a creative vision for a specific target audience or marketing plan. We will ensure that the communication achieves your goals, engages viewers and is in keeping with your brand’s guidelines.
We happily work on productions of any size, from large scale TV commercials featuring many actors, extras and locations, to smaller, more economical projects – we understand that one size does not fit all. We can also scale the commercial around your budget producing something that works for you on every level.
We can work with you anywhere in the world and have worked with clients across the UK, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, France, and even further afield, America, Canada, Japan and Singapore.
So why not use a medium that people know and trust, for your next advertising campaign?
Thinking TV? Think Croft TV!
Thanks for reading!
If you have any questions, queries or want to discuss a future project, send us an email at info@croft-tv.com, use our contact form found here or give us a call on 01628668735.
We are always happy to discuss concepts or give a no-obligation, free quote.
– The Croft TV Team
Categories
Self-Shooting Video Tips: Record Yourself at Home
Self-Shooting Video Tips: Record Yourself at Home
Self-Shooting Video Tips: Record Yourself at Home
Self-Shooting Video Tips: Record Yourself at Home
We are in unsettling and ever-changing times but, here at Croft TV, our aim is to keep business as close to normal as possible as I’m sure yours is too!
It’s all about adaptability.
So if you need a message to be created or a presentation captured and hiring a professional film crew is not possible, have you thought about shooting it yourself?
We have created an easy to follow guide below, outlining steps to make sure your production is as high quality as possible.
Once you’ve shot it, send it to us and let us do our magic. This could take the form of professional editing, cleaning up your audio, grading, adding music, slides, captions & graphics, animations and much more.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss a project, let’s have a chat!
Email: info@croft-tv.com
Phone: 01628668735
We hope you enjoy our guide and if you find it useful please share it!
Don’t have time to read the whole guide right now? That’s no problem, just click the download link and you can read it at a time that is convenient for you.
Self-Shooting Video Tips by Croft Television
1 file(s) 3.54 MB