Dive Into Your Imagination

Video As Testimonial

Recently I filmed a promotional DVD for Truth Aquatics here in Santa Barbara, CA. There are three sections to the DVD highlighting what the company offers: Scuba Diving, Island Hiking, and School Groups.

Our crew went on four charters to get the footage necessary to create the fifteen minute promotional DVD. I had written the script and shot list before hand so we knew in advance what we were going to shoot.

While out, we filmed a short interview with the Head Master and decided to use it as a video testimonial.

Testimonial for School Group Charter with Truth Aquatics

Editing and Shooting Tips:
When we filmed his interview the lighting was so bad that we decided not to use him at all but just use his voice as the narrator. We had captured so much footage from the trip that we just needed to make sure we had enough coverage of him in what we term, B-Roll, so we could establish him as a character in the short piece.
This is less than a minute long and there are nearly 20 shots that compose this video testimonial. It is important that you have coverage of different angles so when you sit down to edit, it is easy.

Music and Narration:
Adding voice to any project adds in a dimension to the story. We take for granted how important a script is to any story, and how much the visuals and the script must work together.

Funny Story:
We were racing to film Steve in early morning light. This was a last minute request on the third day of the charter and also the last day. One of the rules Steve follows is no shaving. So once we were already to film, the sun had risen so high that we could not fill the shadows and the three day growth was just too much. We didn’t want to alarm him and tell him he just didn’t look good because we still wanted to capture his voice. So we shot a couple of takes of this and then just dropped the video and was able to use his voice.

Lesson:
Don’t upset the talent no matter what! No matter who you are shooting, if the camera and camera operator can make the subjects comfortable you can always make something when you might think you have nothing. It is all about the edit! Shooting and editing go hand in hand.

Hire the Dive Into Your Imagination crew for your next assignment, corporate DVD, film!

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RELATED VIDEOS TO VIDEO TESTIMONIAL:

The following are all examples of video memories you can create and how much more powerful a video can be then one photo. When you shoot footage, you can use the same shots in a variety of ways. I combined various images and used them differently in all of my products: The Camera Coach, Visions of the Sea, and the Dive Into Your Imagination series. As a matter of fact, the section: You and the Ocean, on the DVD in Ocean Life, was footage that I filmed on one of my family vacations. I knew my family would sign video releases for me and that they would love to be showcased in my work. As a matter of fact, now my friend’s children all ask when they can be in one of my DVDs.

Here all of the kids knew we were filming a promotional DVD for Truth Aquatics and we had the camera out for the full three days, yet most of the really good footage was not from the first day, it was from days two and three once they got to know us.

This clip is just longer than a minute long. With all the different angles and shots, it really captures what is required of a group to go kayaking together. It demonstrates teamwork, education, safety and fun. Giving the gift of the ocean to children is priceless and capturing it on video brings another dimension to the story.

A video clip like this can be used in so many different ways. To show parents what their kids experienced, to raise money for another trip or simply for memories.

Video is a powerful tool. When we learn how shooting and editing go together we can become much better story tellers.

This clip is less than thirty seconds long, in the final promo piece we only used a couple of the shots, yet this is an important part of what the kids get to experience when they are able to go out on a three day trip. In all of my days on the water, I think I only have two short video clips of my driving and they are priceless.

A video clip like this can be used in so many different ways. To show parents what their kids experienced, to raise money for another trip or simply for memories.

Video adds another dimension to our lives. In the past two years video has exploded, don’t be left behind. How can you add video to your life?

The Camera Coach® The Camera Coach®, Your Guide to Creating Underwater Video demonstrates and teaches you the necessary techniques needed to produce great video above and below the surface. You will learn shooting, lighting and editing techniques. This DVD teaches you sh

What Makes A Fish, A Fish What Makes A Fish, A Fish is the first DVD in the Dive Into Your Imagination series. This DVD teaches children about astounding fish from around the world.

CALIFORNIA COLLECTION Great Images from California.

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