News, Tips and Tricks

We recently finished a web video for the Zürich based company, Vayen Solutions and their Pitcher app. No screen captures were used in this app video. Instead, we shot an actor using the app in the field  – a great way to show how an app actually works in the intended environment.

Various locations were used to showcase the apps USP’s, such as the back of a taxi (to show it works off-line) or the doctors office (to show how an iPhone 4 can be used remotely to control an iPad).

The client has used the video as the main focal point on their website, to draw in customers. But the client was so impressed with the look of the video, they also took still images from the video and put them on their website as well.

Video and images produced by Web Video Production, as the client put it; “entirely inspired” the new look of their website – testament to the quality of our app videos.

Web Video Production has extensive experience filming for HTC. We also have strong connections with our sister company, App Developers UK. This means we understand mobile devices and we understand apps. Our filmmakers and app developers often work together, passing on expert knowledge to get the best results for our clients.

App videos are the highly effective way of showing how an app works. Web Video Production think outside the box, making app videos that stand out in a highly competitive app market.

We are in the midst of an app boom, which means the app developers at TMTI are very busy. But it’s not just good news for our app developers – our filmmakers at Web Video Production are making more and more videos for apps.

Video gives viewers a real insight into how an app actually functions, and demonstrates so much more than a still image ever could – It’s an indispensable component to any app marketing campaign.

A video can be put on the main app website, embedded on tech blogs, do the rounds on the social networking sites, and hopefully go viral.

Web Video Production’s team of creatives are constantly working on fresh and innovative promotional videos for apps, giving apps the edge in a very competitive market.

The video we made for the Swiftkey app is about to hit 200,000 views on Youtube, and isn’t slowing down – That’s an example of our low-cost films having a high impact.

The Hilton on London’s Park Lane was setting for the Mobile News Awards 2011. And this year, our webvideoproduction.com production team was there to make the promotional web video for their website.

The awards ceremony opened with a light show from the Feeding The Fish jugglers, followed by a comedy set from Jason Manford.

TMTI sponsored the Best Online Retailer Award and Crispin Thomas was there to present it to this years winner, MobileFun.co.uk

To catch the video, check out the Mobile News Awards website www.mobilenewsawards.co.uk

Web video production tip 1:

Each time the light changes, set the white balance. Fill the frame with white card and press the white balance button (with white balance set to manual). If you don’t, in low light things might look orangey-red and in high light, things might look blue. Even if you think everything looks okay, set the white balance and see the difference.

Web video production tip 2:

Get the perfect focus. In manual, zoom right in to your subject, focus, then zoom back out to frame your shot. Perfect focus.

Web video production tip 3:

Make sure your gain is set the way you want it (usually on 0 or “L”). The gain function digitally increases light. Trouble is, the higher you go, the grainier the image. Unless you’re shooting a documentary about bats, you probably won’t need this feature. Before you press record, check the gain setting – it’s very annoying when you get to the edit only to find a “noisy” image.

Web video production tip 4:

Always use headphones to monitor your sound. A guy said to me once that sometimes he didn’t bother using headphones with his camera – very bad idea. How would you hear the interference caused by a mobile phone? That’s just one example. Use headphones and do a sound check before you start recording.

These are just four basic tips on how to avoid making the same mistakes that lots of people make. The best way to learn video production is to practice. Keep making videos and this stuff becomes second nature.

Don’t forget your lens pen.

No decent camera person should be caught out with a dirty lens. You won’t notice it when you’re filming but it only takes one speck of dust on the lens to ruin all your footage. Dust usually shows up most when you’re filming outside with the sun towards the front of the camera. Whatever the environment, don’t take any chances – get into the habit of cleaning the lens before every video production. Always carry a lens pen in your pocket and keep checking the lens throughout the shoot.

As well as a lens pen, I recommend the Giottos air blower and a Spudz micro fibre lens cloth. Use the air blower first to knock off any dust, then use the lens pen for fingerprints etc. The micro fibre cloth is great for other situations – like a steamed up lens for example (it does happen). All these tools are very cheap and completely essential to any videocamera operator or video production.