Here come our simple tips for making your video look more cinematic, and not a car chase or CGI robot in sight….
Utilise the lighting
One of the key signs of an unprofessional video is the bad -or completely absent- use of lighting. You may think that your video doesn’t need any lighting if you are shooting outside for example, or just filming some basic interviews in the office, but creating an effective lighting set up can take your footage from drab to dramatic with just a few tweaks. Working on location in the UK means that daylight is limited and the brightness inconsistent (particularly in Scotland where we can enjoy snow, rain, sunshine and hail all within 15 minutes). Luckily, we have ways around this. Using mirrors or reflectors to bounce the light is the most obvious trick, and is perfect as it requires no electricity and creates an entirely natural look. For indoor projects we have our own lighting equipment which we transport to and from your location to ensure the set up is just right. Creating this kind of set up is particularly helpful in an office setting, where artificial lights dominate and make for a harsh, and often ugly, backdrop to a video. We can use our specialised equipment to highlight interesting sections of the room like your logo or your new state of the art equipment, and downplay the boring parts like the old photocopier in the corner. We can make spaces appear bigger, more inviting and ambient depending on the tone of the video.
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Write a good script
You might think creating a cinematic video is all in the visuals- and that does play an important part – but combining this with a well written script is essential, because as we all know, content is king. Whether the people starring in your video are friends, employees or actors, their story must be believable. Otherwise the viewer will feel disconnected and unlikely to empathise with the emotions you are trying to evoke. The dialogue should be easy to digest, colloquial if appropriate, adding a little humour if it creates the desired effect without coming across as tacky. The story should flow easily from scene to scene, and character should be acting out the way they feel instead of simply reeling off lines to each other. Remember, actions speak louder than words and visual cues stick in our minds far more than words alone.
Use the best actors you can afford
When working to a strict budget it can be tempting to cut costs but using amateur actors or just roping in friends to take part, but we recommend using at least one trained actor unless you are making a video which only works using real people or employees, unless you plan to shoot interviews of course. Not only will this addition make the shoot run more smoothly with fewer takes and less time spent feeding lines to unprepared volunteers, but the end result will be much more cinematic. A good actor wont just read the lines of a script, but will embody a character and add personality and emotion helping to make a connection with your audience. Creating this emotional connection is essential for making your video stand out and making it more memorable. If your video requires actors we have a list of reliable and affordable contacts who we work with on a regular basis and would be happy to recommend.
Here is a quick example of a video we made for a client featuring members of their staff and friends. They managed to keep the cost down by dragging people they knew into it, and we were lucky that they were good on camera. But that isn’t always an option.
Include outdoor shots
Setting the scene for your video is done within the first few seconds, and a great way to give an instant cinematic feel is to use good quality location shots. This might be shots of the bustling city when your business is based, or the rolling farmlands where you source your produce. It lets the viewer place your company geographically or within an industry and points towards what things are important to your brand.
There are plenty of steps that can be taken to give your corporate video a cinematic edge. Get in touch today and find out what we can do for you.
