Legacy Multimedia Blog

The Importance of Acknowledging Your Employees

Posted on June 29, 2009 - Filed Under Business History, Personal History, Preserving Memories, Video Tributes

Flickr photo: akanesio

Paying tribute to the people who have made your company what it is today can pay great dividends in several ways.

This article, in an edited format, was written for the Houston Business Journal and ran in it’s “Best Places to Work” issue in July of 2008. I am sharing this as I never posted it to my blog when it originally written.”

Employee acknowledgment is one of the best tools a company can use for creating a work environment that fosters loyalty and stimulates high achievement. Put simply, people appreciate and respond to recognition. They are motivated by praise, which validates and strengthens their commitment to a team.
Rewarding your employees by paying tribute to them for a job well done also demonstrates to their co-workers that your company or organization truly does value them. It builds pride and reinforces a sense of belonging to something worth being a part of.

Traditionally, companies honor special accomplishments or milestones with newsletter articles, gifts, coupons, or custom artwork like statues and plaques. While no doubt appreciated, most of these things are quickly forgotten and few have any lasting value for the person being honored.

A more meaningful, enduring, new way to acknowledge employees is an entertaining, professionally produced, in-depth multimedia presentation on DVD. If done right, it is an impressive method of celebrating a person – one that can be shown to fellow workers, important clients, and valued associates during a formal ceremony and viewed with pride for many years to come.

Regardless of scope or budget, here are some basic guidelines to follow for creating an effective multimedia presentation to recognize, honor, and celebrate people that have made special contributions to your organization.

To convey the important virtues of your company, select video footage and still images that accurately represent those virtues. Also use pictures of actual employees, not generic stock photography or clip art. After all, this is intended to be a personal tribute and the audience will relate much better to familiar faces and authentic settings.
Employ professional-level standards for all aspects of the project from research, scriptwriting, and pre-production planning to video production, editing, special effects, voice-overs, music, and titles. If the content lends itself to an interactive format, create an attractive, easy-to-navigate menu and remember that people treat this type of media differently than traditional, linear or passive forms of communication. So allow them the freedom to view things in whatever order they prefer and include convenient buttons on all screens for pausing, going back, skipping forward, and returning to the main title or menu page.
Don’t be afraid to get creative! Just because you are producing a formal tribute to an employee doesn’t mean that the presentation has to be dry and boring. Especially for special celebrations like retirement parties and major award ceremonies, the audience wants to be both moved and entertained. However, each recipient is different and it’s important to respect their personal style. Some people are quite comfortable being the subject of good-natured fun and others are not. So be careful to use a style that both they and their peers will appreciate.
One good example of a subject that felt at ease exposing her more sensitive side is Cindy Hickok, a very talented fiber artist who was named the 2007 Texas Master by the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. We produced a comprehensive DVD presentation to celebrate her work and exhibition. In addition to a complete catalog of Cindy’s delightfully creative embroidery works on display, it included an insightful, revealing look into her artistic inspirations, her methods, and her life.

After receiving the prestigious honor and copies of the DVD, Cindy commented, “Until the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft commissioned this wonderful multimedia presentation for my Texas Masters Exhibit, I did not have an efficient, effective way of communicating my ideas about artistic expression with the world. Now I can quickly, easily, and affordably share samples of my work with virtually anyone through the magic of digital media.”

Mary Headrick, Communications Director of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft added, “It was a joy working with the team at Legacy Multimedia to produced a highly polished video presentation honoring Cindy Hickok as our 2007 Texas Master. It did justice to Cindy as a gifted artist with a uniquely whimsical voice.”
If certain key people are not present in an existing photograph or they can not attend a scheduled group photo session, today’s digital technology can be utilized to easily add them to a shot. They can also be superimposed seamlessly against almost any background using readily available programs like Photoshop. So adding or removing important photo elements is no longer a problem.
Here is just one example of how we resolved a similar situation for CenterPoint Energy.

The company wanted to illustrate their great track record of employee loyalty by showing the same group pictured in an old photo from 1983 and a newer one taken in 1994. However, one important person was missing from the more recent image. He was still with CenterPoint Energy at the time but simply could not be there for the photo shoot. So we took a separate picture of him and integrated the image into the group shot in a way that looked perfectly natural. We also restored the older image to its original condition. Today, the two photos hang side by side in a hallway at CenterPoint Energy’s office where they have become part of the company’s legacy.
It is important to properly archive pictures and video footage that preserve a record of your company’s past so that these materials are available when you need to put together a presentation for acknowledging the special accomplishments of an employee or for retirement tributes, corporate anniversaries, executive bios, company histories, and other milestones.

Given ease of access to the latest digital technology – which has dramatically lowered the cost of photo storage, retouching, video and sound editing – elegantly produced multimedia presentations are now affordable for almost any size firm, for practically any occasion. So the next time you want to pay tribute to the people who have made your company what it is today, consider this impressive new style of expressing your gratitude.

Stefani Twyford is a personal historian sharing life stories, connecting generations and preserving legacies. To learn more, visit her web site, find her on Twitter as @stefanitwyford, visit the Legacy Multimedia Facebook Fan Page, or send her an e-mail.

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Photo Sharing: Who Keeps Photos In Their Purse Anymore?

Posted on June 6, 2009 - Filed Under Family Memories, Personal History, Photo Restoration, Photos & Snapshots, Preserving Memories

These days, many of us take photos with our phones and send them to each other via email or post them online to various photo sharing websites such as Flickr and Twitpic. I’ve also got photos on my Facebook profile and there’s some video clips of me speaking on my website. I don’t have photos of my family or my children when they were young on my iPhone or even in my wallet. I suppose I should get some in there! My husband carries a photo of me and photos of the kids taken around 20 years ago in his wallet. If he shows them to people they must wonder why he has such a young family!

It got me thinking about my grandma Esther (that’s her and my grandpa Lou in the photo) who used to carry a huge photo wallet with photos of her grand-kids and then eventually her great-grand-kids in her purse. She had those accordion style wallets that, when you held on to the top and let it open, would stretch out to 4 or 5 feet of photos, each in a little connected plastic sleeve. She carried them everywhere and at any moment, when the conversation looked like she could segue into a display, she would ask, “would you like to see photos of my grandchildren?” If the response was favorable, she would reach into her enormous “pocketbook” (that’s what they used to call purses back then) and extract this wallet, flip it out, and then go through the photos one-by-one with whomever was the current viewing audience. It could be anyone from a new friend she’d just met at the park to the bagger at the grocery store. I was always amazed that she carried all those photos in her purse. I guess purses have always been large but as a child, it always seemed she could keep a toaster oven in her pocketbook.

First they were photos of me and my brother and sister as children and then later my own children. I always remember feeling slightly embarrassed but also touched that she was so proud of us, and her collection of photos. My mom and dad thought that she used to go through our house when we weren’t there, looking for photos she hadn’t been given yet. Certainly when she passed on and I inherited her several photo albums, there were many photos that I had never seen before and I’m still in the process of tagging and organizing them into an archival storage system.

Obviously photo wallets have not completely gone the way of the dinosaur as you can still find them everywhere. Tiffany makes a photo wallet in their signature turquoise leather. I love how easy it is to share photos with all these new social media tools but there is something to be said for the old fashioned way of having the real deal in your wallet or purse.

Technorati Tags: photo archiving, photo sharing

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50 Most Popular Genealogy Websites for 2009

Posted on May 29, 2009 - Filed Under Geneaology, Personal History, Preserving Memories

ProGenealogists. a consortium of professional genealogists who specialize in genealogical, forensic, and family history research, just published their annula list of the 50 most popular genealogy websites for 2009 on their website.

Genealogy is the #1 hobby in America right now and a resource like this takes a lot of the guesswork out of where to start your quest if you’re considering researching your family tree. If this is something you are already doing, this list can provide further resources you may not have been aware of.

Here are the top 10 sites on the list. Please visit ProGenealogists’ website to view the full list.

Ancestry.com $ – Ancestry.com is the leading genealogical data site, with some articles, instruction, and reference help. (1)
Genealogy.com $ – This is major data site, with instruction and reference help. (4)
MyHeritage.com – MyHeritage focuses on genealogy community building and networking. (3)
RootsWeb.com – Rootsweb is a major data site, with free instruction and reference help. (2)
MyFamily.com – Hosts family websites for sharing photos, genealogy, and more. (5)
FamilySearch.org – This is a major data website sponsored by the LDS Church and includes with instruction and reference help. (5)
FindAGrave.com – A database of cemetery inscriptions and photos. (7)
Geni.com – Web 2.0 and focuses on genealogy community building and networking. (18)
Footnote.com $ – In conjunction with the U.S. National Archives, Footnote offers data, original records images, and more. (8)
AncestorHunt.com – A site consisting of collected genealogy links. (12)

Technorati Tags: family history research, genealogical research, Genealogy, ProGenealogists

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Thinking of Doing it Yourself – Redux

Posted on May 20, 2009 - Filed Under Family Memories, Geneaology, Media Archiving, Networking, Personal History, Photo Restoration, Preserving Memories, Video Tributes

Flickr photo:thefunkyfelter

A couple days ago, my friend and client Jay Steinfeld, CEO and founder of Blinds.com posted a “tweet” on Twitter (Jay is @BlindscomCEO) that read: “If you think hiring an expert is expensive, just try an amateur!”

I found myself laughing in that “I get it but it’s really not very funny” way because it’s so true. Just that day I had had two experiences with people that were trying to do it themselves and ended up calling me hoping to get some technical support. One was a junior high-school teacher who was asked by the class parents to create a video with all the special photos to commemorate the past year. One of the parents made a recommendation of some software and the teacher graciously took on this task which was really over her head.

By the time she called me, she was in tears on the phone as she explained that she had spent every spare moment of the past week working on this video and didn’t know how to get it ‘authored’ to a DVD. The software (which will remain unnamed) is an inexpensive program that bills itself as ‘easy to use’. There is also no technical support for the program unless you want to try to get Microsoft on the phone. Good luck with that.

Another call was from a woman that was using an online photo montage maker and was having problems. It too had no technical support. She admitted that she had spent every waking and breathing moment of the past week working on this program which was recommended by her sister and had she known it was going to take so much of her time, would have gladly contracted us from the beginning. At this point she had so much sweat equity invested that she was committed to finishing the project.

About 18 months ago I addressed this same subject in a blog article, “Thinking of Doing it Yourself” which is worth re-reading.

Believe me, I understand the lure of hiring a friends’ high-school age son to design your webpage or trying to fix something on your car yourself and I have been guilty of making some of these choices myself in the past. But the more I age, the more I realize the value of my time, particularly my spare time. And I understand that while it may seem like I am spending less money initially, I often shoot myself in the foot by spending ridiculous amounts of my time and sometimes a lot of money in additional things I end up needing to buy, in order to go the amateur route.

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The Symbolism of Passing Something from One Generation to Another

Posted on April 29, 2009 - Filed Under Business History, Family Memories, Geneaology, Personal History, Preserving Memories, Video Tributes

flickr photo: shamitsnaps

If any of you are into collecting watches, you know that watch prices can run from a few dollars for a drugstore watch that serves merely as a timekeeper to hundreds of thousands for jewel and precious metal combinations valued for their craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal. While purchasing and collecting watches is a hobby for many people, the gifting of a watch has come to hold a great deal of symbolism depending upon the occasion and the relationship between the giver and receiver.

I recently saw an ad for the Patek Philippe watch company which shows two men, both quite handsome, obviously father and son. They have that look of money, culture, ivy league education and exceptional grooming. It’s just the two of them standing there and below them it says, “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation.”

Clearly the implication is that the symbolic time has come for the father to gift his watch to his son. This advertisement is heavy with metaphor; the passing of the torch, the wisdom of the patriarch and his values, the family history and story.

On Patek Philippe’s website, on the page called Values, it says; “10 unique values reflect Mr. Philippe Stern’s vision for the company, based on respect for the past and fascination for the future.”
These 10 values are:

Independence
Tradition
Innovation
Quality and Workmanship
Rarity
Value
Aesthetics
Service
Emotion
Heritage

On Emotion:
“A Patek Philippe watch is not merely a method of telling the time. It is a silent statement about your values. Each Patek Philippe is made to become a story, a tale of emotions. Who gave you the watch. On what milestone in your life. With what words. To whom did you pass on your watch. A labor of love received and given with love. All of our watches have the ability to create an emotional response in their own right. This emotion is not just at the heart of every watch – it is at the heart of our company.
A Patek Philippe watch reveals something about you.”

I am struck by the sentiment and how much power we’ve imbued the gifting of a watch to both the giver and receiver. And I am also moved by the concept of how we are really only custodians of everything that comes through our lives, from watches to our stories for future generations.
I don’t own my house or my antique furniture or my books or even my photos. I am their care-taker and it’s my responsibility to not only preserve them but to pass on their significance to future custodians.

It is the collection of these things and events that make up each of our “life stories”.

Technorati Tags: gifts, life milestones, life stories, Patek Philippe, Personal History, watch gifts

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Post-Production and Editing Tips for Making Better Family Videos

Posted on April 23, 2009 - Filed Under Family Memories, Geneaology, Personal History, Preserving Memories, Video Tributes

Flickr photo:mobilechina2007

Part 5 – Final installment in a series about capturing the joy of family events on video

Last week we covered the third of four phases used in creating multimedia productions to capture the joy of family events – production and filming. This week, I finish the series by talking about phase four – post-production / editing.

When editing a multimedia presentation, especially in story form, first clearly establish the setting (time/place) and theme of the occasion in the opening. Then edit the footage to tell a story if possible with a beginning, middle and end.

Speaking of video editing, choosing the right software is important. But it is a fairly complicated topic that we don’t have room to properly cover in this article. However, there are informative reviews and comparisons of Windows-based home-video editing programs on numerous reliable websites like Cnet.com and TopTenReviews.com. There is also a very good, free program for non-professional Mac users called iMovie. If you don’t already have this covered, I recommend spending some time researching the best solution for your budget and needs.

If you want to employ a voice-over narration, here’s the top tip of the day. Record it first, then edit your video scenes to the audio track. That’s how the pros edit documentaries, TV commercials and films – simply because it works.

Otherwise, the biggest concern with voice-overs is casting the right talent and for that, I recommend (in most cases) not using the writer or others who are close to the subject. However, as head writer you can serve as director of audio production for making sure that timings are good, the delivery sounds natural and the full script has been recorded. You may also want to direct the narrator to try some impromptu readings with additional pauses for effect, alternate phrasing and different inflections. This will give you even more choices when cutting the finished track together.

Of course, before you begin editing any video, you should go through a formal scene selection process to note timings and best takes. Number each scene to match your script outline or storyboard and make some notes. Also think ahead about how individual scenes will look when edited together in the final sequence and ask yourself, which ones really advance the story in the most cohesive way and which are the most entertaining?

Music selection is another important aspect of the post-production process and finding just the right track or tracks can turn an otherwise dull video segment into something that moves and inspires people. Sound effects can also add extra dimensions to the audio. But they are purely optional in most home-video productions and can sometimes take away from a great musical background or voice-over narration. So use them sparingly and only if they add rather than detract from the overall scene.

Lastly, spend some time thinking about scene transitions, special visual effects and titles that are both informative and interesting as well as creative and fun. Quotes are always good, but you can convey almost anything in a title or super and choosing just the right font style or animated effect can really put the finishing touches on an already good show.

One other consideration worth mentioning is what we in the business call packaging and distribution. While those things are far less important and simpler for personal videos, they can still be used to add yet another degree of specialness when sharing copies with the subject’s, family and friends. So you might also want to consider doing your own custom “packaging” for CDs, DVDs or photo albums that maintain the same theme. Doing something as simple as cropping a great still image of the family gathered around a wedding or birthday cake, adding a well-designed title and printing it out on nice paper to slip into a jewel case – and you have a memorable, one-of-a-kind “album cover”.

Now that you have a more complete understanding of the process and some ideas for putting together a great multimedia production, you can capture the joy of special occasions in a way that is truly impressive, entertaining and memorable. So go to it, get creative and most of all, don’t forget to have fun!

Technorati Tags: home movies, multimedia projects, special occasion videos, video editing, video production

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Production and Filming Tips for Making Better Family Videos

Posted on April 15, 2009 - Filed Under Family Memories, Geneaology, Personal History, Preserving Memories, Video Tributes

Part 4 of a series about capturing the joy of family events on video

Last week we covered the second of four phases used in creating multimedia productions to capture the joy of family events – pre-production and planning. This week, we will talk about phase three – production / filming.

During the event, take lots of digital photos, plus shoot videos and/or make audio recordings (of wedding music, “their song”, singing Happy Birthday, anniversary toasts, family holiday prayer recitals, etc.). Also pay attention to lighting, framing / composition and remember to take ample footage for establishing and transition scenes with room on both ends for generous fades or dissolves. Plus don’t be afraid to get creative with camera angles, zooms and panning. In other words, give yourself some good choices for selecting and editing scenes later on after the event.

But before you can shoot anything, you and your crew have to be in place and ready to go before the action begins. That’s why we pros have early call times and arrive on location or on set well ahead of the “talent”. In this case, the talent is the party, honorees, family members and guests. Even though it will be tempting to mingle and join in the fun, you are there to serve as a the producer of a special multimedia presentation that will be appreciated for years to come. So put on your director’s hat not your party hat and concentrate on the job at hand until it is done.

Of course once the guests arrive and your shoot gets underway, you’ll want to interview as many family members, witnesses, speakers, etc. as possible. But prioritize and schedule the sequence to allow for planned events like speeches, toasts and vows as well gift exchanging, cake cuttings or other special moments. Set-up a separate room or quiet area away from the main activity for more intimate interviews too. If you would like more in-depth information about this, read my article on Effective Interviewing Techniques.

Also consider the setting / backdrop as part of the storytelling process and be mindful of basic human needs like childrens’ bedtimes. Why wait until they’re half asleep to videotape them – unless it is your intention to shoot a scene of them in peaceful repose after a busy day of birthday or holiday cheer. In short, make each scene serve a purpose that advances the story and adds even more joy to the final production.

Here are few more general tips to keep in mind during your video shoot:

Use natural light as much as possible to enhance your scene. Pay attention to the direction of light, where shadows are cast and especially how it affects your subject’s face. Could you improve the shot by simply adjusting the camera angle or their position to take better advantage of available light? If so, do it. If not, then maybe you should find a better place to shoot the scene.
Avoid the typical amateurish audio distraction of a camera operator talking over a subject or fiddling with video recorder controls by investing in a high-quality, external directional microphone and aiming it at the person who is talking on screen. These wonderful gadgets can be had for as little as $75 and they can mean the difference between a confusing, messy audio track and a clean, crisp, professional one.
Perhaps the single biggest common mistake made in amateur home videos is the telltale lens jiggling or shaking during a scene. Not the cool kind used to great effect in some of today’s Hollywood action epics, but the kind that makes an audience wince. To minimize this, simply brace the camera against your body or a solid object like a sturdy table, countertop or other level surface. You might also want to consider investing in a good, old tripod. Lightweight, compact models with three-way heads can be purchased starting around $50.
Frame your scenes in an interesting way. Don’t center all your subjects, frame them to the left or right and when panning, lead the audience into and out of scenes. This technique gives you a more cinematic feel, but don’t overuse it. A little zooming and panning goes a long ways. Plus be sure to get both medium and close-up cover shots. This provides lots of extra choices for editing the final product together.
Last but not least, in general, don’t try to dictate the action or behavior of your subjects. Make them comfortable, let them be themselves, get them to relax, and let the story unfold in a natural, spontaneous way.

Be sure to check back next week for part five of this series, which will be the last installment covering post-production / editing and some final thoughts.

Technorati Tags: home movies, multimedia projects, special occasion videos, video editing, video production

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Pre-Production and Planning Tips for Making Better Family Videos

Posted on March 30, 2009 - Filed Under Family Memories, Geneaology, Networking, Photos & Snapshots, Preserving Memories, Social Responsibility, Video Tributes

Flickr photo:Vanessa van Dyck

Part 3 of a series about capturing the joy of family events on video

Last week we covered the first of four phases used in creating multimedia productions to capture the joy of family events – concepting / scriptwriting. This week, I we will talk about phase two – pre-production and planning.

As Hal Landen puts it in his book titled Marketing With Digital Video, “Murphy’s Law works overtime in video production. If something can go wrong, it will. Your only defense is planning. Planning will help you to anticipate potential problems and solve them before that big day when your script is transformed into videotape.”

So plan, plan, plan and then plan some more to make thorough preparations before the event. This saves time and money, eliminates surprises and makes things go so much smoother during the shoot. List everything you will need in detail and allow for travel, weather and other contingencies as much as possible.

If you can, also scout the location or locations where you will be shooting your video in advance to check on a variety of factors. Check for available light, possible backdrops that could enhance your scenes, camera angles, and advantageous points of view. Also look for electrical outlets, adequate clearance for vehicles, space for safely storing equipment, and a staging area for any props or other items that will need to be prepped and assembled.

Although most personal video projects don’t have a budget for things like makeup, hair and wardrobe, you should still think about those things too. You might be surprised what a difference a little hairspray, powder and touch of color in a necktie or scarf can make in a scene – particularly for close-ups and lengthy interviews with key subjects. So if you, a family member or a friend have any experience in these areas, use it to make your production even more polished and professional. The same goes for floral arrangements and other nice touches that can fill out a frame composition and really bring a scene to life.

Speaking of recruiting people with extra skills, a good production manager knows that it pays to have additional help on hand for things like moving and setting up equipment, for “set decoration” and whatever else might be required. Think of them as your “crew” and assign tasks ahead of time to avoid confusion before and during the shoot. If you’re planning a big scene with lots of “extras” and a complicated camera move, do a dry run with your crew. Use some of them as stand-ins and rehearse the scene so it’s a coordinated effort that assures you get the best footage with the least amount of disruption to the actual honorees and guests.

Next, do a sound check and listen for anything that could interfere with the quality of your audio track. This could be something as common as a noisy air conditioner, refrigerator or nearby construction site. Remember, your microphones will pick up this kind of background noise and sometimes it can ruin an otherwise great scene. So think about possible solutions like moving to a quieter interview area or temporarily turning off some equipment while the live shoot is happening. Do be careful though as electrical items can be dangerous and disabling certain systems like HVAC or computers can cause other problems.

Lastly, If you are going to conduct formal interviews, warn people in advance and let them know what kind of questions you’ll be asking. Get their input on other family members and guests too. You never know when someone might decide to relate an obscure but interesting story or make a keen observation that could serve as a wonderful addition to your presentation. If you would like more in-depth information about this topic, read my article on Effective Interviewing Techniques.

Well, that’s all we have time to cover for the pre-production stage, but there are many other considerations depending on the size and scope of your production. So one final reminder to heed Murphy’s Law and plan, plan, plan.

Be sure to check back next week for part four of this series, which will cover production / filming.

Technorati Tags: home movies, multimedia projects, special occasion videos, video editing, video production

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Concepting and Scriptwriting Tips for Family Video Productions

Posted on March 11, 2009 - Filed Under Family Memories, Geneaology, Networking, Personal History, Photos & Snapshots, Preserving Memories, Social Responsibility, Video Tributes

Flickr photo: Meg

Part 2 of a series about capturing the joy of family events on video

Last week I introduced this series about creating videos to capture the joy of family events and special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and holiday get-togethers. Now let’s delve a bit deep into the process by discussing the first of four main phases used in multimedia productions – concepting / script writing.

First, try to develop a concept that really captures the spirit and central theme of the event and carry that through when writing narrative dialog and text for titles. Paint appropriate pictures with your words to support that theme, then consistently use them as the main creative inspiration for all parts of the project, including visual design elements and for deciding on appropriate music. Think of your production as a complete concept where every component works seamlessly together.

Also do a little research on your subjects about their personal and family histories, the major influences that helped shape their lives, and who or what is important to them. Then use that knowledge and insight to create an even more compelling, entertaining script as well as for noting possible interview questions.

You might also want to consider injecting a little humor or drama. But be careful not to get too corny or heavy handed. Be tasteful, be subtle, go easy on jokes or critical social commentary, and generally be mindful of people’s feelings. This is after all a celebration of the joy they share and your “cast” will be your ultimate primary audience. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some good-natured fun or tell a more serious story.

Something that many people leave until the very end of a production is writing copy for titles. A professional scriptwriter does not treat them as an afterthought. Instead, they are researched and developed as a part of the scriptwriting process. Titles can be used for everything from the main intro and primary scene transitions to minor segues and credits. They can also be inserted to tell back stories, to describe time/place and to emphasize key quotes. Additionally, titles can be created as still images or animated text and choosing just the right words can add another level of interest or even comedy to a scene. Occasionally, they define and inspire what ends up on the screen. So give them some thought up front during the creative concepting process.

Next we should discuss script formatting and design or art direction notations to describe on-screen action. While these things are pretty simple, they are still important for making your script outline easy to understand – especially when several people are involved in a multimedia production. For that, it would help if you followed a set of universally recognized guidelines like those employed by Warner Brothers and numerous other big studios. Here is a good article on Standard Script Formatting that includes plenty of examples.

Once you have a basic script or outline that establishes your main theme and spells out the flow of scenes, you might also want to create a rough storyboard. This step is vital in communicating a visual style scene-by-scene to large, diverse teams of professional filmmakers. A lot of time, money and hard work goes into them. However, for personal video productions with limited budgets, you can’t hire a Hollywood storyboard artist. But nearly everyone can draw stick figures and that’s all you really need to capture a sequence of on-screen events and titles to serve as visual reference points to make all the individual elements easier to keep track of. To learn more about storyboards and how they can be used effectively for even the most modest home video projects, read my blog article here.

Since this phase encompasses so many aspects of the creative design and storytelling process, we can’t do it justice in one short series of blog articles. But hopefully this has given you some solid direction and I encourage you to learn more about it by reading some books or tutorials on the subject and possibly participating in a filmmaking workshop. There are also some good websites where you can get lots more tips like http://filmmakersworkshop.ning.com, which has an excellent blog at http://filmmakersworkshop.blogspot.com. There is also the Film School Online at http://filmschoolonline.com, http://www.studentfilmmakers.com and many more web sources as well as courses at a variety of local colleges and universities the world over.

Be sure to check back next week for part 3 of this series, which will cover pre-production and planning.

Technorati Tags: home movies, project scriptwriting, special occasion videos, video editing, video production

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Video Production Techniques for Capturing The Joy of Family Events

Posted on February 20, 2009 - Filed Under Family Memories, Personal History, Preserving Memories, Video Tributes

Flickr photo: evan

Part 1 – Overview (This will be part 1 of a 5 part series)

Okay, admit it. What do you normally think when someone announces, “It’s time to show Home Movies”? You mentally roll your eyes while giving them a blank stare or at best, a forced smile don’t you? That’s because most home movies are dreadfully boring affairs with no audience appeal outside the immediate family. The joy of these events is often lost in the transition from live experiences to the screen. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Fact is that most people take lots of pictures and make home videos at holiday parties, family gatherings and other special occasions like weddings and birthdays. But how many of them really think about entertainment value, let alone production design or editing techniques and develop a plan to create something truly memorable?

With today’s digital technology, it’s never been easier to capture still images, video footage and audio. However, people tend to present them as a string of random scenes that never get edited together with a cohesive theme that tells a story and engages the audience.

When commercial production companies do high-end multimedia projects, they employ a full range of professional filmmaking techniques using the most advanced digital equipment and software available. But you can create very impressive presentations with far less sophisticated tools – especially if you follow a few simple rules.

First, go into the project with a strong central concept or theme. For instance, if you’re making a family holiday video, come up with an appropriate working title like “The Smith Family Holiday Homecoming” and treat it like a film or TV special. And what do all movies and shows have in common? A script.

For personal video projects featuring non-actors, you probably don’t want to develop a full script with complete dialog, but rather an outline or treatment that will serve as a roadmap for your production. One that tells a cohesive story with a distinct beginning, middle and end.

But before you even begin writing a script or outline, you should plan out the whole project in manageable, logical phases – just like they do for Hollywood films and network TV shows.

The four main phases commonly used for organizing commercial multimedia productions are:

1. Concepting / Script Writing
2. Pre-Production / Planning
3. Production / Filming
4. Post-Production / Editing

All of these phases are crucial for success and it would be beneficial if we discussed each one in more depth. However, that would turn this one blog article into a small book. So I have decided to break the topic up into a series of four additional weekly installments. These will focus on the individual steps we use in the industry for creating feature-length movies, documentaries and television programs – but in a way that applies to personal home videos that almost anyone can create for sharing the joy of family events and other special occasions.

Be sure to check back in about a week for part 2 of this series, which will cover project concepting and scriptwriting.

Stefani Twyford is a personal historian sharing life stories, connecting generations and preserving legacies. To learn more, visit her web site or send her an e-mail.

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