News

Video Transcription Benefits: Part One

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:29:45 Z

Part One: The Video Edit

Here at PEG we utilize transcriptions for a number of reasons, but the most common is to aid in the creative process between us and our clients.

Transcriptions are an incredible asset. Not only do they give you a word for word copy of everything said on shoot day, they also aid in drafting your story by curating already crafted lines into something new! More on that later though. First I’d like to explain what a transcription is, how we create them, and how they can benefit you, our client.

What is a transcription and why do we use them?

Basically, a transcription is a document that contains everything said on camera verbatim. They allow you to see what was captured, especially during non-scripted or interview-based video shoot, and use it to basically make a retroactive script for editors to follow. They’re often very helpful for clients who want greater control over the narrative of their video or have very specific information they need to convey.

This extra step often saves time in both editing and the review process. We record videos where our interviewees speak at length about proprietary knowledge or about subjects we wouldn’t necessarily know about. While we can make a good attempt to understand, no one knows your product or service better than you. So, it may be best for your team to arrange the more intricate parts of the video so it makes best sense to your audience.

The Video Transcription Process

At PEG we utilize transcription services from REV.com. After shooting has wrapped, we’ll begin uploading your video files to REV. Once the good people at REV have finished transcribing, our team will go through again and fix any verbiage errors and forward it to you.

Once you have them, you can then select sentences or sequences by denoting time codes and telling us how you’d like them arranged. From there, we can edit the dialogue you've specified and bring your transcription script to life! It’s worth noting that this method may not get us to a 100% perfect story for the piece, but with a little finesse and creativity, it will get there.

Moral of the story? Video transcriptions are a very helpful tool that helps facilitate collaboration between your team and ours. Utilizing transcriptions are the best way for us to let clients have a big impact on how they're story gets crafted. It narrows down hours of interviews and really focuses on what matters to you and your audience. It not only saves time, but it allows our team to focus on more creative aspects to really make your video pop!

Myth Busting: Five Lighting Myths

Tue, 24 May 2022 11:02:00 Z

It’s no secret around the office that I love lighting. The way it cascades through our world inspires me. Over the past year I’ve been feeding this fixation, using everything at my disposal to further my understanding of this art.

As with any new skill there has been quite the learning curve, and with any skill worth learning there have been numerous headaches throughout the process. What light is best for this situation? Am I conveying the proper mood to tell this story? What would Roger Deakins say?

It’s enough to cast serious doubt in my mind, doubt that could easily dissuade me from reaching my full potential. But whenever I feel overwhelmed looking up the mountain I’m yet to climb, I take a step back to see how far I’ve come. I realize the valuable lessons I’ve learned and how I can expand upon them to further my understanding. It reignites a passion to push myself further and take my work to new heights.

Full disclosure, I don’t claim to be an expert on light, rather its humble student with hopes of becoming a better artist. An artist who tells stories with strokes of light in front of a lens.

Lighting Myth 1:
"Shoot in a room filled with natural light."

My first lesson may be obvious, but I quickly learned lighting is all about control. I realized the old lighting myth that shooting in a room filled with natural light isn’t always best. Don’t get me wrong, some natural light in your frame can go a long way, but the sun isn’t something you can control, only manipulate. This is especially true when shooting interviews, or scenes where a consistent look is key.

For example, say you set up an interview that uses the sun as your main light source. That big glowing ball in the sky can be a beautiful light source if used properly, but something out of your control are the clouds that may move in front, which reduces the visible light. Where you run into issues is when these clouds decide to block the sun mid take. You’ll lose proper exposure on your subject, forcing you to either wait for the sun to return, or adjust your exposure in camera. Not only that, but if you need to make a cut in the edit, it’ll be painfully obvious because your first shot won’t match the second. To save yourself from headache, I suggest blocking the sun from your room and relighting, or at the very least shading your subject and relighting them so their exposure remains consistent.

I’ve taken the liberty to pull some images from some of our recent work that helps exemplify my points. In this first image, my main objective was to properly expose our subject’s skin without overexposing the highlights seen through the front door. While I didn’t physically block out light with anything, I did lay a neutral density filter (think sunglasses for your camera) in front of my lens. This effectively blocked the sun out of my shot leaving the need to relight.

On the left is an image that shows what our camera saw before adding supplemental lighting. I started by adding a powerful, sun emulating light (camera left) outside the family room window, shooting through a sheer curtain to soften the light on our subjects face. It looked fantastic and realistic, but left the right side of her face (and the rest of the room) underexposed. Utilizing a wide beam fill light (camera right) I brought up the levels in the rest of the room and on the right side of her face. For good measure I also put a light fixture in the hallway behind our subjects so they wouldn’t fall into darkness. In this example, we took the sunlight we already had and supplemented it.

Our next shot is an example of why it’s not always safe to rely on the sun staying consistent. Believe it or not the wide shot on the left isn’t using any supplemental lighting, only utilizing rays from that sweet life giver in the sky. I walked into this dining room and immediately proclaimed “I don’t need any lighting, this looks great!” I proceeded to shoot the wide shot and immediately regretted my decision, as when I prepared to move in for my tight shots, storm clouds moved in. With no end in sight I was forced to run to the van and throw up a light outside to emulate the sun (just like in our previous example.) Fortunately, our fake sun was more than convincing, and in the end there’s no way to distinguish the wide shot from the tight on the right.

Finally, I have two examples that were either shot at night or blocked the sun out entirely. Can you guess which is which? The image on the left was shot towards the end of twilight, it was nearly pitch black outside. Our issue however, was that we wanted the shot to appear as if it was day time with natural sunlight flooding the room (ironic, isn’t it?) To achieve this we shot a light at the blinds (from outside) behind our subject. We turned the blinds so we couldn’t see it was night out and then bounced a light inside to fill the rest of the scene. The inverse was true for the frame on the right. This scene was shot mid-day but I wasn’t a fan of how the light was coming through the window. I decided to block all of the natural light from the room and bounce a light from the windows original location (camera left) this gave the illusion that light was coming into the room, but I was able to dial it in to the exact amount I required.

So what did we learn? Well, if it’s not evident from my example, every situation is different and poses its own problems and solutions. Every myth has a hint of truth, and as I said previously lighting is all about control. As shown in some of my examples it’s possible to get a beautiful image with no lighting at all, but it’s up to you if you want to roll the dice with nature. It could turn out beautiful, or it could derail your shoot and force you to make compromises while simultaneously disrupting your schedule.

Myth 2:
"Lights cannot move once they are placed.”

When I was starting out as a student, I had a professor who was adamant that once your lights were set in place you COULD NOT MOVE THEM. Basically, he claimed when shooting with multiple scenes and angles your lighting can’t move between shots. That’s false. It’s true your lighting should remain fairly consistent throughout a scene, but that doesn't mean you can’t get creative and move your lights for different camera angles. In fact, sometimes you’ll need to move your lighting depending on the space you’re in. Take our most recent commercial shoot for example. When analyzing our establishing wide shot, you can see our frame is relatively bright with little contrast on our subjects. However when we push in to our OTS (over the shoulder) shots, you’ll notice a slight contrast on either side of our subjects faces. Due to the size constraints of the room we were shooting in, we needed to move our lighting equipment between angles. Whether this is the case or not, it’s considered acceptable to move some lights in, as well as moving negative fill (usually a big black board that blocks light) in on the fill side if the face in order to create contrast. I encourage you to rewatch some of your favorite movies and pay attention when they move from a wide shot to a closeup. Notice the additional contrast when they move in!

Myth 3:
“You want sun when shooting outside.”

Remember when I said lighting is all about control? Well, that still applies outside. In fact, it’s even more important in outdoor environments as they are even less predictable than shooting indoors. The main issue is that direct sunlight creates harsh, unflattering shadows. This can of course be mitigated by diffusing the sunlight and bouncing light or relighting where possible, but it’s just extra steps to keep in mind when shooting outdoors. Secondly, the sun is always on the move so you have to plan ahead, and then you’re on the clock come shoot time. You only have so many takes before it shifts and you need to make adjustments. In the end, your planning may be for nothing as it could be a partly cloudy day and the amount of light you have to work with could change by the second. Please don’t misunderstand me, shooting outside can be beautiful and should not be feared, but it’s important to know what you’re up against and to come prepared. Don’t expect a great shot just because you’re shooting outside. Major movies fly massive diffusion panels up on cranes just to protect their shots from the sun. While everything can be tailored to scale, shooting beautiful footage outside takes gear and man power.

Myth 4:
"You can use house lighting or the lighting available to you to shoot, you don’t need lighting!”

When I was in college, lighting took a back seat to nearly everything else. None cared to take the time to light their scenes properly and it showed. I look back at my collegiate work and cry out to my past self “why?" Why didn’t you care more? This doesn’t look believable, how would you sell anyone on this story if they don’t even want to look at it? It’s important to remember, a camera is just a tool that turns light into an image. Like an artist with paint on a canvas, a cinematographer paints their image with light. Anyone can set up a camera and take a photo, but to create something truly awe inspiring you need to understand how to control and bend light to your will. If you can control your lighting you can control your image, and you’ll be in control of your story.

Myth 5:
“Everything happens in camera.”

While it’s generally good practice to do everything practically and in camera, there are just some looks that you can’t achieve without post processing. Unless you have access to significantly higher budgets, better gear, and most importantly more time, it’s important to know how proper color grading can make the most of your footage. Best cinematography winners know this and are masters of both the photography and post production stages.

I don’t claim to have all the answers when it comes to lighting and I certainly have more to master, but I do know that I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned that many of my past teachings and habits aren’t necessarily true, but aren’t completely false. As I said, every myth has a hint of truth to it, and as with everything in video there are limitless ideas and ways to do things. What I do know is that I’ve found a true passion and path to follow in video. It’s reignited my passion and I can’t wait to see what project I get to apply myself to next.

Drone Shoots: A Socially-Distanced Alternative

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 11:29:37 Z

Let’s face it, COVID-19 and the changes it has brought, aren’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future. We’ve all been forced to drastically adjust our lives and day-to-day routines. Even at PEG we’ve adapted the way we go about shoots and added stringent safety procedures for both during and after filming. With the rise of social distancing, one type of shoot stands out as a safe and interesting way to add variety to your video - and that’s a drone shoot.

New Perspectives

Adding an aerial component to your shoot has the ability to take your production to new heights, pun intended. Drone offerings can be intermixed with traditional on-the-ground captures as well. Aerial footage is incredibly dynamic and can give a completely different perspective to an area than a camera on the ground. Here at PEG we use our drones for a multitude of purposes. From a sports team’s season open to architecture and landscape beauty shots and even golf course flyovers, we know our way around the sky. Don’t worry, it can be either video or photography. We have the ability to take up to 24 megapixel RAW photos, which is on-par with most dedicated photography cameras and almost twice the resolution of most high-end consumer drones. Whether it be entirely drone-based or filming supplemental b-roll for your project, a drone shoot is a safe and effective way to film while keeping everyone 6+ ft apart.

From A Safe Distance

And right now, the best part about drone work is that our team is able to do it all from a completely safe distance, meaning there’s less risk to everyone on site. We aren’t just talking about the distance from the ground. Our experienced team, including two fully-licensed pilots, communicate via wireless headsets and individually-handled controls during flights. With most shoots, we also have a FAA Safety Spotter on-site to provide visual guidance for the crew during their flights, also on wireless comms with the pilots. And clients are able to view everything via a large monitor we can set up away from the main team (And yes, we've got a wireless headset for you too if you want one!)

Easier Than Ever

We offer a variety of rates that make our professional drone services more affordable than ever. Full day, Half day... We even understand that some clients aren’t even looking to create an entire video, but would rather have a few photos or videos for other purposes, so we have recently added Quarter day options that better accommodate that too. Productions come in all shapes and sizes and we know options are always needed. While things in the world may be hard right now, shooting beautiful video doesn’t have to be. We’ve shot a wide variety of videos, both in the air and on the ground, that have produced great results, all while adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines. We need each other now more than ever and video is a great way to share, connect and spread your message.

TikTok: A Serious Video Marketing Platform?

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 14:52:03 Z

If you’ve read my blogs in the past (Hi, Mom), you’d know that I’m resistant to the fact that I’m a part of Generation Z. Maybe it’s because I’m the youngest of both my extended and immediate family? Maybe because I want to fit in with everyone? Or maybe because, like TikTok and other new social media, I don’t want to be seen as young and naive.

I want to be taken seriously. Raised by boomers with millennial siblings and cousins, I feel we shared the same life experiences. I had all the ’80s and ’90s toy hand-me-downs, watched all the same things, and experienced dial-up internet. I even had an AIM account!

Then again, I was born in 1997. By the time I got to school, rolling carts and their accompanying VHS players were on their way out, replaced by sleek new projectors and Smart Boards. We had computers in every classroom and there was this new thing called social media. Soon, we had Facebook and Twitter, followed by a gaggle of others. So, why am I speaking to you about my generational identity crisis? And what you might ask, does this really have to do with TikTok? All will be revealed if you “like” part two.

What is TikTok?

I apologize for the long-winded introduction, but I wanted to capture in words one of the trends on TikTok. This trend starts with someone either telling or visually showing a story, and at the end asking their audience to “like” the video to receive more of the story. It may be childish, but it ensures people come back for more. It’s one of the many “trends” by which TikTok is ruled. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

So, what is TikTok exactly? By now, you might have deduced that TikTok is a social media app where users share videos with friends and followers. You may have already known this. And you may be one of the many that have written it off as an app that teenagers use to make cringe-worthy dance and lip sync videos. And while that may be partially true, TikTok is growing up - and it's doing so rather quickly.

Who Is On It?

If you wrote TikTok off as an app for teenagers, you aren't wrong. 38.8% of the app’s 80 million U.S users are aged 18-24. That’s not including those under 18, which would change that number to an estimated 60% when speaking about that demographic globally. (As a side note, TikTok has 1.5 billion global users, and 90% access the app daily.)

So, this appears to be a marketer’s dream when trying to reach out to the younger generation. But it's also important to know that app usage for younger adults, i.e., the highly coveted millennial audience, has been on a consistent rise since its introduction.

All About The Trends

To really understand TikTok, you need to know about some of its popular trends and features.

Trends on TikTok are like a good storm, they roll in fast and dissipate quickly. For this reason, I’ll speak about trends as a whole, as opposed to any one in particular. Trends come in many shapes and sizes. Some are challenges issued by one user to the world and spread like wildfire due to their viral nature. Some are dances created by users that ask others to learn the moves. Or, as I mentioned earlier, some are long-winded stories that enthrall the audience, then ask them to “like” the video for a part two. Likes help the video gain traction and make the video viral and spread to other users’ feeds.

TikTok users also have the ability to take audio from either a song or another user's video. Many users take the audio from someone else’s comedic video and lay it over their own video. I can’t explain it better than that, but on my feed, it seems like the most popular thing to do. Users also have access to multiple creation features in the app itself. When creating videos, they can take audio from TikTok’s extensive library, which includes both music and the previously mentioned sound bytes. Other more popular features are "duet" and "react." In both, users can record themselves and put their video either inside of or next to another user’s video. This is popular for sing-alongs and dance videos or for reacting to others' videos.

TikTok As A Marketing Platform

So, where does marketing fit into all of this? Luckily TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has made advertising easy. Through TikTok Ads, advertisers can organize and launch full out campaigns on the app, as well as several of ByteDance’s other apps, all from one place. And TikTok Ads’ interface could not be more streamlined or easier to use. In it, you can choose your campaign objectives, your target audience, demographics and where you want your ad displayed - all with a few simple clicks.

Types of Ads

TikTok Ads has multiple options for advertising as well.

The first is an in-feed video, where ads appear in the user's native “For You” news feed. It's best if ads like these look as organic as possible, so they blend in subliminally and users don’t immediately skip over what they think is an ad. A more traditional and direct approach would be the brand takeover option. Here, an advertisement will appear to cover the entire user’s screen upon launching the app. The ad will stay there for a set period of time and cannot be swiped away. This style has the opportunity to look more polished and professional.

Another interesting option would be issuing a hashtag challenge. These ads appear at the top of the discovery page and encourage users to participate in content creation challenges. These can also include a shoppable component that is very useful for retailers.

There is also an option for branded content, where an ad would appear as a branded lens, stickers and other 2D/3D/AR content for TikTok users to use in their videos, much like Snapchat filters.

Finally, there is the custom influencer package where your ad appears as part of sponsored content created by a TikTok user with influence in your market.

Taking TikTok Seriously

TikTok is becoming more diverse by the day and is being taken seriously by major organizations. In fact, in 2019, TikTok signed a multi-year deal with the NFL, which brought the launch of an official NFL TikTok account, as well as sponsored videos and hashtag challenges.

In a sea of marketing and advertisements, TikTok offers a hyper-fresh, relevant way to show your brand to some of the world’s most connected people. ByteDance makes advertising easy and, with the user base growing daily, advertising on the platform will only become more valuable with time.

Take it from someone who comes from the generation that has defined the app: TikTok cannot be ignored any longer. And I know our team at PEG is more than ready to help take your TikTok video needs to the next level.

Getting To Know: David Stephenson

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 07:59:10 Z

Hey everyone, I'm David. And today I'm going to tell you a little bit about me, what it means to be a Producer here at PEG and about the quest to perfect my pizza recipe.

Video Transcript

Brianna Kelly: What is your name?

David Stevenson: David Stevenson

BK: And David what do you do here at PEG?

DS: I am a producer here at PEG.

BK: What does that mean?

DS: Means a lot. Basically I'm involved in everything video production related, be it, you know, pre-production, story planning, script writing, storyboarding. And everything from the video shoot,so it could be shooting, or being a grip, or running a staffer. And everything in post-production as well, so editing, or graphics ,or sound mixing.

BK: What do you add to the team here at PEG?

DS: I'm young and I'm fun. I feel like being young and everybody calls me a Gen Z. I kind of have maybe some different ideas on how I want to do things or how I see things so that might add some more modern flair to what we do.

BK: What are you the most passionate about in this work?

DS: I think the thing that I like the most about video production is the variety. One day I could be lighting a scene or I could be running audio or running a camera, which is what I love to do the most but there's just so many different things to do that you're never really bored or craving something else. And there's always something to learn.

BK: What inspires you?

DS: Craig. Genuinely. I remember when I came here and I saw the work that Craig was working on I was just amazed that somebody could do that like with their hands and create something just so mesmerizing, but tell such a great story.

BK: What is something quirky about you or a fun fact?

DS: I love pizza. And, like, absolutely love pizza. I'm constantly on the quest to perfect my pizza making and trying new pizzas everywhere. I once drove to New York City on a whim because I wanted to try New York Pizza for the first time and I did that.

BK: What do you like to do in your spare time?

DS: I like to do a lot of different things in my spare time. I love cars, cooking, of course mentioned pizza. I like to hike. I like photography. and I don't know I just like a lot of different things. I like to keep myself active.

BK: And, David, the most important question of the day...

DS: Puppies. Okay. No contest.

What I've Learned So Far... David Stephenson

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:13:08 Z

Well folks, here we are. Six months later and it’s time to write my scathing review of Pritt Entertainment Group... To be honest, I’m not even sure where I’d go with that joke. I’m sure I could crack a joke about how Jeffrey doesn’t like mashed potatoes or how despite my numerous requests we still don’t have a pizza oven (99% of the conflict in this office revolves around food), but I don’t think there’s a single negative thing I could say about my job, the people I work with or the company I work for. Everyday I count my blessings that I look forward to going to work and getting to work with such talented and outstanding people.

Since Starting at PEG

Jeffrey hired me straight out of college. While that sounds like an ideal situation (and by all means it is), I wasn’t without reservation. You see, I was kind of nervous. I had seen the quality of work this company is known for and I started to doubt myself. Coming from the student-run video program at The University of Akron, I felt I was at the top of my game. I taught myself a lot from the time I started in the program the year prior and although I’ve always been very critical of my own work (many say too critical), I finally felt I was in a position to apply what I’d learned to the real world. That feeling was quickly dashed when I realized how much there was still to learn. The quality of work my new co-workers were putting out was something I only dreamed of being able to do. But I was ready turn that dream into a reality. While the thought of that path made me anxious, I was also excited. I felt I had learned all I could where I was and I was ready for the challenge.

What I’ve Learned

I’ve learned a lot since starting at PEG. Creatively, technically and professionally - I’ve picked up more than I ever thought I could in such a relatively short time. Filming techniques, editing techniques, color correction, after effects, client relations, the list could go on. These are all skills I’ve been able to build upon by either working on projects, or watching/taking advice from my fellow co-workers. I’ve also learned what it means to be a part of a team that has your back. I think a lot of people in video production get use to running the whole show alone - I know I did. Previously, I felt I needed to do everything myself, but now I know I can rely on my co-workers, both in the work they do and the advice they give and that’s apparent in the work we do. We can feed off of one another and ask each others opinions to get the best end result. I've also learned to believe in myself. I previously said I’m very critical of my own work (as I’m sure most content producers are) which can be a good thing because it means I’m constantly trying to improve. However, this also at times leads to me not believing in myself or my work. I’ve had to learn that I can trust myself to create something worthwhile and be proud of it. I’ve learned to be proud of what I make, but still have the humility to acknowledge what I need to improve on next time. No one likes self-deprecation, especially when talking about something you’ve created.

What’s Next

I’m not sure where to go next, not because I think I’ve learned everything I need to, but because there’s so much I still want to learn. It’s a bit daunting thinking of all the skills there are to build, but I think it’s an exciting opportunity. And in a field that’s always changing there’s no time to waste. Currently, I’m working on expanding my After Effects knowledge - specifically character animation. And in the real world I’ve been working on improving my lighting. Who knows? Maybe I’ll become a professional gaffer in the future?

Thank You

In closing, I’d like to say a few thank you's. Thank you Jeffrey and Ryan for giving me this opportunity in life. The opportunity to grow not only professionally, but personally. Thank you for pushing me and my work to be better than it ever has been. Thank you for being the type of leaders that play to my strengths and build up my weaknesses. And thank you for building a team that not only works together, but plays together (insert volleyball emoji here.) Thank you Craig and James for always giving me helpful criticism, your work is something I look up to and to try to model myself after. Thank you Coach Kuss for always putting out fires and answering every stupid question I have. You are a wealth of information and I benefit everyday because of it. And finally, thank you Brianna and Claire. You’re both incredibly talented at your jobs which makes my life easier, but my gratitude goes beyond that. Your friendship means the world to me. From the lunch dates to late night Facetime, Schitt’s Creek, Pavona’s, Percy and beyond. You two have become friends that I know I can trust and rely on. Am I being sappy? Yes, but I want everyone to know how much I value them and the experience of working here. This job is more than I could ever ask for, and I feel truly honored to be a part of such an amazing team.

Staying Creative Outside of Work

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 11:44:49 Z

In this line of work, it can sometimes be hard to remember that your job is fun. I know it sounds crazy. “But David, you get to be creative every day and work with a bunch of cool technology!”

Yeah, I know, but hear me out. When you work for clients, your work is under constant review. It needs to live up to the expectations of both your employer and the client, and your own expectations. As a student, coming from a place where my work was considered finished when it left my hands (as in no revisions needed to be made), this was really hard to get used to. I’m not saying my work was perfect, far from it in fact, but it’s something that was easy to get used to. And that's a bad situation because in this field, you need to constantly be learning and pushing yourself to evolve. Without that push, what’s the reason to create media at all?

It’s important to realize that not every shoot will be in an exotic location, recording something interesting, with cinematography worthy of an Oscar. In fact, most shoots won’t be. Does that make this job any less worthwhile? No. Does it mean things can start to feel tedious and repetitive? Absolutely. While every shoot will be different, with different ideas from multiple clients, they nearly all follow the same pattern.

Conceptualize, pitch, film, edit, review, re-edit, review, send it out the door. Obviously, it isn’t as simple as that, but what I’m getting at is that most projects follow the same pattern.

So, how do you break the mold? How do you keep yourself from falling down the corporatized content rabbit hole? Remember to shoot for yourself and, perhaps more importantly, shoot for fun. If you create media professionally, it can be tough. The last thing you want to do after a long day at work is to go home and do more of the same work, right?

But hear me out. I felt like I was in a rut. I was so creatively exhausted after work that I struggled to find time to enjoy creating my own content.

That changed a few months ago when I was approached by a friend I met during my time spent in ZTV, the video program at The University of Akron. He asked me if I’d like to be an extra in his friend’s music video. With reluctance, I agreed (I much prefer being behind the camera.)

To my delight, that request quickly turned into “David, will you shoot this video for me?” which really meant “will you shoot and direct this for me?” I agreed with gusto. All I knew was that I was shooting a rapper having a summer party at a pool. Regardless, I was excited to be shooting something with my friend, and something where I could potentially try out new techniques without any big repercussions. I was delighted to learn that the extras in the video were all my friends and/or people who had also gone through ZTV.

Basically, I had no issue running a scene eight or more times. Having my friends on set also just turned into a relaxing time that we all used to goof around and decompress. We shot for about four hours that day in the summer sun, jumping in the pool, sliding down water slides and drinking Coronas. When it was all wrapped up, everyone had a great time, and we had some beautiful shots to show from it. At the end of the shoot, I realized that shooting video doesn’t always have to be stressful. When you’re shooting for yourself, you can slow down, relax, and enjoy yourself. You can work on your craft and really think about what you’re creating.

On top of that, I was able to utilize new techniques I’ve picked up at PEG since I started which made my life much easier. In the end, I had a renewed desire to create my own media, which has since caused me to again take up photography and enjoy creating fresh content for my Instagram.

Relaxing and having fun with my own creations also helps break up the monotony of work and approach my client projects from a different angle. Any way you spin it, my quest for knowledge has been reinvigorated. Next stop, animation!

My Creative Inspiration: David

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 08:58:11 Z

What’s my inspiration? Everything that gets posted in our “video inspiration” channel on slack, obviously. A more serious answer? Everything in the world around me – including my friends, work and environment.

True inspiration is hard to come by. It’s not just something that excites you, but really motivates you to become something more than you currently are. Inspiration feeds creativity and persistence, it fuels the mind and fills your efforts with endless possibilities. For me, this isn’t something that comes easy. At a young age, I found it hard to pull inspiration for things I was working on. I would always let the big picture overwhelm me and I’d never be able to pull myself away from the minute details long enough to appreciate what I had in front of me.

Finally, I learned to work down projects into smaller, more manageable pieces. That’s when I learned how to allow my surroundings to inspire me into creating something truly worthwhile.

I suppose one thing I can always count on to inspire me is music. Even as I write this, I find it hard to power through, but I find with the help of music I’m able to break through that creative block. Curious about what music I listen to? (Shameless plug alert) Go check out my last blog where I also used the power of music to overcome my writers block! Music is a great way to build inspiration, because it brings out many emotions that may lie dormant otherwise. It also helps when I edit to a particular song or beat. For example with the last video I worked on, I was feeling lost on how to edit a particular sequence. Nothing I did seemed to work until I added the perfect song for the setting. That song set the pace for the edit and helped shape the rest of the video, long after that song had ended.

I also like to draw my inspiration from the world around me. That includes everything from nature and scenery around me, to my friends and colleagues. I can remember one point in particular last month where I felt truly inspired by not only my work, but by work from the people around me. Last month I attended a meeting with PEG for the Greater Akron Chamber, an organization that focuses its resources towards regional economic development. While there I realized the impact this company’s philanthropy has on the neighborhood around it. From the sidewalk stages to the various sponsored events, it was at that meeting that I felt I was working for something bigger than myself. Sure a paycheck is nice (and necessary) but what’s the point if you don’t like what’s around you? I felt like I was a part of something that helps make this community better and, in truth, that is something that now inspires me. The idea that my work can help those around me, be it direct or indirect, sheds light onto each project I do now.

And I think that kind of inspiration will guide me for the rest of my life, because if we’re not here for each other, why are we here at all?

My Editing Playlist: David

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 09:39:44 Z

Uttering the words “Hey siri, play some music” is how I like to start most of my days. Notice how I said “some” music and not anything specific. You see, I like surprises in life. Some know me to walk into the local deli and simply say “surprise me” – excited to see whatever sandwich comes out the other end. Vacations as well, I’ve never planned one. Aside from lodging arrangements, I’m known to show up in a new city and just explore, knowing nothing about where the road will take me next (ask my girlfriend, it drives her nuts.) Some call me crazy, I call them boring. A sense of adventure is key to an interesting and fruitful life!

Bringing this back to the topic at hand, music is one of the easiest ways to bring variety into your life.

When editing, variety is good. Not only does music bring variety to life, but it can encourage creativity. As someone who has to be professionally creative, I appreciate this very much. Even while writing this, I became stuck multiple times, but my music helped me power through. Music makes me think and feel different emotions and that brings me to an important point. From a creative standpoint, I think it’s important to listen to a variety of music while editing. It allows you to approach a problem from different angles and with separate ideas. The emotion or inspiration you may feel from one song may cause you to create with a different mindset. Obviously, I don’t find myself listening to music while editing crucial audio points, but if I’m working on graphics, organizing files or really anything that doesn’t require my ear's attention, I’ll go ahead and hit shuffle. Personally, I’ll listen to anything but country. Wagon Wheel is my only exception. I’m not sure if listening to everything makes me interesting or means I have commitment issues, but like I said, variety equals creativity!

I know some people like podcasts as well, but those are too distracting, so I tend to steer clear. I’d list some of my favorite songs, but there are too many to count and are constantly changing – so I will simply list some of my favorite bands in no particular order as they come to mind.

Queen
Bon Iver
The Black Keys
The Lumineers
Pink Floyd
Hozier
Kaleo
Daft Punk
Action Bronson
The Milk Carton Kids
Sigmon
Ed Sheeran
Frank Sinatra
Khalid
Marvin Gaye
City and Colour
Jamestown Revival
Atmosphere
Roo Panes
Gregory Alan Isakov
The Rolling Stones
Post Malone

I will stop here, but rest assured, there are more. While we are on the subject, I am also a huge audiophile. I’ve never encountered an audio system I haven’t tried to improve. In fact, I just bought a new car and I’ve already sourced a new amp, dsp, woofers, tweeters and sub for it. It’s another passion of mine that makes listening to music that much more worth it.

Video Content Creation with Generation Z

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 13:19:52 Z

I'm a Generation Z-er

I grew up knowing everything was a lie. I denounced my position in life, afraid of what I truly was, lying to everyone along the way. I was ashamed of what I represented, in fact I hated it. Terrified of being ostracized, I hid the truth from my peers praying they would never find out. But it was too late, a year too late. I am a part of Generation Z. Okay, in truth I have no idea what generation I belong to. A quick google search yields multiple results, with some sources stating I’m a millennial, and others saying I’m a part of gen Z. Most people like to say my birth year bridges the gap and give me the term “Zillenial.” I have no idea what this means, but I still like to think I’m a millennial. I’m not sure why this is so important to me, or why people put so much pride into their generation. Perhaps it’s because I want to be a part of the generation that grew up at the turn of the century, or maybe I just want to be different than the people born a mere eight months after me.  The truth is, it doesn’t matter what year you were born or what generation you fall into, we all consume media at an absorbent rate. Whether it’s the news, movies, television shows or social media (I’m looking at you, memes) we’re all subject to more media content than ever before.

I'm a Content Creator

As content creators, we are greatly influenced by the media that surrounds us. Not only can it change the way we feel or think, but it also has the ability to change how we create. For me, I grew up with access to YouTube in its infancy (oh god, I am zillenial) and it was love at first sight. I can distinctly remember creating my first channel in 2007 and, no, I did not get my parents permission. This would be a move that could change my life forever. I’d become rich and famous beyond my wildest dreams! I’d join the YouTube elite with the likes of Smosh, Makemebad35, and nigahiga. Okay, in truth it didn’t change my life overnight. I never achieved YouTube fame or made any money, however, I can say it did change my life, albeit over the course of a decade. It set my life in motion and at a young age I knew what I wanted to do. Not many people can say that. For me, YouTube heavily influences the way I create my videos. I’m a huge fan of run and gun documentaries and YouTube has some of the best examples of a modern interpretation of them. A series like Vice’s “Pizza Show” is a good example of what I base my work off of, almost trying to mimic it in many regards. I enjoy seeing the different ingredients that go into making it a good show (pun intended.) I know how important a good creative edit can be to make it feel natural, yet exciting. And I appreciate finding the right host that has the intelligence to extract what they need from the situation, but who viewers will also relate to. Location is almost as important as the host you are filming. The two must work in tandem to create something worth watching. I use the Pizza Show as my bible so to speak. Its cinematography is simple, yet powerful. It entices the viewer to keep watching by showing what’s most important, but doesn’t distract by covering cuts with pointless b-roll.

I'm Learning As I Go

During my time spent at The University of Akron, I had the privilege to work on a new show called Class Cancelled. The purpose was to highlight cool things for students to do both on and off campus. Being a new show, we had the power to easily make it however we wanted. My producer and I would stay up on weekends, drinking beer and eating copious amounts of pizza while critiquing various YouTube series. We would compare them to our previous work and see where we could improve. Being a mainly internet based show, we had the freedom to try whatever we wanted. We took different ideas and techniques and mashed them together to create something that was our own. We worked all semester refining and critiquing until finally we were at the season finale. Taking everything we learned we grabbed amazing locations, the perfect host and put our carefully devised plan into motion. The end result was one of my favorite pieces to have ever come out of the University’s television station, but then again I might be biased. I think the moral of the story is that I had the ability to be creative in a way I don’t think was possible ten or fifteen years ago and I was able to pull my inspiration from a plethora of different sources. The internet has changed the way we consume media on a mass scale, and for me it's where I draw nearly all of my inspiration from. We are truly living in the golden age of content creation, and Generation Z will soon rise up.