As we close to the top of the yr, it’s an excellent time to consider what you need to obtain subsequent yr. You may definitely set concrete objectives, whether or not it’s enterprise or private objectives, however that mindset could be restricted to what you recognize as we speak – your worldview, your present state of affairs, your alternatives and what you assume is feasible subsequent yr. So as a substitute of setting a selected aim, make it your goal to get out of your consolation zone in 2023, after which see the place the experiments take you.
Once you do one thing new and unfamiliar, you open your world as much as doubtlessly new paths and alternatives that you could’t think about as we speak. And fortunately there’s a complete world of tutorials and programs on the market which can be devoted to serving to you be taught new abilities and or manufacturing approaches.
The characteristic picture and all article photos are from Until Daling on Pexels.
Video Manufacturing Is a Sandbox for Experimenting
We’re fortunate that within the craft of video manufacturing, we’re not solely allowed however inspired – and sometimes rewarded – to experiment and take a look at new methods of making content material. It’s not like a commerce like roofing, and even one other inventive service like graphic design, the place you’re employed to do a selected process in a manner you’ve carried out earlier than.
With video, no two tasks are alike, and you’ve got many frames to experiment with, so there’s actually nothing stopping you from attempting new ways apart from concern of failure, time, or motivation. In fact should you’re doing paid work, it is advisable guarantee shoppers are nonetheless going to get what they’re anticipating from you, however you sometimes have a lot of wiggle room for creating your plan of motion.
And naturally you may experiment wildly with your personal private unpaid work, but when attainable, attempt to match experimentation into your paid work. That manner you’re continually rising even when you’re busy producing shopper work.
In order that that mentioned, listed here are 5 methods you may experiment together with your video productions in 2023.
1. Attempt a completely completely different taking pictures model
You’ve gotten your bread and higher taking pictures strategy, and it’s working for you. However for the sake of development, give your self a completely new taking pictures expertise at some point. You could discover your present strategies are literally nonetheless your greatest ways, however you’ll additionally open your self as much as new taking pictures methods.
For instance:
- Attempt taking pictures solely with a tripod for one shoot. No handheld photographs, no monopod, no gimbal, no glitz. Lock it down and get a collection of photographs that inform the story with motion in-frame moderately than with digicam motion.
- However, if a venture permits it, attempt taking pictures solely handheld. It’s a really enticing mode of taking pictures, proper? Think about how liberating it might be to stroll round and get photographs left and proper, excessive and low, with out anything besides a digicam and lens. However is as we speak’s IS and IBIS sufficient to offer you a usable base of photographs to your edit? Just one method to discover out – attempt it!
- Dig into your digicam’s image model menu and select Monochrome. That’s proper, attempt taking pictures a complete venture in black and white. This could be one thing higher suited to a private venture, nevertheless it’s nonetheless price attempting out.
- Attempt taking pictures anamorphic – why not? You may hire an anamorphic lens (or a set of them), or be taught some methods to duplicate the anamorphic look. Watch just a few classes from Tito Ferradans on MZed and chances are you’ll shock your self. Perhaps you don’t assume anamorphic is for you, or it doesn’t suit your shopper work, however you’ll by no means know till you attempt.
2. Attempt utilizing much less gear, no more
The entice of shopping for gear and pondering it’ll result in new alternatives is actual. And it’s very straightforward to fall into that entice over and over. If I purchase this piece of substances, it’ll make me extra fascinating for shoppers to rent. Gear Acquisition Syndrome is a unending battle. Don’t get me flawed, shopping for new gear may be very enjoyable, and sometimes a necessary piece to development, however you’re already doing it so let’s consider another technique for 2023.
For one manufacturing, attempt utilizing an entire lot much less gear than you’re used to. For instance, attempt taking pictures with solely 1-2 lenses, or with just one gentle. I’ve personally had nice luck with this experiment time and time once more. For one documentary shoot I introduced solely a 35mm prime and a 100mm Macro lens, and it freed me to get inventive with visuals moderately than change lenses a thousand instances.
Identical with lighting. Sure, a full gentle equipment is greatest. However what would occur should you solely used one gentle? Or one sort of diffuser? What about forcing your self to make use of solely a COB gentle shot by a bathe curtain to your documentary interviews? For a pair years I traveled round Alaska with just one Westcott Ice Gentle as my interview gentle, and I’m sure it enabled me to tackle shoots that may in any other case be not possible with an enormous bag of lights and stands.
Or should you don’t need to be too dramatic, simply take much less gear with you and give attention to the story. Depart the slider, gimbal, and drone behind, and stroll round getting a ton extra photographs the place individuals are the centerpiece, not shiny video methods.
3. Attempt a brand new modifying workflow
When you get hardened to a selected modifying workflow, it’s laborious to vary something about it. And why would you? You’ve gotten deadlines to satisfy and you’ve got your present workflow that’s assured – why mess with it?
As a result of until you actively try new modifying workflows, you’ll by no means know in case your present system is certainly the most effective strategy for you. As well as, you may also be lacking out on jobs the place the shopper requires you to make use of a unique NLE. And at last, should you’re going to experiment with taking pictures, chances are you’ll as properly additionally experiment with modifying.
So attempt a very completely different modifying software program. Do it for a small venture. Attempt modifying on an iPad. Perhaps DaVinci Resolve on an iPad might open up a completely new path for you?
Or within your most well-liked software program, take a unique strategy to your edit. Attempt utilizing solely nat sound and dialogue to maintain a narrative flowing, moderately than counting on a music mattress. As a substitute of diving into an edit the best way you normally work, attempt transcribing interviews and writing a paper edit first. Give Last Minimize’s Audition a attempt such as you’ve been aspiring to for 10 years.
Go nuts, and see what else is on the market on the earth of modifying methods. You by no means know what chances are you’ll discover out about your self, whereas additionally studying new abilities so as to add to your modifying instrument belt.
4. Attempt a completely completely different video product than your present wheelhouse
You already know you’re good at your work, your shoppers know you’re good at it, it’s your bread and butter. So why mess with an excellent factor? Like I mentioned earlier than, attempting new issues is to not meet enterprise development aim you might need, it’s to open new doorways that you just don’t even know exist but.
So should you’re nice at making company documentaries, attempt making a 30-second video with voice over. Discover ways to make a kickass timelapse for the 30 second video. Make a business with solely inventory video. Ship it over to your shopper and see what they assume. Or make a venture completely out of movement graphics, maintain it to fifteen seconds, and provides it to your shopper to make use of on their social media. Attempt taking pictures some Instagram reels… in native vertical decision. Earlier than you recognize it, your common shoppers could also be inquisitive about hiring you to do extra of the brand new stuff.
Video developments change, and shopper requests could be far and wide. There’s dozens of various kinds of video productions on the market, however for shoppers a “video producer” might imply somebody that may do any variety of completely different productions. And in the event that they’re asking you to do one thing that’s not in your wheelhouse, as a substitute of taking offense, attempt doing it.
As a substitute of claiming “no” to offbeat requests, give occasion videography a attempt. Train your self about reside streaming. Give inexperienced display screen interviews a attempt. Get out of your consolation zone, and take a look at one thing new. As a result of earlier than lengthy you’ll discover that you just’re making use of the brand new abilities to your present wheelhouse.
5. Don’t simply be taught, educate.
It’s essential to all the time be studying new abilities, developments and methods of doing issues, and in video manufacturing it’s definitely important to maintaining with the instances, not to mention rising as a inventive. However in 2023, I believe we must also give attention to bringing alongside others. As a substitute of specializing in rising your self and your personal enterprise, make it some extent to show somebody one thing that has enabled you to be on this enterprise. Make room for yet one more individual to affix our trade.
Do you’ve a good friend who has struggled for the final couple years of their present job? Present them the right way to shoot, or edit a easy story. Convey them alongside on a shoot. Embody somebody in your productions who’s however wants a bit assist to get began.
Have you ever not too long ago found a instrument or workflow that has modified your world? Write a weblog put up, or a LinkedIn put up, or perhaps a tweet. Or report a brief Youtube video about it. Sharing on-line doesn’t all the time should be promotional. The truth is I believe one of many issues we’ve misplaced not too long ago with the web is the need to assist and share with our neighborhood, merely to be good and useful, moderately than to attempt to promote one thing.
Once you share or educate others, you’ll discover that 100% of the time, you be taught one thing your self, and within the course of, the world is healthier off due to you. And sometime, karma can pay you again to your kindness.
That’s it for me in 2022. I sit up for 2023 after we at MZed and CineD can share extra insights from filmmakers all over the world, classes and programs from educators who’re smart past their years, and new approaches to video manufacturing in order that we will all proceed to develop our craft and construct a life centered round creating superior video stuff.
Do you’ve a aim for 2023? Share it within the feedback beneath!
