How We Set Up A Shoot For Corporate Video Production

[@NickMirro]

You sir are a gearhead! Nice to see someone who enjoys their work. Nothing more satisfying than a complex array of gear brought together like this! 😂

[@NightOwlsMedia]

I appreciate the watch and the comment. Something that took me a long time to understand was in order to make people look natural and "normal" on camera, It often takes quite a bit of work. Thank you again

[@dw2Video]

Great video. You got right into it and gave just the right amount of explanation to what was used and you kept my attention for the full 4+ minutes. WELL DONE!

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Wow, what a nice comment! Thank you so much! That means a great deal!

[@Creamcorn25]

Dude. Sir, This is a great video. I've been doing very basic educational tutorial videos for the past 6 years. Because of that I still consider myself a noob. But, this video helped me see a lot of things as I venture into different types of video. Thank you so much for your clear description, with all the gear your using. Super great!

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Wow! What a great comment! I'm so happy that this was of some help. I've been filming for a long time but I still love learning trying to be better. If you're making videos to help others, I salute you and all the time you put into it. I'm about to sub to your channel

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Let me know if there is another channel yoo

[@Creamcorn25]

Oh, I don't have my own video channel so no pressure to subscribe! If you are interested though, the company I use to work for has a channel, it's called Lets Make Art. And now I work for Missouri Star Quilt Co.@@NightOwlsMedia I'm fully subscribed to your channel and ready to check out all your content! Thanks again!

[@NightOwlsMedia]

​@Creamcorn25 I will absolutely subscribe to both of them. If there's one thing I've learned working in this industry is that we all help each other out. And I know the importance of having a subscriber. And I thank you for that as well. I hope you're having an amazing day, I'm going to go sub to those channels

[@NickMirro]

Excellent video excellent and helpful video! Only thing why didn't you introduce the plant? How rude.

[@NightOwlsMedia]

I tried to, but man the plant had to leaf for a bamboo shoot.

[@NickMirro]

@@NightOwlsMedia 😄

[@Anaieta]

I just found your channel and just wanted to tell you how helpful your content has been to me. I'm still watching your other videos but so far you have really great content. thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Hey Anahita! Thank you so much for the very caring words! That means a great deal to us! Please let me know if there is anything you'd like us to touch on in the future, we are happy to help!

[@Anaieta]

@@NightOwlsMedia Thank you so much. I was actually wondering what camera settings you pay attention to while recording the corporate interviews. Maybe you've already done a video about that and I haven't found it yet

[@NightOwlsMedia]

@@Anaieta Great question! I have not made that video yet, I am really jumping in heavy this year and will be making a TON of videos soon, so I will definitely be adding this to the docket. But since you asked I will give you the short answer. If I can, I always shoot with 2 cameras for safety. Sometimes because I can use to cut back and forth, but MOSTLY because people on camera tend to mess up (if I showed you the raw footage of my regular videos.... sheesh). So having 2 cams allows me to edit out their "uhs" and "ums" and parts where they aren't speaking well - all to make them look like rock stars. For most shots, I shoot at 23.976. I will only shoot 60fps / slow motion if I know for sure I will need it. This is to make the footage look cleaner and more like "cinema" that we have become accustomed to over the years. If the footage looks good, the client looks good, thus making you look good. Keep the shutter speed at 50. Keep your ISO set to that camera's native ISO - for example, I use Sony a7sIII - so I keep the ISO at 640. I like to set my f/stop to 1.4 - 2.0 depending on the room / environment we are in or how it looks. If the person is moving around a lot, I can keep it at 2.8. I record the video at 100mbs 4K for a clean color correction and shoot everything at SLOG3 so I can do the grading myself depending on what the ending feeling of the video will be. If you bake in the color, you can't change it easily / cleanly, so if you do the color work in post, you can decide the look and feel of the video in editing to make sure it's what the client is going for. I shoot all video on dual SD cards + external monitor recording for safety. Audio is recorded on a lav mic as a back up. The main audio is the boom mic to a mixpre 3 32-bit float recorder. Hope this helps!

[@Anaieta]

@@NightOwlsMedia oh my god. This was super helpful. Thank you so much for putting the time to explain everything so well in details. I really appreciate it. I’ll definitely use this setting in my future videos. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@NightOwlsMedia]

@@Anaieta I don't ever want to give a tutorial on something like, this is exactly how to do this every time. Because when it comes down to it every shoot is a little bit different and might require different things. So take everything with a grain of salt. Sometimes you're unable to shoot at an ISO correctly, sometimes you don't have the cards or the data space to run dual cards all the time. I do really hope this helps, but remember every shoot is a little bit different than the last. Keep crushing it, and keep me updated, can't wait to hear what you do

[@GarlandGay7]

Could you use the 50mm lens as your A cam and just shift your china ball fill a little closer to camera and still get a good look for a final result / 1 cam setup?

[@NightOwlsMedia]

I believe there is no wrong way to film anything - as long as you have a reason for it. If the interview is something spur of the moment or like a 5 minute simple thing, I wouldn't mind doing a single camera, but anything for a business / client where we are asking questions and will need to edit the responses, I will always do a minimum of 2 cameras, most of the time I use a 3rd camera to get interested close ups and alt angles. Unless the talent in front of the camera is super good at speaking and we won't be editing the responses - they will stutter, think, take pauses, talk too much about one thing, etc etc. So for example - this video we did here, we shot 2 days and got about 14 hours of interviews and edited that down to about 3 videos that are 2-5 minutes each because we want to take the best of the best audio parts, and when you edit people you want to be able to keep on their face if it's emotional or important (and you only can if you have multiple cameras, unless you jump cut). Hope this helps!

[@GarlandGay7]

@@NightOwlsMedia Awesome. Love the explanation. I was thinking about using b roll to add in during the awkward moments but i guess that doesn't circumvent the sound blips like "umms" and "ahhs". I could also film the interview twice at a different angle each time and make it look like 2 cameras. The speech is only about 5 minutes and they want 1 minute of video for final edit. Think that would work?

[@NightOwlsMedia]

@@GarlandGay7 If it's a prewritten script and it's delivered the same (or at least similar) tone and speed then I think you could shoot it multiple times from different angles, yes. Is the issue that you only have access to one camera? If that's the case then yes absolutely, have them perform at least 2x (diff angles). If they want it super solid (like they are selling a service / promo / VBC), then I would even suggest them doing it 2x from one angle and then 2x from a second angle. This way you can take the absolute best segments from each take (think of every video shoot like a film and it will help create a massively better final edit). But yes, you're on the right track. Also, remember this: Lighting - how you light them constructs a psychological connection in your audience. Flat lighting, far side, near side, overhead - all different feels. Sound - Be sure to get room tone when you're taking multiple takes so that you can mask those audio edits in your mix

[@GarlandGay7]

@@NightOwlsMedia I'll be using a lapel mic. Sound should be the same each time. Unless there is something Im overlooking. 2x for each angle is a great idea. Its the president of a company so Im sure he want to look very professional without speech bloopers.

[@NightOwlsMedia]

@@GarlandGay7 VERY COOL! Ok, that's great. I will also suggest he talks in the same direction each time. Using lavs, when you turn your head or look slightly up or down, the sound changes pretty dramatically. So if you're doing 4 runs just have him find a eyeline target to stare at when delivering the speech. Good thinking!

[@mindfullifeprod]

Awesome Video. I wish you had more like this one, that deals with corporate clients and stuff.. Just subscribed to your channel.. Can't wait to see more content like this.

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Thank you so much! And yes, this is our big side of the business. We usually don't get time like this on a client set to shoot but it's our 100% mission as we are almost totally corporate and commerical based now.

[@BlessingJohnAseweje]

amazing work and explanation

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Thank you so much! That means a lot!

[@retarogroup]

Where do you buy your products? It is great to see the equipment, great video, do you have a partner shop, where we are able to buy and support you with the buy?

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Hey! Thank you for the watch and the comment - Yes, that's super nice of you to ask this. In the description I have links to my Kit site where I list many of the items I use. I do need to update it, but if you have any questions, let me know! I'm happy to help!

[@EuphoricMovie]

Nice man!

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Thank you Sam!

[@courtcrea.]

Very educational, thx for the video!

[@NightOwlsMedia]

I'm so happy you liked this. We've been wanting to do something like this for a long time, but rarely get the time on an actual production. We are definitely going to be doing much more of them in the future. More detailed. Thank you so much for your comment

[@EuphoricMovie]

Does the atomos plug right into the camera?

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Yes it does, HDMI cable from the Atomos to the camera - allowing me to get image and recording back up. This is the only way to record RAW from these cameras. Granted I won't record RAW for corporate work, but I will for commercial shoots.

[@dlcvideography5105]

hey, random question is it possible to light a person and also have a good view out the window? We have the London eye and the houses of Parliament in the background, from the office.

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Absolutely. You will need to cut the light from the window with difussion film / ND film. You cut roll it out and cut it to match the glass and tape it on. And then light the subject. Basically your lighting has to outdo the outside sun, so you have to cut down on the sun from the inside with the ND film

[@DreamsToRealityLLC]

Great video

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Thank you so much for the comment!!

[@EuphoricMovie]

What effect does the eggcrate have on the light?

[@NightOwlsMedia]

Great question, Sam. It acts as a scrim with bonuses. First, a scrim will lower the amount of light so it's not as powerful allowing you to control it more. Second, it focuses the light into one direction - the #1 rule about light is to be able to control it, mold it and only allow it to shine where it's needed. And finally, it's far far far easier on the person's eyes who has to be in front of it, it's not as painful.

[@joeumali7375]

have you compared the deity mic 2 to the sennheiser mkh 416?

[@NightOwlsMedia]

I have not but I would love to!

[@joeumali7375]

@@NightOwlsMedia it's what i've used for years (and still one of my favorite piece of gear) but looking into a 2nd mic (just in case there's a need). as i'm sure you know, the mkh416 is really pricey. i'd love to get another but if the deity can produce similar, i'd consider it. so please hurry and do a comparison video. 😜

[@NightOwlsMedia]

@@joeumali7375 I wish I could afford buying gear just to review it. I have two of the deity s mic 2 booms. And I love them so much. I use them for interviews, podcasts, the talk show we do on this channel, so much more. I have watched them be compared back to back, and raw audio does not sound the same, but once you raise the mids and lower the lows just a tiny bit, to me at least they sound extremely similar.

[@prostigeMarketing]

Do you use a teleprompter for these type of videos?

[@NightOwlsMedia]

I have a teleprompter that I can use when people are incredibly nervous or I don't have time to train them on how to talk on camera. The problem with teleprompters is unless you know how to read, act, and move your body in such a way that it doesn't look like you're reading, it comes off really staged and fake and ends up making the person and the brand look a bit cheaper. When I do use a teleprompter I like to take about 15 minutes before we start shooting and work with the client about how to move their head and how to move their body while they're talking. The one I use is basically just a one-sided mirror setup in front of the lens and I put my iPad underneath it and then they can control the speed with a remote control.