MarketingOC Studios

You probably don't factor in the cost of what it takes to make a rich and gooey chocolate chip cookie when you sit down with a plate of cookies and a tall cold glass of milk. You just enjoy the delightful experience of eating those cookies.

Enjoying video is a lot like enjoying your chocolate chip cookies and milk. You watch and enjoy, and you probably don't think to much about the ingredients that went into creating the video production. And while cookies are most always round, a video production should never be cookie cutter.

Of course, when it comes to your business, you are concerned with the ingredients, as it is the ingredients that help to determine cost.

So what are the ingredients (cost factors) that go into a MarketingOC Studios Orange County video production?

Here's a peak at what cost drivers we consider for each new video production and marketing production.

1. Project and production management: The overall planning and execution of the video production. While our video productions services are cutting edge, our client services are decidedly simple - you can call or email us at anytime with your ideas, needs and concerns, and we are ready to address.

2. Script Development: Every video must have a script. Often clients will write a basic outline, and we turn that outline into an engaging story. Even if it is just a 30 second commercial spot, there is a need for a story to engage viewers and motivate them to action.

3. Storyboard Development: Pairing the script to visuals is key to a smooth video production. It helps in preproduction planning, on set and in post production.

4. Talent: Getting the right talent is essential for connecting the on screen talent with the audience. So, we need to consider:

• Casting
• On-screen Actor(s)
• Voice over artist
• Extras
• Customers (Release form required)

5. Video Assets: A video production is often made of both custom and stock assets. Sometimes, it is less expensive to use stock footage, but that often comes with some trade offs such as the stock photo not being exactly how you may have envisioned, but yet, it is good enough.

• Images needed
• Stock photos (Royalty free)
• Licensed photos
• Custom photography
• Video
• Stock video (Royalty free)
• Licensed video
• Illustrations/3d elements

6. Special Effects/Animations: Motion graphics and special effects can help to create more impact by presenting text and concepts in an intriguing manner.

7. Location: The decision to shoot in our Orange County green screen video production studio or our Los Angeles video production studio or on location depends on the goals of the video production. But the basics we consider are:

• Studio rental
• Fees and permits
• Local or travel
• Building rental
• Sets
• Props

8. Music: Music adds a lot to any video and there are lots of options from stock to custom music that we consider:

• Stock music (Royalty free)
• Custom score

9. Crew: Having a strong team to executes your vision is essential. The video producition crew MarketingOC Studios may bring to your production can include:

• Director
• Director of Photography
• Camera operator(s)
• Lighting
• Sound
• Grip
• Production Assistants

10. Video Editing and Output: Bringing all the elements of the production together happens in post production where the final video is assembled.

11. Overhead: It is important to keep the lights on at MarketingOC Studios. So, we need to ensure that we provide the best equipment and operational management to serve our clients. These factors include:

• Equipment (Cameras, Lights, Sound, Studio, Computers, Software)
• Insurance (Liability and Workers Compensation)
• Rent

12. Distribution and Marketing: A video will only begin to serve its purpose if it is viewed by your target audience. MarketingOC Studios helps you to reach your audience.

• video distribution
• video marketing
• video seo
• video sem

This should give you some idea of the script to screen video production costs and services that goes into the final number you receive in a video production and marketing proposal from MarketingOC Studios.

An upcoming post will take a more streamlined approach to video production if your needs are more simple.

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In my previous post, you got to see how the power of music and U2 is trying to persuade viewers to buy a Blackberry - and as I mentioned, if there is a band / celebrity who might motivate me, it's U2.

So, today, if you haven't already seen it, I want to share with you the recent Iphone 3GS commercial. My personal test in watching this commercial, was to see if it can motivate me to want to update my current 3G Iphone for the 3Gs.  Take a look:

 

 After watching the commercial, I have to say I was pretty excited. However, I love video. In fact, providing video production in Orange County is what we do - so by all means it should thrill me. However, motivate me to upgrade from my existing Iphone at this time? Not gonna happen. 

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Small business and advertising. These are two phrases that are often at odds with each other. A lot of small businesses think they don't need to advertise - just do a great job, and folks will be lining up to buy your products or leverage your services.  However, reality soon sets in, that in order to grow your business, you need to advertise - so more people will come in the door, so you can provide great service, and those people will tell their friends. Advertise some more - and effectively, and the cycle repeats itself.

Here's an example that I think you will enjoy of a company that used advertise to build its concrete resealing business. Not exactly a glamor product - but yet, a service and business that grew because of smart, effective advertising and a committed effort to continue advertising to build their business.

If you are small business in Orange County, CA or anywhere in the U.S. - MarketingOC Studios can help your business advertise effectively, so you can grow your business.

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At one point in time, the search phrase "video production" drove the largest share of search engine traffic to our web site. Today, this search phrase has been replaced with "video marketing" as a traffic draw to our Orange County video production and video marketing services. Why? More businesses are realizing that video is not just a marketing gimmick, but a lead generation strategy that does a number of powerful things for you.

#1 - Video helps to brand you and your business as an authority.

#2 - Video builds relationships and encourages conversation - just look at the cooments on any YouTube video.

#3 - Video enables you to inform, instruct and teach mor effectively than words alone.

#4 - Video can be become viral - allowing your business to benefit from nearly free user generated marketing.

#5 - Video offers effective lead generation - there are plenty of ways to encourage viewers to provide their email address and/or phone for follow up.

#6 - Video can be optimized for search engine traffic. In fact, you can expect that video will be showing up more and more in Google's search results.

#7 - Video can sell your products, business opportunities, and services - better than your static web site alone.

#8 - Online video is easier and more affordable than ever to produce - it doesn't take a Hollywood crew to produce your video - in fact, there is a very real danger in overproducing your video.

With every dollar needing to be stretched further than ever, it's no wonder we are seeing more traffic resulting from the term "video marketing." How will your business use video marketing?

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Lately, I have increasingly found myself consulting with our clients about not overproducing their video. There was a time, ecspecially when we added video production to our agency's service offering, that we would only promote the highest level of video production - tight script, high quality HD, superior lighting and impeccable sound. After all, you don't want a substandard representation of your brand on video right? This was an honest sell too -- it was what I truly believed.

But recently, I have altered my pitch to many of our prospects and clients. The fact is, our clients are increasingly interested in using online video to promote their business, products or services. And, every client wants a viral video. They want to use the power of social media to enable their customers, resellers and the blogosphere to become an extension of their marketing efforts and not only watch the video, but want to share that video with others. This goal, is quickly becoming the highest demanded service we have offer, and quite possibly, the hardest goal to fulfill. Hard to fulfill, because I have to convince our clients, that the video has to be focused on something remarkable. Remarkable not in production quality, but in content. It is the story that engages, intrigues, instills emotions, laugther or even pity. It is not. "We are the industry leader...." Our challenge becomes in identifying the "viral" factor, and then creating the storyline to deliver on that factor.

Let's take a look at the Nike video to promote the Hyperdunk basketball shoe. In the video, basketball great Kobe Bryant leaps over a speeding Aston Martin. We all know that Nike has plenty of money to produce a stellar high end commercial to advertise this show, however, they took an approach that leads the viewer to believe that is was filmed by one of Kobe's buddies as they were goofing off. The video quickly spread not only because of the star value, but because Kobe performs a remarkably stunt. Viewers shared the video wondering if Kobe would actually perform such a stunt. After all, it looks so real and not so polished...it couldn't be a Nike advertisement could it?

 

In this example, the money wasn't spend on the typical high end video production bells and whistles, but on the:

1. Concept (agency)
2. The talent (Kobe)
3. The props (even renting an Aston Martin for the day isn't cheap!)
4. Distribution (services and strategic placement and tagging on key distribution channels (YouTube, of course!)

So while not all of our clients can leverage superstar talent, they can leverage a super story or message that people want to share. Defining that message - that's where the real value is and where the real challenge is.

I will explore these viral video challenges in future posts.

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A very clear reality when we produce corporate video productions or small business video productions for our clients, is that many of our clients do not feel comfortable talking on camera. It doesn't matter where a person is in an organization, they could be the CEO of a Fortune 500 or the owner of a Fortune 1,000,000 small business, place the person in front of the camera, they just clam up. This fear should never stop a business from considering a video to promote their business.

Here's a solution for producing a video with a camera shy business owner - professional video voice over.

Our Orange County video production crew will come to your business and shoot the live footage of your business in action. We capture the essence of your business operations and the people that make it all possible. Instead of recording you talking, we capture you in action. We then take the footage you captured, and create your video production based on the script and storyboard. We will then have one of our professional voice over artists provide the narrated story that conveys your marketing message.

So if you are camera shy, or just don't want to take the time to prepare for your video "acting" debut, let MarketingOC Studios professional voice over artists add the voice to your corporate or small business marketing video!

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Last night, my wife and I went with our good friends to see Madonna perform at Petco Park in San Diego. Despite starting a little late, the concert was amazing. I viewed the concert both as a fan (yes, I can admit even I still like Madonna!) and as a professional video producer/director. I was of course impressed by the stage, the lighting and the killer performance factor that Madonna and her entourage bring to the stage. But with all that was happening on center stage, there was something else that caught my eye...

There was a section on the floor that was on a platform and it clearly was set up for a special group in the audience. This section was clearly in my line of site of the main stage and one woman in that section caught my attention. She was filled with light, like she was wearing a high powered flash light on her neck. This woman was moving to every beat. Her body was shakin' and it looked like he arms were quakin'. Every so often, I would look at her, and she was constantly moving to the beat, giving Madonna a run for her money.

 

(This arrow shows where the woman was standing as taken by my Iphone)

So here I am, at a Madonna concert, filled with all the sights and sounds that come with a major concert event, and I can't help but to keep noticing this woman. And I want to be clear, I was with my wife, and I was not checking this "dancer" out. But I was fascinated by how the rest of crowd was pretty tame, and here was this woman just having the time of her life.

Then -- it clicked. This woman wasn't some hyped up Madonna fan, she was communicating the concert in sign language. Her body moves and here hand gestures weren't some crazy dance move -- it was communication. It was how the group of people in that special section were hearing the concert.

Mystery solved, but it really got me thinking about the fact, that Madonna was the star of the show, but at least for a little while, my attention was captured by this woman. This woman who was just a small player in the overall story of the night, at least to me and most everyody else at the concert, except the concert goers in that special section on the floor. She was the narrator in the story that Madonna was setting forth on stage. She was the person who made all the flashing lights, the motion graphics and the dancers on stage come together for these concert goers. She was the glue that brought all these elements together to fulfill the experience of "her audience."

So why did this capture my attention as a video producer/director? Very simply, we spend a lot of time and effort ensuring that the star of our video productions (usually the CEO/President), get the proper spotlight. But often times, that spotlight is shared. Shared amongst the other stars of the company and even more importantly, with the interest of the audience. And with every message that is purposely intended to be conveyed in a corporate video, there are also other messages that come through to the audience, and just maybe, that message is the one that your audience remembers, and perhaps, even writes about in their own blog, like I have done here. It is that message, that unintended, yet powerful idea that spreads.

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Orange County, California is a video production paradise. There are so many amazing places to film footage for a film, commercial, corporate video, YouTube video - basically any video you are a looking to film, the diverse geography, history, and people of Orange County serve as a perfect backdrop to your story. This is the first post in an ongoing series of best places to film in Orange County, CA.

Keep in mind, that the proper permissions and permits need to be obtained to film at most of these locations, so do your due diligence and then get out there and shoot your story.

Orange County Beach Filming Locations:

Laguna Beach: From Main beach to divers cove, you can get a variety of locations in one small town. You can even even head up the hill to top of the world or into Laguna Canyon for a more rural fee.

Huntington Beach: HB is surf city after all, so any orange county video production that has anything to do with capturing the essence of So Cal beach and surf living, HB is the place to set up your cameras.

Orange County Restaurant Filming Locations:

Javiers:  This restuarant and bar is the place to capture the lifestyle of the OC. This restaurant features not only food that is fit for film, but an outstanding decor and ocean views. It is also one of the most happening places in Oranges County.

Beachcomber: Take your audience a step back in time when you film at the Beachcomber located right on the beach at Crystal Cove. This is place full of charm and nostalgia of a time gone by.

Orange County Night Time Filming:

Lucky Strike Lanes: This is a bowling alley at its finest. More of a lounge than a bowling alley. I has a retro hipster kind of vibe and is the perfect place to capture Orange County adults having a great time.

Orange County Shopping Center for Filming

Fashion Island: This outdoor shopping center is the heartbeat of the Orange County lifestyle for many locals and international travelers alike. Some video production companies may prefer South Coast Plaza, however, this mall, while impressive, can be captured in other malls across the country.

Orange County Charm

Balboa Island: This island is full of unique waterfront homes, but the charm is on Marine Ave., with the small shops, ice cream parlors and locals mingling with vacationers.

Balboa Peninsula: Less charming, but yet lots of good scenery can be found across the way from Balboa Island on Balboa Pennisula. Take the fairy from Balboa Island and make sure your camera is rolling. There is lots to capture - from boats, to a ferris wheel, to sea lions - it's a visual explosion/

Rustic OC Place To Film

Cook's Corner: From their own web site: Bikes, babes, cars and stars govern at the oldest roadhouse in South Orange County. It's a great place to film, and a lot of fun for the video production crew too!

Rural Orange County Place to Film

Tanaka Farms: Orange County used to be known for its agriculture, today the only thing that seems to grow are new houses and shopping centers. However, life is still a bit simplier over at Tanaka Farms. Although the land is leased from the Irvine Company, this family run farm is one of the best experiences in Orange County. It is a great place to capture farm life in Orange County.

Place to Film Boats and Cars of Orange County

Mariners Mile: While not the most visually scenic area of Newport Beach, this mile stretch of Coast Highway in Newport Beach is the place for exotic car delearships, boat brokers and restaurants. It's the prefect location for a cruising in the car scene.

Best Places to Film Technology in Orange County

Tech coast: Irvine is not Silicon Valley, but there is a lot to work with here for a video production that includes an reference to technology, whether it be Internet, computer or health care, Irvine has a lot to work with.

I will continue to update this list and feel free to add your own best orange county video production locations in the comments section below.

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As a producer / director, I don't often get the chance to enjoy the amenities of the green room. This area is typically the domain of actors or special guests of our video productions, where they wait to be called on set.
Today, I visited the green room to write this blog post. I noticed that this area is meant to provide a place of comfort and relaxation in what can sometimes be the boring and tedious process of video production. It is a place in which we try to ensure that guests feel special during a video production in appreciation of what they may endure:

• Hot lights
• Lots of waiting 
• Caked on make up
• Retakes
• You know...all the fun stuff that goes with the glamour of video production!

The green room is that special place to get away from all this. It's also a place where our corporate video production clients find a place to relax and regroup. We are lucky to be able to have access to such a place when we film in the studio.

Wouldn't it be nice if all businesses had a green room for their guests and superstars?

The Googleplex certainly has its share of amenities, but most businesses green room is the waiting room as clients walk in the front door. 

Maybe all businesses need a green room. Whether it is an actual room, or just a sense that when an employee or a customer walks through the doors of your business they are treated special, made to feel comfortable, as they go about the sometimes tedious business of the day.

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There has been a near explosion of sites offering to make it easy for businesses to get into the popular trend of  video marketing. These sites offer stock video that depending on the site, can be sliced and diced to a limited extent, and some custom text and maybe even some audio can be added to make the video "personalized for your business."

I am all for keeping things simple, but simple does not always mean effective when it comes to advertising and video production. In fact, I share the same view as Grant Crowell from the ReelSeo blog:

My key point is that when it comes to Video SEO, there are no tools or digital media library that can ever be a substitute for unique, engaging video content you should be producing yourself. Relying on stock footage will never be the answer simply because its not original. Video SEO is not simply about entering keywords; its about providing a memorable (and hopefully unique experience) that gets people to act and make them want to share it with others. If you take enough pride in your own business to consider it at least in some ways to be unique, then your video certainly should be, too. 

His post was in reference to video SEO, but it really applies to using video in marketing and advertising in general. Your business is unique - (at least I hope it is), so shouldn't your message to connect with your audience demonstrate that uniqueness?

Using stock footage is OK to include in your video to support an idea e.g. if you are a global business, that doesn't mean we need to jump on a plane to China to get some footage of this global audience, there is stock footage that supports this. However, when your whole video marketing message is pulled off the shelf like a can of soup...your business will need to reach higher to stand out in today's competitive marketplace.  

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