Lights. Camera. Jargon! A Guide To Understanding The Top 20 Video Production Terms

Video production is a powerful and rewarding process, but it often involves technical language and terminology that can be daunting to those who are new to using video in their marketing plans.

Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned pro or you’re about to work with a video production crew for the first time on a client project, having a basic understanding of the language used will help you navigate the world of video production with ease.

So, to help get you started, here’s a blog to demystify the 20 most commonly used video production terms.

Top 20 Video Production Terms

Footage or Rushes:

Raw, unedited video that has been recorded.

Frame:

A single still image in a paused moment in a video.

Frame Rate:

The number of frames recorded or played back per second. Generally, videos are between 24 and 30 frames per second

Aspect Ratio:

The proportional relationship between the width and height of a video image. This is often different between social platforms so knowing where you’re posting is important in choosing the right aspect ratio.

Resolution:

The number of pixels in a video image, typically measured in width x height. The higher the resolution, the higher the quality, but also the higher the file size, which might mean viewers online with slower bandwidths might experience buffering issues.

Keyframes:

Frames in a video that contain complete data and are used to define the starting and ending points of a change. These are particularly essential in animated videos.

Green Screen:

A technique used to replace the background of a video. Filming takes place against a solid colour (usually green but can also be blue) and everything of that colour is made transparent in post production.

Compositing:

The process of combining multiple video layers into a single image. For example, adding a text title over footage or replacing a background in a greenscreen video

Non-linear Editing:

The process of editing video using a computer-based system, as opposed to traditional linear editing methods where reels of physical film were cut with scissors and glued together

Render:

The process of creating a final video file from an edit.

Sync Sound:

The process of synchronizing audio and video tracks in a film or video production.

Audio Mixer:

A device used to adjust the balance of audio signals from multiple sources.

Boom Mic:

A long, handheld microphone used to capture audio on location.

Cut (or edit point):

A transition between two shots in a video, typically achieved by cutting the image and audio abruptly.

Fade:

A transition between two shots in a video, in which the image and/or audio gradually fade in or out.

Dissolve:

A transition between two shots in a video, in which one image slowly fades out as the other fades in.

Pan:

A shot in which the camera moves horizontally from one side to the other.

Tilt:

A shot in which the camera moves vertically, either up or down.

Zoom:

A shot in which the camera’s field of view appears to be getting closer or further away from the subject.

There are many technical terms used in the world of video production, but hopefully this short list provides a start for anyone looking to communicate with professionals in the industry.

If you would like to discuss how Dead Ready Productions could help with your video production requirements, please feel free to get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

1 Camera vs 2 Cameras – Which Interview Filming Approach Is Best For You?

When filming an interview, you’re often choosing between using one or two cameras.

Mike Plenty, Managing Director at Dead Ready Productions, explains the benefits of each in the first of our 60 second production tips vlog series. The content of which can be found below.

The Pros Of Using 1 Camera

A single camera is the simplest and cheapest approach to filming an interview.
It minimizes the physical space required for filming and can be less daunting for nervous interviewees
Having only one angle makes it easier to control what’s in the background of the shot. And it’s also best when your interviewee is speaking down the lens

The Pros Of Using 2 Cameras

Adding a second camera gives you another angle throughout the interview. This then allows you to easily cut different takes together while maintaining an illusion of continuity.
This is massively helpful as it reduces pressure on your interviewee to deliver long perfect takes. Being able to cut to a close-up shot also allows for a more dynamic final edit.
In short, a second camera provides you with creative options.

For more helpful information, top tips and useful guides on video production, keep an eye out for our next 60 second production tips vlog – coming soon!

In the meantime, if you have a filming brief, or you would like to find out more about the animation, photography and graphic design services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, simply get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

How Can A Product Video Help Promote My Business?

With people twice as likely to share videos with their friends than any other type of content, it’s undeniable that video is an essential way to bring your product to market and a fantastic opportunity to showcase your brand.

Whether you’re a small start up with the latest mind-blowing product that we didn’t know we needed, or a corporate giant with new, innovative software that will revolutionise businesses across the globe, video marketing is a powerful way to share your product with the world and the great news, you don’t need a blockbuster-scale budget to do so!

In this article we share our top tips to make sure your product video is a success and explain the services Dead Ready Productions offer which will ensure you’re in safe hands when it comes to creating your video. But first, let’s start by sharing some compelling statistics about video marketing – because who doesn’t love a stat?

Cisco reports that 82% of global internet traffic will come from either video streaming or video downloads in 2022.

This figure is set to increase as companies continue to realise the importance of this medium, so take action now to start exploring how video could form part of your marketing strategy.

As reported by Wyzowl in their 2022 Video Marketing Statistics Report, a staggering 96% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service.

This proves that video is an essential sales tool and that potential buyers look for this information to learn about your product whilst considering their purchase.

It was reported by Statista that in 2021, online videos had a worldwide audience reach of 92% among internet users.

With nearly 3.5 billion internet users set to consume video by 2023 it’s essential that you are engaging with audiences in this way to promote your products to potential customers.

According to data collected by Statista, over three billion internet users will watch, stream or download video content during 2022.

This figure is projected to increase annually, reaching nearly 3.5 billion by 2023, which makes producing video content undeniably the most powerful format you can include in your marketing strategy.⠀

These are just four tips of the ice berg when it comes to the power of video and with figures this big, you could be forgiven for thinking video might be on the verge of hitting saturation point. Yet, thankfully (especially for us), that’s not the case! There are still underutilised opportunities you can explore, so taking this all into consideration, how do you go about writing a brief for a product video that will ensure you get the best response from your customers?

We provide our 3 top tips for making sure you get the most out of your product video and explain how Dead Ready Productions can bring your brief to life.

3 Top Tips For Making The Most Of Your Product Video

1. Keep It Positive

The phrase “Ever had that thing happen that really isn’t great?” never features in the world’s most successful promotional videos. So, despite it being an age-old sales tactic to outline the problem that your product fixes…

You need to ditch all the negative connotations and keep your video positive by emphasising the benefits your product will bring to the user.

Writing a video brief can feel daunting, but the best way is to break it down into simple stages. First start by answering the following two questions “What do you want to say? and “Who do you want to say it to?”, then consider the pain points of your potential customers and list the benefits that your product will bring – your aim is to leave your audience with an overwhelming sense that you are the solution they’ve been looking for and they can’t possibly live without ‘you’ in their life.

2. Keep It Brief

This is essentially a tip for every promotional video of almost any kind – use the minimum amount of your audience’s time to convey your message.

Audiences are more time poor than ever before and they have an endless array of choices. They are not forced to watch your product video, they will choose to, so if they are not engaged, they’ll turn off or move onto the next. It’s that simple. They’ll also associate your brand with boredom, however subconsciously, and no one wants that!

The golden rule is to try to keep your product video to a maximum 90 seconds. If you do need longer, you’ll need to work a lot harder to retain interest in your video.

You can do this by ensuring you have a stronger concept and a greater variety of content to keep them engaged, but ideally keeping your product video concise, engaging and if the subject matter allows it, even fun, needs to be your main priority.

3. Have An Identity

Consumers have become incredibly savvy shoppers, so a product video is a fantastic way to show the world who you are as a company, your background, your ethos and your fantastic products.

People don’t just want the short-term fix of buying a product, they want a background story. They want to feel like they’re part of an exclusive and knowledgeable community when they make their purchase.

It is therefore essential that your product video aligns with the rest of your brand values, so keep this in mind when you’re writing your brief. It will guarantee your product video hits all the right buttons with your audience and will keep them watching for longer.

How Can Dead Ready Productions Help You With Your Product Video?

In addition to a whole host of video, animation, photography and graphic design services to help businesses promote their services or products, there are three specific types of product video that Dead Ready Productions produce. These include:

Studio-Based Product Videos

These demonstrate the craftsmanship of your product with a studio video shoot, where every detail can be captured in a controlled environment to ensure that your product looks more appealing than ever.

Lifestyle Product Films

If you really want your customers to understand how much of a benefit your products can bring to their life, consider a lifestyle shoot where the product is featured prominently in desirable and exciting real-world contexts.

Ecommerce & Retail Videos

Product videos used to accompany listings on ecommerce websites are a powerful way to drive sales as they can offer a 360 degree view of your product that photography alone can’t achieve. This style of product video not only helps you get more qualified leads through the door, it can also increase your chances of converting a sale.

If you have a video brief, or you would like to find out more about the services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, simply get in touch via the Contact page on our website or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

* Statistics courtesy of the Social Shepherd.

Dead Ready Productions Appoint Award-Winning Marketing Lead

On 20th June 2022, Rachel Sumner joined Dead Ready Productions as Marketing Lead, a newly created position within the company.

Bringing with her over 20 years of experience within the marketing industry, Rachel will use her expertise to help build upon the presence of Dead Ready Productions and expand the existing client base.

Chris Tongue, Creative Director at Dead Ready comments about the new appointment; “We are very excited that Rachel has joined the Dead Ready team. We are lucky to have many loyal clients, but we are keen to expand upon this for the continued success and growth of the company. Rachel’s extensive knowledge of marketing and unique skillset will be very valuable for the future of Dead Ready Productions and we can’t wait to see what impact her new role will have on the business.”

Regarding the move to Dead Ready Productions, Rachel comments; “I have known Chris and Mike for 11 years now and have worked with them on a variety of client projects during that time. I know first-hand how fantastic they are at what they do – I have literally recommended them to every company I have worked at! Having watched their company expand and become so successful has been a joy, so to now have the opportunity to be part of their team, joining such a creative group of individuals, is incredibly exciting.

Founded in 2009, this latest appointment takes the Dead Ready Productions team to ten – a major milestone for such a relatively young company who started out as just two.

Working with an eclectic mix of clients, from property, healthcare and finance companies, to live music and theatre events, through to transport and the food industry, Dead Ready Productions consists of a talented collection of animators, camera operators, graphic designers, photographers, project managers and editors.

The team work closely in collaboration with Creative Director, Chris Tongue and Managing Director, Mike Plenty, to ensure all projects push creative boundaries whilst at the same time providing a personable, friendly experience which ultimately exceeds client expectations.

If you have a photography brief, or you would like to find out more about the video, animation and graphic design services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, please feel free to get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

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