IS
IT NECESSARY TO PAY FOR ACTORS IN A CORPORATE VIDEO?
Customers frequently ask if the cost of using actors in their video is necessary.
Some see no reason not to use their own staff throughout the production. Others
feel the opposite, that their own staff are entirely unsuitable. The solution
as usual lies somewhere in the middle. Experience shows that actors are best
used for lead parts, with own staff for smaller support roles or as extras.
The reasoning runs like this: Staff often come out wooden and lifeless on camera.
This is because they're secretly nervous, or they don't know how to project,
or they've been roped in by an enthuasiatic boss and couldn't really care less.
The truth is that no matter how good the shooting, lens, camera and lighting,
if the central characters appear wooden then the audience will quickly start
to yawn. However only the wealthiest of us can afford a full professional cast,
so try this: Hire one, two or three actors for the central parts. This will
enrich scenes and add value to them because actors are trained to hold an audience's
attention. Staff who are happy to join in will also look better in the company
of professionals. And because actors can repeat their performances with the
same words and gestures as often as you need, shooting is quicker too. Actors
needn't be expensive. There are many excellent actors who will work for a smaller
fee if they're not busy that day. So the message is: If you want a more watchable
production, then use actors.
IS
IT REALISTIC TO USE FLASH ON A WEBSITE?
Flash, as many of you know, has the ability to bring websites to life with
animation, music and voice. Flash pages look a cut above the average site of
text and pictures. But there's a snag. Flash pages frequently grind to a halt
whenever the web is congested, which is often. Statistics show that website
visitors will only wait 9 seconds for a page to load, or else they quit and
press the dreaded back button. If Flash takes longer than 9 seconds, and it
frequently does, then using it is pointless. Until high speed ADSL is commonly
available, we feel Flash will have to wait. One further point of interest:
Macromedia, the developers of Flash, hardly use it on their own site, while
a year ago they used it extensively. Perhaps they've woken up to the fact that
they have a product for the future but not quite yet one for today!
SPECIAL
XMAS OFFER - 10 PERCENT OFF YOUR NEXT PRODUCTION
Every Christmas we like to bring out a special offer. This year we're offering
10 percent off the cost of any video, website or interactive multimedia over
1,000 pounds in value, if you order before we all break up for the holiday.
If you're thinking of ordering, then why not save 10 percent off your next
production? Order now and save a chunk of money.
WORK
IN PROGRESS - WHO'S DOING WHAT
Among others, we're working on a new interactive multimedia for Luton Council,
a corporate video for e-business consultants, Knowledge Online, a new store
video for Matalan, and a video multimedia for exporters, Vacuum Engineering.
HUMOUR
Great script writing analogies
The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them
in hot oil.
His vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a charging eight
year old wouldn't.
He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree.
Gerald Corbett went unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper
can.
The red brick wall was the color of a brick-red crayon. Oi!
CONTACT
The Multimedia and Video Newsletter is produced by Rossiter and Co, "Everything
you ever wanted to know about multimedia, video and the web, but were afraid
to ask." http://www.rossiterandco.com
If you have any queries, questions or would like to discuss your next production,
contact Kevin Rossiter on UK 01695 726887
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