Alright, here we go folks!

PROS of DIY Videos

-You don’t have to deal with anyone else’s guidelines, you can take as long as you want and create it exactly as you want it to look like.

– It can be less expensive.

-You already know what your business is about, no need to fill anyone in on the “mission.”

-It can be exciting and fun.

CONS of DIY Videos

-You have to make time outside of work to get this done, video production takes up a lot of time, especially if you have never produced a video before.

-It can in turn end up being more expensive than you imagined due to the fact that you will need to buy all the proper equipment, hire freelancers (hoping their decent), unless of course you’re just planning to film it on your smart phone then that’s a different story! (and not really recommended)

-Your end result may not be the best look for your business.

-Your vision mayyyy not be the right vision either!

 Pros of hiring a Video Production Company

-The quality of the video is going to be wayyy better than your DIY video, that is a fact. Video Production Companies work with up-to-date technology to ensure the video looks professional and well put together.

-The actual production process will most likely be a lot quicker. Most professional videographers/producers have experience with filming and know how to get good shots in a certain amount of time, also if a glitch happens they already know how to solve the problem and take action.

-The Editing process will run smoother, most professional Editors know what needs to be put into the film and what needs to be kept out. They will also abide by the rules given to them by the client!

– The producer of your video will take charge once you give him or her the details and aspects you want in your video. With that being said, having someone new that doesn’t know much about your company take a look at it with an open mind can benefit you in order to market it accordingly. 

CONS of hiring a Video Production Company

-It can be pricey!

-If the company you have hired is not good at communicating and isn’t responsible about due dates, the process can actually be longer. That is why it is good to do your research prior to hiring the company!

-Good Production Companies can be busy and if you don’t book with them in advance, it can in turn leave you having to reschedule the launch date.

I hope this blog was able to help all our fellow followers out there! Here at McElroy Films we truly believe in giving good quality results to our clients. We love what we do and we hope you love it too!

Happy filming!

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Aerial Videography-Using a Drone

In order to capture amazing aerial footage, you need to use something that is not supported by the ground, it could be by aircraft, Helicopters, blimps, but the most popular form of Aerial Videography is by using a Drone.

There are many benefits to Aerial Videography. First off, the shots are amazing, being that drones are able to to get to a height that allows one to get a shot of the view from above. Also, drones are able to fly at different speeds, whether it needs to keep up with a moving vehicle or just browse the surroundings (this is all controlled by the pilot).

At McElroy Films, we use Aerial footage for a number of things. We use drones for weddings, corporate films, and non-profit organizations.

Before operating a Drone, please be sure to look through the rules and regulations designed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Link: https://www.faa.gov/uas/

4K Resolution

4K Resolution has been around for a while now, but the demand for it has no recently risen. 4K Resolution is a “horizontal resolution on the order of 4,000 pixels and vertical resolution on the order of 2000 pixels” (Wikipedia).

Do you understand that? Nope, neither do I, only thing I know is that 4K is incredibly clear and the colors are vibrant. Commonly used by Nasa, Cinematography, and Television shows. Many cameras, projectors, TVs, and computers are also using 4K resolution. Who cares about Blue Ray or HD, 4K Resolution is taking over! And soon will be in your home!

Welcome to the future!

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Another year down in the fight against the suffering caused by Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, two very debilitating digestive diseases.

In this year’s edition, McElroy Film’s videographers were sent to Atlanta, Boston, and Fairfield, CT to film Take Steps Walk Events. This time, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) asked to focus the video on BJ, a young boy who has already suffered for years. Despite it all, BJ has developed a very positive outlook on life and has devoted himself to helping raise money and awareness with his parents’ help. Also included are similar voices who have suffered or know someone with the diseases and raised money to help find cures and help keep support programs alive and well.

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Now, computer animation is very attainable for smaller projects. McElroy Films now has the means to portray products in 3D or create environments in 3D space and go where traditional video shoots cannot. Want to show a cutaway of your product? 3D animation can make it happen. Want to show very large or microscopic objects easily? Render them in 3D. Want to add pizzaz to your logo or branding? 3D can help that too. The world of 3D is limitless and a project is only limited by your imagination. Here, we want to show you how a 3D project goes from an idea to the screen.

1. As in any video project, the first step is to create an idea that concisely and accurately conveys your message. A producer translates your ideas into video terms and may storyboard or script a project so you can see how the video will play out before it is even shot or edited. This preproduction process is critical and helps you save money. The fewer changes late in a process, the less editing and animation time are required.

2. Once a concept is in place for 3D animation, the animator takes over and starts the Modeling process. During this process, the animator creates every 3D object that will be included in the final product starting with a virtual wire frame. The wire frame is like a skeleton for each object and is the basis for the shape. The skeleton may have ‘hinged’ portions that allow for moving parts further on in the process. Modeling is often the longest part of the animation process because it is essential that the wire frame skeleton be accurate for the final product to look as close to a real object as possible. Some clients have been able to save time and money by providing 3D CAD files of products to the animator. The 3D CAD drawings may need to be tweaked a little, but essentially serve as the wire frame.

3. The next step is Texturing. In the texturing process, the animator applies a sort of covering over the wire frame created in the modeling phase. This process is similar to paper maché where the texture starts flat and then wrapped around the wireframe. The texturizing process is where an object gains realism. A gold object, for instance, would need to textured with a layer that is both accurate in color and the luster of gold. Skin on a face would need the right hue and detail to seem real. When texturizing 3D objects that actually exist in real life such as products (Fans, cars, etc.), the animator will actually carefully photograph the object and use the resulting photos to texturize the model.

4. After all the objects are modeled and textured, the animator will place them in 3D space and light them. This Lighting phase is very similar to lighting in the real world in that simulated light is strategically placed in the 3D environment to make sure that the object is visible, but also determining shadows and contrast.

5. The next step is to add particles to an animation. If the idea calls for fire and smoke, the animator will add those ‘particles’ of fire and resulting smoke in this phase. Particles range from fluids, sand, clouds, weather (rain/snow) and other similar phenomenon.

6. After all the Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, and Particle Additions are complete, then begins the actual animation process. ‘Animation’ is the actual manipulation of objects in space over time. It is a very mathematical process where the computer is told where an object is moving (Point A to B) and how fast (The period between point A and B). Depending on many factors, this process can take quite a bit of time, but it is where the actual magic of the video happens; when the object is given life.

7. When the animator is happy with the animation, the project is put through a rendering process. Rendering is essentially telling a computer to finalize the animation so that it can be viewed in real time. Because of the complexity and high definition nature of animation, often, the animator can’t even watch his progress until after the animation is rendered. This process has everything to with computer processing power and can take anywhere from a few seconds per video frame to hours depending on the scope and scale of the project. When it comes to budgeting a 3D animation project, a good way to make sure to keep costs low is to make sure the animator only has to render the project once. If there is a great plan in place from the beginning of the project, there will be fewer problems down the line.

8. The final stage in the animation process is the Editing stage. It is here that components such as sound, music, titles, and voice over are inserted into the video and the final touches made. It’s very tough for us video production folks to escape this fact, but it’s true: Sound is everything and can make or break a video. A video can look gorgeous, but if you put an inappropriate music selection or voice over under the video, it will be unwatchable. The editor in this stage helps make sure that the beautiful animation is given a proper audio treatment.

To see some examples of our 3D animation work check out our portfolio.

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McElroy Films had the distinct pleasure, once again, to partner with Fenway Health in creating their new “Care & Services” Video. We are proud to represent Fenway Healths’ award winning services in Primary Medical Care, Behavioral Health, Pharmaceutical, Eye Care, and Dental Care. This video serves as an introduction to the history of Fenway Health and showcases all that their facilities have to offer. Our care, our community, that’s what Fenway Health is all about.

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Learn more about Victory Programs, the place with the red door in the video below.

What’s Behind the Red Door? from Victory Programs on Vimeo.

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A successful inbound marketing strategy should include targeted web videos that show rather than tell a targeted audience about the features and benefits of a product or service. Videos are effective marketing tools because visual content is proven to be more effective than text alone. Inbound marketing videos are focused on attracting the ideal consumer by providing them with content that appeals to their wants and needs, and answers questions. Quality content will attract audiences to a website and create a personalized brand experience that can be appreciated by new and existing consumers, especially if the content is consistently updated.

As stated in earlier blogs, adding video content to a website can increase its Google ranking by 50% according to Google Analytics, which is indicative of the effectiveness of inbound marketing and visuals. Web videos are optimal because the content is shared across multi-media platforms that consumers frequent like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. Furthermore, videos provide clients with real-time service that can be accessed at their convenience, which also allows a business to track and research the success of existing content. SEO is created in part to the process of people searching for specific video content using keywords then a video with related keywords is more li that relate to a business orThe process of inbound marketing like other strategies, works to attract, convert, and close a prospective client.

Stay tuned for more McElroy Films blog posts that break down the keys to successful inbound marketing.

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