1. Event Landing Page

Online events require a website, microsite, portal, or a simple landing page. Usually, they contain information helpful to viewers as they locate and view the live stream.

The event page itself contains the live stream player, and usually the name of the event and a brief description of the event. Of course, you can get much more creative than that!

You can create your event landing page in many different ways. If you have an existing website or blog, a simple solution would be to add a new page or a new blog post dedicated to your event. You can also use popular landing page tools to create a custom event page. For example, we use HubSpot, but there are numerous marketing platforms and landing page providers out there. 

When planning your live stream, this is usually one of the first pieces of the puzzle you need to put into place. After all, it’s likely to be where you’ll send viewers to register for and eventually view the event.

2. Viewer Registration

Unless you have an existing list of attendees (e.g. for an employee event), you’ll need a way to register your viewers so you can communicate important information leading up to the event. Making sure you have a way of messaging your attendees is crucial for sending event reminders and calendar invites to help ensure they’ll know when to tune in.

Most landing page providers have options for creating forms you can use to gather viewer information. Or, you can gate your live stream with a form that requires viewers to enter their information in order to watch. 

Be sure to create a new segment or list for your registered viewers to make it easy to send event information to the right people.

3. Sizzle Reel

What better way to promote a live video than with, you guessed it, more video? A sizzle reel is a type of teaser video that will hook your audience, but leave them wanting more. It should showcase your topic, speakers, and insights, or anything that would motivate someone to sign up. 

You can share your sizzle reel on your event landing page, social media, or in blog posts promoting your live stream. It’s an effective way to engage your audience and get them excited about the main event.

To help drive event signups, you can use in-player CTAs or a post-play screen to link to your registration form.

4. Social Content

To help promote your event, you’ll need plenty of content to share on social media. The right platform to choose depends on where your audience can be found. Each platform has slightly different formatting constraints, so be sure to refer to our guide to optimizing your videos for social media when planning your content.

A mix of images and short videos will add variety to your content and help grab your audience’s attention. Be sure to change it up and feature various aspects of your event to appeal to different people. And, work in the date and time to ensure everyone knows when it’s happening.

You’ll need at least two weeks of content in order to effectively promote your event. Depending on the scale and frequency of your event, you may choose to promote it on social media for longer than two weeks. 

5. Email Campaigns

For most types of events, email campaigns will drive a substantial portion of your registrations. Coordinate your email content with the images or videos from your social media campaigns to help it feel cohesive. 

Incorporating video into your email campaigns can help improve campaign performance. To help increase click-through rates, you can use an email embed code to easily add the poster frame for your sizzle reel to your email campaign. Including an image with a video play button has been shown to improve click-through rates, and the word “video” can improve open rates.

Like your social media posts, the timing of the promotional emails depends on the nature of your event and how often you typically reach out to your audience. Still, you’ll likely want to start promoting your event at least two weeks out from when it kicks off.

Email Reminders

Be sure to build event reminder emails into your campaign planning to ensure registered viewers will show up when the time comes. Typically 24 hours prior to the event, and the day-of, these are crucial to driving attendance.

6. Paid Promotions

Online ads are one of the best ways to reach beyond your owned and earned audiences and find new targeted prospects for your event. From promoting posts on social media, to podcasts, or search and video ads, there are many options worth exploring. 

The right choice depends on your budget and your goals for attracting attendees. Larger events, like conferences or concerts, usually have significant ad budgets for online campaigns. To help weigh your options, consider the demographics of the users, and the popularity of each platform. 

Your ads should be designed to send traffic to your event landing page or event registration form. Be sure to add UTM parameters to your campaign URLs, and enable conversion tracking, if possible, to help evaluate campaign performance.

Suggested Timeline

Depending on your internal resources, the scale of your event and audience, this timeline could look really different. Still, the essential structure is likely to be fairly consistent even if the timing shifts.

Of course, not all live online events will require all of these components to be successful. It comes down to the nature of your event and your connection to your audience.

How far out do you start marketing your live streams? Any extra tips to share? Sound off in the comments below.

The post Your Live Stream Event Marketing Plan appeared first on SproutVideo.

In this post, we’re sharing the ten key questions you need to answer before you go live.

To better understand what it takes to move in-person events online, we sat down with Emma Stones from the Garden Museum in London to get her perspective. With a wealth of experience around in-person and online events and festivals, Emma was able to talk us through how the Garden Museum found success by shifting their event series online.

Based on our conversation with Emma, as well as our own experiences with live events, we came up with the following questions that will help you succeed with online events.

1. Who is Your Audience?

It all starts with who you are trying to reach. If you’re lucky, you might have an existing audience to tap into, such as people who used to attend your events or patronize your business in person. If you’re starting more from scratch, try to do as much research as possible before getting started to build out detailed viewer personas.

The more information you have on your audience, the more likely you are to craft content they’ll want to watch. And it will inform many other decisions down the road, such as your pricing and delivery methods (more on those below).

2. Will They Actually Show Up?

This question is formulated specifically to help you put yourself in your viewers’ shoes. Why should they take time out of their busy day to attend your live stream or watch your video?

It takes more than you’d think to motivate people to take a specific action. The longer your event or video is, the greater the opportunity cost for your potential attendees.

It has to be worth their while. How will you stand out from other competing demands on their attention? Why do they have to attend your event, today?

3. How Will Your Audience Register for the Event?

Even if you already have a large following, you’ll still need to figure out how to get your attendees registered for the event. This is just as important for your audience as it is for you.

For your viewers, you can set up a registration page and workflow that sends email reminders. This will make it easy for them to add the event to their calendars, and you’ll be able to keep track of how many people will attend and capture important information, such as name and email.

Are They Willing to Pay for the Experience?

While you’re figuring out how you plan on getting folks to register, you should also consider if you plan on charging them for joining your live stream. If you’re replacing an in-person event or trying to drive new revenue with this series, charging for events might make a lot of sense.  Explore this guide to learn more about paid virtual events.

4. What Kind of Audience Interaction Do You Want?

One of the best parts about creating a live stream is that it’s one of the best ways to interact with an audience outside of being in the same room with them. You’ll need to decide just how interactive you want it to be.

You just want to deliver a message in real time, or maybe you’ll want direct feedback and discussion. The latter would require additional software like live chat or a commenting feature for your guests to leave comments or questions.

Depending on your format, you may need additional team members available to field questions, moderate, or pass questions on to your speaker to respond in real time. 

5. What Kind of Equipment Do You Need?

Equipment is going to be an important part of your live stream setup. It can range from the bare minimum like a webcam and microphone, all the way to top-of-the-line video production equipment. 

A professional setup will take your production value to a whole new level. This type of setup might include lights, cameras, tripods, microphones, and more. For a full run-down on the equipment you may need, explore our “How to Film Yourself for a Professional Result” post.

6. How Are You Streaming it to Your Audience?

There are a ton of ways you can reach your audience with live video nowadays. Deciding on which avenue to go down will vary depending on the type of content you are trying to present to your audience. 

Are you trying to reach a broad audience? Hosting live events through social media may be the way to go. This is best if you already have a large audience on one of the many social platforms that offer live streaming.

Do you want complete control over your production? Opting for a professional video hosting service might be the right move. Professional services give you more control over your brand presentation, and give you access to privacy settings and video marketing tools like lead capture or calls to action. Some software also allows you to multi-cast your event to social media platforms, making it the best of both worlds.  

Are you planning for a ton of audience interaction? Trying a video conferencing application may work best. This is great when you have multiple speakers, panel discussions, or need direct audience interaction. 

7. Who Are the Hosts?

All the planning in the world is great, but you’ll need someone who can actually present the information. Hosting can look easy, but it actually can be a lot of work. You’ll need someone comfortable on camera, good at asking questions, and quick on their feet if anything goes wrong. 

Typically this may fall on the shoulders of someone in your marketing department but be sure to ask around your office and assess people’s willingness to being on camera. Once you pick a host, be sure to run through these 27 tips with them to help them appear more natural on camera.

8. How Will You Keep it Interesting?

Beyond having great information to share and a captivating host, consider adding additional elements. This could be video segments, photos, statistics, screen captures, and more. Ask yourself what sort of additional elements will help you convey your message even more effectively.

9. What Happens After the Event?

You just absolutely crushed your event. Now what? This is an important question to consider since your audience is probably thinking the same thing. 

Are you sending a follow-up email? Do you have additional material for attendees to look into directly afterward? Do you have a call to action for attendees? Will there be a recording of the event available for those who couldn’t make it live? Great follow-up will help keep your audience coming back for future episodes.

10. What Metrics Will You Track?

When it’s all said and done, you’ll most definitely want to take a look at how each event performed. Tracking metrics during and after each broadcast will allow you to better understand how you’re performing overall. 

You should look at metrics like: watch time, peak views, average minutes watched, location, and more. The more information you can acquire from your viewers’ watch habits, the better decisions you can make moving forward.  

Asking yourself these 10 questions will set you up for success when planning a compelling live-stream series. Hammering out the details, growing an audience, and hitting your stride while going live may take some time, but it will be worth it.  In the comments below, let us know what types of live events you have planned for the future. 

The post 10 Questions to Ask Before You Launch a Live Stream Series appeared first on SproutVideo.

In this post, we’re looking at the eight key differences between webinars and live streams, and their respective advantages, so you can make the right decision for your next campaign.

1. Size of Audience

The first major factor in the decision between a webinar and a live stream is the size of your audience. While either tool will work well for hundreds of viewers, live streams are a much better fit for audiences numbering in the thousands.

The most important reason why is because webinar platforms limit the number of participants at around 500 – 1,000. The max we’ve seen is 5,000, though it’s possible platforms we didn’t look at offer more. 

In contrast, a live stream can be attended by many thousands of people; there are no hard limits. If your event has viral potential, or if it’s a major conference or performance, a live stream is the way to go.

Also, even if a webinar platform supports thousands of viewers, some of the most popular audience engagement tools become difficult to manage at that scale. For instance, live chat or Q&A would be overwhelming if thousands of viewers expect a direct response. Since many of the benefits of webinars aren’t applicable to very large audiences, live streams generally make more sense.

Audience Registration and Lead Capture

No matter the size of your audience, webinars and live streams can handle audience registration and lead capture flows with ease.

Some live streaming platforms, like SproutVideo, allow you to gate your live streams with a viewer information form. You can then connect that form to a CRM or marketing platform with one of our native integrations. Or, if you already have a list of viewers, you can grant them access to your live stream.

Webinar platforms typically work in a similar fashion, providing signup forms, or ways to add an existing list of participants. In this particular case, whichever option you choose, you’ll have easy tools for generating leads or registering your viewers.

2. Technological Requirements

The setup for presenters can be very similar for webinars and live streams. Both can be run using just a laptop and a webcam. Or, you can use a more advanced setup with a professional camera and microphone. In this case, you’ll need a U-Tap (or similar video capture device) which allows your computer to recognize that camera as a webcam. 

However, for participants, the requirements can be quite different depending on the webinar software you select. In many cases, webinars require participants to download specific software, and keep it up to date. 

In comparison, live streams are delivered through an online player in a browser window. They don’t require any special software downloads at all. Depending on the size of your audience, and their comfort level with technology, live streams might be a lot simpler and easier to run.

Granted, there are a handful of webinar platforms that also just run in the browser. If you want to ensure an easy experience for viewers, select a platform that requires minimal steps to join an event.

3. Audience Communication Tools

A relatively big difference between live streaming and running a webinar pertains to the tools available out of the box for audience communication. This refers to everything from promoting your event, to calendar invites, and sending reminders or recordings.

Most webinar platforms include the basics for audience communication tools. The email options aren’t always pretty or brandable, but they’ll include all key event information, and plenty of tips for accessing the event. Event reminders and recordings can usually be scheduled automatically with little hassle.

On the other hand, very few live streaming companies offer audience communication tools. If you’re going with a live stream for your event, you’ll need an email service provider to handle all of your audience communications. 

Most businesses have an existing email service provider, like Mailchimp or HubSpot. Depending on your email platform, you can even use workflows or automations to deliver all the right messages at the right time. And, you’ll likely have more control over the branding and appearance of the emails.

4. Where You’re Sharing

With a live stream, there are endless options for how you might share your event. You can use a landing page hosted by your live streaming provider, embed it on your website, or simulcast your live stream to more than one location, including social media platforms.

While some webinar platforms support embedding, and enable you to push your webinar to social media, these aren’t very common features. They’re typically only supported by browser-based webinar platforms, and not by ones that require a software download.

More often than not, webinars are run within the application in a virtual meeting room. You can usually customize the interface with your branding, but the options remain limited in terms of layout and reach.

5. Audience Engagement

When it comes to interacting with your audience during your event, webinars and live streams overlap quite a bit. However, there are some key differences.

Both options work well with live chat features to take audience questions or comments during your event. Still, you’ll have more flexibility with a live stream. If you can embed your live stream player on your website, you can implement any other chat tool alongside it. 

In contrast, webinar platforms have chat features built-in, and the webinar video feed usually can’t be separated from the chat feature. That means you’re stuck with whatever chat functionality comes with your webinar platform. Despite the lack of flexibility, the chat features of webinar platforms are perfect for typical Q&A sessions or gathering audience feedback.

In most cases, live streams and webinars also support mid-playback callouts, such as in-player CTAs, and customizable post-play screens to drive engagement after the event concludes. 

However, webinars usually have a handful of extra audience engagement features, like raising hands, voting, reactions, polls, or surveys, which are not common amongst live stream providers. If you want lots of bells and whistles to help encourage participation from your viewers, webinar software will be the way to go.

6. Video Quality

For certain events, video quality can be paramount. Live streaming has the edge over webinars in this particular category. 

Live streams can be up to 1080p, while webinars are usually restricted to 720p. Even though both formats are technically HD, the 1080p version will look sharper, especially on larger screens. If your viewers are likely to watch on a TV or a large monitor, this is an important consideration.

This particular distinction is likely to erode over time. Some webinar platforms already support 1080p video on their largest plans. We expect it to become much more commonplace at lower price points in the near future.

Beyond HD formats, live streams offer a few more advantages for video quality. For instance, you can apply color grades, add transitions or special effects, and custom graphics in real time. These effects are handled through live video encoding software, like OBS and others.

Latency

While both live streams and webinars are considered to be real-time, the truth is they’re not quite the same.

Webinars are usually more or less exactly real-time. Like a video chat, as soon as you speak, your words reach your viewers with no noticeable lag at all.

In comparison, live streams have a small amount of latency that usually ranges from 10-30 seconds. The difference is down to the way live streams and webinars are processed and delivered online.

To allow for higher video quality, live streams undergo additional processing before the video is sent to viewers. Webinars, on the other hand, prioritize immediate delivery of the video over video quality.

Whether or not latency is important to your event typically comes down to the level of audience interactivity you are aiming for. More latency can make it difficult to respond directly to viewers. A good workaround is to compile questions or feedback during your event, and address it at the end.

7. Content

Of course, the most important part of an event is arguably the content. What are you talking about, and how are you delivering the message?

When you think of a webinar, you usually think of someone talking over a presentation. Many live streams take that format as well. Both can also mix in pre-recorded video clips, music, screencasts, and other media to liven things up.

For higher event production value, live streams offer more options and greater control. Live stream encoding software allows you to switch between sources with ease, making them ideal for multi-camera productions. As mentioned in the Video Quality section above, the transitions, optional color grades, and other effects can also provide extra polish to increase the impact of your event.

8. Nature of Event 

Of course, the technical differences between a live stream and a webinar aren’t the only reasons to go with one over the other. Depending on what you’re looking to get out of your event, there are other considerations to take into account.

For major public announcements, events that require minimal or no audience interaction, or very large audiences, live streams are almost always the way to go. The simplicity and scalability of live streams will make them the better choice in these instances.

Outside of those specific types of events, there is tremendous crossover between webinars and live streams in terms of their suitability. We’ve seen live streams used for courses and engaging smaller groups very successfully. On the flipside, we’ve also seen webinars used with really large audiences to great effect.

The Lines are Blurring

The reality is that the overlap between webinars and live streams is increasing, not decreasing. As webinar platforms become capable of delivering higher quality video to larger audiences, and live stream providers add more audience engagement and communication tools, the differences become more a matter of platform preference than anything else.

Still, there are some cases where a live stream will be the best fit, and others where only a webinar will do. We hope this overview will help you make the right choice for your next event.

Have you leveraged webinars or live streams for your business? What are your thoughts on the key differences between these two solutions? Share your comments below!

The post Live Streams VS Webinars: 8 Key Differences appeared first on SproutVideo.

Still, a lot of that work looks pretty different compared to a year ago. Video production has been fundamentally changed by the pandemic in important ways. Here are the five changes that will shape the future of video production.

The Experience on the Ground

To better understand these trends, we spoke to Cara Yeates, current partner and Head of Production at Trigger Creative, a video production studio. She joined Nick LaClair, Creative Director at SproutVideo, for a round of mezcalitas in the second episode of our Cheers series, where we celebrate important people and topics in the video industry.

Cara has been working on video shoots as a producer during the pandemic, and is responsible for keeping her crew healthy and safe. Watch below to hear what she has to say about the important safety guidelines to follow on set, and what the future holds for video production.

Keep reading for the top five takeaways from Cara’s experiences on set.

1. Health and Safety First

Health and safety on set has been an ongoing issue in the film industry for a long time. From unending shoot days with heavy gear, to dangerous stunts, there are many risks for those behind and in front of the camera.

In some ways, the film industry was primed to adapt to this challenge, despite its reliance on large groups of people and events. Between union and guild guidelines, and the protocols for stars and high-powered subjects on set, many working in film are accustomed to highly regimented procedures. Granted, this is a whole other level of complexity, but prior experience carefully following important regulations certainly helps in times like these.

The pandemic pushed the health and wellbeing of cast and crew members to the forefront. New guidelines from different guilds and organizations have codified those practices and helped productions of all sizes to be safer for everyone involved.

Those new habits won’t necessarily go away as the pandemic ebbs. After all, a shoot can be derailed by illness, even if it’s not during a pandemic. And, some of the practices are helpful for more general well-being, like limiting a shoot day to ten hours.

There has been a problem in the film industry with overworking people… I think it’s really a safety issue. Properly scheduling your day for 10 hours of shooting is going to keep everyone safe and on track in the long term.

– Cara Yeates, Trigger Creative

Granted, we don’t expect most productions to maintain rigorous testing and on-set medics if they aren’t warranted. Still, if the past year has taught us anything, it’s that safety has to come first if you want to be able to do anything else.

2. Hybrid and Online Events

As work has picked up again for the video industry, much of the productions pertain to replacing or extending live events that would typically be held in person. While we’re eagerly anticipating a return to in-person events of all shapes and sizes, online-only or hybrid events are going to stick around for the long term.

Why? Because the pandemic has shown that they work for many types of events and gatherings. In some cases, they even offer distinct advantages. Just because in-person events will become possible again doesn’t mean they’ll obviate the need for an online component, or always be the best solution.

For example, large concerts, conferences, and festivals have been live streamed for years. After a crash course in how to do that over the past year, smaller events that would not have bothered before now have the capabilities and equipment to do so.

Importantly, consumer expectations have shifted. If you can’t attend in person, there’s the assumption that you’ll be able to attend virtually. In turn, that will drive how events are designed and marketed. This, more than anything, will keep the online and hybrid event model around for the foreseeable future.

3. Leaner Productions

Part of being able to produce video during the pandemic has meant doing more with less. After all, having fewer crew members on set reduces the risk of transmission and helps keep everyone safe.

There is every reason to think that we will happily bring back certain roles and team sizes when necessary. However, the reality is that after a year of doing without, many crew members and talent have learned new skills that reduce the need for additional team members.

For example, at SproutVideo, members of our marketing team learned how to set up our own DSLR camera kits and film ourselves so we could keep producing video while working remotely. Before, we would have relied on our in-house video team to handle the setup and filming in our office studio.

While we’re greatly looking forward to getting back to the studio, we can now be more nimble, and produce more video no matter where we’re located. If you’re setting up or expanding your own home studio, check out our guide to the video studio upgrades that are worth your while.

Many teams have made similar investments, and learned new skills that won’t go away when the pandemic does. We expect many will continue to produce more video with less, while welcoming back the extra helping hands when and where it makes sense.

4. Production Partners

Pre-pandemic, most production studios would typically handle all shoots for a project, even in far-flung locations. Today, with travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, shoots on location have only been possible with the help of local film crews on the ground.

In many cases, these partnerships have been so successful that studios expect to continue working in this manner going forward. After all, the partnerships offer several benefits. For instance, there’s the cost savings in terms of time and money on travel, and the local expertise for scouting, logistics, and regulations.

I was nervous at first because you’re really putting your baby in someone else’s arms, but I’ve found really amazing, passionate filmmakers all over the world to work with.

– Cara Yeates, Trigger Creative

With new connections, and the technology to make it possible, production partners expand the scope of what studios can achieve. Importantly, they also save time and money. For those reasons, we think production partnerships are here to stay.

5. Remote Crew Members

After a full year of being forced to be remote, well, we’ve gotten pretty good at it. Now, it’s second nature to loop people in via video to participate in any aspect of video production.

It’s not just the partnerships with studios and film crews in different locations. It’s also the clients needing to approve shots, or the director of photography, or the team broadcasting the stream live. All you need is a live video feed, and anyone, anywhere, can contribute to the shoot.

Of course, there is a certain energy and excitement that comes with being on set. Nothing can ever truly replicate that or replace it. However, the efficiencies gained by this technology will ensure remote crew members remain the norm going forward. It just might not be the entire crew.

What trends do you see emerging from the pandemic as video production resumes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The post The New Normal for Video Production appeared first on SproutVideo.

What’s New With Live Streaming?

There are three new features available for live streaming: latency options, a two-minute reconnect window, and stream recording settings. For a platform walkthrough of those amazing new features and more, please check out the video below:

1. Latency Options

The first new feature that we’ve added is the ability to select the latency for your live stream. So, what exactly is latency?

Latency is the time difference between the action happening in front of the camera, and when that moment is broadcast to your audience. For most broadcasts, latency can vary anywhere from about 10-30 seconds.

The delay in your video reaching your audience is generally caused by the processing that needs to happen to allow your live stream to play on all devices and browsers.

Individual factors can also impact the delay. We’ve all probably had the experience of watching an event live with other people on different devices, and realizing someone is a little ahead or behind as it unfolds. The device and browser type and configuration can have a small impact on latency.

So, what are these new options, and how do they affect your live stream?

Reduced Latency

Typically, reduced latency results in around a 15 second delay. Being as close to real-time as possible can be really important in certain situations.

For instance, you might be live streaming a sports event, or your audience might be following along very actively on social media. In that kind of situation, your audience won’t want to feel like they’re behind the action, so a reduced latency live stream is likely a good choice.

Reduced latency does come with certain trade-offs. This setting prioritizes near-real-time delivery over video quality, and it does not allow for the ability to reconnect the stream if something goes wrong (more on that below).

Standard Latency

Compared to reduced latency, standard latency offers certain advantages. With standard latency, you can expect a delay of around 30 seconds. The extra time allows for both higher video quality for viewers, and a reconnect window of up to two minutes. For those reasons, standard latency is the default setting on the SproutVideo platform.

Note that once you have selected a latency option for your live stream, you cannot edit it after creating the live stream. If you change your mind, you’ll have to create a new live stream with your preferred setting.

2. Reconnect Window

If your live stream is using the standard latency setting, your live stream will now have the ability to recover in the unlikely event something goes wrong. Maybe someone trips over a cord, or the internet cuts out. There are several everyday scenarios that could cause your stream to drop.

A two minute reconnect window means that if your stream is interrupted for any reason, the platform will continue trying to reconnect for up to two minutes. That gives you a grace period to correct whatever the issue is, and get back to your audience.

After all, you probably put a fair amount of effort into driving attendance for your live stream. It’s nice to have the confidence that you’ll have a chance to fix it if the unexpected happens.

3. Stream Recording Options

The third and final new setting for live streams has to do with what happens after your broadcast ends. By default, we record your live stream and post it to your account as an on-demand video automatically. This new option allows you to disable that process.

This comes in handy in instances where your live stream only has value while it’s live. For example, a promotion you only want to run for the duration of the stream. This will also help keep your account storage usage in check by only saving the live streams you need.

Even if you don’t record your live stream, the analytics and engagement data associated with the live stream will still be available. Those metrics are associated with the live event, and not the video-on-demand version, so they are not affected by this setting.

More on Live Streaming with SproutVideo

Our live streaming features are still new, meaning we’re actively looking for feedback from users to help improve this feature set. The above features were all implemented in direct response to popular demand from our customers.

Although they are new, our live streaming features are very much ready for show time. We are focusing on adding more new features to make the experience even better in the near future.

So, if you’ve tried live streaming with us, how did it go? Share your thoughts by reaching out to our support team.

The post Our Latest Live Streaming Platform Updates appeared first on SproutVideo.

We’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on everything we’ve learned and experienced this year, and while there’s a lot to lament, there’s also a lot to be grateful for. In honor of Thanksgiving, we’re exploring and sharing our gratitude in this post.

What Are We Thankful For?

While we are thankful for lots of things, we felt the following deserved a special shout-out.

Essential Workers

First and foremost, we thank essential workers from the bottom of our hearts. While we always have a lot of esteem for those who work tirelessly in service of others, our admiration and respect skyrocketed during this year.

Not only did they have to deal with their own emotions, struggles, and issues, but they selflessly dealt with all of ours as well. Doctors, nurses, first responders, pharmacy employees, teachers, and those working in food and other essential industries, we thank you!

Our Customers

As a video hosting platform, we work with customers from a very wide range of industries. It’s been truly inspiring to see how video has helped many adapt to the new normal of remote work.

We are extremely grateful for every single one of our customers. We could not do any of this without you. Whether you’re new, or have been with us for years, thank you!

Live Video/Video Chats

Live video and video chatting have been a huge part of our professional and private lives this year. On the personal side of things, we couldn’t tell you the number of video chats we’ve done on evenings and weekends with those we can’t see in person. Live video always makes remote communications more fun and more personal, and we are grateful to be alive in a time where technology makes it possible.

And on the professional side of things, we launched the first iteration of our live streaming features earlier this year, and it’s been amazing to see so many companies use it to creatively keep their businesses going during the pandemic. We’ve had a back-stage peek at theater companies using live video to reach their audience, fitness instructors streaming classes to help their clients stay healthy, and a surprising number of other businesses quickly adopt it as part of their marketing and business practices.

Online Video

Admittedly, we’re a bit biased since online video is the core of our business, but it seems just about everyone has benefited from online video during this time. Whether it was a phenomenon like Tiger King back in March, or watching the presidential debates in the fall, it’s safe to assume our video consumption habits have increased this year, and we are 100% okay with that.

Video has a special quality of transporting you out of the present and into a different experience. With a year like this, that was exactly what so many of us needed.

The Human Spirit

In a year where just getting out of bed is an accomplishment, we’re incredibly grateful for the resiliency of the human spirit. If nothing else, this year has taught us that even when the world throws tragedy after tragedy at you, we can still come out of it standing.

We also saw this in the overwhelming number of people who selflessly continued doing things for others during this time. From COVID-relief funds, to people getting groceries for their elderly neighbors, it’s inspiring to see people step up.

Friends and Family

Many of us here and around the country couldn’t be with our friends and family in person for most of the year. However, that didn’t stop us from leaning on them for support. Having good people around us physically and virtually has been the gift that keeps giving.

It is interesting that even from afar, relationships can strengthen and deepen. Whether that’s texting, calling, messaging co-workers on Slack, or video chatting as mentioned before, our friends and family have been our rock throughout this year.

The City of New York

New York is the city SproutVideo calls home. While you may have heard stories about the city being “dead,” or that it will never recover from 2020, we’d beg to differ. One of the main reasons so many people move to New York, ourselves included, is for its grittiness and resilience.

Make no mistake, this has been a very tough time. An unfortunate number of small businesses and restaurants have closed their doors, and won’t be able to reopen. But, the city will bounce back.

Adapting to changing situations is what we do best. Whether that is ordering way too much food to support local restaurants, cheering on essential workers, or watching the city transform the streets to accommodate outdoor seating, we will find a way to make it work. NYC might be a bit less crowded at the moment, but the future is brighter because of those determined to stay, and we’re forever grateful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Stay safe these holidays so we can all toast extra hard this New Year’s when we get to put 2020 behind us. 

Don’t be a stranger; let us know what you’re thankful for this year. 

The post Especially Thankful This Year appeared first on SproutVideo.

In this post, we dissect the approaches of Salesforce, Mailchimp, Microsoft, and Google to find important takeaways for your own campaigns.

Leadership Lessons for Crisis Management

Many companies have been faced with significant crises this year, and navigating them has not been easy. Being in a leadership role can be especially stressful and trying when dealing with so much uncertainty.

Salesforce recognized this need, and launched a series of live videos with different thought leaders to provide inspiration to those in need of guidance. Their Leading Through Change: Helping Business Manage Through Crisis playlist contains dozens of in-depth, hour-long interviews that are packed with insights.

One favorite is an interview with Marriott to discuss how they adapted to a dramatic drop off in sales.

The travel industry has been badly hit by the pandemic downturn. Many changes were immediately required to ensure the health and safety of workers and travelers alike. Hearing how Marriott grappled with these changes directly from the source can provide companies in similar situations with a pathway forward out of crisis.

The Takeaway

Many companies are struggling with similar issues. Find the common threads to share messages that resonate.

The Human Aspect

If you’re stuck at home, staring at screens all day, it can be easy to lose sight of the human connections behind all the headlines. A few different outlets have tried to remedy that in different ways. One effective approach is to shine a light on stories from frontline workers or those impacted directly by the pandemic.

Mailchimp tackled this head-on in their Essentials series. They partnered with Vice to showcase small businesses and frontline workers who confront the realities of the pandemic on a daily basis. This hard-hitting series succeeds because of the authenticity that underpins the storytelling.

Most of the videos are told from a first-person perspective. Often, nothing is more powerful than hearing a story told by those who lived it.

The Takeaway

If you’re looking to tell someone’s story and have an emotional impact on viewers, have the subject narrate in their own words to let it unfold naturally.

Focus on Home Life

At this point, many of us are used to seeing coworkers in their homes on video chats. And of course, all the interruptions that home life can bring too.

Rather than turning away and pretending it’s not happening, some brands have found that inviting more viewers into the homes of their team members has helped foster a more human connection with audiences. Microsoft’s Home Cooked video series is a perfect example.

All the videos are filmed by Microsoft employees from their homes. The concept is very simple. The employees prepare a favorite recipe for viewers, and share a little about what it means to them. It’s a surprisingly soft touch from a technology giant like Microsoft.

The production value of the footage is very DIY. Each video appears to have been filmed by the employees preparing the recipes. Still, Microsoft ensured the videos come across as being part of the same series by using a few key touches in post-production.

First, they used a relatively tight edit to cut out any unnecessary segments and keep each video under ten minutes. Then, they added a consistent intro and used the same formatting for all text overlays throughout each video. Finally, they added subtle music tracks to help the videos feel more polished and professional. Our favorite is the recipe for empanadas, but they’re all very endearing.

The Takeaway

Consistent editing and text formats help user-generated videos feel more professional and on-brand. Of course, our guide to filming yourself solo can help those in need of some guidance.

Focus on the Future

With the fast pace of the news cycle, and few events to look forward to, it’s easy to forget that a new day is on the horizon. While it’s not exactly escapism, thinking about the future can be especially comforting at times like these. After all, there’s every reason to think it will all eventually be behind us.

In that context, Google decided to tell the stories of those who are very future-focused: the high school graduating class of 2020. Entitled Our dreams won’t wait, this series features a mix of video journals and professionally produced videos. It shares some of their experiences of the pandemic, as well as their hopes for the future.

Picking a path after high school is difficult and stressful under any circumstances. Still, you can hear the well-earned pride and hope in each person’s voice as they share what they’re looking forward to.

The page where Google shared these stories also features contextual mentions of different technologies that empower students as they embark on their next adventures. While it’s borderline sales-y, it doesn’t feel totally out of place. After all, remote education would not be possible without technology. Google is behind many of the tools teachers currently rely on.

The experiences of the young adults feel very universal, while their individuality still shines through. By adding home video journals from the students, Google’s storytelling comes across as very authentic. This is especially key because of the product plugs. Looking to the future can help give people hope and aspiration when they sorely need it.

The Takeaway

If you can find an angle that fits, future-focused content can help audiences stay positive and find something to look forward to.

How has your video marketing changed over the course of 2020? Did you try anything new?

The post How Major Tech Brands Responded to the Pandemic with Video appeared first on SproutVideo.

However, we also had to operate with a very small crew, with everyone’s safety as the very first priority. Some of our ideas were just unworkable with COVID-19 protocols.

Here’s what we came up with, and how we pulled it off.

228 Days Later

For those keeping track, Halloween falls roughly 228 days after life in the US was upended by the global pandemic. Before we go behind the scenes, watch the frightening final cut below:

The Concept

We ran through a lot of different ideas before arriving at our winning concept. This year has felt particularly apocalyptic, so at first, we explored themes around natural disasters and zombies.

However, we quickly realized those plots would’ve required quite a few extras, make-up artists, and more crew members to pull off the way we wanted. In order to keep our shoot as safe as possible, we needed to come up with a script that didn’t require as many people in front of or behind the camera.

Enter the ultimate villain. After trying to come up with a different evil character for our heroine to fight, we realized nothing is scarier than 2020.

After all, our lives are still in upheaval, and the year isn’t even over yet. We also thought it would be really satisfying to see someone square up to this particular evil-doer and fight back.

The Script

Once we had a concept, the script came together fairly quickly. We only planned one spoken line of dialogue since we mainly needed to build up suspense until the big reveal of our villain.

We decided to use the spacious house to maximum effect. Our heroine wanders the halls and peeks through a seemingly disordered array of rooms as the threat becomes more tangible.

The pinnacle of the storyline is the confrontation with the source of all the horror. The abject terror in her eyes says it all: this year is the actual worst.

As it turns out, you can run, but you can’t hide from 2020. The final scene is a classic, 80’s-inspired shot of the heroine facing up to this awful year with everything she’s got.

The Shoot

In order to create the right atmosphere, we needed a dark set. While there are other solutions, the easiest option is usually to shoot at night. We planned two night shoots to capture all the footage.

While night shoots are tough because of the hours, you wind up with plenty of time to prepare before the camera rolls. If you’re diligent, they tend to be pretty efficient.

Night one, we tackled most of the simpler and atmospheric shots. For instance, most of the scenes with Alexandra walking around were filmed on night one. This approach allowed us to more meticulously plan the action scenes for night two.

Leading up to the first night, we staged rooms, charged batteries, and set up lighting equipment. For night two, we worked on props and put the final touches on certain rooms where action would be unfolding. On both nights, when the sun went down, we were ready to film.

The only footage we shot before sundown were the scenes in the garage. Since it didn’t have many windows, it was possible to black them out with garbage bags and gaffer tape. This saved us a few hours at night on day two.

Tradeoffs On Set

Since we were operating with a really bare bones crew, we had to make certain tradeoffs. Nick LaClair, the creative director at SproutVideo, was our director, camera operator, and art department. Brandon Ivey handled lighting and sound, and Alexandra Riley Morton was our lead actress.

For the scale of the shoot and the amount of equipment we were using, you would typically have at least three assistants. Ideally, one person would be focused on audio, with another on lighting, and another would handle props, costumes, and staging.

However, due to COVID-19 safety precautions, we decided to make do with a smaller crew. This meant on-set audio would be harder to capture, but that fit with our concept since we only had one line of dialogue.

It also meant that while we had wanted to craft a physical representation of 2020 to use as our villain, it wasn’t feasible. With our team already stretched so thin, there wasn’t anyone to act with a 2020 prop beyond casting ominous shadows on a wall.

Instead, we decided to create the monster in post-production, which often feels like a gamble. In this case, we think it paid off.

Equipment

Considering the size of our crew, we had to keep our equipment equally as efficient. Here’s what we used on set:

• Sony FS7 Camera
• Fujinon 18-55 Cine Zoom Lens
• SLR Magic Anamorphot 65 Adapter
• Tilta Nucleus Remote Follow Focus
• Sachtler System FSB 8 Tripod
• Hollyland Cosmo 500 Wireless Video Transmitter
• Monitor with Stand
• Dracast Fresnel Pro LED 5000 Light
• Two RGB LED Panels with Stands and Smartphone App
• Three Arri Tungsten Lights with Stands
• Cardioid Microphone with Stand
• Fog Machine

The anamorphic lens imbued our footage with a cinematic quality to give it a more classic horror movie look. It’s subtle, but it’s apparent in the level of background blur and oval-shaped bokeh in the shots.

With such a small team, much of our equipment had to be used remotely. The camera was hooked up to a wireless monitor so Brandon could pull focus at a distance while Nick filmed with it handheld. Similarly, the RGB LED panels were controlled with a smartphone app, which meant less running around to adjust the lighting.

Lighting Design

Since our villain was figurative, and would only be added with CGI in post-production, we used a red light to represent it on our shoot. This enabled us to set up some strong visual contrasts from start to finish.

We used warm, ambient lighting for the opening scene. As it becomes apparent that all might not be well, our actress leaves the well-lit kitchen for darker areas of the house. When she finally encounters the evil villain, red light washes over her face for a classic horror movie scare.

The big Dracast light was used to illuminate outdoor shots, and to cast the shadow of 2020 on the wall. The RGB LED panels (seen above behind Nick) served as our monster because we were able to program an automatic on-off cycle for one light, with the other left on a constant glow, and control both remotely. The fresnels were mainly used to tweak background lighting within the house (also shown above, highlighting the pool table).

For more tips on lighting a scary scene, check out our guide to classic horror movie lighting.

Post Production

Beyond the basics of editing and color grading, we had to create a monster to represent the year 2020 with CGI. Sara Greene, SproutVideo’s marketing designer and After Effects whiz, had this to say about how it came together:

As a fan of 80s horror movies, the red glow of the room instantly reminded me of horror movie classics like Poltergeist and The Thing. With that aesthetic in mind, I applied various effects to the 2020 text in After Effects to make it warp, shift, blur, glow, and to give it an ethereal quality to essentially bring the monster to life. Along with Nick’s help in post-production, I think we achieved making the monster look as natural as possible in its environment.

Sound Design and Music Score

Without a dedicated person to capture sound on set, we wound up recording some noises after the fact. For instance, the zipper, wine bottle, door slamming, typing, bag dropping on the counter, and general room ambience were all captured after filming wrapped.

Ideally, we would’ve placed a lav microphone on Alexandra when she was running through the woods. Again, facing limitations in crew size, we chose to use a handheld boom for those shots. We also used a boom on a pole for a majority of the rest of the shots in the house, with the exception of the hallway walking scenes, where we were able to use a lav.

To learn when to use each type of microphone, check out our guide to the three essential microphone setups.

Terrifying Tunes

Picking the right music was incredibly important. With practically no dialogue, we knew we’d have to use music to transport our viewers and create tension.

Just like the lighting, the music helps transition viewers through the different stages of the film. We open with a warm, eclectic vibe, but quickly spoil the mood with some unrecognizable sounds. As they get louder, the upbeat music fades, and our actress investigates. As she gets closer to the source, we shift to much more dramatic music and louder monster sounds. Finally, when she retreats to the garage, we shift the mood with a big change in the score to signal her determination to face her fears.

By mapping your music choice to the emotions you want your audience to experience, you can help transport them along on your journey.

We loved watching this idea come to life, and hope you enjoyed it too. Do you have any special video tricks or treats up your sleeve for Halloween this year? Any horror movie film techniques you’d like to explore? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post 228 Days Later: Behind the Scenes appeared first on SproutVideo.

Whether you’re adding video to the mix, or building internal communications from scratch, video will greatly enhance your strategy. By adding personality and nuance, video is a highly effective tool for getting a message across. From branding to employee engagement, video is key to delivering results with internal comms.

So, what should that executive editorial calendar look like? While we don’t believe it’s one-size fits all, these eight best practices will get you started on the right foot.

1. Set Clear Goals

You can achieve many different aims with executive communications. Whether you’re looking to promote transparency, align teams with your mission, or share timely reactions to current events, it’s important to be specific when defining your goals.

Your company’s needs will be driven by company culture, the nature of the industry you’re in, and your teams’ specific needs for information. In all likelihood, your communications program will be fairly unique, even when compared to your peers.

2. Design Your Campaigns

Yes, we said campaigns, not just content. That’s because one-off videos shared periodically throughout the year are unlikely to move the needle. If you make a concerted effort to develop a series of videos to support different outcomes, you’re much more likely to get your message across to employees.

Also, the more video you make, in many ways, the easier it becomes. The first video is almost always the hardest to make.

To build your editorial calendar, you’ll want to draw from multiple sources. There are external factors, like current events, holidays, and industry-related events. Then, there are all the internal milestones, reporting periods, and strategic or cultural initiatives to take into account.

First, add all the foreseeable items with relatively fixed dates. Items like an annual report, conferences, or quarterly company-wide meetings are unlikely to shift on the schedule.

Then, layer in different initiatives, campaigns, and other more variable projects. By first getting a sense of your fixed deliverables, you’ll have a better picture of your workload, and can avoid going overboard with your messaging.

3. Plan and Budget Your Content

Once you’ve got a sense of your priorities for the year, it’s time to figure out the types of productions you’ll need, and what they’re likely to cost you. Most of your content will be split into two buckets: evergreen, and timely.

Evergreen Content

Evergreen content refers to video messaging that can be referenced again and again, and provides value for an extended period of time.

Examples include new hire welcome videos, training videos, and videos designed to uphold company culture.

Typically, evergreen videos are worth investing in because of their desired longevity. Higher production value will help prolong their shelf-life. Whether you can handle it in-house, or need to enlist a studio, these videos will require a fair amount of planning and time to get right.

Timely Content

Timely content is reactionary, and gives executives a chance to deliver a message to employees at a crucial moment.

While you might automatically equate timely content with reactions to events in the news, this category would also include videos or live streams that address things with short term value, like quarterly reports or most company updates.

For items that you can plan in advance, having a formula will make production more efficient. Figure out which shots you’ll need, and which assets (like charts or graphics), as well as who will be featured in the video.

For truly off-the-cuff videos, keeping production simple will ensure a speedy turnaround time. For instance, have the executive face a window for diffuse, flattering light, and get a microphone as close as possible for clear audio. That’s about it! If you have the equipment on hand, you can be set up to film in a matter of minutes.

4. Production Schedule

Each video should have a pre-production phase (planning), the production itself, post-production (editing), and finally, review and approval. The more accurately you can map out these phases, the more smoothly your shoots will run.

Based on the types of content you have planned, you should start to get a clear picture of your production needs. Evergreen content will likely require more time and effort for ideation, scripting, casting (yes, even employees and executives require casting), scouting, prop sourcing, filming, and of course editing. Timely content should require a lighter touch in terms of production. For instance, some may not be scripted, and the editing required will not be very involved.

For both types of video, there is likely to be a review and approval process. Depending on the nature of the content or your industry, this could be lengthy and could become an obstacle to delivering your message on time. Try to get buy-in from stakeholders early and often in the process, and ensure comms guidelines are clear to minimize this risk.

When scheduling productions, consider whether you can bunch certain shoots together. Also, look for opportunities to capture b-roll outside of formal productions. For instance, if an executive is speaking at an event, you might be able to use the footage as b-roll.

5. Release Cadence

The right release cadence for your content depends on the types of internal comms you are delivering. Some campaigns might require weekly or even daily updates, while others will occur far less often. For instance, in a time of crisis, your team might benefit from daily updates from executives. During the course of regular business, they’re unlikely to have the same information needs.

Most companies probably don’t do enough for internal comms. Data from Simpplr shows “two-thirds of leaders aren’t communicating about vision and strategy more frequently than once a quarter”. Surely there’s more to say about it than that?

The key is to strike a balance between establishing your comms program as a useful resource for employees, and bombarding them with lots of content. If your messaging is overwhelming, people will tune out. If it’s too sparse, it’s unlikely to provide a tangible benefit.

6. Secure Sharing

While some executive communications can be shared outside the company, certain videos will be for employees only. You can easily control access to your videos with SproutVideo’s privacy tools.

For instance, you can embed videos securely in an intranet using a domain whitelist. The embed code will not load if it’s copied to a website that isn’t included in your whitelist.

If you can’t easily embed content in your intranet, or don’t have one, a secure video portal for employees makes it easy to create a destination for your content. With password protection, viewer logins, or more advanced options, like IP address restriction or single sign-on, SproutVideo’s websites are an easy way to share your executive communications with the team.

7. Audience Interactions

Executive communications are not always a one-way street. It can be vitally important to gather employee feedback.

Enabling commenting on your videos and live streams is an engaging way to encourage employees to share their thoughts. It’s also a nice option because someone else can moderate the comments, while the person presenting focuses on their material.

Other alternatives include adding a survey at the end of the video or live stream with a custom post play screen, or linking to a survey during playback using an in-player call-to-action.

8. Track Performance

After going to all this effort, naturally, you’ll want to be sure you’re having a measurable impact. That’s where viewer engagement tracking comes in.

Depending on how you’re sharing your videos, you should be able to track viewers by their email address. This is possible whether you’re sharing your videos on an intranet, or through a SproutVideo website.

The viewer’s email address will be reported in engagement metrics. This powerful data shows you exactly how much of your video viewers watch, rewatch, or skip. That way, you will know whether your team is engaging with your content or if they’re dropping off at particular points in your videos.

Using this data, you can improve your videos over time, and ensure you’re only putting out effective content employees want to watch.

Do you use video for executive communications? If so, how has it made an impact? If not, what’s stopping you from getting started? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The post Eight Best Practices for Planning Internal Videos appeared first on SproutVideo.

However, the stakes are clearly high. For cast and crew, and anyone close to them, a serious illness could be a matter of life or death. 

In this post, we’re looking at how major production studios have adapted to the new normal through emerging best practices to help everyone stay safe.

Pandemic Problems

Filming in a pandemic comes with a host of challenges. Most videos featuring actors require them to interact without face coverings, and in close proximity to each other. Under normal circumstances, that’s hardly an issue. But when you’re trying to prevent the spread of an airborne disease, it’s clearly problematic.

Of course, it’s not just your on-camera talent you have to worry about. A typical film shoot is a busy, bustling place. There are usually more people behind the camera than in front of it.

Sadly, there have been reports of both cast and crew members becoming ill, and there has been at least one death associated with a production. Clearly, it is paramount to take safety precautions and to prioritize the health and wellbeing of cast and crew above all else.

If you’re considering whether to produce a video in the near future, the most important thing to keep in mind is that the safest option is to figure out a way to produce it without bringing everyone on set. Constraints can fuel creativity if you start seeing them as an opportunity rather than a negative block. For instance, SNL found a creative way to manage production remotely, and an entertaining horror film about a Zoom seance went viral. 

So, what can we learn from these different approaches? Mainly that COVID will impact all aspects of your productions, from the concept and location, to the production and, of course, the cast and crew. 

Concept

With a few exceptions, plots involving lots of combat scenes or intimacy, or almost anything requiring people to perform lines face to face are being scrapped. Instead, we’re seeing imaginative ideas that focus much more on individual experiences, or limited casts with far fewer extras. 

For example, Tilda Swinton stars in an upcoming short that focuses on the isolating experience of waiting for someone to reach out. The Human Voice is remarkable for how transportive and very “right now” the plot feels. Content that can tap into our collective experience will resonate and connect with audiences.

Location

A lot depends on the specific location where your shoot is taking place. Regulations vary tremendously, as do the chances of catching a serious illness.

Many major productions have shifted from the US to overseas locations with much lower rates of illness. A change in location does not come at a low cost, and there are significant logistical challenges to doing so. Moreover, travel is still restricted in many areas, so extra steps and paperwork are often required for a drastic move such as this.

A less drastic option would be to move your production outdoors, to an area within your home country with lower rates of infections, or to choose a location that makes it easier to control access to the set. Some studios have already upgraded their ventilation systems to help prevent the spread of disease, and others are adding more controls and policies over how the set can be accessed, and by whom.

For instance, Pinewood Studios in Atlanta is monitoring the health and safety of workers by implementing weekly COVID tests, using an app to track symptoms between tests, and badges linked to testing results are required for accessing different areas of the studio.

Cast and Crew

The health and safety of those working on your production is everything. While there are specific guidelines in place in many areas, the situation is continuing to evolve.

The safest option is to abide by the stricter set of regulations that applies to your production. If there aren’t any local regulations you can refer to, or if they feel inadequate, the “Safe Way Forward” guidelines, published in a joint effort by multiple unions, is an excellent reference. It builds on the reopening white paper from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers published in June.

New Roles

So far, there are two big ways small-scale productions have changed. The first is that there is a medic present on set, even for a small, five-person shoot. And, one person is now designated to be in charge of COVID precautions. For it to be done well, you can’t just pile these extra responsibilities onto an already-stressed producer.

This role entails: enforcing mask wearing and distancing requirements, and making sure materials like sanitizer and PPE are readily available. They’re also in charge of a meeting at the beginning of the shoot to inform everyone of the rules. And, most productions now include COVID protocols in the call sheet beforehand, as well, so everyone knows what to expect.

More Participants in Pre-Production

Another shift that’s occurring is to involve more of the team in the pre-production planning than before. By doing so, you can provide reassurance that their concerns are being met, and answer any questions they may have. Of course, this is being done remotely via video chat or phone.

Minimizing In-Person Contact

Yet another change we’ve seen is to make every effort to minimize person-to-person contact as much as possible. For instance, many productions are enabling actors to handle more of their setup than before. It could be as simple as coaching them on mic placement so they can do it themselves, or applying their own makeup. 

Larger shoots are also implementing the recommended “Zone” approach to avoiding unnecessary contact between different team members. The basic concept is to divide the team into different zones according to the type of work they are doing on the production. Then, restrict or alternate access to the set accordingly to reduce overlap between the different zones.

Depending on the nature of the work being done, different safety protocols might apply to different zones. For instance, set builders and designers typically do not need to interact with the cast, and can often perform their work while wearing PPE. Meanwhile, cast members need to interact with the director and producers, and are unlikely to be able to wear PPE at all times. Therefore, members of that zone will likely require stricter testing protocols than those able to wear protective gear. By carefully defining zones for your production, and devising the appropriate protocols for each zone, you can reduce confusion on set.

Lessons From a Major Production

When it comes to managing the safety of your team, there are lessons to be learned from one of the largest productions to be green-lighted since the pandemic broke out. Filming paused on Jurassic World: Dominion earlier this year, but recently resumed over the summer.

The level of collaboration and coordination required to restart production was nothing short of herculean. Here are some of the key changes that allowed production to restart.

Location

This installment in the Jurassic Park franchise benefitted from its original filming location in England. Because it was already planned and underway, it required fewer approvals and logistical headaches to get the go-ahead.

Accommodations

First, the production team booked an entire hotel to house the cast and crew for the duration of the shoot in England. Prior to the pandemic, this was not a usual practice, even for large productions.

The cast and crew received COVID tests upon arrival, and were asked to stay quarantined for an initial two-week period. Only then were they able to move about the hotel and socialize. 

Pandemic Procedures

A 107-page safety manual stipulated how all other aspects of production would be handled from a health and safety standpoint. Everything, from temperature scans and weekly testing, to serving meals on set was covered in detail. 

Production Zones

One important change was to divide the cast and crew into different teams according to their role in the production and how vital they were to its completion. In an interview for the NY Times, one of the stars compared it to a closed set. The director, cast, and essential crew comprised a “Green Zone” with stringent testing protocols. Anyone working on pre-production, like sets or props, had more limited access to the set. 

Costs

Of course, these changes were not easy, or cheap. Operating a large, 750 person production required medical staff on set, around 18,000 COVID tests, and 150 hand sanitizer stations, plus hand-washing sinks and temperature scanners.

The cost for all the safety enhancements was estimated at around $9 million. Based on data from other productions, COVID precautions can increase your budget by 25% or more.

Outcome

While every precaution was taken, filming was halted after four crew members tested positive for COVID-19 in August and had to self-isolate. While no one became seriously ill, it shows how difficult it is to maintain a quarantine bubble on set.

Production was able to resume, but adjustments were made to the scale of production in different locations. For instance, a spike in cases in Malta led to a significant reduction in anticipated team size. The stop-start-stop nature of production, along with the evolving situation, make video production a truly difficult feat in these circumstances.

Going Forward

If you decide to move forward with a production, you really have to think through how to do so as safely as possible. And, if you can devise a concept that obviates the need to bring everyone together, you should explore it.

There are still many unanswered questions, as this is truly uncharted territory. Ultimately, we expect the video industry to get back to work slowly, with many adjustments along the way.

Are you planning to produce a video any time soon? What sort of precautions are you taking? Share your tips in the comments below.

The post Staying Safe on Set in a Pandemic appeared first on SproutVideo.