The document summarizes tips from an interview with a marketing video producer, including that typical 5-minute videos can be shot in 1 day and edited in 1-2 days, planning is essential to get the right footage, and considerations for audio, titles, transitions, stock footage, voiceovers and equipment rental. Difficult styles like action and documentary require more cameras and editing.

1. Takeaways from My Interview
with Geoffrey Boynton
Amy Hikita

2. A typical 5-minute marketing
video can usually be shot in
1 day and edited in 1-2 days.

3. Difficult styles to create include:
▪ Action – Needs multiple cameras to shoot from different
angles. Editing requires frequent picture & audio changes
to create a fast-paced video.
▪ Reality – Requires multiple cameras to capture everyone
talking and everything going on. Time-consuming editing
process.
▪ Documentary – No script to follow. Must shoot lots of
footage. No clear story line.

4. Questions to ask when planning a video:
▪ Who is going to be involved?
▪ What do you want the video to look like?
▪ What is the goal of the video?
▪ What is the video trying to say?
▪ Will there be any text on the screen?
▪ Will there be any custom graphics?
▪ Where is it going to be viewed?

5. “…have a clear plan about what your intent is to
capture before going out… really plan
everything out on paper. That way when you go
out to shoot, you're very clear on what to
capture…. otherwise you're going to go back 20
times to shoot more.”
Importance of Planning

6. Music
o Always have permission
o Computer programs scan & detect unlicensed music
o YouTube removes videos with unlicensed music
o There are free online music sources including YouTube
o Most professionals use subscription-based services such
as Artlist.io
o Songs from a subscription service are usually licensed in
perpetuity

7. Audio
o Obtain good audio in original recording. Only
edit as necessary.
o Test audio on device(s) viewers will use.
o Aim for a maximum of -3 to zero decibels rather
than -6 for today’s small speakers.

8. Titles & Text
 Can you read it?
 Is there enough time
to read it?
 How long will it appear
on the screen?
 Is the font legible?
 Is the font large
enough?
 Does it contrast with
the background color?
Tip: Place a person’s title in the lower third of the
screen so they appear to be facing toward it.

9. Transitions
Slow Cuts (long-duration clips)
• Give the sense that things are moving
slower.
Fast Cuts (short-duration clips)
• Give the sense that things are moving
fast.
• Excitement or suspense
Dissolves
• Give the sense that things are moving
slower.
• Evoke a change in time
Transitions
between clips
affect the
emotion of a
video.

10. Other Options
▪ Stock Footage
▪ Voiceovers
▪ Equipment Rental

11. Stock Footage
▪ Enhances video or saves time shooting scenes
▪ Popular sources: Adobe and videoblocks.com
▪ Priced individually per clip
▪ Choose stock footage that matches your project
▪ Apply color correction to help stock footage match
your project
▪ Choose stock footage of equal or higher quality than

12. Voiceovers
▪Websites let you hire voiceover
people.
▪Send them a script. They send the
voiceover back to you.
▪Work with them remotely.

13. Equipment Rental
▪Rent from owners not currently using
their equipment
▪Popular rental websites: ShareGrid
and KitSplit
▪Rent out your own equipment

14. Other Tips
If shooting same style of content on
regular basis, consider setting up a
studio with cameras, microphones,
background, etc.
Use free online post-production tutorials
to improve your skills.

15. For those interested,
more details are
included in the
interview below.