Many indie video creators and filmmakers who attempt to produce entertaining horror videos and films often make many common mistakes, leaving their content looking very amateurish and cheesy. There are a few things to keep in mind before even sitting down to write a script. I offer 3 tips for creating non-cheesy horror videos below, if you have a 4th tip please add it in the comments.

1. Scary music is key – Have you ever watched a horror film without sound? If you have, then you know that what you are seeing doesn’t have the same emotional impact that the composed music element provides. A good film score builds suspense, and unleashes a climax that can scare even the most manliest man you’ve ever met. Look extensively for a quality sound designer if you are creating a horror video, because if the sound doesn’t match the video, or the score is poorly executed then it will come off as cheesy and have viewers laughing instead of screaming. There are many amazingly talented composers and sound designers in our Spidvid community.

2. Go easy on the makeup – Fake blood on victims, and caked on makeup can leave your lead antagonist actor looking more like a clown, rather than the scary “bad guy” you’re striving to create. Makeup artists are so important when on set for horror projects, so be sure to get ones who have related experience and can successfully pull off the unique look you envision in your mind.

3. The bad guy is critical – A horror story always centers around the bad guy who’s purpose is to cause havoc on people’s lives. The audience has to fear this character, understand their power, and must side with the story’s hero to defeat the bad guy and save the day. Try to create an original bad guy, because all too often this character is overly cliche, and as the story builds it’s just too predictable for viewers to guess how it will all end. Have at least 2 or 3 twists and turns to keep the audience guessing what the bad guy will do next, and how he or she will make it tougher for the hero to ultimately prevail.

Have a 4th tip to add? The comments are yours below!

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Jeremy Campbell Lists, Production Tool, resources antagonist, bad guy, Chucky, common mistakes, composing, creating horror, film, film score, film tips, filmmakers, filmmaking, good guy, hero, horror films, horror videos, makeup, movies, production tips, protagonist, sound design, tips for filmmakers, video creators, video tips, videomaking, videos

With each passing month, online videos are getting more creative, more fun to watch, and less expensive to produce which bodes well for our Spidvid community. Below are 5 remarkable viral videos from October. There are dozens of others likely just as deserving as these, so if you have a favorite please include the link in the comments below.

1. Duck Sauce: Big Bad Wolf – This gives new credence to the expression “dick head” please watch with caution. This video now has over 1.5 million views. Video production takeaway: Make people think WTF when they see your video. They will be motivated to share the video with their friends and followers.

2. The Bug Circus Generator - Bugs powering a smartphone? Now this is cool! Video production takeaway: Doing something unexpected with the help from animation can make things seem real, and fool the audience (well some viewers at least) to think things are real.

3. Sauna - A relaxing session in the hotel sauna turns to embarrassment for one poor chap. Who’s that lurking behind the steam? Video production takeaway: If you can ever get a celebrity in your video cost effectively, then sign him or her on as an actor!

4. Introducing Siri on iPhone 4S - Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, set reminders, place phone calls, and more. This viral video has almost 5 million views since the iPhone 4S launch. Video production takeaway: A beautiful product sells, but telling its story through video is key to quickly showing people first hand why they should care and how it helps their lives. Sell benefits, not features.

5. The Galaxy Nexus - Galaxy Nexus is the next generation of Nexus devices co-developed by Samsung and Google. This video does a good job showing off the beautiful new features of Android 4.0 – the Ice Cream Sandwich platform, and the phone itself. Video production takeaway: See above, and using lots of beautiful colors and animated characters can really hold people’s attention if successfully pulled off.

Create better quality video entertainment by collaborating with our talented community, be sure to get a Spidvid profile and if you need any help at all just ask us!

Jeremy Campbell Lists, Production Tool, community, resources Apple, big bad wolf, bud circus, duck sauce, filmmakers, filmmaking, Google, Gordon Ramsay, iPhone 4S, October 2011, production tips, Siri, video creators, video producers, video production, video tips, videomaking, viral, viral content, viral video

For every well created entertaining video, there are thousands that are just plain awful and find audiences of 6 people. Just remember that when creating a video, you need to showcase your passion through the lens of the camera, and capture your audience`s undivided attention.

Below are 4 tips for creating and marketing your video entertainment.

1. Write Engaging Scripts – Most online video creators spend very little time on their scripts, and it clearly shows. Many creators are in such a hurry to start filming their project that they neglect what all remarkable films are built upon, and that`s solid writing and storytelling.

Take your time during this phase of the project by thinking out compelling characters that will resonate with your audience, and scenes filled full of interesting situations. If you want your content to stand out, you need to focus on creating something original but at the same time take a look at some of the top viewed and rated content on YouTube or UnleashVideo to get a sense of what works and what doesn`t.

Online audiences expect to watch video content that pushes the envelop more than network TV shows do, so don`t be afraid to tap into your inner Seth McFarlane and be radically original. I recommend that you write your scripts using Celtx, as the software is free and provides a simple and elegant solution for all your pre-production needs.

2. Production Value Matters – If you saw this year`s breakout film “Super 8“ then you likely know that production value is key, as the filmmaking kids in the film were constantly out to get as much as they possibly could for free. You don`t have to compete with Steven Spielberg, but you need to get the basics right. Simple key things such as quality sound, lighting, and shot selection.

Make sure that the dialog between characters can be easily heard, which means that you need to invest some money into sound equipment. Every video creator and filmmaker should have a decent camera, sound equipment, and lighting at the very least.

Once you have got solid acting talent on your team and a tightly written script, then your execution and production values will next determine the success of your project. Don`t forget that online viewers can watch anything they want, so your productions have to stand out from the 99% of crap out there. It`s trial and error, so see what concepts stick with your viewers, and then figure out how you can improve everything by 10x to appeal and reach a wider audience.

3. Understand Your Medium – Chances are good that your video entertainment will be online, at least to start. The ideal length for most online videos is five minutes or less. You need to understand that attention spans are shorter online, so prepare your script and production accordingly. Within your 5 minutes or less you need a beginning, middle, and end.

You need to hook viewers within the first 3-5 seconds or your video will either be turned off, or will be pushed to the background in favor of a text message. Also remember that many viewers watch video alone while online, but are inclined to share content if it will raise their social status in a positive way. Don`t hesitate to ask viewers to share your video with their friends, family, and followers at the end, just remember to do it in a friendly and appreciative way.

4. Marketing, marketing, marketing – What many creators and producers do when they first release their videos and web series is get Twitter profiles and Facebook pages, and start yelling and screaming at people to pay attention. Doing this is like yelling into a chasm that`s filled with the echoes from thousands of people who simply don`t care. Attention is too valuable and coveted now, so you can`t expect to earn it by broadcasting content that only matters to you. Marketing is all about getting people to know, like, and trust you and your content.

The most effective way to build a grassroots marketing campaign is giving to getting. It`s a slow process but in order to receive attention, at least in the beginning, you must pay attention to what others are doing and engage with their content. If you come across a web series that is in the same niche is yours then comment on their videos, blog posts, and jump into the conversation with them on Twitter and Google Plus. Sharing is caring, so if you come across outstanding video entertainment then please give your followers a break from your content and share others instead.

These are just some basic tips, but ones that should serve as a starting point for getting your projects off the ground, and hopefully into a successful flight path high above the clouds. If you need to build a team to help you create your next video or film, then grab a Spidvid profile and post your project for our community to check out.

Do you have any tips you`d like to share? If so, feel free to add number 5 below!

Jeremy Campbell Lists, resources film tips, filmmaking, films, how to, marketing tips, new media, online video, production tips, production value, screenwriting, scriptwriting, tips, tips for video, video entertainment, video tips, videomaking, videos, web series, web video

If you’re in the video production industry perhaps you have wondered, ”how can my team create higher quality content out of the limited amount of time we have for each project?”. I have put together a compact list of three hints for how to successfully complete your projects in 24 hours or less. These tid bits of wisdom include: the importance of connecting with quality people to form a quality team, how to create a video fast, and how to allocate your time to maximize your end results.

Step 1 – Put together your team

Your team members should be reliable people that you trust, know where their specific talents lie, and can rely on them to do a great job. Make sure you know where your team members are located and what time zone they’re in, don’t waste too much time on conference calls or group Skype discussions, and be sure that everyone is very clear on what they are expected to contribute to the project. And treat every member of your team like they are absolutely integral to the success of the created video, people tend to exert more effort when they’re appreciated.

Step 2 – Create the video

The next and second most important part of the project is the process of planning out, shooting, and editing the video. Some people think that between these three elements you should allocate an equal 1/3 of the project’s time to each, but the fact is you will burn most of your time shooting the video and post-producing after. Have a good story written but be flexible to adjust the script and dialog according to the actors and director on the set, because things will always change on shoot day. Spend the most time on making the key seconds and moments in the video as remarkable as possible, and entertain the viewers early on to keep them sticking around for more. Over 50% of video viewers leave in the first 10 seconds, so make your impact on them quickly.

Step 3 – Manage your time wisely

24 hours goes by pretty fast, especially if some of them are spent sleeping. You have to keep tracking your team’s progress every hour or so, but don’t over obsess in this area or time will be wasted on plan management vs actually creating the video. Be relentless during pre-production to be sure that everything is ready to go from the moment you start filming, actors know their lines inside and out, equipment is functional, the location or locations are setup, and the project workflow is easy for everyone to follow. There are lots of variables when it comes to time management, and there will always be things that pop up which you didn’t initially plan for, so set aside at least 10% of total project time for the unexpected extras. In post production every team member should get time to review the project and voice their own opinions to increase the content’s quality, so be sure to set aside a few minutes to create a clear path to a successful project conclusion.

You can do it

There are many other things you can do to create quality video entertainment fast, but hopefully these tips will get you headed in the right direction when working on a tight deadline. If you already have a production project on the go you can manage it via Spidvid’s collaborative production platform. Or if you need to build a new team then grab a free account and invite your members to connect with you in our social network, or find new talented individuals to collaborate with in our community.

Have another tip to add for video production under extreme time constraints? Share one below with a comment.

We are publishing our first ever newsletter next week which will be packed full of goodies, if you aren’t already subscribed what are you waiting for? Get the Spidvid newsletter delivered to your inbox on your computer or mobile phone.

Jeremy Campbell Lists, resources 24 hours, collaboration, collaborative teams, connecting, creation tips, efficient, fast, film production, online video, production tips, quick, team work, teams, video production, web video

This is a guest post by Lorraine Grula. Lorraine writes articles which offer tips and provide information on the new tools related to video production. If you want to improve your video production quality you should follow @LorraineGrula on Twitter.

No other professional task holds a candle to film or video making. After an incredible three decades as a professional video maker, I can say that with total confidence.

I distinctly remember my chief mentor in college, an incredible filmmaker named Bill Crane telling me that. I nodded enthusiastically but of course didn’t really even have a remote clue about what clue I didn’t yet have. Now, after the joys, thrills, chills and spills (and headaches) of being part of the creation of thousands and thousands of videos, I get it a tad bit better.

As a visual storyteller you are allowed the magnificent opportunity to experience life, reach people, and discover the richness of humanity firsthand. Your role as storyteller means you are first in line to speak to those who have a worthy story to tell. I sincerely believe that each and every one of us have an interesting story to tell.

There’s no doubt that the part I love best has been being able to meet so many varied people who have experienced so many diverse challenges. From working to cure cancer, to struggling to overcome schizophrenia, to fighting City Hall, to running City Hall, I got to meet them all and hear all about their personal motivations, desires, ideas and dreams. I was both inspired and encouraged to ask them all every question I could possibly think of.

What could be more stimulating and rewarding than that? Certainly not sitting in a small cubicle all day pushing out papers on tight daily deadlines.

Moving onto today with online video, making video is more popular and higher in demand than ever before. Suddenly, everyone wants to be a video maker. With less expensive and easier-to-use equipment, everyone has the capacity to, so why not?

I say go for it and enjoy the journey.

I started my blog, Video Production Tips, to be the go-to site for credible, comprehensive and detailed information about all aspects of video making. My goal in life at this point is to help folks who wish to experience the joy of being a video maker, or who wish to leverage the power of online video to promote themselves, their business, or their social causes.

I’m writing this post to say hi to the Spidvid community, and let everyone know of the free resources I offer. Whether you (or your clients) want to learn to make simple slide show videos to communicate an idea, or want to learn how to produce videos that show off cooking products, or want to go all out and make documentaries for independent film festivals, you will find information and tutorials on my blog to get you going or further your current skill set.

Video Production Tips is also a place to discuss and promote the concept of using online video for business marketing and promotion. So you’ll also find information to help you navigate the vast and ever-growing world of online video resources. Video sharing sites, different online video platforms, emerging technologies and trends is what I cover on a consistent basis.

There is so much going on in the world of online video creation and distribution that I will never lack things to research and write about. My aim is to provide folks with an interest in online video the information and personal one-on-one assistance they need in order to accomplish their goals.

The blog is a wealth of information and resources that you can access without charge of any kind. I don’t play games and make you sign up for ten email lists in order to get a tidbit of information. Nope, you’ll find over 300 tutorials and it’s all free, so enjoy.

If you are new to online video I say welcome to new beginnings, and good luck with all your future production projects and content you create. Here on Spidvid, there is no doubt that many wonderful video and film projects will come together over time, serving to make the media space a better place to contribute and play in.

Jeremy Campbell Guest Post, Visionary creation tips, film, film production, how to, Lorraine Grula, production tips, resources, video, video production, video production tips, videoproductiontips.com