We at Pixability have our offices in the heart of Cambridge's Kendall Square at the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC). Recently, the CIC broke ground on two new floors - we'll be moving there soon! The Governor of Massachussetts Deval Patrick and MIT President Susan Hockfield were present for this special occasion. Check out the video we created of the event:
We at Pixability have our offices in the heart of Cambridge's Kendall Square at the Cambridge Innovation Center. We absolutely love being at the epicenter of tech on the East Coast and were extremely proud to produce this video for the Kendall Square Association. It highlights the diversity of living and working in the area. The KSA rightfully has the slogan "The Future Lives Here". Check out the video:
Seems like being still is odd advice for performing in “moving pictures.” But if you watch actors in movies, you see that the mostcompelling performances are generally very still. The actor’s face and body movements are minimal.
Extraneous movement can distract an audience. This is not to say that you should never walk or use your hands, only thatall movement should bepurposeful andvisible within the screen shot.
The framing of your shot will determine the range of movement that is appropriate. When you’re being filmedup close(just your head and shoulders),avoid all movementof your body. In a close up - sometimes called a 'tight' shot - any body movement outside of the frame will create shoulder movement that will seem disconnected. When more of your body is in the shot, you can move whatever is visible on camera.
Also, be careful of movement toward and away from the camera. A slight movement toward the camera can help your audience feel as if you are really connecting intimately with them. But be careful —swaying toward and away from the camera can make your audience feel uncomfortable.
Your posture communicates a great deal to your audience. Bad posture will leave a negative impression. When seated,sit up straight, knees at a forty-five degree angle, andfeet planted squarelyon the floor. When standing, keep your feet hip-width apart, knees soft, and head lifted. Women can choose to stand either with feet hip-width apart or in a slightly modified ballet fourth position (The front toe is pointed toward the camera. The heel of the front foot is in front of the instep of the back foot. The back foot is perpendicular to the front foot.) These stances provide you with a firm base in order to avoid unwanted movement. If you move a bit, don't go crazy with worry.Video editors can easily help gloss over any imperfectionswith careful editing techniques.
Stillness will help your audience connect with you and be receptive to your message.Stillness, without stiffness, will make you appear confident and trustworthy.
Brad McCorkle, founder of Local Eye Site, pitched his business idea to Adidas using both a paper document and a video edited by Pixability.
Local Eye Site is a web business with the goal of improving the quality of eye care by enhancing communication, increasing educational opportunities, and fostering professional development in eye care.
We interviewed Brad McCorkle about his experience in creating a video.
Pixability: How did video help you in your pitch to Adidas?
Brad: Video helped us connect on a deeper level than words. It also helped introduce Adidas to the corporate culture of Local Eye Site.
Pixability: What prompted you to initiate a proposal that had both a written and video component?
Brad: I had the desire to demonstrate creativity because creativity is going to be central to Local Eye Site's relationship with Adidas.
Pixability: How was Pixability helpful?
Brad: The Pixability team didn't just edit the video; they helped us achieve the creative outcome that we wanted.
I recently put myself in the shoes of a Pixability client and filmed a video advertising my side business of conducting beading workshops and parties.
At first I worried about how I was going to accomplish this, where I should begin, what types of shots would work. The task before me seemed daunting, but I did it. It easier than I thought and I'm proud of the result.
Here are some helpful tips I gathered from my experience:
Familiarize yourself with the camera before you set out to shoot the actual video. The Flip Camera is dead simple to use but you still want to be as comfortable as possible on your actual shooting day, so practice using the camera. This is especially important if you use a more complicated video camera than the Flip.
Decide beforehand if you want a handheld look or the more steady look of a tripod. You can also mix both. For handheld shooting remember that keeping your hand steady is the key to good footage.
Think through the goals and objectives of your video before your scheduled shoot. Write out a list of shots that will help you accomplish this.
Think about your sources of light. Turn on all the lights. Use as much daylight as you can. Recognize the difference between good light and bad light.
Make sure to shoot the outside of your location, which will help viewers understand your subject.
Vary your shots: a) Shoot from a distance; b)Take a step forward; and c)Get close to your subject.
Remember to a) Keep your hand steady; b)Avoid filming in front of a window or c) into the sun.
Have confidence because you can do it!
Here are two videos:
The first is "Tips for Shooting a Business Video" to demonstrate all the helpful tips I discussed above.
The second is the final video advertising my beading workshops and parties.
I recently put myself in the shoes of a Pixability client and filmed a video advertising my side business of conducting beading workshops and parties.
At first I worried about how I was going to accomplish this, where I should begin, what types of shots would work. The task before me seemed daunting, but I did it. It easier than I thought and I'm proud of the result.
Here are some helpful tips I gathered from my experience:
Familiarize yourself with the camera before you set out to shoot the actual video. The Flip Camera is dead simple to use but you still want to be as comfortable as possible on your actual shooting day, so practice using the camera. This is especially important if you use a more complicated video camera than the Flip.
Decide beforehand if you want a handheld look or the more steady look of a tripod. You can also mix both. For handheld shooting remember that keeping your hand steady is the key to good footage.
Think through the goals and objectives of your video before your scheduled shoot. Write out a list of shots that will help you accomplish this.
Think about your sources of light. Turn on all the lights. Use as much daylight as you can. Recognize the difference between good light and bad light.
Make sure to shoot the outside of your location, which will help viewers understand your subject.
Vary your shots: a) Shoot from a distance; b)Take a step forward; and c)Get close to your subject.
Remember to a) Keep your hand steady; b)Avoid filming in front of a window or c) into the sun.
Have confidence because you can do it!
Here are two videos:
The first is "Tips for Shooting a Business Video" to demonstrate all the helpful tips I discussed above.
The second is the final video advertising my beading workshops and parties.
I wanted to share with you a nice experience we had here at Pixability. We recently edited a video for Lora Canary's meditation website Everyday Oasis. Her site is a place for relaxation, renewal and reconnection, and an escape from chaotic day-to-day life. Lora was very pleased. Our team just received a gift of delicious brownies and a card from Lora praising the video and our work, and I'm including it here:
So I'm going to try to analyze the experience with Lora to glean an understanding of what it takes to make a client happy. What were the ingredients of Lora's project that made it a success?
From her end:
1. Lora knew exactly what she wanted
She knew what videos, what photos, and what message she wanted to use.
2. Less is more
Her footage was less than an hour and all of it worked well to tell her story.
3. Sense of style and mood
The music and wording she chose created a meditative and relaxed feeling.
4. Being organized
She researched and uploaded her materials in a timely manner.
From our end:
1. We understood her goals
We helped her create a video that reflected her objectives of creating a calming place for people on the web. She wanted to contrast the craziness of everyday life with the relaxing space of Everyday Oasis.
2. We listened to her comments and suggestions
We incorporated her choice of soothing music and thoughtful wording for pictures.
3. We delivered her video in a timely manner
Lora was on a deadline. She wanted to show the video at the IRIS conference, and she did!
These ingredients--from both the client and Pixability--produce the synergy necessary to yield a successful video.
1. Wendy recently joined the Pixability team and I sat down to talk to her. Wendy, tell us how you became involved in video editing.
I grew up and went to college in the non-digital age and thought of myself as an untechnical person. When I was in my early 40s, at home raising children, I was asked to put together a tribute to my parents. I decided to self-teach myself a slideshow production software program that had come with my PC. I found it challenging, and had many doubts along the way as to whether or not I could accomplish this, but I did. Over time, I became quite proficient at this software program and sought out training in more complex video editing software.
2. What kind of training have you had?
I'm a graduate of the filmmaking program at the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University. There I studied the entire process of filmmaking from camera and lighting, through video editing and DVD authoring.
3. Tell us about the kind of projects that you've worked on.
Well, I've worked on a number of projects for a private school in Brookline, Massachusetts. I did a promotional video for them which they use to recruit students, and a couple of tribute videos for graduating senior classes. I've also done celebratory video montages for a number of clients. Last Spring, I was a freelance editor at MIT's Academic Media Production Services.
4. What are some of your professional goals and aspirations?
I'm an aspiring documentary filmmaker, currently working on a feature about the Jewish exodus from Iran at the time of the Islamic Revolution. I have a number of ideas for other documentaries that I'd like to do in the future.
5. What do you like about being a filmmaker?
I like the excitement and variety of opportunities that come up. This field could involve working as an editor in a dynamic start-up like Pixability or producing a movie for Hollywood. One never knows what opportunities lie ahead. Last week I was asked by a real estate developer to produce a script about the history of a property he owns.
6. What do you hope to gain by working at Pixability?
I enjoy video editing and the only way to keep up with it and improve one's skills is to do it--working at Pixability gives me this opportunity. Also, it has been exciting being a part of the development process of a start-up that focuses on video production.
Big chains have been supplanting local stores for quite some time now. Just look at the photo and electronics busienss. Best Buy, Circuit City (see ya), Sears… all these monoliths have used their marketing might to channel the general public into their lair. Recently, my curiosity got the best of me so I set out to answer one simple question: Should I buy local or from a big box retailer?
First I visited Scorby’s in Needham (www.scorbys.com). While browsing, an elderly gentleman plunked down his entire digital camera kit- complete with nine inch lens (I had a little lens envy)- and said “I can’t get this $#@& thing to work”. Half an hour and one free photo course later, Jeff the co-owner had the gent clicking his heels. “I just love watching Jeff work his magic,” said Jeff’s dad, Mel, who opened the shop generations ago. “This is why we are in the biz. This is where we develop our loyal customer base.”
And that’s when it started to hit me: Local photo shops are the gems of the industry. They are hands on, personal, and give customers unlimited access to free information. Which is quite refreshing in such a daunting, digital age. I mean, come on, I’m still waiting for my two-year old son to grow up so he can teach me how to use this stuff.
But it wasn’t just the hand holding that got to me. It was the fact that Scorby’s was a local retailer thriving in the local community. No board of directors, no shareholders (unless you count Needham residents) and no stock-driven business decisions. They cared more about the people they would bump into at the grocery store than squeezing blood from the stone--and it showed.
Another eye opening moment came from my stop at Photo Quick in Waltham (www.photoquickwaltham.com). I was always under the impression that the market giants and the web retailers had the best pricing. Not so fast, said owner Kevin Magliozi: “So many people pick our brains on the technology and then go online to save ten bucks. Then they can’t figure out how to use it so they bring the item back into the store. It’s crazy.” Crazy, indeed (even though Kevin will always help a customer no matter where they purchased the unit). The truth is that your local stores pool together to form similar buying power to the big boys.
So when it comes to purchasing the hardware to capture your memories, geting advice on taking better images (both photo or video), or processing, there is no better value than your local photo/video retailer. Let me know what you think in the comments.
This American Life (TAL, as fans call it) is the highlight of my radio week. If you are frequent NPR listener, you know that each week Ira Glass and his motley crew of contributors put on a sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always heartfelt production. Ira knows how to tell a story. Narration mixes with live interview clips and background noise. The result is a gripping hour long program that is as engaging as a movie.
I typically download TAL podcasts and listen to them on may way to work or in the car. Last weekend, I was driving with my brother. We put on the podcast and started listening. I think it's incredible that two guys, who typically cannot stop chattering, sit in complete silence as the story plays out into our ears and imaginations. At about 53 minutes into the program, Ira said something that particularly caught my attention:
"...and my dad showed me how he digitized all of our old family videos which apparently is a good project if you're retiring..."
That's right, Ira Glass (really, Ira's father) is a fan of digitizing and watching old family memories. Want to create a special keepsake like Ira's father? You can with Pixability.
I recently put myself in the shoes of a Pixability client and filmed a video advertising my side business of conducting beading workshops and parties. 
Big chains have been supplanting local stores for quite some time now. Just look at the photo and electronics busienss. Best Buy, Circuit City (see ya), Sears… all these monoliths have used their marketing might to channel the general public into their lair. Recently, my curiosity got the best of me so I set out to answer one simple question: Should I buy local or from a big box retailer?
This American Life (TAL, as fans call it) is the highlight of my radio week. If you are frequent NPR listener, you know that each week Ira Glass and his motley crew of contributors put on a sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always heartfelt production. Ira knows how to tell a story. Narration mixes with live interview clips and background noise. The result is a gripping hour long program that is as engaging as a movie. 
"We sent Pixability our footage and they made a great video out of it. It was so easy."