Whether recording at home or in an office, you don’t need a large budget or significant experience to create professional voiceovers.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to record voiceovers that sound professional, from delivering an engaging performance to setting up a voiceover studio. 

Whether you want to launch a podcast, make viral TikTok videos, or convert viewers into customers, here’s how to record voiceovers from the comfort of your home. Let’s get started! 

TL;DR: How to Do Voiceovers from Home

• Create a DIY Voiceover Studio. Build a blanket fort, or use your closet. Record professional voiceovers for cheap by using low-cost materials to prevent sound from bouncing around the room.
• Choose a Software. Acquire audio or video editing software. Try out free trials of paid software before investing in a professional product. 
• Practice, Practice, Practice. Read the script internally and out loud. Internalize its message and find a natural pacing. Record once you feel ready to perform.
• Upgrade Your Sound Equipment. It doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to improve your voiceover quality with an audio interface and XLR microphone.
• Pay Attention to the Details of Your Setup. Invest in high-quality over-ear headphones, pick up a pop filter, and stay close to the microphone when recording.
• Get Multiple Takes and Edit the Audio. When it comes time to record, get multiple takes. Review each one with headphones. Don’t be afraid to splice parts of the best takes together or re-record over small mistakes in the editing process. 

What Is a Voiceover?

A voiceover recording refers to voice narration that does not feature the narrator’s image. 

Voiceovers are common in entertainment, such as audiobooks, video games, and animated television. But they are also ideal for businesses, whether you’re creating educational content, professional screencasts, or corporate commercials. 

In marketing videos, it is common for B-roll footage to play while an off-screen voice tells the brand story, describes the benefits of a product or service, and encourages the customer to take action. 

For businesses and creators, voiceovers offer the versatility to provide additional context and create an emotional connection. They are often used to narrate animated promotions, knowledge-based content, marketing videos, and social media shorts. 

How to Record Voiceovers in 7 Steps

We’ve broken down how to create a professional voiceover into three parts: pre-production, recording, and post-production. This guide will help you level up your voiceover’s quality.

Pre-Production

1. Create a DIY Voiceover Studio

Not all voiceovers need to be of professional quality. There are millions of examples of off-the-cuff voiceovers on social media that simply use a standard earbud’s microphone. For those videos, a quiet place free from interruptions is sufficient.

But if you’re buying a microphone for quality voiceovers, it’s time to upgrade your setup. 

A wide open room is full of dense, hard surfaces for your voice to bounce off; this creates “reflections,” which negatively affects the recorded audio quality. Luckily, you can create a cheap voiceover studio.

To develop good audio, consider how to prevent sound from bouncing around the room. Here are two common, incredibly low-cost options:

• Turn a closet into a makeshift sound booth. Line the walls with thick blankets, pillows, or foam boards to create surfaces that will absorb sound. 
• Create a blanket “fort.” A thick blanket over your head works surprisingly well; however, creating a blanket “tent” is even better to avoid picking up any movements. 

Of course, you can implement far more impressive setups. If you plan to record multiple voiceovers, consider creating an at-home studio. Buy (or make) sound-absorbing foam panels for your walls, or procure a portable booth with panels and a roof. The options are endless; choose the one that matches your needs and budget. 

2. Select the Microphone & Audio Software

At a minimum, you will need an external microphone and audio or video editing software. You can purchase a USB microphone that plugs directly into your computer for under $100. 

However, upgrade to an audio interface with an XLR microphone to create professional voiceovers. An audio interface will improve sound quality and latency. You can purchase a decent audio interface for under $250 and an XLR microphone for under $150. 

Also, consider getting a pop filter to avoid picking up “pfft” sounds in your recordings.

What Is the Best Software for Recording Voiceovers? 

Voiceovers can be recorded with the audio or video editing software of your choice; although, you can also use your computer’s built-in tools, like QuickTime to record audio. 

Most video editing software provides sufficient tools for cleaning up audio, allowing creators to avoid the process of importing and exporting audio across software. Popular video editing options include Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. 

Consider using audio editing software if you need advanced audio editing or aren’t creating a video. The most popular options include Audacity and Adobe Audition.

3. Write the Script

A script illustrates your vision. It includes visual and spoken elements of the video.

Determine whether the visuals (such as a scene with a mix of dialogue and narration) or the voiceover (like a promotional product video) will set the video’s pacing. This decision will help you adequately convey the message in voiceover.

It can be tempting to skip the process of writing a script. But refining what you’re going to say and practicing your performance will go a long way in helping you craft a professional voiceover. When you’re ready to brainstorm, grab our free scriptwriting template as a jumping-off point. 

Voiceover Recording

4. Conduct a Test Recording

Everything has to work together in sync to capture a high-quality recording. Therefore, you should conduct a test each time you begin a new recording session. Skipping this step is the quickest way to get frustrated with the recording process. 

1. Set up your recording equipment and prepare the software. 
2. Press record and voice the first minute or so of the script.
3. Listen for errors in the recording with headphones. Check the audio levels. Alter your setup or audio settings as needed. Then, conduct another test. 
4. Repeat this process until you are satisfied with the initial audio quality.   

Audio Levels for Recording Voiceover

Avoid vocal distortion by watching your recording levels. An ideal recording level will average somewhere between -18dB and -10dB. The peak meter should never peak over -6dB while recording. Furthermore, a final mastered recording should never go above 0dB. 

Microphone Distance for Voiceovers

Make a fist and point your thumb and pinky in opposite directions, creating a Shaka sign. With your thumb to your mouth, your pinky should touch the pop filter of your microphone. 

You should be about 6 to 12 inches away from the microphone when recording a voiceover. This closeness helps the microphone pick up your voice instead of various noises in the room. 

The optimal distance will vary depending on the type of microphone you use and the level of sound treatment in your recording space, so determine the best-sounding distance with tests. 

5. Record Your Audio

It’s time to record! You’ve done all the necessary preparatory work. Now, it’s time to perform. Here are some tips to make recording easier and more enjoyable:

• Get in the Zone First. Find a way to loosen up. Watch a funny video, do yoga stretches, or dance to your favorite song. A great performance comes from a relaxed and centered place. Take a few minutes to get yourself in the right state of mind. 
• Don’t Stop for Mistakes. It’s good practice to complete each recording, even if you notice mistakes in your performance. You can fix some errors in editing; other errors will provide priceless feedback for future takes. 
• Record Five Takes or Less. If you need more than five takes, practice more before recording. Performing takes a lot of energy as well. If you didn’t get an acceptable take in five attempts, take a break and allow your energy to replenish. 

An effective voiceover makes it easy for the audience to absorb a video’s message. Keep the listener or viewer’s experience at the forefront of your mind when evaluating a recording. 

Post-Production

6. Edit Voiceover Audio

Before beginning the editing process, listen to your recordings with headphones.

In an ideal situation, your voiceover requires minimal editing. Using the editing software of your choice, you might rerecord a section, remove breaths and mistakes, or delete long pauses. 

Stop here if you will hand the recording off to an audio engineer; audio processing alters the recording in ways that limit the audio engineer’s ability to produce a high-quality mix. 

If you are creating the final mix, there are a couple of basic considerations that will improve the sound of your voiceover audio: equalization and compression.

This is called mastering a mix. Mastering is its own specialization and career path. So don’t fret if you feel overwhelmed during this learning process. The ultimate goal is to create a quality listening experience by making the audio as clear, crisp, and easy to hear as possible. 

Equalization

Different sounds fall into different frequencies. Equalization allows you to adjust the volume of certain frequencies without affecting others, making removing or boosting certain parts of a mix possible. Equalization removes background noise, word pops, and more. 

It’s better to capture audio with fewer background noises and high-frequency sounds. It’s generally preferred to need as little equalization as possible. For those who aren’t familiar with manually adjusting equalization, it’s common to use plug-ins and software presets.

Compression

Compression reduces the dynamic range of audio, which allows you to create a consistent volume. It prevents the highest highs from being too loud and the lowest lows from being too quiet. Compression also prevents distortion while allowing you to increase volume. 

7. Sync Audio & Complete Video 

Congratulations! You’re ready to sync your audio with the visual story of your video. 

Audio and video are recorded separately in traditional filmmaking. At the beginning of each take, the actor claps. This produces a spike that makes syncing audio and film easy.

Voiceover includes different challenges. Instead of syncing an on-screen actor’s lips with the spoken audio, you need to sync the voiceover pacing with the pacing of visual content. 

For this reason, you may decide to record voiceover first. This allows you to edit the video to match the voiceover, rather than trying to get one that matches an edited video. 

Either way, you now have all the tools to record a voiceover for your video! 

Why Are Good Voiceovers Important? 

Consumers want videos from brands. However, holding viewer engagement, even with short videos, can be challenging. After all, 20% of viewers click away in the first 10 seconds. Yet a website visitor who watches a product video is 64% more likely to make a purchase.  

It is paramount to grab and hold attention. Don’t give viewers an easy reason to click or scroll away by underestimating the importance of good sound quality and an engaging performance. 

Key Aspects of a Good Voiceover

Audio quality and vocal performance are two central aspects of a professional voiceover. As such, each has important attributes that result in a good voiceover. 

Audio Quality

Generally speaking, voice recordings should sound realistic. The goal is not to create a new sound but to fully capture the vocal performance. 

Therefore, recording hardware must be able to capture sound with a wide range of audible frequencies, the full dynamic range (the quietest and loudest sounds), and little-to-no distortion.

Errors can happen at any stage of the recording process. In a soundproof setting, use your equipment to create a test recording. Listen closely and alter your setup if you hear any of the following:

• Extraneous noises (hiss, hum, etc.)
• Background sounds
• Echos
• Vocal pops
• Audio processing errors
• Microphone bumps 

Don’t fret if this process requires trial and error. Multiple factors of your voiceover studio contribute to the sound quality, including the microphone distance, equipment, room treatment, location (city versus country), and more. 

Performance 

There are several elements to a good voiceover performance. Even if your audio quality is pristine, a monotone script recitation quickly puts viewers to sleep. To improve how your voice sounds when recorded, consider pacing, diction, tone or inflection, and emotive performance. 

Pacing and Volume

Pacing is the rate at which you recite the script. Aim for a natural, conversational pacing. Practice the script to internalize its messaging and make the words sound like your own (whether you wrote them or not). 

Diction

A voiceover must be understood. Therefore, the first task of a good performance is to say the words correctly at an audible level. 

Speak clearly and enunciate each word without letting it drop off. For example, “The boys walk down to the river and fetch a pail of water.” It would be easy for this sentence to sound like a garbled mess, “The boy wall dow to the rivah and fesh a pail of wafer.” 

Pay particular attention to words with “s,” “er,” “ch,” and “t” sounds. It will be easier to focus on delivery the more you can recite the words without needing to recall or read them. 

Tone and Inflection

Your tone is the pitch of your voice plus its resonating quality. You might speak in a higher pitch with a calming tone or have a deeper voice that naturally booms like an announcer. 

Inflection is the way you alter your tone to express the script. Your cadence (the modulation or inflection of your voice when reading) will convey context, underlying information, and emotions. 

Emotive Performance

The emotion and energy you bring to the performance will ultimately sell it and keep people engaged. The technical aspects of audio quality and performance ensure mistakes don’t cause people to tune out. But your emotive performance keeps people tuned in. 

How Do I Improve the Sound of My Voice? 

A common hurdle when you begin recording voiceovers is accepting the sound of your voice. It’s normal to feel shy or unsure about how your voice sounds. It may take some time to get used to it yourself, but you will focus on it far more than anyone else. 

Another approach is to learn from professional voice actors. Voice actors can adjust tone, inflection, and pacing to create an immersive recording with their unique voices. Consider working with a vocal coach to improve your technique and gain new skills.

Voiceover sets the mood and tone of your video. With some planning and the right equipment, it can take your video to a new level.

But bad audio can ruin good content. After spending hours or days on a video, the last thing you want to do is ruin it with an amateurish voiceover. 

Capturing professional recordings includes a learning curve, but producing an engaging, professional-quality voiceover is well worth the time and effort.

The post How to Record Voiceovers with Tips from Professional Voice Actors appeared first on SproutVideo.

Many creatives are (rightfully) skeptical of AI’s ability to generate original, engaging ideas. But marketing videos don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Like a good pop song that plays too many times on the radio, marketing videos follow tried-and-true formulas — which AI can mimic. 

To produce humanlike content, AI script generators employ natural language processors, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. But how good can an AI scriptwriter really be? Let’s find out! 

We tested over 30 AI script generators; here are three options that produced the highest-quality results when writing a video script.

The goal wasn’t to create a small list, but we had high standards for the AI script-writing tools. These three tools delivered professional results. We’ve also included tips on how to write effective AI prompts and example results from each script-writing tool we’ve featured.  

How to Create Effective AI Scriptwriting Prompts

The results of AI-generated writing are limited to the information you provide in your prompt. 

Therefore, it’s important to over-explain the parameters of what you want the AI to generate, rather than leaving it to make its own assumptions about tone of voice, ideal audience, and other similar details. 

Your prompt should include all of the information you want to be reflected in the generated script. This might be creative, product, or brand information. 

We’ve created a template (below) for a general marketing video script. Replace the bolded text with information from your marketing video brief to utilize the template with an AI writing tool. 

Spending a few minutes creating a detailed prompt is essential to getting the most out of AI script writing tools. This prompt covers all of the most important information AI needs to create a marketing video script for your product and company. 

When writing your prompt, add or remove details as needed. To create varying results or use AI as a brainstorming tool, experiment with the amount of information you provide. 

Other information you might include:

• Product or Service Details 
• Video Setting or Location
• Live-action, Animated, Webcam, Studio, etc.
• Number of Actors or Voice Actors 

Note: AI output can be improved with follow-up prompts. You can specifically point out a desired change or even just ask AI to “try again.” 

3 Best AI Script Writers for High-Quality Videos 

Of the 30+ AI writing tools we tested, only three made the cut for generating high-quality scripts for marketing videos. 

Most AI writing tools use the same machine learning model: OpenAI’s ChatGPT. 

OpenAI has established several contracts with third-party companies, which allow them to utilize the network in specific, limited ways. We will note what AI model each respective tool uses as we discuss them.

We created the prompt below using the template provided. The goal of the prompt is to generate a 30-second explainer video script for an organic, minimalist makeup brand.

We used this same prompt when testing each AI script generator.

1. ChatGPT: Best Free Tool

You don’t need to pay for a script-writing tool to produce solid results with AI. This is perhaps the most surprising thing we learned while testing these AI writing tools. 

Since most AI writing tools use some version of ChatGPT, we figured it was worth starting with the free version of ChatGPT for comparison with the paid tools featured below. 

At the time of writing, ChatGPT-3.5 is OpenAI’s free tier. 

To test ChatGPT, we input the prompt four separate times. The AI produced slightly different scripts each time, even though we did not change the prompt. 

Each new iteration provided more detail and dynamism in the shot imagery and text. The following script was the fourth script generated using the prompt.

ChatGPT produced a solid script from the setting and visual elements to the copy and potential business taglines. There’s nothing fantastically original here, but it tells an emotional story well without becoming cliché or using overly-flowery language to convey luxurious femininity.

Pros

• Free Version with Unlimited Generations: There is no limit to the number of content generations you can produce with ChatGPT. It’s also easy to ask ChatGPT to rewrite or improve its output. 
• Industry Leader & Content Source: As stated, most AI writing tools have contracts with OpenAI to use its technology. It makes sense, then, that going straight to the source would produce results on (at least) the same level as paid tools using this model.

Cons

• No Prompts or Templates Provided: ChatGPT doesn’t provide templates like paid AI writing tools. These templates allow you to plug in information without formally writing a prompt. This isn’t an issue if you are accustomed to writing detailed prompts. 
• Potential Delays with Free Version: The server is sometimes too busy, causing delays. But these are uncommon hiccups in an otherwise seamless generative experience. ChatGPT-4, the paid version ($20/mo), removes the potential for delays.

Cost: Free

2. Jasper: Best Text Generation

Jasper integrates multiple AI models to produce some of the most dynamic results across tools. The AI models it utilizes include ChatGPT, PalM (Google), Anthropic, and Cohere.

It also allows you to upload brand and campaign information, saving you the trouble of constantly reiterating standard information about your company to the AI. Instead, the tool remembers this information and contextually incorporates it where relevant. 

We input the prompt several times when testing the tool. It’s important to produce multiple variations when using AI to create a high-quality script. This allows you to initiate a collaborative process with AI that creates better results overall. 

We also used both the “blank document,” which allows you to start from scratch, and the “Video Script Outline,” template offered as part of Jasper’s service. Both produced sufficient results, but the experience of using a blank document mimics tools like Microsoft Word and Google Docs. This created a more natural-feeling user experience and ease of conversing with the Jasper AI. 

Jasper excels in producing copy that genuinely mimics human language and captures the desired tone. Jasper isn’t built to write scripts, and that’s most apparent in the lack of visual direction included in the script above. 

However, Jasper took follow-up instructions extremely well. The second example script below was produced with two follow-up requests, “try again with more visual direction,” then “try again with a setting in a unique location.” 

Pros

• The Best AI Copy Writing for Marketing: Jasper was built to make creating copy for marketing campaigns efficient and easier. There are a lot of exciting features, like content repurposing, that we have yet to explore. 
• Employs Multiple AI Models: As mentioned, Jasper is the only AI writing tool that transparently integrates multiple machine learning models, including ChatGPT, PalM (Google), Anthropic, and Cohere. This allows Jasper to generate higher-quality copy. 

Cons

• Took the Structure Too Seriously: The prompt includes specific instructions on the desired structure of the video. This is meant to help the AI create an explainer video script. However, Jasper often prioritized the Video Structure Outline to a limiting degree. This made us want to remove that part of the prompt, resulting in a less focused script overall. 
• Mediocre Workflow: Jasper silos Documents and Templates in different sections of the tool. When writing within a document, you can ask Jasper to produce content, but you can’t easily trigger a template. Instead, you must start with the template and export the text into a document (by clicking a button). This creates a poor and, at times, frustrating workflow when trying to create content. 

Cost: Starts at $39/mo

3. Hoppy Copy: Best User Experience

Hoppy Copy sets itself apart with an easy-to-use platform and effective templates. Although advertised as the AI for marketing emails, Hoppy Copy has something for every aspect of a marketing campaign. In fact, it’s one of the few tools we tested that includes a dedicated Video Script Template. 

In many ways, Hoppy Copy excels where Jasper falls short and vice versa. Both tools offer the ability to save brand information that AI can automatically integrate. Hoppy Copy provides the best user experience by far but can’t quite keep up with the quality of writing Jasper generates. 

In fact, it’s unknown what AI models Hoppy Copy uses. When we reached out, this was the company response, “We can’t say exactly the models we use, but we do use OpenAI.” 

Despite this lack of transparency, Hoppy Copy feels like a tool built for longevity. As artificial intelligence continues to improve, the platform Hoppy Copy has created will only become more of an asset to users. 

This script illustrates one of the most powerful benefits of using AI to create video scripts: randomly great ideas. The script above outlines a scene in which, “a woman in a butterfly-filled garden [is] using the XYZ Makeup brushes to apply makeup.” This incredibly vivid image could become the setting for the entire commercial, lending to an engaging 30-second advertisement. 

In general, this ability to play around with the output from Hoppy Copy is one of its greatest assets. The tool splits your screen in half, allowing the left side to be AI Chat or a built-in template, while the right side is a live text document with your working copy. This allows a truly seamless workflow for marketers and copywriting professionals. 

Pros

• Includes a Video Script Template (& Many More): The most frustrating aspect of using templates when testing AI scriptwriting tools was how ineffective most of the templates actually were. The opposite is true of Hoppy Copy’s templates, with an impressive library of templates that are genuinely helpful and easy to use.
• Seamless User Experience: Hoppy Copy’s standout feature is the platform’s user experience. The most common flaw across AI tools (aside from poor writing generation) was clunky and confusing tool navigation. In this realm, Hoppy Copy is a step above the competition. 

Cons

• Unfavorable Pricing Model: At the time of writing, Hoppy Copy starts at $23/mo, but this plan includes only 20,000 generated words. While it’s nice to have a lower price option, the plan doesn’t include enough words for most use cases. The next plan up is $39/mo and includes 100,000 generated words. Compare that to Jasper, which starts at $39/mo for unlimited generated words. 
• Word Count Frustration: Hoppy Copy’s UI has one big flaw. There’s no record of your conversation with AI, which means you can accidentally hit your word count and have nothing to show for it. To save AI generations, you must “Insert” the text from the AI Chat or Template into the Document on the right side of the screen. The whole process is far from intuitive, leading to a potentially costly and frustrating learning curve.

Cost: Starting at $23/mo

Convert Your AI-Written Script into an AI-Generated Video

We thought it would be fun to grab one of the example scripts and test the end-to-end AI workflow, from writing the video script to generating and editing the video. 

There’s plenty of room for improvement, but it’s amazing to see the script come to life with music, voice-over, and stock video footage. This rough cut was produced in about 30 minutes.

Here are the steps we took to create this short video:

1. Generate Script: We input the written prompt (created from the video script template) into several script generators. We chose the Hoppy Copy output for this video. 
2. Input Script to Create Video: The Hoppy Copy script was pasted into Pictory, an AI video generator, where we began creating the video with its Script-to-Video tool.
3. Choose a Video Template: You can choose from Pictory’s library of templates or create your own. These templates provide a style and branding starting point for the video.  
4. Review Video & Customize: With Pictory, we swapped out stock images and videos, added background music, customized the branding, and more. Options will vary depending on the Script-to-Video tool you use. 
5. Add Voiceover: Our choice for the best AI voiceover tool is ElevenLabs. We used its VoiceLab to create a realistic-sounding voiceover and uploaded it to Pictory, which auto-synced the audio with the visuals.
6. Final Touches & Download: After previewing the video and making any final touches, we downloaded the MP4.
7. Upload to Video Host: Upload the AI-generated video to a video hosting provider, such as SproutVideo. Now your video can easily be shared, privately or publicly. 

Check out our complete list of the best AI tools for video editing and production, including Pictory, which was used to generate the video above. 

3 Ways to Write a Script with AI 

AI can produce seriously impressive scripts. But it’s often more helpful to employ AI as an assistant, rather than asking it to do all the work for you. Here are a few ways you can use AI to brainstorm fresh ideas and expedite scriptwriting. 

Conduct Dynamic Solo Brainstorms

Brainstorming in a group setting synthesizes more engaging, interesting perspectives. Artificial intelligence can quickly gather a large range of potential ideas. To get effective and customized output, you will need to ask specific questions or provide significant detail. 

Using our example from before, you might ask AI to, “provide 40 different potential settings for an explainer video about a luxury, organic makeup brand for affluent women in their 30s who value sustainable business practices and desire a minimal but stunning daily beauty routine.”

Alternatively, you might include those same product and brand details but ask AI to, “write 40 different taglines for this brand,” or, “write a story about a woman who uses this makeup.” 

AI output is hugely dependent on the input. Introduce various different prompts or ask for a significant number of responses to conduct a productive solo brainstorming session.

Get a Rewrite to Gain Perspective

AI learns from the content that already exists across the internet. Therefore it’s not always ideal to write the first draft using AI. The boundless originality of the human imagination is a huge asset that shouldn’t be quickly discarded for convenience. But whether you hit writer’s block or need some insight into your own writing, consider asking AI to rewrite your first draft. 

Be specific with your rewrite request. Instead of simply asking AI to, “rewrite the script,” be specific about what you want to be changed. For example, you can ask AI to expand the script, add uniqueness, or change the setting. Consider what you want to be changed in the script and use precise words to generate a useful rewrite. 

Which AI Writing Tool Is the Best at Rewriting Copy? 

Without additional instruction, how well do our favorite AI script generators rewrite scripts? That may depend on your preferences! 

• ChatGPT changed as little as possible by selecting synonyms while keeping the same general outline and sentence structure. 
• Jasper took significantly more liberties by condensing sections of dialogue and expanding sensory elements. 
• Hoppy Copy was the “Goldilocks” of the group, providing genuinely helpful rewrites of some sentences, rather than only changing individual words or rewriting the overall text.

We found this feature to be particularly helpful for rewriting clunky text or fixing sentence structure. At a minimum, AI rewriting can take pressure off of the first draft by allowing you to produce multiple, similar iterations. This makes it easier to identify weaker sections to improve the second version.

Mimic a Viral Video

It’s not easy to write a script that engages a wide audience. But there are a lot of viral videos that have done just that. Why not use AI to generate a similar tone (emotional, humorous, etc.)?

To test this out, we asked ChatGPT to mimic “1984“, a classic Apple commercial that first introduced the Macintosh personal computer. 

• Make sure to reference a video produced before September 2021, since ChatGPT doesn’t have information past that point.
• Ask AI to write a script inspired by the name of the commercial and brand. For example, we asked ChatGPT to generate, “Video Script for XYZ Makeup (Inspired by Apple’s “1984” ad)“

The results are shockingly accurate — even too similar at times to use. In this case, a parody of this classic commercial would likely be a big hit.

Provide minimal information for best results. Use follow-up requests to customize the output for your brand or products.

What Makes an AI Writing Tool Good?

Among the 30+ tools we tested, many were built specifically for scriptwriting. While some of these tools offered useful features for screenplay writers, none of them were built for marketing writing and failed to meet our standards. 

Additionally, the vast majority of AI writing tools relied too heavily on their contract with OpenAI, as well as a handful of mediocre templates. If the AI writing tool you’re considering only offers these basic features, the free version of ChatGPT is sufficient. 

Instead, the best AI script writers (and AI writing tools overall) are those that:

• Offer the ability to save information about your brand.
• Provide the ability to “chat” directly with AI.
• Include specific templates that the AI utilizes well. 
• Integrate AI with a solid writing user experience.
• Utilize multiple AI models (generally)

Many of the tools we tested were unintuitive, produced overly simplified copy, and failed to compete with the free version of ChatGPT. But the three AI writing tools we chose can be used to produce quality videos from draft one through the final script. 

Ready for more? Discover AI tools for video production or brainstorm corporate video ideas with tips for creating your own. Get inspired by the power of video for customer support or learn how to make a website for your videos in less than an hour. 

The post 3 Best AI Script Writers for Making High-Quality Videos appeared first on SproutVideo.

Jumpstart your brainstorm and make the writing process easier. Learn how to download your personal, editable copy here.

Video is the most effective way to convey a message, tell a story, or promote a brand. It’s also 72% of consumers’ preferred way to learn about a product or service. 

A successful video is relevant to the viewer and engaging. Writing a script is crucial to producing a compelling video that people will enjoy watching. 

We’ll start with why it’s important to write a script for those tempted to skip this step. However, most people see the benefits yet get stuck wondering, “How do I actually write a script for my video?”

You’ve come to the right place! We’re going to cover writing a video script step by step. Plus, grab our free script template to jumpstart your creativity and make the writing process easier.

What Is a Video Script?

A video script outlines the details of your video, including the setting, characters, on-screen visuals, music, dialogue or voice-over, and more. 

Traditional scripts, like those written for movies, follow a particular format. This formatting provides a consistency that allows the script’s readers to understand the content and visualize the final outcome.

Scripts for how-to lessons, marketing announcements, product features, internal communications, and help videos tend to follow a looser format that, at minimum, includes the visuals and audio scene-by-scene. 

Why Write a Video Script?

It may be tempting to skip the daunting task of writing a video script in favor of “winging it.” Here are a few reasons to plan your video ahead of time by writing a script. 

Save Time and Money

Whether you’re working with a team or running a one-person crew, creating a video script can save time, money, and frustration. The real benefit of writing a video script is taking the time to fully map out your creative vision. By fleshing out the details, you’ll create a plan of action.

When working with a team, writing a video script helps avoid scheduling (and paying for) additional filming days or extra revisions for animation and editing. A strong plan prevents unnecessary back-and-forth and miscommunication between departments. 

Create an Effective Message

The first few seconds of your video are crucial. The social media conglomerate Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram, found that a viewer who sticks around for the first three seconds is likely to watch for 30 seconds. 

Writing a script provides multiple points to conceptualize the final result, get feedback, and clarify the vision. Without spending any money, you can brainstorm video ideas, write test scripts, and perform or read them to your peers. 

Writing a video script provides structure for refining your message. The result will be a higher quality video that took less time to produce than if you didn’t have a plan in place.  

Provide Space for Collaboration

Those who are working with a team or production company will find it necessary to align before creating the video. Team collaboration also helps to produce a video that appeals to a more diverse audience with different perspectives. By encouraging input from all team members involved, you can avoid corporate hiccups and mishaps.

How Many Words Are in a Minute of Video?

One minute of a video contains an average of 140-160 spoken words. This varies based on the pace of the speaker, as well as any action that takes place outside of the dialogue or voice-over. 

Traditional screenplays generally require one minute of video for every page of the script. However, for the purpose of your video script, assume that every 150 words will require about a minute of video. This will help you estimate how long of a video you are writing.

Estimating video length is important for both engagement and budget. 

How Much Does a 60-Second Video Cost?

42% of marketers spend less than $500 producing a video, but the average cost for a one-minute video when hiring a production company is $1,000-$10,000. 

The type of video you produce and the number of people (voice actor, director, animator, editor, etc.) involved in creating it will greatly impact the budget. 

Companies that create videos on a regular basis should consider bringing video production in-house or hiring freelancers for projects. 

Businesses with larger budgets may choose to hire a production company. Production costs vary widely between companies. Be sure to get a quote for your video and ask these five questions before signing a contract.  

What Video Length is Most Effective?

Videos under two minutes receive the most engagement. Yet viewers who watch for more than six minutes are likely to finish a video.

The ideal length of your video will depend on the subject matter and purpose of the video. 

In general, shorter videos (under three minutes) provide an introduction or overview, while longer videos allow the viewer to establish a connection and absorb more in-depth information. 

For this reason, shorter videos often use a hook (such as humor) to get the viewer’s attention. Longer videos might tell a story to create emotional investment or provide detailed instructions for the viewer to follow.

How to Write a Video Script (+ Free Template)

1. Choose Your Target Audience

The first question you need to answer when creating a video is “Who is this for?” The answer should align with a segment of your target audience.

When writing the video script and planning visuals, put your target audience front and center. Regardless of the type of video you are creating, the goal is to provide value to that audience. Therefore, it’s important to consider your audience’s budget, pain points, questions they might have, hesitations, and big desires. 

Businesses often create ideal avatars, or personas, that embody each segment of their target audience. Focus on appealing to one ideal avatar per video. 

2. Define Video Purpose & Set a Goal

Why is this video being created and what will it be used for? Determine the purpose of the video, then create a contextually appropriate goal. 

The video’s purpose will likely depend on the type of video you’re creating. An explainer video, for example, is meant to build brand awareness and increase top-of-the-funnel conversions. Therefore, the goal of this type of video will be directly related to that purpose.

Examples of Video Purpose & Goal 

• A how-to video to be embedded in a help article with the goal of reducing weekly support inquiries for that topic by 50%. 
• An onboarding video that teaches new employees how to set up their tax info, insurance, direct deposit, and log in to company-wide applications for their job — with the goal of removing the need for managers to directly train new team members on their first day.
• A middle-of-the-funnel video shared on social media, landing pages for retargeted ads, and within drip feed email campaigns with the goal of increasing free trial sign-ups by 20% and sales conversions by 8%.

3. Create an Outline

Now, you have the clarity to create an outline with focus and intention. It can be helpful to consider how long you want the video to be as you create the outline. This will allow you to specify how many words each section of your outline should have (give or take). 

Video Script Formula in 4 Steps

Every video is different. This formula is optimized for shorter marketing videos. However, these four sections will help you create a broad outline for nearly any video. Use this if it helps create structure, but don’t be afraid to break the format.

1. Start with ‘Why?’ 

Get to the point immediately, whether you’re providing information or marketing a product. Consider what you’re conveying (both visually and with audio or music) within the first three, 10, and 30 seconds. 

These are the most crucial moments for getting someone’s attention. But as we saw with this seven-minute short film of an ad from Lyft, there are many ways to encourage viewers to pause and watch.  

2. Present the Problem

This stage is about highlighting and emphasizing the pain points your customer base is frustratingly familiar with. This sometimes is called “agitating the problem,” because it sets viewers up for emotional relief when you present your solution.  

For some types of videos, the problem might be less obvious. For example, an onboarding video that covers How to Set Up Slack might point out some of the common issues that remote workers face, which using the application solves.

3. Illustrate Your Solution

This section contains the “main course” of the video. It’s valuable information that presents your solution to viewers. This solution might be in the form of a product or service, information, tutorial, entertainment, or emotional connection. This section includes whatever form of value you’re providing to viewers. 

4. Include a Call to Action 

What action do you want viewers to take after watching the video? Incorporate one call to action at the end of every video. 

Instead of asking viewers to make a decision, direct the ideal path you want them to take. (Keeping in mind that they may still choose a random path.) 

4. Find the Hook

We’ve discussed the importance of capturing the viewer’s attention as soon as possible. This is called “the hook”. 

A hook doesn’t need to be flashy to be effective. Generally, it immediately tells the viewer what to expect from the video. This might be a quick overview of what’s to come, a direct question to the viewer, an enticing vibe created by the visuals and music, or anything else that convinces the viewer to stick around and watch. 

Here are some example hooks from our list of the best marketing videos:

• The Amazon Go video shows a shopper entering the store by scanning an iPhone. This offers a two-second preview of cashierless shopping, which the video introduced. 
• The CrazyEgg video simply showed an animation of words falling onto the screen with a subtle ‘splat’ sound, “The heat map tool that shows why your visitors aren’t converting.”
• The Grammarly ad opens with a head coach (who we follow throughout the video) directly stating to the viewer, “My job is to make college easier.”
• Dissolve’s video opens with a graphic of the video’s title, “This is a Generic Brand Video,” which is both informative and the first joke in a video full of laughs. 
• Poo-Pourri opens with a well-dressed woman sitting in a basic toilet stall. In an English accent she states, “You would not believe the motherload I just dropped.” It’s no wonder this video skyrocketed the company into mainstream success.

Oftentimes, the solution your product or service provides is compelling on its own. In which case, an effective hook will be as informative as it is engaging. 

This list also highlights that a great hook is more than just good writing. It’s the setup of the entire video. How will your visuals and audio work together so that people want to keep watching? 

5. Write the Script & Plan Each Scene

Now it’s time to write the actual script! This is a first draft. It’s an opportunity to put everything you have in your mind onto the page. If you’re working with a team, it’s time for everyone to bring their expertise to the collaboration. 

It’s easy to think of scriptwriting as just the words that will be spoken. But a helpful video script will include:

• Visuals, setting, or on-screen action;
• Dialogue and voice-overs;
• Music and sound effects.

Even if you don’t have every detail figured out, describe each aspect when planning out the scenes. As you collaborate with a team (film crew, animators, editors, designers), it will be easier to convey what is wanted. 

Free Video Script Template

Open Video Script Template

To make this process easier, we created a video script template. Here’s how to get your personal copy.

1. Get immediate access to the Free Video Script Template by clicking the button (above).
2. Sign up for the SproutVideo newsletter and select Submit.
3. Click “View Our Video Script Template.”

For Google Drive Users

1. Within the script template (Google Spreadsheet), choose “File” in the upper left corner.
2. Select “Make a Copy.”
3. Rename the file if desired. Click the green button, “Make a Copy.”
4. Your personal copy will open. This spreadsheet is editable.

For All Other Users

1. Within the script template (Google Spreadsheet), choose “File” in the upper left corner.
2. Select “Download,” and choose “Microsoft Excel.”
3. Rename the file if desired. Save it to your computer.
4. Open it with your preferred spreadsheet software.

Plan and write your video script!

Once you’ve created your own copy of the template, you can customize it to your liking. For example, add a Storyboarding column to insert quick sketches of each scene.

6. Edit the Script 

Take a break. After you have written your script, put it away for the day. Revisit the script with fresh eyes after a good night’s sleep.

A beautiful thing happens when you get into a writing flow: it all feels genius. Once you take a step back, you may realize it needs improvement. This is completely normal! 

Let your rough draft be rough. Then when editing the script, step into the mindset of your target audience.

Script Writing is like Making Pizza Dough

Pizza dough needs to be proofed and kneaded before you can roll it out.

The proofing of the dough encourages fermentation, which adds air and depth of flavor. Then the gluten in the dough needs to be ripped apart continuously to form stronger bonds (kneading).

Writing is the same.

Take a break from the “dough” (rough draft) you’ve just created. Let it ferment in your brain. When you return, you’ll be ready to rip it apart to make something amazing.

Just like with pizza dough, it’s important not to skip the “rest” stage in favor of editing immediately. You will still be attached to what you created and unable to review it objectively.

Give yourself some time with the draft before asking how it could be better. Consider having peers review the script as well after your personal revisions.

Want more? Use these 10 tips for editing to walk through the process. 

7. Test Your Script Off-Camera

Whether you read your script out loud or perform in front of a small audience, find some way to get real-time feedback. 

Another way you can showcase and evaluate your script is by creating a storyboard. This could simply be quick sketches of each scene, shot-for-shot. Storyboards allow you to present the visuals and dialogue or narration in a format that mimics the final result. 

Dialogue and narration that reads well on the page may not sound as smooth spoken aloud. Even just recording yourself describing the video can help you make important final changes that improve the final result. 

Small businesses and content creators might also consider involving loyal customers by requesting feedback in exchange for a discount or gift card. This approach can be especially helpful when producing a marketing video. 

Quick Tips for Video Script Writing

Here are some of the most important nuggets of information from the article as well as bonus tips (and things to consider) for writing an engaging video script.

• Keep word or page count in mind. Every 140 words of your script will need about a minute of video. Use this information to estimate video length while writing.
• Find the hook. Capture the viewer’s attention within the first ten seconds of the video. This will increase engagement and the number of people who watch until the end. 
• Create a plan of action. Use our free script template to visualize every scene of your video and plan it out shot-for-shot. 
• Take a break between writing and editing. Don’t hold back when writing your rough draft. But step into the mind of your target audience when editing. 
• Providing sincere value to viewers. This will build trust and encourage a community to gather around your company, which lends to a sustainable business model.
• Optimize for no sound. Meta found that video ads with captions have 12% longer viewing times on average than those without captions. 
• Stay true to your brand. If the tone of your company is light-hearted, your marketing videos should be too. The vibe of your video should match your company culture.

The post How to Easily Write a Video Script (+ Free Template) appeared first on SproutVideo.

First, we’ll introduce you to the 10 essential planning documents that cover every stage of video content production, from brainstorming, through wrap. Next, we’ll look at each phase of production, and cover some of the most useful apps for creating and organizing the planning documents you’ll need. 

The 10 Essential Content Planning Documents

1. Creative Brief: a marketing document that outlines the strategy of a creative project. It may include a description of the audience, deliverables, and publication channels.
   • Creative brief how-to guide and examples
2. Treatment: a pitch deck that summarizes the message and tone of a project.
   • Film treatment examples
   • Commercial treatment examples
3. Mood Board: a collage of images and text that conveys the general look and feel of a project, sometimes integrated into the treatment.
   • Mood board how-to guide and examples
4. Script: a written description of all the words and actions that will take place in a video or animation project.
   • Script examples
5. Shot List: a breakdown of the video or animation script into a list of shots. For photography, this is a list of images in the project. It also includes information about what is required for each shot.
   • More information and examples of shot lists
6. Storyboard: a visual sketch of each shot in each scene of the script.
   • Storyboard examples
7. Stripboard Shooting Schedule: a master top-down schedule of your shoot, where each strip (or row) represents a scene or a shot. 
   • Stripboard shooting schedule examples and templates 
8. Day out of Days Report (DOOD): most often used on longer shoots and bigger productions, this is a grid that marks the beginning, middle, and end of each actor or model’s time on set.
   • Day out of days report template
9. Call Sheet: a one- or two-page document that includes the most important information for the shoot day, such as shot schedule, location, crew list, contact information, and even the weather forecast. 
   • More call sheet information and templates
10. Production Report: a daily summary briefing of each completed shoot day, including payroll obligations, shots covered, any delays or overages, talent and location releases, and more.
    • Production report template 

Phase 1: Creative Brief, Treatment, and Mood Board 

Let’s begin at the first step for creative teams: the concept. The creative brief will provide the creative team with its project goals. Once that document is in hand, it’s time to collect your team’s scattered ideas into a clear, creative concept. This process typically begins with a treatment. For some film projects, a treatment can be a text-only document that you can create in any text editor or script software (listed below). However, for commercial video projects, photography projects, or social projects that may include a mix of motion and still images, the treatment can become a complicated, visually-rich pitch deck that includes a mood board. 

These tools can help simplify the task of making a compelling visual treatment:

• Canva (web app) is a powerful tool that makes it easy for non-designers to create clean, eye-catching presentations.
• Visme (web app), much like Canva, makes the process of creating designs and layouts a painless, turnkey process. 
• Milanote (web app) is a tool to organize your creative products into a visual board.
• Shotdeck (web app) gives you access to thousands of film clips for decks for pitches, treatments, etc. to help you fill your document with existing visual content that fits your project’s mood. 
• Pinterest (web app) is not just for accent walls and sconces; it will help collect all your reference and inspiration imagery in one place when planning your mood board and treatment presentation. 

Phase 2: Script and Shot List

Once the treatment is approved, you’ll move on to the script. And from your script, you’ll make your shot list. For commercial projects with little or no narration or dialogue, a Google doc might seem like the easiest choice for writing out script ideas. It’s free, there’s no learning curve, and it’s an easy collaboration tool. But proper script formatting can be very important, and the proper formatting in script software will make it much easier to convert your script into your shot list, and then turn your shot list into the next planning documents your shoot will require. 

Some script software will organize your entire project by using your script to break scenes down into a shot list, inform your storyboard, populate your shooting schedule, establish your budget, and plug your project info into a call sheet to keep your shoot days organized. 

All-in-One Scripting and Project Management

• StudioBinder (web app) is the leading film production management software that also includes a scripting component. Overall, StudioBinder has tools for everything from scripting, storyboarding, budgeting, shot listing, scheduling, and creating call sheets. However, the subscription can get pricey if you want to collaborate. 
• Celtx (web app, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android) is a subscription-based platform that started as script software, and now includes a lot of project management tools and mobile apps.  

Standalone Scripting

• Final Draft (Mac, Windows, and iOS) is the de facto standard of the film and television community. It’s pricier than most, and probably best for creatives that need to collaborate at the higher end of the film and TV industry. 
• WriterDuet (web app) is a free script application that makes collaboration easy.
• Arc Studio (web app, Mac, Windows, and iOS) offers a free browser-based option, or more feature-rich premium desktop and mobile versions. 
• Trelby (Windows) is a free, lightweight scripting option. 

Phase 3: Storyboard

Once you have a script, it’s time to storyboard. Let’s be honest; very few content creators also happen to be gifted illustrators. For the rest of us challenged scribblers, storyboards can be daunting! Using stock photography, clipart, location scouting shots, and other off-the-shelf visuals to represent each shot can save you from having to … you know … actually draw.

Here are some great tools to help make storyboarding more manageable: 

Storyboard Illustration

• Procreate (iOS) is a feature-rich industry standard for professional tablet illustration. 
• Photoshop (Mac, Windows, and iOS) is the industry standard for professional desktop illustration. It can be overwhelming for non-illustrators and may require extra tools like a Wacom tablet for illustration. 
• Paper (iOS) is free, and lighter on features. However, anyone outside of professional artists and experienced illustrators won’t miss the extra functionality.

Storyboard Layouts

• Storyboarder (Mac and Windows) is a free app with stellar reviews and robust features that integrates with Photoshop for image creation, as well as Premiere, Final Cut, and Avid for creating animatics from your boards.  
• Studiobinder and Celtx are also fantastic storyboarding and shot listing tools. (Just a reminder.)

• Boords (web app) is another good option, with collaboration tools and an animatic feature. 
• Plot (web app) is a simple subscription-based storyboarding app with fewer features and a lower price point.

Phase 4: Shooting Schedules, DOODs, Call Sheets, and Production Reports

The creative is signed off and your project is greenlit. Now, it’s time for the final step: planning and logistics. If your script and storyboard are the heart of your shoot, these documents are its brain. First, you’ll order your shot list into a shooting schedule and , if your shoot is big enough to require one, a DOOD (day out of days). Next, you’ll create a call sheet for each shoot day that covers the shots on the shooting schedule for that day, as well as the rest of the information your cast and crew will need. Finally, when your shoot day is wrapped, you’ll make a production report that summarizes all the important shoot information for your records. It’s worth investing time and effort into these documents because the success of your shoot ultimately relies on them. 

Here are the best apps to make this process easy: 

• Set Hero (web app and iOS) is a call sheet and crew contact management software with subscription or per-project pricing.
• Studiobinder (web app) lets you send call sheets directly to mobile apps so your crew has up-to-date information on locations, schedules, and shots. 
• Yamdu (web app) offers call sheet generation, contact management, scheduling, and more. Subscription pricing of this app is higher than others. 
• Celtx (web app, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android) has less functionality than the apps above, but might be worth using if budget is a consideration and you’re already using Celtx for other elements of your project.  

Find the tools and apps that are right for you, and start working on these documents early. The more time you invest into these planning documents before you begin shooting, the easier your shoot day(s) are likely to be. 

The post 10 Essential Planning Documents for Video Production appeared first on SproutVideo.

The past half decade has seen a drastic rise in the use of video as a marketing tool (with a 41% increase since 2016). And though video budgets are also on the rise, most companies are finding more cost-effective ways to produce their content. This means even if you’re producing content for some of the biggest brands, you might occasionally have to shoot on a crunched budget. 

Maybe your project is a last-minute social media series that cropped up after your department’s monthly budget’s already been spent. Or maybe your team likes a new idea so much, they want to try to shoot immediately with whatever resources are on hand at the time. Whatever the reason, the need for more and more video content means that sometimes videos need to get done for less.  

With that in mind, it’s important to know how to make good content when budget, location, and time are limited. Under these conditions, the quality of your finished product depends on how resourceful you can be. 

Last month, SproutVideo’s Hoda Emam sat down with commercial director Jyri Pasanen to talk about making video content with these types of limitations. Based in Zurich, Jyri directs commercials for big brands like McDonalds, Swisscom, and Migros. His shoots are huge productions that include a full crew, the best gear, prime locations, and the most talented actors. 

But what’s really interesting is what Jyri does with his free time. That’s when he makes great content under tight constraints. Hoda and Jyri’s conversation is worth watching for Jyri’s entertaining stories, as well as the lessons we can learn from them. The following are three shoots Jyri described, and the lessons each of them can teach us.

1. Around the World with a Tiny Camera

The Story: Nice to Meet You

In 2013, Jyri and his wife circled the globe on a year-long, budget-conscious meander. During their trip, they recorded interview content, and the end result is the “Nice to Meet You” (NTMY) project. They asked questions like, “are you happy?” and “what would you say to aliens?” while filling  their hard drives with footage of fascinating people and their compelling stories. 

Did his audience care that it was all shot with a consumer micro four thirds camera, a mic, and a GoPro? Not at all, because they found themselves lost in the story.

The Lesson: Doable, Compelling Story Over Big Production

NTMY worked because Jyri kept the concept simple and, more importantly, doable. When you’re faced with challenging circumstances, don’t try to do too much. Revert to something simple and that you can complete despite the limitations. 

Jyri didn’t try to bring a lot of bulky, heavy gear with him to elevate the look and sound of the NTMY project. He kept it raw, kept the concept simple, and instead relied on the people in front of the camera to give the film’s interest. Social media (and TikTok specifically) has taught us that a good story will make even the lowest-budget content fascinating to watch, and NTMY is a great example of that.

Jyri also warns not to try to do too much. Even if you’re used to creating a ton of content each day when the budgets are there, don’t try to hold yourself to the same standard when they aren’t. Choose to shoot only what you know you can complete despite the constraints. 

2. Nepal Tourism Film

The Story: Some Budget Can Be Worse Than No Budget

Following the catastrophic earthquakes in Nepal in 2015, Jyri and his team were called to make a tourism film that would entice visitors to come and bolster the Nepalese tourism economy. It’s a dream job; who wouldn’t want the opportunity to tell the story of such a breathtaking place? The catch, of course, is that budgets were limited. He had to make a film that looked big budget, but actually wasn’t. So Jyri’s strategy was to keep the crew size small, quick and nimble, while bringing along a lot of heavy, bulky, high-end cinema equipment to give the film a professional look. What resulted was a grueling 18-day shoot full of risks and close calls that nearly ended the project.

The Lesson: Resist the Urge to Do Too Much

Video projects that have some budget, but not enough budget, are Jyri’s least favorite. Typically projects like these still have huge client expectations with budget limitations that make those expectations much harder to meet. Whereas tiny projects like NTMY can cut corners and stay simple, client projects like Nepal can’t. In short, the hardest projects are ones for which expectations and resources aren’t aligned. 

This is a clear case of trying to do too much with not enough resources. As Jyri points out, it’s absolutely no fun. But, more importantly, it’s risky. There were a lot of times that Jyri’s film was in danger of not coming together. The more ambitious your goals for a project without the resources to match those goals, the more risk that the project will never see the light of day. Luckily for Jyri, his Nepal film worked out (and is beautiful!) but the lesson we can learn from it might save our own projects from a more unfortunate fate. 

3. Music Video in Morocco

The Story: Shooting When Stranded

Jyri and his family just crossed into Africa when the COVID-19 lockdown first happened. In an instant, he, his wife Manu, and his two kids found themselves stranded at an RV park with a handful of other families, waiting for the green light to travel again. What else could they do with all their free time but shoot a music video? 

With a friend’s band’s song in hand and a good idea in his head, Jyri pieced together the shoot by using locations right next to their camping spot. Without actors around, he cast his kids in the lead roles. And for camera work, he asked a campground neighbor who happened to be a cinematographer. Together with a few friends as helpers, they ended up shooting a beautiful short film. 

The Lesson: It Takes a Village 

“Ask for help,” Jyri suggests. When it comes to video production, people are generally willing to lend a hand. Whether it’s proofreading your script, holding your boom mic, or hopping in front of the camera as an actor, video projects are just fun! Even if your project is an internal company communication, you’ll be surprised how many people will be willing to help in the name of teamwork. 

Conclusion

If you or your company has a good idea for a video or a series, don’t shy away from it because your resources aren’t optimal. Remember to emphasize story over production, keep your project small and doable with realistic expectations, and bring friends and coworkers in to help. Remembering these simple guidelines will help you sidestep challenges, and create great content regardless of the limitations. 

The post Making Great Video Content on Any Budget: Lessons in Three Stories appeared first on SproutVideo.

Why Use a Smartphone for Video?

There is a well-known saying in the video creation world: the best camera is the one you have on you. At any point in time, usually, that camera is the smartphone you have in your pocket. While most videographers would opt to use a high-quality camera or camcorder, there are a few reasons that a smartphone might lend itself as the better option. 

The two main reasons are convenience and cost. In terms of convenience, most people, if not all, already have their smartphones on them 24/7. A smartphone and video accessory kit—an optional but recommended upgrade—will be lighter and easier to transport when doing a video shoot. When it comes to cost, it is essentially free to use your smartphone, since buying professional gear can be quite the investment, especially if you’re just starting out. Using your smartphone is a great way to get your feet wet without investing thousands of dollars at the start of your video journey. 

Smartphone Limitations

Using your smartphone as-is will result in good video content. However, with some upgrades, you can turn good video into great video. First, it’s important to understand the limitations associated with working with just a phone. Optics, audio, form factor, and interface are the four categories we’ll cover. In each of these categories, a professional camera will outperform a phone, which is where these upgrades and accessories level the playing field. With a mix of software and phone-specific hardware, you can level up your phone to the best of its ability and improve your overall experience. We’ll outline each of these areas and solutions you can implement below. 

The Phone Camera Itself

The first limitation to address is the actual camera module on a smartphone. The highest-end smartphones come with one to three different back cameras, all with varying apertures, focal lengths, and sensor sizes. The quality of these cameras tends to vary, not to mention the front-facing cameras which are lower quality than the ones on the back. While these cameras may work for what you’re shooting, you could miss out on the ability to change up lenses, which can help with artistic choices throughout your shoot. 

To avoid this problem, many companies over the years have created smartphone-specific lenses you can use with your phone to improve its optics. These are available for purchase in varying focal lengths and styles, which can add a lot of interest to your shots creatively. 

Moment Lenses offer some of the best phone lenses on the market today. With options like the Tele 58mm, Wide 16mm, or even the various anamorphic lenses, you’ll be sure to find something that works for your project. They even make mounts for ND filters that are a great option so you don’t have to sacrifice other settings on very bright days. 

2. Improving Recorded Audio

Audio recording is one of the most important aspects of video production, and while phones can certainly get the job done, the audio quality can leave a bit to be desired. Smartphone microphones themselves are fine in certain situations like phone calls and picking up any sounds directly in front of them, but unfortunately, they’re not ideal when you’re trying to isolate specific sounds. The lack of directionality is going to cause your phone to pick up just about every sound in the general area, which is rarely what you want for your video.

An easy solution for this is to pick up an on-camera shotgun mic for your phone. These small but mighty mics make a big difference since they are specifically made to isolate sound from the direction you’re shooting and cancel out other noises. These can range drastically in price, but just about anything will take your mobile filmmaking up a notch. 

We recommend Rode’s line of mobile-focused microphones to start. They have various options that plug directly into a headphone jack (if your phone still has one), lightning port for Apple users, or USB-C for Android users. Rode also has mobile lav mic options with multiple inputs if you’re planning on filming a two-person interview or something similar.  

3. Creating a Phone Rig

People tend to overlook the size and weight of their filmmaking rig, and since smartphones are small and lightweight, you will likely want more weight and control of your gear to film for a more professional effect. There is a reason you see cages, steady cams, shoulder mounts, and fancy gimbal systems everywhere on professional video shoots. It gives you an immense amount of control you can’t get wielding a camera with your hand. The smaller the phone is, the less control you have, so it will be pretty tough to move with precise control. 

Just like with the first two points, there have been huge developments to turn phone counterparts into industry-standard tools. The two options we’d suggest would be a phone cage and accessories or a gimbal.

The SmallRig Video Rig Kit comes with a cage to secure your phone, three handles, and several 3/4ths and cold shoe mounts that you can attach lights, a tripod, or even microphones to. These handles—one on top and two on the sides—will allow you to handle your phone like you would a professional camera for much more stable, intentional shots.

For ultra-smooth shots, you’ll want to use a gimbal. The DJI OM 4 is one of the best ones available at the moment. It uses a 3-axis system to create flawlessly smooth shots without any shaking, and for extra stability, you can attach this system to a tripod.  

4. Which App to Use

While the standard smartphone camera app allows you to change exposure and film resolution, there are usually very limited settings. If you’ve ever used a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or camcorder to record video, you’re probably aware of the various settings that are required to get the best footage. Frame rate, focus, exposure, white balance, and color profiles are just a few of the settings you might miss out on if you use the built-in camera app. 

That’s where the Filmic Pro app comes in. Their developers realized that all the essential settings are vital for peak performance and created this app that allows you to change those settings directly on your phone. Almost every setting you can think of—from shooting in LOG to checking focus peaking—is available when using the Filmic Pro app.

When combining these four tools, you can take full advantage of the power of your smartphone. Whether you’re just getting into video marketing or a veteran in the field, these options are going to be a valuable addition to your overall video production kit. 

Once you’ve created some quality video content with your new smartphone rig, you’ll want to pair it with the proper video marketing tools. Here at SproutVideo, we provide premium video hosting that comes with a whole host of powerful marketing tools to take your video marketing efforts to the next level. Try us free for 30-days to see for yourself.

The post Four Steps to Turn Your Smartphone Into a Camcorder appeared first on SproutVideo.

In this post, we’ll show you seven essential tools for solo film projects. They’ll not only make your life a lot easier, but they’ll also elevate the final cut.

Filming by yourself might be a creative choice or constraint. Either way, being able to control your gear from a distance, or even automatically, is of utmost importance. The recommendations below reflect that principle. 

1. Choosing a Camera with the Right Features

The camera you choose is going to be a very important factor in the ease at which you can create a project on your own. Auto-focus and the ability to flip out the screen are going to make a big difference especially when you’re filming yourself. 

Flip-Out Screen

If you’re shopping for a new camera, and you know you’ll be shooting a lot of videos solo, having a flip-out screen on your camera is going to be very beneficial. Being able to see yourself when you are framing your shot will speed up your process. You can also check your surroundings and yourself in real-time when the screen is facing you. 

Additionally, having a moveable screen helps you behind the camera as well. Tilting the screen to counteract glare, using it to shoot high or low, or any situation where you can’t get your eye to the viewfinder. 

Autofocus

Simply put, auto-focus allows the camera to pull focus automatically either through phase detection, contrast detection, or a combination of the two. While most if not all of newer cameras have autofocus systems built into them, it’s important to remember that not all are reliable and not all lenses support autofocus. Furthermore, camera systems with face detection, like Canons Cinema line, will provide even more with autofocus accuracy. Whether you’re shopping for a new camera or using what you already have, be sure to do plenty of research and tests to see what works best for you. 

However, If you’re using a lens or camera without autofocus or a flip-out screen, there are other more advanced solutions you can turn to, which we’ll cover below. 

2. External Monitor

What’s better than a flip-out screen when filming solo? A bigger separate screen you can use with your camera, also known as an external monitor. This larger screen will allow you to see your scene more clearly, identify any objects that are out of place when doing final checks, and give you a better idea of how your final footage will look.

In addition to those improvements, some external monitors have overlays for different compositions and potential crops. This comes in handy when you’re shooting for multiple platforms that need to be cropped in different ways. Lastly, external monitors typically have a much brighter screen than your camera screen, making outdoor filming a breeze. 

3. Lens Control System

If you don’t have a camera with reliable autofocus, a lens without autofocus, or want to use a very specific type of lens, like an anamorphic lens, then a wireless lens control system might be for you. Wireless or remote focus systems allow you to pull focus from a distance. It pairs a control motor with a separate focus handwheel to free you from the camera. 

These systems range in complexity and features as well. Some are simply a knob style handwheel, while more advanced systems come with accessories for attaching to gimbals, controlling zoom and focus with separate mechanisms, and lens mapping capabilities.

4. Camera Slider

No matter what type of video you’re creating, camera motion can add a whole new dimension to the story you’re telling. The question is, how can you add reliable camera movement when you’re shooting on your own? One answer is motorized camera sliders. 

A camera slider is a set of tracks with brackets that mount to a tripod, light stand, or be used completely on its own. It allows you to get tracking or dolly shots that create a sense of movement as the attached camera moves along the tracks. 

Things get really interesting when you get your hands on a motorized slider. These gadgets offer more control than the typical slider. You can program these sliders at different speeds, set automatic time-lapses, and of course, control it all remotely, which is going to be very useful when you’re filming on your own. 

In addition to a normal slider, in recent years, motorized tripod heads have been making a name for themselves in the video world. These 4-axis motorized heads allow you to pan and tilt the camera smoothly with joy-sticks or through an app. Combined with a slider, you can create some really dynamic shots. Check out this video from DSLR Video Shooter on sliders and motion systems for more details on their benefits and how to use them.

5. Basic LED Light

When it comes to lighting, there are a lot of options out there that may work well for you. While daylight may be a natural collaborator for a lot of projects, it isn’t quite as reliable as you may want. 

A remote-controlled LED light is an amazing option when working alone. Similar to many other options on this list, being able to make adjustments remotely is going to be immensely helpful and save time. 

LED lights have a range of additional benefits as well. Compared to their incandescent or fluorescent counterparts, LEDs are more energy-efficient, longer-lasting, run at a cooler temperature, generally more durable, and some can emit a full range of colors.

6. Teleprompter

Memorizing a script is a skill that some can do with ease. For the rest of us, we would recommend investing in a good teleprompter. For those who don’t know, a teleprompter is a device that many video productions use as a way to have a heads-up display of your script right in front of the camera. You’ll need to pair your prompter with a teleprompter app on your tablet or smartphone to get this to work flawlessly.

We use one here at SproutVideo, and believe us when we say it does a phenomenal job to help deliver a message concisely. We use the One Take Only Pad Prompter and the PromptSmart Mobile app. For more on delivering your message flawlessly on camera read our full post on how to deliver your message.

7. 360 Camera

360 cameras were extremely trendy for a while but eventually lost their luster. Although many forgot about them, a 360 camera could be the perfect tool for your solo kit. They are made to capture literally everything around you and then let you create a video that stays close to the action. 

They are really great for filming behind the scenes, tutorials, action, and so many other scenarios. You get to worry less about getting the shot because you know everything will be captured with a 360 camera. For a full rundown on 360 cameras, check out our How To Video episode featuring Tom Pagut, SproutVideo’s customer success lead, who has been using 360 cameras for years.

The right gear is a huge part of creating captivating stories through video. Whether you are on your own or working with a huge crew, the items listed above are sure to help you execute your creative vision. In the comments below, let us know how you’d use some of the items on this list to improve your video workflows. 

The post Top 7 Tools You Need to Elevate Your Solo Filming Projects appeared first on SproutVideo.

1. Tutorial 

Tutorial videos and how-to content are some of the best ways to get your message across to your audience. Typically these videos consist of someone walking the audience through a number of steps that help them learn something new. 

This works as a faceless video because you can make your product the star. This will require you to film your subject in a way that puts it front and center. This works really well with physical products, food, and more. Typically, you’ll also need either a voiceover or instructions on the screen to help create a cohesive message. 

Buzzfeed’s Tasty does this incredibly well with their food series. They consistently put out a well-edited video featuring just the food and the hands that are preparing them. Check out the example below. 

2. Screencast

In the same family as tutorials, you have screencast videos. These types of videos have the same general idea of teaching or walking the audience through something but this time it will be through an all-digital format. 

This works particularly well for software companies, educational institutions, or application tutorials, but really, anything that you can show on your screen could become a screencast video. Essentially, you’ll use software to record your screen as you work your way through a program. We recommend using QuickTime, Snagit, or ScreenFlow. 

The key to making a screencast enjoyable is to treat it as a full-on video. Many think you can wing it and just record your screen as you work your way through the tutorial, but that will result in a less than enjoyable final product. For an in-depth tutorial on how to create a screencast, watch our Screencast How To Video episode for all the necessary steps.

3. Interviews

You may be thinking, how can you do an interview without showing your face? Well, similar to tutorial videos where the product is the focus, you can make your interviewee the focus of this video. This will take the pressure off of you to be on camera. 

These types of interview videos work well because bringing in experts in your field will undoubtedly bring value to you and your viewers. The best part is that interviews work for any industry. There will always be thought leaders outside of your organization that you can interview. For this, you’ll need to come up with a comprehensive list of questions, lock in experts, and possibly acquire B-roll to spice things up. 

GQ does a variation of this through topical video series with different celebrities and experts sharing their perspectives. GQ producers are never seen on camera, but having various thought leaders and excellent B-roll keeps it fresh. Check out the example below from their series ‘The Breakdown.’

4. Animation

Animation is a tried and true video method that can be used for any industry. This method certainly doesn’t require you or anyone to get on camera since everything will be created with graphics, which is equally a major benefit and a potential drawback. Unless you have someone on your team that is a trained video animator, you’ll have to hire someone, work with a studio, or use an online service to create the video for you. 

To get a result as close to your vision as possible you’ll need to provide as much detail to the animation producers as possible. In an ideal world, you would provide a creative brief, script, storyboard, and more. 

Another consideration would be the amount of time it takes to produce an animated video. Animation can be really time-consuming depending on the complexity of the project, so lead time will need to be adjusted accordingly. 

All that being said, the result should be worth the work. With animation, the sky is the limit. You can create just about anything you can think of. Check out this exceptional video from Ted-ED about understanding coronaviruses. They take a complex topic, infectious diseases, combine it with a solid voice-over and animation to make an easily digestible video for their audience.  

5. Stop Motion

An alternate form of animation is stop motion. Stop motion animation is unique in the fact that it involves shooting objects one frame at a time, then combining these shots in post-production to create a video. Typically, it is done with inanimate objects in a way that brings them to life. 

Another benefit of stop motion animation versus normal animation is that just about anyone can achieve this look if they have the tools to do so. All you’ll need is an idea, proper lighting, a camera, and a lot of patience. While it may take a fair amount of time to create, the final result is fun and captivating. 

Lego is famous for using this technique to bring their products to life, as you can see in their stop motion video below. If you can find a way to create a unique message using elements related to your business, this is a surefire way to stand out.

If this sounds like something you want to try, read our six secrets for stop motion animation for more tips. 

6. Stock Footage

If you have an important message to share, but don’t have the resources to film related scenes, stock footage is the way to go. Stock footage is video clips that folks have uploaded online that can be used for free or for a fee. There are tons of websites dedicated to providing stock footage for all kinds of niches. Pexel Video, Videvo, Shutterstock, and Storyblocks are just a few of the many options available. 

It may take some time to find clips that represent what you’re trying to show. Be sure to carve out enough time for a thorough search. Since you’re using a combination of clips from the internet, you’ll also need stellar music, a clear narrative, a strong voiceover, and text or graphical elements on screen to drive your message home.

We recently used this method for our annual Earth Day video. We workshopped a concept, found clips and music that played well together, created some on-screen graphics, and voilà, a full video. 

Bonus: Hire On-Camera Talent

While this isn’t a video format, it is something that you should consider if you’re in the market for expanding your team. With today’s boom of video content, you may be surprised how many potential candidates have on-camera experience or create content outside of their professional lives. If you’re planning on expanding your team, it won’t hurt to enquire about their willingness to be on camera. If they’re a prominent candidate that can also fill this need, it’s a win-win. 

However, if you do eventually want to take on the challenge yourself and get in front of the camera, we have resources for that as well. Be sure to explore our 27 tips for feeling like a natural on-camera post along with our How To Video on filming solo. 

Nothing should stop you from creating compelling video content for your business in this day and age. With all these options and more, you can get your video marketing efforts up and running in no time. Be sure to let us know what style of videos you plan on creating in the comments below.

The post 6 Videos You Can Make Without Showing Your Face appeared first on SproutVideo.

In this How To Video episode, we’ll be breaking down different types of gear you can use to get the job done. We’ll show you the difference some easy and inexpensive changes can make, and contrast it with gear that could cost over $10,000. So, is it worth the investment? Let’s find out.

In the video below, Nick LaClair, Creative Director at Sproutvideo, will show you the main categories of gear to worry about, and how you can accomplish the best videos at various price points. 

Essential Home Studio Gear

When it comes to producing a great video, a lot goes into it, but without good sound, picture, and lighting, your production will suffer. These may seem like basic points, but without them, your viewers may not stick around to see your full video. 

In each of these three categories, depending on your budget, what you use can make a really big difference in perceived quality. The low and high end will be very noticeable, but the middle can be a bit harder to distinguish. This works in your favor if you can’t afford the top of the line equipment. 

Audio

Sound quality is going to be one of the most important aspects of your video. After all, if your video looks good, but sounds terrible, it won’t get your message across. 

Utilize Your Existing Tech

Assuming you have a computer, the lowest and most basic tier for audio would be just using the built-in microphone. If you’re recording with your built-in webcam, this is a great way to get started without any additional costs. 

Mid-Range Mic Options

The next tier would be purchasing a mic to add to your setup, which may range in price from $100 to $300 or more. A wired lavalier (lav) is usually the cheapest option. Since you have to plug it in, then clip it to your shirt, it will be visible in your shot. Since they are popularly used on live TV, that might not be a dealbreaker for you, but it may not be your desired look. 

An affordable camera-mounted shotgun mic would be the next level up. If you’re using a camera, this type of mic plugs into the audio jack, sits on top of the camera, and points at the subject. In a typical home studio, the mic would still be far from you when you’re filming, but thanks to the pickup pattern of a shotgun microphone, you will hear far less background noise than with your laptop’s built-in microphone.

In the $150-$300 range, a podcasting condenser microphone is a bit more expensive but will produce really great sound. However, similar to a lav, you’ll see the mic in the shot. Since this is a full-size microphone, it’s very noticeable, especially since it needs to be right in front of you.

For more on audio, be sure to watch our full run of audio-specific How To Video episodes.

Employ a Full Boom Setup

Last, but certainly not least, is upgrading to a boom mic setup. This would include a boom pole to hold the mic, a high-quality directional shotgun microphone, and potentially a phantom power adapter to power the microphone. This setup will allow you to capture the best audio while keeping the equipment out of your shot. However, this will be the most expensive option in the $300+ range.

Video

When it comes to video quality, you may have more options readily at your disposal in contrast to audio.

Webcam Recording

As mentioned before, using your built-in webcam on your computer is a no-cost option, assuming you have a computer or laptop at home. Yet, just like the built-in microphone, this is going to be the most basic option, and the results won’t be all that amazing. 

The built-in webcam has a really tiny sensor, so it won’t capture high-resolution footage. Also, it will shoot a really wide shot, which might not be desirable since you have to worry about what’s in the frame. If you have a perfectly appointed and organized home studio, that might not be a big concern, but for the rest of us, less is sometimes more.

To get the most out of your webcam, place your laptop on a stand or some books so that the webcam is more or less in line with your eyes. If your laptop is usually on your desk, this will result in a more flattering angle.

Use Your Smartphone

Another item you most likely already own that can be used to capture video is your smartphone. The newest smartphones capture high-quality video with the front camera, and even better video with the back cameras. Even if your phone is a couple of years old, there’s a good chance it may outperform your built-in webcam. The best part is this won’t cost you any additional outlay either. If you go this route, an inexpensive smartphone tripod, usually $20 – $50, is well worth the money.

Purchasing a dedicated premium webcam is another good option, ranging from $100-$200. You’ll be able to plug this right into your computer, which adds a convenience factor. Without having to buy anything else, you’ll also be able to easily use it for live streaming or all those endless video conferences. 

Opt for a Professional Camera

Lastly, while upgrading to a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or camcorder will set you back $1,500 or more, you can guarantee your image will be top-notch. Here at SproutVideo, we use Sony cameras, but there is an enormous number of options available. To learn more about what to look for when choosing a camera, explore our full post on choosing the right camera. 

If you want to use your external camera or camcorder for video conferencing or live streaming, you’ll have to purchase a capture device, and in the case of live streaming, encoding software. We just launched live streaming last year, and made an entire guide you can use to get on your feet. Take a look at our Six Simple Steps to Live Streaming for Business to get started.  

Lighting 

Last but not least, the all-important element of lighting. Most likely you’ll only need one light source for the videos you’re producing at home. If you can swing it, the free option is to use the ultimate light source: the sun. If you can set up your home studio such that you can face a large window with even light, you’ll be all set. The downside is that sunlight isn’t always reliable, and of course, you’re also restricted to filming during certain daylight hours. 

Upgrade to a Ring Light

One of the best alternatives to going all-natural is to invest in an entry-level ring light. We use one that is about $150 dollars, including a stand, and also features adjustable color temperatures so you can change the look if needed. 

The next step up from this would be a three-point studio lighting setup, with a key light, a fill light, and a backlight. This may be a bit overkill for your at-home studio, but if you have the room for it, you can produce that perfect glow-y lighting that the pros deliver. To learn how to pull that off, head to our video on the Best Practices for Studio Lighting. 

As you can see, some small changes can make a big difference for your footage. No matter where you’re starting from, there’s probably a change or two that will be worth your while.  

Still, the underlying lesson here is that you shouldn’t let your gear, or lack thereof, hold you back. If you have a good message and get the most out of your gear, you can produce great work with whatever you have. 

Let us know in the comments below what you’re using in your at-home studio.

The post How to Upgrade Your Home Video Studio appeared first on SproutVideo.

1. Live Streaming Takes the Main Stage

This should come as no surprise. In 2020, we saw live streaming become a go-to form of video for so many businesses. Of course, live streaming isn’t new, but in the past year, live video became a weekly, if not daily, part of our professional lives. 

While many had already tried live streaming on occasion, more and more businesses made it a central part of their marketing and communications strategy as they sought alternatives to in-person events, and ways to drum up excitement while remote.

Live streaming allows you to create unique experiences that connect you directly with your audience in real-time. Businesses have a great opportunity to double down on this trend to boost their marketing and create more content. You could produce video interviews, launch products live, hold virtual events, and more. 

Now that live streaming is the norm, we don’t see it going away. This is not a flash-in-the-pan trend: it’s the new way to do business. Even when in-person events are possible, live streaming is an additive way to increase exposure and reach.

The opportunity for live video is vast, so don’t be afraid to get creative with it. For more inspiration, check out these ‘4 innovative ways brands are using live streaming.

2. The Show Will Go On

It was hard to see how video productions would be able to continue when everything started shutting down earlier this year. However, like many others, we as an industry found a way to persevere. If this year taught us anything to take with us into 2021, it’s how to adapt when traditional methods don’t work. While larger productions will likely snap back to tried and true methods as soon as they’re able, the skills and efficiencies gained by smaller productions out of necessity are not going to evaporate overnight.    

For instance, if you went from being filmed in a studio or in your offices, to having your own setup at home, you’ll probably keep using it. After all, it’s an effective and low-budget way to produce solid content, and that won’t change moving forward. 

If nothing else, this year has shown so many businesses that they can produce a high-quality video with whatever resources they have. We hope people keep this same energy in 2021 and beyond. Explore our posts on filming solo and check out our behind the scenes content of our most recent production to learn more. 

3. Remote Video Production 

Along the same lines, remote video production isn’t going away any time soon. This takes the best of both worlds from the section above, and pushes them together into a unique but effective way to produce a video with multiple people involved. Remote video production will put your communication skills to the test, but the outcome is a type of video that checks all the boxes while keeping budgets under control. 

For instance, this past summer we produced several videos with a fully remote team, and learned a lot about what we could accomplish while in separate locations. We had to make some gear purchases and do plenty of testing, but in the end, we were able to come up with a process that works for our business. Going forward, we feel this only adds to our strengths in terms of content development because we’ll be able to be more flexible in the future.

We’re surely not the only business feeling this way. We expect more businesses to continue with decentralized video productions, and to create more content as a result.

4. Simpler Productions 

One side effect of remote productions has been a shift in standards for what is acceptable for business video in the era of social media. When major networks started airing interviews and segments with people at home filmed on Skype or Zoom, it shifted expectations away from studio-quality backdrops and lighting. 

For most businesses, what you say is going to be more important than how you say it. Seeing people record from their homes, recording on phones, and going live whenever wherever just goes to show that if the content is good, people will watch it. Not to mention how fast and adaptable this type of video production can be. 

Fundamental changes in tastes and expectations are likely to prove persistent, even when higher production values become easier to maintain. After all, why spend more money and time than you have to on a production if you can get the message across just as effectively with less?

5. Movement Toward Widespread Diversity

While the movement to increase diversity in front of and behind the camera isn’t new by any means, the events of this past year have certainly placed a new emphasis on the importance of addressing this issue. 

Historically, the film and video industry has been dominated by white men. While this is problematic for a number of reasons, not making a sincere, conscious effort to be diverse will hinder you a lot more than you may think. 

One of the many notable benefits of having an inclusive and diverse video team is having people with different perspectives, which will result in even better content. In addition, having a diverse team will help squash any unfortunate missteps you may have made otherwise. If you think it can’t happen to you, we’ve seen problematic content from big brands like Pepsi and H&M. Building a diverse video team for on-camera and behind camera work, and fostering a supportive, inclusive work environment will dramatically improve your content. 

A lot of brands took a stand to do better in this regard, and we as consumers need to hold them accountable. Nevertheless, like producing video itself, we all have to start somewhere. This summer, we put together a step by step guide to authentically inclusive video marketing. We think it’s a great place to start for companies on their journey to becoming more inclusive.

6. Creating Accessible Videos

Inclusive video production spans far beyond just including a diverse workforce. Inclusive creation looks at all aspects of the video and does its best to keep in mind people that are often overlooked or can’t watch videos in a “traditional” way. Creating accessible videos is not only the right thing to do, but also ensures that a wider audience can enjoy your content. A few simple steps can make a huge difference.

A short list of changes you can make to improve accessibility includes the following:

• Choose colors with good contrast.
• Make sure your videos come equipped with subtitles.
• Avoid flashing content.
• Make a transcript available.

To learn more, check out this article from 3Play Media for an in-depth look at how you can make your videos more accessible for all. 

7. Formatting for Everything

As many of us are doing more with less, it’s even more important to get the most out of your content. And, since the number of platforms for sharing video continues to grow, formatting your videos to match these platforms remains a challenge. The standard 16:9 works well in many places, but taking it a step further to produce for different social platforms is going to help your videos stand out.

A few things to keep in mind to make your job easier include the following:

• Plan to crop
• Maximize your depth of field
• Be conscious of video length
• Create standalone teasers

For an in-depth analysis of these four points, explore our secrets optimizing for social sharing to learn more. 

8. Budgeting for Change

Unless you could see into the future, there was no way to account for all the curveballs we were thrown this year. This means your budget was probably pretty off for what you thought was going to happen versus what you could actually get accomplished. Given the broader state of the economy, careful planning is more paramount than ever.

A lot of the predictions above will play a big role when you’re drafting your budget for video production. Moving forward, the number and complexity of shoots, any equipment you’ll need to purchase to work solo or remote, and the cost of hiring extra talent all need to be accounted for.

We use a specific blueprint to accurately forecast our budget for video production. Hopefully, with these predictions in mind, and our guide to budgeting for video, you’ll be in a much better place to plan out 2021.

2020 was a big test for video production and marketing across the board. We think the lessons learned are going to be instrumental as we move toward a post-COVID world. What trend or lessons will you be taking with you into 2021? Let us know in the comments below. 

The post 8 Predictions for Video Production in 2021 appeared first on SproutVideo.