Production Process Elements Help You Communicate Thru Video

By Alvin Motilla

Knowing the elements in the production process empowers us to communicate and connect.

These elements make us feel we’re on the right road to making videos.

Here's a simple (and humble) diagram of the Elements in the Production Process. (Sorry for my bad drawing. ;-) )

The elements I’m talking about are...

I subdivided “video content” into sub-elements...

• The type of video
• Its presentation
• The tools of production you use to make a video.
  
  

A Road Map for All Our Efforts

The journey of creating a video from start to finish, can be scary and confusing. But with a road map in our hands, we have a clear direction for all our creative and production efforts.

My quick explanation for that diagram (or road map) is this...

• You make a video for your intended viewer. And she gives you feedback about it.
  
  
• When you make a video, you focus on its content.
  
  
• The type of video, its presentation and the tools of production serve the content. Not the other way around.

Let’s zoom in on each basic element.

Production Process Element 1: You

Communication through video starts with you.

Yes, it may be prompted by the video topic. (Is it a birthday celebration, a wedding, another real-life event, or any other subject?)... But the ideas and materials you communicate will come from...

(I told you, we’ll zoom in on each element. ;-) )

The key to discovering what you will communicate in video, is to be honest about...

• Why you want to do a particular video--your personal intent
  
  
• How you feel about the subject--your fascination.

Earning money could be your intent. But try to dig deeper. For example, “Do you really care about producing an engaging video? Do you want to feel successful in doing so?”

Your fascination for the subject, will give you a deeper motive for pursuing it. For example, if it’s a wedding video, “How do you feel about the idea of marriage? Do you believe in it?”

Production Process Element 2: Intended Viewer

 
Your intended viewer receives what you communicate via video.

She’s the one you want to connect with. So, always consider her in the production process. How?

Whatever you do in your video, needs to align with your viewer’s concerns and needs.

For example, if your project is a wedding video, your intended viewer is the couple. So, be sure to include moments that matter to them--even if those moments don’t matter to you a lot.

If the couple prefers a simple, yet touching video, over a highly-stylized one... give it to them.

Production Process Element 3: Video Content

Video content is what you communicate to your intended viewer.

It represents your ideas and feelings. It reflects your attitude about the subject. It shows your treatment of materials. In other words...

Video content is the expression of your exciting worldview.

There are sub-elements that help your content, speak to your viewer...

Type of Video

Type of video is some sort of “packaging”, that applies to your viewer’s concerns. Why?

Because that is what your intended viewer is looking for. Is it a family video that she wants? An event video? A corporate video? A documentary video? A music video?

Also, the type of video may have a certain “look”, that is associated with it. A kid’s birthday party video may have more saturated colors. A corporate video, on the other hand, may have more subdued colors.

Presentation

Presentation is how your ideas flow... and how you arrange your materials in video.

The flow of ideas and the arrangement of materials, need to appeal and make sense to your viewer. Why?

Because your presentation reflects her overall viewing experience.

Production Tools

Production tools are the gear... the equipment ...the software that many are excited about! ;-) Tools enable us to produce videos.

But they need to serve the content of the video... not the other way around.

Switching the order will just throw you off, in the game of communication. In other words...

• obsessing with gear,
  
  
• overlooking the viewer, and
  
  
• ignoring the content

... will just result in a video, that looks magnificent, but fails to connect.

Production Process Element 4: Feedback

Feedback is your viewer’s reaction to your video content.

Her reaction indicates, if she felt engaged... and if you communicated well via video.

How to Benefit from the Road Map?

Whenever you have a project (big or small), make your life easier by looking at the road map.

The big picture insight it offers, keeps you on the right track. It compels you to focus on your biggest priorities, when making videos...

1. First, your intended viewer.
2. Then, the video content, that you will design and produce for her.
   
   

Avoid This Trap...

Do you wonder why many obsess with gear and software, when these tools are just sub-elements, that serve the video content?

You’re right! They lose sight of that big picture—or have no vision of it at all. They don’t know where to position and blow their efforts, to make compelling videos.

Worse, others seem to think, that having expensive gear will guarantee quality and success.

—

There’s a reason we hear this: “Expensive gear alone won’t make you a better shooter.”

Great leaps in technology opened doors for the “Everyman” to avail video and audio equipment, that were then only afforded by the big players in the industry.

Video creation gadgets and video production software are growing in numbers. But, are we also seeing compelling and meaningful videos  growing in numbers?

—

Yes, love your gear because it allows you to make videos, in the same way, that oil and canvas allow a painter to paint pictures.

But, don’t fall into the trap of being so enamored of gear, that you lose sight of the big picture—what you need to do in the production process...

Your intended viewers are far more important than your gear—however expensive it may be.

And the success of your video depends on how well you considered... and felt... the basic elements in the production process.

This "big picture" of the elements in video production process, has guided the making of this short video...

"Ayie and Rona"

(Click here to read the story of its making.)