Category: Video Artisan

Welcome

Video Artisan pride themselves on producing cost-effective video communication tools for business clients.  They understand their clients’ needs – and how to achieve their video production goals. This is why more and more businesses are using them for their video production needs.

These articles will keep you up to date with what’s been happening at Video Artisan.  Short stories, news updates and comments are published by the company’s founder, Kevin Cook.  Kevin has been in the professional video industry since 1985 and always aims to provide his clients with exceptional levels of customer satisfaction.  The company motto is, “Under promise and over deliver”.   At Video Artisan they always go that extra mile to provide an excellent product at a competitive price.

For further details

In conclusion, the areas of expertise include corporate video, company films and all professional video services.  Please contact Kevin Cook for further advice on this website – kevin@video-artisan.com or call 020 83602 3356

 

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Event Videography at the Same Sex Open

There’s one thing for sure, when you provide event videography and other video production services no two days are ever the same!  One minute I’m hanging off the Clifton Suspension Bridge – the next I’m freelance filming at medical conventions or nosing around a visual communications company.  Variety is truly the spice of life!

Having produced three films for Supadance already (and about to film another at the beginning of December) the call from their Chairman, Barry Free, about filming the Same Sex Open at the Spanish Hall in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on 27th October was completely out of the blue.  The call was totally unexpected but very welcome – and it turned out to be an amazing event, organised and attended by some wonderful people – and some quite brilliant dancing.

Event Videography at the Same Sex Open
Top notch dancing at the Same Sex Open in Blackpool

This was the first ever same sex open ballroom and latin dance competition in the UK.  It was presented by Richardz Dance Promotions in association with Sören and Bradley Stauffer-Kruse (AKA ‘The Sugar Dandies’ – famous for their appearance on Britain’s Got Talent), and with the support of Marketing Blackpool.

As a United Kingdom Same Sex Dance Council (UKSSDC) sanctioned event, the Same Sex Open in Blackpool followed the UKSSDC Competition Rules.  Whilst some might assume that “same sex” means gay and lesbian (I too thought that before my enlightenment), it is actually open to dance couple regardless of their sexual orientation.  Whilst originating from within the gay and lesbian community, it’s aim is to provide an open dance competition of the highest standard that is totally inclusive.

Event videography in the Spanish Hall at Winter Gardens
The fabulous Spanish Hall at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool

With such a short lead time there wasn’t a great deal of discussion about brief for the film, which I guess is a compliment as Supadance obviously trust me to come up with something that’s going to promote their interests.  Basically I was left to organise the shoot with Sören and Bradley who were fantastic to work with and obviously brilliant event organisers.  And as you’ll remember from Britain’s Got Talent – they’re exceptional dancers too!

Sugar Dandies with Barry Free of Supadance
Barry Free and the Sugar Dandies

Event Videography – the 2012 Same Sex Open

This short film will give you an insight into the event and includes an interview with Supadance Chairman, Barry Free about his company’s support of this new sphere of competitive dance.  For the techies out there it was shot on a Canon 5DMkii using Canon EF 24-105mm 1:4 USM lens and edited on Edius 4.6. It was shot in a day and edited in two. Enjoy!

My thanks go to everyone involved in the event and Supadance for funding the production of the film.  I’d also like to thank Martin Baker who acted as my assistant on the day.

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Freelance writing…. me?

Ever since moving on from my role as editor of the IOV’s Focus magazine I’ve continued to make a fair proportion of my living from freelance writing services. Only this week I’ve had an article published in the new RedShark online magazine on the rising opportunities in video production.

Freelance writer for RedShark online magazine
Sweet Spot – a short article on the opportunities within video production

I’m in no way holding myself up as some kind of modern day Shakespeare – or indeed someone who knows all the finite rules of grammar, punctuation and spelling – but I do like to think I can communicate on subjects that I have some knowledge of or an opinion about.  I also think I can ingest new information and spit it back out on the page in an understandable format which the layman can understand.

I’ll not share the silly sod’s name, but my old English teacher would be dumbfounded to discover that one of his most disappointing pupils makes even part of his living through the written word.  He got so despondent with me in the end that his advice was that it wasn’t worth me taking my GSCE English exam. Oh well – you can’t be right all of the time sir!

35-years on and the freelance writing opportunities still keep coming in.  Today I’ve submitted a short piece for DVuser magazine who have asked me to be the guest editor on their next edition.  I’ve also been submitting content and photography for Focus magazine since my departure which has found favour with its new editor – albeit that this was on an old-times-sake voluntary basis.

Freelance writing for Focus magazine
Reviews and Articles for the IOV’s Focus Magazine

My penning talents are not just limited to reviews and articles though.  Where I think I shine best is on freelance writing commissions for video scripts, website copy, brochure content and other promotional literature.  It doesn’t have to be connected to video either as in recent months I’ve found myself writing on a hugely diverse range of subjects – including abseiling, ballroom dancing and beekeeping.

Go on – try me out on your next freelance writing challenge and see if I can give you some words of wisdom.

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Freelance Cameraman for hire

I’ve just finished packing the kit away after three fantastic days working for Dilip Patel of Double-Barrelled as a freelance cameraman at the European Congress on Epileptology at London’s Excel.

Dilip and Kevin on Set
Greenscreen Freelance Cameraman for Double-Barrelled at Excel

Apart from hearing many, many words I’ve never heard before (and still don’t understand), this was a really interesting and engaging few days.  The job at hand was filming presentations to camera delivered by various key people involved in the diagnosis, treatment and research of Epilepsy.  With around 4,000 delegates from all over the world this was a major event.  By the end of the three days we had over 20 presentations and promotional vox-pops about future events organised by the ILAE (International League Against Epilepsy) in the can – and of course a very happy client!

Dilip originally approached me about the job earlier on this year at which time the plan was not to necessarily use me as freelance cameraman but rather as the operator of the tele-prompt unit that was going to be used by many of the presenters.  I would of course be expected to jump on the camera if needed – but the original client brief did not include a 2-camera shoot. Whilst Dilip asked me to bring along my Canon 5D the original idea was that this was only there as a back-up for his 5D.

I have used various tele-prompt units in the past (and have my own tiny mobile phone prompter system) and each had its own peculiarity in the way it imported, edited and run scripts.  This didn’t really phase me as there would be time on site to get familiar with it, but the news that Dilip was going to be building his own system for this job did make me a little apprehensive.  I needn’t have worried though as Dilip’s engineering skills are way, way, way beyond that of your average DIYer!  I don’t think he has any plans of doing this but I think it’s only a few refinements away from being equal to any of the top-notch prompters on the market.  If you are looking to hire the services of a prompter system and operator then do give Dilip a call.

Tele-prompter from Double- Barrelled
Dilip and his brilliant prompter system

It was soon clear that most people were not going to need to use a prompter to deliver their presentations (they really were top people in their field – and very comfortable in front of camera). Others chose to run a PowerPoint presentation as a reminder which Dilip fed back through the prompter so they were still looking straight down the lens.  They were also being shot against a green-screen backdrop (also available from Dilip if you need one!) with the idea that when they referred to certain PowerPoint slides these could be keyed on the screen behind them.

Still, there were a few presenters that felt more comfortable running their entire script through the prompter but it was clear that my time would be better spent getting additional cutaway footage.  We also had a couple of guys on hand from the ILAE who were more than capable of operating the prompter.  This left me free to shoot some big “dirty” close-ups (“dirty” as they showed the lights and parts of the set in the background) that were shot on a Dutch tilt with an occasional pull-focus, light flare, zoom and pan. You know – that style that seems to annoy the old school TV boys!!!  This at least gave the editor something to use to break up the otherwise static ‘down-the-lens’ mid shot that could be anything up to 5-minutes long.

I do find this type of work tiring – but at the same time very rewarding.  I think some of the fatigue comes from spending three days stuck in an artificially lit box in the depths of a conference centre – not to mention the added tensions that comes from having to constantly think about backing up memory cards, keeping batteries charged and ensuring that we maintain a safe working environment for a constant stream of presenters.  However, the rewards come from continually having to think of how to create better and more engaging images – and from being able to work with some very talented and gifted individuals in front of and behind the camera.

I hope I’ll be working with Dilip again in the near future.

Freelance Cameraman for hire

If any other production houses are looking for a freelance cameraman then please do give me a call.  Happy to work with or without kit – and anywhere you care to send me.  For this particular job I was able to be at the London Excel conference centre in about 30-minutes using public transport from Loughton – so nice and light on the travel expenses!

 

 

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IOV Award Short-list x 2!

When I started Video Artisan back in February this year I had drawn up a list of personal as well as business aims and objectives.  One of my personal aims was to win an IOV Award. This wasn’t a short term goal by any stretch of the imagination and not something I was thinking could happen in my first year back in the craft – but I did hope to one day be back in amongst the winners.

You can imagine how pleased I was to get the news yesterday that two of my entries in the 2012 competition have been short-listed amongst the top five in the Open and Documentary Categories! Whilst this is still someway short of actually winning an IOV Award I’m still one happy bunny this morning and really looking forward to finding out their final places on 13th November.

IOV Awards Shortlisted entries
Video Artisan Short-listed in the Open and Documentary IOV Award Categories

Supadance – Shoes for Dance (Best Open Category)

This was one of my first commissions after going solo and is essentially a day in the life of the Supadance shoe factory set to music.  Whilst there is an underlying aim to further establish Supadance as world-leading, London-based manufacturer of ballroom and Latin dance shoes, it’s other objective was to create something eye catching and entertaining for them to use on their website and at exhibitions.  It’s what I like to refer to as ‘eye candy’.

Bees & Wasps (Best Documentary)

In case you have not picked up on this up so far, outside of the world of video production I’m also a keen apiarist (beekeeper).  This started about 7-years ago and I knew that one day these worlds would collide and I’d start making short films about beekeeping and the honey bee itself.  They are a fascinating creature and there’s so many aspects of keeping bees that lend themselves to making documentaries about them.  One of the first attempts (and part of the www.beemovies.net website) was to reveal the differences and relationship between the honey bee and wasps (AKA Leather Jacket).

IOV Awards Night

After having spent the last 17-years on the other side of the IOV awards as one of its main organisers I now understand the joy and anxiety the participants and recipients went through each year.  I know how tough the competition is so I really wasn’t expecting to get this far – but now I’m short-listed I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere 17th.  I want to win of course – but regardless of where I come in either category right now I think I’ve made an amazing achievement in a very short time.  Well done me!

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Shoot a Wedding Video… Me?

When I first launched Video Artisan I didn’t really expect to be asked to shoot a wedding video.  I have nothing against this avenue or work – and have total respect for those who can turn out a well crafted and original wedding video – but my eyes and creative desires are firmly fixed on my corporate and documentary work.  But as I often say to others… “never say never!”

And when the request comes from the boss (Mrs. C) it wasn’t really something I could say no to!  Having been invited to the wedding of one of her work colleagues (that of Clare & Tony) in Ibiza on 7th September we decided to make a short break of it and stay for the week in nearby Es Cana.  We hadn’t been back to Ibiza since our own honeymoon (nearly 20-years ago) so it was going to be a trip down memory lane for us too – as well as a fab place to celebrate the union of this lovely couple.

Clare and Tony Wedding Video
Fantastic couple – fantastic wedding video location

Anyhow, Mrs. C’s hints kept getting bigger and more frequent in the weeks leading up to the trip. “Are you taking your DSRL on holiday?”, “Don’t you think it might be nice to get some pictures, and maybe video of the trip?”  I knew where this was all heading and, to be honest, if it’s a “no pressure” deal and I can do what I like I actually enjoy making a wedding video for close friends and family.  I did warn them though that I’d not be shooting on a tripod and the final film would be less than 10-minutes.

The last wedding video I produced was for my nephew Paul and Louise – which included a performance of the BBC’s version of ‘Perfect Day’ – and that was great fun to do.  As this was a small wedding, in a really cool location (check it out.. Pura Vida Beachclub & Restaurant, Playa Niu Blau. Just outside Santa Eulalia) I knew this was going to be fun too.

Anyhow – here’s the short.  The final DVD we gave them had an additional chapter which just had the uncut speeches on it.  I apologise now to anyone who can actually play the guitar as they will immediately spot from my opening cameo performance that I can’t! The music track just seemed to cry out for some visuals to link it all together.

Do you want a Wedding Video?

Would I shoot another one???  Everybody has their price!  There’s a whole load of work that goes into making these things professionally (and iron out the corners in the above).  If this had been a proper commission I’d have taken out a whole load of additional kit with me, along with another camera person and probably someone to do the inevitable running around that Mrs. C was doing on the day.  I’d also have spent more than a couple of days putting it together.

So – yes I would happily take on the right commission at a fair rate of pay – and what that is would depend on what the couple wanted.  If you are interested to know what your wedding video might cost please get in touch.

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