Corporate video and company film production services for businesses of all sizes
Tag: Essex
Essex gets a bad wrap in my mind. Even though I’m originally from Walthamstow in East London – today I consider myself to be a good and proper Essex’er at heart. Furthermore I even married one – and she is as far from the archetypal Essex girls we see in the media. You’ll not spot any white stilettos in our house!
Our county is located north-east of London in the south-east of England, and borders several counties. These include Suffolf, Cambridgeshire, Herfordshire – and Kent if you cross the River Thames. We only have one city in Essex – namely Chelmsford.
From our secluded studios just off Clays Lane in Loughton, we offer a boutique video production service to businesses of all sizes. We have a local tube station, the M25 motorway and Stansted Airport on our doorstep. Therefore our location is perfect for servicing all locations in the UK and overseas.
In addition, we cover corporate event videography, freelance camera operator and video editing services to client producers. We regularly work with agencies and other video production companies. With various cameras, lenses, camera support systems, lighting and sound recording kit we can cater for most video assignments.
Find your way from within Essex
Please contact us for further advice on our video production and conversions services. kevin@video-artisan.com or call 020 83602 3356
Its not just marketing films now from Video ArtisanSliceStoppa box design
We’ve recently launched a series of short marketing films produced for SliceStoppa – but this project extended way beyond our usual sphere of film and video production. SliceStoppa’s Managing Director, Ian Joyce and fellow product designer, Gary Cant, approached us whilst the product was still in the design stage and engaged us to create the SliceStoppa logo, packaging, business stationery, photography and, in association with my colleague, Martin Baker, the company’s eCommerce website.
Like many companies, SliceStoppa knew that marketing films would play a vitally important role in getting their amazing golf training aid to market. Not only do marketing films lend themselves perfectly to demonstrating the unique selling features of products like SliceStoppa, but they also play a vital role in search engine optimisation. Producing a series of marketing films was therefore uppermost in their minds from day one. Furthermore, apart from direct sales from their own website (www.SliceStoppa.co.uk) the company also knew that wholesalers and retailers of their product would demand marketing films to include on their own websites.
Whilst Video Artisan regularly creates graphics and animated logo sequences for marketing films, this is the first time that we have been commissioned to design an original logo and branding for a business from scratch. The benefit of this was that we could design a logo that would work equally well on paper, online and on video from the outset. The benefit for SliceStoppa was that they could work with one local agency and know that there wouldn’t be any conflicts between differing agencies or design objectives.
SliceStoppa explained
SliceStoppa is a golf training aid that helps golfers to develop the perfect golf swing and approach to the golf ball. It can also be used for a number of other training drills to help with chipping, putting and removing leg slide on the downward swing. It can be used equally well on the driving range, practice tee, golf course or at home – and is suited to both left and right-handed golfers.
SliceStoppa – stills taken from marketing films
SliceStoppa is compact, impact resistant and incredibly easy to set up and use. Within minutes of introducing SliceStoppa to your regular golf practice you’ll see a vast improvement in your golf swing and will start hitting your golf ball further and straighter. It is available now direct from the SliceStoppa website at only £29.99.
The three SliceStoppa marketing films
The three marketing films were produced primarily for delivery from SliceStoppa’s website and are hosted on their YouTube channel (and also Video Artisan’s Vimeo channel). These consist of a general introduction to SliceStoppa, a short ‘teaser’ promo and a short film that explains what a golf slice is and how SliceStoppa helps golfers remove slicing and hooking from their game.
Introducing SliceStoppa
What is a Slice?
SliceStoppa Teaser
These marketing films were shot at three locations, including Topgolf at Chigwell, Ilford Golf Club and also outside the Video Artisan studio here in Loughton, Essex. Filming took around two days to complete and around three days to edit. Apart from one Action Camera shot on the teaser film, all material was shot using a Canon 5D DSLR. This is also the first instance where we have voiced the video ourselves too – but not until after the client had auditioned a number of voiceover artists.
Further Marketing Films
Within a week of being launched the initial interest in the product has been excellent and it has already been taken up by Groupon where it is selling really well. The website has also attracted interest from other golf retailers, golf professional and other specialist retailers. Once product sales increase SliceStoppa have plans to produce further marketing films to demonstrate the additional drills which the product can be used for.
If you have new or existing products that could benefit from marketing films, or you would like to hear about our complete marketing services, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Video Artisan has been converting videotape to DVD for many years now and specialise in providing our clients with a fast, efficient and discreet service. Primarily aimed at customers who are looking for a local company to carry out their videotape to DVD conversions who prefer not to trust their precious memories to a postal service, we take great pride in helping our clients preserve and archive them on a more convenient and up-to-date format.
With day and evening time drop-off facilities in Loughton, Essex – we regularly carry out videotape to DVD conversion services to clients throughout Essex, London, Hertfordshire and beyond.
What is the benefit of videotape to DVD conversion?
The most common reason for our customers wanting to convert their videotape to DVD is that they no longer have a working machine to play them back on. However, there are a number of other benefits to having your videotape converted to DVD.
Whilst there are no advantages in terms of picture and sound quality (the quality of the original recording governs this), some modern DVD playback machines will up-scale the image when played back on a high definition screen giving the impression of a better quality image.
DVDs offer a much more sophisticated and quicker playback function – allowing you to quickly search through the content of the DVD. If you opt for our premium videotape to DVD service we can also add chapter points throughout the DVD enabling you to skip to designated parts of the recording.
DVDs also require much less storage or shelf space and, depending on the videotapes being converted, can hold the contents of a number of tapes on a single disk. (See sections below on tape capacities)
DVDs, if converted properly, can be played back on a variety of machines. These include standard DVD players, Sony PlayStation, Blu-ray players, Computers with DVD drives and portable all-in-one DVD player/screens. Whilst no format is guaranteed to last forever, DVDs are still widely manufactured and supported in new optical disk technologies.
Once converted to DVD it is very easy to make further copies – without losing any further quality in the recording. Video Artisan can provide these additional copies for a few pounds at the time of converting the videotape to DVD and recommend this for archiving purposes. Whilst the lifespan of a DVD, if stored correctly, will last for many years the memories they hold are very precious so it is always advisable to back them up.
Converting videotape to DVD involves digitising the pictures and sound and storing them in a digital format on the disk. Our standard service results in a disk which can be played back in a range of devices (see above) – but these files can also be imported into a video editing program for further copying and editing on a computer. Exploring the disk on a computer will reveal folders that contain files with a ‘.VOB’ suffice. By copying these to your computer and renaming them with a ‘.MPG’ suffice you can carry out more refinement yourself – although it might result in degradation if further compression is added. Alternatively, Video Artisan can convert the videotape into a range of edit-ready file formats for you to use directly that will help you retain as much quality as possible (available by separate quotation).
What is the most popular videotape to DVD conversion service?
Without doubt, the most regular videotape to DVD services we carry out is good old VHS to DVD. With literally millions of feet of VHS tape still in existence, holding many thousands of hours of family memories, these represent over 70% of the conversions carried out here at Video Artisan. Whilst there are a few VHS players available to buy new, the format is obsolete and the vast majority of machines are either defunct or coming to the end of their useful lives. Whilst it is a robust format, playing back your VHS tapes, or any other videotape format come to that, has the potential of damaging the tape beyond repair – especially when the machine has been poorly maintained, stored in damp or dirty conditions or simply not regularly powered up and used.
VHS to DVD – our most popular videotape to DVD service
VHS to DVD durations
VHS tapes come in a variety of lengths, ranging from a few minutes to up 4-hours. In addition, many recorders and camcorders offered the ability to record in long-play mode, which doubled the recording length available (at the cost of a lower quality recording). Converting VHS to DVD can therefore result in one tape needing to be spread over a number of DVDs. The capacity of a DVD is also governed by the amount of compression used when carrying out the conversion – but in a similar long-play mode will hold up to 4-hours on a standard single-sided DVD. The amount on compression that is used in the videotape to DVD process will depend on the quality of the original recording and we generally recommend a standard level of compression that will allow for up to 2-hours per DVD.
VHS-C to DVD
To help reduce the size of the camcorder many manufacturers adopted a smaller variant of VHS – called VHS-C (the ‘C’ standing for ‘Compact’). These cassettes are slightly bigger than a cigarette packet in size. The most common running time for these cassettes is just 30-minutes but there were also 45-minute variants and, as with VHS, the machines offered a Long-play mode which doubled the recording time.
As VHS-C tapes recorded in exactly the same format as a normal VHS tape they can be played back in a normal VHS player with the use of an adapter which the tapes slotted into. These are the second most common tapes Video Artisan receives for videotape to DVD conversion.
JVC and other manufacturers further developed the VHS format to increase the picture quality and the most common of these was S-VHS (Super VHS). Identical in appearance and offering the same recording times, these cameras and VCRs were only popular for a short period in time. The Digital S format is comparatively rare and was normally only found on professional equipment.
Video8 or 8mm to DVD
Sony also developed a compact videotape format based on 8mm tape – which are roughly the size of a pack of playing cards and could contain up to 135-minutes of video in standard mode. Further developments in 8mm tape included Hi8 and Digital 8 (90-mins recording) formats – which offered higher quality recordings.
Further miniaturisation of camcorder cassettes saw the introduction of various DV tape formats based on a tape width of 6.5mm. The most common of these is Mini DV, which uses cassettes roughly the size of a Swan Vesta box of matches – but a little shorter. The most common recording time of these cassettes is 60-minutes.
DV to DVD
Though less common, and usually only found in high-end or professional cameras and VCRs, Standard DV tapes are larger in size and almost identical to 8mm cassettes mentioned above. Further variations of 6.5mm tapes include DVCAM, DVCPRO and, in it’s high-definition variations, HDV, DVCPRO HD.
In more recent years manufacturers developed cameras which recorded to a mini-DVD disk. The disks are 8cm in diameter and offered the benefit of being playable in a normal DVD player once they were ‘Finalised’. Basically, the process of finalisation was carried out once you filled the disks up or did not want to add any more video to them. Without finalisation the disks could not be played in anything other than the camcorder itself – so it is quite common for clients to have these disks in un-finalised state and unable to play them back if they no longer have the camcorder. However, Video Artisan have specialist software applications which enable us to extract the un-finalised files and convert them to DVD. Please note, this isn’t always possible and can result in part of the recordings being unrecoverable.
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Camcorders
Camcorder HDD to DVD
Further miniaturisation was achieved by the introduction of camcorders with internal HDD recorders negating the need for tapes. The main drawback of these camcorders was that once the HHD were full you had to transfer the video off to another device or media. Whilst it is rare for Video Artisan to provide a conversion service for these cameras we can do as long as your camcorder is still working.
Solid State or Memory Card Cameras
The most common current camcorder recording system uses solid state technology which records to a memory card. These are usually SD cards but can include CF Cards (Compact Flash), MicroSD, MiniSD, SDHC, XD, MS Duo, MMCmicro and MMCPlus. These can all be easily converted to DVD for easy playback.
Other video formats
Whilst Video Artisan can provide all of the above videotape to DVD services in-house, we can also arrange conversion of pretty much any one of the more specialist or rare video tape and digital formats – including Micro MV, Betamax, Betamax ED, Video 2000, U-Matic, 1”, 2”, Digi-Beta, M2 and more. These conversions are carried out by separate quotation and usually take longer to complete.
Not just videotape to DVD
Audio Cassette to Audio CD
Whilst DVD is by far the most common format we convert to, we are also able to deliver the conversion on a number of different storage media. This includes Blu-ray, Memory Cards, USB sticks, portable HDD and data DVDs. We can also convert Cine Film to DVD too – in various gauges (8mm, Super8, 16mm and 35mm).
We can also convert audio cassettes to Audio CD. Please ask for details.
Cost of converting to DVD
The vast majority of our videotape to DVD conversions come under our standard rates as detailed here. However, we also offer discounts on orders involving 10 or more tapes (of varying formats) – and can provide various bespoke packages including editing, captioning, duplication and specialist disk packaging. Please call for more details or visit our studio in Loughton, Essex to discuss the options.
Call: 020 3602 3356
Mobile: 0777 153 5692
Video to DVD Service – Saving memories at Video Artisan
Our video to DVD service continues to broaden here at Video Artisan. Whilst the bulk of this is converting VHS videotapes to DVD, we’ve also been converting all manner of family memories. This includes those stored in photographs, slides, cine film and every other common videotape, camcorder hard drive or memory card format.
Many were predicting the demise of DVD which was tipped to be overtaken by BluRay or Cloud storage. But good old DVD has managed to keep a firm hold on its position as the playback medium of choice. Regardless of whether that’s via a DVD player, Games Console or a computer. Nearly all older videotape formats and home movies are recorded in standard definition, so there is little advantage in converting to a high definition format (such as BluRay).
VHS – the most common video to DVD service
Video to DVD service – it’s all about archiving futures
Whilst DVD is still the most appropriate and convenient format to have your family archives copied over to, we also keep our eye on where things are moving to in the future. Online or Cloud storage is expanding fast and it can be a very smart way to share your memories with family and friends through social media platforms or through privately shared online storage solutions. To meet this demand Video Artisan offer a conversion service to MP4 on a USB stick. These sticks can be played using most modern Smart TV sets – and the MP4 file can be easily shared using platforms such as YouTube (for more information on Video to MP4 see our more detailed article here).
Whilst DVD and USB sticks are a great playback format, some customers want to edit their films further once converted so we offer delivery in a wide range of editable digital formats which are ideal for either PC or Mac editing programs.
Growing demand for video to DVD
Common formats (from top to bottom) VHS-C, DV (or DVCAM), 8mm (or Video 8), Camcorder Cards (or Hard Drives) and Cine Film (Standard or Super8)
VHS tapes were first released in the late 70s and remained as the main consumer videotape format for over 20-years until DVD was introduced in the late 90s. At their peak there were more than 200 million VHS players being sold each year and many, many millions more VHS tapes were manufactured and used for off-air recording as well as for recording home movies. And despite many variations of the format being introduced (Super-VHS / SVHS-ET / VHS-C / W-VHS / Digital-S / D9), the last standalone VHS player was sold by JVC in 2008.
Whilst videotape is now considered to be obsolete, there have been many more tape formats, both analogue and digital, that have been used to record family films and home recordings. The more popular of these include Video 8, Hi8, DVC, MiniDV, MicroMV, Digital 8 and HDV. The result is billions of hours of home movies and family films that are gradually becoming harder for people to see as the players become faulty or discarded. Having a videotape to DVD conversion is therefore a really great way to bring those memories back to life.
Tips on how to store your old videotapes
Here are a few tips on how to keep your old videotapes in the best possible condition. Videotapes do deteriorate over time, so getting them converted is the best possible way to keep your memories safe and make them much easier watch and share.
Keep them in their box – as this will help prevent dust and moisture getting to the tape.
Store in dry conditions. Moisture can cause the oxide particles to separate from the tape.
Keep away from magnets. The recording process is based on the magnetisation of metal particles on the tape – so avoid storing near speakers or other appliances with strong magnets.
Avoid storage in places with varying temperatures.
Store the tapes upright to avoid the tape slipping on the reels.
Rewind tapes fully before storing.
Do not handle the tape it’s self.
Videotape to DVD Turnaround
We normally turnaround videotape to DVD conversions within a week – but often much quicker. This does depend on the volume of work as all videotape to DVD conversions have to be carried out in real time. Our studios are based in Loughton, Essex – but we service all parts of London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
Please contact us for details on pricing and discounts for bulk videotape to DVD conversions – call 020 3602 3356 or 07771 535692 or email kevin@video-artisan.com.
This is a showreel of recent works by Video Artisan. Films will be added to as and when they are signed off by clients. Please contact us for additional showreel samples which are not in the public domain. All works are copyright of Video Artisan unless otherwise stated.
Gellyball!
Gellyball is fun, action-packed party activity for kids and adults. Using mess-free water-based gellyballs as ammunition, this indoor/outdoor activity is perfect for ages 8 to adult. The low-impact, gellyballs work with interactive scoreboards via protective vest sensors to create a really competitive and fun activity. For more information, visit www.gellyball-kids.co.uk now.
Beat the Media
Beat the Media is a Media Training presentation combined with a highly focussed team-building activity – with each team acting as a TV news gathering unit. Your delegates will be the people in-front and behind the camera; tasked to produce an entertaining 2-minute News Package.
Infinity Gazebos – Introducing their Premium Range
This short SEO Video was produced to highlight the features of Infinity Gazebos’ Premium Range of products. With plenty of still images of installations, Infinity wanted a video that would demonstrate the mechanical features and moving parts of their luxury gazebo range.
M&IT Agency Challenge 2022
The M&IT Challenge events are all about audience engagement – the modern way to use fun and competition to get sales messages remembered. It’s all about high energy, inspiration and creativity. Suppliers present their messages to the entire audience of agency professionals while our hi-tec knowledge tests ensure maximum engagement between audience and presenter.
M&IT Awards 2021
The M&IT Awards is the leading awards event for suppliers and buyers in the corporate travel, events and incentive travel industries. Held at Battersea Evolution in London, hundreds of event professionals gather each year to celebrate the very best in the industry. This short documentary gives an incite into the event and is used to attract sponsors, participants and attendees.
M&IT Agency Challenge
This short documentary gives an insight into the 2021 M&IT Agency Challenge event held at Wyboston Lakes Resort. This is a unique networking event for event and corporate travel agencies which fosters greater understanding between them and their providers. Video Artisan not only shoot this documentary over the two days but also provide one of the most popular team challenges. Each team has to create a 2-minute film on a given subject – which are then judged and screened as part of the final gala night dinner.
Trinity Catholic High School – 2020 Enrollment Film
Faced with the challenges of running their normal enrolment open-day amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, this film was produced to give potential students and their parents an insight into the values, principles and benefits of attending this very well respected Church school.
Haynes Group – The core of your connected future.
This is an example of what can be achieved using just stock images only – coupled with some scripting, a professional voice (by Andy Ivy) and an appropriate music score. It was created in just three days and will be used by the Haynes Group as part of their sales presentations and also for online distribution.
Smith’s of Loughton – At your service!
Here’s a short video we’ve just completed for this local high-end kitchenware, tableware and giftware retailer. Pretty much everyone in the local area will be familiar with Smith’s – but if not, this short film will give you a good idea what they’re all about.
M&IT Agency Challenge 2019
This short event documentary explores the benefits to MICE agencies and sponsors of participating in CAT Media’s M&IT Agency Challenge.
Kainos Evolve – Paperless Healthcare – Customer Reference Film
This short customer reference film tells the story of Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals innovative drive towards delivering a paperless healthcare system to their local community.
M&IT Awards 2019
Video Artisan were, once again, commissioned to produce a short film on this amazing awards ceremony. This event celebrates the very best in the UK’s business meetings and events industry.
Siemens – The Culture Difference
This short investigative documentary was produced for Siemens Financial Services (Region North) to demonstrate the positive effects of cultural change within the business. Used as a recruitment tool, this film prepares delegates on the company’s expectations of everyone working within the business. (see full story here)
Handheld Vs Shoulder-Mount Video Cameras
This is a short documentary about the benefits of using a shoulder-mount camcorder over one of handheld design. Sponsored by JVC Professional, this film concentrates on the features and benefits of their GY-HM850 camera. (see full story here)
M&IT Agency Challenge – Landmark Hotel London
This short documentary tells the story of the M&IT Agency Challenge – an event which brings together buyers and suppliers within the corporate travel industry who participate in a range of activities and presentations to create an atmosphere of learning whilst having fun. (see full story here)
25-years of the Supadance National League
This short event documentary tells the story behind the success of this amazing ballroom dance league and it’s finals that took place this year at the Norbreck Castle, Blackpool. (See full story here)
Nipper Clipper at the Baby Show 2013
This short video diary covers the first exhibition showing of the revolutionary Stylfile baby and toddler nail clippers – The Nipper Clipper and its accompanying Timmy Tickle Baby distraction app.
Same-Sex Dance Festival Documentary
So you think you know all there is to know about same-sex ballroom and Latin dance? This short documentary will certainly give you the bigger picture and supports the view of same-sex dance being incorporated into mainstream dance.
Robertson Sumner – IT Sales Recruitment Specialists
This is a good example of how simple and effective a website promotional film can be. Running for just 1-minute 44-seconds, Robertson Sumner’s managing director, Marc Sumner, gives an introduction to their specialist IT sales recruitment business based in Gerrards Cross.
BT Workstyle Managed Service – Short Version
A short film produced for BT on the adoption of their Workstyle Managed Service by South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). Called WorkSmart internally by SEPT, BT provided a comprehensive planning, integration, support and hardware solution which enables the Trust to adopt mobile working practices.
CAT Publications – iScream Norway Challenge
This short film was produced for CAT Publications to promote their Corporate Away Day event services. Video Artisan also supported the event with filming kits for delegates to create their own film as part of the activities. A more detailed blog on this job can be found by clicking here.
Stylfile Nipper Clipper Promo
2-minute (or so) website promo film introducing the innovative Nipper Clipper nail clippers and the Timmy Tickle distraction Ap. Shot in a day – edited in another.
Eiger Safety – Musical Short
This short video was commissioned by Eiger Safety to act as a introduction to their sales PowerPoint presentations to give the audience a quick overview of the range of height safety systems and services they provide. A longer form documentary is also in production that gives a much more in-depth view of the company and their work.
Supadance – Shoes for Dance
(winner of Best Open Category at the 2012 IOV Awards) Website short which had a simple objective of showcasing Supadance as a UK/London based dance shoe manufacturer. The video is used as part of the video SEO activities and screened on their stand at various ballroom/latin dance competitions and events throughout the year.
Bees & Wasps
(2nd place in Best Documentary Category at the 2012 IOV Awards) Short website documentary about the relationship and differences between the honeybee and the wasp. Used as part of SEO activity for www.beemovies.net
Supadance Same Sex Open
(short-listed in the IOV’s Video of the Month for January 2013) Another one of five videos produced for Supadance in 2012 as part of their video SEO activities. This short film gives an insight into this pioneering event and explains why Supadance were one of the main sponsors.
Supadance National League
An insight into this major Ballroom and Latin Dance competition finals held each year in Blackpool. The purpose of the video was to give a brief explanation of the competition and how to enter. It is used by the organisers to attract dance schools to the competition and also by Supadance as part of their video SEO activities.
We provide a wide range of freelance video production services to video production companies, agencies, videographers and client producers. We have extensive experience in various video production roles. This includes videographer, freelance camera operator, freelance video editor, lighting, sound recording, script writing and directing. We are happy to work in either a hands-on or a consultative capacity.
Furthermore, we can also work on a project-price basis and are happy to work as part of a creative team. Please click the link below for details on our rates and kit.
Furthermore we are willing to consider collaborative projects and help produce video content with sell-through value and royalty-based returns. We are happy to discuss any potential projects under standard non-disclosure agreements.
Freelance Video Production Service… UK-wide, Europe-wide and World-wide Coverage
We are located right on the edge of Epping Forest, Essex and the East End of London. We are therefore only a few minutes from the M25 and the UK’s motorway network. As a result Central London is within 30-minutes via Loughton’s Central Line Underground station. This is only a couple of miles from our edit suite and office. We are also within easy reach of either Stansted, Heathrow, City of London and Luton Airports. In addition we provide freelance video production services on short and long-term overseas projects.
Other Freelance Services
Please visit our dedicated section for details on our script and copy writing services, and the consultancy services we offer either manufacturers or dealers within the video production sector… Copy Writing / Consultancy
