How To Make Better Commercials & Presentations | Snowman Stories Ep 8

This article talks about a day in the life of a video production company, focusing on two main tasks: shooting a commercial for the Conifer Chamber and preparing a business presentation. It covers the practical aspects of video production, like camera setups and audio, and then shifts to the strategy behind creating compelling presentations, including pricing models and client engagement.

Making a Commercial: Behind the Scenes

Shooting a commercial involves a lot of planning and on-the-fly adjustments. For the Conifer Chamber commercial, the team focused on getting good interviews and b-roll footage.

Key Takeaways for Commercial Shoots:

• Mobile Setup: Using mobile Wi-Fi and live streaming tools helps with on-site work.

• Interview Techniques: For interviews, shooting in 4K allows for cropping without losing quality. It's also good to have the subject talk slightly off-camera to the interviewer, making it feel more like a conversation.

• Lighting: In smaller spaces, one main key light can be enough to get a good look.

• Changing Locations: Switching up interview locations makes the video more interesting and cinematic.

• Eye Level: Always try to be at eye level with the person being interviewed for a natural look.

• Framing: If the subject is on the right side of the frame, they should look to the left side of the camera, and vice versa. This creates a good visual flow.

• Audio Gear: Wireless lav mics that record directly to the camera save time in editing by avoiding manual syncing.

• Portable Gear: Tripods that click together are great for easy transport when you're moving between locations.

Crafting a Winning Business Presentation

Creating a presentation that stands out is important for getting new clients. This part of the day was all about putting together a presentation for a potential client, offering different service levels.

Key Takeaways for Presentations:

• Use Templates: Having a good template, like one made in Canva, saves a lot of time. You can just copy it and update the details for each new client.

• Customization: Always include the client's logo on the presentation. It's a simple step that makes a big difference in how professional you look.

• Brand Consistency: Use your brand's colors and fonts to keep your presentations consistent with your overall image.

• Show Your Work: Include case studies and explain your workflow (pre-production, production, post-production) to show you know what you're doing.

• Offer Options: Provide different pricing tiers, from a basic option to a more comprehensive one. This gives clients choices and increases the chance of closing a deal.

• Don't Be Afraid to Go High: Always include a high-end option, even if you don't expect it to be chosen. You never know when a client might go for it.

• Set Next Steps: Always schedule the next point of contact. Don't leave it open-ended. Follow-up is key to closing deals.

The Outcome

The day ended with a successful presentation call. The client was interested in ongoing monthly videos, focusing on capturing lifestyle and activity footage for their marketing efforts. This shows that a well-prepared presentation with clear options can lead to good opportunities.