Here is a list of my favorite motion graphics designers. Starting with the guys who did Colo-Cola's Happiness Factory.
Psyops never ceases to amaze me whenever they do a spot commercial. As motion graphics designers, they make the message simple combined with a very detailed computer graphics, creates a very stunning commercial. The Coca-cola spot was much talked about in the motion graphics community that they produced a "behind the scenes" which was funny thinking that these were actually 3D characters.
Second on my list of motion graphics designers is Jakob Trollback of Trollback & Co. His idea in this video is to take out the artist in displaying their personality in the video and let the music take over the graphics. Known most of the time for the deep concepts in his video, Jakob is now guesting in TED to share the world his ideas.
Jakob is a self-taught artist who started out as a club DJ that's why his love for music is always showing in his works. Here is another from MK12.
MK12 is known for compositing and mixing film and motion graphics. This video is an introduction sequence for the movie Stranger Than Fiction. Simple as it is, the idea was to show the character's boring life as an IRS agent. The sequence has successfully shown the idea artistically and subtley. It was so effective, the style has been replicated in some local commercial, mostly used the wrong way though.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Music Video Production
Music Video Production is easiest to understand in its basic sense. Widely used by bands and music artists to promote their songs, it's basically a combination of visuals and a single song played to its full length. Its first concept can take us as far as 1910, back then was known as musical short films, featuring bands, vocalists, and dancers. Later on followed by animated shorts, music videos where beginning to emerge as a new type of entertainment.
But what do you need in order to produce a music video? For me it'll be a camera, some editing skills, and a concept. Though most music video production concentrate on just displaying the artists nowadays, I still firmly believe that the video still has to communicate. A media that fails to communicate will hardly be recognized at all and will simply be a waste of time. Watch one of my music videos done for a client who has a fairly simple message. Lets see if I was successful in delivering the message or not.
Did you get the message? My client, then turning 18, was telling the audience how it is hard for her to express herself to other people when norms of the society or their family traditions tend to suppress her. She basically wants to be the little girl who enjoys life the way she wanted, not what others wanted for her.
With that music video production, I only had a concept, actors, and a video cam to work with. Of course, the quality has to suffer a bit, but with the purpose of the video, I think quality is not of priority but the message. She thanked me for it and we all had so much fun producing it.
But what do you need in order to produce a music video? For me it'll be a camera, some editing skills, and a concept. Though most music video production concentrate on just displaying the artists nowadays, I still firmly believe that the video still has to communicate. A media that fails to communicate will hardly be recognized at all and will simply be a waste of time. Watch one of my music videos done for a client who has a fairly simple message. Lets see if I was successful in delivering the message or not.
Did you get the message? My client, then turning 18, was telling the audience how it is hard for her to express herself to other people when norms of the society or their family traditions tend to suppress her. She basically wants to be the little girl who enjoys life the way she wanted, not what others wanted for her.
With that music video production, I only had a concept, actors, and a video cam to work with. Of course, the quality has to suffer a bit, but with the purpose of the video, I think quality is not of priority but the message. She thanked me for it and we all had so much fun producing it.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Promotional Video Production
Promotional Video Production is one way of introducing a product to the market. This helps the audience with their buying decision. But of course, there is more room to influence the audience.
A well produced promotional video production starts of with a good storyboard. Without a well planned storyboard, production will go out of bound most of the time in terms of budgets, schedules, and concept. There is nothing worst than ending up with a video that didn't come out how you actually expected it.
Casting calls are important as the concept will be well supported by competent actors and actresses. It is also important in promotional video production to find a convincing actor to play the role. This requires a keen sense to the details as to how the actor will look on screen. Some actors look older than their age, some look more intelligent than they are, some are more suitable for kiddie roles even if they are old. Things like these should be put into consideration when choosing your cast.
Location is one of the most over looked by amateurs. Concentrating more on the concept and actors, they often take the background for granted which is a very subtle error that audience don't really take notice but is perceived as "amateurish." It is important to take note in a promotional video production that location supports the scene in a lot of ways.
Directing is one of the hardest part in a promotional video production. Here is where all the concept, casting, and storyboard will merge into one scene that the director must control. How the overall theme is being perceived is the responsibility of the director and therefore a critical part of the whole production.
I recently joined a contest from Universal Robina Corporation with their Cream-O product. This entry placed 2nd and won my daughter a digital camera. I learned from this promotional video production that there are certain things in life that you cannot control, one of them would be your 4-year old daughter, your big dog, and the weather. Enjoy watching the clip.
A well produced promotional video production starts of with a good storyboard. Without a well planned storyboard, production will go out of bound most of the time in terms of budgets, schedules, and concept. There is nothing worst than ending up with a video that didn't come out how you actually expected it.
Casting calls are important as the concept will be well supported by competent actors and actresses. It is also important in promotional video production to find a convincing actor to play the role. This requires a keen sense to the details as to how the actor will look on screen. Some actors look older than their age, some look more intelligent than they are, some are more suitable for kiddie roles even if they are old. Things like these should be put into consideration when choosing your cast.
Location is one of the most over looked by amateurs. Concentrating more on the concept and actors, they often take the background for granted which is a very subtle error that audience don't really take notice but is perceived as "amateurish." It is important to take note in a promotional video production that location supports the scene in a lot of ways.
Directing is one of the hardest part in a promotional video production. Here is where all the concept, casting, and storyboard will merge into one scene that the director must control. How the overall theme is being perceived is the responsibility of the director and therefore a critical part of the whole production.
I recently joined a contest from Universal Robina Corporation with their Cream-O product. This entry placed 2nd and won my daughter a digital camera. I learned from this promotional video production that there are certain things in life that you cannot control, one of them would be your 4-year old daughter, your big dog, and the weather. Enjoy watching the clip.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Multimedia Presentations
Multimedia Presentations are more effective than ordinary presentations. A lecture, for example, is quite boring for somebody who uses his creative side of the brain. Facts and words are not that appealing to them, thus, the presentation will fail its purpose. Moreover, kids would also find it difficult to understand lectures because they are naturally susceptible to visual inputs. This is where multimedia presentation comes in.
Option to display words, pictures, and use sounds gives multimedia presentations an edge when it comes to putting your message across because it is better understood. Unlike lectures, words are subject to ambiguity and misinterpretation depending on the context it is used, if it is understood at all. Using pictures and sounds gives supports the message of the whole subject eliminating the risk of misinterpretation.
The multimedia presentation above is a perfect example of how words, pictures, and sounds combine together to form a very different learning experience. You will also notice redundancy which may or may not help depending on how you use it. But generally, redundancy keeps the message reinforced. Also you will notice that it was presented in a very personalized manner. The artist's visual style and color used give the presentation a personality, which is equivalent to the presenter's way of delivering the message. However, you presenters are not consistent with how they deliver. There are factors like self-esteem, motivation, and confidence that affects how the message is delivered. Unlike multimedia presentation, it is consistent in every way.
Although there are still disadvantages using multimedia presentations, the benefits still outweighs it. Given its consistency and ability to deliver message quite well, consider this as your first choice when presenting.
Option to display words, pictures, and use sounds gives multimedia presentations an edge when it comes to putting your message across because it is better understood. Unlike lectures, words are subject to ambiguity and misinterpretation depending on the context it is used, if it is understood at all. Using pictures and sounds gives supports the message of the whole subject eliminating the risk of misinterpretation.
The multimedia presentation above is a perfect example of how words, pictures, and sounds combine together to form a very different learning experience. You will also notice redundancy which may or may not help depending on how you use it. But generally, redundancy keeps the message reinforced. Also you will notice that it was presented in a very personalized manner. The artist's visual style and color used give the presentation a personality, which is equivalent to the presenter's way of delivering the message. However, you presenters are not consistent with how they deliver. There are factors like self-esteem, motivation, and confidence that affects how the message is delivered. Unlike multimedia presentation, it is consistent in every way.
Although there are still disadvantages using multimedia presentations, the benefits still outweighs it. Given its consistency and ability to deliver message quite well, consider this as your first choice when presenting.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Infomercial
Infomercial came from "information" and "commercial". It has been typically used in television to advertise a product. It lasts from as short as one minute to as long as a whole program with the intention of persuading the viewer into something. Lately, the idea has been used to replace "sign-off" in off peak hours of television (2am-6am) keep viewers who can't sleep at night. Here is an example of infomercial.
Infomercial is a form of advertisement. Some advertisers might downplay it a bit by introducing the product through a talk show style, an interview, revolving around a story, but it is still advertising, nonetheless.
One of the most salient points in an infomercial is its purpose to persuade into an action. It might be to buy the product or believe into a concept, but regardless of its purpose, it is the response of the audience that measures its effectiveness. Thus it is also considered as a form of "direct response marketing".
Because of its nature, it employs tools such as catchy phrases, repetition of words and ideas, incorporating celebrities, scientist and public well-known figures to gather positive response from the audience.
Infomercial is a form of advertisement. Some advertisers might downplay it a bit by introducing the product through a talk show style, an interview, revolving around a story, but it is still advertising, nonetheless.
One of the most salient points in an infomercial is its purpose to persuade into an action. It might be to buy the product or believe into a concept, but regardless of its purpose, it is the response of the audience that measures its effectiveness. Thus it is also considered as a form of "direct response marketing".
Because of its nature, it employs tools such as catchy phrases, repetition of words and ideas, incorporating celebrities, scientist and public well-known figures to gather positive response from the audience.
Video Marketing
Since the explosion of online videos, video marketing has been used as a tool in sales. YouTube has been very good at this. With millions of viewers and subscribers, it is now the best way to market your product through videos. Just upload your video and in minutes, you are live and available for the world to see!
However, uploaded videos sometimes don't get the effects they need. Thus video marketing fails. The best way, I think, to influence your audience is to attack them indirectly with your product. watch how the following video.
See how effective that was? In less than a minute, he puts his message across and you will want to buy the product.
Other times, the more subtle it is, the more effective. Watch this following video and get hooked with the beat.
It was a video marketing tool by www.parrygripp.com who created the music. Now it is not directly implied in the video, unlike most video marketing strategies, that you should go and check out their website. However, the subtlety of the style, in one way or another, will tempt you to go to their website and check out other stuffs that they have.
When you get the idea and start driving traffic, then your video marketing has been effective. But regardless of the results and with the internet revolution still going stronger, video marketing will be the tool of tomorrow.
However, uploaded videos sometimes don't get the effects they need. Thus video marketing fails. The best way, I think, to influence your audience is to attack them indirectly with your product. watch how the following video.
See how effective that was? In less than a minute, he puts his message across and you will want to buy the product.
Other times, the more subtle it is, the more effective. Watch this following video and get hooked with the beat.
It was a video marketing tool by www.parrygripp.com who created the music. Now it is not directly implied in the video, unlike most video marketing strategies, that you should go and check out their website. However, the subtlety of the style, in one way or another, will tempt you to go to their website and check out other stuffs that they have.
When you get the idea and start driving traffic, then your video marketing has been effective. But regardless of the results and with the internet revolution still going stronger, video marketing will be the tool of tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Motion Graphics
I've been asked so many times about the term 'motion graphics'. And as an artist, it's hard to establish a business when your client doesn't know about what you sell in the first place. I was losing business with the term so much that I actually changed my services from 'motion graphics' to 'avp production' which is more understandable but not exactly the term I wanted to use.
So what is motion graphics exactly. How different is it from other videos? Simply put, it is 'Graphics in motion'. A sub-branch of the graphics industry concentrating on moving graphics. Now, it's not just available on screen, is can also exist as one of the manually powered technology such as thaumatrope, phenakistoscope, stroboscope, zoetrope, praxinoscope, flip book, which I might probably discuss in length in the future. But suffice to say, it's a world where graphics move.
One of the thing I like about motion graphics is its ability blend into any field. You can have it on film, broadcast, television, avp, presentation, etc. Watch one of this funny clips I did for one of my clients. They wanted to show how hard it is for a midwife to do a home service.
Needless to say, motion graphics has been very active since the digital age where producing and publishing your work becomes easier.
So what is motion graphics exactly. How different is it from other videos? Simply put, it is 'Graphics in motion'. A sub-branch of the graphics industry concentrating on moving graphics. Now, it's not just available on screen, is can also exist as one of the manually powered technology such as thaumatrope, phenakistoscope, stroboscope, zoetrope, praxinoscope, flip book, which I might probably discuss in length in the future. But suffice to say, it's a world where graphics move.
One of the thing I like about motion graphics is its ability blend into any field. You can have it on film, broadcast, television, avp, presentation, etc. Watch one of this funny clips I did for one of my clients. They wanted to show how hard it is for a midwife to do a home service.
Needless to say, motion graphics has been very active since the digital age where producing and publishing your work becomes easier.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)