feedback

3 Questions from a Reader

leelefever — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:39:49 -0500

In a recent blog post, we asked for questions from readers. Thanks to Joan from High Contagious Marketing for asking these thought-provoking questions:

1. If your fairy godmother told you she would grant you three wishes for your business, what three wishes would you request.

Wish #1: An easy one. Stop ALL spam, effective immediately. This includes online spam, junk mail, front door solicitors, political calls, etc.

Wish #2: Tivo for the real world. Sometimes you just want to fast-forward the boring parts and focus on the fun. (See wish #1). Rewind would be fun too.

Wish #3: For work to be a form of exercise. We have plans each day to get exercise, but work often happens instead. If only writing scripts, editing videos and
illustrating would burn lots of calories - we'd be tri-athletes!

2. I get the sense that producing your videos takes a good chunk of time. About how long from idea to final product.

Wish #4 might be a better way to answer this question. We have little idea. Because we're with each other 24/7, our work becomes part of everything we do. Once we know a video needs to be made, we think about it and talk about in a completely ad-hoc manner. Over dinner, in the middle of the night, in the middle of other projects - it's all wrapped together.

The longest part of the project is preparation for storyboarding. It requires us to think a lot about concept in the script and then create scenes and illustrations. Once things are nailed down in the storyboard, shooting and editing go comparably fast. I have nothing to compare it to, but it's likely a longer process than most would expect.

Plus, each project is so different. Our client productions often take longer because there are more decision makers.

3. Are you trying out any tools or processes to speed things up?

We learn something new with each video. We're pretty efficient when it comes to the technology - I don't think we're going to get faster with a better editing system, for instance. We're always looking for ways to be more efficient from the creative side, which often produces diminishing returns. You wouldn't believe how much we print, copy and scan. We've learned a lot about how to take an illustration and manipulate it into multiple sizes, shapes, etc. That has helped a lot. Oh, and we love Vimeo.com for sharing videos with clients with simple password protection - a great service.

Thanks for asking Judy!

3 Questions from a Reader

leelefever — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:39:49 -0500

In a recent blog post, we asked for questions from readers. Thanks to Joan from High Contagious Marketing for asking these thought-provoking questions:

1. If your fairy godmother told you she would grant you three wishes for your business, what three wishes would you request.

Wish #1: An easy one. Stop ALL spam, effective immediately. This includes online spam, junk mail, front door solicitors, political calls, etc.

Wish #2: Tivo for the real world. Sometimes you just want to fast-forward the boring parts and focus on the fun. (See wish #1). Rewind would be fun too.

2. I get the sense that producing your videos takes a good chunk of time. About how long from idea to final product.

Plus, each project is so different. Our client productions often take longer because there are more decision makers.

3. Are you trying out any tools or processes to speed things up?

Thanks for asking Judy!

3 Questions from a Reader

leelefever — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:39:49 -0500

In a recent blog post, we asked for questions from readers. Thanks to Joan from High Contagious Marketing for asking these thought-provoking questions:

1. If your fairy godmother told you she would grant you three wishes for your business, what three wishes would you request.

Wish #1: An easy one. Stop ALL spam, effective immediately. This includes online spam, junk mail, front door solicitors, political calls, etc.

Wish #2: Tivo for the real world. Sometimes you just want to fast-forward the boring parts and focus on the fun. (See wish #1). Rewind would be fun too.

2. I get the sense that producing your videos takes a good chunk of time. About how long from idea to final product.

Plus, each project is so different. Our client productions often take longer because there are more decision makers.

3. Are you trying out any tools or processes to speed things up?

Thanks for asking Judy!

BarCamp Vancouver Session - Feedback?

leelefever — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:05:21 -0400

BarCamp Vancouver is about to lift off and I'm so excited. Vancouver is easily one of my most favorite cities in the world and happens to have a load of great people - many of which are planners of the event.

I was there was for Northern Voice and Moose Camp - the unconference in the Spring. For that event I signed up for a session early and then remember it the night before the event. Luckily Nancy White was there to co-host the talk on "New Rules for the New Communities" which made all the difference.

Since then, our videos have taken over our lives and I just signed up for a session at Bar Camp. See what you think of this title:

Making Paper Work in Video - A discussion on the role of simplicity, plain English, basic tools and technical amateurism in the creation of online videos that go places.

Does that sound interesting? What would you want to know from such a session? Any suggestions are welcome...

BarCamp Vancouver Session - Feedback?

leelefever — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:05:21 -0400

Since then, our videos have taken over our lives and I just signed up for a session at Bar Camp. See what you think of this title:

Making Paper Work in Video - A discussion on the role of simplicity, plain English, basic tools and technical amateurism in the creation of online videos that go places.

Does that sound interesting? What would you want to know from such a session? Any suggestions are welcome...

BarCamp Vancouver Session - Feedback?

leelefever — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:05:21 -0400

Since then, our videos have taken over our lives and I just signed up for a session at Bar Camp. See what you think of this title:

Making Paper Work in Video - A discussion on the role of simplicity, plain English, basic tools and technical amateurism in the creation of online videos that go places.

Does that sound interesting? What would you want to know from such a session? Any suggestions are welcome...

Booos and Yeahs - Coming Back By Popular Demand

leelefever — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 13:50:06 -0400

Boy, did we learn something about our videos. You like the booos and yeahs, eh? I think that's pretty clear.

It's funny. Did you know that the first time we did it for the RSS video it was completely spur-of-the-moment? The booo just seemed to fit in that moment of production - we had no inkling that it would be a trademark.

I'll take the blame for it not appearing in this video. I felt like it started to get a bit trite - I thought people might be getting tired of it. I was wrong.

I promise, cross my heart, that the next Common Craft Show video will have the booos and yeahs.

Thanks for letting us know what you think - for that I give you a big YEAAAHHH!

Booos and Yeahs - Coming Back By Popular Demand

leelefever — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 13:50:06 -0400

Boy, did we learn something about our videos. You like the booos and yeahs, eh? I think that's pretty clear.

I'll take the blame for it not appearing in this video. I felt like it started to get a bit trite - I thought people might be getting tired of it. I was wrong.

I promise, cross my heart, that the next Common Craft Show video will have the booos and yeahs.

Thanks for letting us know what you think - for that I give you a big YEAAAHHH!

Booos and Yeahs - Coming Back By Popular Demand

leelefever — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 13:50:06 -0400

Boy, did we learn something about our videos. You like the booos and yeahs, eh? I think that's pretty clear.

I'll take the blame for it not appearing in this video. I felt like it started to get a bit trite - I thought people might be getting tired of it. I was wrong.

I promise, cross my heart, that the next Common Craft Show video will have the booos and yeahs.

Thanks for letting us know what you think - for that I give you a big YEAAAHHH!

Booos and Yeahs - Coming Back By Popular Demand

leelefever — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 13:50:06 -0400

Boy, did we learn something about our videos. You like the booos and yeahs, eh? I think that's pretty clear.

I'll take the blame for it not appearing in this video. I felt like it started to get a bit trite - I thought people might be getting tired of it. I was wrong.

I promise, cross my heart, that the next Common Craft Show video will have the booos and yeahs.

Thanks for letting us know what you think - for that I give you a big YEAAAHHH!