advice on industrial videos?

[powerdog]

I have a client (whose website I created) who's interested in adding video clips and possibly making longer versions as DVDs. He deals in licensing high-tech inventions to various companies...pharmaceutical, agricultural, etc.

When I think about this, I start remembering the old science movies I watched in high school (voice-of-authority narrator, scientist in lab coat, no entertainment value whatsoever). Not the way I want to go. I'm also not crazy about loud music, fancy effects, etc.

Anyone have links, ideas, books, articles...whatever? I'm meeting with him this Friday, and I'd like to have a better sense of what a modern-day industrial video should be.

 

[PrestonH]

Re: advice on industrial videos?

Subjective question with many subjective answers. Depends on your personal style and that of the client. Some are very conservative and don't want to take chances creatively. Determine how much leeway he'll give you. Here are some ideas in spitball fashion:

1) Think "hip", sophisticated, cinematic.
2) Tell a story - dramatic/narrative (ex: BMW films)
3) Use music from a quality music library. Most buyout is crap.
4) Incorporate motion graphics/animation (trendy righty now).
5) Use humor (very risky).
6) Testimonials can be powerful from a marketing standpoint.
7) Alter your shooting/editing style.

Not aware of any books or articles out there but they may exist. You're combining art with (hopefully) sound marketing principles. Don't forget the marketing side of it.

I'm sure others can add to the list of ideas.

 

[HorseFilms]

Re: advice on industrial videos?

I've worked on quite a few training videos over the last couple of years. With most of them, there wasn't much we could do from a humor standpoint. We tried with some of them, but the client usually gets nervous with humor unless it's really sterile.

There are a couple of clips from one of them on this page:

http://gneil.com/product/4046.asp?cat_id=460&sessionid=e6kc357084-625.172

 

[powerdog]

Re: advice on industrial videos?

Thanks, both of you. Horse, ever thought of putting the clips on your site as QT files, too?

 

[HorseFilms]

Re: advice on industrial videos?

I don't own the rights to do that. It was a freelance job for one company that, in turn, sold the video to GNeil, Inc. who sells them. I would if I could. The sad reality is that I don't own the rights to even show clips of most of the stuff I've worked on. I don't even have copies of the stuff.