• Finding Inspiration: Filming with the Freefly M?VI

    In the video world, new gear comes out seemingly every day.  It’s equally exciting and frustrating to see the rate at which technology is improving and prices are dropping (“there’s now a 4K version of that camera we just bought last year? Awesome!  But also, Grrr…”).

    As someone who very closely follows the announcement of every shiny new tool released for videographers, I’d have to say that, to me, around 95% of new products more closely resemble the planned obsolescence of the iPhone than truly radical innovation.  Which is perfectly fine, by the way – those who love the newest, best, and brightest are constantly satisfied, while those content with their existing equipment still get years of quality performance from their investment.

    But every once in a while, I get my hands on something that is such a revelation that I find myself re-invigorated, inspired, and reminded of why I love doing what I do.  And find myself saying, “I NEED THIS NOW!”  Mainly because it will benefit our clients as much as ourselves.

    That happened to me a few years back when I bought my beloved 5D mark II, and was suddenly able to capture images previously unattainable without investing tens – if not hundreds – of thousands of dollars in high-end film equipment.

    It happened again a week ago, when the video team here at Matter got our hands on the Freefly M?VI camera stabilization systems.  We were fortunate enough to get a private, intensive masterclass at our local rental shop, Rule Boston Camera, on how to properly use this tool in many scenarios (while overall a magical system out of the box, you DO need to know how to use it properly).

    https://instagram.com/p/zqLAOelAC5/

    For the layman, The M?VI is a handheld camera stabilizer that came out a couple of years ago (admittedly, we’re a little late to the game on this particular piece of gear, but hey, we’re busy folks).  It allows you to mount your camera, grab the handles, and run around shooting handheld to your heart’s content while the footage remains smooth as silk.  Essentially the same as a Steadicam shot, which you’ve seen in countless movies (think “The Shining,” the Copa scene in “Goodfellas,” all of “Birdman,” and pretty much every other movie you’ve ever seen).  There’s a slightly different quality to the M?VI – a little dreamier – but essentially the same idea.

    Now, why is this worth writing about, or reading about if you’re not a videographer?  Because this is one of the few tools we’ve encountered that can be applied to pretty much every video project we do for our clients.  Live Action Explainers? Check.  Commercials? Check.  Office of factory tours? Check.  Event Coverage? Check.  Plain-old solid B-roll? Check check.

    It allows us to bring both energy and polish to footage – something every brand video needs these days in the crowded world of visual content.  And it does so easily and for a relatively modest price.

    The first thing Tim, Colter and I said to each other the day after our training session was “Man, I wish we could spend all day today shooting on the M?VI again!”

    Consider us inspired and invigorated.  Stay tuned for our future work, which will undoubtedly feature shots using this awesome system.

    For now, check out a quick sampling of what we shot at our session.  Admittedly, it’s pretty much us running around the Rule office like idiots, but hey, It’s cold and snowy here in Boston (in case you haven’t heard).

    https://vimeo.com/121668657

    What about you?  Have you encountered a tool recently that has inspired your work?  Let us know!

    A very special thanks again to Dylan Law and Rule Boston Camera!

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    Matter

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  • 4 Tips to Stay Creative when the Inspiration Just Isn’t There

    When it comes to creating visual content for a client, the intention is to always make something that sets itself apart so it gets the high levels of engagement that we all covet. Unfortunately, us right brained folk go through times when we don’t feel like we’re living up to our artistic potential. I recently attended an event hosted by Boston Content, to chat with others about this exact feeling. Here are a few takeaways that may help out when you get the imaginative writer’s block.

     

    1. Create (and continuously check) Your Holy Grail of Creativity

    For me, these places include the Vimeo Staff Picks, motionographer.com, YouTube channels of motion graphics experts, and definitely Instagram. They allow me to quickly check out what people in my field are creating, as well as what’s trendy at the moment. It helps that these spots are curated so I don’t have to spend much time finding something that may inspire me. I’m willing to bet that your cloud security clients aren’t checking in on these, so looking at a tutorial for a crafty animation technique and then tweaking it to your client’s branding can help wow them without making you feel like your brain is melting.

     

    1. Maintain Your Confidence, Even Through the Dullest of Days

    The reason your company hired you is because of your skillset, attitude, and potential. This is something to keep in mind, especially when you receive a laundry list of constructive criticism on a project that you thought was some of your better work. Some people will keep a folder in their email of all the positive feedback from clients, and go through it when it seems like a current project is running around in circles with no end in sight. It helps clear the mind, and keep you aware of why you chose this career path in the first place. For me, the “clearing of the mind” usually involves a mid day pit stop at the variety store near to our office for gummy bears or a cup of soup.

     

    1. Find Out What’s Inspiring Your Coworkers and Peers

    Sure, some of these people you wouldn’t find yourself hanging out with on the weekend, but it helps to see what is catching your colleagues’ eye. Here at matter, we have created a “cool creative” email alias that anyone in the company can sign up for. Instead of sending along marketing trends, or the latest study on consumerism amongst millennials, your might see an explainer video for a carrot, or perhaps an infographic of celebrities first pitches at MLB games. The content of what’s sent in these emails just has to be something cool and creative (hence the alias name) and doesn’t have to have anything to do with work.

     

    1. Drink Coffee

    Lots of it. Hot, iced, it doesn’t matter. Try to save those double shots of espresso for the days when you really need a boost, instead of making it part your everyday java routine. I think we can all agree that by some principle of divine intervention, coffee makes you more creative.

     

    Editors’ Note: “The Business of Content Creation” was hosted by Boston Content and broken into sessions. Check out some other takeaways in these Matter blog posts:

     

    The “Science” of Content ROI

    Follow me on Twitter at @MatterStudioC and @MatterComm on Instagram.

    Matter

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