Initial Basic Planning for a Community online TV Station

Hi Guys. 
Thanks for your interest in this blog. I really appreciate you reading, and I hope that you are finding it interesting. Most of all I hope you are taking action. I'm going to try and answer Gina's question about how do you start to put together a community TV station? This is a difficult one to answer without more information but I'll give it a shot. 

Lets assume that you want to put together an online station that will be become self-funding because whatever you do there will be some costs and you may have a bagful of

volunteers but that isn't enough. 

So first of all you need to write down your objectives, assets and resources and the type of station you want. These are the 3 circles that you need to complete and have overlapping to see if the venture is credible.

 So list out your Assets and Resources. So this will include what equipment you have, what facilities and space, the people you can rely on, and any finances. Now this can be what you have or what you need. Be ambitious and write down what you need then you can look for it. Don't limit this to what you have. Include, for example, local college or university students studying acting or film making because you can gather a team here. I have worked with several successfully and am now partnering some projects with a friend whom I met through his studies and is now doing his masters in Film making and TV

What are your objectives? Do you want to provide a local information service, entertainment, news, local music? Do you want to provide training to local unemployed people, those retired, maybe disabled people. Do you want to provide a live station or pre-recorded that is available on demand? Do you want to get funding or will you look for local sponsors and advertisers? Will you want to have a large space station or just a desk and have most outside recording? Think about other questions and answer them here.

And finally, what type of station are you planning? Will it be in your home? I do a lot of filming in my bedroom, standing in front of the camera and away from the wall with a couple of daylight bulb lamps, one on an umbrella reflector and the other a light pointing on the back wall. I could put in a small desk and be a news reader. You might have a large lounge/living room that you could use. How about a double garage. You may be able to afford space. Maybe you have an office or can use an office evenings or weekends. I even had a large empty warehouse at one time. In the UK if an empty property is used by a charity or social enterprise then the owner doesn't pay business rates, or at least has an 80% reduction. So it helps you and the owner. The only problem is that you have no certainty and can have to move at any time, if the property is sold or rented out. A friend of mine who ran a charity and needed loads of space for his outdoor equipment had free space but moved about 4 times in 3 years. Keith Chegwin, a British actor and TV presenter ran an online show back in about 2003 for 2 months from his bed, two hours every day. He was a forerunner and it was successful. He had 5 cameras and ran it as webcams. I think I remember him having guests who went to his home and sat on or in his bed.

So you may have an intimate studio or something bigger. Here we are looking at what you have and also what you would like. But I seriously recommend you start with what you have and get going. Then when you get funding, sponsors or advertisers you just move up. At least you will have started and have a track record and viewers.

NEXT STEP
 Now you have this information see if it all overlaps as in the diagram below. If there is a big mix in the centre you are probably ready to go. If the central mix is small you need to see what you can do to increase it.

 Now you need to take all that information and write a business plan. You can make it elaborate if you wish but I'd keep it down to bullet points. The elaborate plan is when you want to involve funding or sponsors. The bullet point plan becomes a working model and should be looked at and updated daily. It will help and inspire you towards your goal.

Include a programme schedule section where you write out the programmes you want to include, details and length. This will help you focus.  If you can produce a very short video of yourself, or someone helping you, talking about your venture and expectations this can be put up on YouTube and Facebook etc to spread the word. It can be used to promote what you are doing. The main thing is to do it. No matter how good or bad it doesn't matter. All that matters is you take that first step. You can and will get better with experience. And your confidence will grow too. Be passionate because that is contagious.

This is just an outline but I hope you find it interesting and encouraging. I truly feel that the future for small independent local online TV channels is very bright. Take a look at the top YouTube channels and you will see that many are really individual TV channels, usually of one person. You will take this to the next level. So there are my thoughts for planning your online TV channel.

PLEASE NOTE. My new online course "How to set up and produce an online TV station" will be available soon. Click here to become an early bird   You can make a really exciting project out of online TV and I'm here to help you and answer any queries. Leave a comment below. Also please look at the right side of this blog and like my Facebook page. And SHARE

Awesome video course coming soon

Hi Guys

I've now got the new course How to make Awesome Videos laid out and several videos in place. This is really exciting and I am anxious to launch it shortly. There is much to do yet, however, no matter how fast I work.

I am launching a Beta version soon, greatly discounted, and invite you to register now. There is a 100% 30 day money-back guarantee so you can order with complete peace of mind. I want you to be completely satisfied so that you share the course and are happy enough to leave a testimonial. One of the most satisfying aspects of creating a course is getting great feedback and testimonials.

You will be notified once this version is completed which will be about 50% of the finished course. As each new session is completed you will be notified.Once you register you will have everything new that I produce with your life-time access at no additional cost. In addition you can have a say about future lessons and tell me about any improvements you'd like to see. 

This is great value for someone who just wants to build a good YouTube Channel but valuable if you want to take video making to a higher level. Not only is it absorbing but can be profitable too, in so many different ways. 

Build up a popular YouTube Channel and get advertising revenue, affiliation revenue, sponsors revenue and other benefits. Make short films and you can sell them or rent through one popular outlet. If you have a business website you can make video to promote, explain, teach, grow subscribers or make special offers. Video is now immediate and you can decide on an action, shoot a short video and have it on your website, Facebook or Twitter within an hour. A restaurant can have a special event and promote it on social media for free straightaway. A retailer can see if a product will sell by making a video and gauging customer response. Raw video put straight onto Facebook or Twitter is called Native. It is now simple to upload from your smartphone or camcorder.

YouTube is now having 300 hours of video downloaded every minute. 6 billion hours of video are watched every day. I could go on there are so many amazing statistics. And with so many videos, the most difficult thing to do is to make videos that stand out from the crowd.

Here is the opportunity to register your interest. There is no commitment, just the chance to enroll at a huge discount and be able to input anything that might benefit you and other students. Click here and go to the registration page.
 

Better Selfie Videos

Talking Heads are a great way to tell viewers about whats on, what's coming, your thoughts, describing events, greetings for your family when you are out and about, places of interests, greetings and much more.

Talking heads are easy to make, just need a smartphone, so you can take yourself. But you need to think what you are going to say first so you can give a clear straight presentation without stuttering or pausing or worse, saying um or er. None of us re perfect but we can all take some simple steps to make it as good as we can.

Watch these mistakes in action.

So here are my top tips:

•  Think about what you are going to say before you start to avoid stumbling over your words
• Try to have something interesting to say to keep the interest. 
• Look at the lens and not the screen.
• Have an interesting background, but one that isn't too distracting
• Try to link the background with what you want to say.
• Have the sun to the side if possible, certainly not shining into your face so you have to screw up your eyes
• If the sun is shining brightly get in the shade if you can
• A cloudy day is best
• Check out for wind and background noises before you start. We have become programmed to ignore background noises but th camera doesn't
• Look happy and not miserable. So smile if its appropriate
• Be consistent if you are running a series
• Talk loud and clear, don't mumble
• Remember nobody is perfect and we all learn from our experiences. The more experience we have then the better we will get.

This list is not exhausted. If you can think of other ways to improve selfie video then please make a comment. Your input is most valuable. It's by making a contribution that everybody learns and improves.

Keep your arm steady and extended. If you are too close to the camera your nose ill looker bigger and out of proportion to he rest of your face.

Use these videos on Facebook and Twitter. It's not coincidence that I just talked to a local grooming parlour owner just 30 minutes ago and asked her about her website. I wasn't looking to design one for her but just curious, she had just opened after working from home. She said she just used Facebook and I asked her if she had any video there. "No" she said. and went onto tell me that she had photographs. I told her about very short video testimonials mde on a phone and her face lit up. She thought it was a great idea. Just then a customer came along to have his dog groomed. Even before I had moved on she asked him if he was happy with the service and whether i would do a testimonial. He said he would and I left. I hadn't met this woman before and it was just my usual chat that I always told people about, but it inspired her to take action. You could do the same.

I'll even give a critique to anyone who sends me a link to any video made as a result of reading this. This offer is free and valid until the end of the year.

Now just grab your phone and try it out. Practise and you will soon be good, maybe not perfect, that will come. But if you don't stat you wont even be good.

Start a Personal Video Blog. A Vlog!!

Starting a personal video blog is easy. Pick up a camera or smartphone, film and upload. And that's it. At its simplest no editing, no title, no background music. And the results can be interesting and watchable. I've made several videos in this vein and here is my formula that works.

First I always use the selfie model, secondly I keep the video length down to less that 2 minutes, thirdly the content has to be conversational like talking to a friend, fourth I think through what I'm going to say before recording so I have a plan, and last there should be something worth listening to and about. I try to keep to one take but inevitably re-do about 4 or 5 times. I do believe that each take is better than the previous but you are never going to be perfect so just finish and download.

Now lets look at each facet. Running this in selfie model is good. People like talking heads because they hear the words, see your lips move and subconsciously decipher your body language - just like you were there in person. And when you realise that we rely about 80% of what we see only on 20% of what we hear body language is a big deal.

Try to look at the camera lens. Many people look at the screen where they see themselves but the camera is often situated at the top. You'll see a pinprick, check by covering with your finger and if the screen goes black then you've got it. Look at the camera and you'll seem more intimate to viewers. Try to get an interesting background but fill the screen top to bottom with you face and shoulders. Many hold the camera as far away as possible to make themselves smaller, and this is wrong. Viewer want to see you. We are all a bit apprehensive about how we look on screen. Don't worry, you will look fine.

 Try to look happy unless you are talking about something really serious. I look at myself and think I look miserable. I just don't know.

Because you've thought through what you will say it will be easier not to hesitate. Stumbling over words, hesitation and umms or errs are really irritating. The good news is, however, that practice makes perfect. So don't worry too much with your first efforts.

Keep it short. You can usually get your message across in less than two minutes. This is a great control and will ensure you cover just the essentials. Firstly surfers will stay for 2 or 3 seconds to see if interesting and if there is no impact they'll leave immediately. Otherwise they stay but the average is less than a minute. So you've got to make it really interesting. OK your family will not only watch everything you film, but they'll watch over again. But not the man in the street. I try and give some factual information first then a point I want to get across. Look at the video on this blog and you'll see what I mean. 

When you are talking think that you are having a conversation with one person. Maybe you are telling someone in your family or a friend. This will make the video more intimate and will hold the viewers attention. And it's easier to think you are talking direct to someone you know than an impersonal camera.

I try to do it right first time and when I re-shoot I keep thinking this is the last. Inevitably I do about 4 or 5 retakes and each one is better. Just give it a go. You'll be bettrer than you think.

Now for the final act. Upload to Facebook or Youtube. Job done. If you find this useful or want more information make a comment at the bottom of the page. Go out there and shoot a mega movie.

Interview Techniques to Make better Video

Hi Guys
 

Interview techniques are straight forward but often we forget some of the basics so here's some tips.

Decide the format of your interview.

     Is it a two-hander showing both the interviewer and interviewer?  Just the interviewee? A documentary with the interviewer telling the story and cutaways of interviewees to accentuate a point?

Once you've decided then stick to the same format. If you change mid-stream it will throw the audience.

Are you using one or two cameras? You can make an interesting interview cutting between both parties with one camera but it takes a bit or organising and planning. With two cameras you can direct one at each party, lay them down in parallel on the time-line when you are editing and then cut between. This is the simplest. Firstly when you are editing it's possible to see both faces and cut to the best shot. If there is hesitation or any reason to edit something out then you just cut to the other party and there is no jump in the continuity.

If you are using one camera and you are shooting and interviewing then it's still possible to show both parties and retain the flow of conversation. We do this by pointing the camera at the interviewee, filming them talking then, when complete, move the camera to focus on the interviewer who asks some of the questions again, the words don't have to be exact because you will be cutting in when editing. Then take some shots of the interviewer nodding in agreement, shaking their head and looking as if they are listening. And of course finish with a summary piece looking at the camera (called to camera). You can then edit this together to look like a two headed interview.

Lighting is important. You should think about natural light which is best but avoid direct sunlight particularly in someone’s face. They will have no definition and will probably screw their face up. It’s always best to find a place in the shade.

If you are filming indoors then try filming near a window with the light on the interviewers face. If necessary then you’ll have to use artificial light. Video lights on Amazon are really cheap now. An LED hand held battery operated light will be as low at £20 but we do not have time to cover lighting here. Watch out for a FilmMakerTips information sheet .

 I would highly recommend that you get anyone you are filming to sign a release form giving your permission to film them and use it at all times. If you are using it commercially and possibly paying them, then put that into the agreement. The main thing is that you have their permission. If they are contracted to a major TV network or film at a later date then they may have to sign an exclusivity document preventing them from working with anyone else. I've had this a few times now with TV stations and Shows like the X Factor. In fact I've just wanted to use a photo of a girl who worked with me 4 years ago and I'm told the BBC want me to remove it off the website. I haven't looked at the legalities because we had a contract at the time, but have just done it to save time and effort.

Always explain to the interviewee what you are going to do and what you expect from them. So, for example, tell them where to look - you or the camera. Tell them to relax and that any mistakes can be edited out or they can start an answer

again. Tell them most importantly that it’s just a conversation and to talk to you like a friend.

Start off with some local questions to put them at easy so that there is some flow going when they answer the relevant important questions because they are comfortable. So talk about the weather, sport, TV last night, families. Then just carry on into your questions. Afterwards tell them how good they were, and that you will tell them when it's edited.

Before the interview do some research if you have sufficient time to do so.  This is obviously important with pre-arranged interviews where you won't get a second chance. I remember a reporter coming from London to do two interviews for me with local people. As soon as she sat down with them it was obvious that she had done her homework. She knew all the relevant information and more. She talked about their families, their jobs and history and the heart of the interview topic with confidence. I guess that's why she was contracted for so much Sky TV work.

At the interview avoid eye contact with the camera unless intentional. It’s always best to use front and back end pieces to camera even if you don't use. You can't go back later. Use open ended questions that can’t be answered with one word. Use Why, Where, When, What, Who because they lead the interviewee onto a full answer. Encourage the interviewee by nodding, shaking your head, smiling, leaning forward. Anything to get them to open up and elaborate. You will find you are closer to each other than you expect but this improves the visual impact. You will look further apart, just like you will appear to be slightly heavier in weight than you are in life.

If things go wrong just carry on. It is best to pause for about 3 seconds which gives you time to regain your posture and get your thoughts straight, but also helps the editing.

Times are important too. The editing will always cut out content but when you are interviewing you can go on too long or forget the time. If you are on your own refer to clock or your watch. If you are being directed then watch the director and take instructions from them.

When interviewing get names right, say them back before the interview to check pronunciation. Use names through the interview but not in every sentence. Remember you are in control so direct the conversation back whenever it slips away.  

A quick word about microphones. The usual microphones for interviews are lapel mics, handheld mics or if you are in a studio with assistants then a boom mic. You may also use a fixed overhead mic. I'll be talking about mics on another blog. The cover over the mic softens wind whistle sounds. Lapel mics are really good, they pick up the voice but most other sounds are out of reach. When you use a hand-held mic then point it at whoever is speaking. Often non-professionals wave the mic around, or don’t point it in the right direction. Sometimes the interviewer will tap the mic unconsciously with their fingers.  But always remember to tell others in the room to be silent whilst recording.

Wear suitable clothes. If it’s a formal interview then wear formal clothes. Always try to dress to suit the occasion. This looks better on screen but also puts the interviewee at ease. Avoid wearing clothes with confusing patterns, In fact keep it simple. Plain clothing is best. In the event you may be recording in a green screen situation then avoid greens and blues.

Any questions? Write to me at my e-mail which is ask@mikeleahy.com

Welcome to How to Make Awesome Videos

Hi There and Welcome,

This blog is the companion to the new course that I'm putting together now.so you can expect some good tips and products here that will help you make great video. The course is due shortly and will be very comprehensive.

Some of the topics we'll cover are choosing cameras, lighting, sound and editing equipment and software on a budget. In fact I'll be showing you how to create stunning video using your smartphone. It's hard to believe you can do editing, add music and titles and download from within the phone itself.

I'll be looking at setting up a home studio and what you need for a mobile studio. How to take YouTube to the next level and use as a platform for your own online TV Channel. Filming interviews, local events and how to monetise your video. I'll set out the complete syllabus shortly.

I will set up a Facebook page and have already fixed an e-mail so click on the START photo which will take you straight there. I'm also setting up some regular freebies that my course students and followers here will benefit from. Yet another reason to sign up.

Now just a bit of background information. I don't have a degree in film-making or any other academic qualification. What I do have is practical experience in indie work and surrounding myself with professionals.

Just to let you know I made my first film in about 1951 so that may be before you were born, and maybe before your parents were born! I was about 8 years old and borrowed my father's 8mm camera. There as some film stock in it and I borrowed a couple of tartan skirts from my sister. I went off to the local park with a couple of mates and we made a film of about 3 minutes about the Scotsman Rob Roy, who fought the English. I can't actually remember much else except mny father was really mad that I'd taken his most treasured possession.

I will tell you more about my experience as we go on. It'll show you how technology has improved film-making and brought costs crashing. we'll look at the beginnings of the film studios in America and how you can use their techniques to make budget films.

So watch out for more.

Good filming