CH Video

Why In-Housing Your Video Team Might Not Pay Off

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:47:07 GMT

Lots of brands are pulling video production in house. On paper, it sounds efficient but in practice? We’re seeing a different story.

Here’s what often gets overlooked.

You’re Hiring Individuals - Not a Creative Team

Once you factor in salaries, kit, software and overheads, most businesses end up with one or two junior to mid creatives. Talented, yes. But limited in scope.

An agency gives you directors, animators, writers, cinematographers, strategists… activated only when you need them.

Creativity Gets Stuck

In house teams work on the same brand day in, day out. Agencies work across sectors, styles and problems and that cross pollination is where the best ideas come from.

Retention Gets Hard and Expensive

Strong creatives crave variety and progression. Small teams can’t always offer it, and when one person leaves, the whole system wobbles. Replacing technical talent is costly and the “savings” of in housing disappear fast.

Who’s Challenging the Brief?

Executing a brief is one thing. Challenging it is another. You should have someone asking, “Is this the right format?” or “What if we did it differently?”. That’s where outside perspective becomes invaluable.

Video Demand Peaks - Your Costs Don’t

Some months are packed with launches and campaigns. Others are quiet. A fixed in house team is a fixed cost. At CH, we scale up and down using a core team plus trusted specialists giving our clients flexibility a small in house setup simply can’t match.

Cuts Hit Creative Teams First

When budgets tighten, in house creatives often face redundancy. It’s painful, expensive and destabilising. With an agency like us, you simply scale the relationship. No layoffs. No rebuilding from scratch later.

Keeping Up with AI Takes More Than a Subscription

R&D, testing and staying at the frontier requires volume and variety. In house teams tend to stick to the tools they know; we’re constantly experimenting, refining and sharing what actually works.

So, Is In‑Housing Wrong?

Not always. But for most organisations with variable demand, ambitious creative expectations and finite budgets, a flexible, long‑term agency partnership delivers more value, more ideas and fewer headaches.

And the best partnerships don’t feel like outsourcing. They feel like having a senior creative team that knows your brand inside‑out, challenges your thinking and gets better the longer you work together.

That’s the model we’ve built at CH Video and why some of our client relationships now stretch over two decades.

EVCOM Top 50 Update

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:15:06 GMT

We're #23 in the UK Top 50

Big news from us!

CH Video have climbed 7 places in the EVCOM (Event & Visual Communication Association) + Moving Image UK Top 50.

In just one year within our incredibly competitive industry, we’re feeling super proud to have risen from #30 to #23.

And be ranked #15 for Pure Video, offering video content as the one service that we do so well.

The UK Top 50 list is the only comprehensive rankings of leading production companies in brand video and corporate film. It assesses trends across a range of metrics and considers performance for film and video work commissioned by organisations in the private, public and not for profit sectors.

'CH Video is a Reading-based production agency delivering content across marketing, internal communications and brand storytelling. A year of steady growth, driven by long-term client relationships and referrals, has been matched by investment in AI workflows and Lens Awards success, with Gold, Silver and Bronze wins.’

2025 was a year of real, sustainable growth for us here at CH.

As always, we pride ourselves on long-term client partnerships, referrals from people who trust our work, craft-first filmmaking. We’re also recognised for diving deep into new AI-driven workflows.

The industry is changing fast and we’re evolving with it, earning ourselves award wins at the Lens Awards in Gold, Silver & Bronze for our work with PepsiCo and Essity .

A massive thank you to our clients and brilliant team at CH. You made this possible.

CH x Euronics: Going the Extra Mile

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:50:53 GMT

When Euronics came to us with a brief, it was a good one: take a true story about an extraordinary delivery and turn it into something worth watching.

The Brief

Joe, a Euronics delivery agent, had been tasked with getting a chest freezer to a customer in rural Wales. The road ran out. He carried on anyway, on foot, through fields, across rivers and over hills. The customer was delighted. The story deserved to be told.

Euronics asked us to produce a short comedic video retelling that journey. The challenge was finding the right visual language to match the scale of the tale.

The Concept

We pitched several approaches centred on a comic-book aesthetic, bold, energetic and a little tongue-in-cheek. It felt like the right fit: a story that was equal parts heroic and absurd, told in a style that leaned into both.

The concept paired real interview footage of Joe with AI-generated visuals to bring his journey to life. Where a traditional shoot would have required location days across Welsh countryside, generative AI gave us the tools to illustrate the story scene by scene.

Creative Wrangling

We filmed Joe against a studio blue backdrop, letting him tell the story in his own words. His delivery did a lot of the heavy lifting (puns intended!), dry, matter-of-fact and quietly brilliant.

The AI-generated visuals were built around detailed multi-angle reference sheets for Joe, the Euronics van and the chest freezer.

Consistency across scenes and camera angles doesn't happen by accident; it requires that groundwork before the generative tools even come into play. We used node-based workflows to link references and iterate through each shot, refining until the visuals matched the story's momentum.

Once the core imagery was in place, compositing brought everything together: comic-book panel layouts, onomatopoeic titles, time-jump cards and Indie, the Euronics penguin mascot riding along in the van.

Reformatting

The final video was reformatted across multiple aspect ratios for social distribution. Subtitles and visual elements were repositioned for each platform. What works at 16:9 needs rethinking for an Instagram Story. It's a separate craft consideration, not a copy-paste job.

A story that was already good became something people actually wanted to share. The comic-book treatment gave it personality. The AI visuals gave it scale. Joe's storytelling gave it heart.

If you've got a story worth telling, get in touch .

Utilising the Latest AI Tools to Boost Creativity

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:02:20 GMT

Generative AI can easily open doors to help create bespoke, crafted content to elevate a video beyond the usual approaches.

Recently we tested the latest AI tools to create vast scenic landscapes, humorous underwater worlds and visual effects shots for several campaigns.

The tools have advanced a long way over the last few years and the barriers to creating believable or imaginative worlds are fading away all the time. Need an underwater disco full of dancing fish? Got it. A speaking anthropomorphic clown fish? Absolutely.

The Key is Consistency

It was key to ensure a good amount of consistency across each video. We created multi-angle reference sheets of characters and key objects and use node-based tools to link these, and additional brand references, to ensure the look was maintained throughout.

The tools are now in a place where you can also direct and control the results much more closely. Camera moves, lens choices and lighting can be defined and adjusted to get closer to the image or video that you’re looking for and as the creative options expand, options for creativity within each shot expand infinitely.

Generative AI is Often Just the Starting Point

Each shot required additional refinements, editing and compositing to get to the finished result and often manual adjustments had to be made to correct logos, scenery, vehicles and facial features.

The base image or video clip that’s created using AI tools is often just the starting point in the edit.

As viewers see more AI content (and cringe-inducing AI slop), it’s important to keep raising the bar and create defined, impactful content that can resonate.

The key is also, more than ever, to ensure the narrative and the core idea are the right fit for the video’s purpose.

A video often has many aims and digging deep to find out exactly what response, reaction or ROI you’re looking for is imperative.

Looking Ahead

The quality and flexibility of the tools are at a powerful place, and it’ll be exciting to see what’s possible when the tools advance even more in the future.

If you’ve got an idea that you’d love to bring to life, get in touch.

Our 'The Extra Mile' video for Euronics, utilising Generative AI for storytelling:

We're Award Winners!

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:32:19 GMT

We're thrilled to announce that we won not one, or two, but THREE Lens Awards at Communicate Magazine's prestigious awards event.

We won awards for best One-off Video Campaign (Bronze) and Best Lifestyle and Wellbeing (Gold) for our work with Essity , a global hygiene and health leader that trusted us to transform essential H&S by producing a fresh and memorable induction video for visitors to their historic Oakenholt Mill. Delivering key messages with humour and heart, our approach stars children from real Essity employees as the mill’s pint-sized operators.

It was a silver for Best Live or Experiential Video, celebrating our cinematic event work with PepsiCo . The Away from Home team’s breakout room at an international conference contained five ultrawide 4K screens stretching nearly 30 meters. Where we delivered 20 videos and nearly 70 assets overall, blending real footage, AI generated visuals, and synchronised side-screen magic. A panoramic feel that supported our client’s event in a whole new way.

Thank you to our awesome team of in-house creatives. Photographed, a delegation from CH attended the event on behalf of the whole company.

The Cost of Indecision in Video Production

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:39:32 GMT

Indecision might not sound like a big deal. A few extra emails. One more round of feedback. But in video production, it has a habit of quietly eating into timelines, budgets and creative momentum.

Video is naturally collaborative and sometimes subjective. Multiple stakeholders, different opinions in the room and a shared desire to get everything just right. That’s all good but without clear decisions at the right moments, projects can drift off course.

Where Indecision Usually Creeps In

In our experience, indecision usually starts in pre-production, often around scripting stage. The key messages are the backbone of the entire video, shaping the visuals, guiding the shoot and influencing the pacing and structure of the final edit. If the script isn’t agreed by everybody early on, watching the first version can be a surprise for some!

It’s understandable, different people might have different objectives. And sometimes feedback can be contradictory with slows things down. But once production begins, changes to the script are no longer small tweaks. They create extra work, from re-edits to new graphics and occasionally even additional filming. That’s where the budget begins to stretch.

Why Delays Cost More Than You Think

Indecision rarely affects just one stage of a project. When approvals are slow, schedules shift. Launch dates move. Campaigns get pushed back. Internal momentum fades.

Creative energy can dip too. Video works best when there is clarity and confidence behind it. Clear decisions protect the strength of the original idea and keep everyone aligned.

How We Reduce the Risk

We love process here at CH, and mitigate risk with a schedule that’s approved upfront, so everyone understands the feedback milestones and deadlines. .

We work on scripting early on to lock down key message before visuals are layered on top, so filming, editing and motion graphics are built on solid foundations.

Once the storyboard’s approved, we include two rounds of consolidated amends within budget on the first version of the video. This means feedback is gathered internally on the client side and delivered in a clear, unified way, rather than through scattered comments. In theory, the third version is the final version.

Consolidated approvals and agreed deadlines make all the difference! They create accountability on both sides and keep the project moving smoothly without compromising quality. Nice.

Decisiveness Builds Better Videos

Indecision often comes from wanting the best possible result. Ironically, it can have the opposite effect. The strongest videos are driven by clarity. A clear objective , a clear message and a clear sign off process.

When everyone commits to a direction, production stays on time, on budget and on brief. And that is what turns a good idea into a confident, effective film.

If you have a project coming up and want a process that keeps things focused, efficient and stress free, get in touch with our team who know how to guide it from first idea to final cut.

Why Your Video Shouldn’t Try to Do Everything

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:14:11 GMT

You’ve probably seen it happen. The video is well produced and clearly had time and care put into it, but once it’s out in the world, people don’t really remember it.

They don’t feel much. It doesn’t quite stick. That’s usually a sign of overload, not bad filmmaking .

The more a video tries to say, the less people take away from it. As more messages, ideas or voices get added, clarity drops and emotional impact fades. Not because the content is wrong, but because attention is limited.

Video isn’t a storage box for information

It’s easy to treat video like a container. If there are several important things to say, the instinct is to squeeze them all into one film. But video doesn’t really work like that.

The strongest videos don’t try to show everything. They choose one main idea and give it room to breathe. Everything else can wait.

When a video tries to cover every angle, the story becomes vague and rarely connects. It might tick internal boxes but doesn’t leave much behind once watched.

Focus is what makes a video memorable

One strong message will almost always beat several weaker ones. A clear idea gives the audience something to hold onto. When everything is included, nothing really stands out.

This is often where videos lose their impact. To be emotionally memorable, a focus helps your video feel confident and intentional, rather than crowded or over-explained.

How videos end up doing too much

Most overloaded videos aren’t the result of bad thinking. They usually come from pressure. Pressure to justify the budget, to keep all stakeholders happy, or to make one video work for lots of different audiences at the same time.

As more people get involved, the video can slowly shift from communicating to diluting the original idea. The harder a video tries to please everyone, the less effective it becomes.

What video is actually great at

Video is brilliant at setting tone, building trust, and helping people feel aligned, connected. It makes messages and ideas feel intuitive rather than explained. It helps people understand how something feels before they understand every detail.

What it’s not great at is being the entire conversation. That depth can come later through explainer videos, internal films, social content , or follow-ups. Once trust is there, audiences are far more open to detail.

One question that really helps

When a film starts to feel crowded, there’s a simple question that can bring focus back. If someone remembers just one thing from this video, what should it be?

If there isn’t a clear answer, the solution is usually to simplify, not add more to the script. Break it up into separate films.

One clear message builds confidence. Depth comes later, and when a video stops trying to do everything, it has the space to do something that actually lands.

So next time you’ve got a video to deliver, get in touch with a team who can make your it memorable.

How to Choose the Right Music for Your Video

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:06:41 GMT

Imagine your all-time favourite film without a soundtrack.

Your commute without your headphones. A workout without that playlist that gets you going. Quiet isn’t it.

“When all else fails, music is all we have.” Indeed, wise words from Iggy Pop. Sometimes you need to feel something, pump yourself up or escape for a bit.

But music does really matter more than you think. Especially in video.

Alongside great visuals, it should sit right at the heart of your planning . Shaping mood and guiding pace, it can completely change how your audience feels as they watch.

Why Music Keeps Viewers Watching

Think about the last film trailer you watched. The visuals might have pulled you in, but the audio and music kept you there.

The right track gives your edit rhythm, pulls attention to the moments that matter and stops viewers drifting off to check their phone.

When music is chosen with intention, it becomes part of the storytelling rather than just background noise.

Understand Your Audience and Your Story

Choosing the right track starts with two things. Your audience and your visuals. Are you aiming for calm, cinematic or heartfelt? Do you need something bold and energetic for a product launch? Or a warm, understated soundtrack for a brand film? Every choice should support the story you’re trying to tell.

How We Find the Perfect Track

At CH, we shape this from the start. Often whilst storyboarding to get a feel for what works alongside the visuals. But before we go anywhere near the edit, we think through the tone and emotion behind the video . We look at genre, pace and how it should evolve as the story unfolds.

Sometimes that means a confident and upbeat track for big impact with big punchy text. Or something subtle and textured that sits quietly behind an in-depth interview.

Music Shapes Your Brand Identity

It plays a big role in how your brand is perceived. A slick, modern track can make a company feel fresh and forward thinking. Something acoustic and gentle can help a charity film feel more authentic .

When the visuals and music work together, your message lands with more clarity and confidence.

The Wrong Track Can Undo Great Work

If you’ve ever watched a beautifully shot video with the wrong song, you’ll know the feeling. The pacing is off, the emotion doesn’t land and the whole piece loses impact. Swap the music and suddenly the exact same visuals feel warm, inspiring or powerful.

That’s the power of the right soundtrack.

Don’t Leave Music Until Last

If you’re planning a video, don’t let music slide. Treat it as part of the creative from day one to help your story land, keep people watching and lift a good video into something genuinely memorable.

Need help finding the right soundtrack? We can help you discover the sound that fits your story. Get in touch.

We Have Something to Say About AI

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:46:59 GMT

We know what you’re thinking. AI. Just shut up already.

Fair enough. It feels like everyone has something to say about artificial intelligence right now. From “it’s going to change everything” to “it’s going to ruin everything”, we’ve all heard it.

But since it’s changing how so many people work, including us, we thought we’d share our honest take on how we’re actually using it. The good bits, the not-so-good bits, and everything in between.

When AI Gets It Right

Let’s start with the positives. We’ve asked AI to help with a few things, and sometimes it’s been genuinely impressive. It’s helped us organise big, asset-heavy projects that would normally take up hours of admin time. It can generate a first draft of a script or an outline for a proposal when we need to get ideas flowing quickly . It even helps us tidy up our workflows and plan out production schedules more efficiently.

Think of it as a very eager intern: fast, keen and occasionally brilliant. It works best when you know exactly what you want it to do and you keep an eye on it along the way.

When It Really Doesn’t

Then there are the times when AI goes a little rogue.

We told it to make the logo bigger. It replied, “Sure. Bigger than Beyoncé?”

We asked it to create a call sheet. It decided Sam should turn up at 2am.

And our personal favourite? It confidently told us, “It’s highly unlikely a client will give you a false deadline.” That one got a good laugh.

It also has a questionable love of emojis, so we’ve had to rein that in too.

The truth is, AI doesn’t always understand context, tone or humour. It’s clever, but it’s not creative in the way people are. It can’t read a room, sense an audience’s reaction or spot when something just feels right. And that’s kind of the point.

The Truth: We’re Using AI (Just Not Blindly)

So yes, we’re using AI. But we’re using it on the things it does well.

We’ll happily let it handle repetitive admin, data-heavy tasks or early ideas that need shaping. But when it comes to creative decisions, storytelling and that final human touch, that’s still all us.

AI might be the future, but we don’t think it’s replacing the craft of filmmaking any time soon. The cameras, scripts and edits still need a bit of human instinct, the kind that knows when something’s truly working and when it needs a rethink.

So while AI might help us along the way, it’s people who make the stories worth watching. And we’re keeping it that way.

Want to work with a team that knows how to balance tech and creativity? Let’s chat.

Silent Storytelling: Making Videos That Work Without Sound

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:09:38 GMT

Why Silent Storytelling Matters

Relying on audio just doesn’t cut it anymore. If your videos don’t work silently, you risk losing your audience before you’ve even started.

Scrolling through social on a train, in the office or late at night? Your sound is off.

So, how do you make sure your message still lands without volume? Silent Storytelling… shhh.

The Rise of Silent Video

Silent Video has become a huge part of everyday scrolling. LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok autoplay without sound, so your visuals need to grab attention in the first few seconds. Think of it as your chance to hook viewers instantly without waiting for a voiceover or sound design to do the heavy lifting.

The good news is that Silent Video forces us to strip things back and get creative with how we tell stories.

Silent Video in Action

So how do you make content that speaks volumes without sound? Here’s a few tried and tested approaches:

Captions and Subtitles: Not just for accessibility, they keep people engaged and make sure your message is clear.
Motion Graphics: Animated text and graphics highlight key points in a way that feels natural.
Visual Storytelling: Strong imagery, body language and clever framing often say more than words.
Snappy Social Clips: Short, looping videos with striking visuals work brilliantly in fast-moving feeds.

Tips for Keeping It Engaging

Editing choices really matter. The pace of cuts, the rhythm of your visuals and even moments of stillness can keep your audience hooked.

Colour plays a big role too. Certain shades trigger different feelings, so your colour palette can reinforce the mood of your video even without music.

And when people can’t hear, they rely entirely on what they see. That makes techniques for presenting information visually even more important.

Why It’s Worth the Effort

The best thing about Silent Storytelling is that it works everywhere. Your video is just as effective on TikTok or LinkedIn as it is on a company website. It also shows your audience you understand how they actually consume content, quickly, on the go and often without sound.

Silent Video also sticks in people’s minds. When you design for both sound-on and sound-off viewers, you make your content versatile, shareable and memorable.

It is a bit like choosing the right music . When it works, your audience feels it. But when sound is not there, your visuals need to carry that same emotional weight.

Wrapping Up

Silent Storytelling is not a trend anymore; it’s how people watch. By using captions, motion graphics and visual-first editing, you can make sure your brand message lands whether the sound is on or off.

At CH Video, we love helping brands tell stories that connect in any context. If you’re ready to make your videos work silently (and loudly), we would love to chat.

Why Video Format Matters

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:55:03 GMT

Shape, size, format, aspect ratio. Landscape, vertical, square.

Let’s break down why it’s more than just a technical detail. It’s a creative decision.

We don’t crop it, we craft it.

Most videos? Landscape/widescreen work perfectly on a big screen and feel cinematic.

But for social, and especially on a phone? They play by different rules. If your video isn’t formatted for where and how it’s being watched, it risks getting scrolled past or misunderstood.

Format Affects Feeling

A poor crop to a different aspect ratio could hide the most important parts: faces, reactions, logos, text. And suddenly, your message or feeling doesn’t land the way it did in widescreen.

Even pacing can feel off when there’s less screen space as tighter frames often need tighter edits.

Every Platform Is Different

TikTok and Reels want 9:16. Instagram feed posts are better in square. YouTube Shorts, Stories, Facebook - each one has its own preference.

The more you adapt to the format, the more your content feels native - and that means more views, better engagement, and longer watch time.

Some platforms add UI overlays (e.g., TikTok captions, Like buttons, etc.), which can block crucial content. Reformatting accounts for this, repositioning key elements away from danger zones.

It’s More Than a Crop

Good reformatting isn’t just chopping the sides off a frame. It’s a careful process of reframing, resizing, repositioning. Usually it means adjusting graphics, subtitles, or even replacing shots altogether.

Your branding should stay visible. Your message should still feel powerful. And your video should still look like you.

Small Screens, Big Expectations

People scroll fast. And they expect content that’s designed for the space they’re in. If your video doesn’t feel like it belongs on mobile, it might not get watched at all.

But when it does? That’s when the engagement-magic happens.

You’re already fighting for attention on socials, so only show them what really matters.

At CH Video, we make sure your content shows up right - wherever it’s seen.

1:1, 9:16, 4:5 - whatever the platform demands so your content lands with just as much impact as the original.

We don’t crop it, we craft it.

Watch our latest video to find out more.

Why Great Videos Start with Great Questions (Not a Camera)

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:26:02 GMT

When most people think about making a video, their minds jump straight to cameras, lighting, drones, edits and flashy kit.

But here’s the truth. The real magic starts long before the shoot, with a conversation, a few strong cups of coffee, and some very good questions.

Because making a great video isn’t about pressing record. It’s about knowing why you’re doing it in the first place.

Don’t skip the discovery

We get it, video is exciting. It’s tempting to dive in headfirst but taking the time to define what success looks like creates something that looks great and actually does what you need it to.

That’s where the discovery phase comes in and we ask the big questions. Things like:

What does this video need to achieve?
What does success actually look like?
Who’s it for?
What do you want your audience to feel after watching?
Where and how will they see it?

These questions are essential. They shape the creative approach, tone, style and even the format. Without this clarity, you're shooting in the dark – literally.

Strategy first, cameras second

A video without strategy is like a house without plans. It might stand up, but it probably won’t serve the right purpose.

We work with clients to get under the skin of the brief. Often, what someone thinks they need isn’t actually the best solution. You might come in asking for a product explainer, but after a few questions, we realise your audience doesn’t understand the problem yet, so we pivot to a story-led piece that builds empathy first.

It’s all about figuring out what’s going to work, not just what’s going to look good.

A camera can’t ask “why?”

Anyone can shoot a video these days. But not everyone can ask the right questions that lead to something meaningful. A skilled production partner brings curiosity, challenge and clarity to the table.

As video makers, we wear many hats. Part translator, part detective, part director. We take your goal, your audience insights, and your brand story, and we turn that into something people actually want to watch.

But that only happens when we’re aligned on strategy before the first frame is planned.

The most valuable process

When a video really hits the mark, it’s because it was built on strong foundations. And those foundations are made up of all the things you don’t see: the questions asked, the audience insight uncovered, the goals clearly defined.

It’s not always the fastest part of the process, but it’s the most valuable. It’s where the scripting, storyboarding, and well, the story, really begins.

So next time you’re thinking about making a video, start with the questions. Then find a team who knows how to ask the right ones.

Go Big or Go IMAX: Lindt’s Epic 2025 Conference

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:59:52 GMT

CH-Video have been the proud video partner for Lindt UK for over 15 years, helping to shape their story through compelling video. From brand films and sales content to internal events we know their business and tone of voice like the back of our sticky chocolate covered hands.

The Brief

This year (2025), Lindt told us: “We’re going big for our conference – IMAX big.” With every video set to play out on the largest screen in the UK at the science museum in London, video wasn’t just part of the day, it was the day. No pressure.

Create an epic opener to build drama and anticipation.
Tell “The Lindt Story” – an emotional journey of where they’ve been and where they’re going as a business.
Close with impact – leaving the audience inspired to shape Lindt’s next chapter.
Visual Identity – create a suite of content including logos and stings.
Filming & editing a wrap up of the 2 Day Conference.

Opening Film – The Alchemy of Chocolate

A 90-second film blending science, craftsmanship and emotion, inspired by the Science Museum setting. A sweeping voiceover and dynamic visuals take viewers from atoms to truffles, culminating in a powerful call to action:

“This is our Lindt Story– what part will you play?”

Our Lindt Story

Told entirely through the real voices of Lindt employees, this audio-led film was brought to life with stylised, cinematic b-roll that captured the everyday beauty of Lindt and the special moments it creates.

Over four carefully planned half-day shoots, we gathered footage that reflected the full Lindt story from head office culture and chocolate craftsmanship at the flagship Piccadilly store, to the field sales team in action within a grocery setting, and finally, real moments of joy as consumers enjoyed Lindt in a café and local park.

This thoughtful, detail-driven approach gave us an end result that was authentic, poetic, and deeply human a film that truly resonated with the Lindt team and brought their story to life in a heartfelt and cinematic way.

 Closing Film – It’s Over to You

A bold, 45-second visual anthem combining archive footage of Lindt teams with iconic London landmarks, featuring key conference messages superimposed across the capital.

Set to soaring music, this no-voiceover piece ends the day on a note of empowerment and momentum.

Visual Identity & Stings

As well as developing the three hero films, we collaborated closely with the Lindt team to create a full visual identity for the event – including naming the conference ‘Creating Our Story Together’, designing the logo, and producing a bespoke animated sting that welcomed attendees on the IMAX screen as they entered.

Chapter Stings

To elevate the storytelling throughout the day, we also designed cinematic chapter headings for each of the six segments of the Lindt Story – setting the tone as the leadership team took to the stage.

Technical Experts

Our team was on-site across both days of the event, capturing the atmosphere on film and working behind the scenes to ensure every single video moment played flawlessly.

So, what can we do for you?

Whether it’s a high-impact opener, a heartfelt story, or a cinematic finale, CH Video specialises in creating powerful, emotionally resonant films that elevate live events.

From concept to delivery, we know how to make your message land – with clarity, creativity, and confidence. If you're planning a conference or brand event, let’s talk about how we can help you make it unforgettable:

hello@ch-video.com

The Science of Emotion: How to Make Videos That Truly Connect

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:37:12 GMT

Let’s talk about the power of emotion in video, because making something that looks good is only half the job.

If your video doesn’t make people feel something, it probably won’t stick.

Be Real

Audiences today are incredibly good at spotting anything that feels fake or overly polished. The best emotional content is honest and unforced. Whether it’s a real story or a fictional one, people need to believe it to connect with it.

Emotion Comes First

Our brains are hardwired to react emotionally before we even start thinking. That means if your video sparks a feeling (joy, surprise, empathy) your viewer is already hooked before they’ve even processed what it’s about.

Tap Into Emotional Triggers

Different emotions do different jobs. Happiness boosts sharing. Fear or urgency grabs attention. Nostalgia builds connection and trust. When you know which emotional button to press, and when, you’re not just telling a story, you’re influencing how people respond.

Real Feelings Matter

Humans are brilliant at reading facial expressions, tone, and body language. If your video features genuine emotion, whether it’s someone opening up or just reacting naturally, your viewers will likely feel it too. This “emotional mirroring” is why authentic content always wins over forced drama.

Tell a Proper Story

A great story draws people in and makes them forget they’re watching a brand video. That feeling of being “swept up” in a narrative actually helps the brain absorb and remember your message. It’s why storytelling is more effective than just listing facts or features.

Use the Senses

Music, lighting, colour, pace. These all shape how we feel. Of course, a soft, warm-toned film with a slow build and gentle soundtrack will feel totally different to something fast-paced, with bold colours and sharp cuts. Getting this mix right helps support the emotional message you’re trying to send.

Check the Response

Keep an eye on watch time, replays, shares and comments. But honestly? One of the best tests is simple: if it doesn’t move you, it probably won’t move your audience either.

Emotion is the secret ingredient that makes video memorable. When you build your content around how you want people to feel, the impact lasts far longer than any product demo or bullet point ever could.

At CH Video, we help brands turn messages into moments that matter. Ready to connect? Let’s talk.

5 Reasons to Shoot in 2025

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:15:19 GMT

It’s 2025, and video is still leading the way when it comes to engaging content.

You’d be forgiven for thinking AI-generated content might be taking over. And yes, AI can do some incredible things, but nothing beats the authenticity and energy of IRL footage.

Whether it’s a brand campaign, event coverage or a highlight reel on social, filming in 2025 is a smart move for businesses looking to stand out.

Here’s five reasons why.

1. Real Footage Still Connects Best

AI-generated video has its place – but it can’t capture the raw, human moments that make a story memorable. A real event, a genuine reaction, a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Those are the things people connect with. In an age where audiences are craving authenticity, filming something real gives you a major edge.

2. It Supercharges Your Socials

We all know how hard it is to keep up with content demands on social media. A well-edited video gives you loads of material that you can use across platforms, from teaser clips to soundbites to stills. Whether it’s Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube, video gets more engagement and helps your brand cut through the noise.

3. Boosts Brand Awareness

Video is one of the most effective tools for building brand recognition. With just a few seconds of footage, you can show off your brand’s personality, your people, and what you stand for. Whether you're launching a product or telling your company story , a professional video helps you reach new audiences and stay memorable.

4. Event Coverage Lives On

Filming your events isn’t just about the day itself; it’s about the value you get long after the doors close. Whether it’s a conference, product launch or live performance, capturing it on film means people can rewatch it later, share it with their network, or experience it for the first time even if they couldn’t attend.

5. It’s Easier (and More Affordable) Than Ever

Gone are the days when filming meant massive crews and big budgets . With modern production tools, filming high-quality content is more streamlined and accessible than ever. And with professional support, you get polished results without the stress.

Filming is one of the most powerful ways to tell your story, grow your presence, and connect with your audience in real, meaningful ways.

While AI-generated content might be getting more attention, if you want content that truly resonates, filming the real thing makes all the difference.

Thinking of filming something soon? Let’s chat.

And...cue the confetti!

gary@ch-video.com (Gary Wales) — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 12:12:04 GMT

We’re celebrating 20 years crafting stories in video.

From humble beginnings in 2005, when video still often meant dealing with physical tape, CH Video has delivered thousands of projects for clients across many sectors - some of whom have been with us since the very beginning.

We’ve always kept things intentionally small: a close-knit team of experienced creatives, supported by a trusted circle of freelance talent. That balance has helped us stay flexible, collaborative and grounded.

What’s kept us going all these years? A love for the work, pride

in our craft, and strong relationships with clients who see us not just as a supplier, but as part of their story.

Emily Blanden, Managing Director and founder: ‘20 years ago, it was never my plan to set up a company; I merely wanted to work as Producer in the video industry and an opportunity arose with

my Mum. This was the stepping stone that led to the creation of CH Video and my Mum and I working together.

Since then, we’ve grown from a small team to now featuring in the Top 30 list of EVCOM production companies in the UK.

Our clients continually praise our creativity, quality and our ability to turn things around last minute.

I’m incredibly proud of the partnerships we’ve built with our

clients over the last 20 years and the trust they’ve put in us to deliver

standout video content but what I’m most proud of is our wonderful team spirit at CH and the positive impact CH has had on the careers of so many in that time.’

Diana Blanden, HR, Finance Director and founder: ‘I am so proud that from a small dream two decades ago we have built a successful company through organic growth, many challenges and plenty of hard work. This milestone belongs to our talented and dedicated team, past and present, our clients and friends who have also created

many wonderful memories for us along the way.’

As the world of video keeps shifting, we’re right there with it -

picking up new skills, trying new ideas, new solutions and always focused on making work that really impresses. That’s a wrap on our first 20 years - roll on the next.

Happy Birthday to us!

We're Shortlisted!

gary@ch-video.com (Gary Wales) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 14:18:55 GMT

EVCOM London Live & Film Awards 2025

We're thrilled to have been shortlisted for two of our projects for the EVCOM Clarion Awards 2025.

Emily Blanden , Managing Director of CH Video:

We’re delighted to have two of our films shortlisted for this

year’s EVCOM Clarion Awards. Essity: Making Safety Child’s Play and MWH Treatment: Be That Kid both reflect our commitment to purposeful storytelling, so it’s a real honour to see them recognised in a line-up that champions meaningful, values-led work.

It’s always inspiring to be among peers who are using creativity

to make a genuine difference - we’re looking forward to an evening of celebration and brilliant work.

What Kind of Video Does Your Business Need?

Ashleigh@ch-video.com (Ashleigh Clayton-Goddard) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:21:27 GMT

So, you’re thinking about getting a video made for your business - brilliant!

But before you dive head-first into booking a film crew, there’s one big question to answer. What do you actually want the video to do?

Different goals call for different kinds of videos. Let’s break it down. Here are a few video types to help you figure out what’s right for your business.

Brand Awareness: Tell Your Story

If you’re looking to make a mark and get your name out there, a brand awareness video is the way to go. These are your bold, high-impact pieces that introduce who you are, what you do, and most importantly, why you do it.

Think cinematic visuals, emotive messaging, and strong storytelling . It’s about building a connection with your audience and making sure your brand sticks in their mind. Great for websites, pitches, or the top of your marketing funnel.

Product Demos: Show It Off

Got a product that people need to see to believe? A product demo video lets you walk viewers through the features, benefits, and USPs of your offering. Keep it clear, concise, and focused on solving a problem your customer has.

These are ideal for landing pages, email campaigns or even in-store screens. Bonus points if you can make it look easy and fun to use.

Educational Content: Teach, Don’t Just Sell

If you want to build trust and position yourself as an expert in your field, go for educational content. These videos help your audience learn something useful. Whether that’s how to use your product, understand a process, or pick the right service.

This type of content works wonders on YouTube, your blog, or even LinkedIn. People love to share things that help them look smart, and if your video does that, everyone wins.

Event Highlights: Capture the Buzz

Whether it’s a conference , product launch, or just an office get-together, event highlight videos capture the energy, excitement and atmosphere of your event. These are fantastic for social media, future promos, or just showing your company’s human side.

It’s not just about the speeches and formalities, it’s the little moments that make people feel something!

Social Media Ads: Short, Snappy, Scroll-Stopping

If your goal is to drive clicks, sign-ups, or sales, then you’ll want short-form ads built for social media. These need to be quick, eye-catching and straight to the point, ideally within 6 to 30 seconds.

These videos should be tailored to the platform you’re using. What works on TikTok probably won’t cut it on LinkedIn and vice versa.

So... What’s Your Goal?

The best video for your business all depends on what you're trying to achieve. Need to build trust? Go educational. Want to launch a new product? Get a demo made. Whatever your goal , CH Video can help you choose the right style, tone, and format to make it happen.

CH Senior Producer, Madeline Moores: ‘We’re experts at taking your story or ambition and making it work in video. No one knows better than us when it comes to making impactful video content’.

Let’s chat! We’d love to hear what you’ve got in mind.

We've cracked the Top 30!

gary@ch-video.com (Gary Wales) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:47:09 GMT

We’re absolutely delighted to share that we’ve been ranked number 30 in the Moving Image/EVCOM UK Top 50 2025 list of brand and corporate film producers.

Last year we were at number 35, so this five-place leap is a huge moment for us - our first time breaking into the top 30 (if we were a pop band, we’d be singing about it).

This ranking isn’t just a number. It’s based on a mix of revenue growth, peer recognition, awards success and volume of work - and our jump is a clear sign we’re on the right track. The report highlights us as one of the “fast risers”, with a +17% year-on-year turnover growth , a milestone £1 million+ revenue , and expansion across big-name clients including PepsiCo, Kerry Foods, Lindt and Edgewell.

In a year where over half the companies in the Top 50 reported a drop in revenue, we grew.

The Moving Image/EVCOM report puts it nicely:

“CH Video crafts story-driven pieces with a personal touch, delivering corporate films, brand stories, and commercials with lasting impact.”

We were also name-checked as a female-led company making impressive progress - a detail we’re especially proud of. Leadership and creativity go hand in hand here, and it’s great to see that recognised at this level.

Thanks to our clients…

We keep it personal – every video is crafted to fit the story, the people and the purpose.

We adapt fast – from embracing AI for post-production efficiency to scaling for international shoots, we know how to flex when clients need it.

We’re in it for the long haul – most of our clients stick around (and come back with bigger challenges). That says a lot more than awards ever could. We’re incredibly proud of the team for making this leap, especially in a year described in the report as one of the toughest the industry’s seen. Our rise shows what’s possible with great clients, a sharp creative team and a focus on work that genuinely connects.

We’re also in good company
This year’s Top 50 is packed with some of the best in the business, and we’re thrilled to be recognised alongside them. You can read the full report here on the EVCOM website .

The Power of Audio: When Less Noise Means More Impact

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:44:50 GMT

We all know the feeling. You’re watching a beautifully shot video, the visuals are crisp, the edit is seamless... but the audio?

It’s a mess. Wind noise, muffled dialogue, music clashing with narration.

Sound is half the experience in video production. Yet, it’s so often overlooked. Great audio doesn’t just complement a video, it elevates it. And sometimes, the real magic happens when you embrace less rather than more.

Why Less is More in Audio

When it comes to sound design , being subtle is key. A well-placed pause can speak louder than a wall of noise. A clean, uncluttered mix lets the audience focus on what really matters - the story, the emotion, the message. Overloading a video with too many sound elements can be like throwing all your favourite ingredients into a pot and hoping for the best. Sometimes, simplicity is the secret recipe!

Think about the most powerful film scenes you’ve watched. Chances are, the best ones knew when to strip the sound back. Maybe it was a moment of silence before a dramatic revelation. Maybe it was a single sound effect like a heartbeat or a distant siren that carried all the weight of the scene. Sound, or the lack of it, can guide an audience’s emotions in ways even the most stunning visuals can’t.

Getting it Right: The Art of Audio in Video Production

So, how do you achieve that perfect audio balance? Here are a few golden rules:

Capture Clean Sound From The Start

No amount of post-production wizardry can completely fix bad audio. Use good microphones, record in controlled environments, and keep background noise in check.

Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Silence

Strategic pauses create impact. Don’t be afraid to let moments breathe.

Use Music Wisely

Soundtracks should enhance, not overpower. A great score supports the visuals rather than fights for attention.

Layer With Purpose

Every sound should serve a function. If it’s not adding to the story, it’s probably a distraction.

Keep Dialogue Clear

Ensure voices are recorded at the right levels and aren’t buried under music or effects. Good dialogue should always take priority.

Balance Your Mix

Pay attention to volume levels so that no single element dominates. A well-mixed video ensures that speech, effects, and music work together harmoniously.

Consider Spatial Sound

Surround sound techniques can add depth to your video, making the audience feel more immersed in the scene.

Use Sound Effects Sparingly

Less is more. Only add effects that truly enhance the storytelling.

Sound Choices, Big Impact

At CH Video, we know that a well-crafted video isn’t just about what you see, it’s about what you hear (or don’t hear). We take sound seriously, ensuring every project has that perfect balance of audio clarity, emotion, and impact.

So next time you’re thinking about video, remember this: less noise often means more power. Strip it back, keep it clean, and let the sound (or silence) do the talking.

Need a team that gets it? Get in touch. We’d love to bring your story to life, one perfectly placed sound at a time.

How to Boost your On-Camera Confidence!

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:40:35 GMT

We love a challenge at CH, even after a big lunch on a Monday afternoon.

So we challenged ourselves to come up with the best quick fire tips for how to be your best on camera.

Here’s a 30 second brain dump from Producers Gary, Mads, Ash and Adam to help you shine! (Oh! Don’t forget to clean that lens either).

Gary:

Three deep breaths before you start talking.
Try not to feel paralysed by other people’s expectations.
Find methods that help give you confidence in what you’re saying.
Avoid ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’. C’mon now, speak like your mother taught you!
If in doubt, look up ‘Media training’ using AI to help you prepare. Yes, I love AI.

Mads:

Be yourself, show your personality!
Be expressive and use your hands if you normally do.
Feel prepared and know your script or questions beforehand, but don’t overprepare or memorise it.
Pretend you’re talking to a friend down the pub. (Saying that we wouldn’t recommend getting in front of a camera after a pint or two, probably for the best!)

Ash:

Smile and relax as much as you can.
Be passionate but avoid over-exaggerating so you come across authentically.
Check you’re happy with your make up, hair and clothes but avoid busy patterns!
Keep looking at the camera or the person, don’t drift away. (Squirrel!)

Adam:

Forget the camera is there, imagine you’re just talking to the person behind it.
Don’t worry if you mess up, remember we have time for more takes so stay zen.
Relax, slow down and take a second to settle yourself before you start, even after you hear ‘action!’
A floating head isn’t a good look so if we’re filming on a green screen, don’t wear green.

Thinking about getting started with video? Let’s make something great together. Get in touch today!

How Video Promotes Better Mental Health in the Workplace

gary@ch-video.com (Gary Wales) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:00:39 GMT

The Importance of Mental Health at Work

Workplace mental health has never been more important. With increased awareness of stress, burnout, and mental well-being businesses are realizing that supporting their employees' mental health is not just ethical - it’s strategic.

Studies show that poor mental health can lead to reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher staff turnover, while a proactive approach promotes a more engaged, resilient, and motivated workforce.

The Impact of Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace

According to the World Health Organisation , depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.

Research by Deloitte found that for every £1 spent on mental health interventions, businesses see an average return of £5 in reduced absenteeism and staff turnover.

Mental Health First Aid England reports that 1 in 6 employees experience mental health issues at any given time.

These figures underscore the importance of addressing mental well-being in the workplace. However, many businesses struggle with how to effectively engage their teams in meaningful conversations about mental health.

The Power of Video in Mental Health Initiatives

One of the most effective ways to communicate mental health messages is through video. Video content is impactful - it has the power to connect emotionally and drive real change. Here’s why video should be part of your workplace mental health strategy.

1. Breaking the Silence

Many employees find it difficult to talk about mental health, fearing stigma or workplace repercussions. Video storytelling can normalize these conversations, presenting relatable stories and experiences that help reduce stigma and create a culture of openness.

2. Making Information More Accessible

A well-crafted video can convert complex information into an engaging and easy-to-understand format. Whether it’s explaining support services, highlighting coping strategies, or sharing employee testimonials, video ensures that messages reach employees in a way that resonates.

3. Enhancing Training and Awareness

Training sessions on mental health often rely on traditional presentations, but video can make these more dynamic and impactful. Videos can be used in e-learning modules, lunch-and-learn sessions, or company-wide campaigns to reinforce key messages and provide practical guidance.

4. Encouraging Engagement and Retention

People are far more likely to remember and act on information presented in video form than text. Studies show that viewers retain 95% of a message when watched on video compared to just 10% when reading it in text form.

How Video Production Can Support Your Mental Health Initiatives

Our creative approach ensures that your message is delivered in a way that is truly connecting.

• Powerful employee stories that highlight real experiences

• Educational animations that explain complex topics simply

• Videos that showcase your company’s commitment to mental well-being

See Our Work in Action

We’ve created impactful mental health videos that have made a real difference. On this page are just some examples that showcase our creativity and expertise.

Let’s Start a Conversation
This year’s Mental Health Awareness week is from Mon 12 May 2025 to Sun, 18 May , so now's a good time for us to work with you on something impactful that will resonate.

By investing in video, you’re not just raising awareness, you’re making a lasting impact on the well-being of your employees and the success of your business. Let’s work together to create a healthier, more engaged workplace.
Contact us now.

The Secret to Successful Conference Video Production

Ashleigh@ch-video.com (Ashleigh Clayton-Goddard) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 10:56:37 GMT

A great conference video doesn’t just look good, it keeps your audience engaged, supports your message, and leaves a lasting impression!

Whether you’re using video to introduce your brand, explain a concept, or add energy to your presentation, getting it right takes planning.

Here’s how to make sure your conference videos deliver.

Plan Ahead - Way Ahead

The best conference videos don’t happen last-minute. Getting started early means you can plan the content properly, align it with your presentation, and avoid a last-minute scramble. Think about where video could add the most value. Like an engaging intro, NDP showcase, successes, or a powerful wrap-up.

Keep It Short and Sharp

Nobody wants to sit through a 10-minute video in the middle of a presentation. Shorter videos (think 60–90 seconds) hold attention better and make a bigger impact. If you have a lot to say, consider breaking it into smaller, focused clips rather than one long piece.

Don’t Stress About the Creative

If you’re not sure what your video should look like, don’t worry. A good video agency will help you figure it out. Share details about your presentation, and they’ll suggest creative ways to bring it to life with video.

Work With the Right Video Team

Not all video agencies are the same. You want a team that understands your business, gets your goals, and can work to your deadlines. Find a partner with experience in conferences who can guide you through the process and bring fresh ideas!

Think Beyond the Conference

A great video shouldn’t just be used once. Can it be repurposed for social media? Sent to customers? Turned into bite-sized clips? Even translated for a global audience? Make sure your video has a life beyond the conference room.

Nail the Brief

A solid brief makes everything easier. Make sure your video agency knows exactly what you need. What the video is for, who it’s aimed at, key messages, preferred style, and any must-have elements like branding or subtitles. The clearer your brief , the smoother the process.

Get Sign-Off Before Production Starts

A well-planned storyboard can save you a lot of time and revisions. Get feedback from key stakeholders before filming starts, so there are no surprises (or last-minute changes) later on.

Make the Review Process Smooth

Once your video is ready, gather feedback in one go. Multiple rounds of conflicting changes from different people can slow things down and make the process frustrating. One clear set of notes from everyone involved will keep things moving efficiently.

A well-made conference video can add a huge amount of impact to your event, but only if it’s done right. Planning ahead, keeping it concise, and working with the right team will help make sure your video grabs attention and supports your message.

Let’s chat , we’d love to help bring your ideas to life.

AI-Generated Scripts: Are Humans Still Needed in Video Production?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:01:23 GMT

It’s almost 2025, and AI tools are pumping out video scripts faster than you can brew your morning coffee.

With just a few keywords and a couple of clicks, your script is ready to go. Sounds amazing, right? But here’s the big question: Is there still room for human creativity?

Absolutely! Let’s dive in.

AI: Changing the Scriptwriting Game

Let’s talk about what AI brings to the table. AI is a game-changer for overcoming writer’s block and generating ideas quickly. Tools like ChatGPT have revolutionised how scripts are created, especially for repetitive tasks.

With incredible speed and efficiency, AI can deliver complex copy in seconds. It’s also a great brainstorming partner, generating concepts, taglines, and outlines effortlessly.

Despite these strengths, we shouldn’t rush to crown AI as the ultimate solution for scriptwriting. While it’s an excellent assistant, it has its limitations, especially when it comes to creativity and emotional depth.

The Flaws in AI Scripts

While it has incredible potential, it’s just a tool, and like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it. AI lacks that human touch, the ability to make creative leaps, and the depth of emotional understanding that makes human stories truly resonate.

Emotional connection is one of the key areas where AI falls short. It doesn’t feel anything. Humour, cultural nuances, and double meanings can fly right over its circuits, resulting in content that’s technically correct but lacks depth.

Innovation is another area where AI stumbles. It thrives on patterns and past data, which means bold storytelling and groundbreaking ideas are still very much a human domain.

Why Humans Are Still the Stars of the Show

Storytelling is about creativity, empathy, and understanding. A great script doesn’t just inform; it creates an experience and evokes emotion, leaving a lasting impression.

Human writers bring emotional depth, crafting moments that make audiences laugh, cry, or stay glued to their screens. They also excel in creative risk-taking and breaking away from predictable patterns to produce something unique.

Collaboration is another strength of humans. Video production is a team sport, and diverse perspectives and ideas come together in ways no algorithm can replicate. Think of AI as the sous-chef. It can prep the ingredients, but the head chef (that’s you) creates the masterpiece.

The Perfect Partnership: AI + Humans

Rather than replacing humans, AI works best as a creative assistant. It’s like having a really fast, super-organised brainstorming buddy who never gets tired. The real magic happens when you combine the efficiency of AI with the artistry of human creativity.

Use it to help kickstart ideas, generate rough drafts or outlines, which human writers can build upon with their own insights and creativity. It’s also great for streamlining repetitive tasks allowing us humans to focus on the big picture.

Why You Still Need People

AI is a fantastic tool, but it’s just that.

Creating a standout video is about more than just stringing words together. It’s about telling a story that connects with your audience at the end of the day.

At CH, we know how to take ideas and turn them into something good. We bring the spark, the creativity, and the expertise to make your videos shine.

So, get in touch ! Let’s create something amazing together, human and machine, side by side.

Why “Going Viral” Isn’t the Goal Anymore (And What Matters Instead)

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:49:35 GMT

“Going viral” used to sound like hitting the jackpot. A single video or post blows up, and suddenly, the internet can’t stop talking about your brand.

These days, it’s more of a gamble than a game plan. Viral fame might get you a few moments in the spotlight, but it doesn’t necessarily mean success.

Here’s why brands are ditching the virality obsession and what they’re focusing on instead.

The Problem with Viral Content

Sure, going viral sounds great! But does it help your business? Not always. Viral moments are short-lived, unpredictable, and don’t always attract the right audience.

Why It’s Better to Connect Than Go Viral

Viral content might get you everywhere, but it won’t necessarily get you anywhere.

Instead of going viral, what really works is creating content that connects with your audience . It might not rack up millions of views, but it’ll hit home with the right people.

When your videos resonate with people who care about your brand, you’re building real, lasting and loyal relationships.

What’s better? A million views from people who’ll forget you in a week, or a few thousand from your ideal audience , who’ll engage, remember, and maybe buy from you? Spoiler alert: it’s the second one.

Staying True to Your Brand

One of the biggest pitfalls of chasing virality is the temptation to go off-brand. You might come up with something crazy just to get attention, but does it align with who you are as a company? If the answer’s no, your audience will notice.

People can spot inauthenticity a mile away, and they’ll trust you less if they feel like you’re just trying to ride a trend. Sticking to your brand values might not always feel flashy, but it’ll earn you credibility and that’s priceless.

What Really Matters: Stories That Stick

Viral content is temporary. You might dominate the internet for a couple of days, but then what? The buzz dies down, and you’re back to square one. Instead, focus on creating stories that stick—videos that reflect your brand, connect with your audience, and make them feel something.

Whether it’s making them laugh, teaching them, or inspiring them, great content builds trust. And trust is what turns viewers into fans, and fans into customers!

Going viral might sound like a dream, but for most brands, it’s not the goal anymore. It’s not about reaching everyone; it’s about reaching your people.

Ready to create content that matters? Let’s do it. Speak to our team to get started!

Harnessing Creativity with AI

Ashleigh@ch-video.com (Ashleigh Clayton-Goddard) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:16:07 GMT

AI is everywhere, changing the way we work, create, and even think about content production.

But it's important to remember that AI isn’t a replacement for human creativity. It’s a tool to enhance it!

At CH, our team of creatives still lead on every project, from concept to completion. But AI is often useful to streamline, refine, and push our work to new heights. Here’s a peek at some of the ways we’re tapping into this tech...

Video Ideation

We sometimes use AI to generate visual references so we can share our ideas with each other more clearly. AI-generated textures, composition references, and pre-visualisation sketches mean we can better show clients and our team what we’re aiming for before we even get to storyboarding.

Design Ideas

AI allows us to be more abstract with design and video styles. With a few prompts, we can generate custom vectors, scenes, and artwork that spark fresh ideas. Really useful for treatments and concepts in a video proposal!

Problem Solve

With the help of AI to tidy up and polish, what used to be a headache can often be tackled with ease. Sometimes, we get sent self-filmed videos with poor audio quality that can’t be fixed while recording, so we use Adobe Podcast to clean it up. In a few clicks and adjustments, AI usually gives us more professional-sounding audio .

Plus, AI tools like footage stabilisation, de-noising low light shots and rotoscoping also mean we can fix imperfections pretty quickly. So, shots that might’ve been previously scrapped can now make the final cut.

Text-based editing tools also lets us quickly trim out filler words like “um” or “ah,” find key points in interviews, and jump to specific parts of the script in seconds.

Extending Assets

One of AI’s greatest strengths for us is its ability to extend and transform assets. Whether we’re resizing a supplied photo or generating entirely new backgrounds, AI lets us fill in missing details, reducing the need for re-shoots. Not only does this speed things up, but it also opens up all sorts of creative options!

The Future of AI in Video Production

The future of AI in video production is loaded with possibilities. As AI advances, it’ll be able to craft personalised video experiences for every viewer, tailored to their interests, emotions, and even biometric data. Picture a world where each person sees a story that feels like it was made just for them, a unique, personalised narrative with a major impact.

And, of course, real-time, collaborative video editing. With AI managing the heavy lifting of rendering and processing, multiple creators could work on the same project at once, making edits and seeing the results instantly.

At CH, we’ve made friends with the robots, so visit our blog or get in touch with our team and let’s take on Skynet together.

How To Self-Shoot

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:14:18 GMT

Let’s be real—self-shooting can be a bit tricky. Whether you’re vlogging, recording a presentation, or capturing content for social media, there’s nothing worse than poor lighting, muffled audio, or accidentally showing off something you’d rather not!

But don’t fear, with a few simple tricks , you’ll be well on your way to capturing great video.

We Need to SEE You

First things first: lighting. Ever noticed how some videos look way too dark? That’s usually because the person’s blocking the light, leaving their face in shadow. When filming, make sure you're facing the light, not the other way around. Trust us—this makes a world of difference.

So, park yourself in front of a window or grab a lamp to light up your beautiful face. Watch how much clearer, brighter, and more professional you look.

We Need to HEAR You

Filming outside? Nature can be your worst enemy when it comes to sound. Wind, traffic, birds… they all want to be part of your video, but you need to keep their cameo roles to a minimum. When possible, film inside a quiet space to make sure your voice is the star of the show. If you're outside, try to find a sheltered spot to minimise noise distractions.

Hold That Phone Like a Pro

Ah, the classic debate, portrait or landscape? For most video platforms (and if you're planning to edit the footage later), landscape is the way to go. It fits screens better and gives your footage a more polished, professional feel.

While holding your phone vertically might be second nature for texting and scrolling social media, it's usually best to go horizontal unless asked otherwise by a Producer. Turn it sideways, and you’ll instantly improve the look of your shot.

Stabilise Your Shot

No need to hold your phone by hand the whole time. A budget-friendly tripod can do wonders for stability, but if you don’t have one, no worries! Simply stack some books, use a solid surface, or get creative with whatever’s handy to keep your phone steady. The less movement, the better your video will look.

Watch Your Background

Try to avoid a plain wall behind you—it’s a bit boring. But also keep an eye out for what’s in the frame. Any laundry baskets or clutter you’d rather not show the world? Make sure your background is tidy but visually interesting.

Whether you're recording with your phone or webcam, background noise can be a real video killer. Try to keep your filming space as quiet as possible to avoid distractions. Close any nearby windows and keep the door shut. No one wants to hear the neighbour's dog barking mid-recording.

Webcam? Same Rules Apply!

If you’re recording on a webcam, all the same principles still count. Face the light, find a steady surface, and make sure your background looks good. Just because it’s a webcam doesn’t mean you can slack on the details.

Self-shooting doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple tricks and a bit of attention to detail, you’ll be producing quality videos in no time. Whether it’s for work, fun, or something in between, you’ve got this! To find out tips and tricks, visit our blog or get in touch with our team.

Live Action vs Animation - Which is Right for your Brand or Business?

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:09:22 GMT

Whether you're a startup looking to make a splash or an established brand aiming to connect with your audience on a deeper level, the type of video you choose can make all the difference.

But when it comes to live action and animation video production , how do you decide? Let’s break it down.

Live Action: The Power of Authenticity

When you want to resonate and really connect with your audience on a personal level, live action video production is the go-to. There’s something about seeing real people, in real locations, interacting with real products that just hits differently. Here’s why:

Authenticity & Trust

Live action brings a sense of realism that’s hard to replicate. When your audience sees a real person using your product, it builds trust and credibility . It’s like a friend recommending something they love and you’re more likely to listen and trust!

Emotional Connection

Live action video production usually showcases real emotions, expressions, and stories. It's more relatable, and that human connection can make your message resonate on a deeper level.

Showcasing Product Experience

When it comes to highlighting the true experience of your product or service, live action is second to none and the best way to capture the real-life benefits , giving your audience a clear and tangible sense of what they can expect.

But, of course, live action often has challenges:

Cost

Let’s ignore self-filming or crappy recordings in Zoom. Quality live action and professional filming doesn’t always come cheap. From hiring talent and crew to securing locations, travel expenses and equipment, the costs can add up. But don’t let that deter you!

Creativity Constraints

While live action is great, you’re still limited by what you can actually get in front of the lens. Sometimes, reality just doesn’t offer the flexibility you need.

Logistics

Coordinating a live action shoot can sometimes be tricky if you’re on a tight turnaround. Organising the crew and cast, securing locations or permits to film, plus, there’s always the unpredictability of weather!

Animation: Where Creativity Has No Limits

If you’re looking for a creative and sometimes more cost-effective approach, animation and motion graphics might be your best bet. Here’s why:

Cost Effective

Generally, animation is cheaper than live action, especially when you consider there’s no need for locations, actors, or production crew. You’re only limited by your imagination, and maybe your budget for high-end design !

Unlimited Creativity

With animation, anything is possible. Let the imagination run wild! Animation lets you create worlds, characters, and scenarios that would be impossible to capture with live action.

Easier to Make Changes

One of the big perks of animation is the flexibility it offers. Need to tweak something? No problem. You don’t need to organise a whole new shoot, just update the animation . This makes it easier to iterate and refine your message after the fact.

Brand Identity

Animation offers a unique opportunity to craft a visual style that aligns perfectly with your brand. Whether you’re going for a modern, sleek look or something more playful, animation can help your brand stand out.

But keep in mind:

Lack of Realism

Animation can struggle with emotional connection , especially if your message relies on personal, human stories. Without real faces, it can feel a bit impersonal and less relatable.

Time Consuming

While you save time on shoots and reshoots, animation can still be a lengthy process. It requires meticulous planning, design, and development. Every element has to be created from scratch, which can be time intensive.

In the end, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. So whether it’s live action or animation you’re keen on, find out more about what we can do for you and get in touch

How to Grab Attention Quickly in your Videos

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 15:56:07 GMT

We're all guilty of scrolling between one video to the next on social media . In today's digital age we expect engaging content at our fingertips. If we don't get that, we simply move onto the next video.

By the time 10 seconds has passed, 20% of viewers will have already stopped watching your video and moved onto something else.

So, we’re here to offer 5 top tips on how to grab attention quickly in your videos before time runs out!

Capture Attention with Clear and Compelling Language

Creating videos that capture attention quickly can be a game changer for your content. To do this, start with clear and compelling language that grabs your viewers' interest right away.

Using familiar language early on helps to keep your audience engaged, making it easier for them to understand what your product or service is all about. The simpler you make it; the more likely people are to stick around!

Let your viewers know upfront what they’ll gain from watching your video; this can be achieved through descriptive but concise titles, which can be in the caption or meta title. Ensure to hook your viewers, giving them enough to keep them watching without overwhelming them.

Use Text Animation Upfront

Try using eye-catching text animation upfront. This trick is perfect for stopping those busy scrollers in their tracks. Bright, bold, and creative fonts really pop. Don't be afraid to step outside your brand’s usual look if needed!

The key is to convey your message in those crucial first few seconds, without viewers even needing to turn up the volume. This way, you hook them instantly and make them curious to see more, all while keeping things visually exciting.

Hop On Trends and Make Them Your Own

Engaging with your audience by participating in trends is an excellent way to catch their eye as trends are inherently relatable and familiar.

The trick is to relate the trend back to your brand in a way that feels natural. By doing this, you create content that’s not only relevant but also memorable, making viewers more likely to engage with your brand and stick around for more.

Make Your Content Relatable

Think about what would keep YOU watching. Perhaps characters in your videos and animations who face problems that your audience can identify with. This approach helps you communicate emotionally with your viewers, making your message more impactful.

Try telling a story around these characters and their challenges. Not only does this make your content more engaging, but it also helps your audience feel a connection to your brand.

Use Clear Call To Action’s to Make Things Happen

To grab attention quickly in your videos, use clear Call to Actions (CTAs) to guide your viewers on what to do next. Whether it’s “Follow us,” “Contact us,” “Get in Touch,” or “Discover More,” keep your CTAs short and simple. This direct approach helps a lot.

Get in touch with the team here at CH Video or explore our blogs for more tips and inspiration on how to grab attention in your videos.

The Importance of Scores and Soundtracks

elliott@ch-video.com (Elliott Warren) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 13:59:20 GMT

The newest member of our CH family Elliott is a big drum and bass music fan. But he also loves a good film score so let’s get his lowdown on the importance of scores and soundtracks!

Setting the Tone

Music plays a crucial role in video content, from grand cinematic scores to ambience on the silver screen that you’re almost not meant to notice. The effect of soundtracks and musical choices is massive.

The right piece of music can hugely elevate the mood of a scene, build intensity, enhance emotion and add context to plot points and relationships between characters.

A great swell of orchestral strings may push the tension its absolute peak, whilst a haunting piano may well bring you to tears in a way that even the most poetic dialogue alone can’t do.

Montages set to music can be a cliche in film and TV, but they can also be iconic. A good reason for their prolific use is to create compelling storytelling without use of heavy narrative exposition, even without any dialogue at all.

Completing a Video

Sometimes the biggest benefit of a score is simply tying the piece together into a ‘whole’. As an example, if you watched a classic or well-loved scene without the music, you’ll notice how much empty space there is.

Often, conversations in film and TV shows don’t feel realistic but a non-diegetic track (basically any sound that doesn't originate from the world of the film) can help the audience gloss over a weird line or overly dramatic monologue that might otherwise break the immersion.

Building Hype and Engaging Wider Audiences

To draw in audiences, a memorable song in a film trailer or a great track underscoring an impactful final scene can be fantastic.

Iconic songs can also pull a wider viewership too. They do wonders for trailers whilst great writing paired precisely with music can turn an unknown original soundtrack into an iconic piece that transcends the visual medium that it was originally birthed for.

Netflix’s Stranger Things is a perfect example of both of these. Utilising iconic 1980’s tracks, giving them a new context whilst using their power as nostalgia-bait for the older audiences across pop culture. Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’ in Season 4’s final episode managed to reconnect with Stranger Things’ older audience, and forge a new relationship with younger fans, shooting up Spotify’s viral charts and re-entering mainstream radio for a few weeks.

Despite the success of these music choices, in relation to emotional impact in the show and viral marketing, the show has also made heavy use of its own OST. The main theme ‘Stranger Things’ and the enduring ‘Kids’ have become recognisable in pop-culture by drawing on the synth-laden sound of the 80’s while bringing in the darkness of the show’s themes to engage a modern audience.

Open Your Ears

Soundtracks can be overlooked but they’re such a vital part of the storytelling process. Just ask our clients! Good music can elevate a narrative, build emotional complexity and provide that extra punch to kick off an event or grab attention!

Next time you sit down to experience a film or binge a new series, listen out for the musical motifs weaved into it. You might just a find a new appreciation for OSTs.

Why not have a natter about your favourite tunes with us? hello@ch-video.com

Eco-Friendly Filmmaking: Simple Ways to Make Video Production More Sustainable

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:43:15 GMT

Sustainability touches every industry, and filmmaking is no exception. So let’s talk about a few green tips that not only help the planet but help create a more responsible and conscious film industry .

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

One of the first and most effective factors we consider how much waste are we producing? Simple changes like a food waste bin in our office, what our crew have for lunch, and reusable water bottles and coffee cups are a good start. We also reuse props where we can and offer them to non-profit organisations like schools to give them a second life.

Paperless

There’s definitely less need for paper with so many digital alternatives around. Reducing our printing for digital scripts, call sheets and release forms our phones or tablet apps dramatically reduces paper waste . Using apps like Slack and Sharepoint, means we can continue to organise our workflow throughout our video production process , keeping those paper cuts a bay too.

Travel

From moving kit to actors and crew, film production requires a lot of moving around. But Gary and Emily on our team will be very happy to chat to you about their electric cars! When we have shoots in central London, most of the team get trains to the location, and we car share to reduce emissions. Also good to keep expenses costs down for our clients!

Lighting

More durable than traditional, energy intensive lighting, it last 25 times longer and doesn’t generate as much heat! So, say goodbye to those big old fashioned hot lights when you’re on camera. By using LED lighting, we reduce costs and energy consumption, helping both CH Video and the planet!

Focussing on eco-friendly production is pretty important for us. save on costs but can encourage eco-conscious customers. The film production industry has many opportunities to reduce its impact on the environment and by implementing at least some of the options above, we can collectively contribute to a more sustainable future.

Want to find out more about how we work at CH Video? Get in touch today and read our other blogs .

A Quick Look at Our Production Process

Fri, 10 May 2024 09:21:23 GMT

How many times have you stopped to think about who's behind the scenes organising the production team, coordinating the shoots, dealing with all that lovely footage?

From pre-production to post, we have a load of big and little jobs to ensure a smooth, seamless process. Let’s take a quick look at how we work…

Pre-Production

What is it they say? Fail to plan, plan to fail. Especially with short turnaround times, it’s important to plan your video content .

Everything starts with the brief. What’s the purpose of the video? Where’s it being shown? What’s the best way to bring your message to life visually?

Knowing your deadline upfront also ensures seamless production, so we can schedule and book in our studio and resources ready to edit the first version and have time to work on your amends, right up to final delivery.

Before any shooting, editing or motion graphics happens, we write a script, storyboard and sometimes a shot list. This is a collaborative process with all our clients so we can nail your messages, help the story carry weight and keep your viewers engaged!

Throughout the pre-production stage , our in-house directors, producers and production co-ordinators organise everything behind the scenes. Including sourcing talent, locations, preparing licenses and agreements and everything in between.

We create call sheets, risk assessments and method statements so everybody knows when and where they need to be. Everything’s agreed before shooting and after all plans are in place, it’s time to get into production, whether that’s editing, CGI, motion graphics or filming.

Ready to Roll

So, the shoot day is here! Depending on the requirements on set, our crews can be a big or small team. We always film at 4K resolution , meaning high-quality footage and lots of data after a long day of filming. We’re big fans of organising though so it’s no sweat.

Whether it’s a live-action shoot, animation or motion graphics, our clients deserve the highest quality videos . So, we have the latest software, equipment and friendly crew working hard to get the best results. Camera and sound operators focus on setting up kit to work with the location.

Timings on a shoot are key. So, we plan a tight schedule to maximise the time and capture all the content needed. But the most important thing? The tea and coffee run.

From Raw to Refined

Everything we shoot is copied to a secure hard drive and backed up, then reviewed at CH Video HQ. Then we begin rough cutting, sifting through all footage and putting the best clips into a sequence to match the storyline.

Now for the main edit! We weave our footage to create the first version of the video and upload this to Wipster, an online review platform where our clients can make comments and request changes. It’s a great way of replying to comments and keeping things streamlined.

Finishing Touches

Once the final edit has been approved, it’s time for ‘Picture-Lock’. This is when we refine everything from adding sound effects, to subtitles and colour grading. Here our edit team amp up colours, contrast, and visual tone, which makes a huge difference to the video. Finally, the finished video is exported at a high resolution and delivered to our clients. Ta da!

Want to find out more about how we work at CH Video? Get in touch today or read our other blogs .

Essential Tips for Speaking with Conviction on Camera

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 13:25:10 GMT

If you’ve never done it before, speaking on camera can be pretty daunting.

But directors are there to guide you through each take and give you pointers to bring out your best, so you can speak with conviction, capture attention and inspire your audience!

Here’s some expert tips for speaking on camera with conviction.

Know Your Topic Inside Out

Whether you’re being filmed for an informal interview, a live stream, or a scripted piece to camera to represent your brand or business, the more freely you can speak about a subject, the more engaging you’ll be! To speak with conviction, never come in blind. If you have a script, read through and familiarise yourself with it so you ooze confidence. Harnessing and embracing knowledge to inspire, inform, and persuade will encourage your customer or consumer to build trust.

Mastering Tone of Voice

Speak with passion, enthusiasm and conviction to enhance your message and leave a lasting impression! The appropriate tone of voice will build credibility, capture attention, persuade and impact your audience. A well-mastered tone of voice projects authority and credibility, positioning you as a reliable source of information.

Analyse Choice Of Words

Avoid words like "maybe" or "I think" and definitely “erm”. These suggest you’re unsure of what you’re talking about. Getting rid of uncertain language demonstrates knowledge and confidence . So your choice of words shapes not only the message conveyed but also the perception of the communicator (i.e. you).

Practice, Pause & Take A Breath

Every pause carries a purpose whilst the tone, volume and speed of your voice is just as important. Avoiding monotone and pausing not only helps to section your speech but the moments of silence can heighten the audience's attention. The pace at which words are delivered can either captivate or overwhelm. You don’t want to sound rushed, so practicing this on camera beforehand allows you to rewatch yourself, evaluate and improve!

Controlling Gestures & Body Language

Body language can speak volumes. Your posture, facial expr essi ons , and hand movements can enhance or detract from your message, shaping how your audience perceives you and your content. Hand gestures serve as visual aids, reinforcing key points, especially when on camera.

The next time you find yourself in front of the camera, remember it's not just what you say, but how you say it that really resonates with your audience.

Get in touch with our team to find out more on how we can support and direct you to speak with conviction, or explore our blogs to discover how else to improve your video production.

How to Write a Video Script

Cameron.Forbes@williamscommerce.com (Cameron Forbes) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 12:34:54 GMT

Here at CH, the types of scripts we receive in client briefs are pretty varied.

Some of our clients share the exact script they’re after but need our help to cut it down or simplify. But some of our clients have just a few key messages or stats that they want to bring to life and need us to flesh it out into a full video script.

Whether it’s educational or entertaining, a well-crafted script is the foundation for a successful video. So let’s take a look at how to write a compelling video script.

Know Your Audience

Tone of voice means a lot. So, understanding your audience is the first step in writing a video script that resonates. Research shows that tailoring content to your specific audience increases engagement. Identify their preferences, interests and adapt your language to create a script that speaks directly to them.

Craft a Strong Hook

After 10 seconds, 20% of viewers will have already stopped watching. Videos that grab attention in the first 10 seconds have higher viewer retention rates so make sure you develop a compelling hook that persuades people to keep watching.

Outline Your Story

Whether it's a simple product explainer or a documentary, a clear and well-structured script and story does wonders. You could follow the three-act structure commonly used in filmmaking to create a beginning, middle, and end that keeps your viewers engaged.

Keep it Concise

Studies show that shorter videos generally have higher engagement rates, with the ideal video length varying based on the platform and content type. Aim for a concise script that delivers your message effectively without filler.

Focus on Benefits

Promoting a product and conveying key information? Make sure you highlight the benefits for your audience. People are more likely to engage with content that addresses their needs or solves a problem.

Use a Call to Action

Guide your viewers on what to do next by including a clear CTA . Whether the goal is to drive website visits or video shares, a well-crafted CTA encourages audience interaction.

Be Conversational

Avoid jargon and formal language in your script. Like a friendly email, conversational language can result in better engagement. Speak directly to your audience in a tone that resonates with them. We’re all human after all!

Revise and Refine

So your initial script is done. Next step is to refine it for clarity and coherence. Seek feedback from others to gain different perspectives and then adjust and re-read.

Collaborate

All of our producers work with our clients in collaboration to write a script that hits all these points, making sure it's the right TOV, the right length and includes all the messages they need to include. And of course, adding our sparkle too!

Need help writing your next video script?
Drop us a line at hello@ch-video.com .

Creating Engaging Narratives for Different Videos

Cameron.Forbes@williamscommerce.com (Cameron Forbes) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:33:59 GMT

Let's explore how crafting engaging narratives differs for consumers, businesses, and employees.

Consumers

Consumers are bombarded with video content. To stand out, create a narrative that resonates. Here’s some ways you can do this:

Emotional Appeal: Tap into emotions to get a memorable connection with your audience. Emotionally charged content can significantly impact cons umer behavior .

Story Arcs: Craft a compelling story arc to keep people invested from start to finish. Strong narrative structures in videos can help maintain viewer interest .

Personalisation: Tailoring content to the individual preferences of consumers enhances engagement, it snaps them out of just scanning their feed if they recognise that the video is relevant for them .

Businesses

For businesses, video content is a powerful way to showcase your values and expertise, as well as building trust with your potential clients:

Value Propositions: Clearly communicate the value of your product or service in the first five seconds of your video for maximum impact.

Expert Testimonials: Incorporate expert testimonials or endorsements to enhance your credibility. Studies show that consumers trust recommendations from experts more than any other form of advertising.

Educational Content: Use an explanatory style narrative to educate your audience and position your brand with authority, fostering tru st an d loyalty .

Employees

Internally, videos play a really crucial role in sharing information, fostering company culture, and ensuring effective communication within organisations:

Internal Communication
Videos are great to boost internal communication across the board, share business updates, celebrate success and generally make the whole team feel connected .

Training and Development
Visual information is processed 60,000 times faster than text , making video an efficient training medium for employee training.

Employee Testimonials
Featuring employees in your videos sharing their experiences fosters a sense of community and inclusivity. Increase your employee engagement, and in turn boost company growth .

Creating really engaging narratives for different types of videos comes down to understanding the purpose, needs and expectations of your audience. So tailor your video content correctly and maximise its impact!

Got questions? Drop us a line at hello@ch-video.com

Incorporating Storytelling into Videos

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 12:58:34 GMT

Everyone needs a video that packs a punch, tells a compelling story and keeps people engaged. Read on to learn how.

Who's Watching?

Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of effective storytelling, so plan ahead, figure out the demographics and interests of who you’re targeting.

Next, tailor your story to resonate with their preferences and emotions. Personalise your content to increase viewer engagement and build a strong connection.

Kick Off with a Bang!

First impressions are everything, and in the world of video, this is massively true. Use the opening moments to draw your audience in.

Make sure the start of your video is captivating so people can't resist sticking around for the rest, because a great first few seconds has a significantly higher chance of retaining your audience throughout.

The Importance of Story Arcs

A start, middle, and end is essential. Especially when it comes to more narrative-driven, human stories. So, have a clear narrative arc that takes viewers on a journey.

If you do this right, your well-structured story will create an emotional connection and make your content more memorable for them.

Let the Visuals Do the Talking

The power of visual storytelling is unmatched. Allow your audience to experience what you want them to see and hear. Source the very best footage or film relevant shots to bring your message to life.

Done right, this can enhance emotional engagement, and retention .

Keep it Real

Authenticity makes a story resonate and establishes consumer trust and loyalty .

An easy win is to make your message personal and relatable by filming people who reinforce your story.

A professionally shot interview or piece to camera can make all the difference, like this video we produced for Kenyon. Zoom recordings can fall flat. They just don’t have the same gravitas.

Tune In

Music and sound effects aren’t just background noise. Music significantly influences viewer engagement and their connection with your content.

No matter how short your video is, choose a track and sound effects that add an extra layer and reinforce the energy and story of your video, like we did with this 14 second advert for Krispy Kreme.

Short and Sweet

Attention spans continue to get shorter and shorter. It’s true that shorter videos often result in higher viewer engagement and completion rates.

So, keep your story concise, to the point and leave your audience wanting more.

Play and Learn

Don't be afraid to experiment!

Learn from what’s worked before and stay relevant to captivate your audience.

Change it up. Try new visual treatments and styles that feel fresh, and explore different ways of presenting a narrative.

Got questions? Drop us a line at hello@ch-video.com . Cheers!

We're Gold Award Winners!

gary@ch-video.com (Gary Wales) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:15:44 GMT

We're so pleased to have been awarded Gold at the EVCOM London Live & Film Awards 2023.

Our submission in the category 'Best use of a Smaller Budget' for the King's College London video 'Geography' was awarded the top trophy on the evening amongst stiff competition.

The evening was also an excellent opportunity to view and applaud lots of great creative work from our industry peers.

The Brief

Their Geography course video on King's College London's website was dated and old fashioned.

They wanted a brand-new, fast paced video fit for multiple social channels that added drama and captured attention in the first 15 seconds. It also needed to convey their USPs, explain that Geography wasn’t just about studying rocks, and inspire prospective students to study there.

No small task. But we love a brief like this.

This was an opportunity to do things differently. So goodbye standard talking heads, dry interviews, and dusty academics. Hello innovative, sharable, and visually interesting content!

King’s needed to feature multiple people in the video. In our experience, this means it’s tricky to secure a filming date when everyone is available. On top of this budget was tight.

So, we only had one day to play with. The solution was simple but so effective... audio.

Over a one-hour session, we recorded everyone’s voices in conversation, giving us authentic soundbites on why they love the course, what they learn and how they teach. Gold dust for a narrative edit! We had successfully used this style for another King’s video:

The result was a complex topic that was fully explored, planned, and creatively executed in a visually and audibly arresting way. Plus, the beauty of an audio style like this is you can hear the authentic comments.

Visually, we wanted a text-driven accompaniment, so each shot looked different. We designed bespoke style frames using King’s branding and colours. To push this further, we also created stylised text elements and colourful watercolour effects.

“I think the videos CH produced have great dynamism and creativity that brings the subject(s) to life in a compelling and engaging way, told in a way that is appropriate for the audience.”

Lesley Stears

Head of Portfolio Marketing, SSPP at King's College London

A Helping Hand Behind the Scenes

Ashleigh@ch-video.com (Ashleigh Clayton-Goddard) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:42:12 GMT

We love celebrating an occasion and putting up some festive decorations here at CH Towers. But if we’re honest, the last few Halloweens have been a bit of a flop. So, we were determined to kick-off the spooky season in a fun way.

Here’s how we created our very own ‘Thing’ to lend a hand around the studio!

None of our clients have specifically requested a mangled, cut-off hand before… can’t imagine why. So, hand on heart, we weren’t quite sure where to start. But that added to the fun and we learnt new and useful skills along the way.

Research, Test, then More Research

To really sell the idea, our goal was to feature a couple of shots with the hand completely detached. Luckily there have been a lot of iterations of ‘Thing’ over the years, but we found the best tips and tricks were from the BTS of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’.

We wanted our version of the hand to be more feminine in its personification, similar to ‘Lady Fingers’ (‘Thing’s’ fiancé) from the original Addams’s Family series. This meant less of the scars and more of the vampy red nails.

Producer Lauren loves everything Halloween so of course, we had our cast sorted straight off the bat.

We did an initial test using a piece of green card for the backdrop, and to cover Lauren’s arm. A great first attempt, but it was missing a lifelike edge. Nothing a quick trip to Hobbycraft can’t fix!

Whipping out our VFX skills and layering some modelling wax around the edge helped create more of an illusion where the wrist was cut-off by the green.

A Trick of the Light

To avoid dedicating hours of time to each shot, we had to be clever with our approach. This meant filming a lot of POV or partial view angles that gave the impression of the hand independently running around the office without the need of a green screen. Set design also played a big part in how we captured the hand in-situ.

One of our personal favourites is the lollipop bursting out of the sweet box. It required a hell of a lot of double-sided tape and table arrangement, and let’s not forget about that spooky lighting. DOP Sam loved adding an extra bit of depth to scene, with a ‘bokeh’ effect and some warm orange tones highlighting ‘Thing’s’ best side.

A ‘Thing’ of Beauty

Once we had the shots, it was a case of keying out Lauren’s arm, adding camera movement, and increasing the speed to give the whole Thing an unnatural vibe. Couple this with some creepy music, a spooky colour grade, and we’ve nailed it.

So, if you ever need a disembodied hand to walk through your frame - who ya gonna call?

How Video Grabs an Audience's Attention (and Keeps It)

madeline@ch-video.com (Madeline Moores) — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:30:00 GMT

Ever feel like getting someone's attention online is like trying to catch smoke with your hands? Here's a little secret: video is your best mate in this digital dance. Let's chat about its magic of how it draws people in.

It's All About the Senses

You know those super wordy articles you sometimes see online? Imagine getting all that info in a snappy 2-minute video. Sounds good, right? Videos talk to both our eyes and ears, making everything feel more alive. And hey, with subtitles, even more people can join the party, no matter their language or hearing ability.

We're Suckers for a Good Story

People love a good tale. It’s been that way since forever. Videos? They’re ace at storytelling. Mixing visuals with sound, they pull us into their world and make every story easy to gobble up.

The Feels, Oh the Feels

Remember the last time a video made you laugh, cry, or gave you chills? That’s the power of video. It can make us feel things, and when we feel, we remember.

Bite-Sized and Everywhere

We're all on the move and we want our content quick and easy. Tap on your phone and boom, there they are. Plus, sharing them is a breeze. No wonder marketers are all over video.

Keeping it Real and Raw

Lately, everyone's loving live videos or a peek behind the curtain. It feels immediate, genuine, and gets us closer to the people and brands we love.

How to Keep Them Watching

Consistency: It’s like waiting for the next episode of your fave show. Keep the content coming, and folks will stick around.

Stay in the Now: The world changes quickly. Keep up with what’s hot and your content will too.

Quality is King: It’s not about how many videos you make but how good they are. One ace video beats ten ‘meh’ ones any day.

Chat with Your Peoples: Answer comments, start a convo. Make your audience feel like they’re part of your squad.

Short and Sweet: We all have the attention span of... wait, what were we saying? Oh right! Keep it concise.

Wrapping it up, if you’re a business or creator, get to know video. Be it a cinematic wonder or a fun phone clip, master its moves, and you’re on your way to forming real connections with your audience.

Got questions or want to chat more? Drop us a line at hello@ch-video.com. Cheers!

Short or Long-Form Video Content: Which is Better?

madeline@ch-video.com (Madeline Moores) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 09:48:26 GMT

Short or long-form videos?

Who knows what’s best these days. The choice depends on your audience, goals, and distribution platforms but in short (sorry), we’d recommend a mixture of the two.

Let’s dig a little deeper and look at the plus sides of both.

Short-Form Video Content

Short-form videos are the darlings of social media, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to one minute have a unique set of advantages that make them a valuable addition to your video marketing strategy.

The key benefits of short-form video content include:

1. Quick Attention-Grabbers : They shine in a world where attention spans are shorter than ever, making them ideal for capturing the scrolling audience.

2. Concise and Impactful: Short-form videos force you to distill your message to its essence, delivering an impactful punch that resonates with your viewers.

3. Virality and Brand Exposure: Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are the natural habitats of short videos. Their snackable format encourages virality and can significantly increase brand exposure.

4. High Shareability: Highly shareable to drive social engagement and boost click-through rates in advertisements or calls-to-action.

Long-Form Video Content

On the other end of the spectrum, long-form video content spans from a few minutes to well over an hour. While they may not have the instant appeal of their shorter counterparts, long-form videos offer a different set of advantages:

1. In-Depth Storytelling: Allowing you to tell a comprehensive and immersive story. This extended format is ideal for building a strong narrative and forging an emotional connection.

2. Authority and Expertise: If you aim to establish authority or deliver complex educational content, long-form videos are your best friends. They provide the time needed to delve deeply into topics and showcase your expertise.

3. SEO Benefits: Search engines LOVE long-form content because it keeps viewers engaged for longer. This can significantly improve your SEO rankings and overall discoverability.

Choosing the Right Approach

Now we've explored the strengths of both formats, the question is: which one is right for your video marketing strategy? The answer lies in understanding your audience and aligning your goals.

1. Audience Preferences: Consider your target audience's preferences. Short-form videos are perfect for quick, entertaining content that appeals to a broad audience. Long-form content caters to those who seek in-depth knowledge and information.

2. Goal Alignment: Align your content with your business goals. If you aim to increase brand awareness and drive engagement, short-form videos are your go-to. For educational content or product demonstrations, long-form videos are the way forward.

3. A Balanced Approach: Ultimately, don’t limit yourself to just one format. Instead, strategically blend short and long-form videos. You could use short videos as teasers in a bigger campaign to generate interest and drive traffic to longer, more informative videos.

To create a well-rounded video strategy that resonates and achieves your objectives, consider the preferences of your target audience and align your content with your goals.

By thoughtfully combining both formats, you can craft a video strategy that captures attention, tells compelling stories, and establishes your authority in the digital realm. Nice.

Say hello@ch-video.com

Mastering Video Repurposing: Maximising Impact Across Social Platforms

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:50:18 GMT

Your shiny new video looks great. But hold up, it’s the wrong shape. It’s not the right length. Oh, and the file size isn’t going to work! Damn it.

Adapting your video content to suit the various requirements of different social platforms begins long before you start production.

Ensuring your content can be repurposed seamlessly across platforms is all in the initial planning, so let’s take a look.

Planning the Specifics: Platform Requirements

Instagram

Instagram caters to various formats, including feed posts, Stories, IGTV, and Reels, each with distinct dimensions and durations.

For feed videos, a resolution of 1080x1080 pixels is recommended, while Stories demand 1080x1920 pixels for optimal display.

IGTV, designed for longer-form content, benefits from resolutions ranging from 720p to 4K, offering flexibility in catering to different viewer preferences.

Additionally, attention spans are precious on Instagram, so keeping videos shorter is key. Feed videos can be up to 60 seconds, Stories are limited to 15 seconds per frame, and IGTV allows for videos up to 15 minutes (or even up to 60 minutes for larger accounts).

Facebook

For feed videos, a resolution of 1080p is recommended, striking a balance between visual quality and load times.

Keep in mind that Facebook supports a variety of aspect ratios, with 16:9 being the most common, but you can also experiment with square (1:1) and vertical (4:5) formats.

When it comes to video length, shorter is often sweeter; concise videos under 30 seconds tend to perform well, while longer-form content can find its place on the platform's Watch feature.

Additionally, leveraging subtitles or captions can enhance accessibility and viewer engagement, as many users scroll through their feeds with muted sound.

For optimal visual impact, LinkedIn recommends a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, striking a balance between clarity and load times. The preferred aspect ratio is 16:9, ensuring compatibility across various devices.

Video duration on LinkedIn can stretch up to 10 minutes, but remember that concise and focused content often garners the most attention.

Introductions matter, so front-load your videos with compelling insights to hook your viewers early.

Additionally, while LinkedIn doesn't support captions directly, uploading videos with embedded subtitles can enhance accessibility and engagement, catering to a diverse audience.

Planning for Adaptability: Upfront Considerations

Storyboard with Flexibility: Consider shooting wider shots than usual. This allows us to repurpose a 16:9 (standard video) format into a 9:16 (vertical) video without cropping out essential details.

Versatile Visuals: Designing graphics with modularity in mind. Creating elements that can be rearranged and resized without losing impact, making repurposing smooth and efficient.

Consistency in Branding: Maintain a consistent visual identity across all content. This ensures that when we repurpose your video, your brand's recognisable elements remain intact, regardless of the platform.

Caption and Subtitle Adaptation: Plan captions and subtitles that can be easily tweaked to align with the size/shape of the video on different platforms. This allows your content to seamlessly blend into diverse social media environments.

Harnessing Audio: If you’re using audio in your video, opt for a format that can be repurposed. Whether it's a voiceover or background music, ensure it can be adjusted to suit various video lengths and formats.

Failure to plan… usually makes things a bit trickier.

So, keep it at the top of your list. Because upfront consideration ensures your videos are versatile and primed for maximum engagement across the diverse landscape of social media!

Say hello@ch-video.com

Bring the Buzz: Capture the Excitement of Events

madeline@ch-video.com (Madeline Moores) — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:25:08 GMT

After all the expense and effort in getting an event up and running, why wouldn’t you want a record of it? Filming at events allows you and your colleagues to not only revisit the experience but also distribute it to those who weren’t there.

Immerse and Understand: Capturing the Event’s Essence

We love immersing ourselves in the atmosphere of what we’re shooting. Understanding what the purpose of the event is, who the audience are, and where powerful video content can play a part are big factors!

Whether it's online or in person - videos for company and client meetings, conferences, awards, product launches and sampling.

Maybe you need fun and honest vox pops soundbites with the public about a new product, digital screens playing pre-recorded clips from your colleagues, general event filming and photography, and post event content to make those who couldn’t go feel like they're right there, experiencing the event firsthand!

Plan and Schedule: Our Expertise

We’re armed with a ton of expertise in how to capture any event shoot. It’s all in the planning! Our shoot days are generally 10 hours including travel so working around the timings of the day is key.

Yes, we can sneak in a quick vox pop with your SVP before the next break out session. Yep, we can work with your existing AV team to grab an audio feed from their system to record straight into our cameras, meaning we’ll never miss a word during that important presentation. And yes, our Producers and Directors take notes during a live presentation so that post-event wrap up video you’re planning covers everything you need.

We work our magic to be in the right place at the right time, create stunning visuals to add extra oomph to those important moments.

There’s often a theme or branded look for the event that we creatively carry through into the visuals in the video content we create, like Conference Opener videos or branded visuals to wrap around the event space.

From Raw to Wow: Enhance Impact in Post

Once the event is over and our post-production team step up, the real fun begins.

There’s usually lots of footage from these types of shoots, so in the rough cut stage, we start selecting the key shots and culling the fluff… It’s a bit like taking the black socks out when you’re doing a white wash.

Then through meticulous editing and narrative weaving, we use the best footage and transform it into a story that seamlessly flows, with our Producers and Directors checking in to ensure that the client’s going to be over the moon with it.

The end result? Video content that not only captures the essence of any event and leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Let’s Plan Yours

So, whether you've got an awards show, a conference, or a sell-in meeting coming up, we've got your back.

Sit back, relax, and let us turn your events into video content that hits the mark, leaving your audience begging for an encore.

Say hello@ch-video.com

The Power of Hearing from Real People

madeline@ch-video.com (Madeline Moores) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:17:00 GMT

One of the many awesome things about video is that it’s a powerful tool to gain trust and credibility, helping brands and businesses stand out.

Unlike traditional text-based reviews, testimonial type videos where you see and hear from real people talking can get across genuine enthusiasm and emotion! Especially in vox pops form, or even as quick clips from your colleagues to reinforce your company culture.

Have a read below as we explore the benefits and how this type of content can enhance your reputation, drive awareness, and create engagement for your brand and business.

Personal Connection

One of the best things about a testimonial video approach is the ability to establish a personal connection with potential customers. By showcasing real people speaking directly about their experiences with a product or service, you humanise the brand.

These videos go beyond simple star ratings and allow viewers to witness the genuine enthusiasm of satisfied customers or happy colleagues. This personal connection fosters a sense of trust, instilling confidence in potential buyers, making them more likely to convert or want to join your team.

Social Proof

When we see real people sharing their positive experiences with a product or service, it reinforces the credibility and reliability of the brand. We tend to trust what they say (well, most of the time!)

It becomes easier for viewers to relate to their experiences and envision themselves benefiting from the product or service as well. This social proof creates a persuasive influence that can significantly impact decision-making.

Comprehensive Narratives and Real-Life Results

Storytelling techniques are great! Unlike normal text-based reviews, these narrative based videos create more impact, giving a deeper understanding of the product's value, a more comprehensive story to highlight specific benefits and real-life results.

Satisfied customers can delve into their personal journey, sharing how the product or service solved their problem or improved their lives.

Amplify Impact through Sharing

People like seeing people, so one of the best things about video testimonials is their shareability. Upload on multiple platforms to amplify your impact and extend your reach. Whether that’s within a company or externally.

To maximise exposure, you can encourage satisfied customers or colleagues to share their positive experiences, and tap into a broader audience to increase visibility.

Capture Genuine and Diverse Experiences

To maximise the effectiveness of video testimonials, businesses should strive to capture genuine and diverse customer experiences.

Showcase a range of customers from different backgrounds, demographics, and use cases. Of course, diversity adds authenticity and relatability!

Incorporating storytelling techniques and guiding customers to highlight specific benefits or results can also help create compelling narratives that resonate.

We’re full of useful tips here at CH Towers, so why not say hello@ch-video

Our first Podcast - it's REALLY USEFUL

gary@ch-video.com (Gary Wales) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 08:00:01 GMT

We decided to produce a podcast; it couldn’t be that difficult, could it?

Well, no, but it demanded the question, 'What could we possibly have to say that would be of use to listeners?’

After some head scratching, we thought we really could only talk about our experiences and how we got to work in this business of video production. Plus, we know a lot of people whose experiences we could ask about.

We’d combine that with our tips and advice and make a podcast that would be of use to school, college, and university leavers who may want some insight on how to get an 'in'—well, at least more useful insight than the usual ‘it’s who you know, you know’.

We assembled our colleagues and friends and interrogated them on mic to produce this CH VIDEO: A REALLY USEFUL PODCAST #1 (we hope you agree!).

We hope you’ll find it engaging even if you don’t have aspirations in the film, TV, or video business. Please do distribute to anyone you know who may be interested. You never know; our combined experiences may help focus the route to the start of a rewarding career.

Keep an eye out on our vacancies here and view some of our work here . Contact us here .

Top 5 Tips to Be More Confident on Camera

madeline@ch-video.com (Madeline Moores) — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 09:30:00 GMT

Appearing confident on camera can be a bit scary. We’re used to being behind the lens so we get it! So, here’s a few simple tips to make you look and feel more comfortable on camera.

Practise beforehand

One of the best ways to appear more confident than you actually are is to prep. Practise beforehand in front of a mirror or maybe recording yourself on your phone, rehearsing what you want to say so you feel confident and prepared. You'll also get a sense of how you look and sound on camera, which can help you adjust your body language and tone if you need to.

Dress for success

We all feel better when we’re wearing our favourite things don’t we! So, choose something you’re comfortable in and makes you feel good. Ideally not stripes though, they look awful on camera! Solid, bold colours tend to look best.

Pay attention to body language

Your body language can say a lot about how confident you are on camera. Try sitting or standing up straighter, keep your shoulders relaxed, and avoid fidgeting. Also a good tip for avoiding noises! Maintain eye contact with the camera or director and use hand gestures to emphasise your points if it feels natural.

Speak slowly and clearly

Speaking too quickly can make you stumble and look pretty nervous on camera. So take deep breaths before you start speaking to help calm your nerves and avoid pauses or filler words like "um" or "ah."

Use positive self-talk

Finally, remember to use positive self-talk to boost your confidence. Take a moment to tell yourself you’re capable, confident, and prepared! Visualise yourself delivering your message with ease and clarity. It’ll really help

Being confident on camera is a skill that takes practice and effort, but it's something that anyone can learn. Once you feel you’ve got the hang of it, you'll be a star darling!

We’re full of useful tips here at CH Towers, so why not say hello@ch-video

How to make your video stand out in a crowded market

Cameron.Forbes@williamscommerce.com (Cameron Forbes) — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Want to make your video stand out and memorable so people share and engage with it more?

Let’s take a look at some simple ways to make your content shine.

Start with a unique concept

The first step is to come up with a unique concept and think about what could make your video content interesting and different. Something that really resonates with your audience to capture their attention. This could be a new take on a popular topic or an unusual style that your audience hasn't explored before. Whatever it is, make sure it's something that people will really want to watch.

Focus on quality production

People are more likely to engage with videos that look professional, so investing in high-quality production is a good idea. Once you have a unique concept, focus on a quality production, making sure your video is well-lit and well-shot, well-edited, well-produced. Nobody loves watching a self-filmed video but sometimes it’s the only option. So, if you have to go that route, ensure it’s directed remotely to get the best out of the content.

Use engaging visuals and storytelling

It's also important to use engaging visuals and storytelling to keep your audience interested. This means both visually appealing and informative or fun to watch (whatever your concept!), and telling a story that is compelling and easy to follow. When viewers can connect with the story you're telling, they're more likely to stay engaged.

Create a strong hook

The first few seconds of most videos are critical, but especially on social. This is where you create a strong hook that captures the viewer's attention and entices them to keep watching. You could use a surprising fact or statistic, an intriguing question, or a dramatic scene to hook your audience. Whatever it is, make sure it's something poignant.

Optimise for search

To make sure your video stands out in a crowded market, optimise it for search using relevant keywords in your video title, description, and tags so that people can find your video when they're searching for content on your topic. You should also make sure your video is shareable and easy to embed on other websites.

Promote your video

Finally, to make your video stand out, you need to promote it. Share it on social channels, embed it on your website, and encourage others to share it with their networks. The more exposure your video gets, the more likely it is to be seen and shared!

We’re full of useful tips here at CH Towers, so why not say hello@ch-video

FAQs About Video Production

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:57:04 GMT

Ever wondered...

How long it takes to produce a video?

For standard video briefs, we usually require a minimum of three weeks from initial brief, quoting, scripting, to production, amends, and final delivery.

Of course, this depends on what’s required and how much pre-production, production and post-production work is needed to bring the idea to life. But it’s safe to expect videos can’t be briefed and turned around within a few days!

What to include in a video brief?

Is there such a thing as information overload? Not for video briefs!

Share as many details with us as you can, and our quote will be more accurate.

The good news is, we can share our CH Video Briefing Template to help but you can ask yourself:

What’s the purpose of the video?

Who’s the audience?

Do you have any references for video styles that you like, or do you need our ideas?

Where is the video being shown?

How long are you thinking?

Do you need more than one video format?

Do you need subtitles?

What’s your final deadline?

What’s your budget?

How much does a video cost?

It’s variable and depends on your requirements and the scale of the idea, approach and production resource needed.

But in general, the bigger the creative approach, the more production time and budget is required. The video duration and amount of video assets produced also plays a part.

Our clients continue to come back to us because we’re cost effective and can work a three thousand pounds to thirty-thousand-pound budgets.

We can also reverse engineer our video approach and ideas based on your budget so you can see what’s possible.

Have more questions?

Speak to us for the answers.

Big Video Trends For 2023

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:39:42 GMT

We love video! It’s exciting and ever-changing with new styles, platforms, and technologies coming out all of the time.

Let’s take a look at some of the expected video trends for 2023.

Filming In Person

Covid can jog on from our point of view. We’re back, we’re filming and we’re travelling all over.

So, film professionally! Don’t revert back to a simple self-recorded piece of content that everybody is a bit tired of seeing nowadays.

AI-Generated Videos

Artificial intelligence has really taken off. It’s transforming the video landscape and we can expect to see more in 2023.

AI-generated videos are making it easier for brands and content creators to produce high-quality video content. They can be used for a wide range of applications, including product demos, explainer videos, and social media content.

Short-Form Videos

How short is too short?! Short-form videos are huge on TikTok and Instagram, and this trend is likely to continue in 2023.

Easy to consume, share, and create, they’re the perfect way to capture short attention spans and drive engagement.

Vertical Videos

Vertical videos are optimised for phone screens and give a more natural and immersive viewing experience.

Keep the content visually compelling and engaging, with clear messages and consider if you need audio to ensure your content is accessible to everyone.

Interactive Videos

A really engaging way to give a personalised experience, allowing viewers to make choices and interact with the content, for a more immersive and engaging experience.

In 2023 you can expect more brands and content creators to leverage this as part of their marketing and content strategies on a range of applications from product demos and educational content to interactive games.

Live Streaming

It’s been around for a while but it’s been gaining more popularity in recent years, and is expected to continue in 2023.

Used for product launches, Q&A sessions, and behind-the-scenes content, it’s an authentic and unfiltered experience, it’s an effective way to build trust and engagement with your audience.

The key to success with this is really sure the content is compelling, engaging, and relevant to your target audience.

Explore More

Video will continue to be the dominant force in the world of digital marketing in 2023. So whether it's short-form, live streaming, interactive video, vertical videos or AI, there's a trend for every brand to explore in 2023.

Speak to us to pick our brains.

How Videos Can Be Used In Meetings

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 13:08:06 GMT

What if we could make team meetings better? What if we could get more done and feel more engaged in the process?

One way to do this is by using videos. Research shows that videos can increase productivity by as much as 50 percent!

So how can you use video to boost your team meetings? Let’s take a look…

Use videos to engage and energize

Videos are the ultimate way to bring some energy to a meeting, townhall event or conference.

Make an impact at a big event with a powerful teaser video to make everyone sit down and take notice. Set the tone with a fun spoof video featuring some of your leaders. Reinforce the meaning behind your meeting or conference theme to get everyone on the same page.

Use videos to share specific information

Videos are a really good way to convey information that’s hard to explain in person, like complex data visualisations or step by step processes that people need to take in and understand.

If there’s something specific about an aspect of your business that needs more explanation than text alone provides, videos can show how it works in detail, even if it's only one step at a time.

You could start with an upfront summary frame then go into more detail with visual aids. It’s like a Powerpoint presentation but far more exciting. It’s also nice to have a break from people talking at you!

Use video to show detailed processes

Everyone learns in different ways so when you’re trying to explain detail and processes, it can be helpful to show what that really looks like visually.

Use video to get people excited about your ideas and plans. You can also do that for things that haven’t happened yet, such as how a marketing plan will work, or brand plans for the coming year.

That could be an animation, filmed footage with motion graphics overlays on top, stock imagery or video clips to support what you’re explaining. Animated text read at the same time as a voice over also reinforces important elements and messages by emphasising key things to remember.

Video is an excellent way of doing all of this because you can show details and make things clearer than they would be in spoken word, or a presentation with too many pages and boring icons.

Use video to share information before, during and after a meeting

Before a team meeting or event, use videos to share info with your team who are attending in person or remotely.

The same applies afterwards. If some people can’t join the meeting, recording it and editing the highlights or key takeaways of your conversations then sharing them afterwards means everybody knows what was covered in a bitesize, more structured way. It’ll also give others an opportunity for questions and insights without needing to be there themselves. That way everybody still feels like they’re part of the action.

Video content wins

Go ahead and improve your meetings and boost team productivity. Try some of these tips out to create some buzz around your quarterly meetings, townhalls, annual conferences - the possibilities are endless with video.

Get in touch

With a ton of creative expertise here at CH Video. We can help get the ball rolling and plan the best content for you. Say hello, g ive us a c all or drop us an email.

Why Video Content Should Be In Your 2023 Strategy

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 15:24:05 GMT

If a picture is worth 1000 words, the value of video could equate to the filmography of Quentin Tarantino, and his books for good measure.

Consider this impact when connecting with your audience, guiding their attention and compelling them to stick around and watch your brand’s story unfold.

It’s projected that there will be 3.5 billion video watchers every month in 2023 . With this in mind, it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out that video marketing should be at the forefront of your strategy.

Why video content?

You might still have your doubts. Do you have enough resources ? Is it worth it? First things first, videos can make you some serious money.

The effectiveness of video isn’t even that surprising, after all, vision is our most dominant sense. Videos also build trust. The whole concept of marketing is based on trust and long term relationships, so by providing useful information and igniting emotions , you foster trust and present your products in a conversational form. Finally? Google. Google loves videos. Put simply, longer exposure builds trust and signals to search engines that your site has good content. Good news all round.

What kind of video content?

Videos come in so many different forms, it can be hard to know which one will hit the home run. The possibilities are limitless, and there are a few topics that seem to hit the mark harder than others:

Customer or consumer partnerships and testimonials: A versatile way to build credibility and showcase features of your product or service
How-tos: These videos are great not only for establishing expertise and authority but for capturing the all important ‘how-to’ queries
Give a tour and introduce your culture - show the human side of your company, connect on an emotional level and let your personality shine through

Whatever video format you opt for, the purpose is usually to attract and engage your visitors, carrying them down the marketing funnel. With so many opportunities available, it’s no wonder a video content revolution is anticipated.

As with any video strategy, it’s important your content has a detailed plan. Follow our best practices checklist to help achieve your full video potential!

Get in touch

With a ton of creative expertise here at CH Video. We can help get the ball rolling and plan the best content for you. Say hello, g ive us a c all or drop us an email.

What They Don't Tell You About CH Video...

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:31:26 GMT

As I walked up to the front door on my first day at CH, I didn’t completely know what to expect.

I got the job. My first proper job! And a job in the industry that I craved to get into was a huge bonus. I had no idea how many people I’d beaten to get it and felt out of my depth. But as I walked up those steps it suddenly became so real, I was here, ready to go, and ready for whatever the role had to offer.

My first week was jam packed with induction sessions, meetings with everybody on the team, getting to grips with production processes, learning about the history of the company, the clients we work with, among many other things.

We had a weekly team meeting to chat through all the live video projects. It was one of the most complicated spreadsheets that I’d ever laid my eyes on! So, I spent most of my free time that week trying to make sense of it. But it definitely made the difference. By the next meeting, I knew exactly what everyone was talking about, and I could even chime in with my thoughts (I could, that doesn’t mean I did!).

I remember hearing “you’ve joined us in the busiest period” quite a few times, and they weren’t wrong. It felt as though I had one week of inductions and then I was off! But I never felt that I coul dn’t ask questions or that I was on my own. Everyone knew how I was feeling because they’d all felt it before. They knew the stress that can come with it, especially people in our team who had done my job before.

Prepped and ready for anything

In my first month, I went on several shoots including a spoof 90s dance video, a piece to camera explainer video, a tech day, and an awards show. I expanded my knowledge of how efficient and helpful I can be on shoots, and what I can do to be most prepared and ready for anything that comes up on the day.

I helped in little ways to be prepared for the shoots, like creating call sheets, risk assessments and consent forms, corresponding with freelancers, putting time in the studio diary for tasks, sourcing and buying props and costumes, the list goes on!

It’s funny to look back now at just how much I’ve learned and how many things I’ve already picked up. I think I’ve come a long way and I don’t feel as though I’m the same person that started. I know so much more (the notes help too!) and continue to learn more each and every day.

It was a hectic first month, but it was a thrill! No two days were the same and that’s what keeps me coming back. It felt like I’ve been here for months. Everyone’s been so accommodating and kindly answer all my questions without hesitating.

It’s been a real joy to begin my journey into the industry here, and I couldn’t imagine working with a better group of people!

If you’d like to be part of our lovely team here at CH, keep an eye out on our Vacancies page.

Do's & Don'ts For Making Videos

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 15:33:02 GMT

Producing a video is much more than just turning on the camera and hitting record.

There’s a load of creativity and hard work that goes into making great content that really stands out.

Whether you’re planning small scale social videos or a big TV campaign, there’s lots of things to think about and plan. Ok, but where do you start?

Here’s a few do’s and don'ts so you can get cracking!

It’s a good idea to:

Understand the purpose

Before you start making a video , ensure you’re totally clear on its purpose.

Knowing what your video will be used for, where it’ll be seen, who you want to watch it will help you decide the best format and creative style to use. For example, if the video needs to be ready by a certain date or to coincide with an event or a seasonal period, you can figure out how much time you need to create it.

The type of video you make should be directed by the purpose. Ask yourself what you want your viewers to do after watching it. If your goal is to share it on social media, then create short, punchy and entertaining content that gets your message across quickly. If you want people to buy your product or service after watching your video, usually longer, more informative content works best.

Know how you're sharing it

Before you begin creating your video, it’s definitely worth being clear on where it’s going to be shared once complete.

Where will people see your video? On TV, internal intranet pages, externally on a website, on social channels? If so, it’s a good idea to get a subtitled version for people watching without sound. Are you sharing it globally or with specific countries? Consider reversioning the video into different languages. Want to show it off in a presentation? To avoid repeating things in the video that you’re planning on saying on the day, know where in your deck you’ll play the video

Know your audience

Knowing your audience is everything! Explore who your target audience are. Ask yourself who you want to watch this. What will they be interested in seeing and hearing? What will keep them engaged?

For example, if your video is focused on employee engagement, understand what your employees will want to get out of watching it. How do you want them to feel or want them to know? Or, if your video has an educational purpose, use clear language and visuals that are easy for the viewer to follow.

Plan your key messages

Before starting any pre-production, it’s usually a good idea to grasp what your main messages are. What do you want to say, what should viewers take away from watching? You can also think about how they’re best delivered - as spoken word or as animated text perhaps?

We often ask our clients to share key messages with us so we can write scripts and narratives before any visual work is started. This helps to keep things focused from the very start and prevent filming unused shots or designing artwork which could confuse your message and won’t be included in the final video.

Be realistic about your deadline

Make sure you set a realistic deadline . After all, there’s no need to rush things or give yourself just a few days to produce something subpar that nobody’s happy with. So, be proactive, think and plan ahead. Be on top of your production schedule and dedicate the time you’ll need to review scripts, storyboards, attend shoot days and then share consolidated feedback on video iterations.

Work with a video agency

Not sure if you have the know-how to create what you want? Then it’s worth getting a professional video creation company (like us!) on the case.

It’s not a good idea to:

Rush into quick decisions

It’s so important to take the time to plan any video production. Don’t rush into anything you’re not certain on. Know what your goals are from the start and speak to everyone involved so you’re all aligned on how you want your video to be.

What do you want your audience to know? What do you want them to take away from it? What tone of voice do you need? These are the sorts of questions that should be answered before any pre-production starts.

Overcomplicate your messages

If you're trying to cram too much information in your video, people will be overwhelmed (and likely a bit bored!). Every video should get your message across in a clear and easy-to-understand way. Keep it simple and concise.

Make your video too long

Making videos takes time, and it's easy to get lost in the details. But it's important to keep the length of your video manageable and appropriate for where and how you’re sharing it. If you make it too long, people won't watch all of it. In fact, they may not even finish watching half of it.

Let key timelines slip

We know you've got a lot on your plate but don't let your production timings get lost in the shuffle. If you're making videos, be on top of your deadlines. If a project isn't on time, it can cause problems and even cost you money in the long run.

Don't gather disparate feedback

It's tempting to ask for feedback from everyone you know. But that makes things messy. Get your ducks in order and consolidate thoughts from the people that matter. Keep the feedback process focused on your actual team members too; the people who are involved in the day-to-day of making the video.

Get in touch

Of course, you’re now totally clued up on what you should and shouldn't do when producing a video.

But we’re here if you need a hand.

How Important is Culture & Engagement to a Company?

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 11:49:35 GMT

Culture and engagement are pretty much the foundation of any company. They’re really essential things for businesses to thrive.

The way everybody behaves and works with each other, the company's values, beliefs, and attitudes. How integrated, involved and committed everyone feels to their work and the company as a whole. All of these things are quite closely linked through culture and engagement.

How Does a Positive Culture Help?

A positive company culture is obviously a good thing! Engaged people who enjoy their jobs, their work, and the company they work for.

This is also a great recipe for finding and retaining talent. People are more likely to go above and beyond and stick around to work up through the ranks. A positive company culture leads to better teamwork too.

Creating a Positive Culture

It starts with hiring the right people and setting the tone from the top down. But it takes ongoing effort to keep that positivity alive and make everyone aware of how important their role is, no matter how small. Here are a few examples of things you can do to create a positive culture:

Encourage open communication: Everybody should feel like they can freely communicate with their managers and their peers. Mental health is a big one too so ensure you have someone on the team as a mental health first aider on hand.

Respect individual differences: People should feel like they can totally be themselves at work. Inclusivity is everything!

Encourage teamwork and recognition: Let everyone feel they’re part of a team and their work is really valued with celebrations and awards.

Provide opportunities for growth: Create clear avenues for development, growth both individually and as groups.

Balance work with fun: Organise team days, nights out, extracurricular activities for charities and things that mean something to individual people on your team and everyone as a whole.

The physical environment: the difference between a daudy and bland office or an inspiring and fun place to be. Where would you rather spend your time?

Why is Company Engagement Important?

There are so many reasons! At the end of the day, a company is only as good as the people who make it.

Engaged people on your team are more productive and more satisfied with their jobs. They continue to create a positive company culture, which can attract and retain top talent. They’re also more likely to be brand ambassadors for their company. It’s a domino effect!

Here at CH, we’re a small team but we have a great culture. We all share Karma points with people on the team who have gone above and beyond, which equate to cash to treat ourselves - win win!

We also produce lots of videos to support team culture and engagement for lots of our clients, including filming their team events and creating highlights videos, recruitment videos, and video content for competitions. The possibilities are endless!

Get in touch with and let’s see what we can do to give your culture and engagement a boost!

Create That Feel-Good Feeling with Video

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:38:49 GMT

Creating feel-good videos that make people smile or laugh, feel excited, interested or enthused is all about striking the right balance and really considering your content.

For a positive emotive response, your tone of voice, visual style, pacing and music choice all come into play.

Use Humour (Duh!)

One surefire way to make your audience understand that what they’re watching is supposed to make them feel good is to make them laugh , whatever approach that may be.

Could you go for visual humour with props, costumes to create a spoof video? Maybe a satire style that uses a popular culture theme that people will recognise? Or perhaps a mockumentary approach, filming people in your business?

We’ve produced so many spoof videos for company conferences, events or awards over the years. They’re a really fun way to involve people during filming in something different to their 9-5 and can make an event really memorable with stand out content.

An Upbeat Tone of Voice

To strike the right tone and add impact, go for fun and upbeat. Whatever your message, positive words and an enthusiastic TOV is a very good idea to get the right response from your viewers. Be smart, witty, and interesting to get the reactions you want.

Take a break and review your script to think about what your reaction would be after watching or listening to it. Do you feel excited and enthused, or does it all fall a bit flat?

Keep it Quick

How long your video means how long people need to pay attention. Think about your reaction. Would you continue watching?

If you’re aiming for a fast paced video but your script is too long and wordy, viewers will drop off and move on. Keep it snappy, cut back on your messages.

Use Appropriate Music

If your viewers will be watching with their sound on, make sure your music is just as fun as the rest of the video. Upbeat music, usually pop or dance tracks with a fast beat, helps the audience know straight off the bat that what they’re watching should make them feel good.

As a side note, clients often ask to use recognisable chart tracks in their internal video content, and this is usually ok to do, as long as it’s not shared externally, online or on TV.

Bright & Vibrant Colours

Using bright and vibrant colours is another way to make it more uplifting and stand out. A great example of this can be seen in the ‘PEP U’ video we created for PepsiCo, where we designed and built three bespoke sets with vivid colours with a fun, 1980’s theme.

Include Happy People

If your video is going to include people, real or animated, make sure they reflect the positive tone of voice from the rest of your video. If viewers see people in the video reacting positively, this will have an impact on their own emotional response too.

Get Your Video Going

No surprises that we’re all creative (also fun and positive people!) here at CH, and we have loads of experience under our belt producing fun and upbeat content for lots of different clients.

Get in touch with us to see examples and let’s get the ball rolling .

How to Create a Great Video on a Budget

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:33:37 GMT

Every video brief and budget that we work with is totally different. It’s all part of the bespoke process of creating video content!

Some of our clients have budgets in mind and a clear vision of what they’re after. Whereas some come to us for ideas on how to do things on a shoestring. Well, we do like a challenge.

Sometimes costs need to stay low, so let’s have a look at a few tips on creating quality video content if your purse strings are tight.

Free Stock Assets

One of the most obvious ways you can save money on your video project is by using royalty-free assets . Sites such as Pexels and Unsplash provide high-quality images for free, so you can be sure you aren’t diminishing your end result. Music is another important aspect of your video that shouldn’t be overlooked in order to save money. There are some free music sites out there but it’s usually best to spend a couple of hundred on a proper royalty free track that matches your video style.

Minimising Locations

Another way to lower your production costs is by thinking about your filming locations . If you’re thinking of hiring out a big stately home, a studio, or an event space even for a couple of hours, it can mean big money. Minimising locations also reduces your expenses and transport costs for crew or cast, plus potential approval or council fees you might have to pay to shoot there.

Remote Direction

Remote filming is another method of conserving your budget, which also goes hand in hand with the tip above. If you need to feature people but they’re not in the country or availability doesn't work out, capturing people remotely (for example over a Zoom or Microsoft Teams call) is a suitable solution. Just make sure you have a video producer to direct them and make sure the content looks and sounds right, as well as covering everything in your script.

Shorter the Video, Bigger the Savings

Creating a shorter video is often a good way to reduce costs. In some cases, a shorter video can even communicate your message in a more effective way than a longer one. Generally, the most memorable videos and those with more creativity focus on a single message. Our rates are usually based on video duration too.

Leading with Text and Assets

Finally, texts and assets based video content can be just as effective as using professional filming or actors. Big, bold text and simple colours with visual assets (e.g. free stock or supplied imagery from your team) can be an effective way to get information across. You can also pay for asset packs of various icons or infographics, such as camera transitions, which improve the quality of your video for a low cost.

Get Your Video Going

We are all creative video experts here at CH. Let’s get the ball rolling with the best content for you.

The Benefits of a Talking Head Video

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:54:06 GMT

The human face is the most interesting and attractive thing you can show in video. That's why it is important to know how to present people properly.

A talking head video is an interview-style or presenter-led video that usually features an instructor or subject matter expert who talks directly into the camera or off camera as though they are addressing the learner directly.

A talking head is a really great format , but how does it work? Creative talking head videos can deliver your company story, personal message, testimonial or expert opinion in a relatable and individual way. We cover the benefits of harnessing talking head videos for your business.

Easy to Create

You’ve encountered countless talking heads on social platforms like YouTube or TikTok. Many content creators are making a fortune on these platforms with minimal operational costs. All you need is a camera , a loose script, an editing tool, and you’re good to go. Sure, you can add animation, video footage, images, and sound effects to your video — which of course increases costs. But a pure talking-heads video is one of the most effective ways to use video for your brand or business.

It's Personal

One thing we all have in common is that we’re more motivated when there’s a human face to help us stay engaged while watching.

Talking heads provide a multitude of nonverbal cues, including facial expressions, hand gestures, and accentuation. Business and brands are about people - meeting a need - a transaction between people.

Wider Reach

Talking head videos allow you to get lots of information across in a short space of time and people are more likely to watch an entire video than read a full page on a website.

On top of that, most algorithms are now prioritising this type of video format on your audience’s social feed — meaning your content is more likely to be seen.

The larger your audience is, the more diverse their respective learning styles will be. For example, while some people learn best with words, others respond better to visuals or audio. Because talking head videos incorporate all of the above, you cover all your bases.

At CH, we’re experts at working with businesses to produce creative and eye-catching content.

Give us a call or drop us an email .

World Building for PepsiCo

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 11:21:19 GMT

We love video here at CH, it’s what we do day in day out.

But what really makes our day is when our clients come to us with an open brief. Something to get our teeth into!

We get a lot out of brainstorming various creative ideas as a team and coming up with treatments and proposals to hit the mark for our clients.

A great example is PepsiCo, who one of our longest running clients that we work with across the U K, E urope and the US.

The Brief

PepsiCo asked us for eye-catching video content to introduce their new recruitment campaign ‘My Education’. This was all about encouraging existing PepsiCo talent to train and grow into new roles, like Drivers, Fleet Technicians and Maintenance Mechanics.

The videos would be playing on a loop at multiple sites across the US, without sound so it was important to tell the story visually.

Our Creative Approach

To grab people passing by, we knew we needed a strong but simple visual. Without sound, one of the best ways to do this is with human faces and expressions.

We came up with the tagline ‘You’ve Got This’ - which felt confident and alluring. The perfect sentiment for people thinking about growing their career and skills.

Visually, we wanted to show off the ‘It’ factor of PepsiCo employees who have done just that. So, what better way to do this than use a tonne of visual effects, RGB and energetic graphics?

With Covid in the mix, we couldn’t travel to the US and film real people or actors in the real locations. So, we decided on an overall treatment that gave us a hyper real feel was a more interesting visual to grab attention. Coupled with some slow-motion swagger and killer expressions, we had set the mood to match the key messages.

CG Scenes with Bespoke Lighting

Prior to filming, we researched, designed and created bespoke CGI background environments for each character.

We cast three diverse actors to film them in three separate environments, with costume and set design unique to their roles at PepsiCo so we could be as realistic as possible.

On-top of this, we went for RGB lighting while filming, to shift the whole scene into a more surreal look during the video. We used Astera Titan tubes to create the colour contrast that we then replicated for the rest of the scene in CGI.

Bringing it all Together

Filming each shot and scene on green screen allowed us to key the actors out and place them into our glorious CGI worlds in post-production.

With a very thorough colour grade workflow, speed ramping to add some fun, punchy freezeframe graphics and music, our scenes were complete! The end result was awesome, and it went down a storm with PepsiCo.

PepsiCo Global - My Education - Main Video - Driver (Pepsi)

We had a blast creating this content and are always looking to push boundaries by creating the unexpected.

We’re full of ideas, so get in touch: hello@ch-video.com

Our Top 5 Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 10:37:05 GMT

We love a good story, and most of them are just a shelf away from becoming the next big thing to appear on your screens.

Don’t be fooled. Amongst the flashy camera kit and glowing Macs, lies the page turning, dog earring bookworms of CH Towers. We love a good story, and most of them are just a shelf away from becoming the next big thing to appear on your screens.

We’ve all heard the line, ‘the book was way better than the film’ and there’s a certain smugness when you’ve tackled both mediums.

With that in mind, here’s a few of our favourite book to big screen adaptations.

Fight Club

Chuck Palahniuk 1996 / David Fincher 1999

Synopsis
Unhappy with his capitalistic lifestyle, a white-collared insomniac forms an underground fight club with Tyler, a careless soap salesman. Soon, their venture spirals down into something sinister.

The first rule about Fight Club. You do not talk about Fight Club (or write blogs…?)

Well, it’s worth breaking the rules to talk about this late 90s classic. Also, it’s Assistant Producer Lauren’s all-time favourite film so definitely needs a mention.

It’s the quickest book to film adaption on the list, with only three years between publication and the film release! Implementing very minor differences between the book and film, ‘Fight Club’ is a somewhat harrowing depiction of the capitalist lifestyle and the gruelling effects it can have on mental health. Norton presents the narrators state of mind, using an array of unusual stylistic approaches – most famously, the interspersed frames of Tyler’s character before he appears in the film.

One line summary?
A firm cult classic.

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott, 1868 / Greta Gerwig, 2019

Synopsis
While the March sisters enter the threshold of womanhood, they go through many ups and downs in life and endeavour to make important decisions that can affect their future.

This all-time classic has graced our screens for the past 100 years, in the form of both film and TV. But recently we got to experience Greta Gerwig’s interpretation, alongside an iconic, modern cast. Blending the character of Jo March with Louisa May Alcott herself, we are shown a non-linear narrative that uses key contrasting events, offering a front row seat to this heart-warming story.

One line summary?
An oldie but a goodie.

The Shining

Stephen King, 1977 / Stanley Kubrick, 1980

Synopsis

Jack and his family move into an isolated hotel with a violent past. Living in isolation, Jack begins to lose his sanity, which affects his family members.

Fancy yourself a few sleepless nights? We’ve got you covered. Endless mazes, bloody elevators, and creepy identical twins are just a few horrors The Overlook hotel has to offer.

But you won’t find half of the recognisable features in the pages of King’s novel. In fact, the author famously dislikes Kubrick’s adaptation. A good example of the brutality of Hollywood and how cutting corners (and book chapters!) is needed when condensing 450 pages into a 2-hour screenplay.

One line summary?
All work and no play (makes us very entertained).

Fantastic Mr Fox

Roald Dahl, 1970 / Wes Anderson, 2009

Synopsis

Mr Fox, a family man, goes back to his ways of stealing, unable to resist his animal instincts. However, he finds himself trapped when three farmers decide to kill him and his kind.

Dahl and Anderson are known for their quirky styles of writing, so some might say they are the perfect Author/Auteur duo!

As with most young fiction, the story had to be significantly lengthened to create a feature film. Bringing in new characters, family dynamics and the odd pop culture reference to inject Anderson’s more notable techniques. Nonetheless, it’s a ‘fantastic’ stop motion masterpiece in which the styles and mise-en-scene have inspired the director’s later films.

One line summary?

I guess it’s just…different!

T he Lovely Bones

Alice Sebold, 2000 / Peter Jackson, 2009

Synopsis

Susie, a 14-year-old girl, gets murdered. But she refuses to move on since she has unfinished business. Her spirit continues to watch over her family trying to reveal her murderer's name to them.

A young Saoirse Ronan, and the brilliant Stanley Tucci star in this eery coming of age story with a devastating twist.

The film does a great job at jarring the audience by incorporating Susie’s colourful dream world within the bleak 1970s reality, surrounding the rest of the family. This otherworldly presence is further emulated through the choice of camera techniques, making every scene feel suspenseful.

One thing to note is that Jackson strays far from Sebold’s narrative on many occasions, so we’d class this as a film ‘inspired by’ rather than word for word.

One line summary?

Not for the faint hearted.

Reminiscing is fun, but here’s a few upcoming releases to look out for:

Where the Crawdads did Sing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY3808Iq0Tg

My Policeman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKwrjcANM6M

Persuasion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz7HmgPJQak

Matilda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp7kk6OCs-A

What’s your favourite from our list? Give us a call or say hello@ch-video.com and we’ll put you through to Ash who’d be happy to lend you her bookshelf.

How to Reach the Right Talent with Video

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 10:49:23 GMT

If you’re hiring for a specific role or looking to reach the best skills and talent to fit what you’re looking for, video content plays a huge part.

We take a look at some key things to think about.

Be Clear and Upfront

Do not be too broad or vague in how you communicate either. Be precise and clear on what the ideal candidate needs in terms of experience and skill set.

Strike the Right Tone

Base the key messages in the script on the ideal candidate demographic and use the right tone of voice .

For example, looking for an entry level person who is likely to be relatively young? Don’t load your video with technical jargon. Speak in a way that is easy to relate to and engage with.

Culture and Inclusion is Everything

People want to know what it’s like to work at a company. They’re looking for more than just a nine to five. So, go beyond the job description. Highlight why that perfect person should want to apply for a role at your company over any of your competitors.

Make it clear how they’d fit into your company’s culture and ethos. Be honest about what you’re about to attract the right people.

Use Real Visuals

Video can explain, entertain or inform, which means choosing brilliant visuals is vital. Consider adding a few different visual styles or elements to help liven up the message.

It’s usually a good idea to show the real thing, and steer clear of stock imagery.

Got a great looking meeting space? Include a shot of it to give a feel for what your offices have to offer. Is there a place for people to relax and chat? Include it!

If you’re creating a recruitment video for a role outside of your business itself, as many recruitment agencies will be doing, you can still use visuals to your advantage. Consider asking the company you are recruiting for to provide some shots of their offices, work areas or staff.

End with a Call to Action

Talent Acquisition videos should end on a call to action. Something clear and easy to follow.

Whether that’s visiting a certain webpage, emailing a particular address or calling a certain phone number, leave that perfect candidate in no doubt as to what they should do next in order to get that ideal job.

Get your Recruitment Video Going

At CH, we’re experts at working with businesses to produce creative and eye-catching content.

So give us a call or drop us an email . (There’s our call to action!)

What Should You Establish Before Making a Video?

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Mon, 16 May 2022 10:07:59 GMT

Before you start your video, ask yourself some basic questions about your goals. Learn what’s important.

What is the video’s purpose?

It is video best practice that the first and most important point you need to establish before making your video is what its objectives are. Whether it’s to sell a product, increase sign-up rates or inform viewers about a company update, you should understand how you’re going to deliver your brief.

Who is your audience?

This should be quite a simple one. Determine the type of person your video is aimed at and what motivates them to take the actions you want them to take. Once you understand this, you can tailor your content so it specifically appeals to your chosen target audience .

What’s the Best Tone of Voice?

Hitting the right TOV for your video is important to ensure you don’t alienate potential customers or consumers by striking the wrong tone, especially if you’re using voice over. For example, if you’re going for informative or serious, then stick to minimal music and confident, matter of fact language. But there’s always room for a bit of humour if it feels right!

What’s your Call to Action?

Every effective video should include a strong CTA to remind the viewer what the video is telling them to do. This helps boost engagement rates and ensures a clear message. Think about where you want viewers to visit, what you want them to buy and when, how you want them to feel.

What Channels will your Video be Displayed on?

In order to get the maximum return on your videos efforts, make sure your content is shared and uploaded on the right platforms. For example, a 15 second video is great for a story on Instagram, and a video over five minutes is better suited for YouTube rather than Facebook or Twitter.

Get your Video Content Off the Ground

With a ton of creative expertise here at CH Video, we can help get the ball rolling and plan the best content for you. Say hello, give us a call or drop us an email .

What is the Best Way to Use Stock Footage

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 13:26:33 GMT

Stock footage can really enhance any type of video. Especially if you don’t have the budget to film bespoke content specifically for your content.

To put it simply, stock assets are visuals (usually stock footage or images) that are licensed from content creators, either for free or for a cost.

They can also save time and resources when creating your video production. Read on to learn how.

Use as B-Roll

One of the most common uses of stock footage is as supplemental footage or what we call ‘b-roll’.

For example, stock footage of a city or landmark to establish a geographical location, or a sunrise or sunset to establish the time of day or a certain emotion or feeling.

Free Stock or Paid Stock?

We produce videos all the time for our clients that are entirely stock based. This can be a challenge but there’s some great sites out there these days (as well as free ones like Unsplash or Pexels ) which we use a lot when budgets are tight. They also have a pretty good selection (including some random and funny visuals!) and rival what you can find on paid sites like Shutterstock.

But if you need to show something really specific in your video, it’s always best to use stock assets from paid sites, as they offer much more choice and also diversity if you need to show lots of different people.

Using Stock in Promos and Adverts

Stock can be used in adverts and promo videos as a way to save time and resources that otherwise would have had to have been spent on casting actors or shooting on-location. With stock footage, these problems are eliminated and the most optimal footage for the advert can be selected.

Other Ways Stock is Useful

Sometimes stock footage/images/assets can simply serve the purpose of acting as an attractive background for information being delivered either via text on the screen or via a voiceover narration. It can also be used on website pages to add a visual interest to information, or something visual to fill time before an event begins.

Another useful way to use stock assets can play a part is when time or budget is short, we pay for ‘asset packs’ of various icons or infographics, subtle effects like floating particles or lens flares, camera transitions - all of these things help to add an extra layer of sparkle to our video content we produce for so many of our clients!

Get your Video Content Off the Ground

With a ton of creative expertise here at CH Video, we can help get the ball rolling and plan the best content for you. Say hello, give us a call or drop us an email .

A Quick Look at Our Video Production Team

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 12:16:07 GMT

Here at CH, our team is at the top of our priority list. Read on to learn about all the vital job roles that make up our agency.

Here at CH, our team is at the top of our priority list, as well looking after our lovely clients and making awesome video content, of course.

We're a fairly small team but we are mighty! Lots of us have different roles and can wear different hats when needed. For example, you may find Senior Producer Mads doing the odd music edit, and MD Emily directing the odd interview. We like to get our hands dirty to support our clients and grow skills across everybody in our CH family.

Here's a quick look at our roles and what that means when we're creating a video project...

Managing Director Emily

No surprises here. The MD has the power! Emily’s in charge of running things, providing strong leadership and decision-making to make sure we’re running smoothly.

Being a Producer herself, she also likes to get involved in client briefs, brainstorms and proposals for big scale projects.

Emily’s a dab hand at music editing (coming from a musical background herself!) and has a knack for smashing quick turnaround projects.

Creative Lead Gary

Gary is in the prime position of Creative Lead… daaarrling! Over the past 30 years or so, his knowledge combines theatre direction, graphic design, computer graphics and video production. As well as producing and overseeing the creative elements for lots of our big video proposals, you’ll often find Gary at home in After Effects, InDesign and Illustrator and planning CGI projects, concocting something pretty.

Senior Producers/Directors Laura & Mads

Laura and Mads have both been in the video industry for the best part of two decades now, Producing and Directing video projects for a wealth of clients.From deciding the creative direction of the video, quoting, scripting, storyboarding, budgeting, making casting decisions, directing shoots and ensuring the end product meets our client’s briefs in every way! Laura and Mads also manage individual jobs and also oversee production with our more junior Producer team (below).

These roles are about overseeing our vast client list and devising the strategies for lots of our video projects.

Producers/Directors & Production Co-ordination Rach & Lauren & Ash

Similar to the above, Rach, Lauren and Ash are also involved in producing, directing and coordinating our video projects, adding creative flair and making sure that deadlines are met and key decisions are made to hit the mark.

Post Production & Motion Graphics Lead Aidan

Aid is the head of our edit team, responsible for all things edit, motion graphics, 3D, CGI, and the technical things that we manage in house. Creating video projects from scratch as well as designing and animating artwork for our videos, Aid also supports the more junior people on our edit team here at CH Towers.

Video Editor/Motion Graphics Jade

Similar to the above, Jade looks after our editing and animation work with creative flair. Everything from editing interviews, piece to cameras and events that we film, subtitling, reformatting for social media to full motion graphics projects.

Junior Editor/Camera Operator Sam

Sam has a keen eye for filming and lighting to help us shoot in an effective and eye-catching way. Once filmed, Sam loves to colour grade and arrange shots in the edit so that they tell a compelling story and get our client’s messages across.

Production Assistant Cheryl

As our Production Assistant, Cheryl has a really wide range of organisational responsibilities to ensure that all production runs as smoothly as possible. From contacting freelancers to organising team activities, Cheryl is hands on and has a great eye for design too.

Human Resources & Accounts Diana

Diana’s got a key role in our team, responsible for the inner workings of invoicing, paying our team and also plays a huge part in hiring new people on our team.

We’re a nice bunch! So, if you’re after a video, get in touch .

The Effectiveness of Compilation Videos

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 11:05:12 GMT

Compilation videos can be promotional gold dust for brands and businesses.

Read on to learn how to use compilations to give potential customers and consumers a great impression and really showcase what you have to offer.

What are Compilation Videos?

In short, a compilation video is what it sounds like. Plenty of visual collateral edited together, usually with the animated text and music. These types of video can be used for a variety of purposes with varying tones of voice , such as informative or entertaining.

Why are they so Effective?

Compilation videos are so effective because they can have the impact of a filmed video without needing to use the necessary time and resources. By utilising a wide variety of assets, you can show viewers the benefits of choosing your brand or your business’ products and services. Keeping the video vibrant and the message consistent will help it stick in the minds of potential customers after they’ve finished watching.

What Should be Included?

Effective compilation videos should have a variety of high-quality and vibrant visuals that look crystal clear to viewers. Incorporating short form text to get your message across is a good plan for people watching the video without sound too.

If your video is being shown where people will definitely hear it, adding Music can help you make the viewer feel something. Excited, intrigued, or otherwise, it's important to make sure the music chosen fits the mood of the video and your message.

Ensuring the video flows well is essential to its success. This means making sure that relevant visuals follow each other so the video almost tells a story, rather than jumping from one random image to the next.

Get your Video Content Off the Ground

With a ton of creative expertise here at CH Video, we can help get the ball rolling and plan the best content for you. Say hello, give us a call or drop us an email .

A Quick Look at the Psychology of Video

chris@digity.co.uk (Chris Lunn) — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:40:51 GMT

Have you ever wondered how you’ve suddenly spent endless hours down the Instagram rabbit hole? Did you consider this is your brain responding to satisfying visuals? Our brains are weird and wonderful like that.

There’s evidence that the human brain can identify images in 13 milliseconds which is much faster than text. Now combine that with audio and movement and you’ve got yourself a video, the ultimate communication tool. Science!

Here are some theories and tips to help your audience have one hell of an eyegasm.

Symmetry

It may be old news that the human brain finds facial symmetry attractive, but did you know this subconscious preference doesn’t stop there? Research suggests that we’ve evolved to have a preference in symmetry in other stimuli too. Symmetry appears everywhere in nature, which might explain why being surrounded by nature makes us feel happy and calm.

Symmetrical visuals can help reduce stress and increase our concentration, but whilst we love precision and stability, it can sometimes feel artificial and static. So, it can be beneficial to have subtle differences between both halves to add interest and character. After all, the human face isn’t perfectly symmetrical.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a familiar technique amongst photographers and videographers. It’s a guideline that divides the image into thirds (horizontally, vertically and diagonally) usually with the subject positioned in a key area within the frame.

But why is this technique important?

This positioning makes the image look balanced, creates visual interest and it ‘feels right’ to the human eye. (Are you starting to spot a trend here?)

Secondly, having your subject in the centre leaves less space for your viewer’s eye to wander. Studies show that people’s eyes typically go to one of the intersection points rather than dead centre. This composition makes viewing the image a more natural experience.

The Power of Colour

Colours are powerful because they carry instantaneous messages without words. Our brains are designed to respond to different colours, for example, red for stop, green for go, but they also elicit specific feelings. By understanding the basics of colour theory, you can grab attention and invoke strong emotions with your video content.

You can read more about using colour in video in our blog: Colourful Content: Using Colour in Video

The Law of Pragnanz

This theory claims that our mind and eyes try to simplify complex images to prevent us from being overwhelmed with information. That’s why abstract art takes more brain power to understand. Research suggests that our brains process these visuals by transforming them into a single, unified shape.

Without this ability, we wouldn’t be able to recognise objects which are partially blocked. For example, we’re able to recognise objects and connect unseen parts to create wholeness, even while peering behind a bush or through a window.

Understanding this theory means you can take note of the design or your animation to create an easy viewing experience, or the negative space in your visuals to compose some amazing photos/footage.

In summary, there’s more than meets the eye! We love exploring different creative treatments to produce interesting videos so say hello@ch-video , and let’s create!

Video Production Trends to Look Out for in 2022

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 12:18:17 GMT

Whether it’s a six second ad or a compilation, video is one of the most popular and engaging ways of capturing audiences.

As video looks set to be even more of a powerhouse for companies and advertisers in 2022, we wanted to share our predictions for trends to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled!

Personalised Videos

Much like email marketing, adding personalisation into your content shows promising results in user engagement. For video content, although this is not widely used, it's certainly an up and coming trend. The principle is simple, allowing parts of the video to include the viewer's name, behaviours, preferences etc.

According to Forbes , personalization in marketing converts 202% better than non personalized media and offers 20x the ROI. Combined with video’s dominance as the number one form of media used today, it's clear to see why personalised video is set to be the strongest way to capture attention in 2022.

Search Optimized Videos

Labelling and segmenting content according to the topics you are covering, allows Google to optimise search results and place your video in front of the right people. Using tags also allows you to better target your content to specific search queries. This is another area relatively new to markets, but it's a trend worth exploring in the following year.

Short Form Videos

In 2022, we expect a majority of brands to turn to short-form, explainer videos for their content. With most platforms (Instagram Reels, TikTok, Twitter etc) expanding their short form offerings, brands should utilise and prioritise short-form content offerings. Short form videos add value that audiences can use in their day to day, increasing retention opportunities.

According to HubSpot’s 2022 Marketing Industry Trends Survey , 30% of social media marketers plan to invest more in short-form video than any other strategy in 2022. Meanwhile, 33% plan to leverage short-form video for the first time in 2022.

Short form videos are particularly lucrative, as predicted by Statista . Statista stated that the number of TikTok users is set to grow by 1,110,000 users in 2022.

Get your video content off the ground

As with any video strategy, it’s important your content has a detailed plan. Follow our best practises checklist to help achieve your full video potential!

With a ton of creative expertise here at CH Towers, we can help get the ball rolling and plan the best content for you. Say hello, give us a call or drop us an email.

Video Ads That Inspired Us In 2021

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 13:46:19 GMT

Here at CH Towers, we like to share. Whether that’s a timely GIF, Gary’s homemade sausage rolls, or creative ideas during our brainstorms.
We’re always on the lookout for new trends and styles and how those are being used creatively in video content.

For years now, we’ve been using one of our Slack channels (aptly named ‘cool ideas’) to post hundreds of videos that we like the look of, so everyone in our team can be in the know. Here’s a few that really inspired us in 2021:

MINI - URBAN-X

Bustling imagery and city footage highlights the divide between city lovers vs city haters. We love the contrast shown throughout as well the physicality of the imagery, favouring messaging on billboards over digital text on screen. Our favourite part? Maybe the split-screen pizza box showing the city’s food delights.

Chipotle: A Future Begins

Among the team at CH we love so many different aspects of this. The smooth camera moves, the superb stop motion animation and the tactile look of the models and sets. It’s a very strong follow up to the fantastic ‘Back to the Start’ Chipotle advert from 2011 – well worth checking out.

Sainsbury’s - A Christmas to Savour

A visual celebration of the fabulous chaos that happens in a slice of time at Christmas, reminding us all what we’ve been missing recently. A superb ad with slow motion trickery and a fabulous soundtrack - Sainsbury’s have really nailed the Christmas ad this year.

Apple – Start Up

A great audio-led promo starring A G Cook showing how even a tiny click, pop or alert can be crafted into something more. A great piece to honour Apple’s roots whilst showcasing the products they’ve released in a creative way.

Anchor & Spotify - Podcast Subscriptions

Superbly designed and executed promo exploring podcasts and what they bring to audiences. We love the pythonesque cutouts, the smooth animation and the sound effects which bring everything together so well.

Google – Life Unfolds

Mixing 3D origami and a stylised set, this promo explores the work of Nobuyuki Yamaga and the features of Android TalkBack that allow him to create his origami art.

KPMG – Welcome Back to the Office

As many workers were transitioning back to the office, KPMG Norway led the way showing how their employees can bring both the good and bad of ‘WFH’ with them. Hilarious and engaging, a perfect employee engagement video.

HSBC – Opportunity Doesn't do Borders

A clear narrative and a simple metaphor help this TV ad from HSBC to resonate with a wider audience. Sometimes simple, and thoughtful, is best.

Say hello@ch-video.com to get inspiration for your next video .

Using Live Streams to Promote your Business

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 13:37:43 GMT

When it comes to enhancing brand reputation and customer engagement, the possibilities video presents are huge, and live streaming on social media is increasingly being used by businesses.

Facebook Live and Instagram Live, as well as similar offerings from YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn are presenting a clear path to reach new audiences far and wide.

Live streaming is a great way to promote your business and showcase your company’s ethos and culture .

Why Live Stream?

Live video has significant potential when part of a marketing campaign.

According to Vimeo Livestream , 80% of people would rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog, while 82% prefer live video to social posts.

Statista research shows 63% of people aged between 18-34 watch live streaming content on a regular basis, while 67% of people who watched a live streaming event bought a ticket to a similar event in the future according to Vimeo Livestream .

This is just the tip of the iceberg. With the live streaming market predicted to be worth US$247 billion by 2027 , this trend is only going one way.

With all this in mind, getting your approach to video and live streaming right just got a whole lot more important.

What to Include in a Live Stream

Choosing what to include in your live streaming is important, as you can imagine!

If you’re a retailer, sneak peeks of new and exciting products are a good option.

Equally, how-to guides for viewers or demonstrations on how to use a product effectively are popular.

Event broadcasts are also a way of promoting and pushing what your business is doing via live streams.

Webinars and Q&A sessions are also a great way to engage with your audience. This can position you as an industry authority, but be sure to present your business streaming efforts in an engaging way .

How to Get Started

While the live nature means some things can’t be completely controlled, avoid mistakes that make the operation look a bit amateur. Dead parts of your stream or sections that are messy will only turn people away. Following a best practice checklist can help you get the right kind of plan set up.

Also look to promote your live streaming event extensively with a solid communications plan . The last thing you want is for nobody to tune in, particularly given how effective live streaming can be. Don’t let your hard work go to waste!

Get Your Live Streaming Video Off the Ground

With a host of creative video expertise within our team, we can help get the ball rolling and plan the best content for you. To chat, give us a call or drop us an email .

Filming with a Smartphone

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:11:36 GMT

Ever needed to film yourself or other people using your phone?

Luckily for you, we have tips and tricks to help ensure your finished video has high-quality visuals and audio.

What You'll Need

A smartphone with a good camera and microphone
A way of securing the smartphone for stability

Find a Suitable Space

Filming inside is always the best option as it allows you to have more control over your environment (e.g. no rain, wind or bright sunshine!).

Positioning yourself in front of a simple background is usually a good idea. If you’re using a plain wall, make sure there’s a few feet of distance between you and the background.

‘Flat’ lighting is also very important. Natural light is the best as it usually helps to avoid harsh shadows on you or your background. Making sure you face the light usually helps reduce this, so try and directly face a window while filming.

Tips for Good Audio

Having decent audio is essential for a high-quality finished product.

Clapping your hands in different rooms and picking the room with the least echo is the best way to do this.

Take a second to listen if there’s anything that’ll interfere with you being heard - such as heating/ventilation, background music, side conversations or outdoor traffic.

Brightness and Exposure

Variable brightness due to lighting changes isn’t ideal.

It’s actually quite easy to lock your exposure on a smartphone such as an iPhone.

Tap and hold on your subject to set the focus and exposure until you see the yellow bounding box bounce and the text “AE/AF LOCK” appear. You can also now manually adjust your scene exposure by dragging your finger up (to increase brightness) and down (to darken the image).

Tips for Good Video Footage

Make sure the subject (i.e. you or whoever you’re filming) is in a comfortable position, not hunched over or looking up or down towards the camera/phone
The phone and the person holding the phone should be completely still when recording but ideally use a mini tripod or prop it up on something
Look directly at the tiny camera lens (ideally in landscape format, not vertical)
Try to avoid showing outstretched arms if you have to hold your phone
Frame yourself so you’re not too far away or too close to your phone camera
Don’t write or type out your script to read (this will make your eyes look very unnatural!)

Record a Test Clip by Yourself First

To check everything above, record it then watch it back with your earphones in. Ideally you’ll look well-lit without any shadows or harsh light on your face. If not, move yourself or your subject somewhere more suitable.

Hopefully your voice sounds ‘full’, without too much bass or treble, but if you sound quite ‘roomy’ or echoey, move to a more suitable space.

Finally, check yourself in the mirror before you film. If your face or head is ‘shiny’, wipe it with a paper towel (or use make up if necessary).

Summary

ALWAYS film in landscape format
Ensure good lighting, always face a window or an artificial light source and don’t have the subject placed with their back to the window (or you’ll be a silhouette!)
Set your phone to airplane mode so you don’t have any interruptions
Ensure some distance between the subject and the background
Ensure the shot is as steady as possible, supporting your phone securely if you don’t have a tripod
Sound is critical so ensure you’re are in a quiet area - check for echo or loud air conditioning as well as the flow of people around you who may talk and obscure your sound for example. If outside, check for wind noise on the recording. You may not hear it but the microphone may well do and can ruin your audio. Always ensure consistency of sound between your shots
Speak clearly and keep eye contact with the camera for the entire time
Leave a short pause, look at the camera lens for a second then start to talk and hold your gaze for a second after you finish talking and press stop
Check your appearance and use make-up or wipe their face with a tissue to avoid any ‘shine’ on your face

Get in Touch

We love to deliver impressive, creative and high-quality video content that hits the mark. Check out our portfolio to view some of our work for satisfied clients.

Another nice thing is that all our account managers are also producers and directors. So we give the kind of insight and experience that you’re looking for.

Give us a call or drop us an email , let’s chat.

Our Video Best Practice Checklist

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 13:49:19 GMT

When planning and creating a video, there’s a few things to take into account so your content stands out.

Read on to learn what you need to include in your video to have the most impact.

Keep it Short and Sweet

Simple. Get your central message across as effectively as possible. The best way to do this is to keep it short and to the point so your audience watches the whole thing.

Don’t use lots of text or spoken word, convoluted storylines or multiple conflicting messages. Keep everyone’s attention focussed on what you or your brand has to say.

Use the Right Tone of Voice

Using an appropriate tone of voice for your video helps you connect with the right audience in a unique way. If your video is light-hearted, including humour would make sense, whereas if you were creating a more informative video then you wouldn’t use jokes. It’s not rocket science.

Getting your video’s tone of voice wrong could make people skip watching at best, or worse, offend them and damage their perception of your brand.

Use Appropriate Audio

Music and background audio is just as important as stunning visuals and an engaging storyline when it comes to creating a successful video.

It can perfectly reflect your brand’s identity but getting the timing or style wrong could result in a video that confuses and alienates your audience.

Include Complementary Visuals and Colours

Engaging visuals holds your gaze and keeps you watching. Whether it’s imagery you’ve created yourself or an online resource, as long as it matches the tone and message you’re trying to send then it will land well with your audience.

Colours can also be used in your videos for a similar purpose, if you’re trying to create content that draws attention to a new product, a bright colour scheme is a good shout, whereas if the video you are creating is more serious in nature, then it would make more sense to use a more muted colour scheme.

Finish with a Call to Action

The best way to end your video is with a strong call to action that tells your audience exactly what you want them to do after watching your content.

This can be anything from visiting your website, to buying a product, or just giving your social media pages a follow.

Including a CTA in your content is essential to maximise the impact your video has. If you don’t directly tell your audience what you want them to take away from your video, you’re wasting your time and resources.

Get in Touch

We love working really closely with our clients to deliver impressive, creative and high-quality content that hits the mark. Check out our portfolio to view the work we did for loads of our satisfied clients.

Another nice thing is that all our account managers are also producers and directors. So in other words, we have our fingers on the pulse and give the kind of insight and experience that you’re probably looking for. Give us a call or drop us an email , let’s chat.

Tap-ping into the Family Home with Thames Water

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 15:52:26 GMT

Here at CH, we have a solid foundation of all our clients allowing us to take a brief, work to brand guidelines and add that extra sparkle!

A great example is our ongoing partnership with Thames Water who we recently worked alongside for their latest campaign ‘Save a Drop.’

Project in the Pipeline

Thames Water asked us to produce a suite of short form video content to communicate water efficiencies in the home.

Having the opportunity to respond to any creative brief is great fun for the team. Our brainstorm sessions are always bursting with creativity and a great way for us to utilise experiences from all sides of production and offer new perspectives.

We decided to follow a reportage style that explored the ‘everyday family’ with realistic scenarios like taking a shower, using dual flush and what to do when you have a leaky loo.

We wanted authenticity in every aspect of production and especially during casting. With the shoot taking place at the height of the second wave of COVID with restrictions still in place; we needed to use a real family group of actors in a single household that could be filmed in close proximity. Our options were limited and although we’d worked with child actors in the past, it was an added logistical challenge. On top of that, we also needed a location to fit the specific requirements of each scenario and accommodate a crew of 14.

After completing several virtual casting sessions, a mountain of paperwork and a crew’s worth of negative covid tests…we were ready.

Diving into Production

We had one day to film five different scenarios, recreating the summer sun in the pouring rain of February (find out more about how we achieved the lighting here ), and ensuring everyone followed our COVID filming guidelines.

Arriving bright and early, we took steps to protect both ourselves and the location:

• Staggered arrival times for cast and crew

• Temperature checks on arrival

• One-way system and assigned rooms

• PPE and face masks worn by everyone not in front of the camera

• COVID safety briefing before filming started

• Protective shoe covers worn while on location

• Tennis balls on light stands (to prevent marking the floor) – sounds crazy but really works!

Part of our extensive pre-planning was factoring in the shorter winter days (and risky weather forecast!). We started outside, working with the bulk of the crew while our Art Director and Production Assistant were dressing the next scenes. There was a massive amount of detail put into each shot such as adding plants to the flowerbed, a water butt to the garden and added food remnants to prop plates.

We followed a meticulous schedule to capture all the necessary content, as our Producer was keeping track our child actors, ensuring they had the correct number of breaks throughout the day with their chaperone. The Director and DOP had to think on their feet, adapting the shot list to work within our timeframe and quickly setting up the next camera angle.

We wrapped the day with some fantastic feedback from the cast and crew in regards to COVID safety and the overall positivity on set!

Flushing out the Content

With a hop, skip and jump into the edit…thanks to the upfront work we put in during pre-production, we quickly assembled the initial narrative and secured approval from Thames Water.

We focussed on a consistent grade that suited each scenario to create a bright, engaging and most importantly fun collection of videos.

We completed the project supplying the following video deliverables:

• 5x 20 second videos and social reversions

• 1x combined video (featuring the entire collection)

Watch the combined video here https://vimeo.com/589775590

Make sure to say hello@ch-video.com to see how we add value and creativity to everything we do.

Things to Look For in a Video Production Company

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 15:28:46 GMT

Trying to decide which video production company to work with can be a tricky process.

There are different qualities that you have to take into consideration, from their work to their passion, and suitability to your brand. But at the end of the day, you want to know you’re in good hands.

We’ve created this list of qualities to look for to help you choose which one would best fit your needs.

Creativity

If a video production company is going to give you a memorable and effective video, then they need an abundance of creativity . Creativity is the lifeblood of any agency. It’s all about the ability to come up with unique and inspiring ideas is invaluable to any business.

To determine how creative an agency is, have a look at the case studies they’ve posted on their website and see if any of their approaches are what you’re looking for for your business.

Passion

Creativity alone isn’t enough to make a video company worth hiring. They also need passion for their work . A good agency can create videos that get the message across in a colourful and vibrant way, but a great agency will try and push the boundaries in any way they can to enhance the content they produce.

This can include using new styles and filming techniques to try and make their video stand out, which is something you can check by reviewing their portfolio.

Strong Portfolio of Work

One of the most important things you need to look at is their track record . Reviewing their portfolio and any client testimonials they’ve been given can also give you a good idea of what kind of agency they are.

Of course, if they’ve worked with a variety of clients across different industries and those clients have given them glowing testimonials, then it’s likely they will give you good results!

Timeliness

Another quality that any video company should have is timeliness . This not only includes reaching the pre-agreed deadlines but also responding to any inquiries you might have in a timely fashion.

A good way to tell if an agency respects your time before you’ve started working with them is by seeing how long it takes them to respond to your initial messages.

Commitment to Clients

Your initial conclusions when choosing a video production company to work with might be that bigger agencies are the best option, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Smaller agencies are able to specialise more and give you a bespoke finished product.

Smaller agencies also come with the added benefit of charging less for work of a higher quality, and are able to provide you with a more personal and detailed customer service.

Get in Touch

Luckily for you, we fit all the criteria mentioned above (obviously!)

When We Officially 'Beat Winter' (and COVID) for Thames Water

Mon, 24 May 2021 17:28:56 GMT

Thames Water came to us with a fantastic brief.

Produce online video content to encourage homeowners to be Winter ready with helpful tips on how to prepare their houses.

We know that any video being shared online needs to grab attention and retain it. And one of the best ways to do that is to use short clips with fast cuts that keep you watching. So, we instantly thought of director Edgar Wright’s work which we love - quickfire shots, crash zooms, moments of speed, and then moments of super-slow motion. Basically, a really fun and recognisable technique so we decided to aim for a similar style.

Our Idea

To represent the threat of winter, we decided to use a simple visual cue of a solitary leaf falling from a tree. Who doesn’t love a metaphor?!

Following that, we present three different people each in separate houses as they complete the ten winter tip actions (e.g., bleeding radiators and insulating pipes) in the time it takes the leaf to hit the ground. Posing the question to the viewer, 'can YOU beat winter'?

At the end of the video, there’s a sudden moment of ‘peril’ as one of the characters realise that they haven’t completed one...final...task. So, viewers are compelled to watch to the very end. A fast-paced music track and graphic captions help to drive the narrative across all three characters.

Planning a COVID-secure shoot

A shoot like this definitely keeps you on our toes.

We had just two days to film over 20 different scenes with three actors across two locations (phew!) whilst protecting the whole cast and crew against a global pandemic.

This was one of the first major shoots we had during COVID, so there was even more to consider in the pre-planning stages to make it safe for everyone. For example, not only did our location need to have all the specific requirements for the storyboard it also had to be spacious enough to accommodate a crew of 12 safely. Ensuring we were able to maintain social distancing throughout the days of shooting.

Other things we did to ensure the set was COVID secure:

· Staggered arrival times to avoid a build-up of people

· Temperature checks on arrival

· One-way system labelled on the floor throughout the location

· PPE and face masks worn by crew and cast when not in front of the camera

· All cast and crew brought their own lunch and drinks

· COVID safety briefing before filming started

On Location

Every shot was thoughtfully planned out in the storyboard (you'd expect nothing less!) and a discussion between the Director and Director of Photography the day before the shoot ensured that all of us were on the same page by the time we made it to set.

Working in a methodical order to minimise set changes, we approached each shot so that we were true to the storyboard, but sometimes you need to adapt to your environment. On this shoot, we needed to cover a set of large french doors with black cloth and fabricate piping around the side of the house to stay out of the afternoon sun.

Art Directors and a Grip worked ahead of the Director and DoP to dress and light each setup in advance, as well as staying on hand for any quick adjustments once the camera was in place.

COVID added an inevitable challenge but we ensured we had time to minimise people on set and practice all the necessary safety measures. Our Producer gave a short briefing at the start of each day to ensure everyone was aware of safety measures, sanitising stations and areas and facilities they should and shouldn’t use.

After all location shots were filmed, the final part was to capture was the falling leaf. We set up the studio with a blue screen and a camera at 90° to experiment with some fishing line and super-glue (it’s all about the glamour!). With the lighting matched to our chosen stock clip, we got the shot we needed to kick-off the video.

Into the Edit

With our shots in the can, we were eager to jump straight into the edit.

We started with the music track to set the rhythm of the cuts and help move the narrative along through the various scenes. With so much thought and work put into the pre-production, we quickly ended up on a cut we wanted and presented it to our client for feedback.

After a few small adjustments to tweak the video, we were ready to put the final touches in. Sound effects were added to bring to life the actions and accentuate key moments whilst a cinematic colour grade was crafted to add drama and a polish to the final product.

We broke down the content into the following video deliverables:

75 second main creative video
45 second cutdown of main video (which works better on social)

5 x 15 second more detailed ‘explainer videos’ of the winter tips

Watch the ‘main video’

Thames Water Beat Winter - Long

Watch the ‘cutdown’ video

Thames Water Beat Winter - Short

Watch the ‘detailed’ Winter Tips

Thames Water Full Tips 2020

We’d love to take your brief and turn it into something wonderful. Drop us a line with your requirements and we’ll chat hello@ch-video.com

Comms That Count Right Now

Mon, 24 May 2021 16:57:00 GMT

A guide to the essential video communications you need to be thinking about during this time.

Less than three weeks ago almost everyone recoiled and withdrew. Businesses have had to immediately understand HOW they work to maintain continuity of service and WHAT they’re offering during this Covid-19 crisis. For some, agility has had to be learned on-the-go; our clients are a mix of suppliers, management and key workers – disciplines that have seen serious challenges.

The fact is, companies and leaders will be judged on how they respond to the coronavirus crisis.

Many agencies such as ours, servicing internal and external company communications, have seen increased efforts to get critical information delivered to colleagues as well as customers. From internal employee welfare, recognition and leadership to external community outreach, humanitarian acts and company confidence & validity – these are all messages that need delivering.

As priorities are adjusted, communication is more important than ever. The power of video continues to prove its effectiveness. But it has to be timely and engaging.

Here are a few areas that CH Video are working within, and some ideas you may find useful right now:

Leadership/PAs

• Remote recorded edited messages for colleagues with branding and graphics – business updates

Employer Brand

• Positive messages around talent belief and support – your greatest asset

• Showing what you’re doing to care for colleagues – the extra steps being taken, appreciation of those going above and beyond – stories of substance, the ‘human’ stories

• Showing how your leaders running the business – real people that really do care on the front line

External/Corporate Comms

• Company updates – what are you doing, how are you now positioned to serve your customers?

• How you’re maintaining service

• Pride & appreciation videos – your human stories and achievements during this difficult time

• What new partnership initiatives have been created – what that means to the customer

Internal Comms

• Management ‘walking the walk’ of the company values – how are leaders running the business to stoke confidence?

• Mental Health advice – tips for colleagues as they work from home, social distancing – very important

• Working from home advice – physical set-ups and routines

• Key Worker communications – critical advice for those on the front line, support and pride

• Company updates and initiatives – keep the brand flying, new strategies, increase the sense of belonging during this time of self-isolation

• Mental health tips and advice

• Working from home advice

• COVID updates and how to access information and support

Culture & Engagement

• Recognition – celebrate your heroes; emotive and inspirational videos

• How you’re facing the challenges together – let your colleagues know

Talent Management

• What initiatives are you doing to engage staff as they work remotely?

Learning & Development

• Videos to promote online learning platforms

• Explainer videos – new ways of working delivered in a clear and engaging manner

• As company PR works overtime, say how with video

R&D and Innovation

• Those efforts to maintain continuity of service or agility are stories that need telling

• How are you changing your business model, production or supply chain to suit?

Customer / Sales / Field Sales

• Don’t drop the ball - product still needs sell-in. Do it effectively with video as your main sales content

Category / shopper

• Critical Covid-19 related information relating to the category or shopper

• Videos that succinctly and clearly explain the company’s IT ability

• How-to videos – connecting remotely, where to ask for help

• Security measures – inform colleagues of security weaknesses of working from home

Supply Chain / Field Teams / Operations

• Pride and appreciation videos – those key workers on the front line (self-filmed content that can be edited and sent out to the wider company)

• Showing continuity of service and effort

That’s not an exhaustive list of course but those are areas where now is the time to act.

We stand by to help you. We’re always available to chat on email, telephone or on video call (well of course!).

Check the Contact page on our website and please keep an eye on our Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

How to Enhance your Twitter Feed using Video Content

Mon, 24 May 2021 16:45:33 GMT

Using social media to promote your brand is a no-brainer, and Twitter is one of the best channels to raise awareness of your business.

A great way of taking advantage of Twitter’s capabilities is by creating and posting video content that creatively displays what your brand has to offer. Read on to learn how you can do just that.

Types of Twitter Videos

There are numerous types of videos that you can use to populate your Twitter Feed. These include:

Twitter Linked Videos - This is the simplest option. All you need to do is include a link to the video that you want to promote within your Tweet’s text. These links will create a video preview that users can play within their Twitter feed, which will help boost engagement as the step of clicking on a link is removed. The drawback is that linked videos won’t autoplay when scrolled to on people’s feeds .

Twitter Native Videos - This type of video is similar to linked video in the sense that it creates a preview within your Tweet, but in this case the video is uploaded directly as an attachment to a Tweet rather than via a link. Native videos are slightly better at boosting engagement than linked videos as they have the ability to autoplay.

Twitter Live Videos - Livestreaming is another great way of promoting your brand via video. This option gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of the content you can create, as you can film using a smartphon e to give your video more mobility.

Twitter Video Ads - These are paid video adverts hosted by Twitter that can help increase awareness of your business and traffic to your website. They include ‘Promoted Videos’ (video uploaded to your Feed but is seen by more people), ‘First View’ (your video is top of the timeline), and ‘In-Stream Video Ads’ (your video ad plays during live streams).

Twitter Video Best Practices

Now that you know all the different video format options available on Twitter, here’s some best practices you should follow when uploading video content to your Feed:

Keep it Short and Simple - Videos should be 15 seconds long at most to maximise their impact and the message of the video should be effectively conveyed within the first 3 seconds.

Include Products and People - Ideally the video should open with the promoted product, followed by a person having a positive experience using it, then end on a final message or logo to encourage brand recall.

Use Visual Cues - Your brand’s logo should be clearly visible throughout the video as another way of boosting brand recall and helping to build your business’ identity online. Your video content should also be designed in a way that means it can still get its message across with no audio - for example, you can use captions.

Your video content can also take many different forms depending on the type of message you are trying to convey and the type of audience you are trying to reach. For example, educational/informational videos can be useful if you want have lots of information to get across to your followers.

Want more tips and tricks? Keep a n eye on our blog s for the latest and greatest. And if you’re ready to harness the power of video for your brand or business, get in touch with us.

Top Tips on Making a Cloudy Day Look Sunny

Mon, 24 May 2021 11:23:25 GMT

We’ve all been there. Best laid plans for a weekend picnic ruined, not packing a raincoat for a weekend away, optimistically lathering on sun cream in hope of a scorcher.

Cloudy and wet days catch us all out but working in video means we’re super agile when confronted with these challenges and have a few tricks up our sleeves. Below is a list of our top 5 tips to faking your cloudy day and making it look like the peak of summer!

Lights

This is by far the most important and expensive tip but having some powerful daylight-temperature lights is a really effective step in bodging your overcast footage.

Recently, we teamed up with Thames Water for their new campaign promoting water efficiency. On the shoot, we were presented with typical March weather in England. Luckily, we anticipated this and rented 2 Arri 2.5kw lights. Blasting these lights through a window and front door made for some excellent daylight mockery, especially after seeing the footage graded, which brings us to our next tip!

Grading

One of the most powerful tools in a video editor’s arsenal is colour grading. With your gloomy winter’s day footage, using a warm colour temperature and bumping up the contrast and saturation will give your footage a much more warm glow and really hammer home those summer vibes.

Faking Skies

This one is a little more advanced and potentially more time consuming, but a very simple way to convince your audience that you shot in an entirely different season.

The “we’ll fix it in post” classic is often overused but this is a case where it could work really well. If you’ve got a wide shot where you simply can’t frame out the sky, then consider cutting around your overcast sky to replace it with one that’s more desirable! Note that this is much easier and faster technique to accomplish when your shot is stationary.

For an awesome before and after – see the top image in this article.

Lens Flares

Tracking in a lens flare on a reflective surface or where your sun would be will give an overcast shot a little more life. Lens flares only occur naturally when light scatters on a lens, and often that light source is the sun. It’s sometimes an undesirable effect unless you’re JJ Abrams , but emulating this and faking a lens flare can sometimes be the difference in elevating your cloudy footage.

Notice how the before and after stills below change with the combination of a number of our tips: grading, fake skies, and lens flares work in tandem here to really give that summery feel on a video we made for NHS Property Services.

If you’d like us to weave some magic on a cloudy day for you, give us a bell.
hello@ch-video.com

Adding Excitement to your Virtual Event

Thu, 20 May 2021 12:03:11 GMT

Virtual working is here to stay. That’s also true for lots of events that used to be in-person.

Award ceremonies, company conferences and townhalls have all gone virtual over the past year. So, having standout videos up your sleeve to maintain everybody’s interest and excitement is really crucial.

Here are a few examples of video content that can help structure your event and ensure your audience gets the most out of it!

Before the Event

An explainer video is a great tool for explaining to your audience what they need to do prior to an event. For example, instructing them how to sign up or how enter an award.

Here’s an explainer video we produced for PepsiCo’s Internal innovation game ‘The Next Big Idea. The voiceover explains to employees how to get involved and enter into the competition. The video was shared months ahead of the event to encourage people to think of an idea and sign up to take part in the competition. See it here

An event teaser video is something you can use to get people excited or interested in the event. This could be a short 30 or 40 second video to highlight the key points that will be covered, announcing key speakers, or showing people where to sign up for an event.

We created this teaser video for the same PepsiCo competition to tease and get people excited to enter and also to tune in.

See it here

During the Event

Holding frames, stings and videos make a huge difference for online events. They make it feel slick and much more professional than a boring PowerPoint slide!

A countdown clock before the event starts can act as a marker for your audience to know when they should be ready. Dial in early then relax… ahhh.

A welcome opening sting is really impactful and can introduce the event, creating a ‘buzz’ to get people excited. Here are two examples we created for an awards event with NHS Property Services. Glitz and glamour all round!

Alternatively, a longer form opener video with more of a narrative can pack a punch as well. We produced this video for PepsiCo’s One Billion Smiles awards event.

Other stings could include speaker intros or call to action videos for interactivity such as online voting. Videos are also a great tool to include in presentations at an event, introducing or summarising ideas and things discussed.

After the Event

An online event wrap up video is a awesome way to remind people of the key takeaways of and give an overview for people that didn’t attend.

Here’s an example of a wrap up video we did for a virtual event for Everbridge launching a new online tool. See it here

It's a Win Win

Breaking up a virtual event with video content adds interest, professionalism and really elevates all aspects of an online hosted event.

Videos add excitement, maintain engagement and capture the essence of an experience that we’re all unlikely to get in person for a while.

They also stop your audience from dropping off or getting bored which is a must for our new digital ways of working!

Say hello@ch-video.com to speak to us about your event.

Top Tips on Getting Inspiration for your Video

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 16:16:14 GMT

Finding a source of inspiration for your next video project can be tricky, especially when you don’t know where to start. All you need is that lightbulb moment to get you going, but sometimes that can be hard too. We’ve all been there, don’t worry.

Here’s some of the ways we spark our creativity at CH Towers.

Browse Instagram, Behance and Vimeo…or maybe even TikTok!

No matter what your video project is about, you can find countless sources of inspiration on these platforms. There’s an endless supply of content on just about any topic, plus they’re entirely free to look through.

Just typing out what you’re looking for in the search bars will bring up thousands of hours of content, and Instagram, Behance and TikTok have plenty of trending images and videos that can help get your creative juices flowing. Why not have a look at our Instagram , YouTube and Vimeo accounts for inspiration as well?

Create a Mind Map

Sometimes the only thing you need to do is to just write down whatever comes to your mind on paper and go from there. There’s no better way of doing this than the tried and tested method of creating a mind map.

You’d be surprised at how easy it is to get inspiration from just writing down whatever words you can think of that are related to your central idea. Seeing it all laid out in front of you can help you to make connections that you might not have been able to see previously.

Listen to Music

Whether it’s one of your favourite tunes or something entirely new, putting on music can help stimulate your thought process. As we mentioned in one of our previous blogs , creating an atmosphere to put you at ease is vital in making sure that you are thinking as creatively as possible.

A Change of Scenery

Sometimes all you need is to stretch your legs. Go for a walk in the park, take a half-hour bike ride or just look out the window for longer, getting out might be just what you need to come up with a brilliant idea.

Getting some fresh air and getting away from all your devices gives your mind a well-deserved break and allows it to come back reinvigorated and ready to take a fresh look at something.

Staying Relaxed

Perhaps the most important tip on this list is making sure that you aren’t stressed about your work. It’ll just make it more difficult for you to gain inspiration. Taking regular breaks is essential to stop you from burning out.

Do an activity that you personally find relaxing, like reading a chapter of a book you’re into, watching an episode of your favourite series, or even meditating for half an hour. As long as it’s something you enjoy, then it will help you go back with a positive mindset.

Want more tips and tricks?

Keep an eye on our blogs for the latest and greatest. And if you’re ready to harness the power of video for your company, get in touch with the CH team.

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