Definition of transformative:
is causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something
As creative professionals, we are always overthinking and investigating how to best address a challenge, and video production is no exception.
If you have read my story, you will get the idea that I fell into learning and implementing my smartphone (in particular my iPhone 10xs max) to begin to generate hundreds and even thousands of dollars in revenue. Now, of course, the client and the relationship you have with a particular client can profoundly affect the outcome. But more importantly, what I am sharing with you today is just how you need to allow that transformation to begin. The key is to focus on each step necessary and NOT overwhelm yourself with so many details beyond the step you need to focus on based upon a specific sequence to achieve success. My approach is to enable you to focus on the bigger picture and allow yourself to confidently refocus on the steps logically to achieve the end result. That end result is delivering video content, however small or large, that delivers to your client or business and at the same time generates revenue for you or your business.
Mobile Video Production — A Case Example
I had a client that needed a documentary done about the 50th anniversary of their first special education school. I have had a photography background, but not video production per se. Sure, as a creative professional, I have been on video sets, helped, and directed the process, but at the end of the day, there was a cameraman, audio crew, set support, etc.… How can I do this ALL BY MYSELF? Yet make money from this effort that my client can afford.
I didn't even have a professional camera, to begin with, and I thought I would need that to translate into a finished product I would get paid for. So there, I was obsessing over specifications on sensor sizes, aperture options, dynamic range specs, and equipment price points. The indecisiveness didn't stop!
Here comes the Transformative Moment
Maybe it was luck. In January of 2019, a movie titled "High Flying Bird" came out on Netflix and was directed by Steven Soderbergh. Soderbergh has done films such as Oceans Eleven, Traffic, Erin Brockovich, and more! I then find out he did a film called Unsane in 2018 on the iPhone 7 plus. But as doubt plays out in our minds, I was saying to myself... Gil, listen, you CAN NOT compare your skillset to Steve Soderburgh. You will need a good camera to even have the client pay you to look like a professional, let alone pay you to do this. If you show up with an iPhone, they are gonna roll their eyes and maybe reconsider spending the money on this project.
Well, minute-by-minute, as I watched High Flying Bird, I was feeling that 800-pound gorilla in my leap away… This "was" my transformative moment.
I remember when I sat down and watched every minute of High Flying Bird, I was analyzing every scene, the lighting, the framing, the movement of actors, and the movement of the camera. I was overanalyzing it, BUT the most crucial thing I did NOT deviate from was how a viewer would perceive it. How would they perceive the story? In the end, it's all about the story!
I still couldn't help myself looking at the details, but now it wasn't out of doubt but more like… hmmm, so I see how the lighting and contrast were worked around based upon the scene. It was at that point that I began getting inspired by how Soderburgh was framing the scenes, angles, lines, and objects to support what was being told within the frame.
That is why I have this movie poster of this film behind me in my studio, as you have seen on my YouTube channel. It serves as a reminder that, while we may not be such an acclaimed film director as Soderburgh or Sean Baker (who also did a film in 2015 called Tangerine, which was filmed on an iPhone 5s.
The smartphone is going to change video creation, just like iTunes changed the music industry.
So with that said, now I was able to focus on creating the story for my client. I was now free to think of location selection, lighting challenges, framing, all the pre-production details that will enable me on my own to complete this project for my client. The 800-pound gorilla in my head was completely gone!
Now for my next episode, we are going to get into the practical details, the primary attributes that you will need to focus your attention on to understand my approach and methods so you can charge and earn money using your smartphone in video content creation!
How would you feel if you could EARN $300, 500, $1000, or more per project? This can be done by having that dialogue with your existing clients or acquiring new clients. Or maybe you have a business, and you want to fast pace the end result of having some really good and properly prepared video content for your website or social media channels that look professional.
I would like to hear what has been your transformative moment that has changed your perspective on using your smartphone for video projects. Maybe you are at that stage of thinking about doing this but just have doubts or are overwhelmed with what you should focus on next. If you are stuck or frustrated on where to begin and how to discover those opportunities, I want to hear from you as well.
So that is why I am here for you…. To inspire, guide, and give you just the right amount of knowledge you need.