As Covid-19 continues to spread, and people are working from home where possible. This presents challenges but also opportunities to embrace new ways of connecting with colleagues, and clients.

After receiving a number of enquiries about the best way to create video-based content, we’ve put together some basic tips outlining how you can produce something that’s professional-looking, without requiring technical expertise.

---

Setting up

Firstly, it’s best to get a tripod for your device to sit in like the pic above. You can improvise with books etc. but a good tripod will set you back around £10 – £20 and can be bought from Amazon.

Sound quality is often a problem when DIY filming, so investing in an external mic or lapel mic to plug into your phone is advisable. Make sure that you get the right connection to suit your device, i.e. iPhone or Android.

---

Ready for action

With your kit prepared, you’re now ready to film. Where you position your camera can make a big difference to the quality of your film. Make sure the light is in front of you, not behind, and, if you can, set up in a small room without too many bare walls. Books and curtains are great for deadening the sound and making sure it doesn’t bounce around too much. Always film in landscape, not portrait, as that’s the standard format.

If you have an iPhone you will be able to edit the film using the iMovie app which comes as standard. If you’re on Android, there’s a range of free apps available that allow you to easily edit your content, including adding effects.

To make the film look more professional consider including some good quality stock images, footage or animation. These details can really help break up a head and shoulders shot. Adding branded titles and a professionally animated intro and outro can really improve the quality of your film. Get in touch if you’d like some help with this.

---

Ready to share

Editing complete, once you’re happy with your film, there are various ways to share it. If you would like your colleagues to review and comment on your creation before releasing to the wider world Vimeo Review is a great tool and comes with the Plus or Pro Vimeo membership. This tool allows people to add feedback to specific sections of your film.

You can also upload to Dropbox or Google Drive if you have downloaded the apps and are logged in from your phone. The same goes for YouTube and Vimeo. Once you have uploaded the video you can copy the embed code and add it to your website and on social media.

---

Need a little help?

Here at Alternative View Studios, the team are working remotely, creating high-quality animations, so if you need some help adding animated content to your film, we can help.

Scriptwriters Daniel Tatarsky and Sally Edgar can work with you to develop the content and script, and we have a huge sound effects library and can purchase music from sound libraries, such as Beatsuite.com.

We also work with a range of voice-over artists who have professional sound recording studios at home, including Nicky Lloyd Williams who has worked with us extensively for Oxford University Press and Cris Ramos-Stovin who voiced an animation for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

So there you have it. We hope the thought of producing a great-looking film isn’t quite as daunting now. If you do need some support, we’re here to help.