Last Meeting ReCap:
Getting the Best from your “Talent”
(Non-Professional and Professional)
Photos
Around 40 people converged on PromoVision Studios on Wednesday June 28th, 2008 for to talk talent. The social hour was hosted by Bill Ludwig of PromoVision who opened his facility and provided food and beverages. During the business portion of the meeting, Bill had a chance to talk about the PromoVision Studio and Office concept. PromoVision Studios is a full service production facility, offering a complete news set, as well as a green screen area. They have two full lighting rigs, a boom jib, lavaliere mics, up to five cameras, teleprompters and a production switcher. For the meeting, they provided lights, camera, mics, a huge plasma screen, DVD playback and assistance for the presentation. They also offer office space for producers and editors. The North San Diego County location makes it convenient for both San Diego and Orange County digital media pros. Visit them online or call Bill to schedule a visit.
President Elect Jeff Gelder ran the business portion of the meeting - asking the group to introduce themselves to each other and acknowledging the local board members who were in attendance. Door Prizes were provided by MCA-I and Bobbin Beam. Video Gear Rentals provided the PA. Board members Bill Manning, Luke Jungers, Bill Bork and Jim Staylor helped with set up and tear down. Jim Staylor videotaped the entire meeting and we are looking at posting at least some of the highlights online.
Connie Terwilliger, coordinator of the professional development portion of the meeting, introduced three time-tested directors who were on hand to present some of their tried and true lessons learned for the inevitable interview the CEO, the COO, the General Manager - THE BIG BOSS - who 1) hates to be on camera, 2) has no time to be on camera, and/or 3) worries about every word they say. Each had valuable input on how to get them to relax and tell the story they want to tell in the shortest time possible.
First up - Richard Crawford - One Productions (the longest running production company in San Diego)
Richard started out with some audience participation - demonstrating some tips on how to get a crowd of extras to create background noise - you don't just ask them to talk - you give them something specific - and easy to say. One half of the group said “peas and carrots” and the rest said “crowd noise.” If you need background sound, this works!
While much of the meeting focused on interview techniques, Richard gave two members of the audience a couple of “lines” each and showed how to use physicalization to improve their dialogue. Stamping their feet - pounding a fist into the other hand - poking the other person in the chest. All help break down the fears of the non-professional - the result - more believable delivery of the lines.
A few more pointers from Richard:
- Chit chat to put them at ease
- Use appropriate humor
- When working with kids - be on the ball with the camera
- And don't ask kids abstract questions. For example…don't ask them how they feel about something - get them involved.
Craig Bentley and John Coleman came up together and interviewed each other using one of PromoVision's studio cameras. The interviewee was projected on a large plasma screen.
John began by illustrating BAD interview techniques - Craig doesn't like to be in front of the camera to begin with and even though he knew what was coming, the first few minutes really made him uncomfortable! Thankfully - after making the point - John slipped into his usual friendly helpful interviewing style, much to Craig's relief.
Both Craig and John provided handouts that are online for downloading:
- Craig's Meeting Notes
- Shooting Great Interviews I: Preparing Your Subject
- Shooting Great Interviews II: Make it a Story
After each director had a chance to go over their top tips, the remaining time was used for a panel discussion and audience Q&A moderated by Connie.
Additional Resources provided by members and others in attendance:
- Jim Staylor - How to Conduct Excellent On-camera Interviews.
- Jim Teiper - Thoughts from a Lighting Director
Craig Bentley - Imageworks
Craig Bentley received a film and television degree from San Diego State University, where he was chosen by the American Cinema Editors as one of the top three student editors in the nation. Craig started directing videos for a national home center chain in the early 80s. When that home center chain went out of business, he foolishly thought it would be easier to start his own production company than finding a real job, and has clung to that pipedream ever since founding Imageworks in 1986.
Directorial assignments have included commercials, training programs and marketing videos for companies such as American Express, Coca-Cola and Sharp HealthCare. He has directed more than 50 training videos for the state police commission, all of which feature many interviews and dramatic scenarios using both professional and non-professional actors. Because of the Freedom of Information Act, however, if he showed any of them to you he'd have to kill you. Industry recognition includes Telly, Aurora and Communicator awards. Craig is on MCA-I San Diego's board of directors and served as chapter president for 5 years.
John Coleman - Twin Oaks Communications
John is a Producer-Director-Writer with an extensive creative and management background in TV, video and other media as well as connections to the best production people all over the US. He started his career in NYC as an NBC page on the Today Show with Barbara Walters & Hugh Downs-a great place to observe masterful interviewers. He went on to direct and produce everything from news and public affairs to comedy, sports and documentaries. John has been a freelance producer-director-writer and a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for over 20 years. During that time he has interviewed hundreds and hundreds of non-professionals for either corporate productions or broadcast.
Mr. Coleman also has worked with many professional performers including voice-over artists, comedians and dramatic actors. He has been a program exec at four TV stations, Warner Communications and taught various media courses as an adjunct professor at The School of Visual Arts (NYC). Saddleback College (OC) and Santa Ana College (OC).
John works through his production company, Twin Oaks Communications, based in Mission Viejo CA. He is past president of MCA-I Orange County/LA Chapter.
Richard Crawford - One Productions
Richard began his career producing film reports for NASA and the Air Force for the space program. He then went on to do national TV commercials for Ford and Eastman Kodak, Arco, and others. In addition to his corporate and commercial work Richard produced and directed, the award winning Captain Milkshake, the first dramatic full length motion picture to deal with the controversial issues around the Vietnam War. Captain was recently, screened as a special guest presentation at the Viennale, Rotterdam, and Leeds International Film Festivals.
Richard continued his career doing broadcast segments for programs such as That's Incredible. His work with interactive multimedia training for such companies as Apple Computer, IBM, Ford and Nissan won Richard several Cindy Gold awards for excellence in the media. His 8 years of pioneering in interactive multimedia for training and education has earned his work a place at the Smithsonian Institute as an example of this medium. In 1987 Richard was the first American director to produce a joint Soviet-American documentary, Americans and Glasnost.
Crawford's national clients include; IBM, Ford, Nissan, Apple, Kodak, NCR, Ernst & Young, among others. Richard's awards include four area Emmy Awards, 4 Gold Cindy Awards for multimedia, 4 Tellies, San Diego Film Festival Prize and the New York Art Director's Award. Recently the Piano Wizard Infomercial won the highest award, the Silver Telly, in the infomercial category. Richard and his wife Sally serve as directors of their Humanitarian Collective, an international foundation with programs for disaster relief and social change. Richard is currently the Director for Development for the OITC Global Education Network.
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