“How to Make a Video Ad (the easy way)”

Years ago I went to a writing seminar. I don’t recall anything about that seminar except the joke the speaker used to open his presentation. He quipped that attendees often want to know, “What’s the secret to becoming a best-selling author?” His answer: “Write a best-selling book.”

He got a good laugh from the … Read the rest

How I Film Epic Pizza B Roll

Daniel Schiffer presents a behind-the-scenes (BTS) video of the shooting production for a Toronto pizza commercial.

A key takeaway is the variety of creative angles that are filmed on location, which are then punctuated and emphasized later in the video editing.

Speaking of video editing, as compelling as many of the shots are, this … Read the rest

Video and TV Interview Tips

Getting interviewed as a guest on a TV talk show or a video program is easy … or is it?

You might think it’s the interviewer who has the tough job. The person asking the questions is the one that is supposed to be in charge and keep things moving along, ideally in an interesting … Read the rest

The Three Essential Ingredients for Successful TV Advertising

Stew Birbrower is interviewed by George Alger on the the basics of advertising and successful TV commercials. This brief excerpt from the interview highlights some of the most fundamental points, including:

1) Catch their eye
2) Penetrate their mind
3) Warm their heart

He also notes that music is a big part of the … Read the rest

Clothes To Wear For A TV Interview

Even if you’re the kind of person who pays little attention to what you wear on a day-to-day basis, it’s useful to know a few things about the nature of clothing as it relates to TV and video.

Bear the obvious in mind: cameras, computer monitors and TV screens are not people, they’re machines. And … Read the rest

How Robots Made This Food Commercial Look Effortless

Many moons ago I was shooting still photos for advertising in magazines, corporate brochures, annual reports, etc. The amount of work that can go into making something look simple can be intriguing to folks unaccustomed to what it takes to achieve such.

For example, I’m reminded of another past “simple” looking ad. A racquetball … Read the rest

How Much Does a TV Commercial Cost?

Few things have such a cost variance as television ads. For most people, what’s not surprising is how expensive they can be. However, what may be surprising is how inexpensive TV advertising can be. (Having said that, the least expensive options may not be the best opportunities, either).

Overall, the cost of producing a commercial … Read the rest