I wanted to share with you a nice experience we had here at Pixability. We recently edited a video for Lora Canary's meditation website Everyday Oasis. Her site is a place for relaxation, renewal and reconnection, and an escape from chaotic day-to-day life. Lora was very pleased. Our team just received a gift of delicious brownies and a card from Lora praising the video and our work, and I'm including it here:
So I'm going to try to analyze the experience with Lora to glean an understanding of what it takes to make a client happy. What were the ingredients of Lora's project that made it a success?
From her end:
1. Lora knew exactly what she wanted
She knew what videos, what photos, and what message she wanted to use.
2. Less is more
Her footage was less than an hour and all of it worked well to tell her story.
3. Sense of style and mood
The music and wording she chose created a meditative and relaxed feeling.
4. Being organized
She researched and uploaded her materials in a timely manner.
From our end:
1. We understood her goals
We helped her create a video that reflected her objectives of creating a calming place for people on the web. She wanted to contrast the craziness of everyday life with the relaxing space of Everyday Oasis.
2. We listened to her comments and suggestions
We incorporated her choice of soothing music and thoughtful wording for pictures.
3. We delivered her video in a timely manner
Lora was on a deadline. She wanted to show the video at the IRIS conference, and she did!
These ingredients--from both the client and Pixability--produce the synergy necessary to yield a successful video.
Wendy recently joined the Pixability team and I sat down to talk to her.
Wendy, tell us how you became involved in video editing.
I grew up and went to college in the non-digital age and thought of myself as an untechnical person. When I was in my early 40s, at home raising children, I was asked to put together a tribute to my parents. I decided to self-teach myself a slideshow production software program that had come with my PC. I found it challenging, and had many doubts along the way as to whether or not I could accomplish this, but I did. Over time, I became quite proficient at this software program and sought out training in more complex video editing software.
What kind of training have you had?
I'm a graduate of the filmmaking program at the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University. There I studied the entire process of filmmaking from camera and lighting, through video editing and DVD authoring.
Tell us about the kind of projects that you've worked on.
Well, I've worked on a number of projects for a private school in Brookline, Massachusetts. I did a promotional video for them which they use to recruit students, and a couple of tribute videos for graduating senior classes. I've also done celebratory video montages for a number of clients. Last Spring, I was a freelance editor at MIT's Academic Media Production Services.
What are some of your professional goals and aspirations?
I'm an aspiring documentary filmmaker, currently working on a feature about the Jewish exodus from Iran at the time of the Islamic Revolution. I have a number of ideas for other documentaries that I'd like to do in the future.
What do you like about being a filmmaker?
I like the excitement and variety of opportunities that come up. This field could involve working as an editor in a dynamic start-up like Pixability or producing a movie for Hollywood. One never knows what opportunities lie ahead. Last week I was asked by a real estate developer to produce a script about the history of a property he owns.
What do you hope to gain by working at Pixability?
I enjoy video editing and the only way to keep up with it and improve one's skills is to do it--working at Pixability gives me this opportunity. Also, it has been exciting being a part of the development process of a start-up that focuses on video production.
Big chains have been supplanting local stores for quite some time now. Just look at the photo and electronics busienss. Best Buy, Circuit City (see ya), Sears… all these monoliths have used their marketing might to channel the general public into their lair. Recently, my curiosity got the best of me so I set out to answer one simple question: Should I buy local or from a big box retailer?
First I visited Scorby’s in Needham (www.scorbys.com). While browsing, an elderly gentleman plunked down his entire digital camera kit- complete with nine inch lens (I had a little lens envy)- and said “I can’t get this $#@& thing to work”. Half an hour and one free photo course later, Jeff the co-owner had the gent clicking his heels. “I just love watching Jeff work his magic,” said Jeff’s dad, Mel, who opened the shop generations ago. “This is why we are in the biz. This is where we develop our loyal customer base.”
And that’s when it started to hit me: Local photo shops are the gems of the industry. They are hands on, personal, and give customers unlimited access to free information. Which is quite refreshing in such a daunting, digital age. I mean, come on, I’m still waiting for my two-year old son to grow up so he can teach me how to use this stuff.
But it wasn’t just the hand holding that got to me. It was the fact that Scorby’s was a local retailer thriving in the local community. No board of directors, no shareholders (unless you count Needham residents) and no stock-driven business decisions. They cared more about the people they would bump into at the grocery store than squeezing blood from the stone--and it showed.
Another eye opening moment came from my stop at Photo Quick in Waltham (www.photoquickwaltham.com). I was always under the impression that the market giants and the web retailers had the best pricing. Not so fast, said owner Kevin Magliozi: “So many people pick our brains on the technology and then go online to save ten bucks. Then they can’t figure out how to use it so they bring the item back into the store. It’s crazy.” Crazy, indeed (even though Kevin will always help a customer no matter where they purchased the unit). The truth is that your local stores pool together to form similar buying power to the big boys.
So when it comes to purchasing the hardware to capture your memories, geting advice on taking better images (both photo or video), or processing, there is no better value than your local photo/video retailer. Let me know what you think in the comments.
This American Life (TAL, as fans call it) is the highlight of my radio week. If you are frequent NPR listener, you know that each week Ira Glass and his motley crew of contributors put on a sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always heartfelt production. Ira knows how to tell a story. Narration mixes with live interview clips and background noise. The result is a gripping hour long program that is as engaging as a movie.
I typically download TAL podcasts and listen to them on may way to work or in the car. Last weekend, I was driving with my brother. We put on the podcast and started listening. I think it's incredible that two guys, who typically cannot stop chattering, sit in complete silence as the story plays out into our ears and imaginations. At about 53 minutes into the program, Ira said something that particularly caught my attention:
"...and my dad showed me how he digitized all of our old family videos which apparently is a good project if you're retiring..."
That's right, Ira Glass (really, Ira's father) is a fan of digitizing and watching old family memories. Want to create a special keepsake like Ira's father? You can with Pixability.
It is my pleasure to welcome Tom Majkut to the Pixability operations and editing team. Tom’s background is in filmmaking and video production. I sat down with Tom to ask him some questions:
What makes Pixability special to you?
The sincerity and honesty of taking family moments and treating them with respect. I know these memories are very near and dear to our customers. It is a heartfelt product and I get a lot of satisfaction working with it.
What did you do before Pixability?
I was a documentary filmmaker. Pixability is very similar to making documentary films. Taking the raw, unscripted film and finding the story within it is what I love to do.
What do you do for fun?
I am a musician. I have been playing in bands since I was 14 years old. I think music is one of my biggest inspirations. It is similar to my interest in film. Both music and family require creativity and a personal connection to the project.
I heard you make guitars, is that true?
Yes it is. I enjoy the technical aspect and physical labor involved with building something out of parts.
As a professional editor, what is the #1 filmmaking tip you can give our readers?
No matter what you’re filming, no matter how shaky you may be at holding the camera, always get close ups. Even if the footage is awful, close-ups make everything seem more personal.
