Here's help!

Here at Video Production Tips.com, we have put together free reports, lessons and tutorials to help you master video production.

I've been producing video for years, I'm not just learning myself like so many internet video "experts." I've read some of their stuff and lots of it is inaccurate at worst and confusing at best!

I put together this short video to help you get to know me and video production tips better.

Enjoy!

By Lorraine Grula - Internet Video Gal

If you want to zap your video creation out to a world wide audience with the least amount of hassle, go check out Traffic Geyser.

Traffic Geyser is a service providing an easy point-and-click interface to upload and distribute video files to multiple video sharing sites at once.

In other words, you upload your video once and via Traffic Geyser, up to 34 video sharing sites and 10 social bookmarking sites receive your video masterpiece simultaneously.

Lots of bang for the buck.

Virtually every video sharing sites on the web from YouTube.com, to GoFish.com, to ZippyVideos.com gets your video without you having to individually log in to each site and upload directly to it.

You know the drill.
Each site individually.
Log-in.
Describe video.
Label video.
Categorize video.
Keyword ID video
Upload video.
Wait.
Wait some more.
Upload successful, usually.
Log-out.
Over and over.

ZZZZZZZZZZ.

If you've ever waited impatiently for a hefty video file to plod its way down the information super highway, you don't need me to tell you the time-savings advantage to having the upload process automated to nearly fifty sites at once.

Traffic Geyser is a paid service that is well worth the fee if you are serious about video distribution on the Internet.

If your time is worth more than say a penny an hour, Traffic Geyser is an absolute no-brainer bargain even at the more expensive $100 smackers/month level.

OK, a well-trained Indian techie might argue with that fee, but for my time and money as a spoiled American, Traffic Geyser is just flat-out necessary.

Example

Traffic Geyser saves me a total of probably 8-10 hours every single time I upload a video.*

There I was on Christmas Eve, eggnog in hand, rigorously performing a week's worth of drudgery work in a few lazy hours.

I zapped out four different Christmas videos to every single site Traffic Geyser supports. A few didn't make it for one reason or another. (All fixable stuff). But of the approximately 150 distribution destination, my two hours of upload time translated into about 80,000 views.

My calculator broke. You figure it out.

More on traffic geyser in future posts.

*Figure 10-15 minutes to log-in and upload to each site if you do it manually, one-by-one. At that rate, you can get 4-6 uploads done per hour, or 32-48 in an 8-hour day. To do 150 uploads would then take 3-5 solid work days. With T.G., I got about 150 uploads in about two hours. (I was actually in the other room most of the time baking Christmas goodies. Since uploading is all that waiting, I had to keep myself occupied with holiday fun. so during my uploads, I baked a yeast coffee cake with apples, peaches, honey, pecans and lemon cream cheese frosting. Except for smearing a bit of frosting on my keyboard, the upload was uneventful, unless you go see the massive traffic it gave me!

Get it for yourself…

Video Production Equipment

Editing Computers and Video Editing Software

Today's editing computers are a marvel in my opinion. Did you know that before computers, it took around ONE MILLION DOLLARS of equipment to stock a professional editing room? You needed multiple tape decks, a switcher, an effects generator, a character generator, an audio mixer, signal enhancers, multiple monitors and years of experience to operate it all.

To rent out all this stuff by the hour, it cost $500-$1,000 per HOUR to edit. A thirty second spot could easily take ten hours to edit, even a relatively simple one. That's TEN GRAND just for one step in the production of something that lasts half a measly minute!

OUCH!

We've got it great compared to that. Today, ten grand is MORE than enough to buy a total system and all the software you'd ever need to edit a lifetime of shows.

Computer editing is loads of fun and the creative possibilities are endless.

Computer editing revolutionized the entire television and video production industry. Computer video editing put power in the hands of the little guy, not just the companies that could afford million-dollar edit suites.

For a small investment, (maybe nothing beyond a computer that has free video editing software already on it) you have the opportunity to produce professional quality edited video stories.

I got Windows Movie Maker version 5.1 free on the Compaq I bought at Sam’s Club for half-off after Christmas.

Movie Maker will easily edit together you video and add professional looking graphics. You have one line of audio that you can cut and paste.

Any Mac comes with free iMovie, which is probably a better program than Movie Maker and certainly a killer freebie. Both of them are killer freebies.

If you want more creative and complex editing options than what freebies give you, you can get awesome software for $50-$300. If you go full tilt boogie, software that Hollywood uses can be had for $1,300

Apple’s Final Cut Pro, now called Studio 2, is the ultimate video editing software experience in my humble opinion. When FCP first came on the market, it was chump change at $1,000, compared to its competitor, Avid with its $50,000 version of Media Composer. At the time, people were clamoring to learn Media Composer because it seemed like such a revolutionary bargain compared to the million-dollar fully equipped suites. Then, all of a sudden, you can get a program equal to Media Composer for just a grand? Holy crap!

Final Cut Pro’s price today of $1,299 might seem high to newbies, but the power of FCP can not be understated. It can do anything you can imagine and then some. Hollywood uses FCP. However, chances are you’re not Hollywood bound.

Final Cut Express is only $300 and gives you all the punch you’d probably ever want unless you’re competing on the very uppermost levels. FCE is what I just bought.

Many companies put out video editing software but I must confess my prejudice for Macs and Apple editing software. That’s what I always used when working for large companies and the vast majority of professionals I know prefer Apple Computers to PCs for video editing and other large-file creative tasks. There’re a million and one reasons for that, but I’ve seen such heated debates about the topic, it’s scary. Here’s an actual conversation I witnessed:

“We’ll get PCs for editing over my dead body!”

“That can be arranged! I hate those f****** things!””

I try not to get that hot about it, but my money goes to Apple.

Since PCs solidly dominate the market whether I think they should or not, there are plenty of video editing programs for the PC market.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio is popular. I've seen it for $99 at the Best Buy store down the street and for $63.99 on Amazon.com. The reviews are mixed, some people give up in confusion but others plod through the learning curve and say it's a good program. It can do quite a bit more than the freebies.

Corel DVD Movie Maker 6 goes for about $48 on Amazon and Pinnacle Studio runs about $50. Neither is quite as sophisticated as Sony Vegas, but as the price indicates, you can do more with them than you can with the freebies.

Corel Paint shop Pro for still picture and Sony Vegas combine into one and they call it Corel Sony Visual Creation. $110 on Amazon.

Video editing software has a learning curve, but it's really not any more difficult than using a word processing program. Here at VideoProductionTips.com, we have an extensive article base that explains video editing.

As time goes by, I will provide many detailed video tutorials for all video editing software programs.

Keep in mind that video editing demands a lot of your computer. Video files are huge, and making them spin and dance requires power. Get the biggest, most powerful computer you can afford. The Mac G-5 blows any other computer out of the pond when it comes to computer video editing. But whatever you have can work.

He was wanting to buy a relatively inexpensive camcorder, a consumer model like what you would find at Best Buy or Circuit City.
He wondered whether he should get one that came with a separate battery charger or one where the camera WAS the battery charger.

I told him… no doubt about it, get one with a separate charger, (all other things being equal.)

Here's why.

• First, if you can only charge a battery up with the camera, you obviously cannot shoot while your battery is charging.
• Two, if the charger function should poop out, your entire camera will probably be worthless. You might be able to find a compatible charger, but I guarantee that will be a royal pain in the whazoo.

I have an inexpensive Cannon Mini-DV camcorder. I love it. I have two batteries with it so I can charge one battery up and not have to stop shooting. There's nothing worse than running out of battery power when there is video to be shot!
To me, an extra battery is worth the $40-$80 or so bucks it will cost. Combining the two functions in one unit really limits you.
As with all gadgets, if you get a video camera with all kinds of multiple purposes, sometimes you end up regretting it. My can opener opens cans. It doesn't unclog the sink.
When I worked as a TV Production Teacher, the school bought cameras that also functioned as chargers. For the reasons listed above, I didn't like it, but why would they listen to me?
The bean counters saved a few bucks, but other than that, I can not think of a single advantage to having your camera be the charger.

Here's to your video dreams coming true!

Lorraine Grula

Internet Video Gal

Jim Edwards and Mike Stewart are, in my humble opinion, THE Internet Video guys.

Jim Edwards and Mike Stewart are to internet video what Milton Berle was to TV– pioneers. I mean, have you seen the Internet Business Show? It’s almost an entertaining as the Texaco Star Theater, and it’s certainly more educational.

Probably the first internet marketers to promote making money on the web using video, Jim and Mike have been using and teaching video for years now, long before most internet “gurus” gave it a thought.

Jim Edwards and Mike Stewart deserve a lot of credit for being visionaries; indeed, internet video marketing has blossomed into one of the most awesome opportunities of our age.

I never imagined when I graduated from college in 1980 with a degree in broadcasting that someday I could operate a world-wide TV production information network from my house!

No doubt Jim and Mike’s encouragement to incorporate video into your internet business is a wise strategy; I’m not even going to debate that here. It’s a given!

How good is the product?

Mike Stewart spent decades as a well respected professional audio guy in the Atlanta market. Jim taught himself video production, which is no easy feat. I admire the guy for leaping in head-first and making it work.
Have you ever tried to decipher those manuals? You know…the ones written by someone who just learned English yesterday?

Once Jim and Mike started having financial success with video on the net, they put together a video instruction product called “Website Video Secrets.” It's the recording of a two-day conference they gave on the subject.

The thirty-page sales letter promises you that it’s quick, easy and painless to produce video for your website.

Is it really?

The sales letter also promises the non-techie moron that this expensive product can teach them to profit from video on the internet.

Does it really?

The current price for Jim and Mike’s 13-disc set is $897. The original price upon release in 2006 was $1,499.
Website Video Secrets has:

• Nine DVDs of conference lectures
• Three CDs with dozens of screen capture tutorials and hours of audio content
• Two software aps for converting video files and uploading to the web
• A set of script templates for sales and infomercials
• Bonus lesson on injecting “personality” into your voice

To go through the entire course once will take you at least twenty hours. No doubt a serious student who likes to review passages and takes lots of notes will take longer. I’d guess that a novice, serious studier, would need about 40-80 hours to study and absorb this much material.

If that sounds like a lot of work, it is. The information is thorough and detailed. Jim and Mike know internet video production from the ground up, so they explain most every aspect you can imagine. Just a few of the questions you’ll have answered:

• How does all this stuff WORK?
• How do I get my masterpiece on the web?
• How to avoid technical glitches
• How do I operate a camera?
• How do I perform on-camera?
• How do I work video into my business to make MONEY?

To really know what you’re doing with internet video, you need to know this stuff. There truly is that much to know, and because Jim and Mike have been doing it the longest, they know the most.

Now don’t start sweating too hard, it ain’t rocket science!

Sales letters always promise you it’s easy, that’s just marketing manipulation-speak. Who want to buy something that’s a lot of work? Truth is, Website Video Secrets isn’t that easy, but that’s a good thing. That means it’s complete.

Website Video Secrets is a lot easier than going to classes in a vocational school for two to four years! And it's tons easier than figuring it out by yourself, like Jim did.
“Easy” in this case is relative, Website Video Secrets isn’t a five-minute task.

Can a point-and-click, non-techie handle it?

Probably. Depends on how badly the non-techie wants to learn. Internet video production IS easy….compared to creating and founding a television network. It’s not easy compared to figuring out how to set the clock on your VCR.

Some people will find this material confusing, not because it’s poorly presented but because it’s a lot to absorb and most of it will be new.

Massive quantities of new information can be intimidating, but Jim and Mike do a reasonably good job of making it simple. They cover all the basics and answer tons of questions. Having it on disc lets you review it as many times as necessary.

Personally, I’d rather spend time upfront learning what I’m doing than plod in head-first only to get confused and frustrated. If you devote yourself to this course, (and fill in the blanks with articles from this blog!) you will gain the confidence to be successful in all aspects of video production for the internet.

Think of Website Video Secrets as a two-week training period that will greatly enhance your business.

Jim and Mike saw a lot of success with Website Video Secrets and a year later they released Websites Video Secrets 2, which is currently not on the market. That's too bad, because it helped fill in some information gaps with the first WVS.

Is Website Video Secrets worth it?

In a word—yes. It’s not perfect, but it’s one heckuva lot of information that covers the subject fairly well.

Occasionally, it suffers from those time wasting conversations that are always present at live events, but they cut most of that stuff out.

The amount of time-wasting material in Website Video Secrets is minimal, and a lot of it is hilarious, so I didn't mind too much.
I trust Jim Edwards and Mike Stewart. They’re both honest, hard-working guys who’ve profited from Internet video. Mike’s a long-time audio production professional, so he adds a lot of technical information and credibility if professional credentials are important to you.
Both Jim and Mike missed their true calling as professional comedians. The silly barbs and comments they toss in help keep it from being a snoozer.

If you want to take advantage of the video wave on the internet, you might want to consider this product. $900 is a lot of money; at least it is in my book. If you think you will truly hunker down, study and learn video production, this product will be a good start.

Can you make the $900 pay off? Most internet site owners who use video marketing and are pleased with the results. For many, the benefits of video will soon make the $900 a drop-in-the-bucket.

On the other hand, if you just want to just dabble with internet video to put your kid's birthday part up, save your money. Tutorials on this blog, Google Video and You Tube are easy enough to understand and Website Video Secrets would be more information than you need.

Website Video Secrets is for serious internet markets only.

Website Video Secrets Highlights

Website Video Secrets: A Video Odyssey

Internet video, jim edwards video, jimedwards review, learn video mike stewart ]]> http://videoproductiontips.com/2007/05/21/jim-edwards-and-mike-stewartae%e2%84%a2s-website-video-secrets/feed/ http://videoproductiontips.com/2007/05/15/video-production-important-for-internet-business-owners/ http://videoproductiontips.com/2007/05/15/video-production-important-for-internet-business-owners/#comments Tue, 15 May 2007 22:00:27 +0000 Internet Video Gal internet marketing videoInternet videoviral video http://videoproductiontips.com/video_on_the_internet/video-production-important-for-internet-business-owners/ CATCH THE NEW WAVE

All the Internet Marketing experts agree, the new wave on the internet is video. As technology improves and internet connections become faster, more and more customers will be able to watch your videos from the comfort of their own home using this marvelous invention we call the internet.

Today's technology makes it possible for anyone to essentially own their own network. Imagine the possibilities! You can produce and distribute YOUR VISION, whatever that may be: News Shows, Ads, Infomercials, How-to Tapes, Product Demonstrations, Business Profiles, Property Tours, Instructional Demonstrations, Biographical Sketches, heck, your own Birthday Party!

You can beam your message to millions of people all over the world for a mere fraction of what it costs the big boys at CBS, NBC, HBO, ABC, FOX, ESPN, etc., etc., because let me tell you a secret…You can do it all by yourself, you don’t have to have a staff of 500. You can compete, and actually have a leg up on the fat cats.

MAKE MONEY WITH VIDEO ON THE INTERNET

People who know how to produce videos people enjoy watching will definitely be rewarded financially as the internet grows. Simple video production allows you to customize a message to your niche

• Sell your products
• Educate your customers
• Demonstrate your product
• Profile your business
• Profile yourself
• Demonstrate the use of your product
• Interview customers
• Interview Experts
• Develop customer relations

Video is an incredibly powerful tool and statistics show extensive conversion increases when web masters add even the simplest of videos to their website.

INTERNET VIDEO OPPORTUNITY INCREDIBLE

When I started out in the TV biz in 1980, my only choice was to work for a TV station or production company and start at the bottom. Someone else decided what shows were broadcast. Someone else decided what shows I worked on. Someone else decided what products to promote. Someone else decided what information to present. Now, I can be in charge of it all and so can you.

Video and the Internet gives anyone with visual communication skills phenomenal power and earning potential!

QUALITY IS IMPORTANT

Now…honestly, video production isn't rocket science and it doesn't take a genius to pick out a decent camcorder and push record. However, quality video production is a slightly different ballgame.

Don’t kid yourself…poor quality sticks out like a sore thumb. People are used to watching shows with multi-million dollar budgets; each shot is meticulously crafted and lit by expert visual story-tellers. You certainly don't have to go that far, but my point is that viewers expect quality and they're not going to be fooled by poorly lit, shaky videos they have to strain to hear. Not only will they not be fooled, they probably won't even bother to watch because they're so used to million-dollar shows and watching crap is irritating.

Never fear!

VIDEO PRODUCTION IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

If you learn some simple techniques and tricks, you can produce quality videos that look like they had a million-dollar budget but really only cost a trifle. And you won't break your back. Hey, some of my suggestions will actually save your back. (Trust me, I figured out all the lazy-gal's tricks along the way.) With VideoProductionTips.com, I’m passing 25 years of running around in the TV News business on to you in easily digestible training.

There's nothing magical about TV, although the audience is fooled into thinking there is! So if your role in the entire cycle known as Professional TV production has always been audience member, take it from me, the behind-the-scenes-gal-who-did-every-job under-the-sun, it's ain't so tough once you know one or two things.

Welcome to your video production website authority. Drop us an email at VideoProductionTips at comcast.net and let us know what you need, we’ll be thrilled to help!

The marvelous technology of the World Wide Web provides distribution outlets for the video producer I never dreamt of in the early days of my career…outside of those nerdy science fiction novels I used to read.

It’s barely been a nano-second since the invention of TV in the late 30’s, when eccentric genius Philo T. Farnsworth finally got his signal to go from one room to the next. Now, anyone, anywhere can distribute their video vision to six billion people via the web. No doubt Philo is impressed!

With instantaneous and free distribution over the web, even a simple one-shot video, if compelling enough, can create a stir.

How do you get in on the action?

By deciding to do so and then following through on that decision. All the training you will ever need can be found on this site.

• HAVE FUN!
• MAKE MONEY!

Making videos can be a fun and profitable hobby or business. The possibilities are limitless. There are as many ways to make videos as there are people who make videos. Complex or simple, cheap or expensive, serious or funny, it's all up to you.