Being Geek Chic is the yammerings of a Midwestern nerd named Elizabeth Giorgi. My vision impairment is real, which is frustrating because I really would like to see a 3D movie.
Send questions, requests and ideas to [email protected]. Please put your complaints on a napkin and toss it.
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15th March 2012
Finding inspiration: Spring cleaning
I hate cleaning. Forgive me for being a hypocrite, but I need to get motivated to clean my place. I’m having that much-anticipated Hunger Games dinner party next week and really need to get my ass in gear. So, let’s talk about finding the motivation for cleaning your place.
1. Get that imagination going. I can almost imagine how awesome my house is going to look once I get all the recycling out, the office sorted, the clothing put away. So, as I begrudgingly sort every last shoe and towel, I just have to imagine what it will look like in the end. And that end is glorious.
2. Reward yourself. I’m all about the little pleasures. When I clean my house, I like to treat myself to fresh flowers. They add color, freshness and fun to every room, but they do get pricey. My logic is that if I can endure the floor scrubbing, I deserve a perk.
3. Don’t overdo it. One of the reasons I can’t ever manage getting the house totally clean is because I get it in my head that I have to clean every last room. This isn’t true. One room per day will do.
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16th February 2012
Finding Inspiration: Purging old tech
I have a problem… I really hate getting rid of my old tech. Maybe I’m like Cal in Midnight in Paris: I’m nostalgic over where we’ve come. I’m different from him in that I don’t want to go back to the days ago. Please, no disc man for me.
I have this drawer: I call it the tech cemetery. This week, I finally cleaned it out. So I thought I’d share the how I finally managed it.
1. Don’t buy new storage. This time of year every big box store is trying to sell you on “getting organized” by buying one of a thousand different size of plastic storage boxes. Don’t fall for it. Chances are that you have a drawer, shelf, closet that is a wasteland. You probably don’t even know what is in it. (ahem, tech cemetery.) If you need a place to put things, it’s time to look into these spaces and make the room there. This is a natural way to keep your tech fresh.
2. Does it work? I can be sentimental about my cameras, but there are plenty of camera accessories I’ve owned for years that no longer work OR are no longer compatible with my other stuff. New rule for me: if it doesn’t work: get rid it!
3. Trial period. I do this with my clothes all the time, but it totally applies to tech too. If I have an item of clothing (or in this case a camera lens, hard drive, card reader, etc.) that I really like, but I never use - I put it on a “trial period”. I put the item in question right in front of my eyes. In this case, put it in a spot you can’t miss on your desk. If you got 6 months without using it when it’s in plain site, you probably won’t use it at all.
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2nd February 2012
Finding Inspiration: Producing videos, part 3
You planned your video. You lit and shot it. Now, let’s edit!
You can try using iMovie. I’m useless when it comes to iMovie, so if you want to edit that way then best of luck! I’m going to suggest you download Final Cut Pro X from the app store. If you’ve edited with Final Cut before, you’re in for a surprise, but I think beginners will enjoy the easy layout and the color coded system.
1. Get organized: Load all your footage onto your computer. If you used a DSLR, you’ll have an SD card, which you can just drag and drop into a folder on your computer. I recommend creating a folder for all assets. Your video, your audio and your graphics. This will help you immensely when you’re making editing decisions later.
(Note: I’m not going to go step by step through each thing you need to do, because this is meant to be a high-level discussion on how to create a good video vs. a bad video.)
2. Creative media: Your media should complement one another, not compete. Make a rough cut of your video based on your original storyboard. You should also find three or four music tracks that will complement your work of art. Then, make copies of that rough cut and add a different music track to each version. Listen to the beats in the music to find natural spots to cut off certain shots. Try to find subtle ways to use the audio to your advantage. Do you have a “big” moment in the shot? Is that also represented in the audio? Then, watch all your versions back and you’ll be able to see the weaker videos in the bunch.
3. Graphically challenged: I see a lot of graphics that don’t add anything to the video you are watching. Graphics should:
a. Tell the viewer what they are going to see
b. Clarify a possible point of confusion
c. Identify a person who is speaking who doesn’t ID themselvesMake sure that your graphics do these things. If they don’t, then you don’t need them. I promise! Here’s a good example of HOW to do it.
Overall, don’t be afraid to spend the time trying things out. Try swapping out your shots. Try switching out the graphic colors. Maybe you want to break one of the rules here - go for it! But don’t be afraid to admit when it’s not working.
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26th January 2012
Finding Inspiration: Producing videos, part 2
Last week, I wrote about three things you can do to start creating videos for your website. Now that you have a camera, an idea and a storyboard, here’s the next steps!
1. Light it up: if you can shoot something outside, in the middle of a sunny day, this is ideal. Natural light usually looks beautiful and doesn’t require a ton of work.
If you want to do something indoor or in a highly professional way, I’ve made a diagram for you. Basically, you need three lights. There are many basic three light kits that you can buy for as little as $100, if you want to get really fancy. However, for many of my DIY videos, I use simple clip-on lights with a few different diffusers. The lights are $7 at the hardware store and super mobile. Plus, you can turn them into a softbox (a way to diffiuse lighting) with this tricky DIY video.
Light can really make or break your video, so it’s worth giving some thought.
2. Sound it out. I’m a sound snob. That’s why a lot of my DIY videos don’t have audio… because I don’t have the proper set up at home. I suggest music. However, if you want to have a speaking part, here’s what you can do.
Most DSLR cameras have mics on them. They suck. Don’t even bother with it. Instead, you can get a small handy recorder like the Zoom H2 for $100. There are new models that are even better if you want to get into lavs and booms, but for the basics voiceover, this will do the trick.
If you are just voicing it over and you will not appear in the video, then go into a room with a lot of noise deafening materials, like pillows and blankets. A bedroom can be great, for example. Stay away for rooms with lots of glass or mirrors.
If the speaking individual is in the shot, then turn both mics on and CLAP at the beginning of the shot. I’ll explain why in part 3!
3. Script it out. Know what you want to say. This will make it easier. You will have fewer takes, be more comfortable and get it done more quickly.
Next week, editing!
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19th January 2012
Finding Inspiration: Producing videos, part 1
My career path took me from journalism to research to production. Many of BGC’s loyal readers will recognize that video is a regular feature on this site. However, my proficiency with video production wasn’t sourced from years of film school. This has been a point of insecurity for many parts of my career, even when I was directing a freaking documentary. And yes, EVEN when I won an Emmy.
Since, I’ve tried to accept that if you have the eye, you have the eye. On top of that, I firmly believe that if you have the right skills, you can learn be an expert at anything. Seriously, ask Suze Orman. Or Jillian Michaels. Neither women started out on finance or fitness when their careers took shape. I believe that if you have the passion to learn something, the patience to pour your life into it and the willingness to fail - you can do it too.
All of that brings me to: how do you make videos for your website? Here’s part 1. Stay tuned for part 2 next week:
1. DSLR cameras: I can’t praise the SLR photography companies enough for bringing affordable, high-quality video to the masses. Flip cams, as convenient as they were, were never going to be blockbuster production equipment. Get a DSLR camera and start practicing with simple things. Take photos. Adjust ISO. Learn about exposure. Try moving lights around and seeing where shadows end up. All of these basic skills will be the foundation for your production skills later on. I also can’t say enough about Living In The Stills Manual Photography Infographic. You will want to print this. Or better yet, support good work and buy it.
The one caveat about DSLR cameras is that you need to invest in a good tripod. Unless you have the steadiest hand alive, you will find that even the most professional grade DSLR cameras are best used for hand held work.
2. Start small: For every produced minute of work I create, I shoot/edit for one hour. In many cases, the planning, research, scouting, etc. ends up being about 4-6 hours for one produced minute. For VERY polished pieces, for example the holiday video, An Ode To Tights, I will spend about 30 hours planning, lighting, shooting, shopping, editing. Please don’t try to produce this on your first try. You will get frustrated and want to quit.
Instead, start with a 30 to 60 second video that requires no cuts or very little editing. For example, this 30 Second iPad Stand DIY video has one shot, set up on a flat surface with good overhead lighting. This isn’t hard to do and if you can pull off the entire shot in one try, you’ll be done in no time!
3. Plan your shots: Storyboarding is the practice of planning out each of your shots in the order they would appear. A simple drawing on the back of a napkin is often how I start. This will give you a simple checklist so you won’t forget any shots that are critical to your video. Write out the beginning, the middle and the end. Make a list of shots that illustrate each point and possible ways to shoot them.
Next Thursday, I’ll talk about inexpensive lighting, graphics and editing!
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12th January 2012
Finding Inspiration: Starting a freelance career
It’s not a surprise that in a down economy, more and more creative professionals make their money working on a freelance basis. This fact has been well-documented. For nearly as long as I’ve had a full time job, I’ve also had freelance clients on the side to help me pay bills and build the funds to do things like buy my first house.
The big question people ask me is: how do you start freelancing?
1. Portfolio, my friends: Having a portfolio is going to be the best insurance policy you ever created for your career. Be studious and vigilant about what goes in, what works together, what shows your range and what highlights your strengths. If your portfolio is weak in some areas, then start volunteering to help your family and friends with small projects to fill it out. There’s more great stuff on portfolios on the web here.
2. Create a biz card: This sounds so simple, but having a business card that is entirely focused on the work that you do is an easy thing to do to get the word out. Have fun with it, be bold and be simple about your expertise. Hand them out to everyone you know. Your family, your friends, your old colleagues and the guy you met at the laundromat. If they’re memorable, people will remember you.
3. Ask for referrals: Don’t be afraid to ask your clients to refer you to others that they know who need freelancers or contract workers. If a client is happy with your work and you’ve always done good by them, then they should be doing this anyway. However, your clients don’t always know how much work you have on your plate and telling them that you would like more work can even result in their company sending more billable hours your way.
Need inspiration for something? Send us your biggest inspiration pitfalls to [email protected] and we’ll try to help.
