I often get asked what my actual job is… people recognize my gear as video equipment, but from that point on, it is rather ambiguous as to how that all plays out. Do I film weddings? Shows? Commercials? What?

The answer is mostly yes… and to a lesser degree, not quite yet. We’re always looking to expand our services and take on new challenges.

The truth is, the project really defines the job. That’s one way of saying that Sheepshead takes on multiple roles – facilitating a script, improvising, finding models and materials, interpretation of marketing goals, technical direction, post-production, shipping and handling – the client pretty much has to name it. The main thing we go for is filling out a project to completion, making sure it’s appropriate, complete, but not lacking any of the bells and whistles. We don’t want to leave clients with the feeling they are not getting an all inclusive deal, especially since a project could be cut up into small sections, each one requiring a separate professional to tackle that portion. Realizing that most of our clients put an emphasis on value and cannot afford to hire separate companies for each (and many of them don’t know that that is even an option), SHS maintains a diverse skillset and workflow.

It’s easy to separate things into categories, but I’ve found no one really cares much about those distinctions – everyone, myself included, is interested in the final product. This is why I talk about this kind of stuff on a blog and not to a client (unless, of course, it is an important decision that will effect the direction of the project). So here are a few different areas of SHS development, and the things I see as being important components to project success:

Video

The trouble with live video (especially live video not run by a major studio) is that you are dealing with cameras that are usually not synced for broadcasting. If they are synced, then they are pretty expensive. Now, if you aren’t actually broadcasting live, this becomes less of a problem and you can find ways of syncing later. One to two angles can work when filming a live scene, but it is generally better to have at least three shots to choose from at any given time (unless you are making a kind of montage which highlights short sections). It is for this reason that a small company, like SHS, would choose to get 2-3 nicer cameras for live video than one awesome, studio quality camera.

Audio

One element that flies way under the radar is sound quality. You really don’t realize how produced most professional sound bytes are until you go on youtube and realize that the audio you take with your HD pocket camcorder just doesn’t measure up… I have found that hi-fi audio can bring a rather shabby video to a watchable state. In practice, getting as close as possible to the subject is the best option. From there, a balanced and informed stereoscopic feed of the scene will give you the sense of being there, especially if you are going for a natural and clear (not overproduced) sound.

That’s mostly how live video works, but we also record bands and other musical artists. For them, it’s a bit more involved – but a lot of the gear we use for studio recordings (whether it’s a rock song, or video narration) doubles in the field as our live audio gear. They don’t actually equate one-to-one, but it’s nice to have options and the ability to record multiple sources at once. The mantra for both audio and video is… record more than you need, you can always subtract.

Titling, Compositing, CGI

The wonderful world of effects is a place we’ve been exploring since the beginning. SHS was founded after the completion of a successful film project for a high school class. We were interested in doing unique things visually, from an effects standpoint and from a storytelling one. And these tricks, as I like to think of them, are not only for wild and crazy movies and creative projects needing a lot of visual flair. Sometimes, they solve logistical problems. A simple example of using effects in a practical way? Editing out a microphone placed close enough to a speaker to get in the shot, but causes an eye sore on the finished project. Without exploration there is no progression – and sometimes that means learning new methods, new programs, and new workflows. There are plenty of great apps out there (for free or for purchase) and all it takes is a little dedication to learn (since tutorials abound online). This can be a daunting thing, but SHS has found that adding that finishing touch often makes the difference, even though – strictly speaking – it’s not videography or editing.

Direction-Production

Despite what many people may think, any project – no matter if its a promotional bit or documentary or creative short – requires a considerable amount of direction. The only kinds of projects that don’t are the kind that have direction built-in (a show has a director, sports have rules and you know where you are going to find your subjects and what they will be doing). What is often a mystery, however, is who and how a project will be directed. Often, this is a collaborative process between the PR specialist or whoever is hiring SHS services. In each and every case, we size up the project and then determine how “hands on” the client intends to be.

Direction can be scriptwriting, it can be design related, it can have to do with the cast of characters involved – and it can be logistical. These kinds of considerations make or break a project, and good organization and communication make for the smoothest runs.

From a production side, there are a lot of graphical and audio considerations. If we use music, we can create it in house or purchase tracks to play alongside narratives. We can outsource design or do things inhouse or use client’s previously owned material. A lot depends on budget, but it is important to offer clients with options.

Well – this seems like a good place to stop, since talk is cheap and I’m sure if you’re reading this now you’d rather see some sample work… alas, the people who get excited about visual effects and working with digital video are not as many as I would hope for (as exampled by my waning interest in writing about it…). I’m hoping to have video samples online in the near future, just working out some things with our web designer – but be ready for video awesomeness…