‹ Back to All Blog Posts

Behind The Scenes With the Video Production Team

Chicago, Marketing

According to an Animoto study, 1 out of 4 online users might lose interest in a website, if it does not include video (while each situation, company or firm is different, those numbers are hard to ignore).

Ani-what? Animoto is a cloud-based video and slideshow tool where anyone from a small business owner to non-technical marketing person (yep, me) can create video content online with their own video clips, or images of a kitten in a top hat …

Think about how you collect information or research companies these days.

You might be browsing a responsive website on your mobile device, while commuting to work. Take that a step further: you’re probably flipping through photo galleries or downloading eBooks – whether at a networking event, company picnic or walking to grab lunch.

Want to learn about a company? You can basically grab information from their website –  all from the palm of your hand.

Except for the 50% who still don’t have a website – hard to believe that number is real! 

At the head of this trend is web-based video. Video consumption is only growing. In fact, Globally, IP video traffic will be 82 percent of all consumer Internet traffic by 2020, up from 70 percent in 2015 (according to this Cisco whitepaper).

Video-Traffic-Statistic-2020

The other fun fact I really like from this document?

It would take an individual more than 5 million years to watch the amount of video that will cross global IP networks each month in 2020.

That’s a lot of cat videos …

Or binge-watching Stranger Things and enjoying 80’s hair, too many Star War’s references and ham radio.

Probably just me?

Anyway, chances are you have consumed some type of web-based video.

Ready for Our Close Up

Last week, Youth FX was in Chicago to assist Cushing with our very first, professional video shoot (although, we have to admit how excited we were to get the Ice Bucket Challenge down in one take!) Also embedded it below for your viewing pleasure.

Hold up – Youth FX?  Think School of Rock for Video Production (my apologies for putting an image of Jack Black in your head).

JB Saluting Compressed

Instead of young adults interested in AC/DC and power chords, student have a penchant for Martin Scorsese and sound editing. Their program director is a film buff & it is no gimmick.

They are award winning and up-and-coming filmmakers.

It reminds me of the young adults making an impact through the ACE Mentor Program, a group Cushing proudly supports (and just worked with a couple of weeks ago).

Here is a quick summary from the Youth FX website.

“Focusing on visual storytelling, artistic expression and performance, Youth FX students create digital video projects in various genres, including documentary, narrative short fiction and public service announcements. Working with experienced media instructors, filmmakers and artists, participants learn the various aspects of digital video production such as cinematography, editing, sound, and lighting.”

For three days we interviewed Cushing employees, visited clients for offsite interviews and shot a ton of b-roll (b-roll is a term we learned and kept coming up – it is all those interesting, natural extra photos and items captured for imagery and video execution.

Hope you’ll keep scrolling to see some ‘behind the scenes’ images around Cushing and client locations.

Finding The Right Light at the Front Desk

First-Video-of-the-Day-at-Cushing

Joe Cushing Preps Outside A Project 

Joe-Gets-Ready-For-Filming

Testing the Microphones at Mitsui Rail Capital

Mitsui-Team-Preps-for-Their-Interview

More from Mitsui Rail Capital

Discussing-the-Mitsui-Rail-Map

Staircase Screen Test at Chicago Literacy Alliance

Shooting-on-the-Stairs-at-Chicago-Literacy-Alliance

Fantastic Mr. FoxTrot

Timing-the-L-Stop-Reflection

Whizzing Around Whimsical Candy

Maya-Shoots-Video

Another Cook In the Confectioner’s Kitchen

Whimsical-Candy-Filming-Labels

Elevating the Shot

Capturing-Elevator-Graphics

Marvelous Mosaic Office

Getting-the-View-Right-at-Mosaic

We are excited to share the final results!

While YouthFX is located in Albany, New York, and made a special trip for this video shoot, don’t fret! If you need local video help, check out our friends at Lemonlight. Based in Los Angeles, with offices throughout the United States—including Chicago— their team offers on-demand video production for brands and agencies across all industries.

Stay tuned and one last thing …

Jack Black Image for Youth FX Blog

 

Jon Davis

Jon Davis is Cushing’s Marketing Manager. From blogging to online communications, Jon writes about client developments, environmental branding, and much more. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Leave a Reply