Factual Filmmaking Skills For Brand Engagement

We’ve all seen poorly produced, overly scripted and impersonal brand, project, or fundraising videos that fail to engage their audience.

In this short course, filmmaker and producer Paul Wyatt will share , such as constructing a narrative, using interviews and providing contextual material, to offer a genuine and personable insight into a brand, project, fundraiser or big idea!

This lecture-style short course focuses on planning, shooting, and producing this content. It is suitable for anyone who wants to reach an audience using video in an authentic, non-scripted way.

The first session introduces the building blocks of factual content creation, including interviews, actuality, montage, and unscripted moments.

• Introducing The Factual Content Toolkit, a collection of the essential building blocks of all factual content. Why they are and how to use them.
• Case study deconstructions: Expert analysis of brand and project videos highlighting why they work and the techniques used.
• How to create a compelling video project outline.
• Factual Filmmaking Primer Q&A
  

In this session, we will discuss how to plan filming setups to serve as the backdrop for unscripted and spontaneous content. We’ll also cover preparation for the shoot itself.

• Learn why narrative structure and pacing are crucial to keeping an audience engaged in your video.
• Learn how to make your video content more engaging by including actuality, unscripted moments, show and tell, and walk-and-talks.
• Tips for choosing the right interview style: Talking head vs vox pop.
• Planning for spontaneity: Unscripted moments that connect on a human level and
  are relatable to the audience.
• Working with contributors
• Production planning and creating a call sheet.
• Pre-production Q&A
  

The third session provides practical tips for filming reality and shaping it into a coherent message that resonates with the audience and promotes the brand or project being featured.

• Visual Storytelling and Composition 101: Establishing a look for your project.
• Filming with and without a crew. Pros and cons.
• Matching shots: Filming single camera to look multi-cam
• Why a zoom lens will become your best friend.
• Keep the camera running: Capturing observational and People Moments
• Unfolding narrative: Techniques for following actual events on camera and how to decide what to record and when.
• Being economical and “Shooting to edit.”
• Setting up an Interview Quickly and Efficiently.”
• “Covering” the scene: Why “B roll “is the project’s most important asset.
• Composition: Working across formats from 16×9 to 1× 1 for social and everything in between.
• Filming reality Q&A
  

In the final session, Paul Wyatt will showcase his techniques for editing compelling content that entertains, informs and engages an audience.

• Create a paper edit and then throw it away.
• Invisible editing and why it will save your project.
• Practical case study deconstructions:
• The use of “Cold opens”, stills, montage and music to add energy and texture to the edit.
• Creating visual interest by using different types of footage from multiple setups.
• When a voice-over is needed and when it’s not.
• Fixing dialogue issues.
• The value of a test audience.
• Post-production Q&A
  

This course is suitable for those who want to create video content that showcases a brand, project, or big idea through a non-scripted human-centric approach.

Paul Wyatt films, directs and produces brand stories, short films, social media and documentaries. His work has included films and visual communications for the Royal College of Art, The Design Museum, Milan Design Week, the World Wide Fund for Nature, The Royal Society Of Arts and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. He has worked extensively as a shooting producer and director with considerable experience delivering high-impact, engaging content to brands, organisations, and broadcasters.

Paul has worked as a mentor at the University of the Arts London and as a judge on the Royal Society of Arts Student Design Awards. He has regularly contributed articles and features to the creative press.

Event Venue

Raindance Film Training Centre, 10a Craven Street, London, United Kingdom