The Magus Films’ Post

In the world of film, not all directors are cut from the same cloth. Each brings a unique vision and approach to the screen. 🎬✨ Photographer>Directors: With a keen eye for composition and light, these directors are masters of the visual, often leaving their DPs feeling the heat to capture that perfect shot. 📸 Advertising>Directors: Born from the fast-paced world of advertising, they’re the kings of quick fixes and guerrilla tactics, leading a floor crew that’s always on their toes, ready to bring creative solutions to life. 🏃💡 Writer>Directors: They navigate the depths of story and character with finesse, relying on visual experts to bring this to life. Weaving a powerful narrative that can leave audiences in awe. 📖🌟 Art dept>Directors: Observers of life, they blend narrative with aesthetics, crafting stories as rich and detailed as those they overhear in their favorite coffee shop. ☕👁️ Crew >Directors: Climbing the ladder from the ground up, these directors know the ins and outs of every role, adept at troubleshooting and deeply committed to the craft. 🛠️🧗 Producer>Directors: Walking a tightrope between creativity and budget, they seek the delicate balance where art meets commerce, a challenge that’s as thrilling as it is precarious. 💼🎭 Understanding a Director’s background can be key to supporting their vision. Remember, they’re guiding you to find your place in the story. 🌐🤝 #FilmDirectors #CinemaArt #BehindTheScenes #DirectingCraft #Storytelling

A documentary filmmaker I admire told me... ..."Sometimes you have to keep filming until you find the story." My problem was that the film I was shooting wasn't producing the story I expected. So I asked this filmmaker: > "Do you ever just abandon a project?" I already knew the answer. > "No. You keep plugging along." A story will reveal itself. This is a challenge people face when building their personal brand. Like a documentary film... YOUR BRAND IS BOTH FOUND and CREATED. Which makes it art and science. (And I love them equally, which is why branding is such a blast for me!) If you manufacture your personal brand, it can feel off. (Remember Elizabeth Holmes? With her black turtlenecks and performative voice?) If you find your personal brand, but don't shape it, it can feel unfocused. (Actor Kristen Stewart gives off an indifferent vibe that makes it hard for audiences to connect with her as a brand.) So, when building your personal brand, make two columns: One column for FOUND. One column for CREATED. For FOUND, identify traits you and others see in you that define who you are, like: > Humbly confident > Whimsical and fun > A fount of actionable knowledge For CREATED, dig deeper for traits that are authentically you, but which you might need to strengthen or own with more force, like: > I'm pretty good at creating easy-to-use systems and processes > Occasionally, people tell me I have a gift for clearly explaining tough subjects > I often spot flaws in an idea or proposal before it becomes a project Now you've got concepts and language to play with. Mix and match. Expand. Then draft a few ideas and test them on people who know you. Like David hiding in the block of granite, your personal brand is in there, you just have to chip away to find it.

What's involved in making effective content that works for your business? Here are a few things to take into account 📋 Post 2: Production & filming - 🎬 ➡️ In the first post in this series we talked about planning. So firstly, stick to the plan. Keeping to schedule is important to make sure you get the most out of your production days, but leave room to get creative or change the plan depending on the circumstances. ➡️ Don’t forget to take into account set-up time. It can take time to set the scene, cameras, lighting and audio ready for a shoot. Rushing this can mean something is missed and can lower the quality of production. ➡️ Recording good audio is key, as bad quality sound can ruin even the best looking of shots. Make sure you have the right microphone for the shot and there is quiet on set where necessary. ➡️ Prepare and organise the people in your video. If you are conducting interviews for example. Make sure they are briefed beforehand, know when to arrive and are made to feel comfortable and relaxed during their time on set. ➡️ Factor in breaks during the day. Regular breaks can give you time to refresh, refocus and review what has been done so far. ➡️ Thats a wrap - make sure you have all the footage you planned to capture. Then always try to leave the venue/location as you found it and check you have everything packed and nothing is left behind. Coming up.... Post 3 - photography www.showmotionmedia.co.uk #videoproduction #ContentMarketing

So you booked the production crew to film some talking heads. Now what...? We’ve come across people who are born to speak, people who own the room the minute they walk in.  But those same people can freeze as soon as there’s a camera pointing in their direction.  Being ‘natural’ during a PTC is a skill in itself, and one that’s not easy to master. Since most of creative we produce features some form of a personal narrative, we decided to put together a set of tips that we share before our shoots. 📜 Don’t memorise the script - Rather than stressing about learning every word by heart, focus on the key messages you want in your video. A short and tidy bulleted list will go much further than the entire script printed out. This will help your delivery feel more authentic and will give room for your personality to come across too. As a last resort, there's always the auto-cue, but that's a topic for a separate post. 🎬 Don’t settle for the first take - As the videographers, we are here to help. We’ll do our best to advise if there is room for improvement or if your take is exactly where we need it to be. There's always a chance we missed something so it's a good idea to do an extra shot just to be on the safe side. 🎥 Engage with the camera - Look directly into the lens so that you can establish eye contact with your audience. If there is room for it in the script, try to include some personality in your delivery by using natural gestures and facial expressions. We mentioned previously about video being closest to human contact so this is where we can capitalise on it. ⌛ Give yourself some breathing space between the takes - We don’t need to do the whole delivery in one go,  we will use multiple takes to stitch the final sequence. For this reason, don’t look away the second you finish your segment, there’s a chance we’ll need some time for editing or the outro to appear.  An abrupt ‘exit’ can ruin an otherwise usable shot. *** This is just the start of a very long list. Hopefully with this in mind, you’ll be able to get the most of your time on set and walk out with some takes you are truly happy with. 🎥✨ To get help with your next #creative campaign drop us a line at info@theogvstudio.com theogvstudio.com #videotips #ptc #content #campaign

Crafting Vision into Reality Project Title: Unveiling the Vision: DM Sons Corporate Film Agency: Wisteria - Taking your stories to the world Client: DM Sons Overview: Wisteria, a creative branding and marketing agency, collaborated with DM Sons to produce a compelling corporate film. Over the course of five days of filming, our team immersed ourselves in capturing the essence of DM Sons’ mission to empower India’s brightest minds to innovate and create by making the highest quality of steel available to them without having to worry about procuring high grade raw material. Through extensive interviews with the founders and thorough industry research, we gained deep insights into their vision of revolutionizing the steel industry by providing the highest grade of steel available globally. Narrative Approach: Our narrative centered on DM Sons’ commitment to enabling greatness by tackling logistical challenges head-on. Through captivating visuals and heartfelt interviews, we showcased their dedication to providing the highest quality steel, thus paving the path for India’s aspiring innovators to achieve remarkable feats. Key Highlights: Extensive interviews with DM Sons’ founders to grasp their vision and mission. Thorough research conducted on the steel industry landscape. Five days of filming to capture the essence of DM Sons’ operations and ethos. Crafting a compelling narrative highlighting DM Sons’ role in empowering India’s bright minds. Objective: The corporate film aimed to communicate DM Sons’ vision of facilitating greatness in India by offering premium steel solutions. It sought to inspire audiences with the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation in addressing logistical challenges. Outcome: The resulting film encapsulates DM Sons’ passion and dedication, serving as a powerful tool to communicate their brand ethos and mission to a wider audience, thereby solidifying their position as a leader in the steel industry.

How do you tell a story 3,000 years in the making? 🤔 When you’re crafting a narrative that spans three millennia, where do you even begin? The task seems so big and so abstract that you can’t even relate to it. For us, the answer is simple: The moodboard. A moodboard is where the magic starts—a carefully curated collection of visuals that sets the tone, mood, and aesthetic for your entire story. It’s the foundation, the blueprint for everything that follows. Here’s the thing: great visual storytelling doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The myth of the “lone creative genius” penning perfect ideas in a flash of inspiration? It’s just that—a myth. Creativity in the commercial visual world, more often than not, is collaboration, iteration, and inspiration. Think about your favorite cinematic moment. One of mine is an iconic scene from The Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the ring. When Arwen rides in on her white horse to rescue the sick Frodo and stop him from becoming a wraith. • What do you see? Frodo, feverish and weak, his pain externalized through lighting, makeup, and sound. • What do you feel? Helplessness, fear, wonder, disbelief and relief as Arwen, bathed in light, arrives as an angelic savior. • Why does it work? Because every detail—the props, the costumes, the set, the lighting, the casting, the acting, the music—was meticulously designed to evoke those exact emotions. But it all starts somewhere. The moodboard for that scene likely drew from fairy tales, biblical imagery, and universal moments of rescue and relief. These references guided the concept artists, set designers, cinematographers, and more, ensuring every element aligned to tell the story in the most impactful way. For our animated film about the Hærvejen for Vejle Kommune with Mads Fjeldsø Christensen, the process is no different. Except, we’re weaving together two guiding principles: historical accuracy and entertainment. Our moodboards mix historical references with art, design, and emotional inspiration, look and feel inspiration creating a tapestry that feels both authentic and evocative. So, whether it’s a Viking merchant crossing the Ravningbroen or a Bronze Age traveler or an old Icelandic Monk finding hope in the unknown, every detail you see onscreen begins with the moodboard—the holy spring from which all creative decisions flow. What about you? How do you start your creative projects? Let’s talk moodboards. #Creativity #Storytelling #Animation #hærvej

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱? 🤔 It's more than just pressing record on a camera. A successful video production project is a mix of creativity, planning, technical skills, and a lot of teamwork. Let’s see the magic that happens behind the scenes! 𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 📝 This is where ideas turn into action plans. It includes: - Concept & Scriptwriting: Defining the story and message. - Storyboarding: Mapping out each scene visually. - Logistics: Booking locations, securing equipment, and setting schedules. 𝗧𝗶𝗽* A solid plan saves time and ensures everything runs smoothly! 𝟮. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 🎥 The big day involves capturing all the necessary footage: - Setup: Lighting, camera angles, and sound checks to ensure quality. - Directing & Takes: Guiding talent and doing multiple takes for the best shots. - B-Roll: Filming extra clips to add context and variety. 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁* Multiple takes help ensure we get the perfect moment! 𝟯. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 ✨ Here, raw footage turns into a polished video: - Editing: Cutting clips into a compelling story. - Sound & Effects: Adding music, voiceovers, and visuals for impact. - Color Grading: Adjusting tones for a professional look. 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝗽* This stage can make or break the final video quality! 𝟰. 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 & 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 🛠️ The client reviews the video, and we make tweaks as needed. Once everything is perfect, it’s ready for the big debut! Once the video is polished and approved, it’s ready to be shared with the world! Whether it’s uploaded to a website, shared on social media, or played at an event, the end result is a video that captures attention and delivers a message in a powerful way. Creating a successful video is a team effort so the next time you watch a polished video, remember all the hard work and passion that went into bringing it to life! 🎬✨

A brilliant ad? or visual noise? Beautiful cinematography, but is it predisposing consumers to prefer a brand? Unlikely. (See the link to the ad in the comments) Speaking of brand, there is no role for any brand There is no clear brand benefit. A brand name is a new logo at the end of the video. Could it be for anything if you miss the last few seconds? Probably. So what is happening in this video? There is no visual story. Here is what an average human sees: - Doors open to reveal a group of humans dressed in bright colours - People walking - a purple background - A human in a red dress - an orange background - A human spinning - paint brushing white - A human walking with a hammer - a blue background - A group of humans sitting - a purple background - Humans walking backwards - words that read "copy nothing" - A rock - a word that reads "jaguar" In the sea of stimuli in our media environment, is this an ad that predisposes consumers or one more element of visual noise?' Is this brilliant advertising or does it miss the point of what advertising should do? It misses the mark in my view. It is one of my learnings of the week. I would love to see the post-tracking results. What do you think? #marketing #branding #management #mentoring

Videographers, stop making videos. Start creating unforgettable experiences. At a previous agency, we were just getting into video. We knew we were good—really good—but we hadn’t fully realised it yet. Then came the game-changer: filming supercars on the stunning roads of West Sussex. Perfect Sunday morning. Jaw-dropping cars. Even better shots. The footage? Outstanding. But with only two minutes to work with, tough cuts had to be made. What made it in? Pure gold. When it came time to deliver, the usual suggestion popped up: “Just send them a link.” But this wasn’t just another video. A link wasn’t good enough. This needed to be more than just ‘sent.’ It needed an experience. I said, “No. Let’s do this right. Let’s make them feel it.” We invited the client in—snacks, beers, the whole crew, including their clients whose cars were featured. We set up a mini cinema, dimmed the lights, hit play. The result? “Wow. Can we watch it again?” So we did. Our client? Blown away. Their team? Over the moon. Their clients? Thrilled seeing their cars brought to life on screen. - Takeaways - 👉 Sending a link is easy. But creating an experience? That’s what sticks. 👉 When you believe in what you’ve created, push it further. Make others feel it. 👉 Memorable moments build lasting relationships. - Challenge - Next time you’re about to hit send, stop and ask: How can you go beyond just delivering the work? How can you turn it into an experience that gets clients excited?

Hello, LinkedIn members! 🎩 In the realm of corporate video production, where mediocrity dares not tread, you'll find us - COLORXTRACT PRODUCTION HOUSE - painting the town with pixels and panache! Here's a sneak peek into our whimsical world: Visual Symphony Unleashed: Picture this: a magical land where videos aren't just videos – they're full-blown adventures! Our team of creative geniuses doesn't just make videos – we craft visual masterpieces that'll have you saying "wow" faster than you can say "action!" From heartwarming tales to jaw-dropping adventures, we've got it all, and then some! The Penmanship of Kings: Our content writers aren't just wordsmiths – they're modern-day alchemists, transforming words into gold. We'll discover the perfect voice for your brand, whether it's the voice of reason, the voice of inspiration, or the voice of your favorite fictional character (trust us, we've got the magic touch)! Tailored Elegance: One-size-fits-none is our motto, and we're sticking to it! Whether your brand is as lively as a circus or as suave as James Bond, our approach is as custom as a made-to-order suit. Animation, sound design, cinematography – we've got more options than a buffet on cheat day. Empowerment Through Magnificence: Size doesn't matter here, folks – greatness comes in all shapes and sizes! Whether you're a bigwig CEO or just a regular Joe with big dreams, we'll treat you like the royalty you are. Your brand is our passion project, and we'll lavish it with the attention it deserves, complete with a crown and scepter (figuratively speaking, of course)! The Paradigm of Opulence: With our cutting-edge techniques and out-of-this-world creativity, we're like the mad scientists of video production, mixing equal parts genius and insanity. Join us on this crazy adventure as we redefine what it means to be lavish, extravagant, and just a tad bit bonkers! So, esteemed colleagues, are you ready to take your brand to the next level? Let's join forces to create some seriously awesome projects! Get ready for a wild ride filled with creativity, laughter, and a whole lot of high-fives! #COLORXTRACT #WhimsicalWonders #VideoVisionaries #QuirkyCreativity #LightsCameraAction  #ElevateYourBrand