Video Talks - Conversations on the Business of Video ‣ Marketing ‣ Filmmaking ‣ Online Video

This interview is split into two parts – the first is geared towards creative entrepreneurs – with part 2 focusing on how businesses can harness video marketing.

In part two of this interview, Dennis takes us through his Find Your Story program and his Audience Magnet online platform to help businesses connect with their audiences.
There are tips on talking to camera, how video personalisation is a powerful tool, why every business should be using video right now and how to tell the story of a vegan sausage factory with video.

Dennis Morrison is a serial entrepreneur, business storyteller and founder of Audience Magnet, which helps businesses and professionals to communicate authentically and effectively.

When he’s not lecturing in post production at The London Film Academy, Central film School or Ravensbourne University, he’s helping business owners and digital creators find their own unique voice through his 'Find Your Story' program.

Dennis has worked in the Film & TV industry for over 30 years, and has created branded content for companies like Diesel, L'Oréal and Red Bull. He’s consulted on numerous video projects for various companies, helping them develop their video strategies and build their audience. He is a business mentor and marketing story strategist.

Dennnis says, 'The truth is that storytelling can be learned like any other skill or technique. But you need an experienced guide to break down the structures of communications and storytelling, into a step-by-step system that you can start using immediately in your business. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned marketing pro.'



You'll discover:

• How to promote a sausage factory with video 
• Smart phone filming tips
• Why people are buying into people   
• Why you should document your struggles
• Why every business would be using video 
• Why it’s not about you it’s about them
• Why you should just press record 
• Why there’s magic in looking into the lens of a camera
• Tips for filming yourself 
• Why personalisation of video is big for brands 
• Why he is targeting women in the USA
• Why small business owners should do their own marketing
• How to find your own brand story
• Why he is driven by freedom of choice
• How Imposter syndrome holds creatives back  

This interview is split into two parts – the first is geared towards creative entrepreneurs – with part 2 focusing on how businesses can harness video marketing.

Dennis Morrison is a serial entrepreneur, business storyteller and founder of Audience Magnet, which helps businesses and professionals to communicate authentically and effectively.

When he’s not lecturing in post production at The London Film Academy, Central film School or Ravensbourne University, he’s helping business owners and digital creators find their own unique voice through his 'Find Your Story' program.

Dennis has worked in the Film & TV industry for over 30 years, and has created branded content for companies like Diesel, L'Oréal and Red Bull. He’s consulted on numerous video projects for various companies, helping them develop their video strategies and build their audience. He is a business mentor and marketing story strategist.

Dennnis says, 'The truth is that storytelling can be learned like any other skill or technique. But you need an experienced guide to break down the structures of communications and storytelling, into a step-by-step system that you can start using immediately in your business. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned marketing pro.'

In part one of this interview, Dennis talks honestly about the options for film students post-uni, how Dennis learned the hard way what it takes to make it as a creative entrepreneur and how to develop a business mindset when it comes to money.

You'll discover:

• How Dennis learned the hard lessons of being an entrepreneur
• How being an extra on a film set changed everything
• Why it’s not about the tech - it’s about understanding critical thinking
• Why your pricing structure is hugely important
• How he learned to edit on a Steenbeck
• How to get started as a creative entrepreneur
• Why you make the decision to become entrepreneurial
• Why creatives can struggle when they leave university
• What happens when the job market is saturated for creatives
• Why there's a lack of diversity of thought
• Why it’s not about the gear to get the gig
• How to get results by following a framework

Tom Middleton is a director, cinematographer, drone filming specialist and co-founder of SMN Film – a video production and video marketing agency. He’s also one of the BBC’s 'go-to' drone cinematographers.

In this interview – loaded with advice for aspiring and established filmmakers and creators, Tom gives us his best advice for drone shooting, how he connects on a personal level with businesses and what it takes to truly find a work-life balance.

Tom runs the business with his wife Miche, also a filmmaker – specialising in creating beautiful cinematic films that evoke an emotional response in audiences worldwide.

Over the years Tom has run film events, lectured in creative media production and freelanced as a DOP, director and producer.

Listen @ http:videotalks.co/12

In this episode:

• Why his family moved away from London
• How they evolved a business by playing with toys
• The power of LinkedIn vs other social networks
• Why it's important to showing your personality through social media
• How to shoot with a smart phone
• How to shoot the best drone shots
• How video can change the fortunes of a business, even in lockdown
• Why you should separate yourself from your business when working from home
• Why gaming and playing Goldeneye is great for drone filmmaking
• Why camera movement is key in everything he shoots
• Why backing up footage is the first thing you should do
• Why planning is fundamentally the best thing you can do
• An overview of Tom's drone cinematography course

James Lee is a director and photographer based in Richmond Virginia. He runs Journey Seven – a creative video & photography business with a purpose to specialise in working with non-profits and NGOs.

At the age of 19, James knew that being an entrepreneur was the only way he could pursue his dreams so for the past fourteen years, James has been through familiar successes, failures and the challenges of running a businesses day-to-day. He knows how important it is for other businesses and organisations to have reliable partners to collaborate with – especially in the creative field. His values include thoughtful communication, responsibility, guidance, and the continual improvement of both character and craft.

He recently got married during the first weeks of lockdown in the US and has since been working on a series of Covid-related films for the community at large.

In this interview James talks about how he approaches documentary journalistic filmmaking and why companies should be making themselves more vulnerable to connect with their audience and customers.

You'll discover:

• How to improve your workflow efficiency
• Why documentary storytelling is detective work
• Why he doesn’t find out too much about a subject first
• How small businesses can help each other in the current climate
• Why being a wedding photographer is a good training ground
• How listening to your team can really help you
• Why it’s important to listen to people when you’re interviewing them
• The power of transcription software like Rev
• The secret to balancing budgets with non-profits & NGOs
• How to price yourself working with a non-profit
• Why your unique qualities gives more value to a client
• How vulnerability and trust are key to how brands use video
• Why the discipline of hard work will make or break a business
• How James manages to maintain a zero inbox
• Why you should only take what you can eat from a buffet

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Video Talks helps creators, business owners and marketers learn from experts in their field to make the right decisions when it comes to making, using and commissioning video in all its forms – with your host, director Andy Greenhouse. 

Tom Baker is a director, cinematographer and editor who specialises in inspirational documentary and story-led brand content.

He explores new ways of storytelling using experimental approaches, seeking out original and unconventional choices of lenses, music and editing techniques. You’ll find his work across commercials, corporate, adventure films, as well of course as YouTube and IGTV.

He is driven to create authentic and inspirational films with meaning at their heart. Tom loves researching, meeting, listening, filming, editing and sharing incredible stories that he believes will inform, educate and inspire audiences.

His personal highlights over the last few years include a film about the holocaust told as an original music video and an impactful Nike film about a young South African who is breaking down sporting barriers.

Recently, during the Covid19 lockdown he’s created self-initiated videos which have had 'viral' success.

You'll discover:

• His unconventional film schooling
• How he learnt everything he knows
• Why it’s good to be like a vacuum cleaner on set
• Why rules are there to be broken
• How mentors encourage you to do better
• To have a plan but be ready to throw it away
• How being reactive can take you into a different place
• How to get closer to a story with an intimate lens
• Why using a small camera helps in documentary filmmaking
• What you need to take your business online on a budget
• How 'sustainable filmmaking' can cut wasted footage and make economic sense
• Why it’s important to communicate your role to avoid confusion
• How today’s self-taught freelancer fits into a traditional crew
• Why it’s important to market yourself as a creator
• How you can help clients target the right audience
• Why you should look at photography books

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Video Talks helps creators, business owners and marketers learn from experts in their field to make the right decisions when it comes to making, using and commissioning video in all its forms – with your host, director Andy Greenhouse. 

Lex Johnson is an animator, director and founder of design and animation company Dazzle Ship. His career has grown from a passion to create and innovate. 

At 18 he created his first animated TV series for European music channel 'Channel U’. He went on to work in computer game animation, he’s created short films and music videos that have been shown at international festivals and he likes to teach – lecturing at renowned Swedish motion design school Hyper Island as well as several London universities. 

In 2017 he took a step back and worked remotely around the world for a year. His company Dazzle Ship has gone from strength to strength developing a strong identity and client base, working with charities, brands and events – always connecting motion graphics with a brand story.

We recorded this interview during the UK lockdown.
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Video Talks helps creators, business owners and marketers learn from experts in their field to make the right decisions when it comes to making, using and commissioning video in all its forms – with your host, director Andy Greenhouse. 

Chris Evans Roberts is an award winning creative composer, sound designer, light artist and founder and Managing Director of Ithaca Studio.

Ithaca combine art, music and technology to make innovative experiences with sound and light. Founded in 2010, Ithaca became known worldwide for audio-visual remix and music production, winning multiple awards in audio, advertising and interactive video.

In 2014 Ithaca’s work expanded into sound and light installation and light art. Ithaca have been shortlisted for the darc Architectural Lighting Awards and the Lumen Prize for Digital Art. Recent light art commissions include works at heritage sites including Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Blenheim Palace and Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.

Ithaca work across both traditional and experiential advertising along with events industries.

This interview was recorded on a beach in Brighton, UK before the COVID pandemic.
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Video Talks helps creators, business owners and marketers learn from experts in their field to make the right decisions when it comes to making, using and commissioning video in all its forms – with your host, director Andy Greenhouse. 

Video Talks Podcast: Episode 07
This is the second part of the interview with director Hasraf 'HaZ' Dulull.
Listen to Episode 06 for Part 1 of the interview.

HaZ used every trick in the ‘thinking outside the box’ book to go from compositor to eventual movie director. 

In Part #2 he talks about how the right sales companies can really help you decide on what film to make, how to reach out to industry contacts, his own online course on filmmaking and how filmmaking is changing with the latest gaming tech.

He also explains the process behind making Battlesuit – his recent animated pilot.

The interview is split into two parts so it’s more easily digestible. There were so many nuggets of gold from HaZ that it felt wrong to cut it down.

You'll learn...

• How HaZ built an audience online
• Why you should bring sound design and music into the process early
• How independent film sales companies can help you define your next film subject
• How to shape your movie into a commercially viable film
• How he created his fly-on-the-wall online course with behind the scenes and b-roll footage
• The best bit of advice he’s ever been given
• How to finish a project
• How to clear you mind so you can see things in a fresh light.
• Why you can’t always fix it in post
• Why you should always have a plan – whether a meeting or a film shoot.
• How to get through an animation block
• How HaZ made an animated film using gaming tech Unreal Engine
• Why virtual production is the major buzzword of the moment
• How reaching out to podcasts and filmmaking websites can accelerate you marketing

Jump to...

• 01:36 Reaching out to sales companies
• 05:25 Shaping your movie commercially
• 08:31 Finding sales companies
• 11:06 Scrub Forward Round (quick fire questions)
  • Video Nasty - worst habits you see
  • VR / AR / Mixed 'R'?
  • Techniques + software
  • Play Pause Stop
  • Secret animation tip
• 17:55 Haz explains the origins behind his filmmaking course
• 24:19 Recent pilot Battlesuit created in Unreal Engine
• 32:10 Latest unreleased project in development
• 34:34 Virtual production and the future of film
• 37:46 Haz's vision for his future career

Video Talks Podcast: Episode 06
Hasraf HaZ Dulull began his career as a VFX compositor, moving to producing and supervising VFX teams. After a period of creating several sci-fi short films, in 2017 he directed his debut sci-fi indie feature film - THE BEYOND, which premiered at #2 on the iTunes charts, before trending on Netflix. His second feature film 2036: ORIGIN UNKNOWN, which starred Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Another Life) had a limited theatrical release in the US before also landing on Netflix. 

In this interview (split into two separate episodes) – loaded with advice for aspiring and established filmmakers and creators, HaZ breaks down how his start in a video games company led him to venture into movie VFX for films like The Dark Knight and ultimately go it alone with a carefully planned vision to make his first feature film.

HaZ used every trick in the ‘thinking outside the box’ book to go from compositor to eventual movie director.  

In Part #1 he takes us through the journey of his career, his unique casting process, how he built up a wealth of contacts in the film industry, working with an investor, finding sponsorship to fund projects and so much more valuable wisdom.

The interview is split into two parts so it’s more easily digestible. There were so many nuggets of gold from HaZ that it felt wrong to cut it down.

You'll learn...

• How HaZ built an audience online
• Why you should bring sound design and music into the process early
• How independent film sales companies can help you define your next film subject
• How to shape your movie into a commercially viable film
• How he created his fly-on-the-wall online course with behind the scenes and b-roll footage
• The best bit of advice he’s ever been given
• How to finish a project
• How to clear you mind so you can see things in a fresh light.
• Why you can’t always fix it in post
• Why you should always have a plan – whether a meeting or a film shoot.
• How to get through an animation block
• How HaZ made an animated film using gaming tech Unreal Engine
• Why virtual production is the major buzzword of the moment
• How reaching out to podcasts and filmmaking websites can accelerate you marketing

Jump to...

• 04:46 Haz's career journey
• 10:19 Short film Project Kronos goes viral
• 12:40 Developing & making his first feature The Beyond
• 18:06 Marketing & the success of his debut feature
• 24:26 Marketing tips for filmmakers
• 27:00 The importance of audio in your films
• 29:12 Making 2036: Origin Unknown
• 32:05 Casting actors
• 40:02 Early influences and education
• 46:25 The best bit of advice he's been given
• 48:12 Essential habits for productivity

Will Shears is a Brighton-based filmmaker who has already made his fair share of short documentaries in the travel genre. in 2019 Will released the documentary Europe In A Tuk Tuk, which has gone on to be shown at numerous festivals and won best documentary at the Ribbon of Dreams Festival. The film is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

At the time of recording – the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown, Will was embarking on his latest project – a documentary about Coronavirus and the ways people around the world are dealing with it.

In this interview we discuss his approach to travel documentary making, how Snapchat changed the way video is consumed and why you should always take a break from your edit.