From planning your shoots to properly titling your clips, we’ve rounded up some of our best advice from real-life conversations with Pond5 artists during the holiday season.
Holiday Takeaways: Apply These Ideas to Get More Sales
Creative Brief: House and Techno Artists
Keyword Code: TECHNOP5BRIEF
Like concerts and music festivals, the requests for performers pertaining to the concepts of entertainment and music are at the core of this month’s content needs. Unlike the concert brief, setting up talent here will require the right model. Casting club extras and securing a location can be expensive. Instead, focus on the artist in an isolated location.
Shot-List Thought-Starters
• Artist mixing records/controller on decks
• Artist standing with arms raised, facing camera and from behind (smoke,
light blowout, or both, will disguise the fact that there is no audience)
• An overhead shot of the artist for unique perspective
• Artist singing into microphone while playing synthesizer, using fader, knobs
• Closeup of artist’s fingers playing synthesizer
• Closeup of artist with hand on headphones
• Artist with hand raised, waiting for the beat to drop
• Closeup of artist’s hands scratching records and using controller
• Artist engaging the audience – hand to ear, arm waving motions to stand up
• Portraits of artist looking at camera – serious testimonial shots – enthusiastic shots, etc
Suggested Keywords: Independence, Arts and Entertainment, Lifestyle, Leisure, Fun, Happy, Recreation, Audience, Performance, Creativity, Energy, Pleasure, Electronica, Synthpop, Turntablist
Typical Users: Food and Beverage Companies, Phone Services, Music Videos, Credit Card Companies, Technology Companies, Musical Instrument and Software Companies
DJ turns records at the club by aleksutkin
Pro Tip: Using smoke and or blowing out the scene with light and flares can disguise the the fact that there is no audience. We also highly suggest shooting in slow motion with a variety of angles.
Casting Considerations: Gender and race diversity. Authenticity and diversity will play an important role in the success of your shoot.
Location: Studio, Club
Before You Shoot:
• Please check what content already exists in the Pond5 marketplace
• Think about a visual approach that will result in new and fresh footage
Submission Checklist:
• Remember to tag your clips with the keyword code: TECHNOP5BRIEF
• Have all property and model releases filled out and submitted
• No logos or brands may be visible in any of the clips
• Don’t forget to add any applicable conceptual keywords
Top image: DJ performing in nightclub by fStopImagesGmbH
Creative Brief: Concert Crowds
Keyword Code: CONCROWDP5BRIEF
Concerts and music festivals never go out of style, meaning that concert crowds are another solid topic to explore while having having fun at the same time.
Shot-List Thought-Starters
• Wide shot of concert crowd from behind without performers
• Close to medium shot of concert crowds with hands raised from behind
• Concert crowd or participant taking photos or video with their phone from behind
Suggested Keywords: Arts and Entertainment, Lifestyle, Leisure activities, Fun, Happy, Recreation, Togetherness, Audience, Performance, Creativity, Energy, Pleasure
Typical Users: Banking and Investment, Food and Beverage Companies, Phone Services, Music Videos, Credit Card Companies, Technology Companies, Feature and Documentary Films, Non-Fiction Television Programming
Pro Tip: It’s highly recommended that you cast 12-15 extras to perform in a contained space. You will get more bang for your buck in the long run, and fully released talent will pay dividends in the end. Smoke machines and “concert” lighting are key to tricking the viewer into believing it’s actually being recorded at a live event. Sound design will be the responsibility of the client, which will provide the finishing touches to your scenes to make your images believable in the final cut. Slow motion is highly recommended.
Chances are you will not be able to secure a model or property release at an actual event, so if you decide to shoot a real concert, be sure to frame your shots as not to reveal the location. The same applies to the performers and members of the audience. If you’re thinking of using recognizable talent, we highly suggest using the Easy Release app, which is especially handy if you’re traveling or shooting on the go. The luxury of having a high-end video camera or DSLR to capture your images will be nearly impossible unless you’re working the venue. Your smartphone is recommended in this scenario, as long as you can capture a 4k or 1080 video resolution.
Location: Studio, Outdoor Music Festival, Large Indoor Concert Venue
Before You Shoot:
• Please check what content already exists in the Pond5 marketplace
• Think about a visual approach that will result in new and fresh footage
Submission Checklist:
• Remember to tag your clips with the keyword code: CONCROWDP5BRIEF
• Have all property and model releases filled out and submitted
• No logos or brands may be visible in any of the clips
• Don’t forget to add any applicable conceptual keywords
Top image: Crowd Cheering At Concert by blendimages
Creative Brief: Red Carpet
Keyword Code: REDCPTP5BRIEF
High-profile award shows such as the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Grammys are examples of events that generate quite a lot of search results from our clients for general red-carpet themes. Themes associated with the red carpet are also peppered with quite a few strong concepts that work outside of the literal representation.
Shot-List Thought-Starters
• Closeup of feet stepping onto red carpet from car among camera flashes
• Closeup of car window rolling down to reveal waving celebrity among camera flashes
• Celebrity waving to fans on red carpet among camera flashes
• Tight shot of fans screaming and reaching for the camera
• Celebrity holding generic award on red carpet among camera flashes
• Reporter with microphone talking with celebrity
• Celebrity signing autograph for a fan among camera flashes
Suggested Keywords: Arts and Entertainment, Celebrity, Elegance, Creativity, Glamour, Celebration, Fame, Success, Premiere, Red Carpet Event, Excellence, Luxury, Style
Typical Users: Health and Beauty Products, Clothing Industry, Food and Beverage Companies, Phone Services, Credit Card Companies, Technology Companies, Award Program Openers, Book Promotions, Non-Fiction Programming
Award Ceremony Concept by FractalPictures
Pro Tip: A budget on a shoot such as this can run pretty high, but it doesn’t have to if you can cheat themes by shooting tighter angles. If you focus most of your budget on hiring the main talent and styling, you can switch out the “movie star” with a “rock star” quite easily by changing the wardrobe to get more bang for your buck. Slow motion is also recommended. In addition, “fan” POV videos captured from phones can be attractive as a more user-generated aesthetic that a client may be looking for. Gathering these videos from your extras after the shoot adds more to your offering, beyond what your main camera captures.
Casting Considerations: All ages, gender and race diversity. Authenticity and diversity will play an important role in the success of your shoot.
Location: A variety of locations can work, as long as you can frame your shots to illustrate an elegant background. On the other hand, a specific background or elements may not be necessary if you fill your frame with secondary talent, such as fans and/or photographers.
Before You Shoot:
• Please check what content already exists in the Pond5 marketplace
• Think about a visual approach that will result in new and fresh footage
Submission Checklist:
• Remember to tag your clips with the keyword code: REDCPTP5BRIEF
• Have all property and model releases filled out and submitted
• No logos or brands may be visible in any of the clips
• Don’t forget to add any applicable conceptual keywords
Top image: Well-Dressed Celebrity Couple Waving to Paparazzi on Red Carpet by caiapond5
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