"GET ENGAGED!"- Post Production Brings Professional Finishing

RAW VS COOKED: THE OPTIMIZING STAGE OF VIDEO ENHANCEMENT
The simplified breakdown of a video shoot calls on camera, lights and a subject.  But to fulfill a successful video product demands the expert hands of the post-production people whose focus is on capturing and maintaining the attention of the judgmental yet easily distracted eye (what we call the A.D.D. audience) .  From footage repair and cleanup to enhancement and optimization, the post-production process oftentimes take over 85% of the project's labor/time/budget and is a direct link to getting the right look to get the message across.  

REPAIRS: It is the nature of shoots to have both camera and shooter to have flaws in the footage. From unexpected lighting issues, dirt on the lens to wrong camera settings (ie. white balance, iris setting, focus, shutter speed) and a myriad of other issues, many issues have the fortunate safety net of "post-production" where these things CAN and SHOULD be fixed. Field monitors and viewfinders themselves cannot always be trusted to "see what you get". Especially with digital equipment, much of the footage relies on your technology to perform right - and disappointments often show up after the production stage when a re-shoot can happen.

ENHANCEMENT: To make any image POP is the objective of any producer.  The visual pop, such as color, contrast, sharpness, composition and overall dynamics are concerns that, to our advantage, can largely be addressed using the latest retouching tools - many of which are already embedded in the current editing software.    Where washed out blue skies can be enhanced, flesh tones can be boosted and sections of a shot can be emphasized or diminished as part of the "retouching" process of turning "blah to blam".  Moreover, a common process is when the producer decides to "rewrite in post".  Today's editing capabilities allow us to crop and re-compose a shot, add zooms/pulls, pans, blurs, fades and mimic other lens-related behaviors in post to add expression and cohesion to the piece. 

AUDIO ENGINEERING: This expertise is a large part of the movie watching experience.  This specialist is responsible for the selection and insertion of powerful soundtracks, audio cleanups (noise removal/reduction from live recording) and vocal track enhancement.  In the case of interviews and announcers, audio editors bring the speaker right into your living room by fully optimizing the timbre of their voice.   If you listen to the BEFORE segment of the enclosed video, a weak under-processed audio recording takes all the enjoyment out of watching any video- whereas a powerful audio track is the key to sensory engagement.

Digital processing and enhancement converts 'what you see' into 'what you PREFER to see'.  Where professional standards mean pushing footage through the optimizing process, the post-production investment cranks out products that greatly separates the big fish from the guppies- and so with their market value.

For more information on this article and post-production process, feel free to contact Carmen Regallo-Dewitt at carmen@imworx.com or log on to: IMWORX.com.  Footage courtesy of TruImageDental.com and is a registered trademark of Dr. Veronica Greene.  

FASHION WEEK & TRUIMAGE SIGHTING

by: Grace DellaValle (full article in Response NYC)

September 11, 2014- FASHION WEEK. For all the reason why NYC captures the eyes of the world, designers and the most alluring fashion models take center stage at the Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th Street NYC) giving over 1000 New Yorkers a memorable fashion night to remember.

But within this massive crowd of celebrities and fans alike, we find two familiar faces, our friends in the beauty education business Dr. Veronica Greene and Amanda Gabbard- no doubt pursuing their lifelong regard for fashion events and staying connected with 'the community of all things beautiful'.  "Our aesthetics alliance brought us here," started Gabbard. "When you share information and connections, you uncover events that make living and working in Manhattan the blessing that it was meant to be.  With a support system like my TruImage partners, I find myself on the front row of a runway of probably one of the largest shows in Fashion Week surrounded by everyone who is just having a great ol' time with the energy of beauty!"

Dr. Greene first heard about the Prive Fashion Show through an invite from  one of its main promoters - EUROCIRCLE.com (a global connector of all style-related events).  Dedicated to helping her entire list of 400+ personal image professionals, she took to her LinkedIn connections to get as many of her allies to enjoy an unforgettable night of Fashion. 
 
For those who could make it, they earned a front-row seat to a powerful marketing tradition and one of the most glorious displays of design artistry that New York City is remembered by the global community. "I think this is probably one of the most impressive shows I've ever attended... and with the number of cameras and media people there, I had no doubt that the industry was paying attention!" says Greene.

In pursuit of the August 20 Self2.0 Beauty & Wellness Business Summit, Gabbard and Greene forged one of the first TruImage partnerships to produce an educational marketing series on Beauty and Personal Enhancement and is also collaborating on developing a complete cosmetics product line for future online promotion.
 

As far as celebrations go, the runway certainly did not disappoint.  With a record crowd of industrial aficionados and onlookers, the Mercedes Benz NYFW Series "PRIVE GROUP EVENT" delivered international designers to showcase current impressive styles and creations with the most stunning models from across the globe that signified the almost-week's end with beautiful new trend-setters.  The party started at 8pm with the usual line of zealots running all acrsoss 16th street. If the call for an "open bar" won't get you running, the event planners delivered New York top DJs Francis Mercier and Stephen Jervis to introduce the finest of NY's high society for an illustrious fashion show featuring Redvanly, Muti Chic by Christine DeAngelo, Susan Merriam, Style Number, Moi by Yaa and handbags by Sewzanna and a post show "partay" in keeping with the tradition of fashion week entertainment.


*Event co-produced with Magnises Sparkology, Eurocircle, Night Up & iClubNYC
- See more at: HIGHLINE BALLROOM EVENT LINK INVITE

HOMEWORK: TRY VIDEO SCREEN TEST TO TUNE UP YOUR PUBLIC PRESENCE

Written by: Len Gettz / Carmen Regallo-Dewitt

To master your public image means understanding how to manage your look, your body language, your voice and how you engage others with all these personal elements. Taking a page from Hollywood directors, I find the most helpful way to conduct sales training is through the use of a Video Screen Test. 

If you find it a little disturbing to hear your recorded voice, that's normal.  This only establishes the actual separation between your actual self and the 'you' that is the subject of study. I found the best solution to studying your complete public self with objectivity is by viewing yourself on screen.   Much more effective than looking at yourself in a mirror, reviewing a middle shot of yourself (independent of your current conscious state) interacting with a camera delivers a voyeuristic perspective - lending itself to better analysis and self-adjustment.

In a casting situation, an actor is asked to read lines from a given script and the director reviews how they read through the lens of a camera.  Where watching a person read in front of you shows one set of truths, the lens has a way of discerning other subtleties that helps is truly identify a complete set of elements in one's character.  By studying yourself as 'this other person', the screen lets you dissect your best, your worst and how to adjust.  Here are some things to look for:

- Clarity in presence
- Clarity in speech
- Choice of words
- Body & facial gestures
- Over confidence
- Eye contact
- Body language and mannerisms
- Posture (overall and reactive to certain dialogues)
- Choices of smiles
- Overall attire

Here's a familiar face. You be the director. This screen test is improvisation where the subject creates her entire topic and delivery on the spot.  Rate her based on her confidence and ability to engage.  Study her speech patterns and try to identify the high points and how she works the camera.

In your opinion, how well did she do?  Where are her strengths and where do you think she could use help? Please give me your comments?

Meanwhile, try this exercise at home. You will be amazed what you find about yourself.  What's more, you'll see just how others see you- such that you have the golden opportunity to TWEEK parts of your body language and/or physical expression for your next personal interaction.

Written by the producers of imworx.com and the how2station.com