Kevin Hunt Video

(This post is also available as a PDF on Scribd)

“The DVD was a tremendous hit at the banquet. Lots of laughs, applause and smiles.”

That’s the kind of actual customer feedback craved by every video production professional creating a high school team highlight DVD.

Did you feel that way when your son or daughter’s team video was played at their season-end banquet? If your answer is no – or “sort of” – then this article is for you.

Now more than ever.

In this era of the ever-increasing popularity of video – online, on the go and on your fancy flat screen at home – it’s becoming more likely for high school coaches, booster clubs and parents to hire a videographer/editor to capture the memories of their team’s season on camera and showcase them in a compelling team video.

But one video editor’s idea of “compelling” can be different than their competitors. And too often the less compelling video costs more.

Because your memories matter.

This article presents three concepts to consider for anyone concerned that the highlight videos ordered every year by their high school coaches, booster clubs and parents – no matter what the sport – have been falling far short of what they could and should be.

Creativity

“Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm.” – Earl Nightingale

Every high school team highlight video produced by a video professional should not follow the same outline they’ve used in previous projects.

So why are so many video pros guilty of this sin? Time.

And, dare I say, they really aren’t – to borrow from Nightingale’s quote above – enthused about your team? If you’re in charge of coordinating your team’s highlight video and the video pro only asks you: “How many games do you want me to shoot?” and “How many copies do you need?”… Run away. Run far away.

The focus shouldn’t be on the work. It should be on telling the team’s story.

The video pro should go out of his or her way to learn about the team’s key players, the seniors, the quirky personalities, and the expectations for the team’s success.

And then when it’s time for the creative video pro to edit, they should scrap any “formula” followed before to save time: Title graphic. Game 1. Game 2…

Here are just a few ideas the creative video pro could do:

• Meet with some players and/or parents, get their ideas for music, etc…
• Do video interviews with the head coach and players at the beginning, middle, and/or end of the season
• Tell an ESPN Classic-style story of the season through those interviews
• Shoot video at the first practice, videotape a lockeroom pep talk
• Start the DVD with a glimpse at the last game of the season, then go back to the first game
• Use a game photo montage to open or close the DVD
• Use childhood photos of the seniors
• Take individual photos of the players, or as groups of two or three

Comprehensive

“So large in scope or content as to include much.” – Definition of “comprehensive” on Dictionary.com

What do you think a team highlight video should include? Clips from every game, or half of them, or more? Sections with photos or highlights of every player (depends on the size of the team and how many of the players actually play?)

It also depends on how long the video is planned to be. If you’re paying for a half-hour DVD, that’s all the time you have.

A truly comprehensive team highlight video, while of course being creative, is one that shouldn’t leave you wanting to see something it didn’t include.

A no-brainer right? Then why wasn’t that game-winning touchdown with five seconds left included in last year’s team video?

Where’s senior night? Should you include the team’s record or key statistics?

The backbone of the high school team highlight video is the footage from the games, whatever the sport is.

So, who shoots the video? Will the pro shoot all the games? Some? Will student volunteers be assigned by the coaching staff? How about some parents in the stands or on the sidelines?

Bottom line… someone should be shooting every game. It’s the only way to make sure nothing gets missed.

Here are some more ideas to be comprehensive:

• Assign parents to shoot video and photos (DSLR cameras only) at every game
• The video pro needs to be open to using that parent-provided video and photos
• The video pro needs to get close-up shots of every player who gets playing time when appropriate (easier for basketball for example) as well as team shots and coaches
• Include JV team footage if you can (again, basketball is a good example)
• Balance the highlights, show offense and defense equally in a football video for example

Cost

“The gift should cost very little and yet be greatly coveted.” - Baltasar Gracian

High school team highlight videos are “greatly coveted” as a permanent keepsake of a season in a team and young athlete’s life. But, do they cost “very little”?

Yes and no.

In 2008, here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market, many video pros routinely charge $100/hour for video projects for corporations. Some large enrollment high school football team highlight videos have been known to top a $10,000 price tag, if the pro shoots every game, by the time the editing is all done.

Excuse me? What happens if the video is boring? Does the school hire that pro again the next season for another 10-grand? Unfortunately, they do.

Will the video pro you hire charge by the hour or by the project?

I fall in line with the by the project crowd because it’s easier to calculate the price based on how many games I’ll be shooting, how long the video I produce will be and my estimated editing time – and there are no surprises if the cost is established upfront.

Some factors to consider in terms of cost are:

• Will it make sense to pay by the hour? Get an estimate and hold the video pro to it
• Get business sponsors to pay for all or part of your team highlight video
• Many schools have a parent edit their team video, but do they have the necessary skills and creativity?

Conclusion

How to choose a team highlight video producer

1) As a parent, if you’re new to the varsity level, ask your son or daughter’s coach what they have done for a team highlight video in the past.

• Many coaches are reluctant to switch from their “video guy”. It’s apparently easier to stay with someone, even if they produce a boring product, especially if they are a team parent who does it for virtually no cost
• Ask to see a copy of last year’s video, if it’s boring let the coach know you’d like to investigate other video production professionals for him or her

2) Pick a video pro who shares your vision for a creative, comprehensive and affordable high school team highlight video.

• Ask them if they charge by the hour or by the project

3) Make sure the video pro you pick is open to including video and photos shot by parents.

• If they’re not, they may not truly share your vision for a creative team highlight video

4) Make your choice and sit back and enjoy watching your son or daughter and their team. That’s what this is all about!