A.D. gets the NFL Films treatment
October 14, 2009 at 11:28 pm | In Interesting Video | Leave a CommentTags: adrian peterson, nfl films
Being in Minnesota, being a huge Viking fan, I eat up anything related to Hall-of-Famer in-waiting Adrian Peterson.
So I noticed he’s the subject of a new DVD from NFL Films, All Day with Adrian Peterson, telling his life story and then some. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a nice recap here, including a video clip.
I love everything NFL Films does. Their talent for producing compelling, visual stories is clear.
I’d love a chance someday to do a high school standout’s story in the same fashion as All Day with Adrian Peterson, with sit-down interviews with family and friends, childhood photos and sports highlights. It would be a fun project.
By the way, here’s another recent video with Peterson, courtesy of a nice production from ESPN’s E:60:
The Little League World Series gets it
August 23, 2009 at 5:59 pm | In Interesting Video | Leave a CommentTags: little league world series
Say what you want about the spectacle of the TV and Web coverage of the Little League World Series – that’s a post for another day.
But I spent some time this afternoon watching a game on ESPN from the LLWS. Not only is the event getting great coverage from ESPN’s broadcasts – with great HD camera work and production elements (like the player introductions, highlight montages and coaches wearing microphones) – but the LLWS also has a nice presence on the Web for its game coverage and highlights.
Besides its website, the LLWS has been covering the event and posting its videos regularly to its YouTube channel.
Here’s one well-produced ESPN montage in particular that gives you a taste of the talent that’s hard at work at those games:
ESPN also is posting updates to its site here. And, on ESPN360.com.
What a great use of video, and what a way to set the standard for how an event that big can be covered with digital media. Even with all those tactics, there are even more methods they could have considered, blogs, giving the kids cameras, etc…
The great thing is it’s not just about the event. It’s about the kids and coaches on the field, and showcasing their experience of getting there and competing (and the parents and fans cheering them on in the bleachers!).
As a side note, I mentioned off the top that ESPN has some of the coaches wearing microphones in the dugouts and on the field. As a coach myself, in several sports, I think those interactions are priceless to include in the TV broadcasts. One coach simply telling a pitcher, “Forget about it, it happened, you’ve gotta move past it.” Proving the teams that get to the LLWS need the right coaches to prepare them for the games, and for life.
Now, ESPN might be choosing to show only the positive, encouraging stuff but I’d like to believe they have a lot more of those moments to choose from that anything remotely negative. I’d like to think that at that level you don’t find many jerks coaching those teams. I hope the jerks are smart enough to tell ESPN “No thanks” if they’re asked to wear a mic.
Again, the real purpose of this post is to give kudos to the video talent on display at the Little League World Series and get you thinking about ways to promote and market an event from your group or business, big or small.
How a college, or high school, should market sports
February 17, 2009 at 9:24 am | In Interesting Video | Leave a CommentTags: university of miami
The University of Miami gets it. Does the Division I, II, III or other level of college in your city get it?
I’m talking about understanding how the creation of compelling video content can sell its sports programs on the Web.
Check out Miami’s YouTube channel, this video featuring the U’s women’s basketball team is a good introduction to what your favorite institution of higher learning should be doing:
The videos on Miami’s channel clearly are highly-produced and professional commercials (this spot is particularly great).
But who’s to say your college – or high school for that matter – can’t attempt something similar, on any scale? Set someone free to get video that captures a sport or sports that you want to highlight. Listen to the script of the Miami videos. Think visual. And find someone to put it all together for you.
A video on your college or high school’s Web site – like Miami’s – can go a long way to spice up your site and celebrate the effort of your athletes.
And put people in the seats.
“I Will”: Big Ten promos feature kids
November 25, 2008 at 11:08 pm | In Interesting Video | Leave a CommentTags: big ten conference, i will
I just saw these commercials for the first time last weekend and loved their message about youth sports.
The Big Ten Conference sends a nice message in these video promos, using kids rattling off the names of some big names in Big Ten football history.
There are three different promos. I found two of them on the Big Ten Conference’s YouTube channel. Let me know if you know where promo one is.
Here’s promo two:
Here’s promo three:
These are also on the Big Ten Conference’s YouTube channel, which also features some well-done promos with current Big Ten athletes.
Again, a really nice use of video to promote the sports and colleges of the Big Ten and the pursuIt of success by the athletes they profile.
YouTube wants video of your vote
October 28, 2008 at 11:14 pm | In Interesting Video | Leave a CommentTags: video your vote, videoyourvote
When you head to the polls next Tuesday, YouTube wants you to share your vote in the presidential race online – and possibly for the election night coverage on PBS if your video is compelling enough.
The YouTube page where you can upload your video is “videoyourvote“.
The footage also can be before or after you visit the polls. Of course, YouTube encourages you to check with the laws in your state regarding video cameras in a polling place. (Here’s a site for that).
There are already a few videos on the videoyourvote page of people talking about their vote, due to early voting in some states. It’s an interesting concept, and worth watching to see how it is used.
From the womb to the NFL
October 28, 2008 at 10:54 pm | In Interesting Video | Leave a CommentTags: nike fate
The odds are long but it’s the dream that has kids everywhere having fun playing their favorite sports with their friends with every changing sports season.
This new ad from Nike, titled “Fate,” is a neat representation of the seemingly impossible path from childhood to the bigtime. It features LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with scenes recreated with child and youth actors to mimic actual moments from their childhood, on and off the field, and their intense training to be the best.
Getting married? How about a video like this?
October 22, 2008 at 10:13 pm | In Interesting Video, Pre-wedding Video | Leave a CommentTags: Kevin Hunt Video, pre-wedding, prewedding, twin cities wedding video, Wedding Video
A wedding day is so much more than the ceremony. So why do so many couples settle for just a video of the walk down the aisle, the vows, etc… shot from a camera stuck on a tripod in the corner of the church, or worse yet, the balcony?
There are many more video options to consider if a marriage is in your future, including a creative and compelling video like this that you can play via a flat screen or projector at your rehearsal dinner, during the gathering time for your reception, and over and over again in your living room in the years ahead.
I had a great time shooting that video with Angie and Bob in Rice Park in St. Paul near the Landmark Center, the site of their wedding in a few months. They really responded to my ideas for the video and I think the end result shows that. They also picked a great song! Thanks, guys!
So, the video options I can do for couples getting married include:
- Pre-wedding – That’s the style of the embedded video above.
- Love story – A three-to-four minute video featuring interviews with the bride and groom, talking about how they met, etc… Shot at the place the met, or where he/she proposed, etc… Again, this is a great one to play at your reception.
- Wedding day – Similar to the video of Angie and Bob above, except the bride and groom are dressed for their big day. I shoot this during the time allotted for photos before and after the ceremony. This also can include friends and family.
- Wedding behind-the-scenes – This includes some of the elements of the “Wedding day” video, but it aims to tell more of the story of the preparations, I roam around from the bride’s dressing room to the guys hanging out together outside the church, etc… All the activity before the bride walks down the aisle. It’s a companion to your “official” wedding ceremony video.
- Post-wedding – I start shooting this video the moment the bride and groom walk out the church door, tag-along on the bar-hopping bus or limo, then capture the arrival at the reception, all the key toasts and dances, and stay at the party until the bride and groom close it down. It’s another companion to your “official” wedding ceremony video.
What do you think? Sound like something you’d like to watch when you’re old and gray? I wish I had all those videos from my wedding day.
Fortunately, your time to capture these memories is now. At an affordable price.
NBA video: “Road to Redemption”
October 10, 2008 at 12:05 am | In Interesting Video | Leave a CommentTags: dream team, olympic basketball, road to redemption
If you’re a basketball fan like me, I wanted to draw your attention to a video series produced by NBA Entertainment now available on the NBA YouTube channel.
It’s a five-part documentary series titled “Road To Redemption” that chronicles the history of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team and the 2008 team’s preparations for the Olympics in Beijing.
I especially like the access the video crew had to team practices and the off-the-court stuff. I’m also a big fan of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski so his appearance in the series is a bonus for me.
Here’s episode one, part one, which mainly focuses on the ‘92 Dream Team:
Outdoor baseball and Josh Hamilton
August 25, 2008 at 1:40 am | In Interesting Video | 1 CommentTags: josh hamilton, outdoor baseball, Texas Rangers
I’m in Dallas for my day job, getting ready to do some podcasting and blogging from a conference that my company is participating in.
Had a chance to go to see the Texas Rangers – and home run derby phenom Josh Hamilton – in a game tonight at the Ballpark at Arlington. As a Minnesotan, I haven’t been to an outdoor Major League Baseball game since 1979 – the Twins moved into the Metrodome in 1982. Let’s just say I was in awe of The Ballpark, and the fact that we had nothing but the sky over us. Even if there were many, many empty seats.
I took this picture with my cellphone:
While the Rangers lost, and Hamilton missed on some opportunities to be a hero, it was just good to be outside at a big league baseball game again.
Hamilton’s story, in his own words, has been interesting to track as he has come back this summer in full force from drug problems to fulfill the potential he showed as a standout high school baseball player. In this compelling video from Major League Baseball, Hamilton talks about his dreams of playing pro baseball as a kid and the path his career has taken.
A father and son story
August 1, 2008 at 10:18 am | In Editing Video, Interesting Video, Photography | Leave a CommentTags: howard county times, maisie crow, max seidlitz, news videographer, prader willi
I’m sharing something I found on the Web that is notable for so many reasons:
The use of video, photos and audio.
The love of a father.
The struggles and sincerity of a son.
Max Seidlitz has Prader-Willi syndrome. The disorder makes him feel like he’s always hungry. Please watch this compelling story about Max and his dad Lon on the Howard County TIMES Web site in Maryland. The story is by Steve Kelly. The photos are from Maisie Crow.
Thanks to News Videographer for posting the link. I think you’ll find the images powerful and the soundbites of Lon and Max very moving.
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