Fast Company: 7 Steps to Film Your Corporate Documentary

You've done some homework and your company has decided to make a corporate documentary.

Great.

But do you have a plan that works?

"7 Sure-Fire Steps for Creating Your Company's Documentary" is my latest Fast Company riff. The formula is called "STORIES:"

• Select.

• Talk.

• Organize.

• Realize.

• Imagine.

• Express.

• Shape.

Want to know more? Learn how to use STORIES here.

What do you think? Is this helpful? What would you change?

---Tom

7 Steps to Film Your Corporate Documentary

12 Things You Never Knew About Corporate Filmmakers

For some corporate filmmakers, filmmaking isn’t a job.

• It’s our life’s mission.

• It’s our calling.

• It’s our purpose.

Filmmaking isn’t about "me." It’s about creating something bigger than me; "we."

I’ve had these thoughts in me for years. Now it is out of my head and heart and into yours.


1. We believe in the power of story. An organization’s story is no less powerful than any other story if it is told authentically.

2. We believe your company/team/department/service has a remarkable story waiting to be discovered, captured, and shared.

3. We believe in the power of your story more than you can possibly imagine. Once our minds get a handle on what you want to accomplish, your story moves from our head to our heart; where the creating really begins.

4. We believe your video story can make a difference in someone’s life.

5. We believe having conversations at the beginning of a project gives us a chance to co-create a vision that is bigger and better than what either one of us could create by ourselves.

6. We believe emotions are the gateway to your brand. Delivering anything less than an emotionally engaging video story ultimately short-changes a film’s potential benefits.

7. We believe in “Magic Moments.” We’re always on the look-out for these moments because we know we are incapable of designing them ourselves. We believe they are nature’s gifts to each film and story.

8. We believe an audience can tell a perfect world from a real world.

9. We believe your employees are your storytelling heroes and we, as filmmakers, are stewards of your story. We take this responsibility seriously and with great honor.

10. We believe a story unfolds organically. Just by asking the right questions, the story reveals itself. A story is not discovered through force, arrogance or by being “right.” A story is discovered by being open with one another.

11. We believe our creative solutions are hidden and eventually discovered in the unknown. We are challenged and yes, sometimes scared, by this creative void. Ironically enough, every time we get this initial feeling, it inspires and motivates us to figure out a solution. And we always do.

12. We believe we don’t just make videos. We believe we’re storytellers.


There you have it. I hope it inspires you in some manner.

So how about you? Have you shared your “12 Things You Didn’t Know About …?”

---Tom

12 Things You Never Knew About Corporate Filmmakers

Fast Company: Film Your Company’s Story. Naturally.

My latest riff for Fast Company is up.

It's titled, "See How Easily You Can Film Your Company's Story. Naturally."

It covers three unique styles of video that can help you capture your company’s story- naturally.

1. Fast Story

2. Virtual Story

3. Soul Story

Which style best matches your brand story? Find out here.

---Tom

See How Easily You Can Film Your Company's Story. Naturally.

Story. What The Heck Is It?

Let's ask Google. It knows everything.

Hmmm. Google points to 1,450,000 links defining story. That's a lot of possible definitions for "story."

Over time, I've cobbled together several definitions of "story" but never clearly expressed it.

That got me thinking.

What does "story" mean to me? How do I see "story" in relationship to producing a film for an organization? It's quite simple, really.

A story = a journey from "here" to "there."

From "Huh?" to "A-Ha!"

From "I used to think this way" to "I now think that way."

I think a story is ultimately an experience that takes me from my current state of awareness to a different state of awareness.

This journey opens up infinite possibilities.

That's it. Simple, of course. But discovering the journey is the trick, right?

So what do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Have a different take?

What the heck is a story?

---Tom

P.S. This post was inspired by yesterday's energizing conversation with David Bullock. I had the good fortune to meet David at SOBCon08 and was totally knocked out by his presentation. David has offered to publish a free ebook based on our upcoming conversation about solving business problems through the power of story and video. I'll keep you posted when it's available. Thank you, David!

Story. What The Heck Is It?

People Tell Stories. Not Tools.

It’s tempting to make sure you have the right tools to capture your organization’s video story.

• Will that brand new video camera make us look better?

• Should we try some different editing software?

• Which 3D program is best?

And on and on...

Tools don’t tell stories. People tell stories.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m surrounded by tools: video cameras, an audio studio, motion graphics and editing suites.

I’ll also be the first to admit I really love certain editing effects. In fact, they have become part of my own branded signature.

But these tools simply enable our stories to be created and shared.

Remember: Story first. Tools second.

What do you think?

Thanks to Seth Godin's recent post for the inspiration.

Have a super weekend.

---Tom

People Tell Stories. Not Tools.