What Makes a Corporate Video "Remarkable?"

Almost 25 years of documentary filmmaking distilled here. It's a filmmaker's "footprint."

A corporate video is simply a journey. A journey to a new place. Heroes as corporate storytellers, formerly known as "employees," invite us to share their journey, their dreams and struggles with them. They are the organization's "voice."

Remarkable films have remarkable heroes, yes?

---Tom

What Difference Can Four Minutes Make in a Corporate Video?

If it were your career, it would make the difference between one job or another.

And if it were your company, four minutes could potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Problem: How does a Fortune 500 company reduce hiring, recruiting and training costs for new hires? How can a company quickly, effectively and realistically show their culture, values and communicate their "vibe" to potential candidates ahead of time?

Answer: Produce an honest and compelling documentary featuring four diverse employees. Have the "heroes" share their personal stories about the corporate culture, the pace and rhythm of work, a typical day, the training required, the role of teams, etc. Show the real deal. Tell the real deal. A pre-written script? No, thank you.

This approach actually captures the integrity and honesty of an organization: outer actions reflects inner actions. The trust factor increases between all stakeholders.

I was actually commissioned to produce this 10 minute film. After five days of intense editing, the film runs 14 minutes. Now, I'll tell you up front; if I were asked to produce a 14 minute film, without hesitation I would say, "That's too long. Tighten it up."

This film proved me wrong.

Throughout the editing process, I realized something I haven't realized in a long time; more time can tell a story better than less time.

Those extra four minutes can, and will, change someone's world for the better. And the change could go either way. "Thanks for telling me more of your story. Hire me. I'm a great candidate." Or, "No thanks. I'll pass."

Both parties win either way.

This 14 minute story is actually better than a 10 minute story. In video, that's rare.

Just like honesty.

---Tom

Can an "Elevator Pitch" Change the World?

I wasn't sure, but it was something I had to find out.

Cut to: the 9th floor. Paul Williams over at Idea Sandbox. Paul posed this challenge: imagine your elevator pitch as your TV show opening narration. Will it captivate your audience to tune in week after week?

It was a brilliant idea. A twist on the usual. Rats. I didn't have a pitch. I was, in fact, "pitchless." Now I was on a mission; a journey. A journey for that "pitch" that would keep an audience tuning in. Hmmm... I closed my eyes and imagined my pitch.........

Cut to: the 10th floor. Liz Strauss over at Successful and Outstanding Bloggers. Liz invited me to send her a few sentences about what I do so she could include it in her blog. I sent "the pitch." I figured, "What the heck...if it doesn't work, I'll write something else."

Cut to: the 12th floor. One week later. The phone rings. It was Liz. "I love your pitch. Can I use it to help change the world?" (No small task, mind you, this "changing the world business," even on a good day!) "Sure. Let's have a go!" You can read it on Liz's site.

Cut to: the "heroes" in my films.

I always knew they were heroes, but only in my head.

I never publicly called them heroes until a few years ago. Why? Because of the stereotypes we carry of heroes; Gandhi, King, etc.

My heroes are a little different. But the same. The heroes in my world are the employees, the executives, and the "real people" who are featured in a film I produce for an organization. They are the "storytellers." They are the brave ones sharing their heroic journey with the rest of us. It is they who believe in their mission. It is they who inspire us to action. It is they who tell us things are possible when we may think otherwise.

Most importantly, my heroes believe their story can change the world.

Thank you, Paul, for lighting the "fire in my belly." Your encouragement, support and feedback on my pitch is deeply appreciated. You are a hero in my book.

Thank you, Liz, for changing the world by recognizing the power of my story and my film work and then sharing it with the world. A hero, you are, to me.

Thanks to all the heroes everywhere who help make this life so wonderful and magical.

Cut to: the 1st floor. The doors open. It's your turn.

---Tom

SOB Con07

Change the world with your story.

Hang with Liz Strauss and the most amazing SOB's on the planet.

The world needs it.

---Tom

What is a Documentary Edit Session Like?

It depends who you are.

For some, it's like watching paint dry; or a tug of war.

Or it's like two people struggling to paint one picture.

Or it's like sparks flying in every direction.

For me, editing is like a miracle.


Imagine crafting a compelling ten minute story from 300 minutes of original footage.

Imagine thinking you have the answer and then the editor "ups" your idea...all day long.

Imagine seeing your "closely held" ideas morph into concepts you never dreamed of.

Imagine your idea is a "spark" and the edit team is the "wildfire."

Editing is kind of like our lives, don't you think? Like a miracle?

So imagine all your hundreds of hours of "original footage" to this point in time...what story would you tell?

---Tom