Can video really change someone’s attitude? Or inspire them to take action? We say, emphatically, YES! But don’t just take our word for it; scientific studies prove it. For example, a social science experiment by a researcher at Oxford University showed that students in Uganda who watched a “feel-good” movie about a chess prodigy improved their academic results. The group of students who watched “Queen of Katwe”, about a poor girl who went on to become a champion chess player, scored higher on their national exams than a control group.
So how can you make your videos more inspiring? Here are a few tips:
Listen to the voices. No, not the little voices in your head, but the voices of the people your video is for or about. Telling the video in their own words (i.e. without narration) can be more authentic, more emotional, and more persuasive. When conducting on-camera interviews, knowing the right questions to ask to elicit the most emotional responses can be the key….as well as knowing when to shut up and just let the subjects talk.
Look for “magic moments”. That is, those small, quick scenes that pack a big emotional punch. It might be a customer getting teary-eyed during a testimonial, two employees laughing and joking with each other, or an executive showing a “softer” side with his or her family at home. These snippets may last only a few seconds, but they can leave a lasting image in the viewer’s mind.
Set the mood with music and sound. The right choice of a soundtrack can be critical. That’s why we use a library of over 255,000 titles, so we can find the perfect match to fit your video. And don’t forget about sound design: whether it’s “ambient sound” recorded on location or audio effects created in studio, delicately blending these elements with the right music can play the viewers’ emotion like a violin (pun intended).
If you need some “inspiration” to get started on your next video project, get in touch with us for some free brainstorming!
