Six Tips For Better Corporate Videos

Things we’ve learned from 22 years in the business.

INTRO NEEDS TO BE RESHAPED The pandemic and increasing remote working have shifted more corporate communications onto video. Messages from CEOs, shareholder updates, product releases and company reports, both internal and external, are now routinely filmed and broadcast online. 

But let’s be honest, so often these “talking heads” can be dull. By now we’ve all seen a lot of them, and our attention can start to wander. This isn’t the fault of your on-screen corporate talent. Your CFO was hired for her financial modeling abilities, not to win Academy Awards!

How do you create add interest to corporate interviews? Here are five ways to make them more authentic, engaging, and informative?

Exciting Data Representation

Consider enhancing talking heads by illustrating their points with graphics, charts, and text. Our recent project for tech giants Zscaler used visuals alongside and interview with CEO Jay Chaudry to explain complex concepts about cloud security.

Add The Personal Touch

Sweeten up interviews with personal insights. We’re always engaged more when we know a little about the character we’re watching. Our project for the Facebook partner summit used a concept that channeled Jerry Seinfeld to introduce important Facebook business partners.

Shoot In an Interesting Location

 Consider getting out of the office. Use a space that gives your interviews variety and adds visual interest. It’s even possible to build a complete virtual world for your interview subjects.

Use the Power of B-roll

 Add interest by shooting interviews with multiple cameras, enabling you to switch angles and perspectives. Most important, assemble cutaway shots to illustrate the points your people are making, so that the viewer isn’t always on the subject. Cutting in relevant b-roll or stock footage adds huge power to a talking head.

Deliver authenticity

No one is engaged if they feel they’re being told boilerplate corporate PR – they want to hear is being told as it is. Make sure your interviews sound candid and natural. Getting interviewees comfortable and relaxed is an art. Kontent creative director Ron Walter conducted many employee interviews for SF waste management company Recology.

Editorial

Lastly, don’t skimp on editorial. Help your interviewees by lovingly assembling their words in post-production. The result may look simple, but the most effective on-screen performances are well-paced and energetically driven. And adding appropriate music (enough of the bland stock!)  is a finishing touch to really make your corporate videos sing.