I have been making videos for and with people since 1996, and many of them have been used to bring about social change.
The purpose of this blog is to help people and organizations who want to explore all the tools at their disposal to raise consciousness about their issue, change people's behavior, and to fund raise for their cause.
I believe that a well made video can be one of the most effective tools in serving these goals.
Why does video have so much impact?
Because of emotion. Think about it, you have the power to use pictures and music. Most importantly, you have the ability to bring the folks your issues most affect right onto the television or computer screen of your potential donor.
I once worked with an internet entrepreneur who wanted to start med school online. He interviewed about 20 medical students about how they do medical school now, and how they would feel about being able to get the best professors online. I edited it for him into a short presentation. He raised over sixty five million dollars with that video.
SO, what do you need to do as the communications person for your not-for-profit?
Well, first you need a proper budget. You sometimes need to fundraise to create the fundraising material.
Depending on how your budget works, you might actually want to skip to step two, selecting a video provider to help you sort out what your budget might be to put into your upcoming fiscal year.
So, how to choose a video provider: I would find videos you like and go from there. It is also super helpful to ask others who they have used to make videos and get referrals. Most of my non-profit work comes from the director of one organization recommending me and my company to another who asks.
Please feel free to check out videos at http://www.stephaniehubbard.com/beekeepersite2009/Production.html
Also check out this site: http://www.lcfamerica.org/
Go to the "Watch and be Inspired" link. on the middle right of the page.
Okay, so once you have your budget, and you have your provider, then what.
(as per the pattern of this blog, this phase actually speaks directly to the question of how to select someone)
You want to talk to them about what are the issues you think resonate with people. Sometimes these are people's objections. For example, when I did the Lung Cancer Foundation of America Video, they knew that many people didn't take lung cancer as a serious issue because it was found mostly in smokers, and well, if someone smokes, they deserve it right?
Well, it was the goal of the video to make clear three points on this one issue: 1) many people who don't smoke also get Lung Cancer, 2) Many of the folks we are talking about smoked briefly and stopped long ago and 3) even smokers deserve to have research commensurate with what is possible.
Ideally, you will talk with this person about to best present your case. Though you may have ideas, you are looking for someone who can confidently build and improve on your ideas, or even point you in a more effective direction.
Then of course, you work with the video provider to set up the shoot.
The shoot is produced and executed, then you move into post production.
Typically your video person will work on a cut for you to see and review together, once that has been done, now the post production collaboration begins.
If your person suggests graphics and music in your budget, take it seriously, you will want to have handsome graphics and licensable music in your video.
How much will all this cost? Anywhere from 5 to 10 thousand dollars will get you a super fine video.
More tips to follow.
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