Episode 2 Of the Ray Roman Podcast: Online Video

Episode 2 of the Ray Roman Podcast is about the growth of online video and my experience with video production since I started back in 2000.

Blog posts mentioned in this podcast are listed below.

Vine Killer - Video for Instagram: http://rayromanmedia.com/blog/2013/6/21/vine-killer-video-for-instagram

More blog posts that I wrote that are related to this subject is listed below as well.

Experimental Videos for Instagram: http://rayromanmedia.com/blog/2014/5/21/experimental-videos-for-instagram?rq=instagram

This is why I love Vine: https://raymondroman.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/this-is-why-i-love-vine/

Using Snapchat to Create Short Films: http://rayromanmedia.com/blog/2015/2/25/using-snapchat-to-create-short-films?rq=app

Thanks for listening and don’t forget to ‘Follow’ if you enjoyed!

Using Snapchat to Create Short Films

Ever since Snapchat created the 'My Story' feature I have used the mobile app to create on the fly made up short stories, as well as what most people use the app for which is capturing what they're doing at that moment in their lives. Recently the app allows you to download your story, instead of these great moments disappearing into thin air - which we know isn't entirely true since essentially what gets posted to the internet stays on the internet or in some database somewhere. Just last week Snapchat now allows you to record your videos while the music on your phone continues to play, whereas before if you were listening to music it would stop the music while you hold down the record button. I've wanted this feature for so long and glad it's finally possible to incorporate audio playing from your phone in your Snapchat videos. I took the short film idea a step further when this was made possible and made a little short film titled 'The Unknown' being that I had no idea what kind of story I was going to create, again I was just creating on the fly.

Below is a trailer I made of my Snapchat story I downloaded, and posted it to Instagram to lead more friends to follow me on Snapchat as well.

A video posted by Ray Roman (@raymondroman) on Feb 20, 2015 at 12:38am PST

I've previously wrote about using the in-camera editing technique with 8mm film, Vine, and now the same thing is possible with Snapchat, minus the time limitations that Vine gives you. I think with the capabilities these apps provide, it could help beginning filmmakers learn the basics of filmmaking, or even turn someone onto becoming a filmmaker if they learn to love creating stories to tell their friends in a creative way. However, I know most people aren't using Snapchat "creatively", but for those who are it's interesting to see what the possibilities are for the future of filmmaking.

Personally, I've been using these apps to tell short stories, create highlight videos, or as a trailer to lead people onto seeing the full video (as seen above). For the most part I've been using Instagram to create highlight videos also known as "montage sequences" of family events. Anybody can create a montage these days, especially with apps such as Flipagram, or FlipClip but I believe there's an art to it that most people don't realize. Sure you can upload your photos into these apps, add some music and your on your way to posting your own montage, but to personally create your own montage there's a lot more that goes into to really create a feeling that gets across to the viewer. As an editor I try to lead the eye of the viewer through the choices I make of what clips should go together, where to make the cuts, what transition to create, and most importantly what music to use to drive the montage. For me it's a great exercise to create these short 15 second montage sequences for Instagram, and it's also nice to have these mini-highlight reels of a family event to look back on later on in life. I know a lot of people have old home movies that they never go back and watch, who really has the time? But when you have the capabilites that technology offers you today, and the apps to help showcase these moments, why not take advantage and create these short videos in the most entertaining way possible?

Below is one of my recent highlight videos, if you'd like to watch more follow me on Instagram/Snapchat @RaymondRoman and search under the hashtag #RayRomanVideo for more edited videos.

A video posted by Ray Roman (@raymondroman) on Jan 17, 2015 at 8:40am PST

Vine Killer: Video for Instagram

The rumor was true! Yesterday Instagram released the new update where you can now post short videos. The difference between Instagram Video and Vine is you can post 15 second videos on Instagram compared to the 6 second limitation on Vine. You can choose between 13 custom filters on Instagram, and add a cover frame that people will see when scrolling down their feed. Also, there’s pretty much a “takes” feature that I suggested previously maybe it’s something Vine should incorporate. Personally I kind of like the limitations on Vine, I think it forces people to be more creative. However, I like the options Instagram brings to the table. I think it's exactly what Vine could have been. The only thing I dislike about it is the 15 seconds because of the loading time on mobile devices. I think 10 seconds would be a perfect amount of time to make something creative. Then again most people on Instagram aren't posting from a creative perspective. I was excited when Vine came out because most people were posting creative video skits, and now I wonder if the same idea will crossover to Instagram videos? For the most part I doubt it will because in recent months I've noticed my Instagram friends sign up for Vine and many of them have flooded the Vine feed with boring, everyday bits of video clips. These are the same people who might post 3+ photos, or 3+ photos of the same situation on Instagram. You know, the kind of people you want to unfollow but don't because they're your friends. I'm going to continue to use Vine because I find it's a more creative community, but I will also use Instagram for skits I can't fit within 6 seconds on Vine. I've already noticed some friends of mine use the Instagram Video in good and bad ways. I don't mind seeing random video clips of ones life if it's recorded nicely, they can almost be like a moving photograph. It's the videos horribly mashed together with no composition that I dislike. I must remember these videos are from people who have no basic knowledge for photography or video editing, so how can I expect them to frame a shot and successfully use in-camera editing? I really do wish they tone it down a bit with the excessive posting though.

Vine App

Are you on Vine? It seems to finally be catching on. Especially now that it's available for Android devices. I signed up a month after its release and have been addicted to it ever since. If you don't know what it is, it's basically "video Instagram". Back in March I wrote a blog post titled 'This is why I love Vine'. I write about what I like about only having 6 seconds, and what potential Vine could have if takes could be redone.

“What I like about only having 6 seconds is that it forces the user to use the time wisely for their video. Some people will use the 6 seconds creatively to tell a short story, while others might use it to post a clip of what they’re viewing at a concert. There really are no limitations besides the time you’re given and the way you piece together your video with in-camera editing.”

Here's some of my favorite Vines I've made so far. Follow me on Vine @RaymondRoman 

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