How did you get into video production?
I studied television production at university, and during my degree I volunteered as a runner for MTV, which gave me excellent grounding, a real taste for the industry and something solid to put on my CV. I also found a part time job between studying as an autocue operator for a local studio.
After graduating I formed a small production company with other alumni, and we managed to win some work, but we soon realised that we needed more experience to be able to offer a top quality service. So I bought a camera and edit suite and went freelance offering video production to local tourism boards, built up 2 years of experience freelancing as a camera operator and editor, until I got my first job in a production company. I got some great experience in that role, working with clients such as the World Health Organization and the NHS, and one of my videos won an award, which was great.
What’s been your biggest professional success?
I’m really proud of having turned a freelance career into a successful video production agency that has recently been ranked the top video production company in the UK by Clutch.com! We’ve worked with some amazing clients, filmed celebrities, beauty pageants, sheep, dogs and cars, and we’ve won a bunch of awards along the way.
And what’s been your biggest professional mistake / regret?
Purchasing equipment like cameras, lenses and lights – as we started producing bigger videos, we tended to rent in equipment that was suitable for each specific brief so we wasted a lot on equipment that we didn’t use to its fullest.
What is some of the most important advice you can offer a CMO looking to commission a video?
It’s really important to be clear on your objectives, develop a detailed brief and keep the number of decision makers to a minimum. If you get too many people involved in the approvals process, you tend to take fewer risks and make an all-round unremarkable video.
You’ve seen a lot of change in the video industry over the past decade. What do you think the future looks like?
I think there will be much more emphasis on social first content, with marketing and sales strategies massively relying on video advertising across digital platforms. Also with social targeting, creators will start producing content that is really niche for specific audiences.
Got a video project in the pipeline? Get in touch with Jamie for an informal chat.