VIDEO PRODUCTION & FILMMAKING BLOG

Tips, tools, and tales from the world of film and video production.

Check out our Tips, Tools, and Tales series on YouTube!

Video Marketing boosts College Admissions: The Ultimate ROI
Leah Taylor Leah Taylor

Video Marketing boosts College Admissions: The Ultimate ROI

In the age of social media, there is no denying that video content reigns supreme. The emergence of TikTok in 2018 (previously known as Musical.ly) changed the video marketing landscape in a big way. Video became the most dynamic way to attract new customers, and businesses quickly caught on.

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$1000 Budget Video Editing PC Build Guide
Nick Taylor Nick Taylor

$1000 Budget Video Editing PC Build Guide

Whether you’re a small content creator, freelance filmmaker, or an established production company, investing in a decent editing computer is a must. With the many options out there for various laptop and computer builds, the task of finding the perfect fit can be daunting. One way to get the most bang for your buck, while meeting your specific editing needs, is building your own PC.

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DJI Air 2S - Best Drone for the Money?
Jessica Yochim Jessica Yochim

DJI Air 2S - Best Drone for the Money?

The introduction of the DJI Air 2S all-in-one camera drone is an interesting addition to the DJI line-up. With a large 1 inch 20MP sensor capable of capturing 5.4K 10-bit d-log video at 150Mbs, next-gen Occusync 3.0 transmission technology and an affordable price-point, novice and professional remote pilots alike can find a lot to love. For comparison, we looked at the Phantom 4 Pro V2 and the popular Mavic Pro 2 to see how this new drone stacked up.

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Fifine K678 USB Mic Review and Comparison
Jessica Yochim Jessica Yochim

Fifine K678 USB Mic Review and Comparison

Have we found the Best USB Mic under $100? That's what we are discussing today with the Fifine K678, a new cardioid condenser microphone that's taking aim at the Blue Yeti. At the time of this video, getting your hands on a good USB microphone for streaming, voiceover, or podcasting work is difficult as supply chains are strained and there is limited stock everywhere. The Blue Yeti is by far the most popular choice for USB condenser mics, so we are conducting a side-by-side comparison with the new Fifine K678. For good measure, we also compare these mics to some popular dynamic xlr microphones, the Rode PodMic and the Electro Voice RE320.

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Sony ZV1 - The Perfect Vlogging Camera?
Jessica Yochim Jessica Yochim

Sony ZV1 - The Perfect Vlogging Camera?

The Sony ZV-1 DSLR camera claims to be the best cameras for vlogging - but does it stack up against the competition?

The Sony ZV-1 is a point-to-shoot camera from Sony. The point-and-shoot format allows for easy mobile filming, such as clamping it on the passenger seat of a car or securing it to a gimbal for walking shots.

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Aputure 300d ii Review - An LED video light with power!
Jessica Yochim Jessica Yochim

Aputure 300d ii Review - An LED video light with power!

In 2020, Apurture released a brand new light called the “300X,” which is an update to the “300D mark ii.” The advantage of the “300X” is it's bi-color, however, gels can also help achieve most desired color temperatures.

Aputure products mix value, durability and helpful features with a price point that is approachable for the prosumer market. Essentially, the “300D mark ii” is a more powerful “120D mark ii.” The light is a little more than two times as bright as the “120D mark ii” and offers extra features.

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Aputure 120d ii Review - Best Video Lights for Indie Filmmakers
Jessica Yochim Jessica Yochim

Aputure 120d ii Review - Best Video Lights for Indie Filmmakers

One of the most overlooked aspects of production for YouTube creators and indie filmmakers, is lighting. Even with the best camera, a great lens, and solid audio, if the lighting is not on point, the overall production can be compromised.

Over our production company’s filmmaking career, we've used just about every light, from fluorescent tube lights, LED panels, to hot tungsten lights. But now, we've found the best all-around solution for lighting in the filmmaking world: Aputure lights.

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Voking Automatic Extension Tube
Jessica Yochim Jessica Yochim

Voking Automatic Extension Tube

Macro lenses capture detailed, sharp, extremely close up shots, such as water droplets on a piece of food or the intricate texture of a surface.

This video was shot using a Sony A6500 DSLR camera, which has a crop sensor. The advantage to using a crop sensor camera like the A6500, is the crop factor, meaning more zoom.

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RODECaster Pro and RODE PodMic - Best Beginner Podcast Set-up
Jessica Yochim Jessica Yochim

RODECaster Pro and RODE PodMic - Best Beginner Podcast Set-up

Podcasting has gained massive popularity in the last few years. In the video above, Nick takes a look at some new products that make it super simple to get up and running with any podcast idea.

The RODECaster Pro is an all-in-one podcasting interface that has four inputs, four outputs, and is used in conjunction with the brand new PodMic. The setup is user-friendly: all it takes is plugging in the microphone, selecting some presets, adjusting a few parameters, and voila! The result is a professional sounding podcast from day one.

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