A Bloggers' History of Video Production - Thanks Debb Janes for Inspiring Me!

I started working with video at least 3-4 years ago. I have learned so much here in ActiveRain and this would be the same when it comes to video. Shortly have I joined, ActiveRain introduced Mixpo, a web-browser production solution for video. It made video production so much easier and I embraced it.

We had tried many different ways to produce video and finally realized that you needed a full-blown Mac and "Final Cut Pro" (video production software for the Mac) in order to be effective at video production. You also needed a great voice and a "Hollywood" persona to go along with it. We had someone back then who was producing video for real estate agents. Fred Light (he has not posted since 2010). He was using a Sony video-cam tape system and after speaking with him we bought the video cam. It was high definition and we were excited. We quickly learned that it was not an easy thing to do. As Realtors, we don't have a lot of time and so everything we do must be time efficient and net out a result that is effective. After much frustration with trying the HD aspect, we called Fred and learned that he did all his video without using the HD. Too hard to work with. We were disappointed. That was then and this is now.

After many efforts and I won't go into the details but it was a good year of effort on our part, we gave up. It was so time consuming that it just was not effective for us. We do now have a full blown Mac (huge memory) and "Final Cut Pro" and we still would like to learn how to shoot good video. We are approaching giving it another try at doing the production of the clips of video that could now be used with Mixpo. I also have a Sony Bloggie that I carry with me everywhere. It is better than my phone camera and it is easy to use (video and still photo). You still need a tripod for video. We now have a tripod that fits on the window of our car to aid in getting some localism video as we tour the areas of our market that are of interest.

I would have chalked this whole thing up to a loss, if it were not for Debb Janes. She is doing some very cool stuff in her YouTube Thursdays Group. Mixpo does also distribute to Youtube. It does not always work however. I have become inspired once again with Debb's work and on my list of things to do is to promote my Youtube Channel and work my way into being comfortable with video once again. I have a Southern accent (No...?) but if I slow down, my voice is mildly ok. Debb's voice is professional quality and so is Richard Yates. Both of these fine bloggers are inspiring me to make this work for our branding. We live in a beautiful place and I have always promoted it. It will be with our photography and now enhanced with good video. My voice is what it is and so we will find some level of comfort and use it well.

The great thing about Mixpo is that it is dynamic. You can go back and change your videos at any time. I love that I have built an infrastructure that now I can update with new and current video. That aspect of Mixpo is great for me. I love building infrastructure. Life is about stages of development. I got a special rate of Mixpo back in the day. They were bought by some company and the price changed to $50 a month. I have asked if that is still available for individuals and have been told that it is. Animoto is the new and wonderful thing on the market. I will stay with Mixpo because of my investment in the platform.

Here is my first updated video with voice over. I particularly like this video and it was a good one to start with.. I've had fun with video and look forward to updating and bringing new life to my library of videos. I have some fine work here in the RAIN to inspire me. Thanks Debb for your work and the group that inspires me to do better work. Always a good thing.