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intrigue Archives - Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, Better Home Video, Feature Film, For Pros

Better Call Saul: The Devil is in the Details

There is no better show on television than AMC’s Better Call Saul, from Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, ex of Breaking Bad. All four seasons are spectacular, but if you haven’t watched (or even if you have) it’s worth considering what makes it great.  Great writing and acting, sure, but for me the best part of Better Call Saul is that every shot, every sequence, every episode is about intrigue- built by lensing in to the details.

Season 1, Episode 1 doesn’t start with anything as obvious as an establishing shot of a shopping mall, or a freeway sign … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Video Marketing, For Pros

Why Making Video “Ask for the Order” Doesn’t Work

This week a post on Linked-In reminded me that all good video must “ask for the order” and contain a clear “call to action.”

This concept was, as far as I can tell, invented by someone in an ad agency, maybe in the ’80s, and repeated enough that many people take it as gospel. The idea is that your marketing video must tell the customer exactly what you want them to do, and then request that they do it.

Thus a TV commercial that includes the magic phrase “Buy a Toyota tomorrow and save $200!” is presumed to be way … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, Video Marketing, For Pros, Your Questions Answered

Making Interview Videos That Hold Their Attention

I made a recent job shift from corporate training to  being the “video guy”.  I am responsible for capturing “Success Stories” of customers who have installed and use our products.

The biggest thing that I’m struggling with now is telling a story that intrigues people and keeps them watching.  I just finished your book, and as I think back through some recent edits I completed, I now know the intrigue wasn’t there.

How do I find the the most intriguing way to present customer stories in interview videos?

–Ken

I am going to give you the secrets of intrigue right … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, Video Marketing, For Pros

Two Videos, Same Business. But Only One Intrigues

It’s not often we get a chance to compare two videos purporting to do the same thing for the same business, but thanks to my friend Andy Goodman, we can.  Andy publishes a great bloggy-kind-of-newsletter for non-profits, and has kindly given me permission to steal some of this month’s cover story.

Lifelines for Youth is a non-profit that helps formerly-incarcerated youth. Naturally they are interested, as are all non-profits, in raising money.  They commissioned a video to help.  When it didn’t help enough, they commissioned another one.

Take a look at the videos below– you only need about … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Video Marketing, Teaching and Training, For Pros

Intrigue In Action

Following up on last week’s post, my friend (and storytelling/marketing expert) Andy Goodman sent me this spot and the message “Get a tissue before you watch.”  It’s powerful, emotional and beautifully done.

It’s also a brilliant model for creating intrigue.  The film pulls viewers in by getting us to play two different guessing games as we watch.

The first game is “What am I seeing?” We’re shown a face that intrigues us, but we don’t know who it is.  We wonder, trying to make sense of each headline as the video gives us more clues– and then, finally … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Video Marketing, Teaching and Training, For Pros

Intrigue is the Currency of Modern Entertainment

Intrigue is the currency of modern entertainment.  It’s the art of making people want to find out more.

Skillful storytellers don’t get you to turn page after page by telling you what happens next.  They get you to turn the page by making you wonder what happens next.  That act of wondering– of needing to know– is intrigue. It’s what makes you stay with the story. Your curiosity drives you to turn the page.

And so it is with video.  Intrigue keeps you tuned in.  This is obviously true for video that tells stories (movies tend not to start with … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, For Pros, Press

How to Use Story to Make Great Video

 

If you weren’t in New York last week, you missed a great Video Conference and Festival thrown by Vimeo.

Lots of great seminars and workshops at the sold-out event.  I spoke on Saturday– if you couldn’t make it, here are the cliff notes– plus a whole bunch of links for further reading on story:

How to Use Story:  10 Points from Steve Stockman’s Workshop @VIMEO Festival

June 9, 2012

1.  Entertain or Die:  Nobody watches bad video.  There are too many instantly available alternatives. Remember the Entertainment Transaction:  The audience pays (with time or money) the entertainment must … Read the rest

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