music video Archives - Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman In Tips and Tricks, Video Marketing, Teaching and Training, Press

Teaching Video: Summer Stars Foundation

Summer Stars campers perform live August 2019

I do a lot of speaking and consulting on video, but by far the most rewarding is teaching I’ve done almost every year since 2000 at Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts. This is the camp’s 20^th Anniversary and I’ve managed to attend 17 sessions, teaching music video classes to 12-17 year-old disadvantaged kids from New York and Boston who pay nothing to attend. Much of my book comes out of my work teaching those kids.

(I’m also on the camp board, so now must suggest that you donate at www.summerstars.org)

The first step in creating a … Read the rest

Steve Stockman In Tips and Tricks, If you’re new to video, Teaching and Training

The Haircut Principle: The Power of the Extreme

When you change your hair style, you walk around all day waiting for someone to notice. But nobody does. What seems like a huge thing to you doesn’t register with anyone else.

The only way to get people to notice your hair is to push your change to the extreme. Shave it off or dye it neon pink, and people will start to see it. (And even then, no guarantees. I’ve shaved my beard and had people look at me quizzically and ask “Have you lost weight?”)

Thus the “Haircut Principle” for video– small changes don’t get noticed. Move just … Read the rest

Steve Stockman In For Pros

Intent in Action

Let’s approach this lesson on “intent in action” backward. Before you watch this great video from singer/songwriter Kina Grannis watch the “making of” video below (I promise you’ll still like the video when we get to it)

Notice that over the two years it took to make, Kina and her team don’t spend time talking about “sales” or “downloads” or “viral”– all things that distract from the creation of a video.

Instead, they focus on their intent— their vision and its desired impact on the audience.