Profiles of Contemporary Art and - ARTisSpectrum

documentary film and anything in between. It is important to
keep in mind that three minutes is the maximum most videos
can keep the interest of the viewer and is the preferred length
for promotional videos. Generally, I suggest two to three minutes
as a maximum unless you already have a very committed
and large audience that is clamoring for more of you.
I would also caution against simply setting up a camera and
shooting an interview, then posting that interview without formal
editing. Watching anyone talking without some sort of visual
relief can be boring and it will waste the time you spent
shooting and posting that video. Hiring an experienced videographer
and editor brings formal knowledge and value to
the end product which will make the video interesting to the
viewer. Video specialists will intuitively know what B-roll to
shoot and use for the video, such as shots of the artist at work
creating their art.
B-roll – An industry term for images shown on the video relating
directly to what the speaker is talking about.
Other B-roll could include video or photos of subjects being
talked about or even the works of art themselves. To get an
idea of how this looks, simply watch an episode of A&E’s Biography
or a History Channel program about an individual. They
have mastered the art of interesting interviews. You will notice
that they also include other people such as experts and critics
to provide other viewpoints and interest.
As artists we tend to want it to all be about us, which it is. But
having others talk about us and our works lends credibility to
the video. Candidates for inclusion are the director of the gallery
that represents you or even those who have purchased your
work. They can explain what it is that draws them to your art.
We are developing our talents as we go along and we are always
learning, and it is OK to express that as we grow. Do not
be afraid to let critical comments by others be part of the video.
Again, this lends credibility and can serve to humble us. No
one (usually) likes an arrogant artist. Of course the comments
should be based in reality and represent a fair assessment of
our work and talent, and be kept at a reasonable level. Remember
that just because someone agreed to an interview to
be included in your video, it does not mean you have to include
every comment from them. You and your video specialist will
be able to review the comments and choose what will work
best for your purposes. YOU have control of which comments
to include.
Anyone you interview must sign a release so that you may use
their image and comments in your video. The videographer
you hire should be able to provide a release form and have it
signed immediately after the interview takes place.
About the writer:
Bill Crumlic is a professional videographer and filmmaker
in Manhattan specializing in art gallery video and documentary
film. His reception video work appears monthly
at agora-gallery.com. Bill may be reached through Crumlic
Media www.crumlicmedia.com or by e-mail at bill@
crumlicmedia.com
VIDEO FOR ARTISTS
Crumlic
Media
NEW YORK
crumlicmedia.com
646.596.6652
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