Welcome to the home of The VideoBiz Book, a practical and reality-based start-up guide that gives you the foundation and resources you will need to navigate today’s competetive video production landscape.
Real World Insight
The Whole Video Biz Magilla
From business idea, to startup, to getting your first client, to creative and production techniques, to final product delivery, it’s all here.
Starting Up
From early idea to actual business, we’ll face reality together.
The Creative Process
Whether you write scripts or not, you have to understand them. They represent the words, sights and sounds of your project.
Client Relationships
Read how to develop good relationships with your clients, how to grow with them, and how to handle them.
Case Histories
We were there for forty years. We share our successes…. and failures. And you get access to our library of past videos.
Developing an Identity
How do you want the world to know– and find– you?
Production Tools
What are your strength, and what gear do you need to tell your story, your way?
Marketing and Sales
There’s only two kinds of business– repeat business, and new business. Here, you’ll learn some techniques and plans to keep the business rolling.
Resource Library
Sample proposals, quote sheets, scripts, library & public domain sources for audio, photos and video. Ongoing tutorials.
Bootcamp in a Book
We cover basic foundations to sophisticated production techniques, in all areas of your business, from startup considerations to handling explosive growth. It’s all based on the author’s real world experience of starting three businesses, developing a reel, getting the first job, finding clients, developing repeat business, and the internal strengths you need to succeed in the Video Biz.
Learn by Doing
Buyers get exclusive access to our video library and ongoing tutorials.
Scriptwriting. Shooting. Audio. Editing. Pacing. The VideoBiz Book provides insights into them all. But Seeing how it’s done cuts time out of your business development. Having access to lists of production resources helps. And real life case histories puts the icing on the learning cake.
Build your portfolio
There’s nothing harder than getting your first job.
When you’re starting out, you have virtually nothing. You have to get past that, one step at a time. We tell you how we did it, which was a challenge since our startup wasn’t even part of the country we grew up in! Well tell you how to find a “starter” client, how to get the word out, how to use publicity, word of mouth, person-to-person exposure, the web, social media to get your name out there!
Achieve your goals
It doesn’t matter your age or IQ, your education or your bank account, you have as good a chance as the next, person. This book will give you the shorthand you need to be a video-making success.
Recent Blog Posts
For Better Video, Soften it Up!
The answer is the Neweer Softbox for the 160, available on Amazon. It fits over the light, diffuses and softens it, and should have a definite impact. I get mine Wednesday… I’ll try it and let you know.
The Ken Burns Effect and Me
Ken Burns has been credited with devising the “smooth moves on stills” effect that has permeated his various award winning productions. But, for history’s sake, I’d like to claim that this effect was developed simultaneously across the country by “multi-image” slideshow makers.
Digital vs. In-Person Selling
If you're trying to reach potential customers, you have two ways to do it: digital and physical. If you're young, you probably know about digital. Facebook groups, Instagram, websites, Reddit.... and if you're older, you're more comfortable with the physical (in...
Forward… Ever Forward!
Never Say No to New 70 is just a number. But in terms of mortality, it's a decent number. I'd rather be younger, but I'm happy to be here. And at 6:25 this evening (2-27) I will be, in fact, 70. At a family birthday party last weekend, my son Matt asked me what...
David Harnish: Loss of a Multimedia Giant
David Harnish, longtime manager of Walgreens' Meetings and Media Department, has passed. It is devastating for his wife Nancy, brother Paul, and his Walgreens co-workers of his expansive career at Wilmot Rd. My fellow employees at Brien Lee Creative Solutions /...
Is Video an Opportunity for Seniors?
The Sloan Center on Aging and Work at Boston College has some not (to me) surprising news: more “seniors” are apt to start businesses than their younger counterparts. I’ve started a bunch of businesses in my life: at 22, 33, and 46. Counting my latest production work...
The Corporate Storyteller
The Wall Street Journal recently ran a series of articles detailing a number of trends in corporate communications. One trend they sighted was the increased reliance on something called “Corporate Storytellers”. These are folks who work with companies to unearth their...
New Video Addition: Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company
You don't have to have giant budgets or big crews when the story and existing resources are good. This video was produced on a modest budget, but did wonders for the company's image and sales. A chocolate company sourcing its beans from The Republic of Ghana in...
VideoBiz Book Now Available!
I’m proud to announce that the is now available on Amazon.
This book looks at the challenges of starting up or growing a video business, whether that business in serving, corporates, the home market, or something in between.
Storytelling is Still in Style
And long form video isn't dead! April 16, 2015 It’s still the way of the world: Young beats old, new triumphs over the status quo. I know. I was young once, and part of a generation that was taught to not trust anyone over thirty. Okay, 40 MAY be the new 30. but the...
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