blog

Music Video Competition

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:57:03 -0400

The Waikato Music Expo was a great success! At the expo we launched our new competition just in time for New Zealand Music month. Indiefilm is offering local and New Zealand artists a chance to win a music video - worth $2000.

Here are a couple of pictures we snapped from the expo.

Indiefilm at the Music Expo

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:34:07 -0400

Indiefilm will be taking part in the Music expo this year at the brand spanking new Waikato Show. We'll be showcasing our Music Video production services and will available to chat all day long Sauturday, April 28, and Sunday, April 29, at the Claudelands Event Centre. "The Waikato Music Expo in the conference rooms will feature instrument makers and importers, second hand vinyl and memorabilia traders, music industry groups, musical equipment and gear retailers, music tutors, local venues and much more."

Anytime Fitness

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:51:17 -0400

Feel like flexing those gluteus at 3am? How about taking up the purple heart challenge and dropping those extra kg's like skittles? Well then, I have two words for you - Anytime Fitness. We were approached by the franchise director a few months ago to create a series of web videos showcasing the USP's (unique selling points) and exclusive attractions that the boutique gym offers. We filmed over one intensive day, capturing gym members, personal trainers and club managers in their natural environment. The video series will be used over a variety of mediums, including a front of house projection, an online youtube channel, social networks and their website.

Our video pipeline ran like a well oiled machine for this project; from the log and transfer, edit, audio sweetening, colour correction and graphics, everyting came together like a toned bicep.

Oliver TVC - Founders Theatre June 23rd to July 7th

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:13:47 -0400

Production of the Oliver TVC or Television commercial has been received wonderfully around the social interwebs. The Hamilton Operatic society who is behind the performance created a facebook campaign requesting 400 likes before they released the video online, however the excitement was too much for some and it was released early! It was a great initiative by HOS to create some social interaction using their shiny new video as the allure.

The commercial itself was a fun project involving a 2D set extension of a London sky matte painting. Borden worked his Photoshop magic on this one, separating the foreground elements like the Chimneys that would then be placed in 3D space using After Effects to create some parallax (or 3D looky stuff) Doc threw down some particle generators, fractal noise for the clouds, smoke and window glow to enhance. The audio bed was specially designed to add some texture and atmosphere to the eerie Dickensian London scene.
A young lad name Liam who auditioned for the role of Oliver did a fantastic job of voicing the script - nailing his words first time. David Artis, always the professional, delivered some great sounding VO as well.

So all in all the project was a great example of how a simple 2D image can be worked up to created something magical, and how video on social media is becoming essential to grow fans.

A great start to the year!

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:04:02 -0500

Here at Indiefilm we've had a great start to the New Year, kicking it off with some exciting projects. Most notably we had Richard Kahui (from the Chiefs and the All Blacks) in the studio for a photo-shoot, and we have begun our new V-mail service for clients.

V-mail is a new format developed by Indiefilm Productions to meet the demand of frequent short video updates. The idea is to attach one short video to your email newsletter to add interest and build stronger brand awareness via consistent updates of quality video. It is very easy to include a video in your existing/new email templates via graphics or text.

Not only can you attach your V-mail to your newsletter, you can also place it on your homepage and share it via social networking, so your YouTube subscribers and Facebook followers can keep informed.

Some ideas to consider for your V-mail campaigns:

News update:

Got a new product to launch? Invested in some new technology? Is a new CEO running the show? Want to share this season’s latest look? Brag about your latest achievement? Keep your networks informed with news updates.

How to video:

Nothing says you are on top of your game or improves brand confidence, like a “how-to” video. Perhaps you get a lot of consumer enquiries about a certain topic, or maybe you want to show your customers why you are so good at what you do?

How-to videos are some of the highest-ranking videos on the Internet. If you share quality industry tips and tricks and produce them consistently, your subscribers will flock to your website, Facebook and YouTube pages.

Consumer story:

Got a consumer with a love story for your brand? Want to share that love? Personalised consumer stories are an excellent way to advertise your business and create brand awareness.

Company profile:

Introduce your business and the people who drive it with a company profile video. Producing informative consumer profiles not only works well within email templates, but can also be a great asset to your website home page or about page.

Viral video:

Google states that people 18-34 spend more time watching online video than watching TV. So it is entirely likely that if you advertise your new clothing brand, gym, concert, cosmetic range, public health message, etc, on Television, your advertisement might not reach your target market the way you intend it to. Start a viral campaign however, and younger demographic will have heard about your brand by lunchtime tomorrow. Think of how much you will save on airtime!

We're back baby!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:26:25 -0500

The team are feeling refreshed after the break and we are ready for a jam-packed 2012. We had a surge of enquires last month and were making deadlines right up to Christmas Eve, it was a great way to send off 2011.
We're coining 2012 the year of the video - especially online promotional video! A short 30-60 second video is a fantastic way to supplement your online marketing; it's far more exciting then a bunch of drab text and static images. If you have ever thought about online video but were put off by the price, then you need to give us a call - you will be pleasantly surprised. And affordable does not mean 'cheap looking,' all our productions have the sleek Indiefilm polish that our customers have come to expect.

Here are a couple of promotional web videos we produced last year that have been so effective our clients keep coming back for more!

Beyond the Second Screen

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:22:39 -0500

The Second Screen refers to a supplementary viewing device such as a table, smartphone, laptop or desktop computer. There has been a big shift in our viewing behaviors as more people are using their Second Screen whilst watching traditional TV.

This opens up some unique opportunities for video marketing as discussed in a recent article on Mashable by Lisa Hsia

“If it doesn’t spread, it’s dead.”

One hot buzz word that relates to this isTransmedia Storytelling which is defined as telling a story that extends across multiple media platforms (for television, it’s going beyond the on-air show)

In today’s digital era, there are new factors at play that make transmedia a potentially potent game-changer for how TV content is created. The ability to efficiently create affordable, participatory storytelling vehicles that go beyond being “bonus extras” and spreading it through different circulation channels is changing the rules and creating a potential value proposition too big to ignore. As the forefather of transmedia storytelling, USC Professor Henry Jenkins, likes to say, “If it doesn’t spread, it’s dead.”

TV is on the cusp of a transmedia revolution, and there are many interesting experiments in the works.

Syfy has a show coming out called Defiance where a story is told on TV and in a video game: different cities with shared characters and events.

Tim Kring, one of the modern day pioneers of transmedia with his work on Heroes and Conspiracy for Good, is producing Touch for 2012. Here’s hoping that Fox embraces his rabble-rousing transmedia tendencies.

The next, as yet unachieved milestone in transmedia is collaborative social storytelling, where fans themselves can further the plot in a pervasive, meaningful way. Smart media companies will look for ways to go beyond the “walled garden” model and turn their fans into ultimate brand ambassadors.

Whether transmedia is the new norm is still to be determined, but one can easily make the case that in today’s fragmented media landscape, it will be a must for TV to survive. Perhaps the future of TV isn’t either traditional television or digital platforms, but in collective intelligence — the feedback loop of the in-between.

The art of music video production

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:39:38 -0400

Like any kind of video production, creating a music video is very much like a team sport. Nobody can solely take credit for having an awesome win of a video because it is highly unlikely you can produce one by yourself. For me, it is the team aspect of video production combined with the creative and interesting clients that makes working on a music video so enjoyable.

Indiefilm has recently worked on a number of music videos with some very talented local artists; Knights of the Dub Table, Niki Moran, and Dick Dynamite and the Doppelgangers. This recent influx of musical projects has got me thinking on the history of music video production. Who made the first music video?

Did it all start with movie musicals in the 1920’s? Was it Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie? Did MTV make the music video popular, or was it just a much-needed platform for an already increasing media?

Well according to wiki, the term “music video” wasn't coined until 1959 by Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr. an American Disk Jockey, singer and songwriter. But the history of the music video stems back much further than that.

The music video first came into being as the “illustrated song” in 1894. It was the brainchild of sheet music publishers Edward B. Marks and Joe Stern. Marks and Stern hired electrician George Thomas and various performers to promote sales of their song "The Little Lost Child". Thomas projected a series of still images on a screen simultaneous to live performances.

The Art Deco period saw the first true music video come in to creation with the arrival of musical shorts. These six-minute films featured animations and backgrounds combined with film of the performer singing.

From the 1930’s to late 1950’s the movie musical enjoyed huge popularity, showcasing such stars as Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Judy Garland. This popularity grew as televisions became more prominent in homes alongside regular programming. These musicals were generally filmed performances and it wasn't until the 1960’s that innovative techniques as seen in the 20’s frequented video production once again.

Looking back on older music videos, some of today’s videos seem cookie cutter boring by comparison. Despite having big budgets, marketers and producers seem to play it safe, using a tried and tested formula targeted towards teen audiences.

In celebration of innovation and creativity take a look at some of Indiefilms favourite innovative music videos.

Spooney Melodies (1920s)

While the tune might not get most feet tapping, the creative techniques and craftsmanship involved would put many videos to shame these days.

The Doors - Break on Through (1967)

Dramatic lighting, simplified compositions with a dash of colour.

Pink Floyd - San Francisco (1968)

Psychedelic influences dominate this little beauty.

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

This groundbreaking video needs very little explanation. Love him or hate him, you have to admit Jackson knew how to entertain.

David Bowie - Space Oddity (1969)

Another psychedelic wonder of the 60's.

A new way to engage users

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:32:46 -0400

Interactive user engagement is the future of the web. As brands seek innovative ways to engage audiences, a new wave of interactive media has begun populating the Internet. Campaigns such as Intel’s hugely successful – The Museum of Me creates a custom video for the viewer by generating a visual archive from their Facebook content and history.

YouTube video has seen a surge of interactive content. Adopting a concept from traditional print media, the choose-your-own-adventure books of old have been recreated into interactive video.

Companies such as Samsung and Tippex have had huge success with interactive video campaigns, however smaller business and individual users have also caught on to the craze.

Here is Indiefilms top pick of interactive YouTube videos.

1. Deliver me from hell

Pizza, zombies and NZ made. What could be better? This engaging narrative examines how to survive an attack of the munchies during a zombie apocalypse.

2. Bboy Joker

An interactive, stop motion dance off between Batman and The Joker

3. Howard Glitch

Your spaceship is doomed for destruction. Use quantum mechanics to save the innocent passengers inside

4. Choose a different ending.

An educational video targeted at UK youth examining the consequences of bad decisions.

5. Ronald has a spider on his head.

It maybe amateur but that is part of the charm. Save your friend Ronald from a spider on his head... if you feel like it….

6. Left for dead interactive.

We finish where we started. With another zombie survival interactive.

8 Reasons Every Ecommerce Site Should Get Serious About Video

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:50:13 -0400

1. Video Attracts New, Relevant Search Traffic

No conversation about ebusiness is complete without discussing search engine optimization (SEO). An ebusiness cannot gain on a competitor until consumers know it exists and can easily find it through organic search. Today, ebusinesses that utilize video assets are at an advantage, since Google is structuring its search engine results to reward sites that include video. According to Forrester, any given video in an index of searchable keywords has a 50 times better chance of appearing on the first page of results than any given text page.

To better promote their video investments and derive the greatest SEO rewards, ebusinesses are making videos more accessible to visitors, scaling videos to reach long-tail keywords, and automating video production in order to have video available as soon as new products are introduced.

2. Video Assets Can be Easily Syndicated

Online video is usually channel agnostic. By syndicating video properties to multiple sites — including YouTube, the second largest search engine today — ebusinesses extend their reach to innumerable eyeballs. In addition to traditional channels, online video plays equally well via mobile networks, TV, and in-store screens. It is a cost-effective way to maintain brand consistency and strengthen consumer awareness.

3. Videos Encourage Sharing

Videos are far more likely to be passed and shared than text-based pages. Additionally, a video thumbnail on a social media platform — Facebook, for example — grabs more attention than static text and often results in more comments, more “Likes,” and more traffic to the brand’s website. When you like or share a video link, a thumbnail appears on your wall and is also seen by your friends.

According to a study from YouBrand, pictures and video within Facebook get engaged with and clicked more often than just text and questions.

4. Video Engages Site Visitors

Video provides a familiar user interface for site visitors. When videos are properly produced, they captivate the user. Instead of the need to navigate, scroll and click to access information, the video is a one-stop shop for information. It takes less energy than the hassle of reading and the user is engaged until he or she is ready to follow an embedded call-to-action. Today’s automated video production platforms easily enable this flow, in many cases directing visual and auditory calls-to-action that guide the viewer to a shopping cart.

5. Video’s “Halo Effect” Drives Conversions

Video can give customers an in-depth view of a product or a demonstration that quells any hesitancy they might have about purchasing online. The peace of mind the customer gains from the video seeps into the way he or she feels about the brand and website overall, building trust and credibility. This is essential to gaining market share, especially for businesses that sell products with a lot of competition.

6. Video Increases Customer Loyalty

Video newsletters are more likely to attract consumer attention. By some estimates, the open rate for a video newsletter is two to three times higher than for a text-based newsletter. While many brands compete for consumer attention with the latter, those who employ the former stand out from the crowd. These video communications can be personalized for each recipient with individualized greetings, references to previously purchased items, or offers based on shopping history, geography and segmentation.

7. Video Creates Online Personalization

By improving and tailoring the customer experience, online retailers in every sector have increased customer loyalty, conversion rates and average order price. The quality of online personalization continues to rise and in many cases can rival or outperform the “live” shopping experience. This is a key factor in gaining market share, since consumers increasingly shop online but still express a desire for the personal touch and the social aspects of in-person browsing.

When prospects go to a store, they get recommendations and help from in-store staff who point them to relevant products. Video delivers this experience online, with far less variability and chance. With new technologies that offer personalized video created on-the-fly, ebusinesses can bridge the gap between live and virtual experiences.

8. Video Production Costs Are Falling, ROI Is Rising

Online video clearly has an impact on competitive advantage. But is it feasible for most ebusinesses? Thanks to today’s automated video production technology, the answer is “yes.”

Two decades ago, the market struggled to replace the labor-intensive process of website management. Today we hardly think about the steps required to update or add web content: Images and text are now template-based, database-driven and easy to manipulate.

Video production is experiencing a similar change. While many website owners once fought the limitations of manually produced videos — including slow production times and prohibitive costs — today’s solutions tend to be automated, cost effective and high quality. With relatively little human intervention, online video production can increase a business’s competitive advantage while creating a better shopping experience for the user.

"Deviant" Music Video Released

Mon, 09 May 2011 22:22:14 -0400

"Deviant" is a music video for the New Zealand psychobilly band, Dick Dynamite and the Doppelgangers. As winners of the 2010 Band Experiments one of the bands prizes was a music video produced by us! The following video was shot over several days in the pouring rain at several Waikato locations.

WARNING: This Video Contains Graphic Violence, suitable for a mature audience only.

Watch this video in our work page.

Special Thanks to:

Andy from Black Dog Furniture - Beautiful, handcrafted, quality, solid wood furniture made in New Zealand.
David White from ReelCleaver.com - Online production tools for the film and production industries.
Donna Prentice from Hamilton Girls High School Gateway Programme.
All the "Wild" fans and swinging cool kats

Band:

Dick Dynamite - Bass/Vocals
Sammy Featherbelly - Guitar
Chubby Chip - Drums

Talent:

Matthew Charles Powell
Penelope Jane Wilson
Alice Rose Kimber-Bell
Ben Thomas Galloway

Hamilton Central: Local boys offer independent production talents

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:48:32 -0500

Indiefilm productions are a professional video and photography studio located in the centre of the Hamilton CBD. Coming into their second year of operation the company has worked on video marketing campaigns for some of New Zealand’s largest brands. Indiefilm produce television commercials; web video campaigns, live event coverage, documentaries and short films.

Directors Borden Li and Murdoch Daly launched Indiefilm Productions in early 2010, bringing with them over 8 years experience in the creative industry. With Hamilton city at the forefront of the ultrafast broadband rollout, Indiefilm are positioned to deal with the huge demand for online video content creation. Web video is one of the most affordable, interactive and measurable forms of advertising available to businesses today. “With download speeds expected to reach 100 megabits per second in the near future, video content should be mandatory on every website” says Borden.

Web video can engage, entertain and educate your customers at the same time. Clever web video can generate a viral social networking response as users share content with their friends around the world, generating word of mouth marketing.

Murdoch and Borden have had an exhilarating first year in their new location at 270 Victoria St and have some fantastic projects planned for 2011.

For professional video and photography campaigns contact for more information.

Play to Impress

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:16:38 -0500

We've kick started the new year here at Indiefilm with some exciting projects. Borden has been working flat out updating our marketing material and Murdoch has been busy with new enquires! If you have a video project in mind this year we want to be a part of it, call into our studio at 270 Victoria St and we'll sort out the rest.

Live Chat Available

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:15:13 -0500

The latest feature to be added to the Indiefilm website is our Live Chat function. Chat with us live by clicking on the live chat box on bottom right corner of our website. Do you see it? Great! Give it a try, we're online and ready to answer your question instantly!

Caroline Eve Fresh Start

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:49:04 -0400

The new television commercial for Caroline Eve is all set to air on TVNZ in September and is looking great! The commercial showcases new spring fashion with the theme of a Fresh Start. The clean "clear-cut" style of the commercial emphases the theme and the dynamic movement of the subjects create an exciting 15-second commercial. We look forward to hearing the results of this new campaign. Go Caroline Eve!

Destination Lake Taupo

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:54:16 -0400

How do you pronounce Taupo? Last month we shot and produced a fantastic web video for GreatLakeTaupo.com, demonstrating the correct way to say Taupo (Toe-Paw). The video would be shot in one fast and furious day, covering eight locations! The 48-hour film competition was great training for this project I must say.

The story follows an Irish tourist and a charismatic local on an adventure through Taupo meeting people pronouncing the city's name correctly and not so correctly. The main theme was about giving the correct pronunciation a go regardless of whether you stuff it up! The Taupo district council were very happy with the result, and in its first week on youtube, the video received over 1,800 views! This is a fantastic result and we look forward to the view count snowballing as viewers share the link with their friends and family.

Fun Fact:
The scene with the GPS Navigation was thought up by Murdoch and Borden on the way to Taupo - when the actual navman they were using miss-pronounced Taupo!

Waikato Milking Systems

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:44:28 -0400

For the past 30 years New Zealand dairy farmers have grown to trust the reliability and value offered by installing Waikato Milking Systems products. A down to earth approach and working directly with dairy farmers to achieve successful project outcomes has established Waikato Milking Systems as the market leader in N.Z and a brand sought after in key dairying markets around the globe.

http://www.waikatomilking.co.nz/

All Rural Fencing at Fieldays 2010

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:37:07 -0400

The University of Waikato at Fieldays 2010

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:32:57 -0400

DAL at Fieldays 2010

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:42:54 -0400