Looking back at the month that’s passed, here are some behind-the-scenes of Skybok at SXSW in Austin!
Skybok Productions
Exploring Egypt
Egypt is a dreamy destination full of history, culture and mystery. Head on over to our Instagram to see our highlighted stories and feed posts from all parts of Egypt! Keep scrolling to see some of our favorites on here. Already follow us on Instagram? We appreciate you – you can see similar posts and MORE on our facebook, check us out!
This Christmas: Toys for Boys
Wondering what to get a special little dude in your life for Christmas? Look no further! Check out the video below to see what Skybok ranked as the top three gifts to purchase for boys in 2019! Follow our instagram, here, to see our upcoming Toys for Girls video.
Skybok Films The Stanley Hotel
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America, The Stanley Hotel is famous for its old world charm. Offering four different Estes Park accommodation experiences including historic rooms, modern apartment-style residences for extended stays, and expansive condominiums on the legendary grounds overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park. The Stanley offers over 14,000 square feet of sophisticated meeting and event space equipped with modern amenities and several stunning indoor and outdoor wedding venues. Only an hour away from Denver, it is the ideal destination for your Colorado vacation getaway.
Navigating This Site + More
Hey! Just a shout out on how to navigate this site.
If you’re a client, click on the pages along the top for information on the filming process:
+ Hello
Here is our YouTube Channel if you’d like to subscribe.
If you’re a reader, interesting places to click for posts on projects are:
+ Journal
A Crash Course in Visuals
This piece originally appeared on our page “The Filming Experience”
You’d be surprised to learn that many of our clients are unsure about how to set up their spaces to best show off their brands. They don’t realise that they don’t need to hire a set designer to do this, they can be their own set designer with some basic tips:
Polishing Up Spaces With Flowers
+ How about some fresh flowers?
+ How about some strategically placed magazines?
+ A jug of ice cold water on your desk?
+ Make sure all the rooms are neat and looking their best.
+ Make sure your staff are in their best outfits.
+ Tidy up and ensure the styling of your location is exactly how you want in your video.
Outfits + Location
For personal profiles, think carefully about your outfits, styling + location.
+ Try wear the clothing that best showcases your brand (yoga instructor = pick a typical yoga outfit. personal trainer = a gym outfit. If you’re a real estate agent = a business suit. If you’re a freelance creative = wear something that says you take yourself seriously. A business owner = your company tshirt)
+ Fork out some cash to get your hair done at a salon for the shoot
+ Choose bright colors because they translate well on camera
+ It’s amazing the difference a well-chosen piece of jewelry can make
+ Choosing an outdoor location offers natural light
+ Choosing an indoor location with windows offers natural light
The Mood of Your Video
Your ideas are welcome in every video. Browse around our Skybok Pinterest to find some ideas that appeal to you. Share these ideas with me so that I can be prepared for our creative consultation.
I love to create something authentic + incorporate my own style of filming + editing into the shoot. If you want music, maybe there’s a specific mood you want to capture in your showcase. Tell me + let’s explore options.
What always works well is if you have a friend in the music world with a track you love, with his/her permission we can use that in your video!
Shots You Like
Make sure you have a look at Skybok’s most recent shoots and decide what you like about the style. Do you like close ups, angles, tight-shots, food shots etc.? We can definitely work within your personal tastes.
Why Filming Coffee Shops is Great
Filming coffee shops is great because you catch people on a caffeine high and everyone wants to be on camera!
Usually, filming in certain venues requires some sort of permission grant signed by whoever is being filmed, like a release form, so they can’t turn around and sue you when the video ends up on the internet. Luckily, I’m very diligent with getting release forms signed.
But even with that, it’s always tricky filming the people on location because they are often suspicious of your intentions and can suddenly become quite alarmed.
How most places handle this uncomfortable issue is they put up a sign notifying the patrons there is a film shoot going on. Basically, such a sign puts them at ease by informing people on their way into the venue. It also waives any responsibility legally on behalf of the venue because it means anyone who is there has been ‘told’. And by being told, they’re indirectly giving their consent to be filmed. Unless they explicitly object, the venue assumes they are happy with it. If they’re not happy with it, it’s their responsibility to get out of the shot or ask the filmmaker to exclude them from the shot.
It’s a great way to get around the problem.
Though, for some reason, coffee shops are always less likely to be fussy.
Everyone is there meeting friends or having little business meetings or church gatherings, so it’s not like a Hollywood production. Putting up signs everywhere almost never has to happen because no one ever really has an issue (at least in my experience). And, if they do, it’s easy enough for them to come up and tell you.
I think today in general, people are becoming more relaxed anyway. I’m realizing this because with all the social media going on, there are so many people besides the professionals who are raising a camera for social reasons. The atmosphere is more personal and there’s a striking kind of trust fueled with adrenaline and excitement.
Skybok has filmed dozens of coffee shops in South Africa, here are some of my favorites below. Enjoy!
Music Venues We Loved Filming
The South African music scene has evolved so much in the last decade. I personally love listening to one of our top DJ’s, ‘Euphonik’. Check out my Spotify playlist of South African artists to hear his sound along with many others.
Skybok was fortunate to film some incredible music venues that contributed to the country’s music scene by providing platforms for local artists to reach new audiences + connect with old ones.
Here are stand out places we filmed in various cities:
Grahamstown
East London
Cape Town
Port Elizabeth
Skybok: Western Province Rugby
Skybok was recently at Canal Walk in Cape Town shooting a few members of the U20 South African Junior Rugby Squad as they received goodie bags from Cotton On + spent the evening picking out their favourite items.
See all behind-the-scenes photos by Paul Sutton here.
What is Social Media Marketing?
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF GAINING TRAFFIC OR ATTENTION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
Social media itself is a catch-all term for sites that may provide radically different social actions. For instance, Twitter is a social site designed to let people share short messages or “updates” with others. Facebook, in contrast is a full-blown social networking site that allows for sharing updates, photos, joining events and a variety of other activities.
HOW ARE SEARCH + SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING RELATED?
Why would a business who has a website which comes up in a search engine care about social media? Because the two are very closely related.
Social media often feeds into the discovery of new content such as news stories, and “discovery” is a search activity.
Social media can also help build links that in turn support into SEO efforts.
Many people also perform searches at social media sites to find social media content.
Social connections may also impact the relevancy of some search results, either within a social media network or at a ‘mainstream’ search engine.
A current feed (daily updates) ensures your brand is top of the news stream or search results. This means potential customers are more likely to find you.
An active community on social media channels leads to community which leads toengaged customers who keep coming back and using your product/service.
A personal touch to your brand makes people feel connected to you in a unique way, wanting to share in the experience that is your brand.
Including your customers in your giveaways, sales information, ongoings behind the scenes makes them feel supportive + patriotic.
Having social channels lends to transparency for your brand which means feedback from your audience.
This all means more feet through the door, a deeper understanding of your clients, a chance to improve your service or product and better (bigger!) business.
WHY YOU’RE SEEING MORE HASHTAG STICKERS ON SHOP WINDOWS
Hashtagging is a popular way for brands to run competitions, giveaway tickets to events + generally get people talking about the brand.
Here in Cape Town, it’s become a hot trend to see shops such as Topshop, Mr Price, Zara, Guess, Sunglass Hut + other fashion stores display hashtags on their windows. This isn’t just limited to clothing stores, though. Places like Woolworths, Pick ‘n Pay, Mac, CNA or even coffee shops like Vida e Caffè are catching on. In fact, you’ll see references to social media channels pretty much everywhere now – banks, bars, theatres, camera stores, bookstores, restaurants and even liquor stores have some kind of “voice” set up online. It’s about:
+ community
+ brand awareness
+ audience interaction
+ discovery
+ feedback
+ influence
+ reach
+ growing business
Skybok 