Virtual Video Production: Storytelling with Remote Recording

So, what exactly is virtual video production? Simply put, it’s a method of creating videos using digital tools and techniques, allowing filmmakers to work from different locations without the need for a physical set. Think of it as filmmaking from your living room or a coffee shop! With remote collaboration tools, our team can connect with our clients, their experts and interviewees through virtual video studios and file sharing services. We find virtual video production is best suited for online learning videos, programmatic videos and social media posts – where the depth and heartfelt connection of expert cinematography doesn’t add as much return on investment.  

When it comes to virtual video production, technology is your best friend. Cloud-based file sharing services like Dropbox and Massive.io allow our clients to share archival footage and photos quickly. 

 

Virtual studios like Riverside and Streamyard allow for remote recording interviews with experts and community members from across the globe – with high quality results. 

 

Let’s not forget remote production kits! These handy setups come equipped with cameras, lighting, and audio gear, making it simple for anyone to capture great footage, even without professional experience. 

Though you may not be able to capture every angle of your program in high quality film, there are true upsides to virtual production. Cost savings, flexibility and timeline are three huge factors. 

 

By reducing expenses related to travel and studio rentals, we allow our clients to put larger portions of their budget into the kind of content that benefits from in-person filming. 

 

Flexibility is another major win. Where an in-person interview requires someone to travel to the filming location, a virtual interview can be recorded in an hour or less from almost anywhere. We can adapt to changing schedules, work across time zones, and make quick creative decisions. 

 

Access to your far-away supporters and experts is also a huge advantage. You’re no longer limited to whomever is local to your filming location; you can include community members from anywhere in the world. 

As technology continues to advance, the future of virtual video production looks promising. A lot of useful information will become even more accessible online because of this remote storytelling trend and the tech associated with it. 

 

However, we always advise our clients to air on the side of authenticity. To date, we haven’t found AI capable of recreating the magic that our clients see in their work on a day to day. That uncanny valley is real. We are especially wary of current translation software for our clients working in niche spaces like healthcare and government. The consequences of poor translation in multilingual video production can be dire, and AI transcription, translation, and voiceover software still makes a lot of mistakes in our experience. 

 

That said, there’s a magical space for virtual reality and 360 video for our clients. Being able to transport a supporter from their living room into the faraway place where your work is making an impact is an incredible benefit to this latest tech revolution.