As a voice actor who has narrated my share of documentaries, I’ve seen firsthand what filmmakers go through to bring their vision to life.

I’m not just the narrator; I’m often a late-stage collaborator, watching as the final pieces fall into place.

Over the years, I’ve noticed patterns—common challenges that documentary filmmakers face, as well as the clever strategies they use to overcome them.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned pro, I hope this perspective helps you navigate the madness (and maybe even inspires you along the way).

https://paulschmidtvoice.com/blog/6-top-challenges-documentary-filmmakers-face-and-how-to-overcome-them

Has anybody here worked with the Hollyland or Teradek wireless HDMI transmitters? I have 4 cameras that connect to a switcher and the venue for our production is huge, I want to mitigate from having long HDMI cables running through the crowds to get to the producer's table. If you guys have any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it!

Anyone have recommendations for video production agencies that specialize in ad campaigns in Vietnam? We need a strong creative partner!

I did a shoot that just wrapped where there was a pre-LEight day and then a shoot day. How do you typically bill the pre-LEight day with regards to Kit fees? Do you charge the same rates for a pre-lit day versus a shoot day?

I was told that a producer was the one who hires the director, line producer, and essentially the whole team for a production because they had an idea or bought one from another creative. I was also told that producers in the commercial industry and producers in the film industry are widely different where it seems like producers in the film industry carry a lot more of the logistics of the production than the creative side.

I wouldn't mind dealing with the logistic side of the production but I definetly have my own ideas for stories and commercial shoots that I would love to see come alive one day. I guess my question is would it benefit me, as a wannabe commercial producer, to have some storyboards in my portfolio?

I recorded a 25 minute video on Sunday using the Macbook's Photobooth software. The .mov file is corrupted and does not play. The first de-corrupting software I tried, 4DDIG, failed. Anyone have other ideas?

Hey guys. I was wondering where to get HDMI 2.1 cables for video production purposes? Which brands are you using? Can I trust Amazon?

Hey guys! I was the main editor for a commercial project we had at my video production class in my high school. The filming schedule was pretty tight and the videos had a 60 second limit so I feel like the video definitely suffered a lot from pacing issues. The audio is definitely clunky and it 100% does not look professional but my group is looking to improve for future projects! Are there any general tips for how to make commercials more appealing or any advice on the storyboarding process? Are there any good editing softwares for beginner video editors or any tips on camera angling. I’ll leave a link to the video in this post, any critiques are welcome. Thank you!

https://youtu.be/fOtXWQTaFDM?si=H9JyBx2XyxK-JQtm

hey guys, i'm video creator and software engineer. now when I edit videos in premiere pro and other similar software i've find a big problem:
- the first problem is when I export the video file it is quite large and if the video is long it is almost impossible to export(for 10mb video almost 400mb seriousely!!)
- the second problem i'm facing is premiere pro ram/cpu consumption even for smaller projects is very high
so, i'm trying to create lightweight solution which take less ram/cpu and also with much optimized size when exporting. and also with recording support can you please if you relate with this problem thank you!!

Hey everyone!

I'm an entrepreneur looking to make videos to promote my business, but the quotes I've gotten from marketing agencies are seriously high. I'd like to learn to make some videos myself.

• I’ve always liked the style of Alux.com on YouTube – they post really high-quality content at a good pace. Could anyone tell me if making a video like this one would be difficult?
• Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpV8Lp7uKR8

Thanks a ton in advance!

Here are the nominations for 2025 Grammy music video of the year:

“Tailor Swif” (ASAP Rocky), Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia, video directors

“360” (Charli XCX), Aidan Zamiri, video director; Jami Arceo and Evan Thicke, video producers

“Houdini” (Eminem), Rich Lee, video director; Kathy Angstadt, Lisa Arianna and Justin Diener, video producers

“Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar, video directors; Jack Begert, Sam Canter and Jamie Rabineau, video producers

“Fortnight” (Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone), Taylor Swift, video director; Jil Hardin, video producer

What’s your favorite music video and why?

Here’s my thoughts on some of them and some I feel like should have been nominations: https://www.wavyent.net/post/the-2025-grammy-nominations-for-best-music-video-trends-and-techniques-in-visual-storytelling

Hey all,

I'm a bit confused about if this is possible to do, but I'm recording myself watching something on my computer screen. I'm recording the screen with Quicktime with no audio. On top of that I've got a microphone recording in to Premiere Pro. It's not bad, I can do what I need to do, but my issue is that I have to overlay the sound of the video on top because I'm wearing headphones and it's extra editing. Want I want to know is:

Is there a way of recording the audio of a screen recorded video without it playing through my speakers or headphones? Because if I'm not using the headphones then I have to mute it so my mic doesn't come through the speakers too, and If I am using headphones I have to mute them otherwise I hear my voice through the mic, delayed.

I want to be able to just pause and talk about something on screen, etc.

Thanks!

Hey there, I’m currently in research mode checking into options I have to produce a simple livestream for a client…but there are many caveats to consider.

• Client wants to livestream from a coffee shop (long story) but I don’t want to use their public WiFi at all
• Client already has a StreamYard pro account and wants to use that to push out to all of his channels which he’s done many times before but hasn’t done anything to this scale and doesn’t want to get caught up in the nitty gritty of setup, production, etc when he’s going to be the main host in front of the camera…so hence he asked me
• I’m comfortable using basic livestream equipment like the Yolobox Pro since it’s simple to use but I assume to use StreamYard I have to use a computer instead? And no Yolobox
• Client also wants to stream for 2 hours straight (yes…2 hours) and ALSO have guests come in person AND via StreamYard

I’ll be providing and running all the lighting, cameras, audio…but it’s the streaming part I’m not confident on. I assume I’ll need a good computer running Chrome (to use StreamYard) but how do I get a really reliable internet connection for that whole time, a hotspot? If so, which one? Carrier, rough guess on data? Cuz unfortunately it’s too late to order Starlink (it wouldn’t be delivered in time). So yeah, thanks for reading and any advice would be super appreciated!

Hi all, kind of thinking out loud here and hoping some of you will have ideas or thoughts on this.

I'm currently set up to shoot as-live production in 1080 landscape for a talking head news show.

• two cameras running through Atem Mini Pro switcher
• Greenscreen
• Feed from Atem to OBS
• Elgato Stream deck with a series of command buttons to run
  • Intro
  • Graphic overlays
  • Midroll commercial
  • more show
  • Outro
  • postroll commercial

All of this is working great to produce the show as-live, giving me a finished (recorded) show for YouTube and basically eliminating post production.

I need to work in an Instagram reel cut - basically 90 seconds of highlights from the show, and I'm finding the post production is delaying the IG delivery. Finding the time is getting harder and I'm looking for ways to reduce or eliminate post time.

I've tried a couple of AI tools to feed in the full show and have it make cuts, but results have been iffy and I just have to go in after to recut anyway.

What I guess I'm wondering about is if anyone has thoughts about how to simplify getting 90 good seconds out of a 10-12 minute show? I could reset the studio, add a third camera so I have an isolated view on each presenter, then do a condensed run through, but those never have the same energy as the main show.

Are there Streamdeck tools I could use to mark and cut a segment as we go? I don't want to interrupt the recording of the main show, but if there's a way to identify something for later I guess that would at least speed up post production.

I work in corporate production and dabble in programming, so I created an app I needed: a remote control teleprompter. It allows a producer or presenter to prompt remotely from a laptop, iPad, or other devices, so there’s no need to be physically connected to a screen.

Most teleprompter apps I found focused on AI auto-prompting or offered only a simple start/stop remote without the option to see what the presenter sees. I wanted to read along in real time, especially while recording, to ensure nothing is missed.

I'm curious if others would find this useful? Or am I by myself here? AMA, would love your thoughts!

Guys I'm making a traditional video where I will be playing all the instruments myself.

How many of you would:

• Produce the the entire song in the DAW and then separately record and mime the video parts

or

• Shoot the video (1 for each instrument) and record the sound track on the DAW (1 for each instrument) at the same time and then combine them all to make the video?

Seems to me #2 would be the most authentic because you'd be playing each actual scene, but man it's a lot to juggle.

Thoughts?

For reference: Vegas Pro 22, Windows 11, NVidia GeForce RTX 3060

I have no idea what I’m doing. No idea at all, so this may be a completely dumb idea and question.

Let’s say that I want to take video of a 5 year old swinging a bat and then take the video of him and only him and superimpose it on different backgrounds - college fields, major league parks, etc. Is this possible and if so are there low- cost open platforms?

And then let’s say I want to superimpose him on a background that might have to be created - the childhood ballpark of his grandfather for example. Are there Gen AI video platforms that would allow me to create the background and then splice the two? Thanks for any help!

Hello all,

This past year I was extremely fortunate to be start on as a junior editor at an ad agency.

What are the potential consequences and legal ramifications for demoing my work privately with a potential client? Do I risk them snitching to my employer? Won't most/all people see that as unethical?

The struggle I have is their work is the majority of my effort and I doubt I'll get release to publicly display it for demo purposes, even if I were to sign an additional agreement for it. I signed paperwork declaring it's original work solely of the companies involved (not me).

Hi guys,

I want to film a video as a christmas greeting and need a cosy set and would like to put something in like a cosy fireplace in the Video. Is there an AI Tool for that? Should look as realistic as possible ..

Im also open to any other suggestions. Thank you!

I'm working with a science-based non-profit that's looking to drop about 30 hours worth of YouTube videos that need accurate captioning. YouTube is having accuracy issues and I'm wondering what you guys are using? I don't expect the Latin terms to be translated at all, but it would be helpful if we could get close with the rest of it.

Check out the video, we put in the work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mypKCTJz-TQ

instadoodle.com blew me away with how simple and powerful it is. In the past, I spent hours struggling with complex software to make explainer videos and eye-catching animations for my brand.

Last week, I needed a quick, professional-looking whiteboard video. I tried a few different tools but then thought, "Why not give Instadoodle a shot?" Three clicks later, I had exactly what I needed!

All I had to do was pick a style, add my content, and let Instadoodle do the rest. No technical know-how, no long tutorials – just instant results that look amazing.

If you're looking for a way to create stunning animations without the hassle, I highly recommend trying Instadoodle. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or tips about using it.

Happy animating with Instadoodle

In the vibrant cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, events happen at lightning speed. From corporate conferences to glamorous weddings, the essence of each moment deserves to be captured with precision and artistry. At Rtist Studio, our professional event photographers and videographers are committed to making every event significant, one picture at a time.

Why Choose Professional Event Photography in Dubai?

Our inclusive event photography services extend beyond Dubai to cover the entire UAE, ensuring the highest standards are met for various occasions. Whether it’s a fashion show or a brand launch, our experienced team focuses on the key aspects of your event, delivering stunning images that encapsulate its essence.

Expert Videography Services for Every Occasion

At Rtist Studio, we don’t just stop at photography; we offer comprehensive videography services as well. Our skilled team specializes in creative video production, including drone footage and cinematic techniques that tell your event’s story. Whether it’s a wedding or a corporate gathering, we have the expertise to meet even the most demanding requirements.

Tailored Services for Unique Events

Every event is unique, and so are our services. We customize our photography and videography offerings to suit your specific needs. From corporate functions to culinary events, our diverse portfolio showcases our ability to deliver exceptional results, making us a leading choice for event services in Dubai.

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Specializing in corporate events, we capture every essential moment of your business functions. Our photography portfolio highlights the meticulous attention we pay to detail, ensuring that each moment of your corporate event is remembered. Many businesses choose us as their go-to videography company for this very reason.

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Cherishing Every Moment

Your event deserves to be cherished. With our professional photographers and videographers, we ensure that every important moment is captured beautifully. No matter the occasion, our expertise will help you create lasting memories.

Connect with Rtist Studio

If you’re looking for reliable event photography or videography services in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, look no further than Rtist Studio. Whether your event is large or small, our flexible services are designed to meet your needs with the utmost professionalism. Contact us today to discuss your next event and explore our portfolio, showcasing how we’ve made events across the UAE truly memorable.

I made a horror score compilation.

youtube.com/watch?v=igHBROI-DQ8

I need to make an HD variant with higher quality audio files and an actually functioning equalizer. This compilation had 85 songs, and I intend to add a few more from No more room in hell 2 and a few other recent horror movie releases, bringing the total to 100 for the HD version.

I did some wacky editing but for the HD version I would accept a random song order. I edited the length of songs in the first variant, but for the second I would just specify what boring/repetitive parts of the songs the editor should cut out.

Another wacky issue is licensing these songs. None of the 85 songs contested the copyright on my first video, but I would want to purchase the license for the songs in the HD mix, problem being I don't know if many of the songs in the video actually have licensing options available. Some of the songs are the best ambient ripped from video games.

I can budget 500 for this project, but i'd imagine people wanting 800 or more for this video and I just can't budget that right meow. I think I should probably download and cut the songs myself and then just send the files to some guy to add an equalizer too. Probably a lot cheaper and faster.

Hi peps,

I'm a marketing strategist at Heinz, and we're now recruiting a few people for an SMM internship in our department. We'd like to test out a few strategies using TikTok and YT Shorts, so their main task will be to craft trendy videos based on trend research, competitor's research etc => videos that will be posted on our accounts.

I know there's Capcut that's free, but we got some budget so we'd like to test out a few paid ones to see if there's anything better on the market.

Someone recommended trying Movavi, as it got an easy interface that's a good start for interns. Other suggestions and experiences pls?

thx

Hey everyone! I know this might be a bit of a long shot, but I’d really appreciate your help. I’m putting together an ebook designed to help media professionals make the most out of live video, especially in the growing area of alt-casting. To make it as valuable as possible, I’m looking for insights from people with experience in media or broadcast production.

If that’s you, I’d be incredibly grateful if you could take a few minutes to fill out a quick, anonymous survey. It’s short, easy, and won’t take much time, but your input could really make a difference. Thanks so much in advance for your time and support!

https://forms.gle/LSuYWrQdHHaeEHh1A

Just updated to test things, doing a new edit with some new transitions, the image quality is majorly dropping when I hit the transition (its one of over overlay templates - have used them before), but everything *seems* to be set up correctly.

Just no great way to tell if this is a bug or a missed setting! Never change, Adobe.

PS - finding all sorts of glitches on my output that aren't there in playback. Another fine feature from Adobe. I haven't had to do much editing in a while, but these are the exact things I used to run into a couple years ago when I was editing all the time

I produce 3D animations and I keep an archive of the final rendered animation (lossless 16 bpc RGB .tif sequences) in case I need to re-upload it somewhere else in the future. It is much faster to just transcode the archival file again than re-rendering it.

However, I have a lot of them, and I need to keep the file sizes down while maximizing quality.

Of all the codecs I tested, VVC (libvvenc) and HEVC (libx265) seem the most promising. In terms of the encoding parameters, I narrowed it down between these:

VVC:

ffmpeg -i "16bpc_rgb_input_%04d.tif" -y -c:v libvvenc -preset slow -tier high -qpa 0 -period 1 -vvenc-params bitrate=700M out.266

HEVC:

ffmpeg -i "16bpc_rgb_input_%04d.tif" -y -c:v libx265 -preset slower -crf 9 -pix_fmt yuv444p12le out.mp4

Both of these produce files that are a very similar file size and are about the size I'd like to keep them at.

My intuition would tell me the HEVC should be better quality because of the pixel format used; yuv444p12le should preserve much more information than the yuv420p10le used in VVC (this is the only pixel format it supports right now), yet despite this, some of the metrics tell a different story:

https://i.imgur.com/VXzFw3Q.png

(The PSNR metric in this table is a straight average over all frames, and the final average is an average over all input videos. The PSNR was computed using the 16bpc RGB .tif sequence as the reference.)

Basically, the PSNR metric was generally still substantially lower for HEVC than VVC across an average of 6 input videos I tested, despite the fact that the source was 16bpc and HEVC was using a better pixel format (12 bit versus 10, and 444 versus 420).

I can get a slightly better PSNR if I use -crf 1 with HEVC rather than -crf 9; the issue is that this explodes the file size way beyond what is acceptable.

I realize that one metric (PSNR) isn't everything, and I can't visually see a difference when extracting frames from both and comparing side by size. Ultimately, though, I still have to make a decision, and I don't have a sense for what's more important to prioritize; is it the pixel format or should it be the PSNR? Why? I'm just wanting a general understanding.

I once changed the export settings in premiere pro 2023 for a specific clip with low bitrate and a specific address. Now every time open premiere pro I get those settings as default I even did the reset preferences with holding shift or ctrl But the issue still remain Anyone could help me fix this please?

I work in corporate production, and we utilize a number of freelancers for different roles as needed, but email each one individually each time theres a potential shoot and have a bunch of back and forth before finally locking down a crew.

Have also used booking services, but the cost is higher (understandable) and sometimes they have to play middleman

What do you do when you book a freelancer(s)