Spin Doctors: PR Media Training

'...thorough preparation and testing must be performed to ensure that we have total control over our team and equipment at least.'

You're a leading international shipping company with 3 decades of history. What do you tell the journalists at the press conference when one of your maritime transports collides with a cruise liner?

Yesterday's project was an interesting departure from the norm. Our first project for multiple award winning PR agency Fleishman-Hillard (HQ in St. Louis) was a success. We were privileged to attend a training for one of their clients, japanese multi-modal bulk shipping company, Mitsui OSK Lines.

During the training, we listened in on how to diffuse a crisis scenario such as mentioned above. The techniques of blocking a tough question and bridging to accepted 'proof points' is a trade secret that will always remain in our minds.

The focus of our project however, was to record a mock press conference held between FH staff (as aggressive journalists) and MOL managers. 4 groups of 3 underwent the session lasting a white-knuckled 20 minutes each.


Trainees are given the 'inquisition' treatment and required to respond to tough questions.

Each team's performance would be recorded on camera (which adds to the already tense atmosphere) and then played back for critique and reflection.


The video is played back right away, giving a whole new meaning to 'video-on-demand'

Our services were required for only half a day so we arrived during the participants' lunch break. We set up our main video camera on 8th floor of Le Meridien hotel while the playback video camera was on the 6th. We hardly had time to test the playback before the trainees came striding in. There was little time to even test the audio volume of a test recording we did on the 8th floor.

As soon as interviews with all the teams were over, we had to rush the tapes down to the 6th while the participants went for a short (very short) coffee break. The FH trainer was kind enough to stall for us while we rewound the tapes and tested the plasma TV's (belonging to the hotel) volume.

Overall, everything went as planned. The plasma TV did not backfire on us, the elevators were on their best behaviour, as were our equipment (which we triple checked the night before).

In scenarios like these, where we aren't given time for contingencies, thorough preparation and testing must be performed to ensure that we have total control over our team and equipment at least.

Of course, it goes without saying that prayers and God's grace before every project is essential.

Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 2

In my Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 1, I wrote about the various techniques to Staying Awake and Focused at the wheel. In this article, I write about Arriving on Time.

It is crucial to portray a professional image of ourselves by arriving on time, all the time for a Videography project. Driving for hours on end makes being punctual a challenge. Here are some tips to help you Arrive On Time.

1) Know the Formula.

Speed (Km/H) = Distance (Km) ÷ Time (Hour)

The formula tells you the speed you must be traveling to reach your destination within a certain time. Use this formula to help you plan your journey. Take into consideration traffic jams when you hit town.

2) Keep vehicle in good condition.
If you are driving a seasoned car (above 5 years old), make sure:
a) Your engine oil and engine filter are fairly new.
b) Ensure your tyres are not getting bald.
c) Fill up your radiator tank with water.
d) Keep a bottle of water handy in case your car overheats.
e) Check that your spare tyre is still in good condition.
f) If it's rainy season in your area, make sure your windshield wipers can still keep the rain away.
g) Check that your car drives straight. If it doesn't, send it for wheel re-alignment/balancing.
h) Your brakes grab the tyres when you need them to.





2) Plan your route.
If you have not been to your desired destination, never assume you are familiar with the roads. Look up GoogleMaps for help or check out a map. Don't just depend on friends for directions.



3) Drive at a cruising speed.
Don't race with other vehicles. It will raise your blood pressure and your fuel consumption too.

4) Equip a GPS Navigation System
These are very handy tools that save you time and anxiety. Garmin produces affordable yet reliable navigation devices for use in car, motorcycles, on the sea and in the air. I personally own the Nuvi 205W purchased for about $229 USD. It even warns me of potential speed traps and road block areas.



Another neat feature of having a navigation device is being able to adopt a more relaxed driving attitude. My Nuvi 205W helps me recalculate a new route to my destination on the fly when I've made a wrong turn.

Allocate time for parking.
Finding the place and actually rolling the cameras are two different tasks, especially within city limits. I suggest debarking the team at the venue's entrance before going off to find a parking space.

Professional videographers don't arrive on time for a videography session. We arrive early so we can work out contingencies which so often put a crimp into our plans. No event's programme goes according to plan, there will be unforseen incidents or overlooked issues to contend with.

Hopefully, my entries, taken from the field and based on first-hand experience, will help you. So drive safe and plan ahead.

Your comments and suggestions on this topic are most welcomed. Happy driving!

Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 1

All it takes is just a few seconds of shut eye and your world will be spinning out of control. Fortunately, falling asleep at the wheel is an avoidable mistake.

Our services as professional videographers are required by businesses far and wide. Sometimes we fly in but we are all too aware of the restrictions and inconveniences we face at airports. Compounded with the hassle of arranging public transportation after touchdown to send us on-location, we are putting our team at risk of a late arrival.



Long distance driving is more science than art. There are many ways to fight fatigue and remain focused on the road. Many of these techniques are also useful to the vacationer. The key ingredient in staying fresh at the wheel is research and planning.

Whenever we can, our Videography team would rather drive ourselves. With our own vehicle at our disposal, we can come and go when we please, maybe do a little sightseeing after work.

Long Distance Driving Survival Guide:
These techniques are intended for drivers who have to traverse at least 300KM in a vehicle and spend more than 3 hours behind the wheel. REMEMBER, the safety of your team is in your hands so, Drive Safe!

The toughest part of long distance driving is Staying Awake. Here are a few tips to help you remain focused at the wheel:

1) Grab a bunch of sour-flavoured candy.
Somehow, sour tid-bits seem to banish the drowsiness. When you start to nod off, deploy these candies.

2) Grab a bunch of peanuts.

Biting and chewing tid-bits help to get your blood pumping. You'll want to keep these snacks for when you really need them. Don't go on a free-for-all binge.

3) Chat (verbally)
Talking about various topics with your team will ease the mundane task of staring down endless highways. Keep in mind passengers may not sacrifice their nap time to converse with you.

4) Stretch
Periodically, very carefully and with both hands on the steering wheel, rock your head from side to side. Swing your head up and down. With one hand on the wheel, stretch your hand behind your seat as far as you can go. Rock your pelvis from side to side. Doing these will help alleviate pins and needles. To a small degree, it will help improve your blood circulation.

5) Smile
Clearly not as effective as chomping on a peanut but even a forced smile helps when you're fresh out of candies. Smile like it's going out of fashion, with teeth bared and facial muscles flexed for a few seconds. Repeat as many times as necessary.

6) Extreme Measures
I don't encourage this method but if all else fails, touch a hot surface. Some cars have a parking brake that is not upholstered where it extends into the car's exterior. After some time on the road, this metal part heats up. Touching this surface for a short span of time is sure to send a surge of adrenalin up, dissipating any thoughts of sleep.

In my Long Distance Driving Survival Guide pt. 2, I will write about Arriving On Time.

Wódka Wyborowa -Product Video-

Videography of Wódka Wyborowa Exquisite proved to be a challenge because of the highly reflective AND transparent nature of the bottle.



Polish 'wódka' makes its debut with their premium offering, the Wódka Wyborowa Exquisite. Famed architect Frank Gehry also played a role in the bottle's design.

Our concept of this Product Video was to recreate Wódka Wyborowa's facade: clea, clear, savoury creaminess with a smooth, elegant finish.

Videography of Wódka Wyborowa Exquisite proved to be a challenge because of the highly reflective AND transparent nature of the bottle. The wódka and the bottle are both transparent thus negating the use of a coloured background. The risk of overexposure during shooting also increased the difficulty of this project.

Despite the challenges, we managed to produce an awesome piece of work, we incorporated subtle camera movements and added delicate lighting and exposure control.

WOLFANG DIGITAL used 3D animation to spice up the video. The animated text were given a glassy, reflective blue hue, in line with Wódka Wyborowa's corporate identity. The text danced over its own reflection, as in on a frozen lake.

WOLFANG DIGITAL is proud to introduce to you another Product Video. If you have a product or service you'd like to highlight to the world, we welcome you to get in touch with us.

Here's a little history on the origins of Wódka Wyborowa Exquisite:
Wyborowa Exquisite is single-estate quality, produced exclusively from a single variety of premium rye, grown on a single estate around the village of Turew (near Poznan in Western Poland), an area long associated with the production of high quality grain and vodka. The highest levels of quality control and a unique production process ensure Wyborowa Exquisite is truly exceptional vodka. Wyborowa Exquisite boasts an elegant mouth-feel on the palate with delicate notes of fresh rye bread, Brazil nuts and growing savoury creaminess, with sweetness well-balanced by lightly toasty dryness. The finish is lightly spiced, with a sweet-dry nutty finish and a hint of sesame

Videography Footwear

'On rocky ground, it saved me from some painful sprains a couple of times'

Good Videography doesn't boil down to what you wear or what covers your feet. It does however, dictate your level of comfort during a videography session and how long you can function effectively and creatively as a Videographer.

Depending on the project on hand, Videographers may be required to walk briskly, run, jump, kneel or squat. Some projects require Videographers to shoot in the jungle, in the desert, in the middle of traffic, in rocky or muddy terrain.

How does the practical yet fashion conscious Videographer transition from a wedding shoot to a corporate shoot without spending too much on shoes (and instead, spend it on the next video camera). A trendy and rugged Timberland will set us back by about $120. You surely don't want to see another scratch on your precious Timberland shoes.


Original SWAT tactical boots are a boon to Videographers.

Do safety shoes qualify? I think not. Most safety shoes are inflexible, restricting movement and heavy. How about Camel Active? You're getting warmer but they aren't as durable as we want them to be.

So what's my choice for footwear? I suggest a pair of boots. Not just any pair of boots but tactical boots- the kind that SWAT teams strap on for a mission.

After trying on various footwear including Bata, Converse, Nike, Reebok, Adidas and Puma, I'm elated to find the perfect pair of footwear that meet these requirements:

1) Lightweight (your camera and gear are heavy enough)
2) Durable (if it's good enough for the military, it's good enough for me)
3) Reasonably priced
4) Fashionable (like it or not, guy handling video camera stands out)
5) Flexible (for us to move with precision)
6) Cusions footfalls (great for Glidecam operation)
7) Traction (do the shoes 'grab' the floor?)
8) Comfortable (to enable us to walk in them for hours on end)

For about $99, a new pair of Original SWAT tactical boots paint a cool picture of us in our video gear and more importantly, helps us get our job done.

I've used them in various surfaces and it helps me keep my footing. On rocky ground, it saved me from some painful sprains a couple of times. On questionable terrain where grass tend to grow taller than my waist, I'm confident my feet are protected from insects and reptiles.

When using the Glidecam, the soles help make my footfalls softer, reducing camera shake even further. The boots give me a high degree of flex and movement. Foot placement become accurate and firm.

I pay no heed to every jagged rock that glances off my boots, unlike my expensive Timberland. The more nicks my boots suffer, the more rugged it looks, like a good pair of jeans.

There is a disadvantage to this setup: boots are hard to come off!

Your virtual salesman: The Product Video

'The Product Video is a tireless sales promoter.'

This video exist for one main reason: your products and/or services. It's a video designed to showcase your product, its strenghts and features, installation instructions and your promotions.

A comprehensive product video will usually come with voice overs and video titles to help your customers understand your products' unique selling point. Animated graphs and diagrams will help to dispel any doubts about your products' integrity.


The Product Video's main focus is to highlight your products' features

For demonstrations that are too complex, 3D Animation combined with live action videography will get the most difficult points across to the simplest of minds.

Imagine your product video being played repetitively in your showroom, displaying your products and its features. The Product Video is a tireless sales promoter. It's the first impression your customers get of your brand and often, it's one of your most effective sales tool.

To produce a Product Video, WolFang Digital provides the following services:

1) Scriptwriting
2) Videography (Full day)
3) Video Editing (approx. 4 to 5 days)
4) 3D Animation
5) Motion Graphics
6) Video Titles

Duration of video:
approx. 5 to 10 minutes

This Video is most suitable for use in:
Product Demonstrations
Showrooms/Retail Outlets
Exhibitions/Trade Shows

To view more Product Videos, visit:
Product Videos from WOLFANG DIGITAL

Videography: Purchasing your Video Camera pt. 1

Canon's most recent high-end, high definition offering: the glorious Xl H1S

Your first steps in becoming a Videographer will obviously be an exciting adventure and no less expensive either. One of the main reasons all Videographers are passionate about their work is because Videography equipment is expensive. When he or she decides to turn from amateur to professional, they are already committed to purchasing costly equipment.

So what are some of the features that you should look for when purchasing a camcorder? Here are some of the most important features:

1) Depth of Field
One of my most important criteria is the length of the camera's lens. The longer the lens, the more shallow the depth of field. A shallow depth of field renders both the foreground and background out of focus, bringing the subject into clear focus.

2) Preset and Custom White Balance
Some cameras allow the user to keep more than one White Balance setting. This feature lets Videographers easily switch settings when under different light temperature (sunlight has a higher colour temperature than tungsten light). Not having to set the White Balance each time the camcorder shoots in a distinctly different lighting is a time saving advantage.

3) Full Manual Exposure Controls
The ability to control your shutter speed, aperture and gain independently of each other is crucial as you will end up in situations where fine tweaking these settings yield the best results

I will cover more important features you should consider in a Video Camera. Here's a short description:
4) Full Manual Audio Controls
5) Video and Audio inputs
6) Manual Zoom and Manual Focus Ring

Look out for my next article, Videography: Purchasing your Video Camera pt. 2