Smartphone instead of cinema camera: Content creation beyond traditional production paths

Small but mighty: smartphone production for large formats

"What are they doing?" We're all too familiar with those questioning glances that express just that when we step outside to produce content. For instance, even in the hustle and bustle of a big city, people carrying heavy and sometimes bulky construction products through the streets and staging them like a VIP photo shoot stand out. If you've ever seen this – hej, that was probably us. 😀✌️

And the bigger the products, the bigger our equipment? Far from it. Even if the product measures 80 x 60 cm and weighs 60 kg, a smartphone, gimbal, clip-on microphones, and a small lighting setup are more than enough for producing motion pictures. As certain as the question mark at the beginning is, so is the thumbs up at the end. Because the questioning look on our project partners' faces brightens over time, and in retrospect, set goals are proudly achieved because the results surprise in their execution – positively, of course.

Targeted processes and good preparation are key

For us, content creation means approaching a topic intuitively and designing production processes efficiently for planned communication. Always with the perspective of the respective target group and always within the parameters of the planned communication channel. That motion pictures are increasingly more important than static content is evident. The dominance of social media and the higher engagement rate of videos, especially on mobile devices and on the go, speak for themselves.

What to do, though, when our clients have also come to this realization, but the budget doesn't stretch to a big video production for every post?

• Break away from old patterns of thinking that motion pictures can only be produced with a video camera.
• Take examples from other industries, content creators, or influencers.
• Focus on mobile content creation and test, test, test. Best with us. 😀

Still with us? Now, let's take a look behind the scenes.

The creation process of good content is individual. For each project and given situation, we start afresh and avoid developing templates that we overlay on all projects. As free as that sounds – behind it is a very clear process to start the shooting or filming day optimally prepared. What this process looks like for us and tips that can also make your content productions more efficient, we have summarized for you.

The content creation process in four steps:

• 💡 Idea Generation, Research & Concept Development
• 🎥 Production; Implementation and Completion
• 💫 Organic Marketing through Content
• 🧼 Data Backup and Archiving

In detail → Tips and tricks from the mobile content team

💡 Concept development + research

• When it comes to reference projects: What has already been published about the project and the protagonists?
• A preliminary talk is essential to get to know each other, define core messages, and possibly select the shooting location and perspectives
• Which message is delivered in which format?
• Are the roles and tasks in the Content Creation team clearly distributed?

🎥 Production, implementation and completion

• Don't get sidetracked: Produce five variants when shooting construction products, then move on in the to-do list.
• The right light and a well-lit situation are half the battle, as these basic settings are almost impossible to adjust in post-production during cutting and proper assembly of the content.
• Triple sound check: The sound must be right → remove interference factors, like cell phones, from the interview partners.
• For social media: Choose statements that work in five seconds.
• In general, we let the respective situation and the interview partners guide us on such days.

💫 Organic marketing through content

• The goal is to extend the brand's visibility in a trustworthy and thus sustainable manner.
• The quality of the content is crucial: Is it appropriately prepared for the target audience?

🧳 Data backup and archiving

• Everything at hand: A content pool allows materials and contents to be found and used easily and quickly.
• Screenshots to track content publications

"With smaller equipment, people feel more comfortable in front of the lens." — Kim, Conception & Content at hej.build

Small team & compact equipment

When we produce content, we always arrive with two people and the most compact equipment possible at the scene. There are several reasons for this:

• We are always outsiders and guests. The smaller the team, the more inconspicuously we can capture the situation. The calmer our protagonists are. The closer we can get to them with the lens. The more authentic the content becomes.
• Most channels where the results are shown thrive on a fast pace that must be reflected in the production to remain current and profitable.
• Conserve resources. Both within our team and automatically on the side of our corporate partners.