Local Creator Cashflow in Action: My First Documentary Goes Live
My first ever documentary is LIVE! Filmed on an old but brilliant iPhone 12 Pro, and edited on iMovie.
As you may know, I'm working through the Local Creator Cashflow course alongside you, making myself 'famous' in my hometown first, and building up from there. I've done it in several areas before, but not in my new Manchester location.
My usual method is to make short funky reels, which require very little narrative structure. Quick to bang out, but about as mentally nutritious as a Big Mac and fries.
The film is only five minutes long, but it took me three weeks to conceptualise, film, edit, voiceover, finesse and upload.
Here's how I did it:
1) Found a topic of public interest that I could film for free. In this case, it was upgrades to a local square that was originally a cluttered, anonymous street corner.
2) Found an angle. The square was named after a nuclear pioneer, Ernest Rutherford, so the film is about him, and all of the interesting upgrades to the area. This took some serious thinking and re-editing.
3) Went out filming on a sunny day. ALWAYS try to film in the sunshine - I've noticed videos get many more views with blue skies, sharp shadows and bright light.
4) Spent days hunched over my desk putting it together. I'm trying to emulate BBC documentary style here, with concept, pacing, voiceover, sound design, shots, etc.
5) Completed thumbnails, artwork, description, hashtags...and eventually managed to upload it, after some fraught rendering. Over an hour to save a five minute piece? I really need a new laptop.
6) Uploaded it to my Youtube and my new Facebook page, Withington TV. I highly recommend setting up a Facebook page for your local videos, and naming it TOWN/ AREA TV by the way. Even if you're not a proper TV station, it generates interest and makes you look official. I used Canva for my artwork and logo design.
6) Once it was live, I tagged in relevant venues and organisations.
As it happened, while I was co-working, I met the lead responsible for the town's regeneration. A tremendous stroke of luck! He provided me with archive images and quotes, and even watched the full film when I asked him to 'proof' it.
He also assured me he would distribute the film across their socials when it was complete.
So, although I made the film for free, in my own time, I've got on some pretty major radars, and who knows, he may recommend me, or even hire me for future commissions!
This exact workflow is something you could easily copy in your home town too. It gets you known locally, it hones your skill, and can help open doors, instead of battling fickle algorithms out there on TikTok and Youtube.
Keep following these posts to see how all this pans out.
Here's the film, I'd love you to watch it and give me feedback.
And if you've got any questions, let me know.
0
0 comments
Local Creator Cashflow in Action: My First Documentary Goes Live
powered by
skool.com/local-creator-cashflow-1416
Smart influencers start local! Land well-paid gigs, VIP perks & become your town’s favorite vlogger. Film easy videos that grow your bank account.
Suggested communities
Powered by