Video: How We Do It

{ what we do } { how we do it } { who we've done it for }

Having the right equipment makes all the difference. So working with professionals makes a difference you can see and hear. As truly professional production company, Digital Lagoon has the right equipment and the latest technology. With our DVCPRO 50/100 we can shoot in both standard and high definition. All original recording is done on state of the art digital equipment, so there's no "generation loss" between what came out of the camera and the digital master.

Our Process

To start, a video project needs purpose, organization and consistency. Digital Lagoon pays close attention to defining the video's mission, target audience and what effect the presentation is expected to have on the viewer. Your video will represent you, so we get to know you - your style, marketing approaches, products, services and technologies. We then help you organize your information and visual content for the proper effect. Lastly, we shoot any required footage and produce the graphics and animations. Our talented editors put it all together, following the original plan. But the proof is in the viewing. We're not satisfied until you are.

• Organizing the Project: Our process is designed to develop a finished product that will deliver your message to the targeted audience with a creative and cost-effective presentation. Our first task is to work with you to develop the focus to formulate an initial concept. The options for delivering your message are infinite. From many years of experience and hundreds of completed projects, we continue to hone in what fits the concept. Wide screen or standard? Studio production or on-location? Voice-over narrated or on-camera spokesperson? Animation or literal "b-roll?" Those are just a few of the decisions at this stage.
• Adding the Creative Touch: Then our creative staff takes over. It takes a great script to make a great video. There are five keys to producing a fine script: (1) accuracy and attention to message, (2) focus on the target audience (3) experience in use of graphics and video technology for message and image enhancement, (4) ability to visualize what will be on the screen, (5) coordination of project team members including animators, artists, editors and producers.

Once the script is approved, the technicians apply their creativity. The lights, cameras, reflectors and other gear move into place and the footage is shot, often with our DVCPRO 50 camcorder in 16:9 wide screen format. We concentrate on getting video that is not only in sharp focus, but also professionally lighted and artistically composed. If it can enhance the production, we use Ultimatte blue screen technology for realistic creation of virtual sets.

• Editing: Putting it All Together: Our editors take all the components - basic digital video footage, animation clips, 3-D effects and graphics, music, narration and other elements and digitally merge them into the finished production. All this can be done with no compression during editing, preserving the original picture sharpness and color. Capacity is no problem with two AVID Media Composer digital workstations and nearly a terabyte of high-speed hard drive space.
• The Proof is in the Viewing: The finished video is then submitted to its final test: viewing by our team members, and then by you, the client. Preview copies are available to you on videotape, DVD, or a compressed file on CD-ROM. If you prefer, previewing is also available as a compressed streaming file on the Internet.
• Duplication: The Finished Product: Because our AVID editing systems are digital, we can quickly compress video files for CD-ROM, DVD or Web distribution. Today's most popular formats for general distribution other than Web streaming are VHS-video cassette, DVD or digital video on CD-ROM. If needed, we can also duplicate to almost any other tape format, including DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50, DVCAM, MiniDV, Betacam SP, MII, ¾", S-VHS and Hi-8. To make any future revisions easy and preserve original quality, all original digital media files are archived on DLT's after the project is finished.