ANDRE BEGIN

With the enormous success of YouTube channels, Instagram reels and TikTok, have I ever thought of doing a video version of the blog? I have. As a matter of fact, I tried it back in 2014.

A few months after launching the WordPress version of the blog, I was quite eager to expand my audience. Video seemed like the next step. To keep things simple, my idea was to take material I had already posted to the blogging platform and to record myself either reading it or reciting it before the camera.

Video wasn’t a huge stretch for me because in the 1990s, I had volunteered at our local community television station for three years, working behind the scenes in a variety of technical roles. That being the case, developing a vision and a to-do list for the technical side came easily.

Behind the scenes

First, I already had suitable lighting equipment, given that photography had been in my wheelhouse for many years. Second, even though the quality of videos I could produce with my mobile device would have probably been acceptable, a sales flyer from a nearby camera store offered video cameras at very affordable prices. I couldn’t resist. However, after playing with the camera, it became apparent that I also needed to buy a microphone for the audio portion to sound natural and professional, rather than the echo of me from several feet away captured by the camera’s built-in microphone. Then I went shopping for colorful fabric to hang in the background. I discovered that shower curtains offered a great array of styles and colours at very affordable prices.

With all of my tools ready, it was time to get to work. I chose two stories from my repertoire that I thought would have been a solid, comedic introduction to a new audience. After setting up my background and equipment, it was time for rehearsals.

In front of the camera

It was then that I realized that a text prepared for written format doesn’t automatically lend itself to a natural conversational flow. It was time for rewrites, reading it out loud and making adjustments for its new medium. By the time my script was ready, it was approaching lunchtime. My stomach was growling so loudly, I needed to stop and take a break or else risk spoiling my takes from the intrusive background noise.

When lunch was over, after another brushing and flossing to ensure I didn’t have food stuck in my teeth, it was time to return to my “set”. Once I started recording, something strange happened. Despite going through these blog stories countless times through the writing and editing process, it became obvious that remembering lines was not my strong suit. At the office, I had no issues with public speaking as long as I could freely speak to points from a bulleted list on a sheet of paper in front of me. Repeating a scripted story, word for word, is a different skill set.

It was becoming increasingly apparent what parts of the video process were truly “me” and which ones weren’t.

When I finally completed a take in which I felt I nailed it, I transferred the memory card to my computer and reviewed my work. I then added a few graphics and closing credits, and the clip was ready for posting.

The next day, I completed the process for the second blog story, which seemed to go a little faster, but still had me questioning the hours of work needed to produce a three-minute clip.

When I posted the first video blog, a couple of friends commented that I looked pretty comfortable in front of the camera, but what they didn’t know was how many attempts it took for it to look “effortless.”

Was it right for me?

To me, the time required to produce a video version felt like an expensive add-on, time-wise. To this day, I wonder if I would have been able to shave time off the process if I kept at it. As they say, practice makes perfect, so the possibility is there. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, things got busy at work. I parked the idea of the video version of the blog and just concentrated on the written version.

Nonetheless, I am glad that I tried it. It was a great experience that led me to remember my volunteer days and how video production was also a creative endeavor that tapped into complementary skills I didn’t use often.

More recently, when I retired and had more time on my hands, I didn’t go back to the idea of a video version. I was more interested in trying my hand at screenwriting, which has become a new passion project for me.

The idea of producing shorter clips on the theme of “a day in the life of a writer” has come up. While the idea appeals to me, I don’t know how interesting it would be to watch me scooping the litter box or washing out the hummingbird feeder. And then there’s still the matter of editing after so that it doesn’t look like complete garbage. It’s a pride thing. I’m not saying that it will never happen, but I need to give it more thought to do it right.

I realize that it doesn’t take much to create a positive ripple effect. Sometimes it’s what you say, sometimes it’s what you do, and sometimes it’s how you deal with life that could be the encouragement somebody needs on a given day. Just the same, I struggle with coming up with enough ideas to keep a video channel alive and thriving. Who knows… maybe I’m overthinking it.

It might be right for you

I truly admire people who are comfortable in front of a camera, producing quality videos and appearing polished and professional. Deep down, I don’t think that’s me.

If someone was thinking about producing their own videos, I’d encourage them to try it. With the amazing capabilities of mobile phone technology, becoming a videographer is within reach, more than ever.

For that reason, I haven’t completely written off the idea of trying again. Should I ever hit a wicked bout of writer’s block, it might be an opportunity to flex my creative muscles in other ways. But to do so, I would need time, practice and a boost in my confidence in front of the camera.

Did you enjoy this post? If you did, your likes and shares are most appreciated.

If you haven’t already, please check out the rest of my blog at andrebegin.blog. From there, you can click on the “Follow” button to receive future posts directly in your inbox.

Sincere thanks for reading!

Have a great day,

André