Use The Video You Have. Right Away!

by Nel Shelby | May 11, 2016 | Dance Film, Performance Video, Video Tip

At Nel Shelby Productions, we upload the unedited wide camera footage to a client’s Vimeo channel the week after their performances. Artists can use that footage to pull a quick clip using Quicktime, iMovie, or other simple software – or just send the entire show! — to presenters, donors, audiences and more.

We want dance artists to take full advantage of their video right from the start – right after we film their show!

One of our clients, Jody Oberfelder, premiered her work The Brain Piece at Dance Place in Washington DC. Right after the show, we sent her the wide camera footage. Jody went to work and quickly emailed a presenter who couldn’t make it to the performances in person, because she wanted to share a glimpse into the piece.

Sending footage to presenters is an especially powerful way to keep them engaged and to keep your projects moving forward to new tours, commissions and more after a show. Include a short, great quality video clip in a quick note to thank a VIP donor who attended opening night, or provide a special look at the show to a funder or presenter who missed it. You never know when a short video can spark ideas for future collaborations, inspire donations and more!

How can you create a quick video clip on your own if you don’t want to send the whole show? It’s super easy for those of you on Apple computers!!

Step 1:

Open your video in Quicktime, and select File -> Trim

Step 2:

Use the slider bar at the bottom of the screen to select your start and end points. The selection inside of the yellow frame is the clip you will have at the end.

Step 3:

Select “trim” on the right side of the slider bar – and you’re done.

It’s that simple!

Beyond professional connections and opportunities, sending footage is a great way to thank people who came to your show and to remind them of the excitement from the performances.

We know it’s easy to forget this kind of follow-up doesn’t have to be the finished, edited performance video. Sometimes, the final, full production is what producers want. But it’s important to ride the momentum of your performance season and keep people thinking about your art!

Happy Sharing!

We can’t wait to see what you’ve made. Show us your clip – or, get in touch if you have any questions!

Nel Shelby is Owner & Filmmaker for Nel Shelby Productions, her New York City-based company dedicated to dance videography and editing. Nel shares her mission to preserve and promote the art of dance with her husband, Christopher Duggan, a dance and wedding photographer. They collaborate on projects with dance companies of worldwide renown, up-and-coming choreographers, dance educators, dance schools and more. Nel is Video Producer at Jacob’s Pillow and Vail Dance Festival and is also the proud Director and Producer of PS DANCE! — a New York Emmy-nominated documentary about dance education in NYC’s public schools.

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