Viewfinder: Producing More Enjoyable Video

I am sure that some of you produce various videos that you enjoy, but many of you produce far more video that you find less enjoyable. Wedding videographers are a good example. Although each wedding is different, after producing your 20th wedding video, the endeavor can become more of a chore than a labor of love. Although it might pay well, producing that 21st wedding may not be as fulfilling as producing a video about a topic that you truly have a passion for.

Some of you dream of a feature-length project, a comedy, drama or documentary that may appear on the Big Screen. Others long for the chance to see their special interest video appear on a niche TV network like The Speed Network or The Do-It-Yourself Network. While networks are always looking for high-quality, entertaining and/or informative programming, the competition is tough. Some nit-picking video engineer may claim that your video does not meet the station's technical requirements, even if you dub your final project onto Betacam tape, the standard most broadcasters use. They will look at the video on a scientific analyzer and claim that the resolution is too low even though your DV camcorder produces an image quality that far exceeds the typical TV in a living room. Still, if you produce great material, a good network will be more likely to purchase or license your program.

There are many film festivals around the country that can help you expose your project to distributors. Many unknown film and video producers have managed to break into the system by making a splash in the festival circuit.

Perhaps the most approachable distribution channel is the DVD. The vast majority of people own a DVD player. There are loads of Websites and mail-order catalogs that sell or…