MEAM Public Power Week Video Project
I'd love to create a video celebrating Public Power Week featuring MEAM member utilities. If you folks are interested in participating in this project, I would need some "B roll" from your utilities that we can use to highlight your linemen, office staff, meter readers, substation folks, etc.
I'd also like one or two volunteers to help me put together the voice over script. Is anyone interested in lending a hand with the messaging? If so, send me an email at jpratt@shrewsburyma.gov
My goal would be to gather all the footage here by September 4th (you can respond to this thread and upload by clicking the little video icon). The video would be ready to roll for Public Power Week, which is October 4-10 this year. I think this could be a great way to showcase the value of Public Power in our communities.
Video Submission Guidelines
Landscape/Horizontal Orientation - Make sure you use landscape orientation and not portrait while recording on your cell phone. Otherwise, your video will not fill the screen correctly.
Framing - Completely fill the frame with your subject. Remember, this is video, not a still photograph, so be sure to include some movement in your shot. A slow pan or slight movement of your subjects (like crossing arms, walking toward the camera, or simply smiling) can make or break the shot. Shots of crews working would be excellent, but please keep a safe distance. You may also want to use a tripod for stability if one is available.
Zoom - Make sure your zoom is set at 0, digital zoom can make your shot come out pixelated. We can "zoom" during editing and get a much higher quality shot.
Lighting - Try not to take any outdoor shots with the sun directly above you or directly behind the subject. Try to get outdoor shots with the sun oriented behind the camera.
Multiple "Takes" - We only need about 10-20 seconds for each shot, but taking a few different angles and doing it 2-3 times will allow us to pick the version that works best.
File Format - MP4 format is preferred. We are also able to work wit AVI, MOV, and some others. If you are unsure, please contact Rick Maksian at rmaksian@shrewsburyma.gov with your questions.
