Skip to navigation | Skip to content

Share your knowledge. Make a difference.

Corporate Video & Remarkable Storytelling: Corporate Video Filmmaker Thomas Clifford

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 16 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #317 in Business, #7346 overall

Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund

Rated G. (Control what you see)

IS YOUR CORPORATE VIDEO TELLING A REMARKABLE STORY?

 

I'm the filmmaker who works with remarkable organizations that are losing market share and employees because they can't breathe life into their story.

Customers today want authentic stories from you.

---Do you want to bring your "brand to life?"

---Need to tell your story in a clear, authentic and remarkable way?

---Wish you could bring your organization's brand story to life and make it jump off the screen and into your customers' heart?

Then go to "Bringing Brands to Life! to learn how short films for companies can ignite conversations, tell stories and strengthen brand recognition.

I'm a passionate and seasoned corporate video filmmaker who captures your video story through your best storytellers -- your employees, or "heroes."

Remember, customers don't buy products. They buy stories about who you are and what you stand for.

Every person has a story. Every company has a story.

The only question is: who's filming yours?

DIRECTOR TOM'S BLOG: CORPORATE VIDEO TIPS 

My RSS Feed

I write about corporate video and branding organizations, transforming individuals through remarkable storytelling and authentic corporate video documentaries.

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Hire Tom: Let's Start Talking!

Want to hire Tom for your organization?

Send an email to:

tom -at- directortom -dot-com

Go to Bringing Brands to Life! to learn how Tom can help you bring your story to life.

"I believe remarkable organizations deserve remarkable films."

"Let's See That Again!"

Learn how to breathe life into your company's video!

Read Tom's Fast Company Column.

"Let's See That Again!"

MY "INSPIRATONAL DREAM" 

Create corporate videos to change the world!

To change the world by:

1. creating positive, authentic and emotional films that,
2. ignite new ways of thinking for organizations
3. interested in improving the world around them.

Breaking patterns. Creating heroes. Igniting conversations.

"Hey...let's see that again!"

Deepak Chopra Endorses Tom

"Organizations wishing to produce enlightening corporate films from a seasoned veteran would do well by embracing Tom's unique ability to capture authentic and engaging stories on film."

---Deepak Chopra

Follow Tom on Twitter 

    Follow thomasclifford

    powered by Twitter

    THIS LENS WAS PICKED AS FOR "LENS OF THE DAY." 

    Cool! This Lens is part of "The Official LENS OF THE DAY Group!"

    Every weekday (except when we're out diving with cephalopods) The SquidTeam selects a Lens of the Day.

    A lens that stands out from the crowd, a lens that is unique or especially timely in topic, approach, use, or personality.

    TOM'S CORPORATE VIDEOS ARE LIKE... 

    My corporate video metaphors.

    ...Walter Cronkite meets Chiat Day.
    ...running the rapids dressed for dinner.
    ...winning a football game in a snow storm.
    ...sky-diving while talking to an old friend on your cell phone.
    ...a commercial message from Hollywood using non union talent.

    Tom drills down deep to get core information. It's kind of like mining for diamonds- the job is not done until they are cut perfectly- Tom is not content with the story until it flashes in the light.

    Tom is like an investigative reporter that creates and produces films for business and industry that could air on PBS.

    ---METAPHORS BY:
    Kenneth Gronbach, CEO, KGCDirect.com

    photo

    PART 2. IGNITING CONVERSATIONS WITH CORPORATE VIDEO 

    Is your corporate video doing that?

    Remember...you have just a few minutes to get your idea across. That's it. Then the show is over.

    That's it: a FEW minutes.

    Engage your audience; make them want to know more...get people to ask questions...ignite new conversations. Be a catalyst!

    "Hey, cool, this is whole thing is bigger than just me and my cubicle!"

    "Gotta minute? Did you know that..."

    photo

    CORPORATE VIDEO "TOOLBOX" FOR MARKETING PEOPLE (and others) 

    Thinking of making a corporate video for your company?

    Here are "6 Top Tips" to Get You Started:

    1. Ask yourself: why am I making this corporate video?
    In other words, know your audience--specifically. What do you hope to achieve from your audience whenyou hit the "Stop" button?

    2. Hire a qualified producer/director.
    Check the credentials. Experience is everything! How long have they been working? What areas are they proficient in?

    3. One or two messages per video!
    Keep it simple. Identify exactly what your audience needs to know.

    4. Ask for demo reels.
    Then ask, "who did what on the reel?" Meet the producer/director to discuss your project. "Likeability" is a high factor in this business. Do you get along? Do you feel comfortable with answers you are hearing. Do they LISTEN?

    5. Have a sense of your budget.
    If you don't know, be honest and tell the producer you don't know. Having to "second guess" your budget drives a producer crazy and in the end, does not add to the team building feeling, which is so critical in making a film. A great producer will work very hard to create the best video for you, given all the resources available. Hidden agendas only wind up hurting you!

    6. Hire a great scriptwriter.
    See samples...on video, not paper! Hiring a scriptwriter provides another perspective on the subject that I might have missed. Some producers write their own material. That's fine, but get to know their style, their personality, and their areas of expertise.

    Photo

    PART 3. CORPORATE VIDEO "SECRET SAUCE" 

    What makes a great corporate video?

    I direct corporate videos using a "fast" style approach:
    1. Up-close, hand-held cinematography for "hero" interviews. "The eyes are the window to the soul," right? Right. So film the eyes.

    Hero interviews? That's right. Those "heroes" are your employees. You forgot that part...I didn't. That's why they appear in your corporate video. To tell their story...which is really just a "slice" of your own "corporate" story, anyways.

    2. Motion graphics that make you think, "Nice...integrates seemlessly with the footage and our corporate branding folks will dig this, too."

    3. My corporate videos have a sense of continuous momentum...every minute...something changing...new dynamics...new graphic designs appearing...a new story...a transition...keep it flowing...a new idea...a new scene...another person's point of view...what's next?...how will it end?

    It's your story. That's right. How *WILL* it end?

    photo

    WANT TO DROP ME A QUICK NOTE? 

    I'd love to hear from you...thanks, in advance :)

    Margo_Arrowsmith

    BTW, I five starred you!

    Posted August 04, 2008
    Margo_Arrowsmith

    Ya I do. I will be studying this page, your verbal images are so vivid, I would love to see your visual ones.

    I am just doing small stuff about small business, but I want to know more!

    squidoo.com/arrowsmithprinting

    Posted August 04, 2008
    sweepsisfun

    http://www.squidoo.com/FAIRFIELDCONNECTICUTMOVIELOCATIONS
    FAIRFIELD,CONNECTICUT MOVIE LOCATIONS on Squidoothis was very interesting.

    Posted May 02, 2008
    kijikmultimedia

    Great lens. It's all about telling a good story isn't it?

    Posted November 28, 2007
    Nanita Palencia

    i am a student majoring in film and television. i was just wondering if you could suggest any cool corporate documentaries you have found to be unique or different from your point of view. thank you very much, as this would help me alot in building ideas and expanding my horizons.

    Posted July 30, 2007

    Rate the Corporate Video lens 

    How do you like this corporate video lens?

    Take a second to rate my lens...thanks!

    photo

    NYU FACES: Epilepsy Center 

    Thomas Clifford: Producer & Director of 5 Epilepsy Center Videos

    I produced and directed these five videos for NYU Epilepsy Center. I hope you find them helpful and inspiring!

    Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures is an effort by the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center to improve quality of life for all persons affected by epilepsy, through clinical care, education, and research.

    The NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is currently the largest program for the care of children and adults with epilepsy in the United States. More information can be found on www.nyufaces.org or visit the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center's website at www.med.nyu.edu/ce
    powered by YouTube

    CORPORATE VIDEO USES: 14 DIFFERENT WAYS 

    14 Ways Organizations Use Corporate Video Documentaries and Remarkable Storytelling.

    HR Issues
    Diversity
    Recruiting
    Corporate culture
    Orientation
    Marketing
    Sales
    Branding
    Corporate Identity
    Virtual Company Tours
    Raising Awareness
    New Hires
    Product Testimonials
    Executive Messages

    photo

    MY CORPORATE VIDEO "FILMOSOPHY" 

    7 principles that guide every corporate video I produce.

    1. Tell the most compelling story possible.
    2. Let "real people" tell "real stories."
    3. Find out what emotions to ignite. Where are the conflicts in the
    story? What struggles are occuring? What are the "turning points?"
    4. What is at stake? Why make a film? Why does it matter? Who cares about the film? Is the world a better place because of your video?
    5. Think audio: tell the story with audio; the video is the frosting!
    6. Capture the spirit of the people and their actions.
    7. Think digital. Act analog.

    photo

    CORPORATE VIDEOS & YOUTUBE 

    Should companies integrate their corporate video into YouTube?

    Companies everywhere are silently observing "YouTube's" tidal wave crashing into their marketing departments.

    What will the PR folks do? Vote here.

    #1

    Vote Up
    Vote Down

    Let's test it first. Then decide.

    We'll post it...observe the results...judge later. more...2 points

    #2

    Vote Up
    Vote Down

    Wow! YouTube is the ULTIMATE answer for corporate videos!

    Yup...we're open-minded here. Our company will eve more...1 point

    #3

    Vote Up
    Vote Down

    Are you kidding?

    Forget about it. My company would NEVER post a vid more...0 points

    #4

    Vote Up
    Vote Down

    Hmmm...Wait a minute.

    On -SECOND- thought, it'd be cool to have our comp more...0 points

    created by ThomasClifford

    SQUIDOO LENSMASTER JURIST 

    Wow...it's so cool seeing great lenses.

    Keep the Squidoo juices flowing, lensmasters!

    The all time list of top 10 lists (sort of) 

    I found 74,000 matches on Google. Here are a bunch, at random.

    Feel free to add your own. No warranties, no indemnities.

    73 more links: See all

    created by sethgodin

    Great Filmmakers 

    My favorite videos and filmmakers

    Descriptions are from the websites.
    Reality Film
    The basic goal of this site is pretty simple: To provide an online resource for documentary. Other sites are out there, and many of them cover recent news, festival information, general production issues, and even distribution. This site's niche will be more academic than practical for the moment, but hopefully that will change in the future.
    Janson Media
    We are also a DVD publisher and manufacturer with a growing collection of quality titles, ranging from children's and family films to award-winning documentaries and educational programs in the categories of travel, health and exercise, cooking, spirituality, history, pop culture, art, music, how-to, and self-help.
    Alber Maysles
    Two of America's foremost non-fiction filmmakers, Albert Maysles and his brother David (1932-1987) are recognized as pioneers of "direct cinema," the distinctly American version of French "cinema verité." They earned their