Video Marketing Inspiration – 8 Must-Watch Videos
How do you inspire creativity on a daily basis?
It’s a challenge everyone faces, regardless of industry. For us, creative inspiration comes from a combination of problem-solving, discovering innovative ways to generate and capture content and, most importantly, brainstorming with one another. Getting away from our desks and coming together is hands-down the best way to stir up creative juices. We’ve made these brainstorms part of our weekly culture and we gotta tell you, it’s done wonders for video marketing inspiration.
You’ve likely heard about our Friday family lunches – a time when we come together to hang out, decompress and eat fried foods. They’ve also become a time when we share cool things and talk about how to be more innovative in the field. To create structure around these conversations, one staff member a week picks a video that resonates with them, shares it with the group and leads a chat afterwards. This has been a great tool for inspiring creativity within the team. Each team member’s expertise and interests come through in their video choices and we think the current list is simply too great to keep to ourselves.
So here are Q Media’s top must-watch videos for video marketing inspiration.
1) Graphic Video
via Josh, Lead Animator
I chose this video because of their use of using photographs, iPhones and found objects instead of computer graphics. During a phone interview, which normally has no visuals, the filmmakers filmed the iPhone with audio waves and photographs around to make the interview more visually interesting. It’s an interesting way of presenting what could be a boring topic. This videos shows how pre-planning graphics, using practical effects and found objects can help create interesting looking visuals and develop a unique look.
2) Slow-Motion
via Steven, Director of Photography
I picked this video because it shows how amazing things can look if you change your point of view. Similar to macro-photography, slow-motion shows you the world in an new and exciting way that really sparks creative thinking. AKA these guys do cool things.
3) Practical Effects
via Steve, VP of Production
I love the concept of telling Honda’s history through the eyes of Honda engineers. Everything takes place on an engineer’s drawing board and with live hands moving the story forward. The engine is the thread that transitions the story to the next type of vehicle/technology. This is all done through practical, stop-motion effects with an incredible attention to detail. The scraps of paper surrounding the vehicles are drawings from the original design of that particular product. Even the curbs update during the Formula One sequence as the eras change. It’s just a really unique and interesting way to show sixty years of technological advancement.
4) First-Person Storytelling
via Andrea, Production Manager
I loved the creative use of simple, inexpensive visuals to tell a complex story effectively. The writing was also witty, relatable and the ending was effective because it truly drives home the message.
5) Creative Marketing
via Sam, Editor
This video does the obvious things well: simple yet powerful cinematography, well-paced editing, and effective sound design. But what I appreciated most is the way it sells VELUX’s products/services without feeling preachy or even like a commercial at all – it simply presents facts in a cinematic and engaging manner, and leaves the viewer pondering what they’ve seen and heard.
6) Dramatic Storytelling
via Caitie, VP of Content
This short is beautiful; hitting all the marks on cinematography, sound design and editing. But what I loved most, is the way the story is told. You are on a journey inside this man’s head, who suffers from a debilitating speech disorder. This POV allows viewers to truly understand the struggle of this disorder, as we see how rich his internal dialogue is, and feel his frustration of his inability to express himself. It’s films like these that allow filmmaking to transcend simply telling a story. The Director and Writer have given us an amazing opportunity to peek inside someone’s brain, to give us a whole new perspective on the human experience.
7) Storytelling Twist
via Matt, Digital Media Producer
A well shot, straightforward narrative that has a nice twist at the end. Clever misdirection gives an interesting perspective on the message, and also makes it very re-watchable to see the clues you didn’t notice your first time viewing.
8) Repurposing Content
via Zuleika, Production Coordinator
I picked these videos because I loved the concept of repurposing content. As a photojournalist, you would have an archive of thousands of pictures with only one ever seeing the light of day. The stories were impactful, the editing was jarring, and the intent was genius. In my opinion, a sadly underrated series from the New York Times.
You can watch all 3 in the series here.
