July 25, 2018

6 Video types a content creator should explore

video types - a clapperboard placed on a wooden surface

More traditional elders may shake their heads at it, but video creation is what has given multiple people recognition of their talents. Not just that, it has also allowed them to make a living off their passion. It’s time you too jumped on the bandwagon and learned more effective ways to create and share your content. Here are six video types you must try your hand at.

1. Animated video types

Animated videos not only impart a fun and creative vibe to your channel but also allow greater scope for experimentation. While live-action videos are often restricted by low-budget equipment or actors with a limited set of skills, animated videos face no such limitations. They can even explore more fantastical themes without appearing unconvincing.

Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural, for instance, marked its Christmas special last year by animating one of its lighter case stories.

The format of the show usually follows its two narrators in real-time haunted locations. It’s their exploration of those areas that adds suspense to these video types. But with its Christmas special, Buzzfeed Unsolved didn’t necessarily need to use this conventional technique. This gave them the opportunity to utilise animation and bring to fore their humorous side, which is usually only a narrative aid. The supernatural element could also be visualised better with animation.

Additionally, by adopting a different format as a one-off, Buzzfeed Unsolved was also able to give its viewers something fresh to engage with.

Check out the illustrated video Scatter made for Cashify for Mother’s Day

2. Documentaries

First, get rid of the belief that documentaries are boring. While documentaries may deal with facts, their nonfiction element doesn’t mean they can’t be fun for both the creator and the consumer.

The 2008 documentary, Man on Wire, showcases the French tightrope walker Philippe Petit who walked for an hour on a cable stretched between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. He was arrested for what came to be known as the ‘artistic crime of the century’.

A 2015 cinematic recreation of the same, titled The Walk, followed the documentary. Surprisingly, the documentary received better ratings than the film; the former got an 8.4/10 on Rotten Tomatoes while the latter earned only a 7.2/10.

Sometimes, reality, when portrayed as such, can be a far more powerful tool than any other form of dramatic fictionalisation.

3. Tutorials

Tutorials as video types can both be a standalone channel and a feature on a vlogging platform. Either way, they draw the audience since the concept itself offers a sure-shot solution to a problem.

Cooking and baking tutorials, for instance, have taken the internet by storm. While some creators have found enough online space to establish a characteristic streak within a broad category, others have created a niche for themselves.

A YouTube channel called Peaceful Cuisine is an apt example of the latter. One of its video series involves cooking or baking without background music. The simple sounds involved in the cooking process like pouring beans into a container or cutting open a packet have proven to soothe the channel’s audience.

While tutorials prove effective in engaging the consumer, they also hold certain personal benefits for the creator. Tutorials demand that a creator up their game with each succeeding video, thereby ensuring a more trustworthy connect with the viewer.

Check out the tutorial video Scatter made for V-Guard product packaging.

4. Vlogs

Much like textual blogs, vlogs capture a personal experience. But unlike a textual blog, they don’t require as much effort to consume.

Vlogs make recording and sharing of incidents far more interactive. They employ a personalised style of dialogue that the creator adopts with the camera. In an age where people are spending an increasing amount of time with their devices, personalisation can only make the experience more attractive and engaging.

YouTube channel JaeSix regularly earns a hefty number of views through vlogs such as the following:

As with this video, vlogs are especially beneficial for various types of celebrities who wish to give their more dedicated followers greater insight into their lives. However, they also prove useful for creators who share daily life experiences or activities that relate to specific interests.

Check out the vlog Scatter helped Westside create.

5. 360° experience videos

A recent innovation, 360° videos give this generation what it desires the most – to be delivered experiences at home. Capturing more action-based, adventurous activities is the best way to utilise a service that provides an audio-visual perspective from all angles, and thus, a near-life experience.

The following video shared by USA Today is one of the most engaging examples of a 360° video.

It reveals the perspective of a US Navy acrobatic pilot practising with his team. What is more revealing is the close-up shot of the two aircrafts flying within kissing distance of one another.

Scatter’s video expert Tushar Tawade affirms his faith in the growth of immersive video. “I believe 360° videos and virtual reality will find a place in the Indian market,” he says. “Brands should make use of this format as it is still relatively new and an uncluttered space.”

6. Brand videos

Branded videos are the epitome of storytelling within content marketing. With a plethora of audio-visual tools and techniques at the creator’s disposal, brands prefer that a short yet wholesome narrative be woven around their product and beliefs.

Often these video types are also specially created to plug into a relevant trend. For instance, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary in India, Hyundai released a celebratory video that subtly highlighted values important to the company, through the story of a Kargil war veteran.

Released a week before Kargil Vijay Diwas, the video conveys its admiration for the armed forces and simultaneously celebrates a similar spirited civilian who also happens to be a user of Hyundai products. Through the video, Hyundai commemorates the spirit of resilience, determination, and companionship.

Fundamentally, it does what all brand videos should – it tells a story and doesn’t just make a sales pitch.

Scatter’s video expert Akriti Suman further emphasises, “Videos need to tell stories to catch attention. In today’s world, you need to show audiences authentic stuff. As a filmmaker, I always observe people. Listen to their stories. That is what creates the foundation for great brand videos.”

Check out the brand video Scatter made for Amway.

Parting words

Videos are no longer the domain of professional videographers and filmmakers. The medium has been democratised and provides equal opportunity to any and every creative mind with access to the internet.

Sources

a. Digital Agency Network: “15 Types Of Video Content For Every Stage Of Your Marketing Funnel”

b. Scoop Whoop: “33 Documentaries That Are Way More Interesting Than Mainstream Films”