Stop their thumbs, keep their eyes on the prize, even when the “prize” is three inches wide and in the middle of a million other things fighting for attention. Make it read instantly, and make it readable against a moving, contrasty video background. No biggie.
Not only can I design graphics, I can make them move! With my mind. (okay fine, with keyframes and velocity curves and expressions and stuff)
Here’s some videos where I did the animated the typography and graphics.
The Harold B. Lee Library had a problem. Too many books were being returned with all manner of uncomely accoutrements: water damage, crumbs, grease stains, and dog ears. So we created an enigmatic Voice of the Library character, complete with a legendary-level study table setup, to gently remind students to give the sort of dignity to the Library’s collection that she herself modeled.
As Director of Photography, I found just the right little nook for her setup. It had leading lines to draw the viewer’s eye to our spokeswoman, evenly-spaced vertical lines that lent a sense of calm order, and depth that made our little set feel grander than it was. I lit the scene to feel grounded and natural, as if ceiling light panels just always happened to flatter the subject with soft three-quarter-angle Rembrandt lighting that didn’t cast shadows under their eyes.
I also helped come up with the concept for the videos and co-wrote the script with our director.
I was an intern at Harmon Brothers when I overheard that our behind-the-scenes director wouldn’t be able to be on our project with Camp Chef. “Hey, uh, I can do that!” Six months later, I was a one-man-band shooting a documentary with our incredible spokesman JW Hutson as he practiced calf-roping on his home ranch near Forth Worth, Texas.
I directed, conducted interviews, shot, gaffed, did sound for, and edited this video.
IN DIS BIREO — me, an absolutely washed gamer dad who never seems to have enough energy left after the kids are in bed to actually play any games, edits for his favorite Scottish tank smasher. It turns out War Thunder has an incredible replay system that lets you create all sorts of cinematic shots from inside each match, so I absolutely geeked out and figured out how to make my HOTAS system control the in-game camera like it was on a motorized crane. I have entirely too much doing this.
“The best camera is the one that’s with you”
And that’s why I have a cute little full-frame camera with a 28mm f/2 lens that I can just about shove in a jacket pocket when it’s raining and an underwater housing for when a raincoat’s not quite enough.
Social Stills
Aspect ratios? Overlay safe zones? Legibility at all the sizes? Yes’m.