Blog

  • After Effects
    free storyboard template

    A Collection of Free Storyboard Templates

    - by Adrian Thompson

    Storyboarding is an essential process for brainstorming, organizing and planning any type of video project. With these free storyboard templates, all the hard work of creating those tedious rows and columns has already been done, so you can get started on your ideas right away. These free storyboard templates are being provided by Plot, an online storyboard software—if you get…

  • Marketing
    6 Questions to Ask Creative Vendors

    6 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Creative Vendor

    - by Adrian Thompson

    We know hiring creative vendors can feel like risky business—after all, you have a reputation on the line. Next time, please ask them these 6 questions! 🙂 (more…)

  • After Effects

    Creating Pseudo Effects and Animation Presets for After Effects

    - by Kyle Martinez

    Recently I picked up a copy of Creativity, Inc. and have been completely immersed. Near the beginning Ed Catmull shares a story that really confirms something that I believe in. “… so many who were pursuing held their discoveries close to their vests… After talking about it, however, Alvy and I decided to do the opposite — to share our…

  • Industry Talk
    Storyboarding

    3 Powerful Reasons You Need to Storyboard Your Next Video

    - by Adrian Thompson

    Are you resisting the storyboard process? Do you think it’s going to slow you down, or take too long? If so, I encourage you to consider these amazing benefits. (more…)

  • Inspiration
    Motion graphics by Le Cube

    Top 3 MoGraph Picks for 2017

    - by Adrian Thompson

    Image credit to Le Cube. Inspiration is everywhere, and there’s a lot of it. This year we’re going to start compiling the best motion graphic videos that we encounter, as often as we can. Let’s jump into it. (more…)

  • Industry Talk

    5 Simple Facts for Creating Quality Video Content

    - by Adrian Thompson

    A video project can feel like an overwhelming pursuit. It’s an endeavor that requires patience and a variety of talents. The key struggle with producing video for business is the balance between artistry, brand identity and reaching the target audience effectively. With that in mind, here are some important lessons I’ve learned from the last 5 years of operating a motion…

  • Industry Talk

    Why Selling Your Time Isn’t Enough

    - by Adrian Thompson

    Trading time for money… it’s become normal and expected in our industry, but I want you to see past it. I want you to know there’s a path to working smarter, not harder. Just because you’re a freelancer in a creative industry does not mean you have to trade your time for money. Your creative work contributes to an end product…

  • Industry Talk

    Get Specific & Find Your Creative Niche

    - by Adrian Thompson

    We’re in a world of niche markets. It’s important to evaluate how you want to fit into that world within the context of creative services. Undoubtedly, our industry continues to grow with new tools and demands, which leaves more and more room for specialization (and domination). You’ll notice many artists taking a broad stance with how they market themselves as…

  • After Effects

    2015 After Effects Benchmark Results

    - by Adrian Thompson

    The nerd in me loves to compare computers and see how fast they can be, especially in a program that we essentially use every day. I suppose it’s the equivalent to racing fast cars, but with data… sort of? Anyway, for 2015 we created a benchmark that we could run on several different machines to see how they stack up. As…

  • Industry Talk

    4 Reasons Day Rates Are Hurting Creative Services

    - by Adrian Thompson

    There’s no doubt about it. Charging by the day (or hour) is a popular practice in the creative industry, but I think it should be reconsidered as a standard. I’ve been on both sides of the fence, as a freelancer who has charged a day rate, and as a business owner who has paid a day rate. My experiences have prompted me to avoid…