There are lots of reasons that I think the use of video is a good idea for just about any kind of communication. Whether you’re promoting a cause, raising awareness, selling a product, or just telling a great story, video brings a lot of great benefits to the table.
Most people can be categorized as visual learners, so adding the visual element is a great way to pass on information. With the advancements in technology, video is also extremely accessible to a generation that wants to be entertained. They’re a ready audience. But more than any other reason, I think the biggest selling point of video is that it brings the emotional element to the table.
I was checking in on some of my favorite production houses during the lunch break and came across this just-released mini-doc from an awesome production company- Steelehouse Productions; http://youtu.be/0wmcCbnEGPY (check it out!!)
With a darling little boy in desperate need of medical care, the parents of Gavin needed a way to raise awareness and funding. I’m so happy they decided to do so by telling his story through Steelehouse! What this family needed was a way to communicate their heart, the urgency of their need, and the personality of this beautiful little boy.
There are times when box-loads of medical records and facts on any situation will fail to capture the heart of a story. How do you cut through all of that and communicate with total strangers in a way that truly penetrates their hearts? I believe that is the true power of video. It has the ability to engage so many of the human senses, tapping into the emotions through powerful visuals and the spoken word. By using the right music at the right time, a video can bring you down into the unbearable desperation these parents feel, and then raise you up with a song of hope as we see their determination and love for their little boy.
There are some who will argue that using all these elements within video evokes a false emotion, but I would disagree. We are emotional beings. Certainly the parents of Gavin are at times overwhelmed emotionally with the intensity of this situation, and my feeling is that the closer you can bring viewers to that emotional level, the more closely they can relate and truly understand.
A newspaper article, radio interview, or email blast could never convey the truth of this family’s story. But video can when done correctly. It’s why I love this medium so much. It is so very, very powerful at engaging us on every level.
What do you think about using the power of video to educate and persuade people?