I'm pleased to share with you two fun and neat interviews I recently gave. I hope you'll find a gem or two you can use in your future projects...on screen, or off.

First Interview...

I had a fabulous, live podcast interview with Wayne Hurlbert on his Blog Business Success radio show. You can catch more of Wayne on his blog, Blog Business World.

Wayne's cast of interviewees is quite remarkable and I am totally thrilled to be one of them! Take a moment to see who's there...you'll be amazed.

We covered a lot of ground in one hour. Here's just a sampling of what we covered...

• Can employees be good storytellers?

• Is there a middle ground for company films in-between YouTube and expense commercials?

• Are messages from companies becoming more inspirational?

• Is film and storytelling compatible with branding products and services?

• What companies, industries, services are best suited for video?

• How can a professional director make a difference in quality and messaging?

• Most business people come across unnatural on-camera leaving poor impressions. How can this be overcome?

• How can on-camera interviews be captured more naturally and effectively?

• Can a corporate video present a brand in a way the consumer wants to see and hear it without coming across sounding like a "controlled" message?

Second Interview...

When I got an invitation for an interview from media strategist/PR guru Geoff Livingston over at Livingston Communications and The Buzz Bin, I didn't hesitate for a second!

I met Geoff at Blogger Social 2008 and we hit off quickly. (Of course, he had a video camera in hand...that might have had something to do with hitting it off...right, Geoff?)

Geoff's book, "Now is Gone," is an excellent introduction to the benefits of media for executives, entrepreneurs, etc.

Geoff's interview covered different subjects from Wayne, which is great. Here's what you can find...

• Many people think creating compelling video is easy. How long did it take me to become confident in my directing skills?

• What do I think of the flood of amateur videos; both corporate and personal?

• What are some of my personal favorite projects?

• What is the key to successful Internet video creation?

• What are some of my favorite sites, besides YouTube?

• Do I think network television is a dying media form?

• What's next for me?

Thanks, Wayne and Geoff, for caring about my work and spreading the word! I hope it inspires and challenges your community to think differently about the role authentic video stories and mini-documentaries play within a company.

---Tom

2 Interviews with Corporate Filmmaker Thomas Clifford

• Are your video interviews compelling?

• Does your audience feel naturally connected with the people featured in your company’s video?

• Are you asking questions that create “one-of-a-kind” responses your viewers will remember for a long time?

If not, you’re not alone. Remember…

Appearing on-camera is NOT natural

It’s not everyday that we appear on-camera for an interview. That’s exactly why the questions you ask your “heroes” need to be framed in a way that makes them forget where they are. Ask questions that allow the person on-camera to share their story in a natural way.

Self-editing is NOT helpful

During an interview, it is completely natural to edit what one is saying. The interviewee is thinking of the “right” answers. That’s a recipe for disaster when trying to capture honest and real emotions from someone.

Telling our story IS natural

In capturing a story for a company through personal interviews, simply ask questions that are, well, personal. It’s that simple.

How do you get around these common traps? Easy. By asking questions that frame a business through a person.

Over 24 years of interviewing hundreds of people, I’ve developed a cache of questions I keep on hand at all times.

These are my favorite questions. These are the ones I use over and over in almost every interview, regardless of the story. You can use them, too. Just tweak them as needed.

I love them because they work. Every time.

11 Stimulating Questions to Capture Your Company’s Video Story

1. In simple terms, what did your life look like before you worked/volunteered/here?

2. Describe your “Ah-Ha!” moment that shaped your decision to work here/start this company/join to volunteer?

3. What was your biggest fear before starting this job/position/company/idea?

4. What have you learned from that experience?

5. What does this means to those watching this film?

6. What do you love the most about what you do?

7. Do you have a metaphor for what it’s like to work/volunteer here?

8. In your mind, who would be a great fit for this company/product/service/team?

9. Can you imagine a world without this company/service/product/idea?

10. If you could destroy one myth about this company/job/culture, what would it be?

11. What’s at stake?


Of course, there are plenty more you could ask. But you get the idea.

Steal these questions. Use them. Spin them to make them yours. Put ‘em to use in the real world.

Oh, yeah. One more thing.

Let me know how they work for you. Drop me a comment. I’m curious.

---Tom

11 Stimulating Questions to Capture Your Company's Video Story

Maybe we didn't understand the power of television.

Maybe we did understand television's power but ignored it.

Maybe we forgot about our emotions.

Maybe we forgot about storytelling.

Maybe we thought videos were produced to sell stuff.

Maybe we forgot there's more to life than our stuff.

Maybe corporate video storytelling is about "enlightening" one another.

Can it really be this simple?

---Tom

Can It Really Be This Simple?

This past week, 275 authors submitted their articles for publication in "The Age of Conversation: Why Don't People Get It."

I was delighted to be a part of the first edition available at Amazon.com. Now it's time to participate in the second book!

Here's what I've been thinking lately...

At some deep and personal level, I believe we are all seeking meaning to our lives within the context of our existing relationships. People want and need to connect with other people. We want to understand one another. It's really not a difficult concept to grasp. As a matter of fact, I believe it's that simple.

I also believe nonfiction video storytelling for organizations can open doors to initiate conversations that can ultimately help create a better understanding of who we all are. Again, not brain surgery.
It's that simple.

So it was this idea that was the inspiration behind my manifesto for the new book. It's titled:

"It's That Simple: How smart people in smart companies use real video stories to create real emotional connections."

The manifesto is a "call to action." Hopefully, it will inspire people to capture nonfiction personal video stories as a way to initiate conversations with their viewers. To simply deepen our understanding with one another.

Here's how "It's That Simple" ends...

Our stories help us to understand one another. And understanding one another is the first step to transforming the world.

It’s that simple.

I'll keep you posted when the book is available for purchase.

---Tom

It's That Simple. A Manifesto for the 2008 Age of Conversation

• I ever stop wondering about the mysteries of life;

• I don't teach people what I'm doing everyday to make this world a better place through my craft as a filmmaker;

• I forget to laugh every day;

• I fail to ask questions that will enlighten the journey for others;

• I think and act like I know everything;

• I fail to enable the voices of others;

• Listening compassionately becomes a chore;

• I wake up thinking my story doesn't effect anyone else;

• I fail to listen to my intuition which acts like a "True North" radar;

• I don't realize our inherent power to create greatness in this world;

• I keep my eyes closed and neglect to constantly seek out new sources of inspiration;

• I think there's a perfect formula for every video story, or for that matter, a formula for life;

Hat tip to Mike Sansone for inspiring me to get this out of my heart and into the world.

If you're interested, here's the original statement from Carl Glickman's book, Leadership for Learning: How to Help Teachers Succeed.

While this concept was originally intended for teachers, as a filmmaker I feel I have been teaching something to someone every day. For instance:

• Teaching new clients what will happen on their video journey.

• Teaching people in my life that their personal story really does makes a difference to others.

• Teaching people how to break into the field of video storytelling for organizations.

Perhaps you feel the same way. What's your "Big Idea?" What's your "IF/Then" statement?

---Tom

What's Your Big Idea?