The New Video Guy

Hey, New Video Guy! Welcome to our organization. We’re glad you’re part of the team. We need your skills. You see, our organization helps defend the nation, and you give us a new way to communicate.

Here’s what we need you to know, and do.

1. Public or not, video can be an important part of all our affairs. We may not publicly release all the videos you make. In fact, we may not publicly release any, but instead use them for more focused audiences. Your videos will help us tell stories and provide context to the audiences we rely on. This could be an American or foreign (operational) population via social media; or it could be our recruits, new members, higher headquarters or Congress. 
2. I don’t know what equipment you need. Don’t talk to me about standard Public Affairs video kits (is it still called the DVAS?) Figure out the industry-standard software and equipment, and make a reasonably-priced plan to get it. 
3. We’ll need you to make classified videos. Figure out how to get all the necessary equipment, systems and software with red stickers on them, without sending the intel dudes into a frenzy.
4. We’ll need you to be mobile. Can you acquire, produce and ship a video, from start to finish, in an austere location? Can all your stuff fit in a pick-up truck, car trunk or as airline luggage? 
5. Get comfortable with After Effects and learn to make graphics. I don’t know if they teach this at DINFOS or not, but you’re going to need to use sleek, informative graphics in your videos, especially for the more complicated topics.
6. Start building your B-roll library now. Pull up a white board, let’s make a list of the different parts of our organization and the different things they do. Travel whenever necessary.
7. You will never make a video longer than 5 minutes long.
8. You will be busy. We will generate a long list of videos we need and want, then prioritize that list. Those priorities will change often, so roll with it. Time is our only limited resource, and a stacked tracker forces us to make hard decisions about our priorities, every day.
9. Your first project: make and maintain our organization’s Command Overview video. This is needed, and it’s a good way for you to truly learn the organization. Re-make it every few months as you learn, and as we change.
10. Watch audiences watch your videos. See where they lose focus, which questions they ask, and how the videos shape their conversations.
11. Our senior folks will ask for videos. They won’t always be asking for the right tone, content or message. They could even be asking for a video they won’t need. Sometimes, we’ll recommend a better way. Sometimes, we’ll give them what they ask for, and then deliver a final, second option without prompting. Sometimes, we’ll make videos that will not get approved. This is all part of the process. We generate options.
12. Remember: you aren’t a video guy who happens to be assigned to this organization. You’re a member of this organization who happens to have video skills. Weird nuance here, but it means we need you to be part of the team. Engage with staff members, attend useful meetings and learn about the organization. The organization’s mission is your mission.

Welcome aboard.