When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses of all shapes and sizes are facing tough times. On the one hand, they need to advertise and engage with people now more than ever before. And yet, because of the stay-at-home orders, creating content is almost impossible because creative video production is at a standstill. Crews are sidelined. Film cameras are gathering dust. Advertising and marketing agencies are in limbo. Creating content during this crisis is a big problem. 

However, it’s not an impossible one to solve. There is a way to produce authentic content marketing that not only looks professional, but engages the audience with genuine stories from real people. And to do it, you simply need to embrace User-Generated Content (UGC) and video production tools that tap into crowdsourcing. 

Creating video content without a production crew.

The key to this strategy is to turn a weakness – self-isolation and quarantine – into a strength. Yes, you can’t really go anywhere. You can’t have a crew. You can’t have a lot of people in one place. But with Cinebody, you don’t have to. By empowering everyday people to capture iPhone-quality footage from anywhere in the world, the “crew” becomes just one person with a smartphone. 

Through the Cinebody software, you can direct footage from afar and actually watch it as it uploads in real-time. That gives you the ability to provide feedback to get exactly the shots you need, with the added bonus of having a “virtual video village” that never needs to come into contact with each other physically.

And if you’re worried about the quality of the footage, don’t be. For a start, iPhone video production is delivering content so good that it’s being used in commercials and movies. And that raw footage is uploaded and downloaded raw, so there’s no compression. You can also set FPS, RES, and orientation so that your footage will edit together seamlessly. 

What content should you be capturing right now?

Obviously, COVID-19 is top of mind for everyone out there, and every business needs to consider basing a good amount of their content around that. But of course, anything that feels forced, tone-deaf, or platitudinal will not resonate. It could very well have the opposite effect and make your business, or your client, look bad. 

Recently, Cinebody partnered with production company Lumenati to work with local businesses through the “Noble Pivot” initiative; a project to help the owners tell stories about their positive responses to the pandemic. And the results have been not only heart-warming but have given these businesses a voice at a critical time. By leveraging Cinebody's filming software, Lumenati was able to direct and edit the footage remotely, ensuring that the project was completed safely and efficiently. 

Karen Hoskin, founder of Montanya Distillers in Crested Butte, CO, turned from making rum to antiviral surface cleaners, helping those on the frontlines to fight the COVID-19 virus.  

Reed Silberman, Founder and CEO of Ink Monstr, had to quickly change direction when the pandemic put projects on hold. So, the design company started making awesome face masks for both businesses and consumers. It took a team of graphic designers, seamstresses, and production people to pull it off…but the result was seriously cool. 

And Aaron Holtzer, owner of Holtz Custom Wood & Metal, switched things up, too. Instead of fabricating custom, interior fixtures for restaurants and bars, the business started producing partitions for registers at grocery stores. 

These stories are authentic, engaging, and strike just the right tone. And in both cases, the footage was all shot safely by the few staff who were on site, with Lumenati cloud directing and editing remotely with Cinebody.

During a time when it’s harder than ever for almost every business to stay afloat, these videos can be a lifeline. And all it takes is an idea, a smartphone, and Cinebody. 

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has made video production and content creation a significant challenge for many businesses. However, by embracing User-Generated Content (UGC) and video production tools that tap into crowdsourcing, businesses can produce authentic and engaging content that resonates with their audience. With Cinebody, everyday people can capture iPhone-quality footage from anywhere in the world.