Speaking the Necessary

 

The means of video production have been democratized. Almost everyone has a smart phone, iPad, or digital camera to shoot video. And lots of people, maybe even your high school senior, can use basic video editing programs. It’s all good.

But is it as good as it needs to be?

Put yourself inside the head of a college admissions officer inundated by hundreds, even thousands, of applications, accompanied by a slew of supplemental materials. Now, the admissions officer comes to your senior’s video.

• Does the video instantly intrigue and connect the admissions officer with the applicant to make an appealing impression?
• Does it tell a simple, compelling story of your student’s passion and distinctiveness?
• Does it showcase your student’s talents without indulgence?
• Is it creatively conceived, well lit, carefully framed and effectively edited?

Now think about most teenagers’ Facebook page. Think about selfies. YouTube.

Family Tribute Film makes videos that portray each college applicant in the best possible light. Nothing inappropriate. Nothing extraneous. Each video a positive pitch, pared down to its essence.

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary, so that the necessary may speak.”     — Hans Hofmann, painter

Richard Kaplan has been speaking the necessary throughout a long, distinguished career in non-fiction film and video. His collaborations have earned Emmy Awards, an Oscar nomination, and grand prizes at U.S. and international film competitions, among other honors, for:

• Writing narration for Orson Welles, James Earl Jones, Mike Wallace.
• Producing documentaries in the U.S., Europe, Asia & the Middle East.
• Writing and producing hundreds of commercials, promos and corporate videos.
• Shooting and editing videos for college application, family legacies and performing artists.

Let’s talk about how we can make your college applicant stand out.

Family Tribute Films    917.447.1285   RichardBKaplan@verizon.net