Travel the world for free with your video camera

Never before has there been a time in history, when one could travel the world for free, by using their video camera.

Everything is in place – the equipment needed to produce broadcast quality videos is cheap and readily available, social networking sites like facebook and couchsurfing help develop international connections, and the internet provides a worldwide broadcast platform. Youtube really is to world’s largest television station.

Where to start
First you need a good lightweight backpack filmmaking kit, then you need to set up a successful youtube travel channel and work hard on both developing your style and getting both subscribers and views of your videos.

Numerous studies point to video as the best online marketing tool available and clever venture capitalists, such as turnhere, have already realized the huge potential of online video.

You need to be able to tell tour operators, hostel owners, bus companies etc why online video is of value to their business. Here are some key points:

* YouTube is now the second most popular search engine in the world and is owned by Google, which is the most popular. This means youtube videos are highly placed in google search.

* “Streaming video delivers nearly three times higher brand awareness and message association, and more than 100% higher purchase intent and online ad awareness than non-rich media ads.”

* More than 83% of travelers in the U.S. use the Internet to research or book travel, according to Prospectiv’s 2006 nationwide Travel Poll.

* 62% of adult Internet users surveyed in April 2009 have watched a video on sites like YouTube (up from 33% in 2006). In contrast, 46% of adult Internet users are active on social networking sites, 19% download podcasts, and 11% use sites like Twitter.

Get free Trips, Accommodation, Transport
Once you have developed a popular travel video channel on youtube there is no reason why you should ever pay for a tour, accommodation or transport again. Inform tourism businesses that you will make a video of their product and put it on your youtube channel. But remember, they have a brand they have worked hard to develop, if your videos are sloppy and boring, don’t expect success. Also, take into account cultural differences – some countries will be more open to having videos made than others.

Produce business profile videos
Another option is to actually get paid to produce an online video for a tourism business. Look at working with local travel companies or chains that have overseas ventures. This way you are not breaking any international labor laws.

Online video marketing, presents a huge opportunity for traveling videographers and some clever companies and individuals have already seized on this new opening.

For those with a bit of video production experience, there are also websites that will actually pay for you to produce a video for them eg turnhere, geobeats, tripfilms

Get paid for your videos

If you are not keen to produce video advertisements for travel business, there is a great alternative. Certain sites will pay you for your videos. Youtube is the most lucrative whereby when you become a youtube partner you share in any ad revenue for ads surrounding your videos. The more times your videos are watched, the more chance there is someone will click on an ad and you make a nice passive income stream that allows you to keep traveling.

Other sites like lonelyplanet.tv and tripfilms may also pay or offer rewards for premium content. And when you develop a real internet presence you will be surprised the number of sites that may approach you looking for quality video content eg. ninemsn, compulsive traveler, blinkx.

Stock footage can also be sold on sites like istockvideo and revostock for a nice passive income, while you travel.

So as you can see, there are numerous ways to use your video camera to travel the world for free, and the exciting thing is, the gold rush has only just begun. Online video is still in its infancy and we are yet to see its full potential.

So get out there and start making vids. Everything is in its place for you to have your own travel show.

How to make Travel Videos.

I’ve been asked to write some articles for travel portal, the traveler’s notebook. The first article, which was an interview, by a journalist friend, has been published and can be viewed here.

Sounds great doesn’t it, being paid to travel the world with your camera, filming exotic locales and meeting interesting people. But what is the reality of travel filmmaking. We talk to Mark Shea of overlander.tv about his own experience as a travel video producer.
Mark is one of the new breed of filmmakers, exploring the internet, as a medium for displaying his work.

Can you tell us about your own videos Mark, what you like making?

I’ve always enjoyed documentaries, real life, knowing how things work. I was sick of seeing celebrity driven travel programs that were nothing more than ads for the hotels etc featured in them. I wanted to get under the surface of a location, so I devised the ‘Meet a Local’ concept, whereby I interview a local person, asking them what they like about where they live.

I think the media portray certain regions of the world with unfortunate stereotypes. Poor, war torn Africa, the Middle East, full of terrorists. What I want to do with my ‘Meet a Local’ concept, is show viewers the wonderful diversity of the world’s cultures, but also how we are all still the same, and travelers can find hospitality anywhere.

You call your style ‘backpack filmmaking’, a one-man crew who does it all. How do you go about finding your stories?

I arrive in a location, and usually set myself a challenge of finding a story within 3-4 days. Sometimes I might have a theme I wish to follow related to the location I visit, but other times I have no idea what I am going to do a story about. I really love this aspect of my work, leaving it up to chance, just seeing what eventuates.

But your work is based so much on meeting locals, how do you go about meeting people in locations where you know no one.

I get out there, in the bars and on the streets. I talk to as many people as I can, trying to get a feel for what story would best represent the location I am in. I also use the internet, sites like couchsurfing.com and hospitalityclub.org, that encourage friendships between locals and visitors. This is particularly handy in countries where I don’t have a good grasp on the local language. Because people on these sites list the languages they speak, so I can seek out bi-lingual locals, to help me in my search for great stories.

Your concept is quite unique. Do you think there are opportunities for wannabe travel filmmakers, to do their own shows.

There is probably no better time to try your hand at travel video or any video endeavours for that matter. All you need is a laptop and a video camera, an internet connection, and you can upload your work to Youtube or other online video sites, and you have an instant worldwide audience.
Be creative, follow your passion, if fishing is your thing, try your hand at doing stories about fishing, if it’s food, do stories on local cuisine.

The hard question, how do people make money from their films.

Remember online video is all fairly new, a developing market. Youtube is the king of online video with the biggest audience. They like serial content providers, and are willing to support them by featuring their work. If you take a holiday and film hours of footage, and then edit it into short 3-5 minute films, uploading a video once a week. It won’t take long until people notice you.

Once you have a bit of a following, you can join the partner program where you share in advertising revenue from the ads featured on your video channel.

As an independent, it is then really up to you to take it further, sponsorship deals, free trips, providing your content to other websites or mediums (eg television)

And the best thing about Youtube, is that straight away you will know whether people like your work or not, by their comments, ratings etc.

So you use Youtube as a litmus test for your videos, to work out what people like?

Certainly, I usually know within 24 hours whether a video sinks or swims. And sometimes the comments people make about a video, will lead to me making subtle changes. As a filmmaker I have always been envious of musicians, who can perform live, and really interact with their audience. The Youtube community now provides this for filmmakers, feedback on your work.

I love watching creative user generated content on Youtube. At first the technology lead to people doing webcam vlog style content in their bedrooms. But thankfully people are leaving their bedrooms and doing stories on their neighbourhoods, and the natural progression of this, on their holidays.

What about video gear Mark, can you give us any advice?

Basically, you get what you pay for. For me, I try to get the smallest, lightest broadcast quality kit available. I don’t want to recommend any particular brands but my current kit includes a Canon XH- A1 High Definition camcorder, a MacBook Pro laptop using the Final Cut Pro editing suite software. I used a Sennheiser ME66 XLR professional shotgun microphone for sound, a lightweight Velbon CX-586 tripod and a small on camera light kit, the paglight C6. Work out what you want to do, and get a kit to suit your needs. My kit isn’t the be all and end all, but it currently suits what I am doing.

Biggest tip I can give up and comers is to not forget that filmmaking is an audio-visual medium. Don’t forget the sound, even if you have a small video camera, if you are doing interviews, it might be wise to invest in a hardwired lapel microphone.

I imagine filming around the world, you have found yourself in some hairy situations. How do you keep out of trouble.

I think it is important to be aware of local customs before pulling your camera out and filming. In some countries you can get in trouble for filming government buildings for example. Be discreet, if I’m filming street scenes, I want them to look at natural as possible, so generally I don’t want people knowing I am filming them. To do this I use the tripod and my camera’s long zoom lens, and if I see something interesting, I’m ready to put the camera to the shoulder quickly, and record, and sometimes, just as quickly move on.

Has there been any times you have had difficulties filming a story?

On numerous occasions, I remember when I did my Nimbin Story, Australia’s Alternative Capital, a current affair program had just done a story on the town, looking at it’s drug problems. There was one part of the street where dealers sold drugs. I was informed in no uncertain way, that if I filmed anything, my camera would be smashed. So I approached the biggest, meanest looking guy, who had his shirt off, and was covered in tattoos, and told him what I was doing, that I wasn’t interested in filming any drug deals. He appreciated my honesty, and agreed to act as my body guard while I filmed, stipulating I don’t film the laneway where the drug dealers congregated. So I got my shots, but I couldn’t use the audio, there were a few choice words being thrown my way, by the dealers in the laneway!

Are there any legal requirements filmmakers should consider when doing travel videos?

If you interview someone, get them to sign a release form. A release form states that an interviewee has given you permission to use their interview how you see fit. There are some standard release forms floating around the internet, so just do a search and make any changes depending on what you need.
Also, if you use any music in your videos, you should have permission from the artist to do this. It is also handy to get a release form if you are filming in a special location, like a museum, or at least ask whether they have restrictions on you using your footage.

Programs like Garageband, allow one to make their own music. It is great fun to use, and sometimes a video segment may only need 30 seconds of music, so worth playing around with.

Any final words Mark, advice for budding travel filmmakers.

Like anything, the more time you put into your films, the better they will become. But if you are going on a holiday, be aware, your travel videos may become all encompassing, taking up all your time and energy. This is not always the best formula for a happy holiday, if you are traveling with your partner or spouse!

So don’t let the video work get in the way of having a good time, and enjoying the location you are visiting. And remember, nothing will go as planned, this is part of the fun, just go with the ride, and make a story around what happens.

Travel filmmaking sounds quite glamorous, but it is a bit like those who work in hospitality, you are working, when everyone else is having fun. When I’m traveling, I don’t really get much time to just relax, I am constantly working. But for me, I really enjoy the challenge, and the best part is returning home and having a video reminder of my trips, the people I meet, and the places I see. And the reward is because of my work, I really have to set out to know and understand the culture of the country I am filming in, so it pushes me to meet locals, which is really what the true essence of travel should be, to understand the other, the tribe over the hill.

The Democratization of Media. Or why I love youtube

As a filmmaker, I have always been disappointed that I haven’t had an instant appraisal of my work, as musicians have during a live performance. I think youtube has changed all this.

I can upload a video to youtube, and be aware, within a couple of days, or even minutes, whether my video sucks or kicks ass, by the number of views, comments, favorites and ratings.

This is both fantastic, and annoying. Fantastic, in that, I can get some idea of what works and what doesn’t. Annoying in that commercial work, or even docos for broadcasters, just don’t cut it anymore. To do a project, that you put so much of your time into, and to get no response, no comments, nada, is just plain frustrating!

I want a reaction! Whether you hate it or love it, I want to know. There is nothing worst that producing something that doesn’t even receive a response!

And this is why I love youtube, because the audience encourages video producers, which has lead to a situation, I believe, where the content produced, is more eclectic and unique.

People are not afraid, to be themselves, and experiment with groundbreaking media content. Youtube is one big social experiment, with new creative voices rising to the top via the ratings system.

Originally people first made use of technology by broadcasting from their bedrooms via webcam. Thankfully ‘bedroom philosophers’ are taking their cams into the world, and producing original engaging content.

A couple of Australian producers I would like to make people aware of are: Wezz84, the angry fisherman and spaceboy productions

Each channel is unique in it’s content, answering to no one, but well aware, that if an episode sucks, they will know first!

What we see on television is such a glammed up version of reality. Lose weight, make more money, vote others out! It’s such a crock!

This is why I love youtube, real people, being themselves.

But still, why do you think this video is my most viewed video? Could it be the thumbnail featuring a blonde in a bikini!!

How to make a Documentary Film

‘What do you like about fishing?’ I once asked an Irish fisherman from the west coast village of Dingle. ‘I don’t’ he replied. ‘When I’ve been out at sea and experienced bad weather, and return to port 3 days late, I hate every moment. It is only when I can see my home on the shore, and unload a nice catch, that I feel some joy.’

I remember this statement, because in a lot of respects, it reminds me of filmmaking. I love the rough and tumble of finding a story, filming on foreign shores, meeting interesting people. Then I am alone, just me and my laptop, viewing footage again and again, trying to make a succinct story. This I don’t enjoy, filming has deadlines, editing presents 1,000 alternatives.

I always start with the audio, I listen to my interviews, and try and craft something out of it. When interviewing, I don’t usually have a list of questions, I may have an idea where I want to go with a story, but I am always open to see where the interview leads me, to try and find a spark of passion in my interviewee, to learn more.

Many times I ask an interviewee to repeat their answers, knowing that documentary works on sound bites and that time must be compressed. I sometimes remember interesting things people have said to me in conversation, and get them to repeat these things for the interview.

Sound is emotion, images let people see what they hear. I usually try to get shots of people doing what they normally do, sometimes shots do have to be set up. If I’m showing a location, all my street shots are candid. I go to great lengths to capture ‘real life’ street scenes ie use a long zoom lens, set up shots quickly before people are aware.

I think flow is something you develop with time, that is, how you structure the speed of your storytelling. I enjoy trying to fit stories into internet ready timeframes ie 3-5 minutes. It suits my limited attention span and can be done quickly.

Documentary allows me to tell other people’s stories, and have a brief view into their lives. But I think essentially, the stories I put together are a part of me, my interests, my beliefs. I try to be impartial, but in the end, I film stories that interest me. I do try to think about what people may want to know about a story, but I tend to allow myself to be drawn to the words, images that I like.

I also try and not give too much importance to what I am doing, sometimes setting tight deadlines so as I don’t labor too much over a story. If you worry too much about whether your work is good or not, or whether others will like it, it will be difficult to start, and you will lose the intrinsic value a creative act can give one. That moment when time dissolves, and an alchemy of words, pictures, images and sounds meld together

Carl Jung said, ‘The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.’ I think we need to be like children, just play, just create, we are all creative, there is no right or wrong. And if you tackle a project with this in mind, enjoying the process, you will be closer to achieving work that touches others.

At the end of the day, talking about how to make films, is a bit like a prize fighter telling someone how to box. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. Theodore Roosevelt