Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott O’Reilly.
Hi Scott, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been creating visual stories in my head for as long as I can remember. I have no formal education in film or video production but I’ve always been able to visualize projects, down to every detail, in my mind. Once you see it, producing it in real life comes naturally. I feel fortunate to be alive when technology allows creatives to be able to now bring their ideas to life.
My first video was actually an attempt to impress a girl. I think she was impressed? Not really sure, even to this day.
My first corporate video was a documentary for a friend whose uncle, Raul Quintanilla, has a school named after him in the DISD. I wanted the kids attending the school to know who he was and why their school was named after him. We interviewed family members with an old Panasonic camcorder just using my instincts. I was also into music production at the time so I had a computer and a copy of Sound Forge Vegas Editing software that had some video capabilities. So, I gave it a shot. I didn’t expect to hold the attention of middle school kids but it was so great to see my work on a big screen. To my surprise, you could hear a pin drop while it was playing. The kids were into it! After the spontaneous applause from students and teachers, I was hooked. I had no idea you could do this as a career but I continued to produce videos for friends and family until I landed a job at a local advertising agency as their Director of Video Services.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Because I had not attended film school, I would often approach video production in an unorthodox manner. I had my first professional job right when the Canon 5D Mark II started what would later become the DSLR revolution. This camera had a video mode that produced cinematic images with a shallow depth of field that was usually only achievable on much more expensive equipment and lenses. However, showing up with a photography camera to a video shoot was unheard of at the time. This caused a lot of controversy around my process. Fortunately, the results spoke for themselves.
Finding work that is both creative and also pays the bills was hard in 2009. Many of the jobs that seemed glamorous like short films or fashion, would leave you broke at the end of the workday. Having previously worked corporate jobs in accounting and information technology, I was used to handling corporate structure and processes. This gave me an advantage because I understood both sides of the fence. This is when I realized that corporate video was going to be my niche.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While corporate video often means compromising your vision to work within a certain brand, the rise of social media and YouTube has changed the game. Companies are finally realizing that to build and retain an audience, you must give them something in return. That something is entertainment value. The video must be enjoyable to watch FIRST or your message will be lost. This is where the opportunity for creativity has finally caught up with the creatives. It’s a fine line to walk but if you can execute, you can create magic.
Of course, in the corporate video world, you also have to do this in half the time and a third of the budget! This is also where your creativity has to go beyond writing and filming. Sometimes it has to include how you produce the work. From the camera you choose to working as a one-man band or building out a full-blown crew, you must be willing to do what it takes to get the job done. It also means oftentimes working with nonprofessional talent. Directing becomes key in these scenarios as you need to get what you need but also keep things quick, easy, and most importantly… FUN for the talent. I’ve found this to be a formula for success. Unlike a film set, It’s not about your shot. It’s all about your talent first.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve always had support, fortunately. My parents didn’t always understand what I was trying to do but they saw the value in it once they saw feedback coming from their friends that I had produced videos for. I have a lot of talented people around me that I can ask to participate in my video productions because they know it will be quick and fun.
Pricing:
- While we do custom quotes depending on the client’s needs, most video productions start at $4,000
- We also provide photography packages too.
Contact Info:
- Email: scott.e.oreilly@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oboypro/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oboyproductions
Image Credits
Velma Puente
