News & Insights
25 Things I’ve Learned in 25 Years
May 1993. Bill Clinton was the new president, Sleepless in Seattle was in theaters, a gallon of gas cost $1.16 and the World Wide Web had just been born. And that was the year Allied Pixel said hello to the world. Who knew then what an excellent adventure it would...
What is B-roll?
If you spend any time around video production people, you'll hear the term "b-roll" thrown around a lot. So what is b-roll, anyway? Very simply, b-roll is footage that is used to support the story being told. As an example, think of an interview with a gymnast. Rather...
In His Own Words
Sometimes it's best to do away with a script. There is an authenticity and honesty that comes from allowing a person to speak extemporaneously. This free-form approach can work well under these circumstances: The story does not require precise messaging; He or she is...
How to Read From a TelePrompter and Look Good
Congratulations! You're going on camera and you'll be reading a script from a TelePrompter. That means somebody thinks you're pretty darn special. If this is the first time you've used a Prompter, you probably have some questions. Like, what is a TelePrompter, anyway?...
What is Tracking Text and Why is it so Engaging?
You've seen tracking text. It is onscreen text that seems to move with the image, almost as if it were part of the shot. Done well, it can be mesmerizing. The reason it's so captivating is because it is both unexpected and organic. It is certainly something that...
Our 2018 Show Reel
Allied Pixel produced 108 videos last year, setting a new record for us. That means we cranked out an average of two short films a week — a pretty astonishing clip for a modest-sized team like ours. And I think it's objectively some of the best work we've done. I'm...
Case Study — Personalized Video
Our first Personalized Video campaign was delivered on April 11, 2017. Unique personalized videos were sent to more than 2,400 accepted students at Cabrini University — marking a milestone for higher education marketing. We partnered with the Admissions team at...
The Most Beautiful Sound in the World
Know what the most beautiful sound in the world is? Sure you do. You've heard it countless times. It is the sound of ... ... your name being spoken. In his classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote "Remember that a person's name is to...
How to Create an Effective Software Demo Video
There is an old adage in sales, "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." It was coined by a fellow named Elmer Wheeler in the mid-1920s. Obviously not a vegetarian, Wheeler urged salespeople to focus on the experience around a product being sold rather than simply on the...
What is an Animated GIF and Why Do I Want One?
Video can be pure magic for promotional emails. Just using the word "video" in the subject line boosts open rates by 19%, click-through rates by 65% and reduces unsubscribes by 26%. Put a video in the body of your email and the all-important click-through rate can go...
How to Be Perfectly Relaxed on Camera
Sorry, this is a deceptive title. Probably the only way to be perfectly relaxed on camera is to take a Xanax. Truth is, being in front of the camera can be a bit daunting (perhaps even nerve-wracking) if you're not used to it. If you or a colleague are going to be on...
Even a Kid Can Do It
This weekend, my 8-year-old daughter and her girlfriend, cooped up and bored from the snow, came up with a novel idea: Let's make a movie! I was only too happy to help. The girls brainstormed ideas around the kitchen table and wrote a script on my computer using MS...