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Utah Video Production

How to get cinematic smooth video

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1. Why Stabilization Matters More Than You Think

Here at Levitate Media Group, we have seen on a lot of videoss where the story is strong, the lighting is solid, but something just feels… off. Nine times out of ten, it’s simply camera movement. Shaky footage pulls viewers out of the moment. That’s where gimbals and stabilizers come in. They turn everyday footage into buttery-smooth cinematic visuals—and yes, they’re worth learning to use well.

2. Gimbal vs. Stabilizer: Know Your Tools

Let’s clear this up real quick. A gimbal uses motors and sensors to stabilize your camera on multiple axes—it’s what you want for tracking shots, sweeping movements, or following a subject. I have been using DJI stabilizers for years, before gimbals came out I had to use a manual stabiliser, let me tell you, that was an art form I never figured out.

A stabilizer (think Glidecam or Steadicam) is more manual and uses counterweights and skill. Both have their place, but I usually recommend gimbals for quick setups and more dynamic movements—especially when time is tight on set.

3. Balance It Before You Roll

If there’s one thing that’ll ruin your day, it’s skipping the balancing step. Seriously. Balancing your gimbal or stabilizer before powering it on is crucial for smooth motion and to avoid damaging your gear. I like to treat this like stretching before a workout—it’s a non-negotiable part of the process. Give yourself 10–15 minutes at the start of every shoot to get it dialed in.

4. Let the Equipment Do the Work

When I first started using a gimbal, I was overcorrecting every step—trying to manually “smooth” my walk. Big mistake. The beauty of a gimbal is that it’s designed to handle movement, so let it. Walk naturally, use both hands, and keep your elbows tucked in. Practice a gentle ninja walk and let the gimbal absorb the rest. Less effort, more flow.

5. Plan Your Moves Ahead of Time

A stabilizer won’t save a poorly planned shot. I always encourage clients and crew to storyboard or at least walk through the scene beforehand. Know your start and end points. Are you tracking a subject? Circling them? Leading them into a reveal? The smoother the plan, the smoother the result. The gimbal is just the tool—you’re still the storyteller.

Whether you’re filming a brand story, a behind-the-scenes reel, or a product launch, stabilization makes a world of difference. Want help choosing the right gear or crew for your next shoot? At Levitate, we’ve got the tools and the team to bring your vision to life—smoothly. 

If you want an epic video for your business contact us today for a free consultation!

Budgeting for video projects

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Filming a trade show video for Albany Furniture. Photo demonstrating there 345,000 sq. ft. state of the art facility, located West of the Salt lake City International Airport

Aerial View of Albany Industries new West Coast distribution center.

1. Start With the End in Mind

In the famous words of Stephan R. Covey, whether it is a video project or any project for that matter, it is best to start with the end in mind!

When you’re planning a video, it’s tempting to jump straight into creative ideas—but trust me, you’ll save yourself a ton of stress (and money) if you start with clear goals and a ballpark budget. Are we creating a short social media spot or a full-blown brand video? Knowing the purpose and where it’ll live (YouTube, TV, Social Media or even internal use) helps set realistic expectations for scope and costs. I always tell clients: your budget should reflect your goals, not just your dreams.

2. Break It Down Like a Grocery List

One of the first things I do when mapping out a budget is break everything down into line items. Think pre-production, production, and post-production—each with its own costs. That means things like scripting, location scouting, gear rentals, crew, editing, color correction, music licensing, and so on. Or if you want it done at a firm price, it is always good to contact a few reputable local production companies. Here at Levitate Media Group, we take the time to understand your vision, by asking detailed questions so we know what you are expecting. Then we offer a fixed price for the entire production.

If you want to do it yourself, then please read on.

3. Don’t Forget the Hidden Costs

Here’s the kicker—there are always costs people forget. Things like transportation, meals for the crew, parking, insurance, and last-minute changes can eat into your budget fast. At Levitate, we’ve built in buffers for these exact scenarios because we’ve seen it all (yes, including surprise rainstorms and runaway props). A good rule of thumb? Add 10–15% for contingencies.

4. Invest Where It Matters Most

Not all parts of your video need a Hollywood-level budget. I always recommend investing in the areas that make the biggest impact—like quality sound (bad audio ruins even the prettiest shots) and an editor who understands your brand’s vibe. You can scale back on things like elaborate props or background extras if they don’t move the needle.

5. Communicate and Collaborate

The best budgets are built with transparency. At Levitate, we love it when clients come to us early in the process so we can work together to prioritize and stretch every dollar. If something’s out of budget, we brainstorm creative alternatives—like using stock footage, shooting locally, or scaling down production days. The key is collaboration, not compromise.

Need help building a budget for your next video? Let’s chat. Here at Levitate Media Group, we’ve done this hundreds of times and can help you make something amazing without breaking the bank.

How to Master 2 camera angles with one Camera

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In video interviews, it is always preferred to have 2 cameras positioned to make editing easier. Many times it is not always possible to set up two good angles. In my years directing interviews, I have had many difficulties in lining up both angles to have optimum framing.

Todays Interviews

Zoomed in Framing of 4K footage rendered at 1080p

As a video director at Levitate, having over a dozen tears experience interviewing thousands of just regular day to day people, you know, business owners, employees, customer testimonials. (Not Professional Actors) \

The biggest challenge is getting the average person to be comfortable in the interview. There are many techniques, such as warming them up, but for me, the biggest thing is to just have a frank conversation with them. People tend to get quite unnatural during the interview process, the lights, multiple cameras, multiple camera operators, it can be quite overwhelming for a person being interviewed that does not have professional acting or commercial experience.

The 90 Degree angle shot

In my experience as a video producer and director, I have always found the 90 degree angle interview frame a bit unsettling, it just looks off to me and feels so unnatural to go from a clip looking just off camera, to almost a profile view in the interviews.

Todays Technology

Professor Joseph Ward wide angle view, shot in 4K and rendered in 1080p

With the advance in technology and today’s 4K cameras, I have found the solution to be quite simple! With one single camera, framed correctly, you can set up your cuts effortlessly with this simple framing technique! The first step is to set up a good looking medium wide frame for the interview, I then position myself right behind the camera. Traditionally, interviews set up to look past the camera right or left frame, you then set up your rule of thirds accordingly. The biggest challenge with this, is often times, I find it very hard to set up two angles that both look great.

Looking Directly at the camera

Does it work? Yes, in my experience looking directly at the camera produces the most natural cinematic interviews. By positioning myself, the director as close to behind the camera as possible. I have found that the persons being interviewed are much more comfortable interacting with me and truly being their authentic selves!

why it works

When the person being interviewed is looking directly at the camera lens, It immediately builds trust and confidence for the viewer, it also conveys authenticity! When I position myself directly behind the camera lens, and engage the person authentically, we can have a normal conversation that ultimately converts into good quality video that not only engages the viewer, but ultimately communicates our desired communication efficiently.

Levitate Media Group

We would love to discuss your project! Click here for an absolutely free consultation!

Hollywoods love affair with utah

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Pioneering Days

History of Filmmaking in Utah

Utah’s filmmaking roots started in the early 20th century. The state’s diverse landscapes, from deserts to mountains, attracted filmmakers seeking unique backdrops. In 1912, “The Passing of the Third Floor Back” became one of the earliest films shot in Utah. Its success spurred interest in the state’s potential for moviemaking.

Hollywood’s Love Affair

Hollywood's Love Affair

During Hollywood’s golden age, Utah gained much interest as a prime filming location. Iconic westerns like “Stagecoach” (1939) and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) showcased Utah’s stunning desert scenery and vistas, cementing its status as a go-to destination for filmmakers.

Utah Film Commission

Utah Film Commission

In the late 20th century, Utah experienced a filmmaking rebirth with local many productions gaining momentum. The founding of the Utah Film Commission in 1974 further boosted the state’s profile in the industry, attracting both independent and blockbuster films.

Major Milestones

Major Milestones Footloose

Utah witnessed the creation of several Iconic productions. “Footloose” (1984) captured the spirit of small-town America, while “127 Hours” (2010) showcased Utah’s rugged terrain. These films not only entertained audiences worldwide but also showcased Utah’s cinematic potential.

Modern Era & Continued Growth
Modern Era and Continued Growth

Fast forward to today, Utah continues to be a successful location for filmmaking. Its diverse landscapes, tax incentives, and supportive infrastructure attract filmmakers from around the globe. From blockbuster hits to independent festival films, Utah remains a sought-after destination for storytellers.

Looking Ahead: A Bright Future
Looking Ahead A Bright Future

As Utah’s film industry continues to progress, the future looks promising. With advancements in technology and a growing pool of talent, the state is ready to make an even greater impact on the world of cinema. Whether it’s epic adventures or intimate dramas, Utah’s landscapes will continue to inspire filmmakers for on and on! As for Levitate, we’ll keep creating engaging video content for businesses!

having an experienced director for your business videos is important

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Strategic Vision:

Director on set with strategic vision.

A skilled director plays a pivotal role in ensuring that business videos are not just visually appealing but also strategically aligned with the company’s overarching objectives and vision.

By understanding the core goals of the organization, the director can tailor the content, messaging, and visual elements to effectively communicate key messages to the target audience. This alignment enhances the impact of the videos, increasing their potential to resonate with viewers and drive desired outcomes, whether it’s boosting brand awareness, increasing sales, or educating stakeholders.

In essence, the director acts as a guiding force, translating the company’s vision into compelling video content that leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

Brand Consistency:

A director’s grasp of the brand identity is instrumental in maintaining consistency across all video content. Through a deep understanding of the company’s values, tone, and style, the director can ensure that every video aligns seamlessly with the brand’s identity. This consistency helps with trust and familiarity among viewers, reinforcing the brand’s image and making it instantly recognizable. Whether it’s through visual aesthetics, storytelling techniques, or the use of language, the director’s attention to brand identity ensures that each video contributes to the brand narrative.

Professionalism:

Profession director reviewing brand guidelines

An experienced director upholds a high level of production standards, which not only elevate the quality of the videos but also serve as a reflection of the company’s commitment to excellence. A skilled director ensures that each video meets or exceeds the clients expectations. This dedication to quality not only enhances the viewing experience for the audience but also portrays the company in a favorable light, showcasing its professionalism and attention to detail.

Emotional Connection:

A skilled director will be able to put the subject at ease, allowing them to be comfortable, when someone is comfortable on camera, they are free to be authentic, this helps evoke emotions that resonate with the audience, fostering a deeper connection to the brand or message.

Adaptability:
Adapting on set.

A great director knows how to handle different problems that might pop up during filming of a video, like when something technical doesn’t work right, or when there are difficulties with organizing everything, or even when coming up with new and creative ideas gets tough. By being able to deal with these challenges, they keep everything running smoothly and make sure the final video turns out as intended. They’re basically their to make sure everything goes according to plan and the end result is what the client wants.

Message Clarity:
Brand Clarity

When the message in a video is crystal clear, it means everyone watching understands it easily. This clear direction helps to avoid confusion and makes sure the message hits home. In videos, when the message is clear, it has a bigger impact on the audience, making the whole video more effective and powerful. So, clear direction is essential in creating a quality video with a concise message. Levitate has an amazing crew with an awesome director!

MAKING CITY VIDEOS

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Michael interviewing Mayor Hales at the brand new city building.

MAKING CITY VIDEOS

Making City Videos takes a large amount of planning. To start, there is a vast amount of info that needs to be told in a short video. To condense this much info takes a good video editor. They need to be able to shorten all of the video clips into a dense compact story that keeps the viewer watching.

Planning the video outline

The way we start planning almost any video we produce, is to make a bullet list of the things we want to highlight in the story.This can include a wide scope of the main subjects, and the key points we want to share within the video.

The Start of the video

A good video is organized, the same way a book is, the outline is really like a book’s chapters. First of all, we have the start, this needs to be good. It needs to get the viewers attention. It can also tell the viewer what the video is about. In the case of making videos for cities, it can be both.

Main content of the video

Next comes the body of the video, this is the main info being conveyed to tell the story. You can think of the main body of the video as all of the chapters in a book except the first and the last. Most times, in making city videos have a few guests who talk about a single subject in the video.

For example, in the video we produced for the city of Cottonwood Heights, one of the guests, David Neeleman spoke about the vast amount of class “A” office space in the city. Why he chose Cottonwood Heights as the base for his new airline company Breeze Airways.

In the video we produced for the City of Murray. One of the guests was Making City Videos Gail Miller, Gail spoke about doing business in Murray for over 40 years, she spoke about how great all of the Mayor’s were to work with. How happy they were to have started out in Murray and how they grew to have 6 auto dealerships in Murray. Eventually growing to 64 dealerships and buying the Utah Jazz Professional Basketball Team. Now reformed to the Larry H Miller Group.

These segments are normally 30-90 seconds depending on the content. A guest speaker adds credibility to the video, they are not from the city, they add an interesting view of the city.

The funny thing is, these guests may have 10-15 minutes of interview material that we then have to condense into a 30-90 second clip. This is why a good editor is so important! It is also very important to have an ample amount of b-roll for editing.

B-roll is the video footage used to show what the guest speaker is talking about. B-roll is vital for a few reasons, first it is used as a way to keep the viewer interested in what the guest is talking about. Second it is used to cover the cuts made in editing. In editing video you may cut out some of the video to condense the content. This is known as a jump cut, if done with 2 cameras it will usually look okay. If you use the b-roll over the jump cut, it looks much better! Ample b-roll allows the video editor to deliver a succinct message that looks good and is interesting!

ending the video

The last thing is of course the ending. The last chapter of the book, the last chapter of the video. In the case of making city videos, this is a short summary to support the video’s message. Making city videos differs from marketing videos. A marketing video has a call to action at the end. In making city videos, what we do is recap the video, it may include their logo and website URL but it does not have a call to action.

Here at Levitate, we love making city videos! It is a challenge we are up to! We have the knowledge, the team, and the tools necessary to share your city’s story! If you are looking to create a city video feel free to get in touch!

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